Time in the Word - Advent 2

The Day of the Lord

The theme of hope, explicitly and implicitly, seems to unite the readings this coming week. In Old Testament lesson we hope for the righteous government and world peace. In the Epistle hope comes from the scriptures and the Spirit. John the Baptist in the gospel gives us hope through Christ’s baptism of the Spirit. If we have this hope, we are in need of preparation. Today’s gospel calls for repentance as preparation. The Prayer of the Day asks God “to prepare the way for your only Son.” The Hymn refers to John’s ministry calling for moral preparation, through repentance. On Advent 1 we considered the Second Coming. On Advent 2 we deal with Christ’s coming anew this Christmas by rebirth into our personal lives. If this is to be a real experience, preparation by repentance is necessary. In recent years blue has been introduced as the liturgical color for Advent because it is the color of hope.

Collect for the Second Sunday in Advent: Stir up our hearts, O Lord, to make ready the way of Your only-begotten Son, that by His coming we may be enabled to serve You with pure minds; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen

Stir up our hearts, O Lord, to prepare the way of your only Son. By his coming, give us strength in our conflicts and shed light on our path through the darkness of this world.

God of power and mercy, open our hearts in welcome. Remove the things that hinder us from receiving Christ with joy, so that we may share His wisdom and become one with Him when He comes in glory, for He lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, One God, for ever and ever. Amen

Lord, free us from our sins and make us whole. Hear our prayer, and prepare us to celebrate the incarnation of Your Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, One God, for ever and ever. Amen

Collect for Psalm 72: Almighty God, You gave the kingdom of justice and peace to David and his descendant, our Lord Jesus Christ. Extend this kingdom to every nation, so that through Your Son the poor may receive justice, the destitute relief, and the people of the earth peace in the name of Him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever.

Monday, 29 November 2010—Psalm 105:4-8; antiphon, Isaiah 40:3b —In the Introit for Sunday, we pray In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Yet another prophecy is fulfilled! John the Baptist becomes that agent who will prepare the way for Christ to enter and begin His earthly ministry. The words of the Baptist are still needed for today’s ears “Repent for the kingdom of God is at hand!”

Tuesday, 30 November 2010—Psalm 72:1-7 — Key verse “Give the king your justice, O God, and your righteousness to the king’s Son” (v. 1). Psalm 72 is a prayer for the king. This last psalm of book 2 is a fitting one for king Solomon’s reign. [See the title] Israel’s golden age of peace, prosperity and power come under the rule of King Solomon. But it also looks beyond it to the perfect idea; an endless reign (5) over the entire world (8, 11) and the rule of God-like justice and righteousness (7, 12-14) a time of unequalled fruitfulness (16). V.8 “The River” is the Euphrates. V.10 “Tarshish, Sheba”, means the remotest outpost of the empire. Sheba may be a region of Arabia. Tarshish is probably Tarshish in Spain. V. 16 “Like Lebanon” For a small country Lebanon produced an amazing abundance and variety of fruit and vegetables.


Wednesday, 31 November 2010—Isaiah 11:1-11— Can anything come out of a “stump”? Can life come out of death? The Messiah is rooted in the past, which is apparently as dead as a stump. Yet, out of death comes the life of Christ as the son of Jesse, the son of David. Our roots are vital. We go back to the life that comes out of our dead ancestors. Eternal life came out of Jesus’ grave. The butterfly comes out of a cocoon. Hope comes out of despair.

Thursday, 01 December 2010—Romans 15:4-13— The “scripture” in Paul’s day was the Old Testament. How can the Old Testament provide hope to Christians? Hope deals with the future and the Old Testament contains thousands of promises by God for the future. The greatest of these promises is the coming of the Messiah. In Jesus He has come. Hope has been realized. Yet, He is coming again for the consummation of history. We hope for His return.

Friday, 02 December 2010—Matthew 3:1-12 — We are to prepare a highway for God to come to us. Christmas is a receiving time of life when God comes to us in Christ. The world thinks of Christmas as a giving time and so we go through a mad rush to buy gifts. If Christ is to come to us this Christmas, we need to prepare to properly receive him. Thus, Advent is a preparatory season of repentance as the only way to be receptive.

