Time in the Word - Proper 3

Time in the Word
Obedience to God’s Word
Proper 3
May 19-24 2008

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For the remainder of the Pentecost season, we have three independent routes: the Old Testament Lesson, the Epistle Lesson, and Gospel. The Old Testament Lesson deals primarily with the Patriarchs and Moses, the Epistle Lesson with Romans, and the Gospel with Matthew. The Psalm of the day usually harmonizes with the Epistle Lesson; the Prayer and Hymn of the Day with the Gospel. Instead of marking Sundays after Trinity we now deal with Sundays within a given week.

To try to find a unifying theme for the Lessons and Propers would do an injustice to the passages. Pentecost is a wide-open field for preaching because it gives the preacher wide latitude of sources and subjects.


Collect for Proper 3 – Eternal God, You counsel us not to be anxious about earthly things. Keep alive in us a proper yearning for those heavenly treasures awaiting all who trust in Your mercy, that we may daily rejoice in Your salvation and serve You with constant devotion; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Monday, May 19, 2008 – Psalm 62:1-2; 11-12 - This is the Psalm portion from which the Introit for next Sunday is taken. The antiphon is taken from verse 8, “Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before Him.” This Psalm is an appeal to God for the Lord to uphold him. No other Psalm surpasses it in expression of simple faith in the Lord.

Tuesday, May 20, 2008 - Isaiah 49:8-16a – These words are quoted by St. Paul in 2 Corinthians 6:2 The background of this verse is probably the year of Jubilee. It was under Joshua that the land had been divided among individual tribes and families. The Messianic servant will be a new Joshua – as well as a new Moses which echo Israel’s deliverance from Egypt and her desert experiences under Moses during the period of the exodus. Isaiah is speaking of the redemptive work of the messiah who will bring about the day of salvation and establish His covenant with His church.

Wednesday, May 21, 2008 – Romans 1:8-17 –Paul begins his letter to the Romans and as is his custom he begins with a thanksgiving. The Christian must go through Christ not only for requests to god but also to give thanks. By the time Paul writes to the Romans the Gospel has already been spread around the known world. Verses 16-17 will become the theme of the entire book of Romans.

Thursday, May 22, 2008 - Matthew 6:24-34 – These words of the Savior are taken from the Sermon on the Mount. In these verses the Savior teaches us not to worry but in every circumstance we commend ourselves to the Lord. [See Sunday’s sermon outline.]

Friday, May 23, 2008 – Psalm 115:1-8– This Psalm is suggested for next Sunday. The Psalmist praises the Lord, the one true God for His love and faithfulness toward His people. It is composed as a liturgy of praise for the temple worship. In these opening verses the people begin with their praise to the Lord.

Saturday, May 24, 2008 –Matthew 6:19-34 – Is the inspiration for the hymn “All depends on our possessing“{LSB 732} Taken from our Gospel lesson for tomorrow our sermon hymn reminds us that the Lord not only directs our path but we are to place our complete confidence in Him. Our possessions may possess us if we place our confidence in things and not in the Lord.

A Prayer for humility – O God, You resist the proud and give grace to the humble. Grant us true humility after the likeness of Your only Son that we may never be arrogant and prideful and thus provoke Your wrath but in all lowliness be made partakers of the gifts of Your grace.

A Prayer for renewal – Almighty God, You gave Your only-begotten Son to take our nature upon Himself. Grant that we, Your adopted children by grace, may daily be renewed by Your Holy Spirit.

For Agriculture - Almighty God, You blessed the earth to make it fruitful, bringing forth in abundance whatever is needed for the support of our lives. Prosper; we implore You, the work of farmers, especially in this planting season. Grant them seasonable weather that they may gather in the fruits of the earth and thus proclaim Your goodness. May we see by this noble vocation that by Your aid we are helping to feed the world and cause all who give thanks over their food to treat those who produce it with honor and respect.

A prayer before we study the Word – Almighty God, our heavenly Father, without Your help our labor is useless, and without Your light our search is in vain. Invigorate the study of Your holy Word that, by due diligence and right discernment, we may establish ourselves and others in Your holy faith.

