Sermon for 7/20/25: Fifth Sunday After Trinity

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“On the Mountain Before the Lord…”

I Kings 19:11-21

 

Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. 

 

To use the language of modern psychology, Elijah was a victim of spiritual burnout. With the help of God, he had just won a great victory over the prophets of Baal. After such a contest, you might think that everyone would end up confessing that the Lord is God. But that didn’t happen, and Elijah saw that as just one more piece of evidence that he was a failure as a prophet. And on top of that, Queen Jezebel, infuriated by Elijah’s victory over her prophets, issued a death warrant against Elijah. Understandably, Elijah ran for his life.

It’s important to understand why Elijah ran. His flight was not really prompted by fear. Far from Jezebel and her agents, out in the wilderness all by himself, Elijah plunked down in the dirt and asked the Lord to take his life; he wanted to die. His courage and determination had melted away—not so much because of the threats of his enemies, but because his spirit had been broken by their impenitence. Elijah had faithfully done the work the Lord had given him to do. But in spite of much good that had been done, the people still rejected the Lord and His way. They had taken away the joy of Elijah’s work, and so he grew severely disillusioned and depressed. In response, God’s angel told Elijah to rest, and he provided the prophet with food and drink in the wilderness; then he told the burned-out Elijah to keep going. The Lord was not yet finished with Elijah. The Lord spoke to Elijah in a whisper—“a still small voice”—and Elijah heard and recognized the Word of the Lord.

You and I have experienced times and situations in which we have extended ourselves greatly, above and beyond the call of duty, only to end up bitterly disappointed and disillusioned. Whether here at the church or at home or work or school, we’ve made great plans. We executed those plans with near-flawless precision. We did everything we thought we could, but it seemed as though we found little or no success. The people whom we thought would faithfully receive our work and even God’s Word wouldn’t listen or act as we desired. After a while, we had the opportunity to step back and analyze. And what did we see? While aspects of that situation stood outside the realm of our control, we also had to admit that our own sins and flaws helped to mess things up. We did not completely trust the Lord to take care of the matter, instead focusing on our work and effort. We can be left, sort of like Elijah, stewing in our own juices, indignant with God, even as guilt comes crashing down upon us for faithlessly presuming that God must dance to the tunes we choose.

          We are told in Epistle to the Hebrews, “In many and various ways, God spoke to the people of old by the prophets; but now in these last days, He has spoken to us by His Son.” The Apostle John called Jesus “the Word.” In Him we have the Word from God that we need most of all: the word of forgiveness that comes from His cross. “It is finished,” Jesus said there. After He rose from death, He breathed on His disciples and said: “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of anyone, they are forgiven; if you withhold forgiveness from anyone, it is withheld.” It may be a comparatively quiet voice that speaks the word of forgiveness to us today; it may seem almost inaudible due to the noise of this evil and dying world and our own selfish thoughts and words; yet this is the very Word we need to hear. The Lord is in this Word with all His saving power.

          God’s Word works! To Elijah’s surprise, there were still seven thousand faithful people in Israel who had not bowed the knee to Baal. By God’s grace, these people had kept the faith. All of them were going about their business quietly, like a low whisper, staying under the radar. And they could do this because they had heard the Lord’s voice in His Word, and His Word worked the way God meant it to work.

          God’s Word works today, too, when God’s people make the good confession. This is true even in times of adversity—and sometimes especially when they confess God’s Word in times of adversity. When our way seems difficult; when there isn’t that calm and quiet that really should characterize life in the Church; when there seems to be so little, if any, tranquility; we can still be comforted to know that the Lord is at hand in the midst of our difficulties. Like Elijah, we may not like where we find ourselves after some especially bitter experience. But do not underestimate God’s power in this. If we are driven back to His Word and the comfort it gives, then the bitterness becomes a blessing, however well disguised.

You will never go wrong clinging to the Lord and His Word. Even though He does not seem to bring decisive victories in this world, the fact remains that, in Jesus Christ, He has overcome this world. God’s Word yields the victory for all eternity. As St. Paul said: “Whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s.” So keep your ears open. Listen for His Word. God isn’t finished with you yet. In the name of the Father and of the Son (+) and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

The peace of God which passes all understanding will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus always. Amen.

 

Sermon for 7/13/25: Fourth Sunday After Trinity

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Mercy: Christ in You and for You

Luke 6:36-42

 

Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

 

 

Jesus says, “Be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.” You know how it is, and you know how it should be. When you hear these words of Jesus as accusation, your first instinct should be to confess, to repent, and to amend your ways. But when you are accused, your first instinct is not to repent; you want to defend and excuse yourself. And your second instinct is to pick at every fault of your neighbors, to point at someone else and say, “Those words were meant for you. Take care of your own faults before you go pointing out my flaws.” And you do that because the accusation has hit home; it has convicted you, and you want to deflect it as quickly as possible.

The Lord did not make us that way, but that is how we have become. That is how far we’ve fallen. We hear a charge spoken against us and, instead of owning up to it, we quickly turn on someone else and use it against them. Then we don’t look so bad. Then we can stand a little taller, knowing that we’re not as bad as someone else. And it looks all so righteous and fair.

