Tag: Sermon (Page 1 of 11)

What are our priorities? Not just what we say they are or want them to be or what we think they should be so others view us the “right” way; what are they actually?

Last week we heard that we are to love the Lord our God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength and our neighbors as ourselves. But, really — “all”?! I mean, come on. That’s just hyperbole, right?

That’s what we’d like to believe, but that is not the reality of the text or our calling.

Today’s Scriptures make that clear.

In the Gospel, Jesus praises the poor widow literally gave everything she had! In the Old Testament lesson, Elijah asks for the same from a widow and her son; and she obliges!

Both gave because the truly believed and put that faith into practice, trusting that the Lord would provide!

So, what’s holding us back from being “all in” for God in all areas of our lives? Is it a lack of calling? A lack of faith? A lack of trust? Is it disbelief in what Scripture says or what God commands? Is it an inherent security that comes from our stuff instead of God? Our time instead of His work? Our perceived duty to self and others over duty to Him?

The fact is, there is nothing we have that isn’t actually His; including our things and time. When we realize that He has simply granted us temporary stewardship over these things, it is very freeing! Our decisions can be “all in” because they are “all His” anyway. We can rely on His provisions because we see His faithfulness for us every day. So we can respond in with the same generous faithfulness in all things!

“Thank You, Lord, for Your constant faithfulness to us and provisions for us. Grant us thankful hearts that respond to You in every way, for everything, forever! In Jesus’ name. Amen!”

Scriptures

• Mark 12:41-44
• 1 Kings 17:8-16

There are some people who love school and learning. Others; not so much.

Yet constant learning is a calling for every Christian. Learning more and more about what God’s says, about what God wants, what God has done, what He will do.

Most of us are familiar with the Greatest two commandments: Love the Lord with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength and love our neighbor as ourself. But many seem to simply stop there.

It’s good to know the two greatest, but they aren’t the only!

God has a lot to say and we have a lot to learn. He gives us all of Scripture to bring us closer to Him; to bring others to Him. If we aren’t constantly learning and growing, we are not fulfilling God’s call and commands.

He tells us to teach, talk about, bind, and write His Words. To do that, we need to learn and do them, too!

We need to be in a constant state of humble learning, gentle teaching, and active living all His Words!

“Send Your Spirit, Lord, and teach us, and help us teach others and live for You; in and through Jesus. Amen.”

Scriptures

• Deuteronomy 6:4-9
• Mark 12:28-34

When we’re hurting we usually feel alone. Abandoned. Forsaken. Sometimes we feel we are the only ones who are – or have – ever felt this way. No one cares. No one appreciates. No one understands.

Of course that isn’t true. We may even know it’s not true, but it certainly feels true.

And when we feel that way, in the moment, hope seems, at best, fleeting.

That’s true not just when we are hurting, but also when we are crushed by our sins. When we have separated ourselves from God’s plan and actions – again. When we have rebelled against the One who loves us beyond comprehension.

And He didn’t just say it, He showed it. In the flesh. On the cross. Through and empty tomb. The sinless One became sin for us.

We know that, but we often think of it more as an abstraction. A truth that’s far away from our reality. A nice narrative to just be believed.

Our text today brings this truth home!

Jesus’ time on earth wasn’t just manifested on the cross and in the tomb. It was also in His living. He came like us; to be weak like us; to be tempted like us. He came to experience our sufferings, to sympathize with our weaknesses, to endure our failures.

And then to overcome them. For us! Forever!

Now, whenever we feel broken, hurt, alone; when we feel unforgiven, abandoned, or lost, we can look to Jesus, who understands. Who truly and fully understands. Who perfectly understands. And who, because of His abiding, enduring love for us, goes to the Father on our behalf, intervening for us and lifting us up out of the mire and muck and walking with us through the hurts and pains.

Jesus came to suffer, die, and rise for our forgiveness and salvation. But He continues even today to intervene when we loose sight of eternity because of our temporality. And His grace and mercy extend both to the there-and-not-yet as well as to the here-and-now!

