Sermons

December 30, 2018                                                                  Text:  Colossians 3:16a

Dear Friends in Christ,

            John Huffman tells the classic story of the man who would only feed on God’s Word when he needed an answer to a problem.  The man found himself in a difficult situation, and in desperation he turns to the Bible for help.  He let the book flop open and laid his finger on a verse, which said that Judas “went and hanged himself.”  After a moment’s thought, he decided to turn to a different verse for help; he repeated the process and read, “What thou doest, do quickly.”

            Would we say for that man the Word of Christ was dwelling in him richly?  No, of course not, for him it was all about convenience.  It is there if I need it. 

            Do you ever see the Word of Christ in that vein?  It is there when I need it.  We have so little understanding of God’s Word because we do not give it the serious attention and study that is needed.  Let’s examine this morning . . .

“WHAT IS DWELLING IN YOU?”

            In Lutheran circles one of our weaknesses in the study of what the Bible has for us is Confirmation.  Both in Junior and Adult Confirmation we have an intensive study of God’s Word.  We are looking up verses and taking quizzes and doing homework that the Word of Christ can dwell in us richly.  But then we get that certificate and we treat it like a diploma and . . . you know the sad history.

            Do you need help against the devil, the world, your sinful mind?  Do you want to be more kind and compassionate and forgiving and peaceful?  Then let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly.  Ponder it, study it, practice it.  We need our daily spiritual bread to withstand the attacks of the devil, the world, and our sinful mind.

Our Lutheran Confessions state, “Certainly you will not release a stronger incense or other repellant against the devil than to be engaged by God’s commandments and words, and speak, sing, or think them.”

            In the 1880’s French artist Georges Seurat introduced an art form known as pointillism.  As the name suggests, Seurat used small dots of color, rather than brush strokes of blended pigments, to create an artistic image.  Up close, his work looks like groupings of individual dots.  Yet as the observer steps back, the human eye blends the dots into brightly colored portraits or landscapes.

            The big picture of the Bible is similar.  Up close, the complexity can leave us with the impression of dots on a canvas.  As we read it and study it the picture becomes clearer.  When we connect the dots of Scripture and Jesus’ suffering, we see a God who loves us more than we can imagine.

            Let this Word of Christ inhabit you as if you were the house and home of this Word, let it do this in a rich way by filling every nook and corner of your being with its blessed, spiritual wisdom.  Wisdom is the ability to use knowledge in the right and wise way.  This Word of Christ is supreme and not the philosophy of empty deceit.

            It is the work of the Holy Spirit to guide and empower us to study the Word of God.  Perhaps you join a Bible Class in the New Year.  Maybe your devotional life will not take a back seat to your other pursuits.  I encourage you to find a portion of Scripture that interests you.  I really like Proverbs.  Solomon’s wisdom is always contemporary.  Study the Book of Romans and see what led Martin Luther down the path of the Reformation.  Read Philemon and understand Christian love.

            When you better understand this Word – Christ in the flesh – you will know what Simeon knew in our Gospel.  He was able to depart in peace according to the word for his eyes have seen your salvation.

            Is that what you see this morning?  Is this what is dwelling in you?  I pray that it is.  Jesus Christ and His Word dwelling in you richly.  Feels pretty good, doesn’t it?

                        Amen.       

December 16, 2018                                                                           Text:  Luke 7:18-28

 

Dear Friends in Christ,

 

“Did you hear what she did?  She left her husband and kids and flew to Aruba.”  “I doubt that.  She isn’t that kind of person.”  “Did you see the device that has been invented that will cut our production time in half.”  “I have to see this.  But I doubt it’s true.”  “I just heard on the News that President Trump didn’t send out a tweet today.”  “Are you crazy?  I have my doubts about the accuracy of that story.”  We can be quite the doubters, can’t we?  What was the latest this week – we didn’t really land on the moon!  It never ends.

Do you ever have doubts about God?  If you haven’t in your lifetime, let’s put you on a polygraph.  We all have been gripped with fear and doubt somewhere in time on this benighted sphere.  That puts you and I in select company this morning.  Jesus calls John the Baptist “great” and he had doubts.  After all, could he, the greatest of all prophets, ever claim to be . . .

“WITHOUT A DOUBT”

John had been quite sure about Jesus.  He knew he was to prepare the way.  He had proclaimed Jesus as the Christ.  He even baptized Jesus in the Jordan River.

So now what?  He is imprisoned in one of Herod’s fortresses.  John’s future is not looking good and he knows it.  I imagine prison can do that.  He also has time to ponder and well that is leading to some doubts.  He expected this Messiah to bring judgment and all he is doing are works of compassion and mercy.  Why doesn’t this Messiah bring Herod down?  John’s faulty expectations lead to confusion and doubt.  Is Jesus the one who is to come, or should we be looking for another?

We also suffer from faulty expectations of Jesus and we don’t have to be sitting in a prison cell to conjure such thoughts.  I follow Jesus and His Word so why does this sickness linger?  How could I lose my job when my family is so in need?  Why would he allow me to be at odds with family members?  Did that person need to die because they were my support system?  Why would a compassionate Savior allow such things?  Maybe He is not who we thought he is?  Jesus knows exactly who He is.  It is our false expectations that we put on Him that lead to our doubts.

How did John resolve his doubts?  By looking to Jesus.  He sends two disciples to talk with Christ.  Jesus explains that his actions speak for themselves:  He is fulfilling the Scriptures as the Messiah.  Now is the time of grace; judgment will come.

No doubt Jesus is the One sent from God as our Savior.  John was right all along Jesus is the Prophet.  Jesus was born of woman to become one with sinners.  He became the least in the Kingdom while on the cross to redeem us from sin.  He has made us the greatest in the Kingdom by faith.

Therefore, we can look to Jesus for assurance in our doubts.  In our sickness, He heals us.  In our job loss He provides new opportunities.  In our family squabbles He can provide reconciliation.  In death, He provides hope and reunion.

Did John finally come to terms with his questions and doubt?  We can assume he did because of these reassurances that the Savior gave to him.  These would be important because John would not leave that cell until his head came out on a platter.  Without a doubt he believed that Christ was the Messiah, sent from God.

This text is a great study in human behavior because we put false expectations on each other all the time.  We have doubts about a spouse or a parent or a child or a boss or a friend because they at times can let us down.  “I thought I knew you.”  “I never expected that from you.”  When we suffer continued bad judgment or vices that never go away or perpetual lying or them not being there when we need them from others we then have doubts.  “Is this the person I put my faith in?”  Only to be squashed again.  It hurts. It frustrates.  What can I do?

On the other hand when we can count on a spouse or a parent or a child or a boss or a friend oh what joy to the world that brings.  To trust in another.  To have faith in another.  To know you have their support.  To know that they will be there for you.  To have expectations that are met.  You rejoice . . . without a doubt.

That is Christ Jesus for you and I.  We know what we should expect from Him because he lays it out in inerrant, inspired words.  The prophets write it – He fulfills it.  He says it – He does it.  His support is always there.  It is unending.  We are the blind who receive sight.  We are the lame who walk.  We are the lepers cleansed.  We are the deaf who now hear.  We will be the dead who are raised.  We are the poor who have the good news preached to them.

Don’t you think that is a good place to end this morning?  Yes . . . without a doubt.

Amen.