September 15, 2019                                                                              Text:  Luke 15:1-7

Dear Friends in Christ,

            Fred Rogers – also known as Mr. Rogers had a program on Public Television for a number of years called, “Mr. Rogers Neighborhood.”  “Won’t you be my neighbor.”  I read that someone was blaming Mr. Rogers for the selfishness of a generation because he told children “they were special.”  The thought being that the world owes them something because they are “special.”

            The reruns of the show still show up on PBS.  I find the show, just like watching Bob Ross paint quite relaxing.  It is a stretch to blame Mr. Rogers for selfishness.  It is easier to point at Mr. and Mrs. Parent, but that theory also has holes.  The simple reality is this, we are sinful, which shows itself in our selfishness and blaming everybody for the way I am.

            You can rant and rave about this world all you want.  Heartburn today.  Heart attack tomorrow.  Subject to change without notice.  You can get mad.  You can deny it.  But one thing you can’t do . . .

“YOU CAN’T BLAME MR. ROGERS FOR WHO OR WHAT YOU ARE”

            We always point to the Scriptures when discussing these themes because it applies to everyone.  “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Rom. 3:23)  “No one living is righteous before you,” writes the Psalmist. (Ps. 143:2b) 

            Everybody has the same two choices.  They are quite clear in the Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector.  We can either see ourselves as more wonderful and less sinful than others or we can get on our knees, look up to heaven and say, “God, have mercy on me, a sinner.”

            Which are you?  Where do you stand?  Self-righteous or a sinner in his or her sin?  Who do you blame for . . . well . . . whatever has brought guilt and inner conflict in your life?

            “Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear Jesus.  And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, ‘This man receives sinners and eats with them.’” (v. 1-2)

            You can’t read the Gospels and not see that Jesus is reaching into the lives of those with a sense of guilt and sin.  He is there for those dealing with discouragement and death, suffering and pain.  Jesus said this:  “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.” (Lk. 19:10)

            Stan Mooneyham years ago was walking a trail in East Africa with some friends when he became aware of a wonderful odor.  “He looked up in the trees and around at the bushes in an effort to discover where it was coming from.  Then his friends told him to look down at the small blue flower growing along the path.  Each time they crushed the tiny blossoms under their feet, more of its sweet perfume was released into the air.  Then his friends said, ‘We call it the forgiveness flower.’

            “This forgiveness flower does not wait until we ask forgiveness for crushing it.  It does not release its fragrance in measured doses or hold us to a reciprocal arrangement…it merely lives up to its name and forgives – freely, fully, richly.”

            I find that an illustration of Christ’s love for us.  “He receives sinners and eats with them.”  The people that marched Him to Calvary are welcomed.  We – whose sins crushed Him – are forgiven and embraced by God forever.  Here in His Word and at the Holy Supper and at the baptismal font.  We come with the unworthy and undeserving and He grants forgiveness of all our sin and He has secured a place for each of us in eternity.

            “So he told them this parable:  ‘What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it?  And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.  And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.  Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.’” (v. 3-7)

            Ever think of heaven rejoicing over you when God brought you into His fold?  Christianity isn’t some psycho-babble to help us get comfortable with the world.  Its repentance, friends.  It’s daily repentance.  It is also a struggle sometimes we forget that.  In the struggle we can run with perseverance the race marked out for us.

            Ancient Greek poetry tells of a warrior, the hero of Troy, dressed in all his military armor, stretching out his arms to embrace his son before going into battle.  His child was frightened as he looked at the helmet and full military dress, and instead of falling into his father’s arms he screamed in terror.  However, under all the battle array was hidden a heart of fatherly love.  The warrior threw off his armor, gathered his little boy in his arms, and held him tightly against his chest where he could hear the beating of his father’s heart, as if saying, “I love you, I love you.”

