Sermon for Lent 3: "The Word of the Cross" (1 Corinthians 1:18-31)

Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Amen! Dear brothers and sisters in Christ:

 

“For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Corinthians 1:18).

 

Today, according to the fallen world, the Ten Commandments – as we heard in today’s Old Testament lesson – seem like foolishness from a time gone by. But they are the wisdom of God for all ages, given in love for the safety of His people. And to each of the Ten Commandments in the Large Catechism, Martin Luther teaches over and over and over again to not regard the Commandments as a joke, because they are no joke to God.

 

To put it into an ever-wider context, to the fallen world, the entire Bible itself is foolishness. Sadly, even many professing Christians would agree with that sentiment. But the Bible is the very Word of God from cover to cover. And through that Bible, the Holy Spirit brings us to faith in the One who is the Savior from sin, eternal death, and the devil.

 

And in our Gospel lesson, the people selling oxen, sheep and pigeons, along with the money changers in the temple show the foolishness of the people – those who turned God’s house into a marketplace.

 

Then in our text from 1 Corinthians 1, the Holy Spirit inspires St. Paul to write about the word of the cross: “For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Corinthians 1:18).

 

The word of the cross is foolishness. It’s foolishness for those who are perishing. To these people, the word of the cross makes no sense to them. We all know family, friends, and neighbors, who see the cross of Christ as utter foolishness. A God who comes to this world where everybody hates Him and everybody wants to murder Him, and this God lets them? Why? Because He loves them? To worldly thinkers, this makes no sense. In fact, it’s downright foolish. Who would humble Himself to that degree? Who would put Himself into that situation with a bunch of ingrates?

 

We all know people who truly believe that the cross is foolishness and that you are a fool for confessing your faith in Christ this day. Whenever you speak to a person who believes you are a fool for talking about Christ, you usually get that look. You know that look. The look that says, “This is a waste of time. This is foolishness.”

 

I have gotten that look more times than I can count and even from close friends and relatives. “You mean, you believe that marriage is only between one man and one woman? You’ve got to be kidding.” “You mean, you believe that the Bible is written by God? You know, it was only written by men.” “You mean, Jesus is the only Savior? You’ve got to be kidding.”

 

We’ve all been there. The word of the cross is foolishness. It’s foolishness for those who are perishing.

 

For the Jews, they see the crucifixion of the Messiah as a stumbling block because anyone killed on a cross was cursed. It was scandalous to think that their God was executed as a criminal.

 

For the Greeks of Paul’s day, the cross is foolishness, absolute nonsense, that displays a senseless act of thinking. It makes no sense. Glory or wisdom or life doesn’t come from a form of execution.

 

The cross may be foolishness for those who are perishing, but we are to tell those who are perishing about Christ anyway, because they, too, need saving. And we do this telling not through compulsion or threat, but through the Holy Spirit as He leads us through our God-given vocations – our stations, or callings – in life as a parent, a child, a sibling, a cousin, employee, teacher, or friend. Now, to those you speak about Jesus, they will think that there is something wrong with you. And there is something wrong. But this problem is not with Jesus or even with the cross. There is something terribly wrong with this world. 

 

You see, ever since Adam and Eve listened to that serpent, we’ve been wired for something different than what God has to offer. So much so, that we think that what God has to offer us is utter foolishness. Our fallen nature says this is naïve. Our fallen nature says that God is just a pipe dream. It’s not worth our time. 

 

What was it that the serpent promised Eve? He promised her wisdom. Wisdom is what Satan was offering her. “So, when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate” (Genesis 3:6). The Fall of man. Eve, the helper, usurped Adam’s place as head of the household, and Adam let it all happen. God’s Order of Creation became topsy-turvy; it became upside-down. The Fall happened because of Satan’s promise of wisdom. “You’ll be just like God.” 

 

Wisdom. All you have to do is to set your own agenda, forget God’s Law and everything He has told you, and listen to someone else, which so happens to be Satan. This is the world’s wisdom.

 

Paul asks, “Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age?” (1 Corinthians 1:20). 

 

The fallen world says: Wow them with what you know; wow them with your arguments. It doesn’t even have to be true. Evil is good. Good is evil. Up is down. Down is up. Men can be women. Women can be men. All it needs to be is persuasive. It doesn’t even need to be true. This is the world’s version of wisdom. If you say enough lies, the lies will become all too seductive and replace truth. This worked pretty well with Eve. And Satan knows what he’s talking about. “Did God actually say?”(Genesis 3:1). With one bite she chose to listen to Satan and his version of wisdom. She ate from the forbidden tree. And she gave that fruit to Adam and he ate.

 

Only another tree could save Adam and Eve. And this tree would not be any tree in the Garden of Eden. Adam and Eve would be banished from Eden for their own protection. So, it would have to be another tree. A tree planted thousands of years later outside that Garden. This tree would be the tree of life on which the Son of God would die for what Adam and Eve did so long ago as they brought sin and pride upon creation. Upon that cross, the Son of God would also die for those sins of thought, word, and deed that you and I have done all do recently.

