Proper 6

 

June 13, 2021
2 Corinthians 5:9
"We make it our goal to please Him"

What is the aim of your life? For what purpose are you living? The average person might say: "I don't have any particular purpose. I want to go through school, get a good job, make plenty of money and have a good life" That is simply existing.

Can a Christian be satisfied with no clear or significant goals or with only a materialistic purpose in life? Such a materialistic purpose in living permeates much of our world's thinking today. As the adage suggests: "The one with the most toys wins!"

Yet the admonition of the Lord should make us stand up and take notice. Jesus has told us quite clearly "What does it profit a man to gain the whole world yet (IN THE END) to forfeit his own soul?" {Mark 8:36}

For a fulfilling purposeful life we need to be set on a higher plain. That is the issue which we will ponder this morning.

Where does God fit into the picture? Paul would say to us that it is his aim whether on earth or in heaven to please God. In verse 9 of our Epistle lesson for this morning Paul explains: "We make it our goal to please Him"

How do we make it our goal to please God?

I.        We make it our goal to please Him when we first believe in His Son Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.  The Savior's desire for you is therefore to establish a relationship with you; to give you an abundant life and to give you direction in your life.

A.     The Savior's purpose is to have a relationship with us. The reason the Lord desires a connection with you is that you might experience from the gifts of forgiveness, life and salvation. To accomplish this Jesus entered time and space - John put it this way in his Gospel: "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only who came from the Father full of grace and truth" (John 1:14)

 

Jesus entered time and space to take upon Himself our sin and guilt. He carried your sin and mine to the cross and there exchanged them for His righteousness, purity and perfection. This is His purpose for us.

 

B.     "I have come…" Jesus has said in John 10, "…that they might have life and have it abundantly" (v.10) In establishing a relationship with us, in exchanging our sin with His righteousness, He now gives us an abundant and purpose filled life.

Consider how life would be without Christ at the center. The hymn writer put it best when he wrote the following lines:

When Jesus comes, O blessed story!
He works a change in heart and life;
God's kingdom come with pow'r and glory
To young and old, to man and wife;
Thro' Sacrament and living Word,
Faith, love and hope are now conferred.
The Lutheran Hymnal © 1940 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis #65 stanza 4

 

C.     Jesus has come to give us direction. When we realize that our many sins have been forgiven. When we realize that the life He gives us is to be lived abundantly.  When we have a life lived with a purpose He give us a clear direction to be a blessing and to influence other as He has blessed and influenced us.

 

It is a reciprocal arraignment. As He influences us in our life by His life we in turn influence others by our lives.

Transition: We make it our goal to please Him by believing in Him as Savior and Lord. We also make it our goal to please Him by obeying His commandments.

II.     We obey His commandments.

A.     To obey His commandments is not something we are inclined to do. To the contrary our natural inclination is to act contrary to His will and law for we are all sinners.

 

Scripture teach us this quite clearly. "But the natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised." {1 Corinthians 2:14} Jesus put it this way in John chapter 3 "that which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of the spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that you must be born again" (Vv.6-7)

B.     To please God we need His Spirit to direct our lives in every respect. For this reason the Scriptures remind us in Romans 6:3: "…so let us walk in newness of life."

 

C.     As the Savior fills us with His Spirit He gives us both the will and the ability to both walk as becomes a child of God. By ourselves we cannot please Him. Paul writes of his frustration when he explains to us by saying in essence: "that which I want to do I cannot do. That which I desire not to do is the very thing, which I do…"

He sums this all up in Romans 7:21ff when he says: "So I find this law at work. When I want to do good evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God's law but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. What a wretched man I am. Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God - through Jesus Christ our Lord."

 

What God wants us to do we fail to do it. That what we desire not to do we find ourselves doing repeatedly. By ourselves we cannot accomplish and fulfill His will. Thus He fills us with His Spirit so that we may accomplish His will for our lives. Therefore it is not I who does this but Christ who is inside me?

Transition: We make it our goal to please Him by believing in Him as Lord and Savior, by obeying His commandments and by serving Him with glad and thankful hearts.