            That is how God revealed himself to us in the person and work of Jesus.  He still does in Word, water, bread, wine.  Christ rejoices over us.  When things don’t go the way you want, or thought, or expected – don’t blame Mr. Rogers.   Be thankful you belong to God through faith in Christ.           Amen.   

Sept. 8, 2019 – Christian Education Sunday                                Text:  2 Peter 3:14-18

Dear Friends in Christ,

            God loves growth.  He loves growth in people.  The human body is designed for growth.  Various growth hormones are released at special times in the human life cycle so that children grow.  There are growth plates in bones.  As the growth plates lengthen, bones, skin, muscles, tendons, and ligaments grow with the bones.  In addition, God has placed in our minds an insatiable curiosity that spurs our brains to grow and expand in knowledge.

            God also love spiritual growth in His people.  How do we measure that?  When the body grows or people expand their knowledge we can see it or quantify in testing.  Spiritual growth not so much.

            Our text is a reminder to us today that God desires growth, causes growth, and directs growth, so that His children of all ages may grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Yes . . .

“GOD LOVES GROWTH”

            Growth always requires an outside source of power.  Plants need sunlight.  Bodies need food.  The mind needs educational experiences to grow.  We need the power of God to grow spiritually.  “I am the vine; you are the branches.  If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5)  Connected to Jesus through baptism, remaining in Jesus through His Word, strengthened in Jesus through the body and blood in the Sacrament of the Altar, there is power for growth.  We need the light emanating from the Son of God.  We can grow only by grace.

            Do ever thank God that in His grace He sticks with you?  You break His heart.  You skirt His laws.  You turn away from His Word.  You abuse your God-created body.  You listen to the world.  You do this over and over.  He should let you go.  He can’t rely on you.  You have disappointed Him so many times.  He doesn’t do that, does He?  No, He keeps loving you like the prodigal son or daughter that you are.  His love doesn’t make sense.  It plays on our mind.  How can someone love us this much?  How can a Father sacrifice His Son for a worm such as I?

            His Scriptures remind us.  When He forgave and healed the paralyzed man, it was His grace in action.  He showed grace when he invited Zacchaeus to come down from the sycamore tree.  He showed grace when he fed the masses.  He showed grace when He went to the cross and died for us.  He multiplied that grace for eternity by rising from the dead. 

            That grace is ours.  The Lord provides direction for our lives.  His grace enables us to be graceful to those in our household.  His grace enables us to be patient with that trying co-worker.  His grace inspires our compassion toward a neighbor in need.

            The best way to get to know Jesus is to listen to Him.  We literally sit at His feet when we hear the Scriptures read publicly, when we engage in the Pastor’s sermon, when we study the Word of God in a group, when we have a devotion.  “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me. . . My sheep listen to my voice.” (John 10:14 & 27)  In hearing the voice of Jesus we get to know Him better.

            We see the joy of Jesus at a wedding turning water to wine.  We see him calm in stressful situations whether in the midst of a mob or in a storm tossed boat.  We see him relaxed with his disciples or in the midst of prayer.  We see him comfort the dead and their families.  We see Him face His own death.  We see His consistency through His love and grace.  He loves us in the same way.

            Our Christian Education is constantly evolving but are we growing?  Do we have an answer for the agnostic or the atheist?  Can we give a coherent message of God’s grace to a hurting family member?  When a friend wants to know about your Christian faith, what words come to mind?  If we don’t feed our bodies, they will not grow.  We don’t just snack on the Word of God when it fits our purpose.  It’s a meal.  It’s a daily meal.  It is a lifetime meal. 

            Step up and be fed.  We commit ourselves and our congregation to growth.  God loves growth, hey didn’t I hear that somewhere?  He loves spiritual growth.  God helps us grow through the power and direction that come from Jesus.  God helps us grow by His grace given to us through the Word and Sacraments.  We take no credit for growth, it is all the Lord’s doing.  Because as you know . . . God Loves Growth.  Didn’t I hear that somewhere?

                                                            Amen.