 

The tree that brought death to our Lord brought life to the world. Upon this tree was nailed Jesus, the Lord of Life, of which we eat every time we come to the Lord’s Supper. We receive the fruit of that tree: the body and blood of our Lord given and shed for you and me for the forgiveness of our sins.

 

The tree of the cross is truly the tree of life for you and for me and for all who cling to the “God who so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). God the Father gave His only-begotten Son on that tree to remedy our sin and rebellion and our chasing after the world’s wisdom.

 

But again, for those who are perishing, that wondrous cross of which we glory is still embarrassing. It’s nothing but foolishness. 

 

The word of the cross is foolishness for those who are perishing, but we ought not give up on telling others about what Christ’s crucifixion, His bodily resurrection, and His bodily ascension into heaven mean for you and for them. It means that we have salvation and all by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone. And that He is still with us to the end of the age (Matthew 28:20b). For us who are being saved, the word of the cross is not foolish; it is the power of God.

Now, the word of the cross may sound foolish to the worldly wise. We do preach Christ crucified, which is a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but for those who are saved, Christ is “the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men” (1 Corinthians 1:24-25). Amen.

 

The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, our Lord. Amen.  

 

+ SOLI DEO GLORIA +

Sermon for Pentecost 5: "Giving Thanks to God" (Colossians 1:1-14)

 

Grace and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Amen!

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ:

[Intro]

Through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the Apostle Paul addresses his epistle to the Colossians as “the saints and faithful brothers in Christ” (Colossians 1:2a). He writes this, because these Colossian Christians have been set apart from the world by the Lord to serve and glorify Him through loving the Lord with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength and through love and service to their neighbor.

These Colossians are not the only ones set apart by God as saints. You see, every Christian is set apart as holy, and especially here at First Lutheran Church. Even though we are set apart by God, the sinful world around us, along with our own sinful nature, and Satan’s deceitfulness through confusion, each attempt to pull us away from God.

When Paul wrote this letter, the Colossian Christians had been faithful to the Lord, but there were troubles ahead. Despite the troubles, Paul wrote this epistle to encourage those Colossian Christians – and us today – to continue in our faithfulness to Christ.

[Encouragement and Thanksgiving]

Grave dangers were beginning to threaten the faith of the Colossians. And as it was then – as is now – these dangers stemmed from false teachings that downgraded the Person and work of Christ. But knowing the Colossians to be Christians, Paul begins with the thankful affirmation of Christ’s eternal relationship to the Father and the benefits for believers as he writes:

“We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before the Word of Truth, the Gospel, which has come to you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in Truth” (Colossians 1:3-6).

Yes, there were spiritual dangers that the Colossians were facing, but despite that, Paul encourages them to stand firm in Christ.

Before Paul begins with his specific warnings and encouragements, he gives thanks to God. Paul thanks God that the Colossians are believers. From all the reports he had heard, Paul was convinced of the sincerity of the Colossians’ faith and love. He is especially thankful that they are continually giving evidence of their faith in loving concern for one another, which sprang from their sure and certain hope in Christ.

So, Paul writes to encourage them to hold on to the Word of Truth, the Gospel. You see, another word – claiming to be the truth – was trying to gain entrance into their hearts and minds. So, what was this thing claiming to be the truth? It was in fact, human wisdom.

Paul’s point of encouragement to the Colossians was that they possessed the Gospel, the very Word of Truth. That Gospel is universal, and it is all-sufficient. It needs no changes or improvements. It does not need to be supplemented by human wisdom. And when human wisdom leads the Christian, instead of God’s inerrant Word, it deprives the Gospel. Paul’s warning to the Colossian Church is the same warning Paul gives us today.

[Wisdom]

So, what exactly was this human wisdom that was infecting the Colossian Church? Well, the opponents of the Gospel in Colossae boasted a great deal about their supposed “knowledge.” According to their “knowledge,” these false teachers were convincing many of the Colossians that Christ alone was insufficient to guarantee their salvation, so they taught that works of the Law were necessary for salvation, such as Jewish practices, Jewish festivals, and Jewish dietary scruples. These false teachers sought to supplement the ministry of Christ with the works of the Ceremonial Law.

Today, human wisdom has led many Christians astray into believing that they must do something to “improve” God’s Word. But how could we “improve” upon perfection? Our human wisdom certain tries. The reality is: our human wisdom – though given by God – is marred by sin. So, whatever we may do by attempting to “improve” God’s Word actually ends up doing the opposite. By adding to or subtracting from God’s Word, we are usurping God and placing ourselves in His office.

Well, if wisdom does not come from man, where does wisdom come? Job famously asked that question to which he knew the answer: “God understands the way to it, and He knows its place” (Job 28:23). You see, true wisdom belongs to God, who created the world by wisdom and imparted wisdom to His creation. Wisdom was the personal agent by whom God created (Genesis 1; Psalm 33:6).

