Pr. DFD

Wednesday, November 21, 2018

Thanksgiving Eve

1 Samuel 12:24

Serve the Lord

“But be sure to fear the Lord and serve Him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things He has done for you.”

It could be said that Samuel lived and served during a time of transition. He was the last judge to serve Israel as the nation desired to be ruled by a king. Although he resisted a monarchy. Nevertheless the Lord instructed Samuel to give the people a king. By divine appointment Saul was brought into contact with Samuel. And Samuel was directed to anoint him as Israel’s first king.

At king Saul’s inauguration. Samuel called the people to renewed faithfulness to the Lord. Who not only had given them a king. But who had carried them through many perils.

As we gather together this night. To celebrate yet another Thanksgiving. Samuel’s words are quite fitting: “But be sure to fear the Lord and serve Him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things He has done for you.”-1 Samuel 12:24

At this time of Thanksgiving Samuel reminds us:

I. Consider what great things He has done for you.

A. Just consider the blessings God has showered down upon you. These blessings come indeed without our prayer. Luther in His explanation to the 4th Petition reminds us that He provides for us daily. Each and every day the Lord has made it His business to provide for His children. – Just as you provide for your children. Our daily bread includes; “everything that belongs to the support and wants of the body, such as food, drink, clothing, shoes, house, home, field, cattle, money, goods, a pious spouse, pious children, pious servants, pious and faithful rulers, good government, good weather, peace, health, discipline, honor, good friends, faithful neighbors, and the like.”

Interesting enough. Luther also encourages us. That in our prayers we should ask the Lord to lead us to know and understand this reality – namely - That He is the one who supplies our needs and then to receive our daily bread with thanksgiving.

B. What follows the 4th Petition? Naturally it’s the 5th Petition. The Lord provides for our physical needs. He alone provides for our spiritual needs as well.

When we petition God to forgive us Luther again would reminds us; “We pray in this petition that our Father in heaven would not look upon our sins, nor on their account deny our prayer; for we are worthy of none of the things for which we pray, neither have we deserved them; but that He would grant them all to us by grace; for we daily sin much and indeed deserve nothing but punishment.”

“So will we also heartily forgive and readily do good to, those who sin against us.” We need the Lord’s direction in our life. For only with His strength are we able to heartily forgive and readily do good to those who have sinned against us! By ourselves. We cannot do this. By His grace it becomes a reality in our lives.

Transition: Once we have considered the wonders of His love we are moved to serve Him with our very lives.

II. But be sure to fear the Lord…

A. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” is the way wise King Solomon instructs us in Proverbs 1:7. Samuel and the wise king reach the same conclusion. - We need a loving reverence for God. This includes submission to His lordship. And confidence in His promises.

B. Conversely. We are to reject any sort of foolishness. The fool. By definition - Is that individual who hates knowledge. And correction of any kind.

Furthermore. They are quick to quarrel. They are complacent. They trust in themselves. Rather than in God.

Transition: Luther explains that proper respect for God is attained when we are to fear, love and trust in Him above all things. With a proper attitude toward God we can now help and serve our neighbor.

III. Serve Him faithfully with all your heart.

A. Best applied with the acronym - “JOY” - Jesus – Others- You. Easy to put to memory – It takes a lifetime. To live it daily in our lives.

B. Thus we have the call to faithful service. God has given you a vocation. A job to do. To serve God and your neighbor faithfully. In this generation. Each has a divine mission to serve God as we serve our neighbor. – No one can be called to any higher service. – What you do for Jesus as you serve your neighbor is your mission field!

With sincere and thankful hearts we consider the great things the Lord has done. We fear the Lord. And serve Him faithfully from the heart.

When we begin to do this. Thanksgiving becomes a habit – It becomes thanks living. A blessed thanksgiving - to each of you - in Jesus’ Name.

Words –825

Passive Sentences -9%

Readability – 78.4

Reading Level -4.3

Tuesday, November 20, 2018

Morning Prayer Reading 54

Absalom's Rebellion

2 Samuel 15-18

(Selective Verses)

King David's son Absalom used to rise early and stand beside the way of the gate. And when any man had a dispute to come before the king for judgment, Absalom would call to him and say, “From what city are you?” And when he said, “Your servant is of such and such a tribe in Israel,” 3 Absalom would say to him, “See, your claims are good and right, but there is no man designated by the king to hear you.” 4 Then Absalom would say, “Oh that I were judge in the land! Then every man with a dispute or cause might come to me, and I would give him justice.” 5 And whenever a man came near to pay homage to him, he would put out his hand and take hold of him and kiss him. 6 Thus Absalom did to all of Israel who came to the king for judgment. So Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.