A tree with bad fruit is to be burned, as millions of orange trees diseased with canker were destroyed in Florida. At the end of time, the chaff is to be burned with “unquenchable fire.” John the Baptist promised that Jesus would baptize with the Spirit and with “fire.” Fire symbolizes judgment. Christ comes as both Savior and Judge. The latter we like to forget. Evil is to be exterminated. In 2 Peter we are told that “the elements will be dissolved with fire.”

Saturday, 03 December 2010—Isaiah 40:3; Mathew 3:1-6- Sunday’s Hymn of the Day is On Jordan’s bank the Baptist’s Cry. (LSB #344). This great Advent hymn is in harmony with the Gospel lesson. When the Baptist started preaching a message of repentance his words often were not heeded. As you sing this great hymn let the words speak to you. May the Lord prepare you to receive Christ joyfully this Advent/Christmas season and expect to see Him soon as we anticipate His return in glory.

Sources:
Prayers from Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House
Lectionary Preaching Workbook Series A by John Brokhoff © 1980 CSS Publishing Lima OH
For All the Saints A Prayer Book for and By the Church Vol. II © 1995 by the American Lutheran Publicity Bureau, Delhi, NY
Schnorr von Carolsfeld woodcuts © WELS permission granted for personal and congregational use

Advent 1

Lord God, heavenly Father, send forth Your Son, we pray, that he may lead home His bride, the Church, that we will all the redeemed may enter into Your eternal kingdom; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever.

As we turn our sights toward Bethlehem’s manger we focus on our celebration of Christ’s coming into this world and at the same time we wait in anticipation of His sure and certain return in glory. This is what the season of Advent is all about. The question is when. When shall these things be? The message from our Gospel lesson for this morning is simple yet profound – watch and wait.

I. No one knows when Christ will return.
A. The Son, as a human being did not know when the end would come.
1. This proves His human nature. As a human He was limited in knowledge.
2. For your comfort Jesus was completely human in every way except, of course without sinning. Jesus was completely human. He identifies with you in every conceivable way.


B. Neither do the angels know the time of the end.
1. They are created beings sent to serve God and His children. “Are they not all ministering spirits, sent out to render service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation?” [Hebrews 1:14]
2. Even though they “continually see the face of My Father who is in heaven.” [Matthew 18:10] As lower beings they are limited in knowledge. They too do not known when the end will come.
C. Only the Father knows. He has set a time, fixed for this world to come to an end.
1. He is the Creator and Lord of all.
2. He alone will bring this world to a close.
3. In between (Creation and the end of all time) He will order your days and direct your path. In His sure hands we are secure.

Transition: When I was in high school I had a geometry teacher by the name of Anna Retrum. Anna Retrum was raised in Tennessee. Speaking in her thick southern accent one day she asked, “Dan what are you doing?” I replied, “Getting ready for my next class.” She replied, “There are still five minutes left in class. 5 minuets times 170 days of school equals 14 hours and 16 minuets of geometry that you’re wasting. Now get busy!” We do not know when the end will come. This does not mean we must stand by idly. There is much work for us to do. The Lord says to us today, “Get busy!”

II. We must therefore be prepared to meet the Lord when He comes in glory.
A. He will return at a time when people least expect.
1. Many think Christ’s return will come when things are going badly.
a. Wars and rumors of wars.
b. Harsh economic times.
c. Stresses within and without the church or family.
2. When will the end come?
a. When the last pagan is converted.
b. When the full number of believers in Christ has been reached.
B. We must make use of the time that we have “keeping busy!”
1. Serve where God had planted you.
a. Called to be Christ’s servants.
b. Called to be His witnesses in this generation.
2. Use the gifts God has given you.
a. Serve where God has planted you.
b. Use the tools of salvation which God has given you.
1. Love God.
2. Help and serve your neighbor.
Now we are in Advent. In the words of that old spiritual, “Soon and very soon we are going to see the King.” With joy we can meet Him now in those places He can be found – His Word, His Sacraments, His promise of forgiveness. God be praised!

Prayers from Lutheran Service Book © 2006 and Lutheran Worship © 1980 Concordia Publishing House
Schnorr Von Carolsfeld woodcuts © WELS permission granted for personal and congregational use

Thanksgiving Day

Thanksgiving Day
Luke 17:11-19
Who bothers to thank God?

Ten men, afflicted with a disease that excluded them from normal society (Leviticus 13:45-59) and inevitably brought about death, sought help from the Savior. All ten were told to show themselves to the priest as was required (Leviticus 14:2-20). All ten were healed. All ten were given a full bill of health. All ten were given a new lease on life. All ten were good to go. Yet only one returns to give thanks. The Savior asks the obvious question – “What happened to the nine?” Our text begs the question who bothers to thank God?