The lack of wisdom that we experience reflects our sinful condition, lacking a right relationship with God. This lack of wisdom is evident because we are out of harmony with the way God created things to be. Therefore, wisdom must be revealed by God “for the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding” (Proverbs 2:6) if humanity is to gain the knowledge of salvation.

Wisdom became incarnate in Jesus Christ, who is true God – wisdom made flesh. Christ restored wisdom for us by His cross, as His death provides redemption from sin. “And because of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption” (1 Corinthians 1:30). Thus, divine wisdom is equivalent to forgiveness and righteousness.

As Paul writes about wisdom here, note how he concludes our text. Through the word of the cross, which the world’s wisdom sees as foolishness, this salvific Christological wisdom is revealed “in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins” (Colossians 1:14).

This wisdom comes through faith in “the fear of the Lord [who] is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight” (Proverbs 9:10). To truly possess wisdom is to have the gift of eternal life and salvation. Such fear in faith moves and empowers Christians to live a life of wisdom. This life of wisdom is characterized by good works, which is living in a manner worthy of the Lord, well pleasing to Him and increasing in every good work. Now, good works are those things that are pleasing to the Lord, such as the thoughts, words, and deeds that please God, which are fruits of faith.

By faith in Christ, we increase in the knowledge of God and live a God-pleasing life. An important element in a life that pleases God is receiving the Means of Grace, which is the Gospel in Word and Sacrament. As we receive the Means of Grace, the Holy Spirit works in our hearts to strengthen us in faith and in the knowledge of God and His will, especially His saving will in us.

You see, it’s all about encouragement. The Holy Spirit uses Paul here to encourage the Colossians to joy and thanksgiving. Likewise, the Holy Spirit is encouraging us this day through joy and thanksgiving to God.

We ought to thank and praise the Triune God – the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit – every day of our lives. We give thanks because, we, who were once disqualified from salvation, have now become qualified to share in the inheritance of the saints in light (Colossians 1:12). You see, Christ transplanted sinners from the spiritual kingdom of darkness, ignorance, and eternal death to the kingdom of wisdom, life, and light in Jesus, our Savior.

God did this for sinful human beings by one mighty act of love in human history. You see, in the fullness of time, He sent forth His Son into our world of sin and shame. That Son, took on a true human frame and became the substitute for the whole human race. He lived a perfect life to satisfy God’s Law in man’s place and to gain for sinners a righteousness that none have by nature. On Calvary’s cross, He shed His blood and died to pay the penalty God’s perfect justice demanded for man’s countless transgressions of His Law. Then by the bodily resurrection of Jesus, it was declared that the world’s sin had all been paid for. By grace through faith in Christ alone, a world of sinners has been rescued from Satan’s kingdom.

We all receive this grace personally through the Gospel when we believe and trust the good news of God’s perfect salvation in Jesus Christ. The whole world of sinners has been justified in Christ Jesus and this is the central teaching of God’s Word. You see, the primary purpose of Scripture is to bring sinners to repentance and faith in Christ, so that they also share in His perfect righteousness and inherit eternal life. If these truths are lost by “human wisdom” then there is no Christian faith left, and there is no salvation. So, Paul urges the Colossians and us to remember and continually thank God for these saving truths.

[The Lord Provides]

Like Paul before me, I, too, encourage you all to faithfulness. Even when Abraham was prepared to sacrifice His only Son Isaac, he had faith that the Lord would provide a substitute, for which He did. The Lord provided a ram caught in a thicket as a sacrifice. The Lord also provided Jesus as the one and only sacrifice for his and our sins.

In the coming weeks and months, things will be different at First Lutheran Church, but always know this: The Lord provides! At the proper time, the Lord will provide First Lutheran with another associate pastor to work alongside Pastor Welch in team ministry for Christ’s church in this place. In the meantime, the Lord provides through His Word and His Sacrament.

For today’s Divine Service, I selected some of my favorite hymns. And, I was surprised to see that the Senior Choir picked another one of my favorite hymns.

For today’s closing hymn, we will be singing “Built on the Rock.” I enjoy singing this hymn because no matter what happens, Christ never leaves us nor forsakes us. Christ always provides! Some years ago, I preached on this hymn, but I want to leave you with these words from stanza four:

645 Built on the Rock

4   Here stands the font before our eyes,
    Telling how God has received us.
The_altar recalls Christ’s sacrifice
    And what His Supper here gives us.
Here sound the Scriptures that proclaim
Christ yesterday, today, the same,
    And evermore, our Redeemer.

Text: Public domain

We are “in Christ” because of our relationship to Christ. We became one “in Christ” through Baptism. We are strengthened “in Christ” through what the Lord’s Supper gives us: forgiveness of sins, eternal life, and salvation. We are strengthened “in Christ” knowing that God’s Word is all-sufficient!

Like the Apostle Paul, I, too, give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ for placing me as your pastor alongside Pastor Welch these past five years. I thought it would be longer, but it is God’s will that I share the Gospel of Christ at Prince of Peace Lutheran in West Salem, Wisconsin. God has certainly bore fruit here and He continues to bear fruit here through the proclamation of the Gospel – the good news of Christ – which is redemption, the forgiveness of sins!