7 And at the end of four[a] years Absalom said to the king, “Please let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed to the Lord, in Hebron. 8 For your servant vowed a vow while I lived at Geshur in Aram, saying, ‘If the Lord will indeed bring me back to Jerusalem, then I will offer worship to[b] the Lord.’” 9 The king said to him, “Go in peace.” So he arose and went to Hebron. 10 But Absalom sent secret messengers throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, “As soon as you hear the sound of the trumpet, then say, ‘Absalom is king at Hebron!’” And the conspiracy grew strong, and the people with Absalom kept increasing.

13 And a messenger came to David, saying, “The hearts of the men of Israel have gone after Absalom.” 14 Then David said to all his servants who were with him at Jerusalem, “Arise, and let us flee, or else there will be no escape for us from Absalom. Go quickly, lest he overtake us quickly and bring down ruin on us and strike the city with the edge of the sword.”

6 So the army went out into the field against Israel, and the battle was fought in the forest of Ephraim. 7 And the men of Israel were defeated there by the servants of David, and the loss there was great on that day, twenty thousand men. 8 The battle spread over the face of all the country, and the forest devoured more people that day than the sword.9 And Absalom happened to meet the servants of David. Absalom was riding on his mule, and the mule went under the thick branches of a great oak,[a] and his head caught fast in the oak, and he was suspended between heaven and earth, while the mule that was under him went on. 10 And a certain man saw it and told Joab, “Behold, I saw Absalom hanging in an oak.” And he took three javelins in his hand and thrust them into the heart of Absalom while he was still alive in the oak. 15 And ten young men, Joab's armor-bearers, surrounded Absalom and struck him and killed him.17 And they took Absalom and threw him into a great pit in the forest and raised over him a very great heap of stones. And all Israel fled every one to his own home.

31 And behold, the Cushite came, and the Cushite said, “Good news for my lord the king! For the Lord has delivered you this day from the hand of all who rose up against you.” 32 The king said to the Cushite, “Is it well with the young man Absalom?” And the Cushite answered, “May the enemies of my lord the king and all who rise up against you for evil be like that young man.” 33 [d] And the king was deeply moved and went up to the chamber over the gate and wept. And as he went, he said, “O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! Would I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!”

Footnotes:
2 Samuel 15:7 Septuagint, Syriac; Hebrew forty
2 Samuel 15:8 Or will serve
2 Samuel 15:12 Or sent

2 Samuel 18:9 Or terebinth; also verses 10, 14
2 Samuel 18:13 Or at the risk of my life
2 Samuel 18:18 Or Absalom's hand

English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

Illustration from a woodcut by Baron Julius Schnoor von Carolsfeld, 1794-1872, a distinguished German artist known especially for his book, Das Buch der Bücher in Bilden (The Book of Books in Pictures). © WELS used by permission for personal and congregational use.

Monday, November 19, 2018

Morning Prayer Reading 53

David Repents

2 Samuel 12

(Selective Verses)

12 And the Lord sent Nathan to David. He came to him and said to him, “There were two men in a certain city, the one rich and the other poor. 2 The rich man had very many flocks and herds, 3 but the poor man had nothing but one little ewe lamb, which he had bought. And he brought it up, and it grew up with him and with his children. It used to eat of his morsel and drink from his cup and lie in his arms,[a] and it was like a daughter to him. 4 Now there came a traveler to the rich man, and he was unwilling to take one of his own flock or herd to prepare for the guest who had come to him, but he took the poor man's lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him.” 5 Then David's anger was greatly kindled against the man, and he said to Nathan, “As the Lord lives, the man who has done this deserves to die, 6 and he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.”

7 Nathan said to David, “You are the man! Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you out of the hand of Saul. 8 And I gave you your master's house and your master's wives into your arms and gave you the house of Israel and of Judah. And if this were too little, I would add to you as much more. 9 Why have you despised the word of the Lord, to do what is evil in his sight? You have struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and have taken his wife to be your wife and have killed him with the sword of the Ammonites. 10 Now therefore the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.’ 13 David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die. 14 Nevertheless, because by this deed you have utterly scorned the Lord,[b] the child who is born to you shall die.” 15 Then Nathan went to his house.