Sources:

THE LUTHERAN HYMNAL © 1940 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis, MO
LUTHERAN WORSHIP © 1982 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis, MO
LUTHERAN SEVICE BOOK © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis, MO
LECTIONARY PREACHING WORKBOOK SERIES A © 1980 John Brokhoff CSS PUBLISHING LIMA, OH.

Trinity Sunday - May 18, 2008

May 18, 2008
TRINITY SUNDAY
Matthew 28:16-20
A Whole God for the Whole World!

Let us pray to the Lord:

Lighten Thou our darkness. Be Thyself our Light; Strengthen Thou our weakness, Sprit of all might. in Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen.[1]

INTRODUCTION; In the Great Commission, Jesus takes a world view of His mission. He sends His disciples out to win all nations by bringing them into a relationship with the whole deity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

A single Christian will often see only his congregation. A local congregation sees only its community. People need to see that Christianity is a worldwide movement. In like manner, we seldom deal with the whole Trinity. Usually we deal with Christ only to the neglect of Father and Spirit. It takes the whole person to bring the whole God to the whole world. Today we consider: A whole God for the whole world.

The wholeness of our religion —

1. The whole world for a whole God — v. 19, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,”

A. The task the Lord has given us — making disciples of “all the nations.” This is not an option. It is a divine mandate. These are our marching orders. We are in the disciple making business. The Lord directs us to reach out into the world.

B. Authority to win the world — v. 18, “Then Jesus came to them and said, all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.” This authority comes from the Savior Himself. It was given to Him by the Father. Jesus who lives and rules over heaven and earth has been given authority by His Father. But His authority we go out into the world. We do not go it alone. He leads, we follow. We speak and move and act under His authority.


C. The methods the Lord has given us are two — baptizing and teaching — vv. 19, 20. “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

1. Baptism. Again we’ve witnessed a Baptism this morning. Baptism brings us into the family. It is our entrance into the Kingdom of heaven. It connects us to the Father and to each other.

2. Teaching. On of the chief reasons of having a Christian Day School such as Wyneken. We are obligated to teach the word as we connect our children to the living Word in Baptism. Such tasks are not always easy. It takes commitment and sacrifice. It involving ourselves in teaching is not always comfortable – yet the Lord bids us “feed My sheep; shepherd My lambs”[2] and again He tells us, “Inasmuch as you have done it unto one of the least of these you have done it unto Me.” [3]

TRANSITION: The wholeness of our religion involves the whole world for the whole God. We also find the whole God for the whole world.

2. The whole God for the whole world — v. 19, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,”

[See PP. 322 - 323 of the Lutheran Service Book]

A. God the Father — He is the Almighty God our Creator. The entire vast universe was spoken into existence by our creator in six days – or shorter yet – ten phrases. All that we have comes from His sustaining and guiding hand. Notice how Luther explains it in the His explanation of the 1st Article.

I believe that God has made me and all creatures; that He has given me my body and soul, eyes, ears, and all my members, my reason and all my senses, and still takes care of them.

He also gives me clothing and shoes, food and drink, house and home, wife and children, land, animals, and all I have. He richly and daily provides me with all that I need to support this body and life.

He defends me against all danger and guards and protects me from all evil. All this He does only out of fatherly, divine goodness and mercy, without any merit or worthiness in me. For all this it is my duty to thank and praise, serve and obey Him. This is most certainly true.

B. God the Son — He is the Almighty God our Redeemer. Listen again to Luther’s explanation of the 2nd Article as we answer the questions of WHO, WHAT, HOW & WHY…

WHO IS THIS? I believe that Jesus Christ, true God, begotten of the Father from eternity, and also true man, born of the Virgin Mary, is my Lord.

WHAT HAS HE DONE? Who has redeemed me, a lost and condemned person, purchased and won me from all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil;

HOW DOES HE DO THIS? not with gold or silver, but with His holy, precious blood and with His innocent suffering and death,

WHY DID HE DO THIS? that I may be His own and live under Him in His kingdom and serve Him in everlasting righteousness, innocence, and blessedness, just as He is risen from the dead, lives and reigns to all eternity. This is most certainly true.

