Opportunities for Children to assist in Worship

We have a few more opportunities for the children to assist with worship before the year is out.

November 6th: The girls will be helping the choir with a piece they've been rehearsing.

November 20th: The whole midweek group will be singing Hymn 516 "Wake Awake for Night is Flying."

Wednesday, November 30th:  the midweek children will be leading and teaching the congregation Evening Prayer for our Midweek Advent Services.

Christmas Eve Program Rearsals are scheduled for the following dates: Nov. 19th from 9-10:30 am; Dec. 3 from 9-11; Dec. 10 from 9-11; Dec. 17 from 9-11.

Midweek November 2nd

We began to memorize the 1st article of the Apostles Creed. We will be spending 2 weeks on it, so I told the kids to concentrate on memorizing the 1st two paragraphs. We noticed that as Luther recounts the things God has given us, he lists them in pairs and with a purpose. See if attention to these details helps the memorization process.

Look for opportunities to acknowledge and thank God for the things He's created and given.

3rd and 4th Grade: talked about the Magi who visited the baby Jesus. Notice that already in his early life the Gentiles are brought to Jesus, showing that gospel is for all people.

5th and 6th Grade: Studied Acts 5: 17-42 where the Apostles are imprisoned by the Sanhedrin. Notice the dramatic shift in the life of the apostles. No longer timid and scared disciples they boldly and clearly tell of Jesus the Crucified.

7th and 8th Grade: Began to talk about Genesis 1 where we saw evidence of the three persons of the Trinity at work in creation already in verses 1-3.

Again, try to work through the memory every day even if only reading through it.

Review This Week

This week was intended to be a time to review the 10 Commandments and the Bible verses that were to be memorized, especially the parts people had trouble with.

For the younger children: have them speak everything even if they don't have it memorized. If they say the commandments and explanations now they will be better able to have the explanations memorized in later years.

Calling all Midweek Girls

Bev Larson has a special part for the girls in a piece they will be singing this Sunday. Any of the midweek girls that can sing this Sunday is invited to come to choir rehearsal this Wednesday the 2nd at 7:30. They girls will not need to stay for the entire rehearsal, only about the first 15 minutes.

Why the Liturgy Matters

Check out these helpful insights into what worship and liturgy is all about.

Wednesday October 19th

Reminder: Midweek kids are singing during church on Sunday the 23rd. Please be there by 8:15

Memory: Close of the Commandments and James 2:10.

3rd and 4th Grade: The Angels Herald the birth of Jesus (Luke 2).

5th and 6th Grade: Ananias and Sapphira Lie to the Holy Spirit. (Acts 5: 1-16) Consider how their punishment points to the severity of their sin.

7th Grade: Discussed how the 5th commandment addressed issues such as abortion, euthanasia, and other life matters.

Christian Quote for the Day

I ran across this great line from Clement of Rome who lived around the same time as the apostles (circa 80):

"Through [Jesus] the Master willed that we should taste of deathless knowledge."

The serpent promised Adam and Eve knowledge, and it led to death. The knowledge we receive in Christ is deathless. The word of Jesus which we hear and share can not die! Neither can we who hold it!

Children singing on the 23rd

Just a reminder that the children will be singing in church on October 23rd. We would like them to be at church by 8:15 so that we can warm up. Thanks!

Wednesday, October 12

We worked on the 9th and 10th commandments which are to be memorized for next week. Coveting is something that isn't talked much about (it seems), yet, it is the gateway to all sorts of sins. Perhaps this is something you can explore with your children, especially in regard to their own life. The bible verse for memory is Matthew 6: 33-34. Verse 33 is the key verse.

3rd and 4th Grade talked about the birth of Jesus in Luke 2. The song of the angels to the shepherds teach a great deal. Talk about who Jesus is for, and who receives his benefits. Why is it significant that shepherds were the first to hear of Christ?

5th and 6th Grade learned about the time when Peter and John were arrested and persecuted for preaching the gospel in Acts 4: 1-37. Why were the Pharisees and Sadducees so intent on squelching this message. What reason does Peter give for continuing to preach. What is there attitude in the midst of persecution?

7th Grade looked at Mark 10: 17-31. We noticed that when the rich young ruler wanted to gain eternal life by his own work and accomplishments, Jesus directed him toward the 2nd table of the law which deals with how we treat our neighbor. The man thought he had kept those commandments, so then Jesus directs the man toward the first table of the law (love of God) when Jesus tells the man to sell all he has and follow Jesus. The rich young man shows that he has not kept the law, for he has made a god out of his possessions. We also defined "Sin," "Original Sin," and "Actual Sin."

Midweek Children to Sing in Church

Hymnody is one of the key ways children learn the faith. Children of midweek have been practicing a hymn that they will be singing in church on October 23rd. Please have your child at church at 8:15. Thanks!

Midweek October 5th

Memory The 7th and 8th commandment are to be memorized for next week. We began working on them yesterday. The bible verse for memory is Matthew 5: 37.
In family devotions and discussions there is a lot that can be said about the eighth commandment, for it is a commandment where we easily fail, or where we see damage done by gossip, etc. Perhaps discuss what such words as "betray" and "slander" mean.

3rd and 4th learned about the Birth of John the Baptist in John 1. Consider how John's parents showed that they had learned to trust God in the naming of their son. Also notice what Zechariah used his words once he could speak again.

5th and 6th studied Acts 3:1-26 under the title "Apostolic Authority: The Word of Jesus." The apostles did amazing things by the authority given them by Jesus. However, the authority finally only had to do with the proclamation of Christ for the forgiveness of sins.

7th grade We worked through the 7th and 8th commandments and talked about what stewardship means, likewise we worked through some of the issues regarding the 8th commandment and how we are to speak about/ to others.

Update from Last Wednesday

Memory 5th and 6th Commandment and Explanation and Mark 10: 6-8a .
We saw that most explanations to the commandements have what we are to do and not do. The 6th commandment has only what we are to do. We also saw in the 5th commandment that failure to help and support our neighbor in his body (when we are able) is a sin.

*Please Note 3rd graders are not expected to have things memorized as well as the 7th graders. I'm really looking for the parents to work with their children and judge if they've done what they can.

3rd and 4th Grade The birth of Jesus Luke 2

5th and 6th Grade Acts 2: 36-37 - "The Church Lives from the Divine Service" Notice what are the important elements for the church during the apostolic age and therefore what is important today.

7th and 8th Grade 2 Samuel 11 & 12 David's sin of adultery and murder. We talked about how one sin led to another for David, and how we was confronted with his sin, how David was repentent, and how he was forgiven.

With Apologies

I didn't get last Midweek's info up, but will do better tomorrow.

Here are a few things, though:

I could tell most of the kids worked on their memory the previous week. I certainly don't expect that the 3rd graders would know the memory as well as the 7th graders. What I'm looking for from each child is some sign that they are thinking about the memory, and that this is becoming part of their life. I also wanted to send a reminder that the kids need to work on memorizing both the catechism lesson and the bible verse provided in their folders.