III.   We make it our goal to please Him by serving Him with gladness and gratitude.

A.     We serve Him with gladness. "I was glad when they said unto me let us go into the house of the Lord" (Psalm 122:1)

 

In Thee is gladness Amid all sadness
Jesus, sunshine of my heart.
By You are given The gifts of heaven,
You the true Redeemer are.
Our souls are waking; Our bonds are breaking,
Who trust you surely, Has built securely
And stands forever Alleluia!
Our hearts are pining To see Your shining,
Dying and living To you are cleaving
Now and forever. Alleluia!

Lutheran Worship © 1980 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis, MO #442 stanza 1 

B.     We serve Him with gratitude.

With gratitude in our hearts for all He has done for us especially at the cross and empty tom we serve Him.

With gratitude for His continued presence in our lives we serve Him. His Spirit continues to direct us. His Holy Word continues to speak to us. His gifts of baptism and the Supper continue to nourish and strength us giving us forgiveness life and salvation.

In all things we make it our goal to please Him. In all things He is at center of all that we do. In all things He is our champion, our King and our Redeemer.

Words- 1,280
Passive Sentences –4%
Readability –80.2%
Reading Level – 5.4

Proper 6

Proper 6

14 June 2015

Mark 4:26-34

“The Kingdom of the Mustard Seed”

Jesus tells us, “The Kingdom of God is like a mustard seed” (v 31). That doesn’t seem to make sense. A mustard seed? An insignificant, unimpressive seed, quite obviously incapable of doing anything great.

But that’s what Jesus teaches. The Kingdom of God, like a Mustard Seed, Merely Appears Insignificant, Unimpressive, Incapable of Doing Anything Great.

The Kingdom, Jesus Himself, did appear insignificant. Jesus often appeared insignificant, unimpressive, incapable of doing anything great. Shortly after Pentecost, the apostles were brought in and made to appear before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest… Luke records what took place… But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while.  Then he addressed the Sanhedrin:

“Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men. Some time ago, Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing. 

 After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered. Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if, their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.” (Acts 5:33-39)  

All outward signs rejected Jesus rejected by the leadership. Even His own family considered him senseless. When He was arrested, His followers deserted and scattered.

This Kingdom included the least desirable people, sinners, prostitutes, tax collectors. You might as well just invite anyone into it—and He did. Some Kingdom. Insignificant, unimpressive, and by all appearances, it seemed incapable of doing anything great.

The Kingdom among us today – Jesus in Word and Sacrament still appears unimpressive. The Kingdom merely appears insignificant, unimpressive, and incapable of doing anything great. Jesus said that while the mustard seed is the smallest of the seeds, when it’s planted it grows and becomes the largest plant in the garden. (Perhaps as high as ten feet.) With such big branches that the birds can perch in its shade. Though human wisdom and logic can never believe it, the eyes of faith behold it.

And, yes, sins are forgiven. My sins, your sins, are paid for in the death of our Savior, Jesus. Pronounced to us in absolution, received by us in the Supper of Christ’s body and blood. Guilt is replaced by peace. Death is replaced by life. As Luther so simply put it in the Small Catechism, “where there is forgiveness of sins there is life and salvation.” And through all these gifts, the Holy Spirit is at work strengthening faith and love toward God, and He moves us to love our neighbor. That’s the mustard seed growing, and that, by the power of the Spirit, is what happens here.

Faith sees great things, like rejoicing in heaven, happening in the Kingdom. In faith, we see things as they are. Every Sunday morning, the seed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is sown. People hear. In faith, you repent. And in that very moment, the host of heavenly angels is rejoicing. A thrill goes through heaven above at something that took place down here among us.

Remember the mustard seed and rejoice in what you do in Jesus’ name. A simple invitation extended to someone to come to church, where the gifts of Jesus are given. It won’t make the nightly news, but it causes rejoicing in heaven.