C. God the Spirit — He is the Almighty God our Sanctifier. The explanation of the 3rd Article tells the story of our salvation. What does this mean?

I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him; but the Holy Spirit has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith.

In the same way He calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian church on earth, and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith.

In this Christian church He daily and richly forgives all my sins and the sins of all believers.
On the Last Day He will raise me and all the dead, and give eternal life to me and all believers in Christ.

This is most certainly true.

CONCLUSION: The whole God for the whole world is the Lord’s program for His creation. It is His world view of His mission and His work. He sends His disciples out to win all nations by bringing them into a relationship with the whole God; Father, Son, and Holy Sprit.




[1] Holy Spirit, Hear Us stanza 5 The Lutheran Hymnal © 1942 Concordia Publishing House St. Louis, MO

[2] John 21:15-17
[3] Matthew 25:40

Time in the Word - Trinity

The Trinity in Your Life
Trinity Sunday
May 12-17, 2008

Trinity Sunday is the first Sunday after Pentecost. It can be called “God Sunday” It is a day of the church year to discuss the nature of God as one God in three persons. This may lead to more interest and the significance in doctrine and teaching. The term Trinity is not found in the Bible yet its teaching is found throughout the Scriptures.

The teaching of the Trinity is very much in evidence in the readings and propers for the coming week. The Prayer of the Day and the Hymn of the week deal with the Trinity. The Psalm harmonizes with the Old Testament lesson – God’s voice of creation. In the Epistle lesson the Trinity blesses. The Gospel shows God the Son commissioning His Disciples to baptize in the Name of the Trinity.

Monday, May 12, 2008 – Psalm 16:8-11- This is the Psalm from which the Introit for Trinity Sunday is taken. These words describe the joy of total security. They speak of the joy the believer has and enjoys as we remember the gracious provision and care of the Lord. Having the Trinity in your life means that we have a God in whom we take refuge.

Tuesday, May 13, 2008 - Genesis 1:1-2:4a – Created by God the Father. God the Father created the universe. In this first of two creation accounts, God, the first person of the Trinity, causes the entire universe to come into existence with humankind, made in God’s image, as the crown of creation. How did he do it? By the power of his Word. How did he feel about his work? It was good.



Wednesday, May 14, 2008 – Acts 2:14a, 22-36 – Blessed by God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit – The apostles having been baptized with the Holy Spirit and spoken the good news in other languages to various groups now stand with Peter who served as their spokesman. The Spirit, explains Peter is bestowed on all people…sons…daughters…young men…old men…men…women. The Spirit is irrespective of sex, age and rank.

Thursday, May 15, 2008 - Matthew 28:16-20 – Commissioned by God the Son to baptize in the Name of the Trinity. At the time of his ascension, Jesus gives his disciples the Great Commission to win the world in the name of the Trinity. Before leaving earth, Jesus meets with his disciples for the last time. He reminds them that he has all authority, the very authority of God, for he is the Son of God. With this authority he gives them a mandate to make the whole world Christian by baptism and teaching. In carrying out the commission, he assures them that he will be with them. Though he leaves the earth, he will still be with them in their hearts and minds.

Friday, May 16, 2008 – Psalm 8 – This Psalm is suggested for Trinity Sunday. It is a Psalm in praise of the Creator. Two matters especially impress the writer of the Psalm. (1) The Glory of God reflected in the starry heavens and (2) the astonishing condescension of God to be mindful of puny man, to crown him with glory almost god-like and to grant him lordly power over his creatures.

Saturday, May 17, 2008 –Acts 1:9-11 – Is the inspiration for the hymn “A Hymn of Glory Let Us Sing “{LSB 493} Verse 8 is a virtual outline of the entire book of Acts. The apostles were to be witnesses in Jerusalem (chapters 1-7) Judea and Samaria (chapters 8-9) and the ends of the earth (chapters 10-28) There were to be witnesses but not until they had received their marching orders from the Holy Spirit. These events lead us in the church of the 21st Century to live the share the faith with whomever the Lord places in our lives.