1. Certainly not those whose only concern is to enjoy what has been given them.

A. Ten meet Jesus. Ten called Him “Master”. Ten were healed and undoubtedly rejoiced. Only one looked beyond the healing to the Healer. Giving thanks has greater priority for him than being certified as clean.

B. Like the nine, people can often display a selfishness that is enamored by the things that benefit us and that cares not at all for the God who supplies our every need. This is covetousness and idolatry at its core. How many today find themselves deeply in debt, chasing after the latest fashion statement, driving cars they can not afford, trying to impress people for whom they do not care? That is the temptation of this world – that the allure of possessions will bring happiness. It will be witnessed tomorrow- black Friday- the first official sale day of the Christmas holiday season - when malls will be filled with shoppers attempting to bring cheer to their lives with things they can not afford.

C. Beware! Such selfish myopia stifles thanksgiving. It sees no cause for gratitude unless we receive what we things is best, at the time we prefer, in the way we desire. When this attitude prevails, who bothers to thank God?

Transition: Who bothers to thank God? Certainly not those whose only concern is to enjoy what has been given them. Nor does it come from those who become all wrapped up in themselves.

2. Not those who believe that God’s good treatment is something they have earned for themselves.

A. The story strongly emphasizes that the only man who returned to give thanks to Jesus was both a Samaritan and a foreigner - a man with no rights. He fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, a symbolic act of complete subjection. He realized that his healing was an act of pure mercy, not a payment that he deserved.

B. How much his views differed from those of the majority of people, both at Christ’s time and still today. How easy it is, even for us, to pin our hope for God’s favor on what we are or think or say or do. We desire and sometimes demand that God be kind to us and help us as a reward for our good church attendance or our righteous living or our delightful personalities. How many today think that God should stand up and take notice! - Because of your awesomeness? Really?

C. Beware! Such self-righteous pride will not fall at Jesus feet. It will not thank Him. It gives no glory to God for His marvelous works of mercy. It sees God only as a paymaster, who distributes benefits to those who have earned them. When this attitude prevails, who bothers to thanks God?

Transition: Who bothers to thank God? Not those whose only concern is to enjoy what has been given them. Not those who think God owes them? It comes from those who have received mercy.

3. Only those whom God has rescued from the dominion of sin and Satan by giving them faith in the saving work of Jesus Christ.

A. The event reported in the Gospel happened while Jesus was on the way to the city of Jerusalem. He was traveling to that city to lay down His life as the sacrifice for the sins of the world. The guilt of our selfishness and pride rested on His shoulders. The hands that in the others cases healed with a touch were soon to be nailed to the cross as payment for our ingratitude and love-less-ness. The voice that told the lepers to show themselves to the priest would soon cry out in pain and agony, “I thirst!” and “My God, my God, why have Your forsaken me? Jesus endured the full punishment of body and soul that we all deserve. But that same voice would sound forth again after His resurrection, announcing that forgiveness of sins should be preached in His name to Jews and Samaritans and all the nations of the earth – to all who would listen both believer and pagan alike.

B. Only the power of the resurrected Christ, received by us through faith, can purge our hearts of the spiritual maladies of selfishness and pride and ingratitude and sin. Only in the strength that he supplies are we able to overcome our natural inclination toward evil and truly give thanks and glory to God.

Through faith in Christ, the Samaritan leper received healing in his body. Motivated by that faith, he returned to give thanks. For such as that leper, it is not at all a bother to thank God. The expression of heartfelt thanks to God with our lips and our lives is a joyous privilege that God provides for us here in time and hereafter in eternity.

Face of Christ
http://spiritlessons.com/Documnets/Jesus_Pictures/Jesus_Christ_Pictures.htm

Thanksgiving Eve

Thanksgiving Eve
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Thanksgiving by definition the formal public expression of returning thanks to God. How do we do this? Let’s see what Scripture would tell us this night. How do we have thanksgiving?

1. Rejoice always – v. 16 “May you always be joyful in you life in the Lord I say it again; rejoice” Philippians 4:4

A. In this verse Paul tells us twice to rejoice. Why rejoice? We might not necessarily feel like rejoicing and yet we do rejoice for this is how thankful hearts respond to God – they rejoice.

