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 +

Funeral Sermon: "Trusting the Certain Hope in Christ" (Romans 15:1-7, 13)

 

Don, Pam, Jodi, and Sue, family and friends of Darlene:

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

[Intro]

3    Lord, let at last Thine angels come,
To Abr’ham’s bosom bear me home,
    That I may die unfearing;
And in its narrow chamber keep
My body safe in peaceful sleep
    Until Thy reappearing.
And then from death awaken me,
That these mine eyes with joy may see,
    O Son of God, Thy glorious face,
    My Savior and my fount of grace.
Lord Jesus Christ, my prayer attend, my prayer attend,
And I will praise Thee without end.

                               (Lord, Thee I Love with All My Heart, LSB 708 stanza 3)

Text: Public domain

Back on August 20^th, I sang those words from Lord, Thee I Love with All My Heart (LSB 708) to Darlene upon hearing that she was going to have brain surgery due to brain cancer. As she was preparing for surgery, she knew that she may not survive. She kept on telling me that she was ready for whenever Christ would call her home. She was ready to die unfearing.

She made it through surgery, but her surgeons could not get all of the cancer. Thanks be to God that He granted her these many months. Despite this news she received after her surgery, she kept on living as she no longer feared death, since she truly believed that her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ has destroyed the power of eternal death. She knew this. She believed this. She is living this truth of her faith today.

You see, despite what many of us may do – by worrying about tomorrow – she knew that her Lord would never leave her, nor forsake her (Hebrews 13:5; Joshua 1:5). She trusted in her Lord’s deliverance. She trusted that her ailment would be healed. Today, we see the wages of sin, which is death (Romans 6:23a), but – by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone she has received the free gift of eternal life in Christ (Romans 6:23b) – this death is but a portal by which we enter heaven with Christ and His rod and staff leading us.

Since death is a form of separation, it is also a farewell, so to speak. If I remember right, Darlene never liked farewells. So, don’t be ashamed to grieve. But, know this, although we grieve the loss of our loved ones, Christians do not grieve as others do who have no hope (1 Thessalonians 4:13).

The Word of God declares, “that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not proceed those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words” (1 Thessalonians 4:15-18).

This morning, you will be hearing more about this sure and certain hope in Christ!

[Joys and Desires]

Throughout her earthly life, Darlene left some life lessons to pass on to her family. Two of these life lessons are: Number One – Stay close to family and to the teachings of the faith. Number Two – Don’t let the negative world events change you into someone else, but always contribute to humanity in a positive way. This is Darlene in a nutshell. She always remained positive, and her positivity and friendliness has certainly rubbed off on so many people throughout her earthly life.

Her greatest joy was meeting and marrying Don and being blessed by God to raise her three daughters: Pam, Jodi, and Sue, and being blessed by God to become a grandmother to seven grandchildren.

Her greatest desire was that everyone would know the love of Christ – that she knew and trusted – but at the same time, she was careful not be too pushy as she shared Christ’s love with her family, friends, and neighbors.

The love of Christ that she received – by faith – was always sufficient in keeping her going every day of her life. As Darlene neared death, she knew where she was going, due to her faith and trust in Jesus Christ, who is in fact, “the Way, and the Truth, and the Life” (John 14:6a).

Darlene lived her life in hope. But for many people, “hope” leaves room for doubt. We might say, “I hope to make it on time” or “I hope the rain will not spoil my plans.” Yes, this use of hope leaves room for doubt and uncertainty.

But for Darlene, there was no doubt. There is no uncertainty. This is what the Holy Spirit inspired the Apostle Paul to write in our reading from Romans 15. So, Paul’s meaning for “hope” is this: a sure and certain confidence. Today, Darlene is living out this hope as a saint in the Church Triumphant in heaven.

[Patience and Hope]

In Romans 15, the Apostle Paul groups together patience and hope. Paul informs us that we have patience and hope through the Scriptures, since God’s Written Word is the instrument through which God Himself, who is the actual source of “patient endurance” and “encouragement” works in order to give us “hope.”

Now, why would Paul group patience and hope together? Well, hope is not something we can see or touch. Therefore, patience is necessary. So that we may not weaken as we are patient in hope, Paul adds the word “encouragement.” We always need encouragement, and this encouragement is always found in the Word made flesh: Jesus Christ.

Paul continues writing: “May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus” (Romans 15:5).

Here, Paul is saying this: We do not have patience and consolation of our own doing, we actually receive patience and consolation from Christ alone.