Collect for Trinity – Almighty and everlasting God, You have given us grace to acknowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity by the confession of a true faith and to worship the Unity in the power of the Divine Majesty. Keep us steadfast in this faith and defend us from all adversities; for You, O Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, live and reign, one God, now and forever.

A Prayer for our choir – God of majesty, whom saints and angels delight to worship in heaven, be with Your servants who make music for Your people that with joy we on earth may glimpse Your beauty. Bring us to the fulfillment of that hope of perfection that will be ours as we stand before Your unveiled glory.

A Prayer for guidance in our calling – Almighty and everlasting God, You have called Your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where w ego but only that Your hand is leading us and Your love support us.

For Agriculture - Almighty God, You blessed the earth to make it fruitful, bringing forth in abundance whatever is needed for the support of our lives. Prosper; we implore You, the work of farmers, especially in this planting season. Grant them seasonable weather that they may gather in the fruits of the earth and thus proclaim Your goodness. May we see by this noble vocation that by Your aid we are helping to feed the world and cause all who give thanks over their food to treat those who produce it with honor and respect.

A prayer before we study the Word – Almighty God, our heavenly Father, without Your help our labor is useless, and without Your light our search is in vain. Invigorate the study of Your holy Word that, by due diligence and right discernment, we may establish ourselves and others in Your holy faith.

Sources:

THE LUTHERAN HYMNAL © 1940 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis, MO

LUTHERAN WORSHIP © 1982 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis, MO

LUTHERAN SEVICE BOOK © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis, MO

LECTIONARY PREACHING WORKBOOK SERIES A JOHN BROCKHOFF © 1980 CSS PUBLISHING, LIMA, OH

Schnorr von Carolsfeld, woodcuts © WELS

Pentecost May 11, 2008

The Feast Day of Pentecost
May 11, 2008
Acts 2:1-21
Go into all the world

Introduction: This is Spirit Sunday. The promise of the Spirit is fulfilled. Two accounts tell of the fulfillment: the risen Jesus gives the Spirit on Easter; fifty days after Easter the Spirit falls on the disciples.

Let us pray to the Lord…

God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, as You sent upon the disciples the promised gift of the Holy Spirit, look upon Your church and open our hearts to the power of the Spirit. Kindle in us the fire of Your love and strengthen our lives for service in Your kingdom.

People outside the church witness the events of Pentecost and can only see a people who got religion and who do unusual things. How do you explain it? This was the question of the spectators of the Pentecost experiences — “What does this mean?” How do you explain the rush of wind, tongues of fire, and uneducated men suddenly speaking in foreign languages? How do you explain the boldness of once-timid, quiet men? How do we explain the marvelous lives and work of Christians?

The Spirit’s work is mysterious for most people. Some think of the Spirit in terms of a far-out religious group which has fanatical tendencies. There is needed in the church today an understanding of the ecclesiastical dimension of the Spirit. The Spirit is a church affair.

Outline: Consider the Spirit’s relation to the church.

I. The Spirit comes to the church — When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. v. 1. It is a community affair and corporate experience.

A. It is a community affair. Luke reminds us, “They were all together” (v. 1). The Spirit is a communal affair. The Spirit comes to us as a group and not always as an individual. Jesus breathed the Spirit on the disciples as a group.


B. It is a corporate experience. Baptism, when the Holy Spirit is received, is not a private but a public service and occasion. The Spirit is a drawing, collecting force. This we have experienced in the life of Emilie Raene. The Spirit calls us into a special relationship with Himself through the Sacrament of Baptism

II. The Spirit creates the church —And it shall come to pass That whoever calls on the name of the LORD Shall be saved v. 21. The Spirit gathers believers into a community. At Pentecost each foreigner heard the gospel in his own tongue. There was no need of an interpreter as in the case with “unknown tongues.” Each apostle miraculously spoke a foreign language without even learning it in order to tell the good news to foreign visitors in Jerusalem at the time of Pentecost. To this day Christians communicate the gospel in the people’s language. This was predicted in the Scriptures of Old by the prophet Joel. “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions.” Joel 2:28

A. The Holy Spirit gathers believers into a community. This community is referred to as The Holy Christian Church – The Communion of Saints. Into this church the Holy Spirit calls, gathers, enlightens, sanctifies and keeps us in the one true faith.

