May 10, 2020                                                                    Text:  Acts 6:1-9; 7:2a, 51-60

Dear Friends in Christ,

            How many of you like movie previews?  They give brief snippets of scenes, which are supposed to give you an overview of the film.  These previews have grown over the years.  You can be 10 minutes late to the theatre and the previews are still playing.  Convenient I guess for the perpetually tardy.

            This morning our sermon text from Acts is the stoning of Stephen.  It is not the whole story.  For that you need to read all of Acts 6 and 7.  We just get pieces in our text.  We get scenes.  We have highlights from the film. 

            This story has it all.  Miraculous powers.  Murderous threats that get carried out.  Impassioned speech.  A Christian man willing to stand for his faith.  God is here, but what is He doing?  This morning, we are going to take a moment to meditate on,

“SCENES OF GOD AT WORK”

            As our focus on this story comes into view we see various ways that God is at work.  The disciples are collecting food for the needy and working and praying and laying their hands upon co-workers in the Kingdom.  Stephen is mentioned as “a man full of faith.”

            This scene could be right out of our congregation.  The Pastor preaches and prays and the congregants collect food for a local food pantry or do mission work in our community.  Even in the mundane God is there.

            The scene shifts to see God at work in marvelous ways.  The action is ramping up as Stephen gives a speech.  Again, only a part of his words are in our text.  It may be hard to go back to the first time you heard this story concerning Stephen but what did you think would happen?  Did you expect God, as some superhero, to swoop in and save Stephen from stoning?  Did you want the happy ending?

            God works in a way where the marvelous and the murderous are woven together with one another.  Luke wants us to know that God works wonders in the suffering of this world.

            Look carefully at the scene.  When Stephen is dragged out and stoned how is he positioned?  He falls to his knees.  Is he falling because of the stoning or is he kneeling in reverence to God?  The answer is yes to both.  You would think there would be a difference between being knocked to the ground with stones and kneeling in prayer.  But, according to Luke, sometimes they look the same.

            As Stephen is dying he cries out.  He is not screaming in pain.  He is saying, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” (7:60)  He breathes his last and falls asleep.  A moment that recalls Jesus’s words on the cross, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34)

            Even in this bloody scene with suffering and dying, God is still at work.  Because Jesus entered into our world and suffered and died to take away our sin, Stephen can ask that these misguided humans be forgiven.  Stephen knew that because of Jesus rising from the dead, sin and evil and death itself had been conquered.  He met death willingly – who follows in his train?

            What scene from your life has our Lord entered?  For all of us it is this temporary annoyance we’ve lived under for almost two months.  When things are out of our control, we get scared.  Stones are coming at us – do this, don ‘t do this, wear a mask, stay away from your church, go to a store, keep a distance, work from home, school work online, but in all of this hasn’t it driven us to our knees?  How many times in the last few months have you asked God for direction?  Have you gone to Him to know if you are doing the right thing?  Go out – stay home.  Have mini services at church or not worry about it?  Listen to the government or use your own common sense? 

            The thing to see in these scenes is that the Lord is there.  He has kept you safe.  He has kept many still working.  He has allowed the church to survive through your prayers and offerings.  You are nearing the end of your school year.  You have food and clothing and a hot water heater that works.  And you know from history that this is only temporary.  The scenes from Stephen’s life encourage you to see God at work in your world.

            Stephen wasn’t afraid.  He was “a man full of faith.”  He didn’t go looking to die, but he also didn’t shy away from the consequences of his words.  God was at work in the world of Stephen and we remember him to this day.

            God rules over all things and works in our world.  He created us, claimed us as His own in Baptism, calls us to serve him in our various vocations, and promises to raise us up to live with Him in the new creation.

            Will this scene we are living in have a happy ending for all of us?  I can’t give that assurance.  But know this – God is not distant from the world.  His promises of life and salvation endure until the end.  He works in the mundane and the marvelous and nothing – not even death – can separate us from His love and mercy.  I’ve enjoyed these scenes of God at work . . . how about you?            Amen.          

May 3, 2020                                                                                        Text:  John 10:1-10

Dear Friends in Christ,

            When I was a young shaver we would often visit family friends who had Holstein milk cows.  It was always fun to watch them being milked.  The front of the barn, where we entered had a door sliced in the middle.  This way the bottom could be closed to keep the cows in the barn while the top door could be open when a nice cool breeze was needed. 

            I wasn’t as afraid of cows as I was of dogs but I always kept my eye on where the cow was going when I was in the barn.  One time a cow was coming right toward me and I thought there was no time to open the door so thinking quickly I jumped up and climbed out the half door.  There would be no Lueck/Holstein confrontation this day.

            Today in our Gospel lesson Jesus calls Himself the “door.”  How many times do we want to climb right over that door because of our lack of trust?  As scared sheep do we ever hide behind a door?  Today is Good Shepherd Sunday . . . the Lord is taking you by the hand . . . let’s find out together . . .

“WHAT’S BEHIND THE DOOR?”

            Have you ever been anxious or nervous to enter a door?  A hospital room with a loved one inside?  A closed door from your teenager you just had a spat with?

A spouse who’s slammed door spoke volumes?  The first time you ever went to a funeral home?  The boss who wants to talk with you in their office?  Going into your mom’s bedroom shortly after she died?  I’ve been there.  So have you.

            Why are some places so hard to enter?  Because we feel we go in alone.  Instead of entering with the Good Shepherd, who is the door, we wrap ourselves in our own insecurities.  We hear other voices.  We let the thief and the robber have their way with our mind.  We think our salvation and our life and our success are based on us improving our lives on our own.  You make yourself the door.  You are actually the one who, by what you do and what you don’t do, determines if you are in the sheep pen or not.  You are the door through which you get into heaven.

            Today in our Gospel we hear the word “sheep” six times.  But we are not just anyone’s sheep.  We are the Lord’s sheep.  You have heard His voice.  You here in the sanctuary, you are sheep.  You watching online, you are sheep.  You are each uniquely loved, particularly cared for, and led out to pasture by Him.  He calls you by name.  At the baptismal font through water and the Word the Lord tagged you as his sheep.

            Your Lord Jesus is not just behind the door – He is the door.  He is the way into the sheep pen.  He is the way out to green pasture.  He is the way to life, not just life in this world, but life eternal.

            The Good Shepherd has given His life for you and me.  Jesus went to the cross as the slaughtered sheep in our place.  The false shepherds of the day run and jump over the door to the sheep pen and when the wolves come they devour the sheep.  “I am not going to sacrifice myself for these silly sheep.”

            If the thief is behind the door – watch out.  The only thing you will find behind that door is death. 

            Our door – our Good Shepherd – died for all the times you try to make yourself the door.  He rose again on the third day to overcome your fear and anxiety.  Entering through this Door gives you life forever and ever.  Jesus goes before you to protect and guide you.  He meets your enemies head-on and defeats them for you.

            What’s behind the door?  You know by now, don’t you?  Our Good Shepherd – Jesus Christ.  This Sunday we celebrate that Jesus is our Shepherd, the Door through whom we have life and have it abundantly.

                                                                                    Amen.