But when we do that, we miss the good that our Lord wishes to do in us. We prove that the accusation has rightly been spoken. You might actually be right about the charge you make against someone else. But pointing to others; criticizing them not only for their unrighteousness and unfairness, but even for simple mistakes that everyone makes; and charging them when we, too, bear fault—this does nothing more than reveal that our sin is deeply rooted within us. Turning on others when the Law has been turned on us reveals how little we truly fear the Lord’s Word, how little we truly love what He says. For if we had true fear, love, and trust in God, then we would truly love everything He says, even when it hurts. We would not worry about what others might say about us, because our concern would be for what God says. We would welcome His judgment and discipline, knowing He speaks to enliven our faith. And we would believe that He accuses so that He might pardon, that He judges so that He might have mercy—for His mercy quickly follows His judgment. That is what the First Commandment is all about, after all: taking God at His Word; confessing our sins, knowing full well that we deserve whatever direction His wrath chooses to take; and at the same time straining to hear His pardon, His word of release, His comforting and soothing absolution.

The key is not to latch on to the accusation so you can accuse others, but to latch on to the mercy and forgiveness that come to you in His Word, in water, in bread and wine, so that you might be the Lord’s mercy to another. The key is to listen for what Jesus has done to you and for you, the Life He has immersed you in, so that He can now live through you. That’s what having the mind of Christ is all about: having His Gospel, His unfair mercy, His love, His compassion, His absolution. This will shape and form how you think and speak and act toward your neighbor. To have the mind of Christ is to have Christ within you, and to be in Christ, so that He is now your breath, your word, you doing, your attitude, your living, your Life.

But having Christ within you means sacrificing the urges and desires to accuse others and lash out again them. Having Christ within you means sacrificing your anger and your need to control. Having Christ within you means sacrificing all that you are and all that you have for the benefit of someone else—even someone who has sinned against you. Having Christ within you means sacrificing your self: your vanity, your pride, your self-righteousness; it means disciplining your thoughts, your tongue, and your actions.

Jesus tells us, “Your Father is merciful.” Concentrate on those words. They are directed squarely at you: not to indict or condemn, but to encourage, to comfort, to give hope, to enliven, to strengthen and to settle you. Those words mean precisely what they say: God our Father, through His Son Jesus, by the Holy Spirit has mercy on you. In His holy Sacraments, our heavenly Father gives you a measure of His loving-kindness: a good measure, packed down, even overflowing. He restores you to be what you can never be on your own. He creates a clean heart within you, renews His right Spirit within you, replaces your stony heart with His beating, loving heart. He gives you the mind of Christ and grants you the right, the privilege, and the joy of being a son of God, no different in inheritance than the very Son of God Himself. He has raised you up in your human nature to sit on His heavenly throne—not to condemn, but to be compassionate. His Life now lives in you so that it might also live through you.

Your Father is merciful to you through His Son. And by His Holy Spirit, He extends that mercy to you and grants you to live His mercy for the sake of all men. God grant that we would love our neighbors as He has loved us. In the name of the Father and of the Son (†) and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

 

The peace of God which passes all understanding will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus always. Amen.

 

HYMN: We Praise Your Holy Name, O Lord

The Te Deum Laudamus is one of the oldest Christian hymns, written in the third or fourth century. Luther considered the Te Deum to be on the same level as the three ecumenical creeds as a creedal statement. As for me, I've wanted to write a metrical text for the Te Deum for as long as I've been writing hymn texts. One of my favorite hymns ever is "Holy God, We Praise Thy Name," and the Te Duem from the Matins service is heavenly. It's hard to mess up the Te Deum, and I hope I, too, have done it justice. I don't think this will ever overtake Starke's Te Deum text for popularity (though I still wish it had a different tune than Thaxted--but let us not argue about that here). Anyway, here is my text in draft form, set to the tune for the hymn "Dear Christians One and All, Rejoice." Feedback is love.

 

We Praise Your Holy Name, O Lord

1. We praise Your holy name, O Lord,

With songs of adoration.

O Father, by the world adored,

We shout in acclamation.

Lo, all the pow'rs of heav'n on high

And angel choirs aloud do cry

In exultation ringing.

2. The cherubim and seraphim

Sing "Holy, holy, holy!

The heav'ns and earth and all therein

Are full of Your great glory!"

Apostles, prophets praise Your name.

The martyr throng with great acclaim

With all the Church is singing.

3. O Father of all majesty;

Your only Son, our Savior;

O Holy Ghost: all praises be

To you, O God, forever.

Hail, glorious Christ! You are the King!

Your everlasting praise we sing,

O Son of God the Father.

4. You did not spurn the virgin's womb,

But bore humiliation.

You overcame the death and tomb

And won for us salvation.

By bearing sin's enormous weight

You opened wide the Kingdom's gate;

The faithful there will gather.

5. You sit alone at God's right hand,

The Father's glory sharing.