Footnotes:

2 Samuel 12:3 Hebrew bosom; also verse 8

2 Samuel 12:14 Masoretic Text the enemies of the Lord; Dead Sea Scroll the word of the Lord

English Standard Version (ESV)

Illustration from a woodcut by Baron Julius Schnoor von Carolsfeld, 1794-1872, a distinguished German artist known especially for his book, Das Buch der Bücher in Bilden (The Book of Books in Pictures). © WELS used by permission for personal and congregational use.

Sunday, November 18, 2018

Proper 29 Series B notes

Proper 29 Series B

Christ the King

Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14

Psalm 93 *antiphon; v. 2

Revelation 1:4b-8

John 18:33-37

Lord Jesus Christ, so govern our hearts and minds by Your Holy Spirit that, ever mindful of Your glorious return, we may persevere in both faith and holiness of living; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

The signs of the end are all around us, constant reminders that “heaven and earth will pass away.” But all of these signs are centered in the Cross of Christ, whereby He has conquered sin and death, that we might be raised with Him in righteousness through His Word of the Gospel, which “will not pass away” (Mark 13:31). He is “the firstborn of the dead,” who in His great love “has freed us from our sins by His blood” (Revelation 1:5). His salvation is certain, because “His dominion is an everlasting dominion,” and His kingdom “shall not be destroyed” (Daniel 7:14). For this purpose He came into the world, to reign in love through His voice of the Gospel, which is the truth (John 18:37). So is the righteousness of Christ “a light to the peoples,” which “will never be dismayed,” because it is the justice of His Cross and Resurrection (Isaiah 51:4–6). As He “is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of His glory,” so wait upon “the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life” (Jude 20–24).

- Christ's kingship is totally other than this world. Jesus explains to Pilate that, though He is a king, His kingship is not of this world. Pilate has Jesus inside his court and the Jews are outside. Pilate is torn between the two. He is trying to make up his mind by asking Jesus questions. His first question is whether Jesus is a king. This is a political term and thus it is very dangerous. Jesus dodges the question by asking Pilate if this was his or others' opinion.

The other question concerns what Jesus has done. Jesus explains that His kingship is not of this world. This is proved by the fact that Jesus is not using force to defend Himself. Jesus explains that His mission in the world was to bear witness to the truth.

But, only those of the truth and of God will accept His words as truth. So, with Pilate we must ask, "what is truth?" Or, more telling, "can you handle the truth?" -From a few good men.

John 18:33-37

John 18:33

Εἰσῆλθεν οὖν [a]πάλιν εἰς τὸ πραιτώριον ὁ Πιλᾶτος καὶ ἐφώνησεν τὸν Ἰησοῦν καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ• Σὺ εἶ ὁ βασιλεὺς τῶν Ἰουδαίων;

Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”

John 18:34

ἀπεκρίθη Ἰησοῦς• [c]Ἀπὸ σεαυτοῦ σὺ τοῦτο λέγεις ἢ ἄλλοι [d]εἶπόν σοι περὶ ἐμοῦ;

“Is that your own idea,” Jesus asked, “or did others talk to you about me?”

John 18:35

ἀπεκρίθη ὁ Πιλᾶτος• Μήτι ἐγὼ Ἰουδαῖός εἰμι; τὸ ἔθνος τὸ σὸν καὶ οἱ ἀρχιερεῖς παρέδωκάν σε ἐμοί• τί ἐποίησας;

“Am I a Jew?” Pilate replied. “Your own people and chief priests handed you over to me. What is it you have done?”

John 18:36

ἀπεκρίθη Ἰησοῦς• Ἡ βασιλεία ἡ ἐμὴ οὐκ ἔστιν ἐκ τοῦ κόσμου τούτου• εἰ ἐκ τοῦ κόσμου τούτου ἦν ἡ βασιλεία ἡ ἐμή, οἱ ὑπηρέται [e]οἱ ἐμοὶ ἠγωνίζοντο ἄν, ἵνα μὴ παραδοθῶ τοῖς Ἰουδαίοις• νῦν δὲ ἡ βασιλεία ἡ ἐμὴ οὐκ ἔστιν ἐντεῦθεν.

Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.”