What an amazing God we have. What a wonderful Savior! What a loving Lord!

Scriptures

• Psalm 119:9-16 [Confession and Absolution]
• Hebrews 4:14-16

There is a lot in Scripture that is difficult to accept; difficult to believe. There is a lot that is at odds with what our reason or what our society says. There is a lot of difference between what God’s heart tells us as shared in His Word and what our own hearts tell us.

As Shakespeare put it, “there’s the rub!”We seem to constantly be comparing the two – God’s way or ours. God’s Word or ours. God’s heart or ours.

And with any seeming “win” we think we have in these situations there is something else which accompanies it – the path toward evil; toward destruction; toward death.Having a heart that believes God in one thing but denies in anther is grossly inconsistent, spiritually dangerous, and disastrously foolish.

Yet we seem comfortable – even desirable – of that dichotomy.
Brothers and sisters, this must not be!

When there is a difference between God and us – our heart and His, His must win! Always! In every area!

It’s ok to feel and know there is tension between the two, but when it comes down to it, God calls on us to have a heart that fully fears, loves, and trusts in Him regardless of how we feel about it. He calls us to follow His will and directions, even when they conflict with what we think it best. He calls us to have a heart that believes in His love and salvation in Jesus over and against anything else that we may believe.

And here’s something beautiful: He knows that we have a hard time with this, so what He demand of our heart, He freely gives! Through the Holy Spirit, our hearts are turned to Him in faith; turned to Jesus in salvation; turned to Him in obedience.

We will continue to have doubting hearts at times. There will continue to be tension at times, and God knows that. But in those times of uncertainly and doubt; those times of a difference in our hearts, look to Jesus on the cross and to the empty tomb and believe! Take the next steps in faith through the Holy Spirit, even in the doubt. Live in the believing heart of faith He gives and strengthens us with constantly!

Acknowledge the tension but move forward with a believing heart in faith. In Jesus’ name, Amen!

Scriptures

• Hebrews 3:12-19
• Mark 10:17-22

“Whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” Mark 10:15

I think sometimes we equate that with entering with tantrums, trying to get our way, and have everything the way we want! We mistake child-like with childish.

Of coure that’s not what’s meant.

It means loving God in a way that He is the center of our universe and where, in our eyes, He can do no wrong. It means trusting God, knowing He will take care of us no matter what, forever. It means fearing and respecting Him, knowing He is God and we are not and that, no matter what, His way will always prevail.

When we take our faith in a childish way instead of child-like, we expect things to revolve around us and not God.

One of the ways we do this is in how we plan and deal with our “legacy.” How will I be celebrated when I pass? How will I be remembered? How will my name – how will I live on?

How foolish! How juvenile! How childish!

What people do to “celebrate us” after we pass is fleeting. Whether or not people remember us is irrelevant. Whether or not our name ‘lives’ on is ridiculous.

Whether or not people celebrate Jesus’ victory over sin, death, and the devil is what endures. Whether or not people remember Jesus is what is all relevant! Whether we do all we can to let people know that Jesus and His name alone lives is what is all important!

Our whole goal in life and death should be knowing, living, and sharing Jesus! He should be our focus in legacy.

And the beautiful thing is, through faith in Him, we already have the best, everlasting, beautiful legacy we could imagine – Heaven with Him! He makes our lives here worth living and our lives hereafter guaranteed!

Why do we need people to celebrate us when the angels celebrate our repentance and return to Him? Why do we want or need others to remember us when God does? Why do we need our names written large on tombstones or buildings when they are already written on the palm of His hand?

Through faith in Jesus, we already have the perfect legacy for all time – Jesus! Celebrate, remember, and share Him, with a child-like, and enduring faith!

“We thank You, Lord, for the perfect, lasting gift of Jesus, who has forgiven our sins and given us His name as a guarantee of the legacy of Heaven that awaits! Grant us Your Spirit to celebrate, live and share Him so their everlasting legacy is secured, too. In Jesus’ name, Amen!”