In Christ alone, we receive patience and consolation to continue living our daily lives. Through Christ, we are able to look past differences, so we can live in harmony. “For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us” (Romans 12:4-6a).

So, through Christ, we live in accord as we follow His example of humility. So, we do not look only to our own interests, but also to the interests of others (Philippians 2:4). Christ’s sacrifice upon the cross is the power source. You see, Christ’s love for us enables us to love all people. This is a gift of God through the Holy Spirit that enables us to imitate Christ more and more.

Paul concludes by writing, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope” (Romans 15:13).

The Triune God – the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – is the source and goal of the Christian hope. So, whoever trusts in the one true God lives alone by hope.

Therefore, the expression “the God of hope” actually means “the God of those who have hope”; for He is not the God of those who fear and despair. He is rather their Enemy and Judge. In short, God is “the God of hope” because He is the Giver of hope.

God the Father gave us this sure and certain hope through His only begotten Son Jesus Christ, “not to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him” (John 3:17). It was through Christ taking upon Himself our human flesh that our hope of salvation occurred through His atoning suffering and death upon the cross and His bodily resurrection from the dead. He died the death that we all deserve, due to our sin. It is only through Christ’s suffering, death, and resurrection that we received this hope of forgiveness of sins, eternal life, and salvation! All we have to do is believe and trust in Jesus Christ alone, since we have been saved truly by God’s grace. For wherever there is hope, there God is worshiped.

Today, at this very moment, Darlene is where hope is found. She, along with her fellow saints, is in the presence of hope revealed in heaven.

On November 10, 1940, this same God of hope marked Darlene as His child through the waters of Holy Baptism. As the Triune name of God was spoken over her, she was baptized into Christ’s death and resurrection and received the robe of Christ’s righteousness that covers all of her sins. This very robe is what she is wearing today as she has passed from the great tribulation – the life we live now, brought on by sin, which leads to pain, sorrow, and persecution – to the Church Triumphant, where there is no more pain, no more sorrow, no more hunger, and no more thirst.

Darlene is now before the throne of God and He is sheltering her with His presence. She is no longer suffering the effects of sin, since sin’s power has been destroyed. She is now completely satisfied. She and her fellow saints are doing what she loved to do here on earth: sing. She – with her fellow saints – is making a joyful noise to the LORD with song! (Psalm 100; Revelation 7:10-12)

May we follow Darlene’s example in trusting the certain hope that is found only in Jesus Christ, so that we too, may die unfearing in peaceful sleep until Christ’s reappearing:

When from death He awakens me,
That these mine eyes with joy may see,
    O Son of God, Thy glorious face,
    My Savior and my fount of grace.
Lord Jesus Christ, my prayer attend, my prayer attend,
And I will praise Thee without end.

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

Darlene Dammann's obituary: https://hantge.com/obituaries/darlene-e-dammann/

Sermon for Easter 6: "True Friendship" (John 15:9-17)

 

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

Alleluia! Christ is Risen! {He is Risen, indeed! Alleluia!}

 

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ:

[Intro]

You’ve got a friend in me. You’ve got a friend in me.

You’ve got troubles, we’ll I’ve got ‘em too.

There isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for you.

We stick together and see it through.

You’ve got a friend in me. You’ve got a friend in me.[1]

Those are some of the lyrics of the title song from “Toy Story”.

As you may be aware, this children’s movie is all about the friendship bond between a boy and his toys and the toys, themselves.

·        What a joy it is to have friendships.

·        Friends stick together no matter what.

·        Friends tell each other what is on their minds.

·        Friends tell each other when we make mistakes.

·        Friends share secrets with each other.

·        Friends defend each other.

But, the ultimate friend is one who lays down his life for you.

[No Greater Love]

Jesus said, “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lays down his life for his friends” (John 15:12-13).

You see, everyone who abides in Jesus – who follows His commands and instructions – is His friend.

As Jesus said, “Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love” (John 15:9b-10).

We became friends of Jesus when He laid down His life for us as he was nailed to that wooden cross. You see, Christ’s death is the highest expression of love.

Through Christ’s death and resurrection, He brought us to Him. He brought us to God the Father.

In response to Christ’s love in making us justified with God the Father, we follow Christ’s commands and instructions, because of His love.

Now, this obedience is not what makes us friends with Jesus. This is not about good works, since everything good has already been accomplished through Jesus. This obedience is what characterizes you as His friend.

[Friendships]

For us today, when we think of friends, we may think that the friendship goes both ways. Like, I’ll help you and you’ll help me.