B. What is this community none other then our Friedheim family? As a congregation we gather around the Word and Sacraments to be fed and led by our Savior. This gathering is nothing more and certainly nothing less then holy sheep listening to the voice of their Shepherd. Thus we gather to worship, be fed, to receive holy absolution, to be strengthened, to intercede for one another, to bear each other’s burdens only to enter back into the world to be salt and light.

We use the gifts, talents, and abilities the Lord has given us in our various vocations to be witnesses of the Savior. It is a serious task as the Savior speaks quite specifically about those who loose their saltiness and whose light goes out.

Transition: The Holy Spirit comes to the Church. The Holy Spirit creates the Church. The Holy Spirit works through the Church.

III. The Spirit works through the church — But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words: v. 14. The church proclaims the Word and administers the sacraments through which the Spirit grants forgiveness and eternal life.

A. The church proclaims the Word and administers the sacraments. These are the true “marks” of the church. We use the Word to ground us in the faith. Thus when we use the Word whether it is studied, read, shared, the Word of the Lord is strengthening us. Likewise as we make use of the means of grace – in the Sacraments not only do they bring us to faith but the also sustain us as we travel along this journey of faith.

B. In the Church the Lord richly and daily forgives the sins of me and all believers in Christ, and on the last day we raise me and all the dead and give eternal salvation to all who believe. This is the promise the Spirit has for you. Have no fear little flock for the Father has promised to give you the kingdom. Have no fear – have no fear.

Conclusion: The Holy Spirit gives life and then sustains life. He is the one who directs the affairs of His Church. We come to a worship service and then in service we witness for Him. We enter back into the world to be witnesses of the Savior. Our desire is for others to embrace and cherish our Friedheim family as they become connected to Jesus Christ. Do we always get it right? Not always. Are we perfect? Hardly! Do we stumble, fumble, flop and fall? Certainly! Yet, in spite of our many flaws the Lord uses us in various ways, often to our amazement!

Some seek revival in the church today. An Amish draft horse might be a fitting analogy. We plod along through life. And yet, after a long, long, day a few acres have been planted - and by God’s grace - we shall reap a harvest of souls. A blessed Pentecost in Jesus’ Name!

Time in the Word - Pentecost

The Advent of the Spirit
Pentecost
May 5-10, 2008

Collect for Pentecost – O God, on this day You once taught the hearts of Your faithful people by sending them the light of Your Holy Spirit. Grant us in our day by the same Spirit to have a right understanding in all things and evermore to rejoice in His holy consolation; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives, and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, as you sent upon the disciples the promised gift of the Holy Spirit, look upon your church and open our hearts to the power of the Spirit. Kindle in us the fire of your love and strengthen our lives for service in your kingdom.

Pentecost is Spirit Sunday. The promise of the Spirit is fulfilled. Two accounts tell of the fulfillment: the risen Jesus gives the Spirit on Easter; fifty days after Easter the Spirit falls on the disciples. The Epistle Lesson [Acts 2:1-21] is an explanation and description of how the Spirit came on Pentecost. The Psalm, Prayer of the Day, and Hymns all deal with the Spirit. Pentecost is not necessarily the birthday of the Church but rather it is the birthday of missions.

With the celebration of Pentecost we will move into the non-festival season of the church year. In the Pentecost season the lectionary provides three independent tracks or routes, each independent of the other two. The first lesson has a track of Old Testament readings. The Epistle deals with letters of the New Testament. The Gospels are on a third track that goes through the Gospel of Matthew.