Last Wednesday we worked on the 3rd and 4th Commandments. Questions to consider might be, "What does despising preaching and God's word look like?" "What is special about God's word?" "Why does God demand such honor and respect for our parents?" "Why does the explanation to the 4th commandment feature 'honor' before 'love' in how we are to treat our parents?"

Note to 7th grade parents and guardians: Please plan on joining us for a short meeting after Midweek at 5:35. If you can't make it please let me know another time when we can meet.

Sermon from 2 Sundays Ago

Trinity 13 – Luke 10: 23-37

September 18, 2011

Rev. Micah R. Gaunt

In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.

1.                  You’d think there are a million and one ways to live. So many different religions and philosophies. But really they can all be reduced to two.

2.                  There are only two possible way to live. One can live by the law. That is, one can find assurance and confidence, and orient one’s life according to what one does. Or, one can live by faith; that is to live by the shocking even scandalous news that, despite what may be seen, life and all good things are a pure undeserved gift from God. What’s more, there’s nothing you can do to make God love you any more. There is nothing you can do to make God love you less. The ones who work 1 hour are payed the same as those who work 12 hours, and in God’s kingdom murderers, adulterers, and traitors are forgiven and go free.

3.                  Well, in the gospel, the lawyer tries to live by the law. Look at his question to Jesus. “Teacher what must I do to inherit eternal life?” To which Jesus replies, “Okay you want to work for your inheritance? You want to play that game? What does the law say? Every Jewish child knows the answer to that one. “You shall love the Lord your God with all your hear and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” There it is. Correct. If you will live by your works, do that… perfectly.

4.                  Notice the lawyer’s response. He doesn’t say, “Alright, I’ll do it! I can’t wait. Don’t hold me back!” Instead, he tries to justify himself. “Who is my neighbor?” That’s the way it goes when life is lived by the law. People look for loopholes. The question is always what’s the least I have to do. People invest their time and energy in justifying their actions. Moreover, life under the law does not engender in us the impulse to love and serve our neighbor. Actually, the most pious outward behavior can often mask a hidden evil. Osama bin Laden lived according to a religion that taught that you could achieve paradise by the merit of your works. I’m sure he followed the Islamic law to the letter, outwardly. Yet, after the raid on his compound, he was found to possess a great deal of pornography.

5.                  This is always the way it works if your hope and confidence is found in your work. If you’ve ever dieted you know. Breakfast: half of a grapefruit, plain low fat yogurt, one piece of low carb, low calorie bread, hold the butter. Dinner: garden salad with a splash of low fat vinegrette, quarter cup of cottage cheese, half a slice of takeout pizza. Supper: 7 and a half slices of pizza dipped in ranch, half a bag of Doritos, half the container of double fudge brownie and peanut butter ice cream, and 64 ounces of Mountain Dew (but it’s diet). When you live by the law, it can keep the burning desires of the flesh at smolder for awhile, but as soon as the flesh gets fed… it’s like lighter fluid gets thrown on the fire. Flames erupt. They find new dry kindling and it gets out of control.

6.                  There is no life under the law. On the contrary, Paul tells us that law was given not to give life but to imprison everything under sin, so that people would stop trying to earn anything from God, and simply receive what He wants to give them – the promise of true life.

7.                  So it is that when the lawyer, in the gospel, tries to justify himself, Jesus tells him a story. A man goes down from Jerusalem to Jericho and falls in among robbers who strip him, beat him and leave him half-dead. His own people a priest and a Levite pass by and leave him to die. After all according to the law, if they touched him they would be unclean. But it’s an outsider, a Samaritan who stops to help the Jewish man. Now, think of the Jewish man as a Husker fan, and its Saturday December 4^th, 2010 and the Samaritan is an Oklahoma fan. Again, it’s the Samaritan who helps at great personal expense. He binds the man’s wounds and pours oil and wine upon them. He set the man on his own animal, and took care of him in the inn. Then he pays for the suffering man’s further care. The Samaritan even promises to pay for any further expense.

8.                  Then Jesus asked, “Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who had fallen among the robbers?” That’s a better question than the lawyer’s. The lawyer who tried to figure out who he had to love asked “Who is my neighbor?” Answer: everyone. Jesus asked, “Who proved to be the neighbor?” That’s only one person. That’s the question worth your time, because that’s the question that brings you to Jesus.

9.                  We are the man in the ditch fallen among thieves. If I can shift the image we have been like a person strung out on drugs, lifeless, useless. Our talents and resources have been bent only on getting our next hit. We’ve been so addicted to sin that even if we did manage to do something good it was tainted. We’ve either held back and not done everything we could for someone. Or we have done our work with self-interested intent. We’ve wanted others to notice.

10.              But Christ has proven to be the neighbor. He has seen our need. He didn’t avoid us, or plug His nose, or put on protective gloves. Without counting any costs he has come to save us, to clean us up and nurse us back to health. Perhaps you’ve seen in Christian artwork the image of a pelican and her young. It was once thought that a pelican mother, if needed, would pierce her own breast so that her young could be nourished by her own blood. Whether or not this is true, doesn’t matter. Because this is the true story of your life. Christ willingly was pierced and bled out for you, so that today would happen. Christ suffered for this moment. So that now you would be encouraged and strengthened by His word of promise. That you would even be nursed to health by His blood. So this is true, even though we waste away outwardly, we are renewed inwardly, day by day.

11.              And so as you listen to the words “the true blood of Christ shed for you” see in your minds eye your savior lain upon the cross. Hear in your head, Christ’s declaration from the cross, “It is finished.” All the work required for you to truly live has been done. Now you simply eat and drink the blessings.

12.              For that is how we live – by faith. We receive God’s gifts and the promises attached to them, and say, Amen. Look at what this simple receptive faith accomplishes. Not only are we now able to live forever, now Christ even serves others through us. So that when we have served our neighbor we say, “It was not I who served, for I no longer live but Christ lives in me.” Did you notice that in the collect we prayed “make us love that which you command?” We prayed, thus, because even the ability to love God’s commands is a pure gift from Him.

13.              What great things have been revealed to you! The first two verses of the gospel were not added by accident. Jesus privately says to his disciples “…I tell you that many prophets and kings have desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.” What is Jesus getting at? The lawyer sees Jesus just like the disciples and it doesn’t do him any good. Actually, the lawyer illustrates Jesus’ point. The lawyer wants to find assurance by his works. He wants to live by the law. He doesn’t see. Not so you. You have come to see that you live by faith in Christ. And so I tell you today, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see.” There are people in this world who it is truly good to be. Thanks be to God, you are one of them. In + Jesus name, amen. 

Midweek: September 14, 2011

Midweek has begun again and we give thanks to God for the children who have come, and the message that is shared among them.

We're trying something a little different this year. We are all working on memorizing the catechism together, so all six grades are doing the same recitations at the same time. The first 15-20 minutes is devoted to simply drilling the catechism.