Scriptures

• Mark 10:13-16
• Psalm 128

There are usually two extremes when thinking about our sin. We either think it is too great for God to forgive (it’s not) or we think too little of it and justify it, knowing it’s forgiven anyway.

I suspect we normally fall into the latter camp of thinking.

We usually think too little of our sins, or think of them as too little. We minimize them. We excuse them. And we keep engaging in them.

Jesus tells us in Matthew that if a hand or foot or eye causes us to sin, we should cut it off.

That sounds pretty serious!

He says that is we temp others into sin, it would be better to be drowned in the depth of the sea.

That sounds pretty serious!

Yet we usually gloss over those words and get right to forgiveness. Right to mercy. Right to the Gospel.

‘Let’s not dwell on the sins,’ we seem to be saying. ‘Give us the Gospel and forgiveness and let me move on (and keep on sinning).’

Certainly there is forgiveness through faith in Jesus. That is beyond dispute and should never be minimized. Yet if we belittle the sacrifice of Jesus in accomplishing our forgiveness, we belittle the true measure of Grace we are really receiving.

We constantly seem to live in our old ways, presenting our bodies for ‘impurity’ and ‘lawlessness.’ But that should not be!

We need to humbly ourselves like a child; truly repent in sorrow of our hearts, doing all we can to change our ways from this time forward with the help and guidance of the Holy Spirit; and then in His mercy and grace, joyfully stand up in His forgiveness to new life and new living!

If our actions don’t change, our heart probably hasn’t either. If our heart hasn’t changed, our faith is either stagnant or diminishing. If our faith is stagnant or diminishing, we are in danger of heading to a time when we lose it altogether.

Take your sins seriously. God does. Move to amend your sinful ways. God will help you. But do not lose faith or hope. Rather, take even more seriously God’s grace through faith in Jesus.

“The wages of sin is death. But the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord!” (Romans 6:23).

“Lord, forgive. Lord, help. Thank You in Jesus, my Savior. Amen.”

Scriptures

• Matthew 18:1-10
• Romans 5:20–21
• Romans 6:19, 23

There is a lot to unpack in today’s reading, and we can’t and won’t cover all of it. But the basics go something like this: our hearts go after and desire all kinds of things to fulfill our passions and glory to satisfy our pride.

Our hearts are far from God, even through His heart is with us.

He is jealous for us. That’s why Jesus came, suffered, dies, and rose; so that we could be with Him forever. Yet for reasons beyond comprehension, that isn’t enough for us. We want more. We want to satisfy our ‘bitter jealousy,’ ‘selfish ambition,’ and ‘passions’ instead of being utterly and completely devoted to and desiring of Him.

How foolish!

We need to repent! We need to “mourn and weep.” We need to return to Him in humility and with a new, clean heart. We need to “draw near to God,” desiring Him only and let the rest fall away.

That is impossible for us on our own, but it is so much easier when we see His heart seeks us out; His life given for ours; His love shown through acts of sacrifice. His heart is with us! He has already drawn near to ours – and He wants ours to draw near to Him! When we repent, turn, and draw near to Him, we see Him closer and more satisfying of all our wants and needs than we ever thought possible!

“Forgive us, Lord, for hearts that haven’t desired or sought You. Break us and turn us back to You and let all other things fall away. Move us to draw near to You in everything at all times and, in so doing, see You, Your heart, Your love, and Your mercy, through Jesus! In His precious name, amen!”

Scriptures

• James 3:113-18
• James 4:1-10
• Jeremiah 29:13

“Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me.”

Such goes the common saying.

But we know that’s not true. At all.

Words constantly hurt, in many ways.

I’m not saying we should be delicate and offended by what everyone says, but I am saying that words matter. They have meaning even beyond just what is said. They bear weight. They have lasting significance and standing.

Our Scripture for today says that if a person does not stumble in what they say, they are perfect and that no one can tame the tongue. It reminds us that what we say stains our body and sets the course of life on fire.

That is powerful!

And scary.