B. We rejoice when we recall the fruits of His Spirit which are evident in every believer’s life.

Transition: We give thanks in rejoicing making our requests to God.

2. Pray without ceasing – v. 17 “Don’t worry about anything but in all your prayers ask God for what you need, always asking Him with a thankful heart.” Philippians 4:6

A. Worry can drain us of any joy. There is much for us to be concerned in this dark and sinful world. Thus our focus is on Him who supplies us with all that we need to support our body and life. “Make your requests know to God” Paul would remind us – we take it to the Lord in prayer.

B. Our prayers are also filled with gratitude and praise – gratitude for His redemption in Christ for His gifts of mercy and grace. Praise because He has blessed us in so many ways – His mercies are new to us every day His blessings can not be counted. He is a god of grace and glory.

Transition: We rejoice we pray always with thankful hearts, regardless of the circumstances.

3. In everything give thanks – V. 18 “Be thankful in all circumstances. This is what God wants of you in your life in Christ Jesus”.

A. Now that we have been put right with God through faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. He has brought us by faith into this experience of God’s grace in which we now live.
We rejoice then in the hope we have of sharing God’s glory. And we also rejoice in our troubles, because we know that trouble produces endurance, endurance brings God’s approval and His approval creates hope. This hope does not disappoint us because God has poured out His live into our hearts by the means of the Holy Spirit who is God’s gift to us.” Romans 5:1-4

Our thanks is not limited to or dictated by circumstances. In every circumstance regardless of its origin we return to God our worship and praise.

B. Because you know that when your faith succeeds in facing such trials, the result is the ability to endure. We endure because of faith. Faith given to us by God in the first place – faith which trust God’s promises – faith which takes God at His Word

How do we have thanksgiving? With our prayers with gratitude to God in every circumstance we bless the Lord.

Image taken June 2009 behind Zion Friedheim Lutheran Church

For what are you thankful?

What are you thankful for this year? I asked the people of our parish to send me notes and they were sent to me via two facebook posts, an e-mail, a sealed note in an envelope and one written on a 3x5 card after Catechism.

Following are the notes I received as they came to me...

Hey Pastor, I am thankful for my mom, dad, and sister so technically my whole family I am thankful for.

God’s blessings are really too numerous to mention but here are some I’m thankful for this year…

Jesus my Savior and Brother
The Bible
Missionaries
Our congregation
Our freedoms – of religion, from fear, to worship as we please
Our president and our country
Good weather crops, rain and sunshine, snow
Loving and caring family and friends
Good health and happiness
Wyneken School, good teachers
Good neighbors
A new home

I am very thankful for God, and all His creation.

I am thankful that I live in the U. S. A. and not another country that has a lot of poverty and a low literacy rate.

I am thankful that I have family and friends that love and support me in everything I do.

I am thankful for my dad taking me hunting

I’m thankful for my health.

I BELEIVE I AM THANKFUL FOR "LIFE", FAMILY, AND CHOICE OF RELIGION

My husband of 30 years. Knowing now more than before what a blessing I had for parents, the parents I now have because of marriage, my children, my children’s spouses, my grandson, my health, an awesome family who all come together when needed in good times and bad. A job, and last but not least an awesome church family of Friedheim.

I like this list!

Time in the Word - Advent 1

The Day of the Lord

Advent begins a new church year and is designed to prepare us for Christ’s coming both personally and cosmically. Advent 1 deals with Jesus’ Second Coming. It is the one Sunday of the year that is totally given to the doctrine, although the Epistles lesson in Advent 3 urges us to patiently wait for the Lord’s return. The Prayer of the Day cries for the Lord to come. The Hymn of the Day calls for us to prepare for Christ to enter our lives. The Gospel lesson emphasizes the need of constant preparedness for Christ’s return because the time of his coming is unknown. The Epistle lesson urges us to put on Christ as preparation for his coming which Paul considers to be soon. When God comes to us, according to the Old Testament lesson, all nations will have their differences settled and peace will return.

