Showing posts with label Pentecost 14 - Proper 17. Show all posts

Saturday, September 2, 2023

Pentecost 14 – Proper 17 homily

Matthew 16:21-28
Peace Lutheran Church, Berne, IN

Lord God heavenly Father, since we cannot stand before You relying on anything we have done, help us trust in Your abiding grace and live according to Your Word; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Jesus begins to show His disciples what He must endure. - To win for us salvation. “From that time on Jesus began to explain to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things…” (V.21)

Last week we heard Peter’s great confession. Now we hear his great denial. Consider the change in Peter.

Last week. Peter made a good confession. Now we hear his great rebuttal. Today Jesus says, “Peter - You are a scandal. You are not focused on the things of God.”

Before. His confession came from God. Today. It comes from Satan as Peter is fixated on his sinful self.

Then. He was a rock. Today. A stumbling block,

Then. He made a good confession. Today. A denial of the Father’s purpose.

Then. He was following the will of the Father. Now. It was man’s will and human desires.

Then. He spoke from the vantage point of faith. Now. A lack of faith.

Then. It was Jesus on the Father’s terms. Now. It was Jesus on man’s terms.

Then. Jesus said, “Follow Me!” Now. He says, “Get behind Me!”

Jesus must suffer all. As we see Him. Cut off from the Father. From the cross Jesus will cry, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken me?”

Peter simply lost his focus. Peter was fixated with his own personal walk with Jesus. He desired a deeper connection. A profounder association to Christ. But, on his own terms. With his own agenda. His own plan and purpose.

Peter’s strategy? His proposal was designed to have a better life. It was safe. It was secure. It was worry free. He was not prepared for a cross. And suffering.

He desired a glorified Jesus. An awesome God. Who would cater to his every need. And serve him. Peter’s issue was his fascination with himself. And a man all wrapped up in himself make for a very small package.

Your focus must be on Christ. To avoid going back to the Law. This is the death we experience in baptism. In Baptism you died to self. Only to live a new life. Which is rooted in Christ.

Consider the ultimate sacrifice, which Christ demands.

I. Consider Christ’s sacrifice.

A. Christ denied Himself. “And those who passed by blasphemed Him, wagging their heads and saying, “Aha! You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself, and come down from the cross!” Likewise, the chief priests, also, mocking among themselves with the scribes, said, “He saved others; Himself He cannot save.” Mark 15:29-31

B. He took up the cross. A cross? Peter knew what that meant. Roman execution. The most horrific kind of death imagined. Carrying a Roman cross did not sound like the Messianic kingdom. It sounded like death. The picture of a man, already condemned, required carrying the beam of his own cross to the place of execution. The disciples knew what this meant, for hundreds of men had been put to death, executed by this means in their region.

C. Jesus followed the will of the Father perfectly. When He was twelve, He explained, “I must be about My Father’s business.”-Luke 2:48

By embracing the Father’s love for men, Jesus “loved them to the end,” –John 13:1 for “greater love has no man than this that a man lay down his life for his friends.” – John 15:13

In Jesus’ suffering and death, there is salvation and life. Out of love for His Father and for men, Jesus freely accepted His passion and death. “No one takes my life from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I lay it down and I take it up.” –John 10:18

He became the suffering servant. Silently. He allowed Himself to be led to the slaughter. He bears the sin of men. He becomes, “the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.”-John 1:29

II. Consider the Christian. A “little Christ.”

A. Deny yourself. It’s a hard life. Any death is hard. Especially the death of self. As Peter would later teach, “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial that has come upon you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you share in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed at the revelation of His glory “1 Peter 4:12-13

Forget. Ignore. Disown. And lose sight of yourself. - And your own interests. By the certainty of His cross and resurrection, you “rejoice in hope.” You are “patient in tribulation.” And “constant in prayer.” (Romans 12:12).

B. Take upon yourself your own cross and suffering. The cross is more than a thankless job. A nosy neighbor. A nasty mother-in-law. Even a physical illness is not necessarily a cross.