By faith in Christ, I know we will see each other again! That time will either be in this temporal life, or in life everlasting!

The Lord bless you and keep you always in His grace for which we receive by faith in Christ alone! Amen.

The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, our Lord. Amen.

+ SOLI DEO GLORIA +

Sermon for Lent 5: "It's All About Jesus" (Luke 20:9-20)

Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Amen! Dear brothers and sisters in Christ:

[Intro]

What people say about Jesus tells a lot about that person. Some say: “Jesus was just a miracle worker.” Others say: “Jesus was just another prophet among the prophets.” Even others: “Jesus was a man who hung out with sinners, so I’m comfortable in my sin.” Who is Jesus?

As C.S. Lewis has famously said, Jesus “is either God or a complete lunatic suffering from that form of delusion which undermines the whole mind of man.” Lewis also said Jesus “produced mainly three effects – Hatred – Terror – Adoration. There was no trace of people expressing mild approval.” So, Jesus is either God, a lunatic, or an evil man. Who is Jesus? Today on this, the Fifth Sunday in Lent, Jesus proclaims to His hearers on who He truly is.

Just prior to today’s Gospel text, the Jewish religious establishment challenged the authority of Jesus, saying: “Tell us by what authority you do these things, or who is it that gave you this authority?” (Luke 20:2). You see, according to Jewish Law, the chief priests, scribes, and elders had divine appointment. So, they ask Jesus, where does your authority come from?

This question is what leads Jesus into telling the Parable of the Wicked Tenants to the people – those who believe Jesus’ teaching and to the Jewish religious establishment who rejected His teaching.

[The Parable of the Wicked Tenants]

Jesus began the parable saying: “A man planted a vineyard and let it out to tenants and went into another country for a long while” (Luke 20:9b).

From the start, we see a vineyard. Now, what does a vineyard require? For sure, time and patience. For a vineyard to produce quality wine, it takes months or even years. So, each vineyard requires tender loving care. We also see that the owner of the vineyard is trusting His tenants to keep producing the fruit needed to make quality wine.

But when the time came to receive some of the fruit of His vineyard, the tenants would not give back what belonged to Him. Instead, “the tenants beat [His servant] and sent him away empty-handed” (Luke 20:10b). But the owner of the vineyard is patient as He keeps sending servants. But with each servant, they receive the same rejection. Now, each servant represents God’s prophetic activity during the Old Testament times, when the prophets called people to repent and to show fruits of repentance, but that call fell so often on deaf ears. Instead, these servants are beaten and sent away (Luke 20:10); beaten, treated shamefully, and sent away (20:11); and wounded and thrown out (20:12).

Eventually, the owner of the vineyard hoping against hope says, “What shall I do? I will send my beloved son; perhaps they will respect him” (Luke 20:13).

Now, for some in the audience, this should have perked their ears. You see, Peter, James, and John have heard this before. By “this,” I mean “beloved Son.” For them, a lightbulb should have gone off, since they previously heard the voice from heaven proclaim about Jesus: “This is my beloved Son, listen to Him” (Luke 9:35). But for the others in the audience who weren’t on the Mount of Transfiguration, Jesus would explain the meaning of the parable.

You see, the preparatory catechesis is over. The prophets accomplished what God sent them to do, but now it is time for God’s own Son to visit the vineyard. But the abuse suffered by all of God’s servants will fall upon His own beloved Son so this Scripture would be fulfilled: “The reproaches of those who reproached you fell upon Me” (Psalm 69:9; Romans 15:3). So, it is the hour for the Son to be killed.

The tenants say: “This is the heir. Let us kill Him, so that the inheritance may be ours” (Luke 20:14). So, they threw Him out of the vineyard and killed Him. This is Jesus also predicting His own death outside the Jerusalem walls. The wicked tenants wanted the vineyard all to themselves. They assumed that the vineyard would be theirs due to the owner’s absence.

[The Rejection of the Stone]

The meaning of the parable is clear. Jesus is talking about Himself! It’s all about Him! But, at this point, He breaks off the parable and interprets the significance of His own death for salvation history. He asks, “What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them? He will come and destroy those tenants and give the vineyard to others” (Luke 20:15-16). Here, Jesus echoes Isaiah: the fruitless vineyard that has become a thicket of thorns must be destroyed (Isaiah 5:5-6). Equally clear is Jesus’ own answer to His question: “He will come and destroy those tenants and give the vineyard to others” (Luke 20:16).

Since the Jewish religious establishment are unable to be good stewards of God’s vineyard, God the Father – the owner of the vineyard – will give the vineyard to tenants who would care for the vineyard. These new tenants would begin with the Twelve Apostles who, through their commission, reconstitute the Church as the New Israel.