Collect for the first Sunday in Advent: Stir up Your power, O lord and come, that by Your protection we may be rescued from the threatening perils of our sins and saved by Your mighty deliverance; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever. Amen

All powerful God, increase our strength of will for doing good that Christ may fin an eager welcome at His coming and call us to His side in the kingdom of heaven, where He lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen

Collect for Psalm 122: Lord Jesus; give us the peace of the New Jerusalem. Bring all nations into Your kingdom to share Your gifts, that they may render thanks to You without end and may come to Your eternal city, where You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen

Prayer for Harvest: Lord God, heavenly Father, through whose kindness we have again received the fruits of the earth in their season, grant us ever to rejoice in Your mercy that neither prosperity nor adversity may drive us from Your presence; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever. Amen

Prayer for Thanksgiving: Almighty God, whose mercies are new every morning and whose goodness, though undeserved, still abundantly provides for all our wants of body and soul, grant us, we humbly pray, Your Holy Spirit, that we may heartily acknowledge Your merciful goodness toward us, give thanks for all Your benefits, and serve You in willing obedience; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever. Amen

Monday, 22 November 2010—Psalm118:25-28; antiphon, Zechariah 9:9b —In the Introit for Sunday, we pray Behold you king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation. Fulfilled prophecy is one feature which makes Christianity so appealing. Throughout the season of Advent we will find prophecy after prophecy which was fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Here is one among so man that the Lord as king would come to His people. During this busy and important season we prepare for Christ’s return in glory and we make ready our hearts and minds to celebrate His birth. If we prepared for the former we will be in the right frame of mind for the latter.

Tuesday, 23 November 2010—Psalm 122 — This week’s psalm is what the pilgrims may have sung as they neared the temple gate within the city walls. The pilgrim prays for the peace of the city -the center of worship and the seat of government for the world nation.

Wednesday, 24 November 2010—Isaiah 2:1-5— Isaiah tells us what will happen in the “latter” days. This refers to the end of the world. We may be living in the “latter” days now. In the latter days “all the nations” will see God on the highest mountain on earth. God will be the highest value and the center of the universe. They will come to God to receive his instruction how to live. This will result in international peace. The significance of “all” is that world peace depends upon “all” coming to God. Peace is not a unilateral project. Will it be possible to get “all” nations to come to God? If they are to come at the end-time, why not now? Here is one good reason to the church’s overseas missionary program.

Thursday, 25 November 2010—Romans 13:11-14— When Augustine heard a child’s voice say, “Take and read,” he opened his Bible and read verse 14 from our Epistle for this week. Obediently, he “put on” Christ and he became one of our greatest Christians. To “put on” means to be incorporated into Christ so that one is “a man in Christ.” To be ready for the Lord’s Great Day, we put on Christ so that in us Christ confronts Himself. We are His people. He is one of us. To be properly dressed for the Lord’s Great Day, we are to put on Christ’s robe of righteousness. This calls for a human response. Christ is coming. We are to be ready by putting on Christ. This we do at baptism.

Friday, 26 November 2010—Matthew 24:36-44 — To be ready for the Lord’s Great Day is a “must.” Not to be ready is to be lost just as the people in Noah’s day were not ready with boats for the flood. Jesus is not waiting for us to be ready. Whether we are ready or not, He is coming. Not to be ready spells eternal disaster. What does it mean to be “ready”? To be ready for the end is to live daily in a state of grace. If we are always reconciled to God by faith in Christ, it does not matter when Christ will return.

Saturday, 27 November 2010—John 1:1; Luke 2:30-32- Sunday’s Hymn of the Day is Savior of the Nations Come. (LSB #332). John would remind us that the eternal God, the creator of us all broke into time and space to be our redeemer. This is what the season of Advent is all about. We make ourselves ready to celebrate the fact that God has become human. We celebrate that God has come to visit His people. He came at just the right time and He will usher us home at just the right time. This majestic hymn tells the story of salvation. As you review it think of Christ’s impact on your life, your family, your church and community and then share His story with those you meet.

Sources:
Prayers from Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House
Collect for Harvest and Thanksgiving from Lutheran Worship © Concordia Publishing House
Lectionary Preaching Workbook Series A by John Brokhoff © 1980 CSS Publishing Lima OH
For All the Saints A Prayer Book for and By the Church Vol. II © 1995 by the American Lutheran Publicity Bureau, Delhi, NY
Schnorr von Carolsfeld woodcuts © WELS permission granted for personal and congregational use

In Memoriam

Irene Bultemeier

Born October 16, 1922

Baptiszed into Christ: October 29, 1922

Confirmed in the Faith: April 5, 1936

With Christ in Peace: November 21, 2010

Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me. - Revelation 3:20