Taking up your cross and following Jesus means literally dying to self. It’s a call to total surrender. It’s a call to following Jesus. Even if it means losing some of your closest friends. Even if it means alienation from your family. Even if it means the loss of your reputation. Even if it means losing your job. Even if it means losing your life.

In some places of the world, these consequences are reality. The issue is, “are you willing?” Following Jesus doesn’t necessarily mean all these things will happen to you. But are you willing? To take up your cross? If there comes a point in your life. Where you are faced with a choice – Jesus or the comforts of this life –which will you choose?

C. Follow Christ. Join Jesus as a disciple. Siding with Him. Follow Him. Continually. Cleaving steadfastly to Jesus. The road that Jesus pointed is a narrow road. Someone walks a road not by keeping his life but by losing it. It is the road of resurrection. And the new life Jesus offers.

III. Consider the stakes. There are high stakes in life in terms of winners and losers.

A. Choose. But choose wisely. You may save your life. – And in the process gain the whole world. But in the end. - You can lose your own soul. You can’t buy it back. – What can you give as an exchange for your soul? Nothing!

B. There is only one clear option. Which is, to lose your life for Christ’s sake. The crucifixion of the old man; the self, brings pain. But crucifixion is always followed by resurrection.

Here you find your life. We want to avoid the pain of crucifixion. Pain and suffering are never easy. Yet without crucifixion there is no resurrection.

What more can you win but the resurrected Christ? Daily, through contrition and faith, the old man is drowned and dies. So that the new man; Christ within you, lives before God in righteousness and holiness.

So the writer to the Hebrews encourages us, “Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. “Hebrews 12:1-2

As Jesus loses His life on the cross for the life of the world to be saved, Jesus expects His followers to look forward to a similar existence. This is what you are given to do. The focus must be on Christ to avoid going back to the temptation of living under the Law. This is the death we experience in baptism. In baptism you died to self.

The self-made man may be a part of the American dream. It can turn into a spiritual nightmare. Life is meant to be given, expended, sacrificed for Jesus’ sake. Life cannot be “saved”, or it will be lost. When we try to save our lives, we waste it on gaining the world.

Here is a sound, universal principle. Life is at its best, is most meaningful when it is invested in a cause greater than yourself.

In this particular case– it is the cause of Christ. Giving oneself to Christ’s cause takes us out of ourselves and we lose ourselves in the attainment of that cause. This results in happiness and purpose in life.

The path and journey of faith is to walk where Jesus has called us. To be His disciples is to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him to death of self only to find - resurrection - and new life in Him.

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Words –1,500

Passive Sentences –6.7%

Readability –82.6%

Reading Level – 3.5

Sources:

Luther’s Seal © Ed Riojas, Higher Things

Saturday, August 29, 2015

Pentecost 14 - Proper 17

Proper 17

30 August 2015

Mark 7:14-23

O God, the source of all that is just and good. Nourish in us every virtue and bring to completion every good intent that we may grow in grace and bring forth the fruit of good works; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

We face a universal problem. How to make individuals good. To do good. And to live righteously. What is the answer to crime? Is it education? More laws. Better prisons. Capital punishment? Today an emphasis is placed on behavior modification - Through drugs. Rewards. And punishments etc.

Jesus puts his finger on the cause of all evil behavior - a dirty heart. A good life calls for a good heart. If so, the world is suffering from heart trouble! What to do about heart trouble? The Savior gives us the answer in verse 23 - All these evils come from inside and make a man ‘unclean.’ V.23

Know that the heart is the source of behavior.

Realize that Christ alone can make a good heart. He alone is the great physician who has performed His work in us.

I. Know that the hearts is the source of behavior.

A. The heart is the window to the soul.

1. It is a heart blackened by sin.

2. It is a heart broken by the hurt, pain and the effects of sin.

3. It is a deficient heart inherited by our parents.

B. This heart reflects the mature of man.

1. Who was created in the image of God. Created in righteousness and holiness.

2. Yet, when Adam and Eve rebelled, falling headlong into sin. Man lost this image of God.

Now the will, desires, and the thoughts of man follow the self. “Thus when Adam was 99 years old he had a son after his own image and likeness and called him Seth.”

