Sermon Texts

December 24, 2020 – Christmas Eve                                                   Text:  Luke 2:7-20

Dear Friends in Christ,

            “It’s time!  It’s time!”  We have been with Joseph and Mary from the beginning.  We were there when they found out they were going to have a child.  We watched the preparations they made.  Last week we made the trip with them to Bethlehem.  Now it’s time for the apex, the main plot line, the reason we are sitting here tonight.  Step into the manger and witness . . .

“THE BIRTH”

            What do you remember about your son or daughter’s birth?  There are many things that stand out about our boys’ entrance into the world.  Toni doing a great job of pushing as I would count from 1 to 10 and then say Go Illini or Go Cubs or Go Bears.  It wasn’t as funny when I started counting in French!  Karson was born during the Andy Griffith Show episode “The Pickle Story” – my favorite.  Then amazingly Holden was born when we had on Hawaii-Five-O my favorite crime show.  The announcement of their sex was exciting.  We knew right then we had the rehearsal dinner and not the wedding.

            The one thing that does stand out from both births is this:  The excitement of the obstetrician who was delivering our bundles of joy.  In Kansas it was an older male who had delivered probably thousands of babies.  Here in town it was a middle age female who had delivered hundreds.  But in both instances they were as excited as we were.  This surprised me because this was their job.  I guess they treated it as the miracle that it is.  Another of God’s creation has come to be.

            That was the story of the birth we see tonight.  There was no TV on in the background.  No obstetrician or nurses around.  We have no idea what Joseph and Mary said to each other.  But in its most basic form it was the same.  A mother delivering a child.  It was messy and bloody and smelly.  But it was a miracle.

            “And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.”  Here is one area that baby delivery has not changed in 2,000 years.  Babies were washed, rubbed with salt and possibly olive oil and then wrapped.  Strips of cloth were wrapped tightly around infants to warm and secure them.  Can’t you picture your newborn the same way?

            Now this is where the birth of Jesus has a distinct narrative.  Shepherds enter the plot.  They are just doing their jobs when this happens.  “And the angel said to them, ‘Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.’”  I only hear positive thoughts in these verses, don’t you?  “Good news…great joy…for all the people…Savior…Christ the Lord.”

            Beautiful.  But something got left out.  Do you know what words are the most important?  If you are thinking, “unto you,” you have just won a lifetime of Hallmark Christmas movies – congrats.

            The very Creator of all things became a creature.  He entered a human womb, there to grow and develop like any other baby, until the time came for him to enter the world, not in a grand announcement of his glory, but in the ordinary crying of a newborn baby. 

            This gift has your name on it – “unto you.”  Jesus’ perfect obedience was for you.  His innocent death and glorious resurrection – for you.  He came to fill you with contentment and peace that only this baby can give. 

            When you are overwhelmed with questions that seem to have no answers.  When you have an illness that continues to pester you.  When you have fears that churn the stomach or you see a future that has no guiding star look to the Holy child.  The shepherds went in haste, that means quickly.  Don’t just stand there in wonder but never approach the manger.  Don’t just stare in amazement but never come to the altar.  Don’t just see the miracle but touch it, hug it, love it.  May the Holy Spirit guide your heart this night as the Savior wraps you in grace and mercy.

            That is what we all did as parents as soon as we could, we held our child, we hugged our child, we kissed our child, we cried at the beauty of our child.  This child is yours.  More importantly you are His.  He made you His at your Baptism.  This too is a miracle and something I learned from our doctors – every Baptism should be a joyous occasion as if it’s the only one.  It is individual – unto you.  It is personal – unto you.  The Triune God is present and He brings you into His Kingdom.  Prayerfully we can all thank God for the families were born into you.  But the greatest family you are a part of is the Lord’s family.

            His love is never separated from you.  He loves you in good times and bad.  He loves you when obedient…He loves you when you fail.  He rejoices in your faith and forgives you when you disappoint Him.  His birth is your birth.  You are there.  He is here.  Make a place for Him in your home.  Don’t leave Him in the manger – ok?

                                                                                                                        Amen.     

December 20, 2020                                                              Text:  2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16

Dear Friends in Christ,

            The rock band the Who penned a song entitled, “Won’t Get Fooled Again.”  This one line sums up the message of the tune – “Meet the new boss – same as the old boss!”  With these past 10 months we can now all say we have lived through life altering events.  But most of us can look back over many such times.  The Depression, World War II, the Vietnam War era, the high inflation of the 1970’s, and the 9/11 terrorist attacks.  Each time something happens in our world we think it is the worst thing that could happen.  But is it?