And condemning.

“With [our tongues] we bless [God] and…curse people…made in [God’s image.”

That truth should disgust us and convict us.

We are held to a higher standard in what we say, how we say it, and to whom we say it. We should be lifting people up and pointing them to Jesus, not tearing them down, belittling them, and condemning them.

But it actually goes further than this.

Scripture likens calling others “fools” to breaking the commandment on murder and puts in danger of hell!

Wow!

The solution? Setting our hearts on Jesus and keep our words those of praise, of thanksgiving, of edification, of glory! Singing songs of praise with our hearts and lips! Letting the Holy Spirit dwelling in our hearts be expressed in our words and letting the rest wither and die.

This is not possible by us. It is only possible by, in, and through God! Left to ourselves, we will continue to slip – in heart and tongue. But living out the indwelling Lord, both will edify and uplift!

Jesus has died for our sins – all of them, including those of our imperfect tongues. May we take His forgiveness to heart, sing His praise, and lift others up in our actions and words all our days!

Scriptures

• James 3:1-12
• Matthew 5:21-22
• Isaiah 50:4-10
• Psalm 116:1-9 (Confession and Absolution)

Jesus essentially called a woman a “dog,” and she didn’t disagree!

Wow!

Unfortunately, that’s focus for many in today’s reading.

But what most miss is the incredible faith of this woman – acknowledged and praised by Jesus, and the healing of her little daughter!

The Matthian account adds that Jesus said, “O woman, great is your faith!”

Jesus came first and foremost to the lost of Israel. That wasn’t this woman – or us! We are like the dogs in this story, too!

Yet what the woman received was the same thing Israel received; the same thing we receive – the Grace of God! Even crumbs of His grace is more than sufficient for us and our salvation!

There are some forms that ask for race or ethnicity. Sometimes I just put “European Mutt” to throw them off. But mutts are faithful and lovable (like me?)!

I don’t mind being a dog like the woman in today’s story. In fact, I relish even the crumbs of Grace God lets me have every day! Through faith, those crumbs are all I will ever need to supply what I need here and for life everlasting! His grace and mercy are that overflowing; that amazing; that salvific; that living!

Today we have a baptism, too. Like all baptisms, it matters not how much water is there; whether a trickle or an immersion. However much is used – like crumbs – is more than enough for all of God’s salvation Grace to cover us for life everlasting!

“Gracious Lord, thank You for Your amazing Grace shown to us each and every day; whether they be crumbs or an overflowing of baptismal waters! Grant us the desire for You all our days! In Jesus’ Name. Amen.”

Scriptures

• Mark 7:24-30
• Psalm 146

“The things that come out of a person are what defile him.” (Mark 7:15)

That’s what Jesus said. And, boy, do a lot of defiled things come out of us!

There is a phrase that was popular when I studies programming many moons ago: “GIGO!” It stands for “Garbage in. Garbage out.” If you aren’t careful with the inputs, your outputs will be of no use.

We certainly need to be cautious of what we take in: what we watch, persons we hang around with, things we read, and the like. They affect us. But it is what comes from us that is a reflection, not only of what we take in externally, but the sate of our hearts and mind, too; and those are affected most of all by how closely they are aligned with Jesus and the Scriptures.

If our heart and mind are defiled, we will output defilement, and desire to take in more defiled things! It is a vicious circle.

And the way to stop it? We need a new heart and mind. Cleansed. Focused on Him. Desiring and spewing forth His grace, His forgiveness, His righteousness, His mercy; Him!

And we can’t change our hearts and minds. We need God to do it for us. To rid us of the filth and vileness that stains and defines us and exchanged for a heart and mind that eagerly desires and pursues His heart; His mind; His will; His ways!

“Create in us a clean heart, O God, and renew a right Spirit within us. Grant that we are so desiring of You we take in that which is good, right, and proper, and radiate out all that is holy, and just, and true! In Jesus’ Name. Amen!”

Scriptures

• Psalm 51:1-12
• Mark 7:14-23