3. Because the heart is darkened by sin, man now tries to hide himself from sin. Anyone who has ever been around a toddler has witnessed what happens when that child might be doing something he knows he shouldn’t. When the parents enter the room. He shuts his eyes. And the problem goes away! That’s what the darkness and blindness of sin can do. It makes us close our eyes to anything, which would expose our sinful self.

Transition: Realizing that the heart is the source of human behavior what shall we do? We turn to Jesus our Great Physician who is able to reform His work in you – He greatest work is reserved for those He came to save.

II. We turn to Jesus

A. We must come to realize that He alone can make a good heart.

1. Sometimes a transplant is the only solution. This is what Christ has done for you. He has given you a new heart. When He went to the cross and stood at the mouth of an empty tomb. He took your poor weak heart and replaced it!

2. Because He has given you new life – new life in Him. He is the one who shapes and molds your life. Your times are in His hands. Only He can direct your path. He has promised He will do this.

B. As the Great Physician Jesus alone is able to perform His work in you.

1. His work in you began at your baptism. When you were connected to Christ. He gave His word and promise to restore and forgive you. He promises to be with you always for time and eternity.

2. Yet His hand is still upon you. Never will He let you go. He will mold and shape every circumstance of your life to bring it into conformity with Hid good and perfect will.

3. You are redeemed by Christ. To train the third and fourth generation of your family in the ways of the Lord. You are a child of God. You are redeemed by Christ. What you do in your job might not always define who you are. But whose you are - defines what you do. As you impact those around you in the mission of Christ and His Kingdom.

Having heart trouble? Take the prescription, which is proven to work every single time it’s offered – given to you by that great Physician – Jesus Christ the righteous!

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Words –728

Passive Sentences – 8%

Readability – 84.6

Reading Level -3.8

Sunday, August 23, 2015

Time in the Word Pentecost 14- Proper 17

Time in the Word

24-29 August 2015

Preparation for next week, The 14th Sunday after Pentecost

The theme for the Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost is Faith in Action. The Pharisees of Christ’s day adhered strictly to the dietary restrictions laid down by God in His Law. They even extended them. However, they believed that this strict outward fulfillment would save them. They gave little thought to the condition of their hearts, for even as they were outwardly pious in following the letter of the Law, inwardly, they were filthy with sin, hating Christ and His disciples and even hatching a plan to murder Him.

Jesus tells us that what matters is not the outward act, but the condition of one’s heart. Now this does not mean that we are free to act however we will. True faith will always manifest itself in doing good works, and a desire to adhere to the Word of God. People will be able to see that we have put our faith in action by our love for others.

As for the dietary laws of the Jews, we can be thankful that Christ has fulfilled the Law and has declared all foods clean. We are free to enjoy bacon cheeseburgers, pork chops, shrimp, and much more without guilty consciences.

Wickedness and evil come “from within, out of the heart,” and that is what defiles a person (Mark 7:21–23). Hence, we cannot save ourselves, because we are sinful and unclean from the inside out. But as the Lord Jesus “declared all foods clean” (Mark 7:19), so He cleanses us by His Word, by the preaching of repentance and the forgiveness of sins. Therefore, “listen to the statutes and the rules” of the Lord, “and do them, that you may live” (Deut. 4:1). For His Word is righteous, and to live according to it is “your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples” (Deut. 4:6). Cling to His Word, and also teach it “to your children and your children’s children” (Deut. 4:9). Put on this “armor of God” by hearing and heeding what He speaks to you, that you may “stand firm” in the evil day (Eph. 6:11–13). Gird yourself with the righteousness of Christ, by faith in the “gospel of peace,” and take up “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,” by confessing Christ Jesus and “praying at all times in the Spirit” (Eph. 6:14–18).