The memory work this week is the 1st and 2nd commandements and explanations along with Deuteronomy 6: 4-5.

Another feature is that we are trying to focus on singing the faith. The last half hour of Midweek is devoted to learning the service of Evening Prayer, a catechism hymn and another hymn if we have time.

In "The Church at Prayer" on each Sunday's bulletin you will find the catechism lessons and bible passage for memory. Also, the hymn that we have sung that week. In this way the whole congregation is invited to ponder, pray, and sing the same texts.

The rest of Midweek is when the grades are divided up and we each study a different bible story or topic. Yesterday went as follows:

3rd and 4th grade looked at Luke 1 where the angel Gabriel announces the birth of John to Zechariah. Consider Zechariah's response to the angel's message from God.

5th and 6th grade looked at the Ascension of Christ. The texts from scripture were Acts 1: 1-26, Ephesians 2: 19-22; 4: 8, 11-15.

7th and 8th grade read  Luke 16: 19-31, the story of the rich man and Lazarus. We talked about who or what the rich man put his fear, love, and trust in. Also, we noticed that Lazarus was a sinner, too, but He trusted in God's mercy, and God's mercy did not fail him.

Further thoughts for family discussion: What are the false gods you see all around you in the day to day activities of your life? What are the false gods we are tempted to turn to? How do these gods fail to provide what we really need. Find ways to rejoice in the true God who gives all good gifts.

Sermon - Trinity 12 (Unedited)

Trinity 11 – Luke 18: 9-14

September 4^th, 2011

Rev. Micah R. Gaunt

In the Name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.

1.                  Somewhere around the 3^rd and 4^th centuries of the church, in come Christian circles, people would postpone their baptism till they were about die. Can you guess why? They thought that having all of their previous sins washed in baptism there was a chance that they wouldn’t sin again before they died.

2.                  This practice not only reflects a misunderstanding of the power of baptism, but it also reflects a great mystery: The persistence of sin in the life of the baptized. Certainly the greatest mystery is that there are three persons in one God. Another mystery is that there are two natures, human and divine, in one person, the Lord Jesus Christ. But not too far behind in the mystery of the human creature is that those who have been baptized into Christ still sin. Why is it that you just can’t seem to lick that one sin that keeps hounding you? Why when no one’s looking do you do the very thing you swore you weren’t going to do again? It’s not that you don’t know better. It’s not that you don’t want to do better. Why the continual battle? If nothing else, after we’re baptized, why doesn’t the Lord take us in death right away? That was the thinking of those who took matters into their own hand and baptized right before death.

3.                  We can understand this sort of reasoning. We want to see results. We want to see some sort of airtight argument that forces people to see or do what’s right. So if nothing else, we have yet another example of how God does not think the way we do. He’s not interested in forcing people not to sin. Struggles with sin still persists in the baptized.

4.                  However, there’s more to the mystery. The problem of sin is so bad, we are so blinded that we don’t even see it. That’s what we find in Jesus’ description of the Pharisee. What the Pharisee does notice are the good things he’s done. He does see how he truly has not sinned as badly as some (extortioners, unjust, adulterers, tax collectors, drug dealers, arsonists, and terrorists). He lives only by what he sees, and he sees that he fasts twice a week and gives a tenth of all that he gets. Then to top it all off, the Pharisee piously thanks God that the Pharisee is so wonderful. Now the Pharisee can say he gave God credit.

5.                  The Pharisee reflects that the sin we’ve inherited has caused such a deep, evil corruption of our nature that reason does not comprehend it. Rather it must be believed on the basis of Scripture. There’s all kinds of ways to avoid the truth of sin. We’ve thought, I’m struggling enough with life, I don’t need to be weighed down with my sin. I need a pick me up. Or, we’ve been so preoccupied with the sin and weaknesses of others that we fail to recognize our own. That’s the way the devil wants it. After all the Pharisee didn’t see his sin. All he saw was his “good works,” and the Pharisee didn’t go home justified.

6.                  But really, truth be told, how easily your minds turn to unrighteous anger, gossip, lust, envy, jealousy. You don’t have to work at it. Your mind is really quite willing. Yet, how hard it is to concentrate on God’s word. Likewise, when you really stop to think about it we are not that creative. We think about the same things, talk about the same things, have the same dreams. Yet there are times when you have accused God’s word of being tedious and repetitive.

7.                  And so repent. Listen to God’s judgment. “you are all of no account – whether you appear publicly to be sinners or saints. You must all become something different from what you are now and act in a different way, no matter who you are now or what you do. You may be as great, wise, powerful, and holy as you could want, but here no one is righteous” (SA).

8.                  This is God’s word of law. And its good. It can’t be broken. It’s just true. And if God stopped speaking we would be in despair.  But look at this – the tax-collector – he doesn’t put before God all the good he’s done. He puts his sin before God. Yet He goes home justified, forgiven. God is pleased with him. So it goes for all who repent of their sin before God. God’s righteous law turns you into sinners so that God can turn you into holy people. Even today, Jesus still speaks by the power of the Holy Spirit, through His word, and says, “Repent and believe the good news.” All the captives are free. Sinners are forgiven. From terrorists and traitors to petty thieves and liars, the only thing God wants to hold against you is Christ’s perfection.  Repent and believe. THIS is how you become something different from what you were. This is how you act in a different way.

9.                  The tax collector became something new. He was a brand new creation. Not because he no longer sinned, or had everything worked out. Rather, here is what his new creation-ness looked like: the tax collector did what he wasn’t able to do before. He trusted that his only hope for survival was God’s goodness and mercy.

10.              Now, this does not explain the mystery of the persistence of sin in the life of the Christian. However, it does show that God is patient, and for a time He wants to put up with sin and all sorts of messes we make for ourselves. Because, first and foremost, He wants you. More than you accomplishing a spot free life, God want you to trust Him. To believe that He truly is good, and that His every desire and purpose for you is only good.

11.              This is why the Christian strives to do good, and fights evil. But this is also why the Christian does not keep count of sins and keep record of what’s a sin and what’s not. That’s the old way of living. We are new creatures. We simply lump everything together and say, “Everything is pure sin with us. Why would I want to waste time investigating and distinguishing.” God doesn’t do things in fragments or parts. He forgives us completely and in whole. He doesn’t only forgive the sins you know or confess.

12.              This is the sort of repentance that endures among Christians until death, because until that time sin persists in the life of the baptized. However know this: you ARE baptized. This means you have been brought into Christ’s body the church. “And everything in the church is ordered toward this goal: that we shall daily receive in the Church nothing but the forgiveness of sin through the Word and sings, to comfort and encourage your consciences as long as you live here. So even though you have sins, the grace of the Holy Spirit does not allow them to harm us. For we are in the Christian Church, where there is nothing but continuous uninterrupted forgiveness of sin. [How is there continuous, uninterrupted forgives of sin in the Church?] Because God forgives us, and because we forgive, bear with and help one another” (LC 3^rd article). In +Jesus Name, Amen.