When the Jewish religious establishment heard this, they respond in fear saying, “Surely not!” (Luke 20:16). You see, the killing of the Son, the killing of the wicked tenants, and the transfer of the vineyard to others must happen.

The audience wants to know the end of the story, but do they? Do they really want to know how this ends? Knowing this, Jesus asks them in the form of a question, “What then is this that is written:

          ‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone’?

Everyone who falls on that that stone will be broken to pieces, and when it falls on anyone, it will crush him” (Luke 20:17-18).

For everyone there, they knew exactly what Jesus was saying, for they were familiar with this Jewish proverb: “If a stone falls on the pot, woe to the pot. If the pot falls on the stone, woe to the pot. Either way, woe to the pot!” The stone always destroys the pot.

Jesus speaks the question, but He gives no answer, because the events of the next few days will provide that answer. But the people and the Jewish religious establishment already have had the answer for a long time in the Scriptures. They should have known that according to Moses and all the prophets, it was “necessary that the Christ suffer these things and enter into His glory” (Luke 24:26).

This is what must happen to all the prophets. However, the rejection of this Prophet – Jesus – is different. What is so extraordinary about Jesus’ imminent crucifixion is that His rejection is the means by which He will become the cornerstone and is therefore a reference to His glory! So, by the stone’s rejection by the builders – the Jewish religious establishment – is the stone’s exaltation as the head of the corner.

The coming crucifixion of Jesus will become the ultimate stumbling block for all people as St. Paul was inspired to write: “We preach Christ crucified – a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles” (1 Corinthians 1:23).

[The Tenants Today]

So, what does this Parable mean for us today? That was then, what about now?

We now live in the time of the Church, since Jesus has risen from the dead and has bodily ascended into heaven. So, who are the stewards until Christ returns on the Last Day? We are.

When looking at this parable today, we see Jesus letting the vineyard to us. His servants are faithful pastors who preach Christ’s saving Word of Law and Gospel. And as it was then, is now, many of these faithful pastors today are treated shamefully by today’s tenants who would rather hear what their itching ears desire (2 Timothy 4:3), instead of God’s unchanging truth, for He is “the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8).

Christianity has always been about Jesus. Jesus Christ is the cornerstone of the Christian faith. Jesus is the entire reason the Christian Church exists to this very day and very hour and we are His stewards. So, let us not fall into the mindset of the wicked tenants in the parable who claimed the vineyard for themselves. You see, everything we have is only by God’s grace and favor. So, we cannot claim the paycheck we receive as our own doing, in fact, that paycheck is a gift from God. Remember, it is God alone who provides for all our needs of body – food, clothing, shelter, and the like – and for our soul – the forgiveness of our sins – so it is our vocation to give back what God asks of us: the fruits of our faith: repentant hearts, and our time, talents, and treasure.

Likewise, when a church wavers from its commitment to the confession of Jesus Christ as the Son of God and the Savior of the world, it takes the place of the wicked tenants. You see, the most important question Jesus asked His followers was this: “Who do you say that I am?” (Luke 9:20). Since Christ has ascended to the Right Hand of the Father, numerous Christian denominations have walked away from their confidence in the trustworthiness of God’s Word as revealed in the Scriptures. As a result, they are no longer comfortable with the teachings of Jesus and have become the wicked tenants in believing they own the vineyard. But the fact remains that Christianity is all about Jesus and He will come again.

Jesus is the Truth. So, anything that conflicts with the truth of God’s Word, that is a lie. The truth of Christ is objectively true. It is truth aside from how we may feel about it. The truth of Christ does not rest on the shaky foundation of human feeling, emotion, or opinion, for He is the cornerstone.

In ancient times, the cornerstone was used at a building’s corner to bear the weight or stress of the two walls. So, if that stone would be removed, the entire structure would fall. So, upon Jesus rests the entire structure of God’s kingdom.

[The Stone Gives Life]

Jesus is the Stone and He says that everyone will either be broken or crushed. By everyone, Jesus means everyone. We will all be crushed.

For even the most devout follower of Christ must fall into the brokenness of repentance in order to be raised again as new beings, as living stones in Christ, the temple of God. As poor, miserable sinners, all of us, no doubt, have had this experience. We have fallen on that Stone and have been broken. Christ has pulled us up short and stopped us in our path. Through faith in Christ, he has humbled us as He leads us to confess our sin to God and to the neighbor we wronged. He has caused us to see the shoddiness of our thinking and the ugliness of our living. His Word that is “sharper than any two-edged sword” (Hebrews 4:12), cuts us to the core. But Christ picks us up. And, oh, the bliss of recovery under His gentle care! What we first regarded as a degree of punishment turns out to be the first step in the healing process as He forgives all repentant sinners. Thus, there is Gospel in what appears to be entirely Law.

But upon those who refuse to trust in Jesus as their Lord comes the crushing blow of judgment. Those who stumble over Jesus will receive the judgment caused by their rejection of Him, and when the stone falls on them, they will be utterly crushed and grounded into powder. You see, although God has a love and patience beyond the farthest reaches of our imagination, God teaches us in His Word with the possibility that one can spurn God once too often. We are reminded that with the assurances of God’s love, that “our God is a consuming fire” (Hebrews 12:29).

