Reaching the Lost. Discipling the Saved. Sharing the Love of Jesus with Everyone.

Tag: Sermon (Page 5 of 13)

A Sabbath to God

“Work/home balance.” That’s tough to get right. There are some who say younger generations are better at that, it’s difficult regardless.

The seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God.

Deuteronomy 5:14

If we ‘err’ on the side of to little work, we can be seen as lazy and may not be able to properly provide for our families. If we overemphasize work, we estrange our families, whom we are called to love, honor, and cherish.

But for us, the issue is not a struggle between work and home. For most Christians – whether they admit it or not – is a struggle between giving God our time; our hearts, minds, souls, and strength.

The commandment to keep the Sabbath is routinely misunderstood or altogether ignored.

It is true that our ultimate rest is found in Christ, Who has fulfilled it for us forever. It is also true that the specific day is no longer necessitated. But two things remain:

  1. God made us to need rest,
  2. God gave us the Sabbath as a blessing, and most importantly,
  3. God desires and deserves our focus!

We are not just in need of rest; we need rest in God! We need time with Him!

Everything else falls into place when we set Him as our priority in all we do. When we put Him first, we start to get a better understanding of the blessings of family and of honest labor. We start to see all the gifts of God differently. We start to experience His Grace in everything more clearly!

Let us remember a sabbath to God!

Thank You, Lord, for being our rest – forever!”

Scriptures

  • Deuteronomy 5:12-15
  • Mark 2:23-3:6

Purified and Sent

Isaiah was a prophet of God during the end of the northern kingdom of Israel before their deportation and also foretold of the southern kingdom of Judah’s coming fate as well.

I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.”

Isaiah 6:8

In today’s reading we get a glimpse of Isaiah’s sending by God as well as a magnificent depiction of God’s throne room!

Some of the heavenly beings cover their eyes as not being worthy in the Lord’s presence – and Isaiah, realizing his own state of unholiness and sinfulness is terrified in the presence of the most Holy Lord!

And yet, when the Lord asks who will go for Him, Isaiah, now purified from his sin, is bold and anxious to serve in whatever way the Lord desires! And let’s be honest – what the Lord desired from Isaiah was not easy.

The Lord has purified you from all sins through Jesus and calls You to serve Him.

What is your answer?

Scriptures

  • Isaiah 6:1-13

Put on Notice!

Pentecost is a pivotal event in the life of the Church; as was the Tower of Babel. For most Christians it is vastly minimized: “The Tower of Babel ‘incident’ was reversed at Pentecost.” That description, though true, is a weak testament of what is taking place.

And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Acts 2:21

At Babel, the people we, once again, trying to build themselves up, elevating themselves to heaven, making “a name for themselves.” They wanted to “become like God.”

Sound familiar?

This was idolatry. Physical and spiritual rebellion. And when God scattered them, that didn’t stop. The rebellion and idolatry continued. They worshiped other gods – whether real rebellious spiritual beings or fake ones; they didn’t worship YHWH; the God of gods and Lord of lords.

And soon after Babel, God starts His plan of reversal. He Calls Abram, makes covenant with him, giving him a great name, and wanting him and his offspring to have all of the families of the earth blessed through them!

God wants things to be different!

But evil doesn’t want the change and fights for continued idolatry and rebelion; and it seems they will win.

But Jesus and His empty tomb show that evil is a defeated enemy; and Pentecost is a strong, offensive move to show this to all the forces of evil and put them on notice:God’s coming for you!

The tongues and language reversal was God’s way, not only of reversing the curse of Babel, but God saying, “My disciples and people are coming into your areas and domain, evil; and you will not withstand it! I’m bringing the fight to you, and I am victorious!”

Pentecost is not only a reverse of a curse, but the advancement of God’s Kingdom and victory over sin, death, and the devil in and through Jesus Christ!

Hear this in every tongue and language, all peoples and evil everywhere: God has won – and He’s coming for you! Through faith in Jesus, we are a part of that army of victory – unto everlasting life!

Let’s go!

Scriptures

  • Genesis 11:1-9
  • Genesis 12:2-3
  • Acts 2:1-21

Justus Served

Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias

Being an apostle of Jesus is a big deal! These people were chosen by Jesus Himself to be with Him in His ministry, be His closest disciples and friends, be His witnesses to the world, and even sit on thrones in the Kingdom off Heaven!

And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.

1 John 5:11-12

Wow!

Of course one didn’t make it to the end. Judas Iscariot was out! But who was going to replace him?

We are told there were two candidates: “Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias.”

But what do we know of most of the apostles? We could probably name some things from the likes of Peter, James, and John. And Thomas. Perhaps some others. Maybe we could even eventually name them all, given enough time (and maybe some help).

But replacing Judas had to be a big deal, too! But whom to choose? The criteria was set forth by Peter, “one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us.” The two put forth, Justus and Matthias were good, qualified candidates; and a great choice was made!

Matthias was in!