            As each crisis drifts from our conscience, the devil just laughs and laughs because he knows he can fool us again – “”Meet the new boss – same as the old boss!”

            King David had a good track record behind him.  He had slain Goliath, he brought the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem and set it in a tent.  Now in our text the Lord is giving him rest from his enemies and Nathan the prophet tells him, “The Lord is with you.”  All right, things are looking good . . . my future’s so bright I gotta wear shades.  Human effort and a cool pair of sunglasses can’t hide the fact that man and woman are still sinful. 

“WON’T GET FOOLED AGAIN”

            King David settles on his throne and wants to do something good for God.  As is want to happen the power grab of humanity leads to blockheaded thinking.  David prioritizes buildings things for himself and others rather than building for God. 

            The irony of the situation of course is that David has troubles to come, and they will primarily be with . . . his own house!  His sin with Bathsheba, their child’s death, incest among his children, and rebellion from a son and others are the main stories in the rest of Samuel 2.  David didn’t get the temple built for God’s House and he also failed at building God’s “house” with his family and personal behavior.  In two generations David’s kingdom would be split by civil war and then David’s monarchy would eventually be destroyed. 

            “Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain.” (Ps. 127:1)  God does encourage our heart as He did David to look for things to do for Him.  But what is most important is always to know what He has done for you in the past and what He does for you and through you in the future.

            God constructs what is perfect and lasting.  God reminded David of all the things He did for him and his ancestors.  Delivered from slavery in Egypt and shepherded them through an Exodus and gave them a respite from those who were out to destroy them.

            God does the same for you.  We all have the same sinful insufficiencies that David had.  We try to fool ourselves that God must be pretty pleased with this strutting peacock I call me.  Our priorities displace God’s priorities.  And Satan pushes us farther from the church.  Our families struggle with direction, misplaced fears and worldly thinking.  In the end, we all die and everything turns to dust.

            But look at what our gracious God does.  He knows we get fooled again and again by other voices.  He knows we stumble in the darkness of evil induced information.  He knows we forget that sin and troubles are always, always going to be with us.  You can’t build a shelter for that.  Hello, you in there?

            I am Lord.  I know I need you.  He wraps His love around you in the person of Jesus Christ and delivers you from your tomfoolery of sin and slavery.  He baptizes you to wash away the filth that has built up in your mind.  He shepherds you with his Scriptures and His Sacraments.  He has conquered Satan and limited his eternal power.  He has built for you the ultimate temple – Jesus!  He provides everything that makes your life worth living. 

            The baby about to be born was predicted to reign over David’s kingdom.  Jesus called himself the temple in John 2 and He provides an eternal house, a never-ending home for you with God.

            When 9/11 happened a young man called his father and his first words on the phone were, “Boy, Dad, our world has really changed since we last talked.”  His father, a wise Lutheran Pastor with 50 years of experience in teaching the Bible said, “No, it hasn’t .”  He assured his son that the terrorist attacks were the same old sin seen since the Garden of Eden, but that the same Savior was still handling humanity’s sin the same way, punishing the unrepentant but giving His forgiving love to those who trust in His shed blood. 

            The temple finally got built in Jerusalem and lasted four hundred years.  Its replacements were also demolished fairly quickly.  God wanted his people to have lasting hope, not in earthy things or man’s accomplishments, but in His eternal King, Jesus.  Let us all pray that as we keep on inhabiting this earth we . . . won’t get fooled again.                       Amen.  

December 16, 2020 – Advent                                                          Text:  Luke 2:1-6

Dear Friends in Christ,

            Are you ready to take a trip?  A man and woman with child are required to take this trip.  Before the greatest miracle in the history of the world can take place we have got to get them to where they need to be.  God will see to that.  You sit back and enjoy what it means for you.

“THE TRIP”

            What was your trip like when you had your children?  Did any of you not make it to the hospital in time?  Was there anything unusual about the day or night?  Anybody not go in a car? 

            The two births in the Lueck family were a little bit different.  The first birth was a planned event.  What I mean is that we checked into the hospital as if a surgery was going to take place.  There was no rush because Toni was going to be induced.  We were escorted to the room and we waited.  It was a Monday evening and I watched a football game between the Buffalo Bills and the Miami Dolphins.  I tried to sleep on the floor with my winter coat as a blanket.  Toni tried to rest, received an epidural and eventually child one would come into the world.

            Birth two took place in a more traditional way, as did the trip.  Toni’s water broke and she woke me up on an early Tuesday morning.  We gathered the belongings that we needed and headed for Bro-Menn Hospital.  Being the gentleman I am I steered the donkey, I mean the car through the quiet streets of Bloomington-Normal.  Child number two came a little quicker later that day.  No roadblocks.  No complications.  No bad weather.  The trip was smooth.