Our own lives in the Kingdom have a hidden significance that is great indeed. Like those birds, seeking shelter in the shade of a mustard plant, we live by faith within the shelter of this kingdom of grace, where Christ’s righteousness covers all our sin. And then, when the Lord returns, we and all the world, believer and unbeliever alike, will see just how great the kingdom of the mustard seed is.

It’s just as Jesus said in the other parable in our text, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground. He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how. The earth produces by itself, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. But when the grain is ripe, at once he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come” (Vv. 26–29). That’s what the farmer does. That’s what you do. And what a harvest!

Rarely, if ever, will someone esteem us or praise us for living by faith in Christ. Your Sunday paper or evening news won’t report this. And it’s not their job. But for you and me, who own this glorious mystery, it is our job. The kingdom of God is like a mustard seed. And don’t forget it. Behold it in faith, and then live in its grace. Invite people to come to this place, where the precious seed is sown. And let us pray that God will make it grow among us all.

Words-910

Passive Sentences -15%

Readability -75%

Reading Level-5.

Pentecost 3 - Proper 6

June 17, 2012

Proper 6 –

Mark 4:26-34

Blessed Lord, since You have caused all Holy Scripture to be written for our learning, grant that we may so hear them, read, mark learn and inwardly digest them that we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of eternal life; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

When there is life there is growth. Even after physical growth stops, human beings need to keep on growing intellectually and in other ways. Growth is necessary to experience life at its fullest. Growth is always a feature of God’s kingdom and specifically of the Word of the kingdom. The parables in Mark 4, beginning with the parable of the sower, focus on God’s Word. The text points out that the Word of God Grows.

I.             The Word grows gradually.

A.            As the seed is sown.

1.            Both pastors and lay Christians sow the seed of the Word.

2.            The sowing goes on wherever God’s Word is proclaimed, preached, taught and shared.  Gradual sowing is necessary for gradual growth.

B.            As the plant develops.

1.            We can prepare the ground and nurture the plant but the seed grows of itself, mysteriously.

2.            We may sometimes get discouraged because the growth is so gradual, but growth there will be present. Therefore, we can relax and let the Word work according to its own schedule.

Transition: While learning to be patient with growth that is gradual, we must also face up to the fact that.

II.            The Word grows inconspicuously.

A.            The Word is as inconspicuous as a mustard seed in the beginning stages of its growth.

1.            The great and the powerful in Christ’s day gave little notice to the Word growing in their midst.

2.            Those who wield power and influence in the world today are indifferent for the most part to the growth of the Word.

B.            So inconspicuous is the Word’s growth that we are often not aware of anything taking place.

1.            The sinners with whom Christ associated and the disciples whom He called often gave little evidence of spiritual growth.

2.            We cannot see faith, nor do we always see the various stages of growth. Conversions are not necessarily spectacular, nor do we always perceive growth in love and patience in ourselves and in others.

Transition: At the same time, there is evidence of rather impressive growth.

III.           The Word grows impressively.

A.            The Word that was sown in a little corner of the world has spread to many nations.

1.            The Word has produced a great bush with large branches in which all sorts of people find refuge and rest.

2.            The worldwide church attest to the growth power of the Word.

B.            The Word will continue to grow until it produces a harvest.

1.            We shall see this harvest on the Last Great Day.

2.            Then there will be a great gathering of ripened grain, of redeemed souls, for the heavenly garner.

We need never discount the power of God’s Word. The Word of God grows gradually and inconspicuously, but also impressively.

Artwork by Ed Riojas, © Higher Things

Wheat is ready for harvest pray for our farmers 

Time in the Word Pentecost 3 - Proper 6

The Cross of Christ Is the Tree of Life, Which Bears Abundant Fruit after Its Own Kind

The Parables of our Lord convey the mysteries of the Kingdom of God to those who are “able to hear it,” that is, “to His own disciples,” who are catechized to fear, love and trust in Him by faith (Mark 4:33–34). He “scatters seed on the ground,” which “sprouts and grows” unto life, even as “He sleeps and rises” (Mark 4:26–27). “On the mountain heights of Israel,” He plants a young and tender twig, and it becomes “a noble cedar.” Indeed, His own Cross becomes the Tree of Life, under which “every kind of bird” will dwell, and in which “birds of every sort will nest” (Ezek 17:22–25). His Cross is our resting place, even while now in mortal bodies, we “groan, being burdened” (2 Cor 5:1–4). Yet faith we live for God in Christ, who for our sake “died and was raised” (2 Cor 5:15). We know that, in His resurrected body, “we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens” (2 Cor 5:1).