Justus didn’t make the cut.

I wonder how Justus felt. Did he feel rejected; depressed; let down? Did he feel less worthy or that his work was less important? Did he pout? Or maybe he thanked the Lord for Matthias’ appointment and got back to work!

The thing is, neither Matthias nor Justus are mentioned again in Scripture! Scripture only tells us about them here.

Are we to take that to mean that neither had an impact of Christ’s Church or that they didn’t serve faithfully beyond the little we know?

No!

The fact is, if we place our value on what we or others perceive as important or lasting, we will always be disappointed. That’s not our Calling. We, like Matthias, Justus, the apostles and all Christians everywhere are Called to believe in Jesus and to love and serve Him and others. If we take our eyes off of Him and one comparisons with someone else, either pain or arrogance will follow; not the godly, sanctified life He has Called us to live.

I am sure that “Justus served” the Lord, as did Matthias and the other apostles.

We get to as well!

Jesus has chosen each one of us! He died for us, forgives us, rose for us, and prepares a place for us in Heaven. He wants to use every one of us to share that Good News with the world. He has Called you for that task!

Use us, Lord! Let us serve faithfully, without comparison! Amen!”

Scriptures

  • Acts 1:12-26
  • 1 John 5:9-12
  • 2 Corinthians 5:20

Trust in the LORD

We know the first commandment, “You shall have no other gods before me.” Luther gives us the meaning that “we should fear, love, and trust in God above all things.” We also know the greatest commandment is to “love the Lord…with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength.”

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.

Proverbs 3:5

Today’s Scripture from Proverbs reminds us of that.

Everyone and every other thing will fail us. They are unreliable, imperfect, and ultimately do not perfectly care about or for us. That goes for our own ‘understanding’ and ‘wisdom.’ We can place ourselves, our plans, our understanding above God.

This should never be!

If there is a discrepancy between what we believe is good or plan is better; about a direction to take or path to follow; about how the universe is run or things operate, it is that which comes from God that is correct. Period.

We need to trust that. We need to trust Him.

In all things.

For all time.

And we can do this fully and confidently because He has proven Himself time and time again, throughout history and in every situation – including all areas of our life!

This is most evident through the cross and empty tomb!

We would have had a different plan for mercy and forgiveness. God’s is the one that worked! We may have different ideas on who to love. God’s idea is perfect! We would have different ideas of how salvation should happen. God’s is perfect!

Trust in Him! In Everything! You will not be disappointed. Ever. Jesus is proof!

Scriptures

  • Proverbs 3:5-8

Did You Study?

Scripture tells us to “test the spirits,” but how do we do that? The answer is as simple as we learned in Sunday school: “Jesus!”

By this you will know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God.

1 John 4:2-3a

Acknowledging Jesus Christ as God come in the flesh, who died and rose is doing so on the basis of the Holy Spirit making that known to us. Denial of that Truth is not from God, but from evil spirits and the world.

But testing should not stop there. Everything we know and believe should be done on the basis of what’s in the Word of God and to make the determinations as to what is godly and what is not, we have to actually know what God’s Word says. We have to be in the Word! We have to learn the Word! We have to believe the Word! We have to live and breathe the Word!

When God’s Word becomes such a part of us and His Spirit dwells in us, it is a much simpler matter to discern right and wrong; good and evil. It becomes clear when evil spirits, the world, and sin try to lead us astray.

We are from God.” and the Spirit who is in us “is greater than he who is in the world,” so rejoice, and revel in the tests, because we have the Answer – Jesus!

Scriptures

  • 1 John 4:1-6

What Have You Done Lately?

Faith in Jesus is to show itself through actions. Continually. Jesus’ suffering, death, and resurrection were one-time events, but our response to the salvation won for us through them is to show itself throgh daily living.

This is [God’s] commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ and love one another, just as He commanded us.

1 John 3:23

We often don’t live like that. We confess a Faith in the Life, but live in seemingly faithless living. Yes, His commandment is “that we believe in the name of [God’s] son, Jesus Christ and love one another” (1 John 3:23), but that love is to be done “in deed and in truth,” not just “word or talk” (1 John 3:18).

God’s love, forgiveness, and faithfulness are constant. Our response should be the same! Is this true for you? What have you done lately to respond to God?

Do it! Now. Consistently. Lovingly. Responsively. Let all know about your belief in Jesus and your love for others in deeds and truth – today! Every day! In gracious thanksgiving.

Scriptures

  • 1 John 3:18-24

Restored Classics

Anyone who restores classic cars (or other items, I’m sure) knows that they take extra love and work. You need to take time to nurture them and keep them going. They also have less amenities, they often don’t perform as well as modern vehicles, and they are less safe.

Everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.

1 John 3:3

But classic cars are awesome! They are simpler, bring back memories of forgotten times and, frankly, they look so much better than the vast majority of modern vehicles on the road!