John 18:37

εἶπεν οὖν αὐτῷ ὁ Πιλᾶτος• Οὐκοῦν βασιλεὺς εἶ σύ; ἀπεκρίθη [f]ὁ Ἰησοῦς• Σὺ λέγεις ὅτι βασιλεύς [g]εἰμι. ἐγὼ εἰς τοῦτο γεγέννημαι καὶ εἰς τοῦτο ἐλήλυθα εἰς τὸν κόσμον ἵνα μαρτυρήσω τῇ ἀληθείᾳ• πᾶς ὁ ὢν ἐκ τῆς ἀληθείας ἀκούει μου τῆς φωνῆς.

“You are a king, then!” said Pilate. Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”

Luke 17:11-19 notes for Thanksgiving Day

Thanksgiving

Luke 17:11–19

See also Proper 23 series C

Faith Returns Thanks to God and Worships Him in the Person of Christ Jesus

Collect for Proper 23 – O God, our refuge and strength, the author of all godliness, by Your grace hear the prayers of Your Church. Grant that those things which we ask in faith we may receive through Your bountiful mercy; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

A quick outline based on Collect 23 series "C"

A proper perspective regarding God and you

1. God is our refuge and strength, the author of all godliness.

2. He hears the prayers of His people.

3. As dear children ask their dear Father we always ask in faith.

4. The Lord always responds from His bountiful mercy.

Jesus comes in mercy and, by His Word, heals you in body and soul. “Go and show yourselves to the priests,” for you are cleansed (Luke 17:14), and you are granted access to the Lord’s Temple. It is “at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks” (Luke 17:16) that you worship God, for Christ Jesus is your great High Priest; His body is the true Temple. In Him, you “find rest, each of you in the house of her husband” (Ruth 1:9), for the Lord has “visited his people and given them food” (Ruth 1:6). The person of Jesus Christ lodges Himself in holy food — bread and wine for believers to eat and drink. You lodge where Jesus lodges; His Father is your God, His people are your people. Death cannot part you from Him because His death and resurrection are eternally yours through Holy Baptism. “Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead” (2 Timothy 2:8). As surely as death could not hold Him, so surely “the word of God is not bound” (2 Timothy 2:9). His Gospel is entrusted “to faithful men who will be able to teach others also” (2 Timothy 2:2), so that you “may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 2:10). Such is the confession of faith for all the saints, who believe, teach and confess the one Lord and Savior — Jesus Christ.

There was no love lost between Jews and Samaritans. Had they been healthy, the nine Jewish lepers would have had had nothing to do with this person whom they considered a half-breed, little better than a heathen. But leprosy had made them all outcasts from society, depending on the kindness of strangers in for daily sustenance.

On the way to Jerusalem, on the road that would ultimately lead to His death, Jesus encountered these ten pitiable men. He had mercy on them, and, foreshadowing the restoration of all creation at the Last Day, healed them of their dread disease. Only one returned to Jesus to give thanks—a foreigner, the Samaritan.

Christ came into the world to save all people, regardless of ethnicity, skin color, or other outward characteristics. We Gentiles, too, ought to fall at Jesus’ feet and give thanks for having rescued us from the far more dread disease of sin and its consequences of eternal, and not just temporal, death. This Descendant of a foreign, Moabite woman has made us clean. He Himself is the High Priest who declares us clean to His Father, and gives us a place in His kingdom. This Gospel lesson is traditionally read on Thanksgiving Day.

A hint of trivia - The Armadillo has an antibody for leprosy. -The bacteria that causes leprosy, a chronic disease that can lead to disfigurement and nerve damage, is known to be transmitted to humans from nine-banded armadillos. A new study in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases reports that 62% of the armadillos in the western part of Pará state in the Brazilian Amazon are positive for the leprosy bacteria. June 28, 2018 - Science Daily

Jesus Cleanses Ten Lepers

Luke 17:11

Καὶ ἐγένετο ἐν τῷ [a]πορεύεσθαι εἰς Ἰερουσαλὴμ καὶ αὐτὸς διήρχετο διὰ [b]μέσον Σαμαρείας καὶ Γαλιλαίας.

On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee.

The disease is what unites them. Jesus is going to Jerusalem. He will only stop for them.

Luke 17:12

καὶ εἰσερχομένου αὐτοῦ εἴς τινα κώμην [c]ἀπήντησαν δέκα λεπροὶ ἄνδρες, οἳ [d]ἔστησαν πόρρωθεν,

And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers,[a] who stood at a distance

Going into a village, ten men, lepers met him standing afar off. Whole cities would come out to meet ἀπήντησαν a conquering King. This is a leper colony. Jesus is going into the leper's village. They come out to greet them.