Quote of the Day

The living God Himself confronts and deals with us in His holy Word and sacraments. He does not send "sherrifs and bailiffs" (Luther), but comes to us Himself, together, to be sure, with "angels and archangels and with all the company of heaven." ...By the holy mysteires of His saving Gospel the Trinity of Persons in the unity of substance draws us into a personal communion so intimate and sublime as to surpass all human understanding. (From Kurt E. Marquart)

Very Helpful

Pastor Scott Murray of Memorial Lutheran Church in Houston, TX has written this which is worth checking out.

Trinity 7 notes for August 7th

Next Sunday gives us the feeding of the 4,000. It's noteworthy that not only does the bible give us two accounts of Jesus feeding the multitudes by means of a few loaves of bread and fish, but for some reason, the lectionary of the church encourages us to consider both stories as well. Isn't one account enough? Do we need to hear two?

Notice that Jesus comments that He has compassion on the crowd because they have nothing to eat. This comment is met with the same incredulity by the disciples as before Christ fed the 5,000. Don't the disciples remember what Jesus did? Why are they worried? But so it goes with us and Jesus. We are ever slow to believe, and Jesus is ever quick with patience. We like the disciples need to hear of these miracles both times, because we like the disciples are quick to forget, that all things are in Christ's hands, and He will always provide.

Another interesting thing about this text is that Jesus apparently leads these people out for three days in a desolate place. Why would He do this? This doesn't seem caring. However, there in the wilderness, with no ability to provide food for themselves, Jesus has them at His mercy, which is the best place to be - at His mercy. Jesus brings them out to a place where they are forced to trust and receive from Him. That is the gracious thing to do, because above all else, what we need is to trust and receive from Jesus. So it goes for all of the baptized. Christ leads us to places where we have no other comfort, and nothing by which to save ourselves. He leads us even into the desolate place of the valley of the shadow of death. And even there He provides a great miracle, and makes out of death our eternal life.

Proximity Helps

I was visiting with a very knowledgeable farmer, who commented that he's been around farming all his life. The insight I took from our conversation was that while early on he likely didn't understand what was going on, the fact that he was around it constantly with his dad and other farmers allowed him to grow into it.

So it goes for the faith. As children are around their parents and see them engaged in matters of faith, it rubs off. Sure, the child might not understand at first, but some day they will. Simply being around adults engaged in the faith enables a child to feel at home there and to be able to grow into it. That's why it is important for children to see parents talking about faith matters. This summer we've had a joint bible class with the children and adults. Even if the kids don't understand everything, at least they are seeing their parents engaged in discussion of God's word.

Here's the point: Even if kids don't understand it, it's important that they are around people who care about God's word.

Sermon - Trinity 5

Trinity 5

July 24, 2011

Rev. Micah R. Gaunt

In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.

Jesus just gave Peter a miraculous catch of fish. You’d think a “thank you” would have done it. Instead, Peter says, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.”

The holiness of God is a consuming fire. It’s fearful to the mundane and profane. Recall that in the Old Testament temple, God made Himself present to bless Israel, but for Israel’s sake, there were boundaries. In the temple was located the holy of holies; a room set apart by a thick curtain. There sat the mercy where God was present with His holiness. And in this holiest of places one could not just waltz in. Only the high priest once a year was to enter the holy of holies to intercede on behalf of Israel. And before this could happen, he had to wash himself, and sacrifices had to be made. There was such reverence for this place that the priest wore a rope tied around his leg, so that if for some reason he became incapacitated he could be pulled out, and no one would have to enter.

            Now back to Peter. I saw a sad sight this week. I saw a tractor destroying a field of corn. As you know well, a farmer invests so much of his time and money in planting, and fertilizing, and weed control, and irrigation. One band wind storm, and at least for that field, the farmer had nothing to show for it. Perhaps that’s a little what Peter felt. He’s been working all night. He’s tired. He did everything right, but he has nothing to show for it. He forced to face up to his weakness. He is at the mercy of the elements. Now he’s in the presence of one who is not at the mercy of the elements but commands them. At Jesus’ word, these fisherman haul in a catch that is more than they can handle. It’s all too much for Peter. He’s overwhelmed by Christ’s holiness and he falls down before Jesus. “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.”

            Holiness is something difficult to define. But you know it when you experience it. Something that is holy is set apart. It is different. Something that is holy demands respect and awe.  For example once I visited Dachau, one of the concentration camps of Nazi Germany. That place was set apart. There was a sense of sacredness. As people walked around the grounds they did not act as they would outside. There was a sense of reverence and respect for those who suffered there.

            In this world, we are continually losing a sense of the sacred and holy in life, and of reverence and awe.  Everything is common, cheap, mundane, and profane. Nothing sacred about marriage anymore. People readily divorce their spouse, as if marriage was cheap and common. Even when divorce isn’t the issue, people don’t honor and set apart their spouse. People will show more respect and deference to complete stranger (especially if they’re a paying customer) then they do to their spouse. How often do children treat their parents as objects of contempt, talking back to them in exasperated tones. High school age boys and girls (and even younger) are giving away their bodies to each other, as if they were a cheap commodity to be swapped back and forth. Boys treat girls as some cheap vessel for gratification, then they toss the girl aside like a cigarette box once all the cigarettes have been smoked. How often do people feel justified in dishonoring another person, belittling them, or talking behind their back. The truth is, human beings and the institution of marriage and family are all created by God, blessed by Him, and adorned with His word. God has set them apart. They are to be holy. And to often the fact that we have lost this holiness, doesn’t cause anyone heartburn. We as a people are so wrapped up in the mundane and profane. We are so addicted to the status quo, and concerned with getting the next hit, that we don’t even want what is holy. This isn’t just the outside world’s problem this is our problem.

            So you have come here today with broken marriages, and broken families, and broken bodies. You’ve sold your soul to things that did not pay off. Your life is not as you had hoped it would go. You have come into the presence of Jesus just as Peter who said, Go away, Lord, I’m a sinner. And just as with Peter, Jesus doesn’t go away. Neither does He say, I’m really not that holy, anyway. He doesn’t say, you’re really not that bad a sinner. “He says, have no fear.”

            This is why Jesus the Holy one of God has come: to be with sinners. If you are already holy of yourself, Christ has not come for you. Christ has only come to be with sinners so that He can make them holy. That’s why the Son of God became man. He distinguishes humans by becoming one. Nothing else can claim that. Jesus has taken this worn out human flesh that must continually bathe to remove the odor of death, and He’s put it on Himself. Never to take it off. Instead He glorifies it. He raises it from the dead. He has made human flesh immortal. But there’s more. He takes his own innocent blood which was shed on the cross, and He uses that also to mark you; to set you apart as one forgiven and redeemed. But there’s more. God has also given you His word. You stand before all of heaven and earth as one to whom God has spoken. It has been told of you that you are not abandoned or forsaken. You are God’s own child. You are loved perfectly by Him. All things must work out for your good.