Prayer before confession and absolution: Almighty, everlasting God, for our many sins we justly deserve eternal condemnation. In Your mercy You sent Your dear Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, who won for us forgiveness of sins and everlasting salvation. Grant us a true confession that, dead to sin, we may be raised up by Your life-giving absolution. Grant us Your Holy Spirit that we may be ever watchful and live true and godly lives in Your service; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Prayer for teaching the faith: Almighty God, our heavenly Father, even as You have committed the care and nurture of children to Your people, graciously enlighten those who teach and those who are committed to their instruction that they may know Your eternal truth and trust in You all the days of their lives; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Prayer for steadfast faith: Almighty God, our heavenly Father, because of Your tender love toward us sinners You have given us Your Son that, believing in Him, we might have everlasting life. Continue to grant us Your Holy Spirit that we may remain steadfast in this faith to the end and finally come to life everlasting; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Prayer for aid against temptation: O God, You justify the ungodly and desire not the death of the sinner. Graciously assist us by Your heavenly aid and evermore shield us with Your protection, that no temptation may separate us from Your love in Christ Jesus, our Lord. Amen.

Prayer for spiritual renewal: Almighty God, grant that we, who have been redeemed from the old life of sin by our Baptism into the death and resurrection of Your Son, Jesus Christ, may be renewed by Your Holy Spirit to live in righteousness and true holiness; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Prayer for deliverance from sin: Almighty God, our heavenly Father, You desire not the death of a sinner, but rather that we turn from our evil ways and live. Graciously spare us those punishments which we by our sins have deserved, and grant us always to serve You in holiness and pureness of living; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord. Amen.

Monday, 24 August 2015—Psalm 51:7, 10–12; Antiphon, Psalm 51:2—Sunday’s Introit is a portion of David’s pœnitential psalm, the one he wrote after being confronted with his sin with Bathsheba (2 Sam 11:1—12:14). David evinces true repentance: grief, shame, and contrition over his sin, but also faith and trust in God that he would be redeemed of all his iniquity. When we sing this as the Offertory, we make David’s plea our own: we ask for—and receive—a clean heart, a right spirit. We have been washed thoroughly from iniquity and cleansed from all sin by the atoning sacrifice of Christ.

Tuesday, 25 August 2015—Psalm 119:129–136—Psalm 119 is the longest psalm, and it extols the virtues of delighting in the Word of God. One who is righteous by faith has a great desire to live according to the precepts of God’s holy Word. The Word of God gives light and understanding; it keeps us from having our iniquity getting dominion over us. We the redeemed long to live by faith according to the Word; we shed tears because people do not keep God’s Law.

Wednesday, 26 August 2015—Deuteronomy 4:1–2, 6–9—As the Children of Israel were about to take possession of the land that the LORD, the God of your fathers, is giving them, Moses reminds them of all that the LORD had taught and commanded them. His advice is to them and to us, heirs through Christ of the spiritual Promised Land, the Kingdom of Heaven. We must be diligent to hear the Word of God and preserve it, making it known, not only among ourselves, but to our children and our children’s children.

Thursday, 27 August 2015—Ephesians 6:10–20—This last reading from St Paul’s letter to the Ephesians fit exceptionally well with Sunday’s other readings. Moses had given his instruction to the Israelites because he knew how easy it is for people to fall away from God. In times of both adversity and prosperity, people may be tempted to forsake the Lord. Attacks will come, for the devil hates God and all whom He loves.

The Christian must gird himself for spiritual warfare with the weapons which God has provided: truth, righteousness, the Gospel, faith, salvation—with these, we are equipped for the assaults of the Evil One.

Friday, 28 August 2015—Mark 7:14–23—What defiles a person? Is it what goes into him? No. We are all defiled by sin. We have inherited our sinful nature from our first parents, and are inclined toward evil. Jesus gives a whole laundry list of wicked thoughts and actions which proceed out of our sinful hearts. We must ever be on guard, not only against the attacks of Satan, as in the epistle lesson, but even on the treachery of our own hearts. We must not depart from the Word of God, but read, hear, and learn it daily to know of both our salvation and of the will of God.