Leprosy was a term for several skin diseases; see Leviticus 13

"Ten" is a perfect number. All together. They cry out for mercy but at a distance. They have nothing left to lose.

Luke 17:13

καὶ αὐτοὶ ἦραν φωνὴν λέγοντες• Ἰησοῦ ἐπιστάτα, ἐλέησον ἡμᾶς.

and lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.”

“They” (plural) lifted up “their” (singular) united voice saying, "Jesus, Master have mercy/pity!" ἐλέησον

Luke 17:14

καὶ ἰδὼν εἶπεν αὐτοῖς• Πορευθέντες ἐπιδείξατε ἑαυτοὺς τοῖς ἱερεῦσιν. καὶ ἐγένετο ἐν τῷ ὑπάγειν αὐτοὺς ἐκαθαρίσθησαν.

When he saw them he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed.

And seeing as they saw (being there present with them) he said "go, show yourselves to the priests. (To go back to your family. Uncleanness separated them. Cut off from community. The OT statement of original sin.) . Sin is unbelief given flesh and bones.

"Sent to the priests" think Judas

As they went they were healed.

Luke 17:15

εἷς δὲ ἐξ αὐτῶν, ἰδὼν ὅτι ἰάθη, ὑπέστρεψεν μετὰ φωνῆς μεγάλης δοξάζων τὸν θεόν,

Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice;

One from them, seeing right here and now, seeing he was healed, returned with a great voice glorifying God.

He goes to the priests. (Because Jesus sent him. He had to. He went, was examined, then returned.) Both he and Jesus knew the drill.

Luke 17:16

καὶ ἔπεσεν ἐπὶ πρόσωπον παρὰ τοὺς πόδας αὐτοῦ εὐχαριστῶν αὐτῷ• καὶ αὐτὸς ἦν Σαμαρίτης.

and he fell on his face at Jesus' feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan.

He threw himself at Jesus' feet. See Ruth 4:7, Christ is the kinsman redeemer. John the Baptist, "I am unworthy to untie his sandals."

Luke 17:17

ἀποκριθεὶς δὲ ὁ Ἰησοῦς εἶπεν• [e]Οὐχὶ οἱ δέκα ἐκαθαρίσθησαν; οἱ δὲ ἐννέα ποῦ;

Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine?

Ten were cleansed, were there not? Expecting a positive answer. Ten were cleansed,

Luke 17:18

οὐχ εὑρέθησαν ὑποστρέψαντες δοῦναι δόξαν τῷ θεῷ εἰ μὴ ὁ ἀλλογενὴς οὗτος;

Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?”

Luke 17:19

καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ• Ἀναστὰς πορεύου• ἡ πίστις σου σέσωκέν σε.

And he said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.

“has made you well” - has saved you. σέσωκέν

Rise up, go and keep going, your faith has and continues to save you. Faith is busy and active.

Time in the Word - Christ the King

Time in the Word
November 19-24, 2018

Preparation for Christ the King Sunday

The theme for the last Sunday of the church year is the King and His Kingdom. Without any difficulty, the theme of kingship can be seen in the lessons. We now come to the end of the church year. Throughout the year, we have covered the life, work,and teachings of Jesus, and it comes to a glorious climax today with a “Hallelujah Chorus.” The Gospel reminds us that Jesus’ kingdom is not a worldly kingdom. The Old Testament lesson pictures the Son of Man upon His ascension receiving an eternal and universal kingdom. The King of kings will return to earth, according to the Epistle lesson. The refrain of the Psalm for the day could not be plainer: “The Lord is King.”

This Week’s Morning Prayer Readings

Read and review the following Bible stories for each day…

Monday, November. 19-David Repents - 2 Samuel 12 - selective verses

Tuesday, November 20-Absalom- 2 Samuel 15-18- selective verses

Wednesday, November 21– Chapel Day

A prayer for Christ’s return – O Lord, absolve Your people from their offenses that from the bonds of our sins, which by reason of our weakness we have brought upon us, we may be delivered by Your bountiful goodness; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever.

For strong faith in Christ – Almighty and ever-living God, since You have given exceedingly great and precious promises to those who believe, grant us so perfectly and without all doubt to believe in Your Son Jesus Christ, that our faith in Your sight may never be reproved; through our Savior, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever.