            And so you are called saints, “holy ones.” Did you know that this is the same title give to angels, because you share the same status with them. You are an object of awe. C.S. Lewis once put it this way: if you saw one another as you truly are in Christ, you would be tempted to bow down in worship. You enjoy a relationship with God unheard of before Christ. When Christ died on the cross and satisfied the demands for your holiness, the temple curtain was torn in two. Now you are free to enter God’s presence. There’s no middle man. And because you are holy the fiery trials you endure in this life cannot consume you. The trials themselves will be consumed. They only prove that you are holy.

            And this holiness is not something you’ve achieved. There is no ladder by which you attain to holiness. How would that work? It’s not like you can make your own holiness. It’s all Christ’s. It can only be given away.

            Holiness has come down you, for Christ has come down to be with you. That’s what we saw in the baptism of little Ana. Again, the world is unimpressed. But not you. You saw something special, precisely because all holiness belongs to Christ. If Christ bent down to pick up a piece of straw, that act would be more holy and significant than all the important feats of mankind, because of the one who did it. Christ has bent down to attach Himself and his kingdom to Ana forever. So today you saw something take place that is more holy and significant that all the important feats of mankind. Ana shares the status of angels, and she lacks nothing.

            This is what we have to share with people. We’re Christians, not because we don’t want to do drugs, or get drunk, or have sex outside of marriage. We’re Christians because we are held captive by the truth that God has made us for so much more and He is accomplishing such great things for us. Yet, many people think that they are common, that they have to give themselves so cheaply if anyone will love them, or that they are only worth what they can accomplish, or what others say about them. We have a word that is different from all other words. They are meant for so much more. They are not common, or cheap, or profane. They can be precious. They can be worthy. They can be holy. And the question is not, “What am I to do?” Again, still to cheap. The question is, “What has God done in Christ?” In + Jesus Name, Amen.

Notes for Trinity 4

This Sunday's Gospel lesson ( Luke 6: 36 - 42) offers us the well known words from Jesus, "Judge not, and you will not be judged." Perhaps, there has been no text so abused as this. Often people use this to say, “See, closed communion is wrong. Everyone should be allowed to commune at this altar because who are we to judge.” Or, we hear, “See, you can’t say anything about my sin. I can do what I want. Who are you to judge?” The problem with these protests is that they are not listening to what the text is about. In Galatians 1, Paul condemns false teaching. In Matthew 18, Jesus instructs us to address those who have sinned against us telling them their fault. In 1 Corinthians 5 Paul tells the church to expel an immoral brother who would not repent.

So clearly the gospel lesson before us is not license to believe or live contrary to God’s word. Therefore, what is Jesus getting at? The key is to look at how Christ contrasts what we are not supposed to do with what we are supposed to do. We are to forgive. We are to give freely. We are to show mercy. That’s what Jesus is driving at here. He wants you ready, willing, and able to forgive those who have wronged you. Interesting, that it is our nature to use this text to say we shouldn't worry about false teaching or "You can't judge me." Yet, when people sin against us, it's a different matter. Then we are all too ready to judge and hold a grudge. This is probably because both options require the least from us. But what God desires is self-sacrifice. When someone sins against us, God wants us to sacrifice our rights for retribution. Instead, He wants us to respond in kindness. He wants us to show mercy. He wants us to forgive. That is what this text is about.

Now, Jesus does not ask us to do anything He's won't prepare us for. So as you think about this text and discuss it with your family consider how the other things Jesus says serves to foster true forgiveness and mercy. Consider how the death and resurrection of Jesus brings the text to light and enables us to be merciful.

A Great Little Prayer Book

Please consider making use of the prayers found in this little book, Kyrie Eleison by H.J. Wotherspoon. I put a link to it in the useful links under Kyrie Eleison. Especially look at the prayers for Sunday and in preparation for the Lord's Supper. Other digital formats are available here.

I have found this to be a great guide for at least the following reasons
1. The orders for prayer are brief yet purposeful.
2. They help with suggestions for intercession I wouldn't have otherwise considered.
3. They help prepare me and place me in a proper mind for the Divine Service.
4. They reveal a great insight into human sin and God's mercy

This Should Never Cease to Amaze

From St. Irenaeus of Lyons

For error is plausible and bears a resemblance to the truth but requires to be disguised; while the truth is without disguise and, therefore, has been entrusted to children. (Treasury of Daily Prayer p. 472)

God reveals what was hidden before the foundation of the world - things into which angels have longed to look - to children. The whole council of God is laid out on the table and even the littlest among us are invited to have a seat. And this is one of the signs which distinguishes God from all pretenders and which reflects the truthfulness of His word. Therefore, when a little child says the Apostles Creed we see something so very extraordinary, true, and lovely.

Feast of the Holy Trinity Notes

This Sunday is Trinity Sunday. As the capstone to festival half of the church year we ponder the mystery that everything we have celebrated in the birth, baptism, death, resurrection, and ascension of Christ is the divine working of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

The prescribed gospel lesson is from John 3: 1-17 where Nicodemus comes to talk to Jesus at night. As always there's all sorts of good stuff in the text. In the preceding verse we're told that Jesus did not entrust himself to the people "for he himself knew what was in man." So what do you think John is getting at when in 3:1 he writes "Now ther was a man  of ther Pharises named Nicodemus..." Other questions you might consider unpacking for yourself or with your family are these: Why do you think Nicodemus comes to talk to Jesus at night? How does 1:5 shape our understanding? What does this text teach us about baptism? How is the Trinity reflected in the text? What does Nicodemus fail to understand, and why?

A few other things to consider:
As is typical in John, Jesus never seems to give anyone a straight answer. Nicodemus identifies the fact that Jesus is a teacher come from God, and Jesus responds with something that comes, seemingly, from nowhere:
"Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God" When Jesus says this note that the word for "again" can also mean "above." So either Jesus is saying that one must be born from "above" or born "again," but Nicodemus chooses to focus on the idea of being born again. However, Jesus is concerned with being born of the Spirit.

Finally, consider reviewing the story of the serpent on the pole and think about how that foreshadows Christ's death on the cross.

This always seems to happen

I often find stuff that fits with a sermon after it's been preached. I read this in the Treasury of Daily Prayer from Clement of Rome. He was a pastor in the 1st century of the church and a disciple of the apostle Peter. Here's Clement on the order of things as was the topic of last Sunday's sermon:

These things therefore being known to us, and since we look into the depths of the divine knowledge, it is necessary to do all things in [their proper] order, which the Lord has commanded us to perform at stated times...Let every one of you, brothers [all believers], give thanks to God in his own order, living in all good conscience, with becoming gravity, and not going beyond the rule of the ministry prescribed to him...The apostles have preached the Gospel to us from the Lord Jesus Christ; Jesus Christ has done so from God. Christ therefore was sent forth by God, and the aposltes by Christ. Both these appointments, then, were made in an orderly way, according to the will of God. Having received their orders, and being fully assured by the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ and established in the word of God, with full assurance of the Holy Spirit, they went forth proclaiming that the kingdom of God was at hand. And thus preaching through countries and cities, they appointed the first fruits of their labors, having first proved them by the Spirit, to be bishops and deacons of those who should afterward believe. (p. 336)

Again, God is a God of order, and for the sake of our salvation He establishes an order, that we might be assured that the message of salvation is from God and not from men.