Monday, May 5, 2008 – Psalm 104:24, 27-28, 30- This is the Psalm from which the Introit for Pentecost is taken. Our thoughts go back to the fifth and sixth days of creation when the Lord made all of the creatures of the sky, water and land. The whole creation praises the Lord for what He has made. Likewise the church breaks forth in Thanksgiving for the great things the Lord has done.

Tuesday, May 6, 2008 – Numbers 11:24-30– Promise of the Sprit. Moses had a problem there were too many people and not enough time to deal with them. Thus 70 elders are chosen to assist Moses. As proof that these men were selected by God the Spirit falls on them and the prophecy. They proclaim the works of God as the Spirit directed them.

Wednesday, May 7, 2008 –Acts 2:1-21– Explanation of the promise. On Pentecost the disciples receive the Holy Spirit and Peter explains the happening. Luke gives an account of the Spirit’s coming upon the gathered disciples in Jerusalem on Pentecost accompanied by a mighty wind and tongues of fire. Then the reaction of the crowd is given — the disciples are accused of being drunk. Peter responds by explaining the experience as a fulfillment of Joel’s prophecy that, at the end of the era, the Spirit would come to all. The overall purpose of the event is salvation for all who call upon God. The Spirit gave the disciples power to speak in the languages of the peoples assembled in Jerusalem, that all people might hear the gospel. This is not a case of glossolalia when the message was unintelligible except possibly to the speaker and an interpreter.

Thursday, May 8, 2008 –John 20:19-23– Fulfillment of the Promise. On Easter day the risen Christ gives the Spirit to the disciples. On the evening of Easter day, the risen Lord comes to the disciples huddled together in fear. This is John’s account of Pentecost in comparison with Luke’s account in the Epistle Lesson of the Spirit’s coming fifty days after Easter. At this time the disciple receive the Spirit, the Great Commission, and the authority to forgive sins. On this Day of Pentecost, we are primarily interested in the giving of the Spirit of Christ by his breathing on them. Contrary to Luke’s account, there are no unusual results such as speaking in various languages and preaching. John sees the Spirit as the power to go forth to proclaim the gospel and as authority to forgive.

Friday, May 9, 2008 – Psalm 25 – This Psalm is suggested for Pentecost. What do we do when we find ourselves on the receiving end of some abuse? Do we lash back? Do we attack? Do we try to defend ourselves? David when he was slandered by his enemies prayed to the God of heaven to forgive and relieve him of his heartache. Thus we are also urged to pray when we pray the sixth petition of the Lord’s Prayer, “And forgive us our trespasses…”

Saturday, May 10, 2008 –Acts 2:4 – Is the inspiration for the hymn “Come Holy Ghost God and Lord “{LSB 497}

A Prayer for the mission of the Church – Almighty God, You have called Your Church to witness that in Christ You have reconciled us to Yourself. Grant that by Your Holy Spirit we may proclaim the good news of your salvation so that all who hear it may receive the gift of salvation.

A 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, 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.

For Agriculture - Almighty God, You blessed the earth to make it fruitful, bringing forth in abundance whatever is needed for the support of our lives. Prosper; we implore You, the work of farmers, especially in this planting season. Grant them seasonable weather that they may gather in the fruits of the earth and thus proclaim Your goodness. May we see by this noble vocation that by Your aid we are helping to feed the world and cause all who give thanks over their food to treat those who produce it with honor and respect.

A prayer for grace to receive the Word – Blessed Lord, 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 by patience and comfort of Your holy Word, we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life.