Well, this isn’t how it goes with Jesus. Friends of Jesus cannot turn around and say that Jesus will be their friend only if Jesus approves of all that they do.

And, there are those who would claim that Jesus would approve of how they live, even if it is forbidden by God’s Word – they think, “I don’t have a problem with this, so Jesus must be ok with it.”

They think of themselves as making the decision for God. As if, God needs any help.

Despite our weakness to sin, Jesus still loves His creation. But, He is not happy when His name is invoked for approval of sin – approval of saying I’m right and you’re wrong, God.

True friends of Jesus are obedient to Him and to His Word.

We are obedient to Jesus by reading and proclaiming His Word for “reproof, for correction, for improvement” in our lives (2 Timothy 3:16). The Bible was written by God so “that by patience and by the encouragement of Scripture we might have hope” (Romans 15:4).

You see, Scripture gives us teaching for no other purpose than to point us to Jesus, to admonish us to repent, to encourage godliness, to strengthen our faith and assure us of our salvation.[2]

Through God’s Word, we know that we are conquerors over sin, death and the power of the devil, because of Jesus’ death and resurrection from the grave.

[Born of God]

We became Christ’s friends when we were “born of God” and we continue to be Christ’s friends “when we love God and obey his commandments” (1 John 5:1a, 2).

We were born of God when Jesus chose us when we were baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit with the water and the Word.

We continue to be Christ’s friends through our study of God’s Word. You see, each time we are in the Word, God reminds us of His friendship with us.

We continue to be Christ’s friends when we worship Him each week, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, at the Divine Service.

Through the Holy Spirit’s work in bringing us to faith, we became fellow conquerors because of Christ’s eternal victory. “For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world – our faith” (1 John 5:4).

Sola Fide: Faith Alone. You see, by grace through faith, we are saved through Jesus.

Our faith in Jesus is the “dividing line” between us and the sinful world.

We have hope.

The world only has despair.

The sinful world wants everyone to obey their own sinful desires. This is Satan’s doing. He does not want us to be content with what we have and how we live. Nothing is ever good enough.

Now – for us Christians – Jesus says we are His friends when we obey his instructions. And in obeying His instructions – which are not a burden – He freely gives us all that we need: forgiveness of sins, salvation and life everlasting.

In response to Christ’s friendship with us, we “go and bear fruit” (John 15:16) in our words and actions to spread the good news of Christ. In bearing fruit, we are pruned by God the Father through His Word to bear more fruit and are kept in the one true faith.

Now, you can choose to not be Christ’s friend by not following His commands. But, this only brings loneliness as you cut yourself from the vine of Christ.

And, even if you do choose to go away from Christ and His promises, He is there waiting for you with open arms offering forgiveness when you repent of your sins. This is true friendship!

Only through faith alone in Christ alone, the victory is ours!

Martin Luther once wrote, “Victory must happen through faith in Christ. For what could this fragile Vessel accomplish against Satan, the god of the world? But the true God is greater! He always triumphs in us through Christ…. To be born of God is to believe in Jesus Christ. He who believes in Christ is now a warrior. For we are still engaged in the battle itself and are about to be victorious. God has placed us in the midst of wolves, in the kingdom of the devil. As weapons, He has given us His Word and Spirit, and He tells us to do battle and to conduct ourselves as bold warriors under Him Himself as our Prince while He Himself looks on and is also victorious.” (AE 30:311)

[Jesus Chose You!]

We are victorious over sin, death and the devil – not because of anything that we have personally accomplished.

We are victorious because God chose us. Christ – who came by water and blood – chose you and me!

Now, none of us here today are here because we chose to be here. We are here because God called us here. God invited us here today to partake of His blessings.

As Jesus said, “You did not choose me, but I (Jesus) chose you.” (John 15:16)

Since Jesus chose you and me to be His friends, we can now pray directly to God the Father through Jesus to ask Him for all our needs of body and soul.

Since we are His friends, Christ personally forgives you of all your sins when you ask for forgiveness.

Since we are His friends, Christ strengthens our weak faith in His Holy Supper.

Jesus accomplished everything for us, so that we would understand love and thus love one another. This is true friendship!

We are truly blessed to have a friend who will never leave us nor forsake us. This friend is named Jesus.

You’ve got a friend in Jesus. We’ve got troubles with sin, but Jesus has died and rose for you. And there isn’t anything Jesus would do for you – you who abide in Him. 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

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[1] Randy Newman, “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” from Toy Story, 1995.

[2] Kolb-Wengert, “The Book of Concord: Formula of Concord (Solid Declaration)”, 643.