            Joseph and Mary had a little farther to go.  They had a three-day trip ahead of them from Nazareth to Bethlehem.  Most of us just filled out a 2020 census earlier this year.  It came in the mail.  If you didn’t do it this way, a government official stopped by your home.  None of us were asked to take our family to Washington D. C.  Wouldn’t that be a sight if we crammed 350 million of us into the banks of the Potomac!

            These pagan Romans had no idea they were part of God’s plan.  Many consider Caesar Augustus the greatest Roman emperor.  He expanded the Roman Empire and brought stability and peace.  The census was used for military service and taxation.  Jews were exempt from military service but still were taxed.  Even Mary was under this law since she was past 12 years of age.  This is why she made the trip with Joseph even while being so close to giving birth.

            Even with his great work, Caesar Augustus still remained God’s instrument.  God used the decree from this pagan leader to fulfill the promise of Micah 5:2 – “But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient of days.”  The trip had to take place to fulfill the prophecy that the Savior would be born in Bethlehem.  FYI – Bethlehem was the prophet Micah’s hometown. 

            Do you see what God was able to accomplish through the trip?  Salvation was born.  Grace and mercy sprang forth.  Love came into the world with skin on.  God made this intrusion into the world in order to save the world.

            When we travel what is one of the things most of us do?  We pray for protection.  Keep our car on the interstate, the plane in the air, the cruise ship above the water.  We need the Lord and his holy angels to watch over us.  Haven’t we all had close calls but for the grace of God . . .?

            We need the Lord’s protection in other ways as well.   We take some trips down some dark highways.  We linger on the edge of canyons.  We test the captain with our behavior.  Maybe in life we have left the tour group of our Christian brothers and sisters and went exploring for other ways to the Kingdom of God.  Or maybe the Sunday morning trip was no longer part of our weekly itinerary.

            The Lord gathers us together tonight to remind us that this is no solo trip.  It is orchestrated by a wonderful Counselor, Mighty God who knows the roads have bumps, the waters have waves, the air has turbulence.  He finds us on the map and brings us home.  Home to the forgiveness of sins.  Home to life in the Lamb of God.  We make the trip to the baptismal font and to the altar and eventually we make the greatest trip to be with Him and the angels and the archangels and the whole company of heaven. 

            All of our trips to the hospital brought new life.  Life that came from our Creator.  He gives this to us daily as we make our way home.  Enjoy the trip led by our Savior Jesus Christ.

                                                Amen.        

December 13, 2020                                                                    Text:  John 1:6-8, 19-28

Dear Friends in Christ,

            As you know I am no expert on smart phones.  I am learning.  The recent commercials I have seen are for a #12 phone.  Which led me to ask my wife does this replace 11?  Have they just counted from one?  Do they skip numbers?  What does 12 do that 11 doesn’t and why pay hundreds of dollars?  We joked that some day they will just implant a chip in our heads and be done with it.  Or will they?

            Many people in our society have this misconception that phone # so-and-so is going to bring great contentment and satisfaction to their lives.  But these too will be abandoned someday.  Cable TV has a show called “Vintage Tech” which shows how quickly things change.  The size of the first computers and phones is quite an eye-opener and good for a chuckle.

            Things do change but we must always live in the present.  In our world many men and women are clinging to the fatalistic cliché “it is what it is.”  What will the future bring?  Will my grandchildren live in a “Jetsons” world? 

            Today is once again the work and witness of John the Baptist.  He too worked in the midst of a people who longed for the glory of their past under rulers like David and Solomon.  They resented their present situation of feeling trapped by the Romans and having their freedoms taken away.  They had great concerns about their future if things didn’t change.  John brings God’s message of . . .

“GREATER THINGS TO COME”

            Shouldn’t God be providing some joy for these Israelites?  Shouldn’t He provide Israel health, wealth, and happiness?  If that were the case, perhaps God would send a Savior to run for public office.  But that is not going to resolve our most basic need:  reconciliation with God.

            From the bad fruit in the Garden of Eden on we have had a broken relationship with God.  We are so far away from the holy image of God that we can barely see Him.  The evil of some who use these times for their benefit really has no boundaries. 

            Then there’s you and I.  Loneliness, broken relationships, suffering.  On the basis of this rift between God and us, whether we look at the past, present, or future, there isn’t much for which to rejoice.  It was true two thousand years ago, and it’s true also today.  Is that all there is?