So, the Parable of the Wicked Tenants tells us not only of God’s judgments, but also tells of God’s love and patience. He sends and sends – and keeps on sending. Finally, He sends His Son – His beloved Son. We do right to perceive that the parable is spoken against us. But we do wrong if that’s all we perceive. We need to perceive also that the parable is spoken for us as a word of hope, that it tells us of a God who keeps on sending in our behalf and even goes as far as to send His own beloved Son for our salvation! No one could take Jesus’ life away from Him, only He can lay down His life, so that He may take it up again (John 10:17).

So, who is Jesus? He is the very Lamb of God who put His face toward Jerusalem in order to suffer and die on a cross, so that He would win for all who cling to Him the vineyard, which is the Church, the place of joy, and from the fruit comes the sweet wine of His Means of Grace – His undeserved forgiveness in Word and Sacrament – and the joy of salvation. Amen.

The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, keep you hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, our Lord. Amen.

+ SOLI DEO GLORIA +

Sermon for Epiphany 5: "Building Up the Body of Christ" (1 Corinthians 14:12b-20)

 

Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Amen! 

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ:

[Intro: The Issue in Corinth]

The Corinthian church was a deeply troubled congregation. At the start of his letter, the Holy Spirit guides Paul into writing, “I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers” (1 Corinthians 1:10-11).

One of the most troubling aspects of the church in Corinth was a sense of superiority on the part of some members of the church.

Typically, the distractions at the Corinthian church came from the worldliness outside the church. You see, the city of Corinth was a very large city with a population of nearly a million people. And like any large city then and now, comes many distractions. Added to this is the fact that Corinth was a port city. In fact, it had ports on each end of the city. Being a major port city, this brought commerce, but it also brought with it much sin.

Corinth was a city of wealth, a city of luxury, but what it was most known for was that it was a city of immorality. Corinth was a city well known for sexual immorality and drunkenness.

But Paul is not writing here about the distractions coming from the outside. Here, Paul is writing about the distractions that are coming from within the church in Corinth.

The issue here is that divisions are mounting within the church in Corinth as outsiders cannot understand what is being said – and many of the faithful at the church are also unable to understand.

Evidently, those who spoke in tongues were convinced that they were better than those who could not speak in tongues. They believed they had an increased value over the non-tongue speakers. Paul’s point is that if no person is able to interpret the tongues, then you are not building up the church. The speaking of tongues may be beneficial to the one speaking in tongues, but to everyone else, it just sounds like pure nonsense. If there is no interpretation, then the tongue speaking is worthless. It isn’t edifying the church. It isn’t building up the body of Christ.

In a similar way, often our sinful nature leads us to want more when it comes to the Sunday Divine Service. Sometimes, we focus on our feelings, instead of being satisfied in receiving the gifts that God gives us.

Today on this Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany, the Triune God is leading us not to focus on ourselves, but instead on Jesus as He leads us in building up His Body, the Church.

[Understanding the Good News]

Back during the time of the Reformation, there was confusion within the church of the Holy Roman Empire – of what is now known as Germany. You see, throughout their daily life, they would speak German, but when they entered church, they would hear the Mass in Latin. Some understood parts of the service, but most people did not understand much at all. The issue here was understanding.

Martin Luther was also frustrated with this. So, as part of the Reformation, he created the Divine Service to be spoken in the language of the vernacular, the language of the people. With his reforms, the people spoke the liturgy in German, the people sung the hymns in German, the people heard the Scripture readings in German, and they heard the Scripture interpreted in the sermon in German. At last, these people could say “Amen” and know what they were agreeing to.

This is the issue at hand in Corinth, many within the church were saying “Amen,” but they didn’t know what they were agreeing to. With this being the case, the church in Corinth was not being built up.

Foundational to Paul’s whole discussion about tongues and worship in the church is that Christ is the head of the Church. Christ’s own head bore the crown of thorns in His passion. Christ’s own head bowed down in death – His atoning death on the cross. Christ’s own head was lifted up in His bodily resurrection. Christ’s own head received the crown of glory as He bodily ascended back to heaven.

Christ is now our head of all things in heaven and on earth. He is the head of His body, the Church, in a rule of grace, love, and forgiveness. This means that the Church is to live together and seek to build itself up as one caring and unified body.

This, we need to hear and understand! Even today, as we correspond using the English language, we still need someone to interpret God’s inerrant Word. There are times when we become distracted in the Divine Service, as we think about lunch, afternoon plans, or something catches our eyes or ears that end up distracting us. And even if we pay the closest attention, we may still not understand what we just heard spoken in the Old Testament, Epistle, and Gospel lessons. This is why we have a time of interpretation, known as the sermon. In the sermon, we hear God’s Word interpreted through preaching.

Still, even then, our minds may wander, but when we have questions about God’s Word, we know who to ask – God’s called and ordained pastor.