Saturday, 29 August 2015—Sunday’s hymn of the day, Be Strong in the Lord (LSB 665) exhorts us to make full use of the armor of God, that we may withstand the wiles of the devil and our sinful nature. Having been equipped by our Lord, we can be certain of the victory.

Time in the Word - Pentecost 14 - Proper 17

Time in the Word

17-22 August 2015

Preparation for next week, The 14th Sunday after Pentecost

Collect for Pentecost 13—O God, the source of all that is just and good, nourish in us every virtue and bring to completion every good intent that we may grow in grace and bring forth the fruit of good works; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Let us pray for all who are outside the Church, that our Lord God would be pleased to deliver them from their error, call them to faith in the true and living God and His only Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, and gather them into His family, the Church:

Almighty and everlasting God, because You seek not the death but the life of all, hear our prayers for all who have no right knowledge of You, free them from their error, and for the glory of Your name bring them into the fellowship of Your holy Church; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Monday, 17 August 2015—Psalm 51:7, 10–12; Antiphon, Psalm 51:2—Sunday’s Introit is a portion of David’s pœnitential psalm, the one he wrote after being confronted with his sin with Bathsheba (2 Sam 11:1—12:14). David evinces true repentance: grief, shame, and contrition over his sin, but also faith and trust in God that he would be redeemed of all his iniquity. When we sing this as the Offertory, we make David’s plea our own: we ask for—and receive—a clean heart, a right spirit. We have been washed thoroughly from iniquity and cleansed from all sin by the atoning sacrifice of Christ.

Tuesday, 18 August 2015—Psalm 119:129–136—Psalm 119 is the longest psalm, and it extols the virtues of delighting in the Word of God. One who is righteous by faith has a great desire to live according to the precepts of God’s holy Word. The Word of God gives light and understanding; it keeps us from having our iniquity getting dominion over us. We the redeemed long to live by faith according to the Word; we shed tears because people do not keep God’s Law.

Wednesday, 19 August 2015—Deuteronomy 4:1–2, 6–9—As the Children of Israel were about to take possession of the land that the LORD, the God of your fathers, is giving them, Moses reminds them of all that the LORD had taught and commanded them. His advice is to them and to us, heirs through Christ of the spiritual Promised Land, the Kingdom of Heaven. We must be diligent to hear the Word of God and preserve it, making it known, not only among ourselves, but to our children and our children’s children.

Thursday, 20 August 2015—Ephesians 6:10–20—This last reading from St Paul’s letter to the Ephesians fit exceptionally well with Sunday’s other readings. Moses had given his instruction to the Israelites because he knew how easy it is for people to fall away from God. In times of both adversity and prosperity, people may be tempted to forsake the Lord. Attacks will come, for the devil hates God and all whom He loves. The Christian must gird himself for spiritual warfare with the weapons which God has provided: truth, righteousness, the Gospel, faith, salvation—with these, we are equipped for the assaults of the Evil One.

Friday, 21 August 2015—Mark 7:14–23—What defiles a person? Is it what goes into him? No. We are all defiled by sin. We have inherited our sinful nature from our first parents, and are inclined toward evil. Jesus gives a whole laundry list of wicked thoughts and actions which proceed out of our sinful hearts. We must ever be on guard, not only against the attacks of Satan, as in the epistle lesson, but even on the treachery of our own hearts. We must not depart from the Word of God, but read, hear, and learn it daily to know of both our salvation and of the will of God.

Saturday, 22 August 2015—Sunday’s hymn of the day, Be Strong in the Lord (LSB 665) exhorts us to make full use of the armor of God, that we may withstand the wiles of the devil and our sinful nature. Having been equipped by our Lord, we can be certain of the victory.

Schnorr von Carolsfeld woodcut used with permission from WELS