Anger Management

I will sometimes hear Christians wonder about anger. Is it okay? How do you deal with it, etc. Here is a good explanation regarding anger and the Christian from Rev. Fisk.

Gospel for Pentecost

This Sunday's Gospel is John 14: 23-31.

Jesus says, "If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him."

Here Jesus teaches us how to love Him. We don't buy Him presents, or perform spectacular works that prove our love. Instead, we simply keep His word. The Greek word for "keep" has the sense of "guarding" or "watching over." In other words, we continually interact with the word of Christ and hold fast to it as our highest joy. Through the means of the word we have a relationship with God. It is through this word alone that God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit come and dwell with us.

Yesterday I was reading in Deuteronomy 13 where God warns Israel against false prophets. He says that there will be prophets whose prophecies prove true and who do amazing things. Yet, God warns, that if a prophet teaches falsely, God's people are not to follow him. The text goes on to say that God uses such false prophets to test the people. God wants us to preference His word, even if a false teacher is able to perform some great miracle or sign to substantiate his claims. In light of the gospel lesson this makes sense. It is in keeping God's word that we have a relationship with God and show our love for Him.

Once again, this is why Christ's promise in verse 26 is paramount: "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance ALL THAT I HAVE SAID TO YOU."

It is on the basis of this gift of word and Spirit that Jesus is then able to give us peace as He says in verse 27. This peace is different from the world. The world offers a real sort of peace, that really works. It's just that it's a short lived peace that cannot bear the burden of a relationship with God. The peace Jesus gives is different. It is solely a peace that comes from being reconciled to the Father. Therefore, this peace can establish and bear the weight of relationship with God.

And so it is, that nothing is as important as the gift of the Holy Spirit who creaes faith in us by the working of God's word.

Tornado Relief

Here is a brief message from Pr. Matthew Harrison, our Synodical President regarding the recent devasation in Joplin, Missouri. And Here is the synods web page that has info on the disaster and what you can do to help.

Please continue to pray for all those affected by the tornado, especially our affected brothers and sisters of the LCMS.

Ascension Day

The Feast of the Ascension of Our Lord is one of the oldest and greatest celebrations of the church. Here's what The Treasury of Daily Prayer has to say about it:

Ascension Day is the coronation celebration of our Lord as He is proclaimed to be King of the universe. Jesus' ascension to the Father is His entrance to the greater existence beyond the confines of time and space, being no longer bound by the lmitation of His state of humiliation. Jesus now sits at the right hand of God, which Luther correctly taught is everywhere, having again taken up the power and authority that were His since before time. Yet our Lord is present with us who remain bound by time and space. He is with us as true God and true man, exercising His rulership in the Church through the means of grace which He established: His Word and His Sacraments. We mortals in those means of grace can grasp the King of the universe and receive a foretaste of the feast to come. (p. 301-2)

This is really good news for the Christian. Christ hasn't left us. Far from it. He is now present with us in a greater way. He is no longer present in humiliation. He is present among us in His exalted state. For a time this is hidden, but it's no less real, and it is seen by faith. This means that all of our experiences are under the guidance and protection of Christ the king of the universe. He does not rule us from afar. He is close at hand.

How is it that Christ can be physically present among us? We don't see Him. How is it that Christ is present on our altar and all other Christian altars with His real body and blood? He is present for the same reason He was able to suddenly appear before the disciples in a locked room the first Easter evening. His human nature can do amazing things because it is united to His divine nature. And so, He is able to be among us physically according to Christ's divine nature. Put it another way. During Christ's state of humiliation, His divine nature was brought so low by His flesh that Christ died. Now that Christ has risen, the reverse is true. Because Christ has been exalted His human nature is brought so high that Christ does amazing things in the flesh. And so this is true: Christ is physically present with you. He even feeds you with His body.

Sermon Notes John 16: 5-15

The gifts of the Holy Spirit that seem to pique people's interest are things like prophesy and speaking in tongues. At various times the Holy Spirit has given those gifts for the sake of His church. However, the the chief work of the Holy Spirit that Jesus wants us to know about is three things: "He will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; concerning righteousness, because I go tot he Father, and you will see me no longer; concerning judgment because the ruler of this world is judged. This is the work of the Holy Spirit among the world which includes you and me.

To summarize briefly the work of the Holy Spirit is to bring us to faith. Take time to ponder what these things mean. I can only briefly summarize here. The Holy Spirit convicts us of our sin which is unbelief. We sin because we don't trust God. The Holy Spirit then convicts us of righteousness by what Christ has accomplished for us. How do you know what Christ accomplished for you is good and salvific? Because the Heavenly Father receives Jesus. Finally, the Holy Spirit convicts us concerning judgment because Satan is judged. Because Satan is judged, you who were blind to his craft and cunning, now see that that this world holds nothing for you, and that Satan can do nothing to take you from Jesus.

So it is that the Holy Spirit the Spirit of Truth leads us into all truth. He doesn't lead us to discover something new. He leads us to discover what has always been. Not only this but all good and eternal things are ours because they are God's. Everything that the Father has is given to the Son, and everything the Son has He gives to you through the working of the Holy Spirit.

To receive the Holy Spirit is to receive everything that is good. Check out the Lord's Prayer in your catechism: "How does God's kingdom come?" "God's kingdom comes when our Heavenly Father gives us His Holy Spirit." Why? "...so that by His grace we believe His holy Word and lad goldy lives here in time and there in eternity."

People sometimes say that the people had the advantage when Christ walked the earth and did miracles as is recorded in the gospel accounts. However, Jesus, who knows better. First, He never actualy leaves us, but also, He says that it is to your advantage that He goes. For now we receive His Holy Spirit who brings us to faith and keeps us there.

Website for Kids

Here's a fun site for kids. It's called "Kids Answers," and it features videos and pictures of animals from a creation perspective. Some of the language reflects what might be called a  Fundamentalist perspective, but it's nice to learn about God's creation and not have to hear about evolution.

Catechism in Comic Form

Concordia Publishing House is selling the Catechism in a comic book form. You can check out samples here. It is simply the text of the Catechism and a series of images that help reinforce the content. If you check it out let me know what you think sometime.

Sermon Notes - John 16: 16-22

The next four Sundays of the Easter season are perhaps the most difficult for me to preach. To date, we have heard the details of Christ’s resurrection, and have been comforted in hearing that Jesus, who has defeated all the enemies that would harm us, is also our Good Shepherd who is seeing to all of our needs. Now as we continue to ponder the implications of Christ’s resurrection we move into Christ’s discourses in John 14,15, and 16. The thing is, these words of our Lord to His disciples can be confusing. Indeed, we’ll find out that Jesus intends to speak in riddles and that His death and resurrection is the key that unlocks the riddles for the believer.