But besides listening to the pastor, how do we build up the church? Well, instead of trying to impress people by how much we may know, try building each other up through teaching and catechesis. Through group Bible studies, we build each other up. Through attending the Divine Service faithfully together, we build each other up.

From this, the Holy Spirit gives us the ability to instruct others. We speak in a way that others can learn. Paul says to the Corinthian church and to us: “I want to speak of Christ and His sufferings, death, and resurrection for the salvation of souls, so they can hear this message.” So, when we instruct others on who Jesus is and why He matters, we become fishers of men. By sharing the love of Christ, we build up the church!

You see, it is through the good news of God’s truth that builds up the church. This is why Luther put together his Small and Large Catechisms, where he taught God’s six chief parts – The Ten Commandments, The Creed, The Lord’s Prayer, The Sacrament of Holy Baptism, Confession, and The Sacrament of the Altar. There, in the catechisms, Luther interprets what each Chief Part means, so all may know God’s Law and Gospel. And, with each section of the catechisms, Luther confirms God’s truth with an “Amen” by saying “This is most certainly true.”

There, Luther places Christ’s net, so that every follower of Christ would know the proper teachings of the one true Christian faith and be able to share God’s love with others.

Since we all have been bought and paid for by Christ, through His death and bodily resurrection, we ought to learn and take to heart all that God has done for us by bringing us peace. So, as His new creation, we strive to excel in building up the Church.

God teaches us to “let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God” (Colossians 3:16).

You see, God desires worship that enables “Amen.” God desires worship that catechizes the confused. God desires all divisions to cease. God desires that His Church be built up as the Body of Christ.

Paul raises some sharp questions not only about the practices of the Corinthian church, but also about the church’s life in any age. Unclear, confusing, or noncommunicative speech in the church fails to edify the church.

For us this day, we are to always recall that through Baptism, we “are the body of Christ, and individually members of it” (1 Corinthians 12:27). In other words, Christ is our head, and we are His body, the Church.

As the Head, Christ leads us to forgive one another as He has forgiven us. Here, in the Divine Service, He shows His love for us through His Means of Grace – Word and Sacrament – as He strengthens our faith and forgives our sins. He leads us away from a self-centered life as we care for the needs of others. He, alone, unites us as His body as He builds us up! Amen.

The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, keep you hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, our Lord. Amen.

T SOLI DEO GLORIA T

Sermon for Advent Midweek 3: "Comfort, Comfort, Ye My People" (Isaiah 40:1-8)

 

Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Amen! 

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ:

[Intro]

The Gospel has everything to do with comfort. But how we received forgiveness of sins – by grace through faith in Jesus – may not sound comforting to some.

Yes, by faith in Christ, our sins are paid for. But in order to have our sins paid for, Jesus had to suffer and die. So, through Christ’s atoning death, our “iniquity is pardoned” (Isaiah 40:2) and we have received from the Lord double for all our sins.

In Christ alone, we have received a double payment of “comfort, comfort.”

Within the past few years at First Lutheran Church and all-around Glencoe, road construction and upgrading sewers and pipes has been an uncomfortable enterprise. The closure of Morningside Drive and county highway 15 added minutes to our drive. But now that all the construction is complete, we are enjoying freshly paved streets and we relish in the comfort of it all!

Now, as you heard our Old Testament lesson from Isaiah 40 read earlier, did you hear hammers and bulldozers? Did you cough in the dusty air? Bringing comfort has its uncomfortable side.

The voice cries: “Get that earthmover in here! Get that blasting crew! This valley and mountain must be leveled!”

A highway is going through and it’s not going around the mountains. It’s not going through the valleys.

This highway is the Messiah coming and He doesn’t reroute for anybody. Nothing can stand in His way – not mountains or valleys – and if you’re in the way, you’re getting leveled.

[Comforting News Announced]

The Advent hymn “Comfort, Comfort, Ye My People” presents us with the spiritual discomfort involved in receiving the Advent message of comfort. The hymn “Comfort, Comfort, Ye My People” is the work of a German court preacher named Johann Olearius (1611-1684). This hymn was not originally written as an Advent hymn but was written for the festival of St. John the Baptist, which is June 24. Eventually it became an Advent hymn, since it is so closely associated with the Advent reading from Isaiah 40:1-8.

In the hymn, Olearius stays close to the text of Isaiah, moving from one biblical expression to the next with ease. The effect is that the hymn is able to retain the strength and vitality of Isaiah’s original message while conveying all the hope and joy it can bring to people now.

Together with Isaiah’s picture of dismantling, uprooting, and leveling, these phrases of the hymn present us with an essentially discomforting task. But through all this discomfort, comes comfort.

Let’s look at stanza one:

1     “Comfort, comfort ye My people,
    Speak ye peace,” thus saith our God;
“Comfort those who sit in darkness,
    Mourning ’neath their sorrows’ load.
Speak ye to Jerusalem
Of the peace that waits for them;
    Tell her that her sins I cover
    And her warfare now is over.”