Sources:

THE LUTHERAN HYMNAL © 1940 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis, MO
LUTHERAN WORSHIP © 1982 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis, MO
LUTHERAN SEVICE BOOK © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis, MO
LECTIONARY PREACHING WORKBOOK SERIES A John Brokhoff © 1980 CSS Publishing, Lima, OH

Confirmation May 4, 2008

Psalm 106:1

Introduction: Hanging on a cross suspended between earth and heaven Jesus said, "Father, forgive them. Because they do not know what they are doing". (Luke 23:34) The verse you have selected is Psalm 106: I “O give thanks unto the Lord for He is good and His mercy endures forever.” Psalm 106 takes up where the second part of Psalm 105 ends. It is a prayer that God would forgive all the bad things that His people had done. "Forgive" simple means "do not remember the bad things that we have done". This forgiveness is only possible because of what Jesus did. He suffered and died to take away those bad things, or as we call them - our sins. He said those words, "Father, forgive them", while the Roman soldiers were crucifying and killing Him. Thus with the Psalmist we can give thanks to God for the blessings He offers.

I. O give thanks unto the Lord

A. There are plenty of blessings.

1. The way He has shaped your life this far

2. His promise to direct your future as He has the past. The hymn Be Still My Soul reminds us of this truth. “Your hope, your confidence let nothing shake; All now mysterious shall be bright at last…”

B. They come from a gracious heavenly Father.

1. Who knows your needs; every single one of them.

2. He will Shepherd you. You are a sheep of His fold a lamb of His flock, a sinner of His own redeeming.

II. For He is good

A. This is His essence.

1. He is a God without sin. He is perfect and holy. “Then the Lord spoke to Moses saying, ‘Speak to all the congregation of the sons of Israel and say to them, ‘You shall be holy, for I the Lord, your God am holy.’ – Leviticus 19:1-9

2. He is a God of faithfulness. He is impartial. “The Rock! His work is perfect for all His ways are just; A God of faithfulness and without injustice. Righteous and upright is He.” –Deuteronomy 32:4

3. He is a God of honesty. He keeps His word. “If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.” – 2 Timothy 2:13

B. His goodness does not depend on our circumstances.

1. This is good for us. Our sin tends to mess things up. This is why we flee for refuge and the Lord’s infinite mercy seeking and imploring His grace for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2. He is more powerful than any issue we will ever have. Trust in Him. Cast all your cares upon Him for He cares for you. - 1 Peter 5:7

III His mercy endures forever

A. Mercy is the expression of His compassion and pity.

1. If we say we have no sin we deceive ourselves and the truth is not
is not in us. – 1 John 1:8

2. But if we confess our sins, God, who is faithful and just will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. – 1 John 1:9

B. Demonstrated to us at the cross and empty tomb.

1. God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself. - 2 Corinthians 5:19

2. Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." And with that he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven." – John 20:21-23

C. Will continue as He shapes, molds, and directs your life.

1. Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it. – 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24

2. This is why we pray with the Psalmist; “Listen to my prayer, O God, do not ignore my plea; hear me and answer me. Evening and morning and noon I cry out in distress, and He hears my voice. Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous fall.” – Psalm 55:1-2a, 17, and 22.

Conclusion: Confirmation is not graduation. There is a LOT more living you will do. Yet know this for certain this day – He walks with you. Therefore it is my prayer for you this day; remember the things which were taught you cling to that which is good and know that the Savior walks with you each day of your life. Fare thee well child of God, fare thee well.

+ Soli Deo Gloria +

Ascension - May 1, 2008

May 1, 2008
Ascension
John 17:11
A Prayed-for People

“I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name—the name you gave me—so that they may be one as we are one.”

Since Jesus left the earth, Christians are standing in the need of prayer. In His high priestly prayer, Jesus prays for those he leaves behind, including us. Today we continue to need Jesus’ prayers, for we live in a hostile world.

Before His ascension Jesus prays for you —

“The hour has come” Says Jesus (v. 1). It is the hour of death and the hour of glory. This is the hour for which Jesus worked, the hour for which He came to earth. Who thinks of his hour of death as an hour of glory? To most of us the hour of death means the hour of defeat. Death means there is an end. Death means there can be no more conversation.

Does anyone plan his time to die? Our times are in God’s hands. Our responsibility is to be ready when the hour arrives. Some die too early, for they have not accomplished the work in their lives. Some live too long after they made their contribution and thereby diminish their work. “I am coming to thee,” said Jesus. It was the right time for him to die.