In the text this Sunday we hear Jesus tell His disciples, “A little while, and you will see me no longer and again a little while, and you will see me.” The disciples, themselves, are debating what Jesus could possibly mean. Jesus knows they’re asking themselves what He means. Yet rather than say, “Here’s what I mean,” Jesus says that the disciples “will weep and lament while the world will rejoice.” Yet, He also gives them a promise: “You will be sorrowful but your sorrow will turn into joy.” He then uses an apt illustration: a woman in child birth who suffers, but forgets her pain because of the joy of new life. Notice not only is the pain done, but the woman doesn’t even remember it.

Finally, look at the comforting promise Jesus gives at the end of the text. This time, He doesn’t comfort them saying, “You will see me again.” Instead, He says “I will see you and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.”

Clearly this already takes place as Christ is taken from the disciples in death, but then returns to them in the resurrection. Therefore, already they have joy that can’t be taken from them. However, this also has implications for all of us Christians who are waiting for Christ’s return. We have sorrow now, but just as Christ has shown Himself in the resurrection, and today in the preaching of His word, yet He will also show Himself again when He returns for judgment. Then not only will our joy remain forever, but the suffering will be gone forever.

This would all be hidden from us if it wasn’t for Christ’s resurrection.

Good Shepherd Sunday and Dealing with Denominations

This Sunday is Good Shepherd Sunday. Notice the progression. First we deal with the details of the Easter accounts. So, Easter Sunday we heard of Christ's glorious resurrection. Eight days later we gathered again and heard about what happened when Christ showed Himself to Thomas eight days after the resurrection. Now that we've celebrated Christ's death and resurrection, we are in a position to understand what Jesus means when He says in John 10: 11, "I am the Good Shepherd."

What distinguishes the Good Shepherd? What are His credentials? He is the one who lays down is life for the sheep. No one else does this. Everyone else who promises to care for the sheep, are either thieves, hirelings, or wolves. Christ distinguishes Himself in that He lays down His life and then picks it back up again for the sake of His sheep.

As I was listening to another Lutheran pastor preach on this text I was made aware of this detail: because the hirelings don't care, and the wolf is intent on destroying the sheep, the sheep are scattered. Yet, notice that the sheep are still sheep. They are still God's elect children. Christ cares for them and seeks them out. However, for the time being we are still dealing with the fact that we are scattered and thus there are denominations. So on the one hand, we see that false teaching is a tragedy and it scatters the sheep, and therefore, we cannot abide by false teaching. On the other hand we acknowledge that no one denomination can boast, "All the sheep are in our fold" because it's not about us. It's about Christ who cares for His sheep.

Here is the link to the sermon that says it much better than I:

http://79456.info/axisdata/redeemer/audio/557.mp3

It's only 13 minutes, and well worth your time.

Power, Authority, Forgiveness... Jesus

Two Nebraska Lutheran pastors, Scott Porath and Brent Kuhlman, spend a half hour unpacking John 20. Do yourself a favor and hear them out. It's important stuff, not to mention good.

http://blog.higherthings.org/bb55841/article/4841.html

http://blog.higherthings.org/bb55841/article/4842.html

Liturgy

What does it mean to worship? What does it mean to worship as a Lutheran? Here's a new page on our synod's website that has some great resources:

http://www.lcms.org/page.aspx?pid=1067

I hope you can peruse them at your leisure and perhaps talk about them as a family.

Midweek Picnic

Midweek Picnic is this Wednesday the 4th. We will begin at church at 3:30.

NOTE: We will be done at 5:00

Please pick up your child at the park.

We hope your child can make it!

Sermon for Easter 2

The funky Latin term for this last Sunday is "Quasimodo Geniti" (as in the hunch back of Notre Dame). It comes from the first words of the introit: "Quasi modo geniti infantes..." ("As newborn babies") Here's the sermon:

Easter 2 (Quasimodo Geniti) - John 20

May 1, 2011

Rev. Micah R. Gaunt

In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.

1.                  Today we hear that on the first Easter evening Jesus came to His disciples and breathed on them. Likely we don’t have positive associations with being breathed upon. And we all know why – bad breath. It is not pleasant to have someone breathe on us, even when the smell is masked with toothpaste or breath mints. Bad breath is a symptom of what’s inside: death. Our mouths are open graves of things that are decomposing and decaying.

2.                  This is not only literally true, but figuratively true as well. We’re told in Matthew 15 “What comes out of the mouth defiles a person… For what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart.” The things we talk about reveals who we are. It reveals what’s inside of us. We slander and commit character assassination because we’re murderers. We tell lewd jokes or talk about people’s bodies because we’re adulterers. We complain because we’re bitter and covetous of others. We boast or attempt to paint ourselves positively in the eyes of others because we’re idolaters. We make it quite clear, that the person we prefer to worship is ourselves. There is no life in any of these things. They are wasted words. These words smell of decay. They reveal the death inside of us.

3.                  So when Jesus breathed on His disciples, did someone hand Him a tic tac? Certainly not, because everything is different with Jesus. Jesus’ breath is sweet. How can we be sure? Because Jesus has risen from the dead. Death has no part of Him. He lives forever. There is no decomposing, no decay with Jesus. He is free from all impurities. Moreover, when Jesus breathes on His disciples, He imparts to them the Holy Breath, that is the Holy Spirit. Not only this, but Jesus breath is formed into life-giving words. His words give refreshment and vigor. They are clean and pure, free of all self-interest. The breath behind these words is to be inhaled deeply and savored. Marvel not only at the fact that Jesus who was treated shamefully and crucified for our sins is alive, but marvel at the fact that He’s not angry. Quite the opposite. He forgives His disciples for their cowardice and slowness to trust. He gently restores them. A week later He submits Himself to Thomas’ examination and brings him out of unbelief to faith. And again when He breathes on the apostles He tells them to go speak words of forgiveness, freedom, and life.

4.                  In this world of lies and half-truths and spin-doctoring; In this world where words are used to manipulate, coerce, and sell things; In this world where words are used as veiled insults, or to bully, or to put people in their place; there is nothing so fragrant as God’s word to us in Jesus. Even the harsh words, the words that point out our sin are sweet because they’re true. And because the reason God speaks them is for our benefit: to wake us up and free us from sin and restore us to the way of life.

5.                  If God did not care for you, He would abandon you and leave you to yourself. But God does care for you. He loves you. He does not abandon you. He speaks to you. He binds Himself to you. In the Lord’s Supper He speaks ever so tenderly and clearly. Every Eucharist is a celebration of Easter. With the bread and wine, in truth Christ gives His very body and blood. And so with this food, Christ, Himself, enters into the tomb of our mouths and the hell of our bodies and He declares the victory over every particle of our being. By so binding Himself to us He makes us graves into holy temples fit for the Holy Spirit.