Text: Public domain

Here, stanza one closely follows the text of Isaiah 40:1-2, which the Holy Spirit inspired Isaiah to encourage God’s exiled people in Babylon. Here, God is proclaiming the good news through the prophet, announcing to them the fulfillment of His gracious promise to cover their sins and end their warfare. They would be coming home as His restored people.

For us, we have all experienced the effects of sin in our lives as a time of sorrow, and a period of mourning. We have sat in darkness. The only cure for this grieving is comfort, the peace that announces that our sins are covered.

Though we struggle in our life – due to sin, Christ steadily walked to the cross and paid the price – the full cost – for our sinning ways. So, through repentance and faith in Christ, our sins are paid for.

But, as we live in a sinful world, this is a peace that we must wait for. This is a peace that we have hope for. This is a peace that is made sure by the death and resurrection of Jesus, whose peace is proclaimed and shared in each celebration of the Lord’s Supper.

[Joy of Forgiveness]

Moving on to stanza two:

2     Yea, her sins our God will pardon,
    Blotting out each dark misdeed;
All that well deserved His anger
    He no more will see or heed.
She hath suffered many_a day,
Now her griefs have passed away;
    God will change her pining sadness
    Into ever-springing gladness.

Text: Public domain

With these words, we meditate on the joy that God’s forgiveness brings. For everyone who has languished in their sins are assured that they are being pardoned now for each “dark misdeed.” This is a total forgiveness we receive as not one sin is left unforgiven. So, those who sat in darkness have seen a great light as they are called to experience a new life.

Now, all sinners really deserve God’s anger and wrath, but in God’s great mercy, as we confess our sins to Him, He will remember our sins no more.

The last two lines of stanza two are reminiscent of Luther’s “Great Exchange” as we sang:

God will change her pining sadness

Into ever-springing gladness. 

By faith in Jesus, we are given “ever-springing gladness” in exchange for “pining sadness”! In exchange for what we truly deserve, which is eternal death, God gives us eternal life.

You see, due to His suffering and death, Jesus declared Himself to be in solidarity with all sinners. So, just as Jesus became fully man at His incarnation, He also takes upon Himself the sins of the world. In doing so, Jesus becomes the biggest sinner in the world! This is the Great Exchange. This uncomfortable act brings us comfort!

[Called to Life of Repentance]

Further Advent themes begin to emerge in stanzas three and four. First, we hear a voice crying in the desert:

3     Hark, the herald’s voice is crying
    In the desert far and near,
Calling sinners to repentance,
    Since the Kingdom now is here.
O that warning cry obey!
Now prepare for God a way;
    Let the valleys rise to meet Him
    And the hills bow down to greet Him.

Text: Public domain

This voice crying in the desert is John the Baptist. Through his words, all are urged to prepare a way for God by repenting and bearing the fruits of repentance through “that warning cry obey.” John the Baptist cries out: “Prepare! Repent!” John is calling us to faith in Christ and to receive His forgiveness, because anyone who is standing in the Lord’s way when He comes will be leveled.

Here, all of humanity is urged to “prepare for God a way,” so that every valley is lifted up and every hill brought low, bowing down to greet Him.

4     Make ye straight what long was crooked;
    Make the rougher places plain.
Let your hearts be true and humble,
    As befits His holy reign.
For the glory of the Lord
Now o’er earth is shed abroad,
    And all flesh shall see the token
    That His Word is never broken.

Text: Public domain

In the final stanza, God’s people are called to a life of repentant straightening of what long was crooked. As God’s people, we are to make the roughest places plain as we prepare with “true and humble” hearts to be ready for God’s holy reign.

Now, this Kingdom of God is already here since our salvation has been accomplished through Jesus. Until Christ comes again, He still comes to us through His Word and Sacraments, which is proof “that His Word is never broken.” “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the Word of our God will stand forever” (Isaiah 40:8).

This is so comforting to hear! In a world that is full of uncertainty and worry that makes us feel withered and helpless, the Word of our God is always certain. God’s voice is always strong and clear. His voice gives us the strength and certainty that we lack. His voice always refreshes and renews us!

Just as we sing of the dismantling, uprooting, and leveling in this hymn, God does the same to us. You see, in Holy Baptism, we die to sin with Christ and then rise to new life. In Christ, we are “a new creation” (2 Corinthians 5:17). Through the Triune God – the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – He continues to shape us as He strengthens our faith as we hear His Word that endures forever and receive His forgiveness through our confession of sins and in receiving His very Body and Blood under the bread and the wine. He alone gives us strength to live out our faith in this uncomfortable sinful world.

This is great comfort. In response to this great comfort, we ought to share this amazing comfort with those around us, especially to the hurting and broken people in our lives, so they too, can be comforted. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God” (1 Corinthians 1:3-4).

In Christ alone, we have received comfort. “Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that he warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins” (Isaiah 40:1-2). Amen.

The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, our Lord. Amen.

T SOLI DEO GLORIA T