Eternal life is in knowing God and his Son. It is not an intellectual knowledge, but a personal relationship established and maintained by faith. It is a life in God, a life that continues eternally. Then, one does not earn nor deserve heaven, but receives it as a gift from God.

In Jesus’ case His death is a glory by virtue of the atoning power of His death to take away the sins of the world. In His death God the Father redeemed and reconciled His children. It was a victory for the Father. Jesus knowing that He was returning to the Father prays on behalf of His children…

1. Because we are in the world —
2. Jesus prays for us to be faithful to God —
3. The Savior ask for us to be one with each other —

Let us pray to the Lord:

Almighty God, as Your only-begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, ascended into the heavens, so may we also ascend in heart and mind and continually dwell there with Him. Who lives and reigns with Yu and the Holy Spirit, one god, now and forever.

1. Because we are in the world — v. 11a, “I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you.” We need prayer to keep from becoming of the world. These people are different from the world. He says, "I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given Me" (Vs 9). Yet, says Jesus, these people remain in the world (Vs 15). So the people Jesus is praying for are in the world but not of the world. They are people who have been set apart from the world…Jesus prays for their unity. There is no universalism here. There is nothing to suggest that Jesus is praying for the unity of all men everywhere, or even for the unity of all religious folk everywhere.

Jesus tells us something else about those people for whom He prays. He tells us they obeyed the Word (Vs 6), they accepted it as true (Vs 8), they believed it (Vv 8, 20), and they know that Jesus was sent by the Father (Vv 8, 25).Finally, Jesus says they are the people for whom He sanctified Himself (Vs 19). They are the people, in other words, for whom Jesus died upon the cross, whose sins He paid for, whom He has made right with the Father.

2. Jesus prays for us to be faithful to God — v. 11b, “Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name—the name you gave me” Jesus refers to his prior existence with the Father. He is about to leave the earth to resume his position of power and glory. This involves the incarnation — Jesus’ leaving the Father in heaven to take the form of man. Accordingly, Jesus was never adopted at any one point in his earthly life, but God was in Him from the manger to the tomb. There has always been the Pre-existence of Jesus Christ. (v. 5) "Now, Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was”.

How could Jesus have glory with His Father "before the world was" if He did not literally pre-exist? An illustration is helpful: An architect sees and knows the beautiful details of his proposed construction before the site is prepared, or the foundation-stone laid.

But God is the great Architect and in His divine plan, Christ was "the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world" (Rev. 13:8) - the chief cornerstone "foreordained before the foundation of the world". (1 Peter 1:20). The building will duly be fitly framed together (Eph. 2:21) to constitute its part in the "kingdom prepared . . . from the foundation of the world." (Matt. 25:34).

Christ was "foreordained", but not formed until born of the virgin Mary in the days of Herod the king. Likewise, the glory he had with his Father was in the divine plan of the great Architect. It was the subject of prophetic testimony "when it {the Spirit of Christ} testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glory that should follow." (1 Peter 1:11 cf. John 12:41).

3. The Savior ask for us to be one with each other — v. 11c, “so that they may be one as we are one.” Jesus stresses the oneness of the Father and Himself. This oneness includes the disciples. As the Son is one with the Father, the disciples are one with the Son. This oneness, Jesus prays, should also be true with the Disciples, one with each other. Christian unity, then, is not a human achievement, but a divine reality based on relationships we have with the Savior.

The unity of Christians needs the guiding and providential hand of God in order to be preserved. God needs to protect our unity from Satan and the forces of evil. Satan loves to see the church and Christians have disunity. He loves to see fights and splits and schisms. He loves to see heresies and arguments drive believers apart.

The Feast day of the Lord’s Ascension is one of the chief festivals of the church, the crowning act of Jesus’ career. The Ascension has certain important truths to be proclaimed:

Ascension celebrates the final exaltation of Jesus as King of kings and Lord of lords.

Ascension celebrates the universal accessibility of Jesus as our priest and mediator.

Ascension celebrates the total lordship of which Jesus has - He rules over all creation.

+ Soli Deo Gloria +