A prayer of supplication – Almighty God, our heavenly Father, because You desire not the death of a sinner but rather that he should turn from his evil way and live, graciously turn away from us the punishments which we by our sins have deserved and which have been borne for us by our Lord Jesu Christ, and grant us ever to serve You in holiness and pureness of living; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever.

Collect for Christ the King –Lord Jesus Christ, so govern our hearts and minds by Your Holy Spirit that, ever mindful of Your glorious return, we may persevere in both faith and holiness of living; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Monday, 19 November 2018—Psalm 39:4-5, 7-8, 12a, Antiphon, 2 Peter 3:13b–We are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness. The Antiphon expresses the desire of every believing child of God – to be home with the Lord. This is our destiny. We are not earthbound. We are only strangers here – heaven is our home.

Tuesday, 20 November 2018—Psalm 93; key verse, verse 1 - “The Lord is King.” This refrain is the theme of the entire day – The Lord is King. He is the king above all other kings, the one and true God. We offer Him our worship and praise for He is worthy of our worship, praise, glory and honor. He is truly the Christ, our King.

Wednesday, 21 November 2018—Daniel 7:13-14 – God gives the Son of Man an eternal kingdom. A vision of the Son of Man’s presentation to the Lord who gave Him an indestructible kingdom. Here we get the picture of one like a son of man appearing before the Lord, not coming to earth as in Mark 13. By the time of the New Testament, the Son of Man was conceived as an individual, a heavenly figure. Jesus used the term to signify His Messiahship. This is the proclamation of the final establishment of Christ’s kingly rule. It says that at the end all things in the world will be subject to Christ and that all nations will serve Him. This is the basis for Christian hope.

Thursday, 22 November 2018—Revelation 1:4b-8 – The King of kings return will be seen by all. Christ the King of kings will return to the earth. This passage contains a greeting similar to Paul’s, a doxology, an announcement of Jesus’ return, and God’s declaration of His being alpha and omega. Grace and peace come from the Trinity: (God-father; Christ-son; Holy Spirit – “seven spirits,” the sevenfold gifts of the Spirit.) The beginning and the end of the passage deal with God, but Christ is the subject of the central section. Jesus is a witness, the firstborn of the dead, the King of kings (death, resurrection and ascension.) Because of His love, Jesus redeemed us, made us a kingdom, and will come to judge the earth.

Friday, 23 November 2018—John 18:33-37 – Christ’s kingship is totally other than this world. Jesus explains to Pilate that, though He is a king, His kingship is not of this world. Pilate has Jesus inside his court and the Jews are outside. Pilate is torn between the two. He is trying to make up his mind by asking Jesus questions. His first question is whether Jesus is a king. This is a political term and thus it is very dangerous. Jesus dodges the question by asking Pilate if this was his or others’ opinion. The other question concerns what Jesus has done. Jesus explains that His kingship is not of this world. This is proved by the fact that Jesus is not using force to defend Himself. Jesus explains that His mission in the world was to bear witness to the truth. But, only those of the truth and of God will accept His words as truth.

Why was Jesus born? Here we have the answer in Jesus’ own words He was born to bear witness of the truth. He was sent by God. He was given a message. He had a destiny. Because of this, He had a reason to live and knew the meaning of life. In a world where many drift and are confused as to the way and wherefore of life, Christ has a message: Discover your divine destiny. As a follower of Christ, one’s mission is to bear witness to the truth – the truth of God’s love for a fallen humanity.

Saturday, 24 November 2018—Colossians 1:5, 20, 23, 27; Hebrews 1:2;1 Peter 2:24- The hymn is O Jesus King Most Wonderful (LSB 554). As you come to worship tomorrow, come expecting to offer your Savior the worship with which He is worthy. Come to offer Him your gift of adoration and praise. But do more than simply come to a worship service – in service worship Him.

Collect for the Glorious Reign of Christ —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.

Sources:

Saturday, November 17, 2018

Pentecost 26 - Proper 28

Pentecost 26 – Proper 28

November 18, 2018

Mark 13:10

This gospel must first be preached to all nations

The daylight hours are even shorter now that daylight savings time in Indiana came to an end. When we set our clocks back one hour on the first Sunday of November. As we count down the weeks before the last Sunday of the Church year – Christ the King Sunday, we remember that the time is short.