Before You, Christ, we all will stand,

Our sins and errors baring.

Oh holy Judge, to You we pray.

Preserve Your saints upon that Day

In glory everlasting.

6. We pray you, save Your people, Lord.

Preserve Your heirs and lead them.

Oh, keep Your people in Your Word

And with salvation feed them.

Keep us this day without offense.

Your mercy, gracious Lord, dispense.

Let us not be confounded.

87 87 887

NUN FREUT EUCH (LSB 556)

Te Deum Laudamus

Sermon for 7/6/25: Third Sunday After Trinity

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Angels Rejoice

Luke 15:1-10

Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Amen. 

 

Have you ever noticed that there are those who take great delight in pointing out that Christians are sinners? Some of those same folks are shocked to find that we are not especially bothered by that revelation, as if we didn’t know that already. I am not shocked. I’ve known since the day this congregation Installed me that you are all sinners, and you have known that about me, too. But sometimes that charge is phrased in such a way that it reveals something other than someone who is just naive. It comes out as an accusation: “These people may be Christians on Sunday, but look out the rest of the week.” Now we see what is really meant, what they really believe. They think Christianity is about good works, that being a Christian is about being nice and behaving.

And they are wrong! Indeed, the devil is pleased that they have believed his lie. In truth, to be a Christian is not to be good all of the time, or never to sin. There is a former LCMS member who is now a teleheretic—I don’t remember if it’s Joyce Meyer or Beth Moore or someone else—who insists, “I am not poor. I am not miserable. I am not a sinner.” Such a false idea of Christianity leads either to despair or hypocrisy. Christianity is not centered on good works. Jesus received and ate with sinners. The Pharisees stood off at a distance. They were shocked by the terrible sinners that made up our Lord’s entourage. Of course, this was the same crowd that thought they did not need a physician. But that was only because they did not know how sick they really were. It is impossible for any of us on this side of glory to not need God, or to ever have too much of His Word, His forgiveness, His life. So it is that these Pharisees, despite their many acts of charity, caused no rejoicing in heaven. The angels of God do not rejoice over children’s hospitals or universal health care or social justice causes or even peace treaties among the nations, as good as those things may be. The angels of God rejoice over the repentance of sinners! They rejoice over conversion and salvation!

To be a Christian is to be the cause of the angels rejoicing. It is to be gathered by our Lord to Himself, to bask in His forgiving presence in His gracious Word and Holy Sacrament. It is to listen as He speaks, to eat and drink as He gives nourishment and peace in His body and blood. To be a Christian does not mean that you have to be a pillar of the community whose kids never get in trouble, or that you must write rousing editorials in the local paper, or belt out the national anthem at ball games, or that there has never been a time when you have had a little too much to drink. To be a Christian is to hear the Good Shepherd’s voice, to be forgiven by Him and drawn to Him. It is to listen to and eat with Jesus.

That being said, hearing Jesus always brings shame with it, for His hearers always suffer the attacks of the Pharisees or their spiritual heirs. Hearing Jesus also brings shame by association. We are in the company of shameful people. Have you noticed that, in the New Testament, the worst sorts of people were always gathered about the Lord: tax collectors, prostitutes, murderers, thieves and liars? The Pharisees rightly call us sinners. We must acknowledge that truth. God’s Law cuts into our hearts and exposes us for who we really are. It leaves us vulnerable, helpless. But rejoice in that shame, for Jesus also says, “Blessed are the poor in spirit.” Under that shame there is the honor that Jesus receives sinners.

God is not like you. He does not worry about His offended honor. He is moved, instead, by a completely undeserved love. God behaves foolishly. He dies for sinners. He honors the shamed. He confounds the wisdom of men. He is a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles. He gives His life for us. And He will not be thwarted by some tongue wagging about “sinners.” He came to seek and to save sinners—even you; even me.

Every time you feel sorrow over your sins; every time you confess your sincere desire to not do it again, and place all your hope and trust in His grace and mercy; every time you repent, the angels in heaven rejoice. They rejoice because you are a forgiven sinner. The Law left you helpless and vulnerable and led you to know that only Jesus could rescue you and fill you with His righteousness; that He is the One who is willing to risk all to retrieve you again and to draw you back into the safety of His love. And so He finds you and bears you upon His shoulders rejoicing; and the angels rejoice with Him, for you are precious in His sight.

Jesus receives and eats with sinners at this table, where satisfies your hunger pangs for righteousness. He has found you by His Word. He has cut you down, but then He has raised you up again. And His angels rejoice in your forgiveness and life. So come; join with outcasts and sinners, with those of ill repute and shaky dealings, with terrible and the notorious. Come, be united in confession and faith. Be filled with His body and blood, given and shed for the remission of sins. God has sent His Son to be your Redeemer and Rescuer. He has sought and found you. You belong to Him. He has restored you to His house. You are the cause of angelic choir anthems of praise and rejoicing. You were dead and lost, but now you are found and alive. You belong. In the name of the Father and of the Son (+) and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

 

The peace of God which passes all understanding will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus always.  Amen.