6.                  Now things are different with us. The Holy Spirit now breathes out of us, too. We who were accustomed to speaking the stench of decay, suddenly find ourselves speaking to others a word that that is unlike any word in the world. We now speak to others a word that is true, and lasting, and free of self-interest. We speak a word that brings hope where there is no hope, and healing to what truly hurts. We forgive those who wrong us. We speak comfort to those who mourn. We speak freedom to those who are imprisoned by shame and regret. To those who are at war we speak peace, saying that their warfare with God is ended.

7.                  The introit this morning we were told to be like new born babies, that we crave the pure word of God. That is not something on people’s radar. That is not on their to do list each day. No one’s asking is this the true pure word of God. This is not how it is to be with you. Crave the pure word of God.

8.                  No one says, I want to give up a little bit of sleep in the morning, or I want to forego a TV show, that’s why I’m reading my bible. No one says I want to give up my free time Sunday morning. That’s why I’m going to church. We sacrifice our time, because we want the one thing in this world that is pure and clean and life giving. We want the one thing that isn’t being sold to us. We want something that is bigger than ourselves and that will never fall away. We want the one thing that is free of death and decay, and that delivers the sweetness of life and hope. We want Jesus to breathe on us. We want the pure word. In + Jesus Name, amen.

Easter Sermon

Easter – John 20

April 24^th, 2011

Rev. Micah R. Gaunt

In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.

1.                  How needlessly Mary Magdalene cries. The signs are all around her. She stands before an empty tomb and, Jesus is standing right there with her. But Mary can’t see Him. She sees her sorrow. She sees what has taken place heretofore:  Out of nowhere Jesus is seized by the soldiers, pushed through a kangaroo court, and mercilessly tortured to death. She sees these things, and so she thinks the man she is talking to has taken Jesus body. She can’t see Jesus. He’s there. He talks to her. “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking.” It’s just that Jesus was hidden from her. But then Jesus speaks her name. The darkness is gone. The depression evaporated. Mary sees the Jesus who had been with her the whole time.

2.                  Today is Easter. Today Christ has risen. There is no place for sorrow. No place for regret. Life lives and death dies. All who follow Jesus reign with Him. None of God’s children are poor. Not one of us is lacking anything. No one is stuck with getting by.

3.                  Is this real? Isn’t this just so much pretty talk? We can’t see it. We see the cost of living go up. We see days where we’re just trying to get through. We see temptations we’ve fallen to even though we vowed, “Never again.” We see cancer. WE see aching joints and muscles. Where is this Easter new life God promises? I don’t see it.

4.                  Of course you don’t see it. Look it up: “For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God” (Col. 3:3). When Christ who rose from the dead this Easter morn is revealed, so will your Easter life be revealed. But that doesn’t make your new life any less real or active. The signs are all around. It’s just that only faith can see what the signs point to. God reveals to faith what is hidden to sinful flesh.

5.                  Today we hear of three characters: Mary Magdalene, Peter, and the other disciple John. All three see the same signs: an empty tomb, burial cloths where Christ had once lain, the face cloth folded neatly and placed by itself. These are not the signs of a hasty escape with a dead body. John sees these things, and rather than despair, he is the first to believe. By faith he saw what was up to this point hidden: Jesus had risen from the dead.

6.                  This is the way the reign of God works. God completely bankrupted heaven when Christ, for us and our salvation came down from heaven. If you like you can poke your head up there, but the stuff you’re looking for is all down here among us. Christ has come to establish his heavenly reign here on earth. Ergo, wherever Christ was present doing His work, that’s where all of heaven was invested. That was all the power and wisdom of heaven at work. But the devil, the world , and sinful flesh couldn’t see it. Otherwise they wouldn’t have crucified the Lord of glory. It made no sense because Christ’s reign was hidden in weakness, suffering, and even death. But there it was – the glory of God at work. And faith alone sees it.

7.                  Now Jesus is still at it. What Christ accomplished in His death and resurrection, He is accomplishing in the details of your life, amidst the good the good the bad and the ugly. Your life has been hidden with Christ by baptism, so that His death became your death, and His life is your life. Now all of the power and wisdom and resources are invested and at work on your behalf. St. Paul says in Ephesians 2, God has “raised us up with Jesus and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ. Heaven isn’t so much about a place. It’s about where you are in relationship to God. Heaven is restored to you because you have been restored to God. God is close at hand, establishing His heavenly kingdom among you.

8.                  The signs are all around. The signs aren’t earthly wealth or prestige or earthly knowledge. Those are the things the world and our flesh can see. The signs are that you hear God’s word, and also that it changes the way you think about things. God is teaching you to be co-heirs and co-royalty with Christ. God is teaching you what He is doing and why. You know what the plan is. Already you’ve begun to rule because God hears your prayers. When you pray in Jesus name you interact with the will of God and counsel how to implement His policy in your life and the lives of those around you. God takes your thoughts into account, and the lives of people are benefit. The signs of God’s heavenly reign among you are all around for you to discover, for He makes all the details of your life work for your good; to strengthen your faith, build your hope, and give you peace despite your circumstances. And all of this because the crucified Christ rose from the dead.

9.                  Your life is hidden with Christ. Because He lives you live. Because He rose from the dead, the grave is already emptied of its dead. Because he reigns you are kings and queens. One day Christ will call your name. The darkness of sin will be gone. All sorrows will evaporate. You will see gifts that defy your imagination in quantities that can’t be counted. Perhaps one of the greatest surprises will be that in the midst of such glory you will see what has been all along. And you will be where you’ve always been – with Jesus. In + Jesus Name.

Is Easter A Pagan Holiday?

Perhaps you've heard some say Easter is a pagan holiday. Here is an article that debunks the myth.

HT: Cranach

Notes on the Easter Gospel

Mary Magdalene and Peter and John do not find Christ's empty tomb as you would if someone stoll the body. The cloths are neatly folded.

It should strike us that Mary does not recognize Jesus. This is the way it goes at the end of Luke on the road to Emmaus. The disciples don't recognize Jesus. It is only when Christ says Mary's name and when He breaks bread with the disciples that they recognize Him. This shows to us that Christ desires to be seen in His word and sacraments.

When Jesus tells Mary to stop clinging to Him, He is not being rough. Mary wants to hang on to Jesus there with her. However, Jesus has something better in mind. "Mary go tell my brothers I'm ascending to my Father and your Father. My God and your God." When Jesus tells her of His ascension, He is not saying that He is going away. Instead, He is working in such a way where all people are brought to the Father and are with Jesus forever. When Jesus does something, it's always to improve the status of things, never to take away or lessen the good things that God gives.

The fact that the first witness is a woman is another detail that reflects validity of Christ's resurrection. If this was a made up story, Jesus would not have told a woman to tell the disciples. At this period in time a woman's testimony wasn't valid. Hence the disciples are dubious about the news. The fact that the first witness is a woman also shows that Christ has no use for the notion of superiority between the sexes.