The times in which we live remind us of the Lord’s sure promise – Before the Lord’s return this Gospel must be proclaimed to the nations. As we anticipate Christ’s sure and certain return we must be about the Father’s business living and sharing the faith.

These words of Jesus. What does He describe? It sounds like Good Friday. He points us to the cross.

“And the gospel must first be proclaimed to all nations.” – V. 10

I. First – The Gospel message of Jesus Christ must be preached before the end of the age.

A. This Gospel must first be preached to all the nations before the end of the age.

1. It will be proclaimed as a testimony to the nations.

a. A testimony that Jesus Christ alone is Lord. Of all the religious figures to every walk this earth many claimed to have a new directive. Many claimed to have been given a different insight. What makes Jesus Christ different is He alone claimed to be God. He says, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. – John 14:6

b. It is a testimony that Jesus has won for you salvation and life. Jesus Christ won for you this freedom by going to the cross to suffer and die there. Then He victoriously rose from the dead. This, again, is what gives Jesus distinction. Even if there were one who claimed to be God; Jesus proves to be God alone by rising from the dead. If you want to destroy Christianity you will have to explain away both the resurrection of Jesus Christ bodily from the tomb and the changed lives of those who witnessed His resurrection. The early followers of Jesus Christ after the resurrection even simply stated, “We are witnesses of these things.” – Acts 5:32

2. Only after this message has been proclaimed will the end come.

a. When the gospel message has been proclaimed in all the earth the end will come. Already the Gospel has proclaimed on every continent. What then will be the signal that the end will come?

b. When the last person is converted. Then the end will come. The probability of Christ returning in your lifetime is higher now than ever before. This could very well be the Last Generation!

B. If we want to hasten the time of Christ’s return we will want to be mission minded.

1. So even more may hear this most precious message.

2. So even more can be lead by the Holy Spirit to be converted and to believe. St. Paul reminds us in his letter to the Romans, “How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?” – Romans 10:14

II. This Gospel will be preached – it is a specific message – it is the message of the cross – St. Paul reminds us, “I desire to know nothing among you save Jesus and Him crucified.” – 1 Corinthians 2:2

A. The message we proclaim is a message of the cross.

1. It was on the bloody cruel cross of Calvary where Jesus bore the sins of all.

2. It was at the cross where Jesus was winning for the world salvation, life. An eternal victory.

B. This is what must give us a clear distinction.

1. Where Christ and Him crucified permeates all we do.

2. Where Christ is the center of our entire work in this parish, in our school, in our homes, in our lives.

3. So we live forgiven lives- in sacramental living.

III. To all the nations – Every tribe, clan, nation – In the book of Revelation John gives us a picture of what heaven will look like. “After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying: “Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God forever and ever. Amen!”- Revelation 7:9-11

A. America continues to be the melting pot.

1. 180 years ago immigrants looked a lot like us.

2. Not so today – consider immigration trends in America today. Asians had the highest annual growth rate (3.0%) of any major U.S. racial or ethnic group in 2017. The Hispanic growth rate followed at 2.0%, exceeding that of blacks (0.9%) and whites (decrease of 0.1%).

Overall, the U.S. annual population growth rate has held steady since 2011. Despite its slowing growth rate, the Hispanic population continues to expand, reaching a record 58.6 million in 2017, according to the Census Bureau’s latest estimates. As the second-largest racial or ethnic group in the U.S., Hispanics play a significant role in the nation’s population trends. Overall, the U.S. population increased by more than 2.2 million people between 2016 and 2017, with Hispanics accounting for 1.1 million, or about half (51%), of this growth. 1

B. We no longer have to go to foreign lands to be engaged in mission work. There are people living within the shadows of this church who have yet to hear of the message of Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

1. Consider Lutheran Hour Ministry’s theme, “Bringing Christ to the Nations and the nations to the church.” There are our marching orders. Reaching out into the world with the saving message of Jesus Christ.

2. Where is your mission field? It’s where you live and flourish.

These words of Jesus. Describes for us the events of Good Friday. He points us to the cross. This text is for each of us – to share Christ with whomever we meet. May God use you to be His hands and feet, His fingers His toes. Witnesses of His mercy and grace. You want to be a missionary? Be one! Where? 10653 N – 550 W Decatur, IN 46733 – This is your mission field. Bloom where you’re planted. And by God’s grace – become – a sermon in shoes!

1. Pew Research Center - http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2017/08/03/u-s-hispanic-population-growth-has-leveled-off/