            Why doesn’t God do something?  He has.  Look at the first verse of our text, “there was a man sent from God, whose name was John.” (v. 6)  John was sent with divine authority on a divine mission.  John was to “bear witness about the light.” 

            The Pharisees and priests and Levites wanted to know who this guy was.  Christ?  No.  Elijah?  No.  The Prophet?  No.  He is a voice crying out in the wilderness.  John the Baptist would never make it on our world of self-congratulations.  He only wants to talk about another – Jesus the Christ.  He is no slick televangelist he is the forerunner of greater things to come.

            The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world is the greater thing to come.  That which has separated us from God, which so often brings hurt and pain to human relationships, is forgiven because the Lamb of God, His own Son, took our sinful nature along with all our sins to the cross.  He put them to death by his own suffering and death.  In Baptism, we were baptized into Christ’s death so that just as He was raised from the dead, we have been raised to newness of life.

            How would you summarize your life today?  Are you stuck with “it is what it is”?  Have you lost the sight of wonder?  Have you lost the images of forgiveness and life and salvation – the greater things we have in our crucified and risen Savior?  Do you look to the future with fear in your heart because of the uncertainties of this world?  Do you dread when your earthly life will cease and you will stand face-to-face before a holy and righteous God?

            Permit me a moment to share with those of you who are haunted by sin, guilt, and shame.  “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Rom. 8:1)  Permit a moment to share with those of you who face uncertain times, or illness, or even imminent death, God promises “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Heb. 13:5)  Discouragement should be put out to the curb because in Christ we have reason to rejoice always.

            Sit up tall in your pew this morning.  Smile with joy you there watching this worship service at home.  In Christ, we have a new life now and the promise of eternal life to come.  In these promises, there is a certainty of greater things to come.

                                                                                                                        Amen.

December 9, 2020 – Advent                                                            Text:  Matthew 1:18-23

Dear Friends in Christ,

            Last week we found out that we were expecting.  Once this news is shared with everyone then the preparations begin.  The birth of a first child that it was for Joseph and Mary usually brings more things to get ready because you have never been through it before and most of us do not buy baby things until baby is on the way.

            For Toni and I we had basically zero things for a child.  We would need a crib, and a changing table and a car seat and a stroller and onesies and diapers and lots of orange and blue clothing and oh don’t forget plenty of balls to throw to the young one.  I can’t remember exactly but I am sure family or friends or even church members purchased some of these items.  We were blessed.  Even in Kansas City Chief country they gave away at their school auction a Chicago Bears gift basket.  They made sure Pastor and Mrs. Lueck would be the recipients. 

            The one thing we did not prepare for was this – what sex would the child be?  We are so happy we didn’t know and it really was one of our better decisions in life.  We loved the surprise.  Still today I feel the same way when a couple we know is pregnant.  Tell me after the birth.

            Joseph and Mary did know the sex of their child.  This was no ultrasound reveal.  This was a Lord reveal.  They would find out even more about their baby to be.  Come along then, as these new parents get ready for the birth of their first child.

“PREPARATION”

            Was there anything unusual about the preparations you made for your child?  Maybe you had to paint a room?  Did you study Consumer Reports to find the most effective diaper?  Did you have to prepare mentally for this change in your life?

            That was one of the biggest challenges that Joseph had.  He has a wife to be that he hasn’t had intercourse with and a baby is on the way.  Huh?  How can this be? as Mary had asked.  The Scripture gives us a glimpse of Joseph.  We can see he is a compassionate and caring human being.  He did not want to shame Mary or cause her death by stoning so he was going to divorce her.  He was going to do this without fanfare or public scrutiny.

            Well, the Lord had some other plans for this preparation.  He sends an angel to enter Joseph’s dreams and to tell him that he is not to fear.  The Holy Spirit conceived the child Mary is carrying.  And now comes the sex reveal, “She will bear a son.”  And now the name reveal – “you shall call his name Jesus.”  And now the purpose of his life reveal – “he will save his people from their sins.”  Any of you get this much detail about your son or daughter? 

            Was there any fear in your mind about being parent?  I personally had none.  God had been preparing me for this my whole life.  As a child I took mental notes of parenting.  Both from my mom and dad and from others I observed.  I knew I was ready to be a father.  Many years later it is one of the great gifts I have been privileged to be a part of.

            Joseph must have felt the same way once he woke up.  But before that the angel had more to say.  The child he would father and the child Mary would bore was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah.  Man, this dream just keeps getting better and better.  The best news Joseph received in that sleep was this – “God with us.”  How could there be anything to be afraid of?  God would be with Joseph and Mary.  He would be living in their home and attending temple with them and working in his father’s carpenter shop.  The Lord would be guiding.