Collect for Pentecost 3: Blessed Lord, since You have caused all Holy Scriptures to be written for our learning, grant that we may so hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them that we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Prayer for the Church: Almighty God, grant to Your Church Your Holy Spirit and the wisdom that comes down from above, that Your Word may not be bound but have free course and be preached to the joy and edifying of Christ’s holy people, that in steadfast faith we may serve You and, in the confession of Your name, abide unto the end; 

Prayer for the mission of the Church and her missionaries: Almighty and gracious God, You want all to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. Magnify the power of the Gospel in the hearts of Your faithful people that Your Church may spread the good news of salvation. Protect, encourage, and bless all missionaries who proclaim the saving cross that Christ, being lifted up, may draw all people to Himself, 

Prayer for those outside the Church: Almighty and everlasting God, You desire not the death of a sinner but that all would repent and live. Hear our prayers for those outside the Church. Take away their iniquity, and turn them from their false gods to You, the living and true God. Gather them into Your holy Church to the glory of Your name; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, 

Prayer for persecuted Christians: Lord Jesus Christ, before whom all in heaven and earth shall bow, grant courage that Your children may confess Your saving name in the face of any opposition from a world hostile to the Gospel. Help them to remember Your faithful people who sacrificed much and even faced death rather than dishonor You when called upon to deny the faith. By Your Spirit, strengthen them to be faithful and to confess You boldly, knowing that You will confess Your own before the Father in heaven, with whom You and the Holy Spirit live and reign, one God, now and forever.

Monday, 11 June 2012—Psalm 92:12–15; Antiphon, Psalm 92:1—This ‘Psalm for the Sabbath’ is a hymn of praise, in which the psalmist gives thanks to the LORD for His steadfast love and faithfulness. He declares us righteous and makes us flourish like the palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. From ancient times, even until to-day, Lebanon has been known for its tall strong cedars: Cedars from Lebanon were used in constructing the temple, and the cedar appears on Lebanon’s national flag. We who are planted in the house of the LORD are strong in the LORD like these trees of renown.

Tuesday, 12 June 2012—Psalm 1—Luther wrote that the psalter is the Bible in miniature. If so, then the opening six verses are the portal leading into a treasure-house of communion with God. Who is the one who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners . . . but his delight is in the law of the Lord and on His Law he meditates day in night? First, it is Christ. Secondly, it is all of us who have been incorporated into Christ—the holy Christian Church. The new man, created by Baptism, that comes forth daily and arises to live before God in righteousness and purity forever.

Wednesday, 13 June 2012—Ezekiel 17:22–24—Things looked bleak when Jerusalem fell and King Zedekiah died in exile (Ezekiel 17:11-21). Through the prophet Ezekiel, the LORD proclaims that He will take a sprig from the lofty top of the cedar and…I myself will plant it on a high and lofty mountain. This tender sprig will never be uprooted, for it is the promised Messiah, Jesus, who will be given the throne of His father David, and whose Messianic kingdom will be established forever.

Thursday, 14 June 2012—2 Corinthians 5:1–10—In Sunday’s epistle reading, St Paul looks forward to eternal life in heaven, when we shall live forever in our glorified bodies, no longer made frail by the ravages of sin. Paul has supreme confidence in what is to come, for his confidence rests, not in the whims of man, but in the surety of God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. The Christian, who lives by faith in the promises of the Lord, rejoices at the thought of being at home with the Lord.