We can be like some of those classic cars. Through our stubbornness and arrogance we take a lot of love, nurture, and work for the Holy Spirit to do in the process of a holy “restoration.” We are simplistic by the standards of many in the world and, in our case, I don’t think we look any better.

Yet God desires us. Us! He delights in putting in the love, time, and effort to continually restore us and keep us in Him. He grinds away our old, sinful heart and purifies us from the cancerous rust and decay of our sins into beautifully restored children living for Him. He takes the old, decrepit, sin-filled junk that we were and restores us daily through our baptism, through forgiveness, and the the death and resurrection of Jesus. He transforms us from trash to His treasured children! He purifies us from refuse through His righteousness.

Now, let us live and glem in His glory, transformed and restored to what He desires us to be – His holy children and examples to the world!

“Continually restore us, O Lord!”

Scriptures

  • 1 John 3:1-7
  • Psalm 4

God is Light. Walk in Him.

When we are in the dark our eyes adjust. We may not see everything as vibrantly or clearly, but we manage. And we get used to it. So much so that, when in the dark, we dread turning on the lights or going into a brightly lit place.

God is light, in in Him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with Him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practive the truth.

1 John 1:5b-6

Coming into the light from darkness can hurt! So many stay in the dark.

But being in the light means we see things clearly! In the dark we see only dark shades of grey. In the light, we see the vibrancy of everything! And when we go from light to dark, it also hurts. We bump into things. We miss crucial things that might be right in front of us!

This is the way of sin.

When we live in sin we live in darkness. We stumble around. We hit things. We get hurt. We can’t see the full picture of what’s going on around us.

And worst of all, we get used to it and like it!

But this is not the way it should be.

“God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all.” If we say we are Christians but keep walking in darkness (sin) instead of in Him, we are lying. Those two things are incompatible!

If we are Christians, we must live in the Light. Live in Him. We must not keep going back into the darkness of sin and hiding and shame.

But we must remember that, through faith in Jesus, when we stumble back into sin and darkness, “we have have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous” who will forgive us, and bring us back to the bright living that is Him!

Thanks be to God!

Scriptures

  • 1 John 1:1-2:2

The Power of the Easter Promise

EASTER SUNDAY!!

The men said to them, “Why do you seek the Living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen.”

Luke 24:5b-6a

This Sunday marks the highest, most Holy day of the year; because the Resurrection of Jesus changed our eternity! It is the quintessential pivot point from despair to joy; from no future to an everlasting one; from death to life!

Join us as we celebrate!

Scriptures

  • Luke 24:1-12

Until…The Kingdom of God!

Holy Week – and indeed, Faith iteself – comes with a roller coaster of ups and downs; highs and lows.

As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good.

Genesis 50:20ab

We see that as Jesus rides into Jerusalem triumphantly, welcomed by the crowds as the Son of David; just to be betrayed, denied, abandoned, judged, sneered at, and crucified later that week.

In our readin from Luke we are backing up just a little in our journey to Jesus’ last supper where He instituted the Lord’s Supper and celebrated the Passover with His disciples.

He says, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he said, “Take this, and divide it among yourselves. For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”

This is a high. Jesus having this wonderful celebration with His disciples that He has “earnestly desired” to have with them.

But the lowest low is coming. Evil s coming. Suffering, pain, and death will follow.

But there is an “until!” There will be more to the story! There will be the highest high when the day comes and He will once again when the Kingdom of God is fulfilled. When death is conquered. When suffering ends. When all evil has been utterly and permanently destroyed forever!

Until can be a difficult word when going through evil or when it is on the horizon. But it is also a word of hope – and patience. A word of anticipation and a word of reliance. It is a word which we can hold on to because we know that what comes after all the trials and pains and lows and evil will be far outweighed with good and joy!

And so we endure. And wait. UNTIL! And then we rejoice – forever!

Scriptures

  • Psalm 118:19-29
  • Luke 22:14-23

ALSO: WELCOME NEW MEMBERS!!

That Day, and Today!

Evil is often louder than good. We see it in the news. We see it in our lives. Criticism lingers even as compliments fade.

As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good.

Genesis 50:20ab

The evil around Jesus at the crucifixion was deafening. Mocking and ridicule by the religious leaders, by the executing soldiers, and by guilty criminals next to Jesus rand throughout the hilltop. And Jesus, the innocent One, the recipient of it all. Not only that, His own Father had forsaken Him for a time.

But then there is a voice of hope from a strange place. A voice of confession. A voice of longing. A voice of belief. “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” And this lone voice from a self-proclaimed sinner elicits a response from the One who had been experiencing only evil before now: “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Today! You and Me! In paradise!

When all the world lifts their voice in a cacophony of evil and pain, remember those words for you: through faith in Jesus, His salvation is realy for you today and paradise awaits for eternity!

Let those words of truth and hope echo louder than any evil in your lives; for they are the ones that matter! They are the ones that will last! They are the ones for you; today and tomorrow and forever!

Scriptures

  • Luke 23:26-43
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