            That is always how I have seen things.  God wasn’t our physical child but He has been there.  He was there when our sons had high fevers at night and you weren’t sure whether to go the hospital or medicate them at home.  He was there as we got them to church and out of the house as soon as possible.  He was there so that we never lived in fear or worry when they were out with the car late at night.  He was there at baptism and confirmation and now into their young adult lives.

The prayer is that we can all say these things.  The Lord was there.

            God was in control.  Sometimes our preparations in life don’t go the way we expect – just ask Joseph.   We don’t chart our own course.  Christ’s coming into the world changes us.  He changes us from fearful human beings to saved children of God.  He changes us from masters of our own destiny to trustful followers of Jesus Christ.  He changes the end of our story from souls destined to hell to hopeful people who know that the glory of heaven awaits.  He prepares us for that moment as He comes to us in His Word and through Holy Baptism and Holy Communion.  He knows what we need because God is in control.

            The preparation is nearing the end and the birth is getting closer and closer.  What an exciting time.  A child is to be born.  Are things ready for the trip?  We’ll find out next week.

                                    Amen.

December 6, 2020                                                                            Text:  Mark 1:1-8

Dear Friends in Christ,

            A few years back was a cartoon of a husband and wife sitting in their nicely decorated living room getting ready for Christmas.  The wife had a frown on her face and looked completely exhausted.  The husband says, “Of course, you’re depressed – ‘tis the season to be jolly.”

            Where are you at as we get into the month of December?  One thing we tend to do in these days is to look backward.  We romanticize our childhood or when our own kids were little.  We get a little melancholy.  But Christian people follow a star because we are not looking for the way it used to be but what we need.

“GOD’S REPLY TO NOSTALGIA”

            I think you will find this Merriam-Webster definition of “nostalgia” quite enlightening.  “Homesickness.  A wistful yearning for something past or irrecoverable.”  This is mostly an adult emotion.  Why?  Because as adults we would like to go back to being children at Christmas.  No responsibilities.  No decorations to get out.  No cards and letters to send.  No gifts to buy.  No baking to get done.  We all got Christmas without the anxiety.  Open gifts.  Play with toys.  Dad and mom telling us where to be and when.  We didn’t have to worry about politics or religion or uncomfortable family gatherings.  We had no idea what was going on.  Heck, it was a great time to a kid.  As somebody once said, “Some of our most vivid memories are of things that never happened, for we remember the images and the imagination of our childhood dreams.”

            Earlier I said we get melancholy.  This definition is not pretty.  “Mental condition marked by extreme depression often with delusions.”  Ouch!  Add in the preceding nine months before December and melancholy and depression and anxiety are bursting out all over.

            We need a future.  We need something stable.  What’s the answer?  How do we get the merry-go-round to stop?  Our text is the starting point.  “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” (v. 1)  It is good news from God.  What He gives does not change.  God replies not with a nostalgic look at our past but a present look at what He has given us through His Son Jesus.  We look forward to all that Christ brings and that will never, ever change.

            Mark reports, “John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.” (v. 4)  You know John, right?  Isaiah speaks about him in our Old Testament reading this morning.  John’s message was not a morbid groveling around in what was but a spiritual lift to what is.  Repentance for the forgiveness of sins.  The grace of God through Christ who comes to forgive and take away our guilt and remorse of our yesterdays – our todays – and our tomorrows.

            It is a message that is pointing forward.  “And he preached, saying, ‘After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie.  I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.’” (v. 7-8)

            This is Advent and Christmas.  It’s joy to the world because Jesus loves us with an everlasting love that cleanses our sinfulness.  Christ has come to guide us through this world by His Word – the Holy Scriptures.  Christ goes to a shameful cross to spill His blood so that the guarantee of our salvation would be sealed.

            During these times we are so concerned about everyone’s mental health or their physical health.  Important, yes.  But what about the spiritual health of every God-created man and woman?  Is that too going to become nostalgic?  “O I remember the faith I once enjoyed.  The church that was so beautiful.  The singing that was uplifting.  The message of Christ crucified that Pastor delivered.”

            The voice is crying in the wilderness.  “Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.”  The past is past.  God in heaven knows our sinfulness.  He forgives us so that we can be givers and not takers.  He minimizes our nostalgia and helps us let go of our melancholy.  We stand with John on that first Advent.  We stand in the light of a life of service to Jesus Christ.  The One who loves us with an everlasting love.  And you know something?  That is how God replies to our nostalgia.

                                                                                                                                    Amen.