Friday, 15 June 2012—Mark 4:26–34—These parables serve as both warning and encouragement to us. We have a rôle to play in the furtherance of God’s kingdom on earth by sharing the Good News of the Gospel with those around us, but we must never think that the triumph of the Kingdom is our triumph, for it is the Lord and His Word alone which are effective. But neither should we despair if the growth of the Lord’s Kingdom seems somehow unspectacular in our eyes. He alone is the Lord of the harvest (Mark 9:38); thus, we never cease praying “Thy Kingdom come” with patience and confidence.

Saturday, 16 June 2012—Sunday’s hymn of the day, Creator Spirit, By Whose Aid (LSB 500), is an eighth-century hymn written in praise of the Holy Spirit and the gifts He bestows on the Church. It first proclaims the Spirit as participating in the creation of all things, then testifies that He creates Christians by His gifts to us. The final stanza is a doxology: a hymn of praise to our Triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Prayers from Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House

Artwork by Ed Riojas © Higher Things

Lectionary summary on front page from the LCMS Commission on Worship

The Revd Jeffrey M. Keuning has written this week’s Time in the Word

Pentecost 3 - Proper 6

Today’s lessons do not deal with the denial of sin, or even with the hiding of sin, but rather with the lack of awareness of sin. In the Old Testament lesson as well as the Gospel sin is easily seen in others but not in themselves. They teach us that we can be guilty of horrible things – even of murder – and not be conscious of it. Unless there is an awareness of sin, we will never confess it, become contrite, nor repent. Today, we face the situation of sin abounding while the consciousness of sin is minimal.

Though the world is saturated with sin, we seem to be unconcerned about it. A daily newspaper is a tabloid of sin – in every segment of modern life. There is no place where there is no sin: organized and unorganized crime, government, business, and even the church. Until David was confronted by Nathan he had no clue that he had sinned against God. Paul must confront Peter with his sin of backsliding. Simon – he could see the woman was sinful but not himself. All three lessons beg the question – Can we sin and not even know it?

1. We can sin and not even know it when we don’t consider it sin. David must be made away of his sin of murder. The Lord uses Nathan as His messenger. David must be made aware of his sin because he has become blind to its presence. Possibly David had convinced himself that he was above it all. This happens when sin is dismissed as a disease, a normal way of life, a social maladjustment, a mismatching of genes, a behavioral disorder. We need the Word which says, “You are that man.”

2. We can sin and not even know it when sin is covered by self-righteousness. We see this in the Savior’s conversation with Simon the Pharisee as a sinful woman anoints the Savior at supper in Simon’s house. Do you consider yourself better then most? Really? Are you without fault or blame?

We need to see that it is far better to give a true confession of sin than not to give one. He who claims he has no sin misses out on the greatest things of life. The poor, unfortunate character was not the sinful woman but the good, proud Pharisee. His life was empty. There are many good Christians who claim guiltlessness but are perfectly miserable.

Sinners outside the church belong inside. (Vv.36-39) Though they man not, like Simon, realize they are sinners, church members are sinners. Sin transcends sex, station, and status. Sinners like Simon in the church need to invite sinners to come to church to be with Jesus.

3. We can sin and not even know it when we sin without God. Paul must publicly oppose Peter at Antioch for compromising the gospel. There is only one correct response “I have sinned against the Lord.” Any harm or wrong done to man is at the same time done to God. All in is sin against God – a violation against the 1st Commandment. Though adultery and murder involve people they are sins against God who commands men not to treat each other harmfully.

In non-essentials Christians have freedom; in essentials, unity. Christians have and will continue to adapt to changing times – to new situations, new needs, new problems. We dare not compromise the essentials of the faith. Peter adapts to the Judaizers to avoid offense, but he compromises the essentials of the faith – justification by grace. Paul is quick to see the error and openly condemns Peter for his compromise.

Today we may be tempted to compromise with the secular world and to pagans for the sake of being accepted. We need to have people like Paul bringing us back to the essentials of the gospel; salvation by grace, grace coming through faith, faith is sufficient.

Schnorr von Carolsfeld woodcuts © WELS for personal and congregational use