Sermon 4.14.2019 — A New Beginning

April 14, 2019 – Palm Sunday                                                        Text:  Exodus 34:1-8

Dear Friends in Christ,

            Jimmy Wayne learned never to trust a soul.  That’s why he never unpacked his bag.  We can’t blame him.  He didn’t know his father; his mother was in jail more than out of jail.  When he was small, his mother was in trouble again and he lived out a car for a year.  He learned not to trust and Jimmy Wayne never unpacked his bag.

            After a year in the backseat of a car, Jimmy Wayne was dumped off at a train depot in Pensacola, Florida.  His mother and her boyfriend sped away in their Delta 88.  Jimmy Wayne desperately needed a new beginning.

            Today, Palm Sunday, we have the 7th sermon in our series Let My People Go!  Today is Exodus 34 and Aaron, Israel’s high priest, needs a new beginning.  So does Israel and so do we.

“A NEW BEGINNING!”

            A new beginning is necessary.  Why is that?  If you were here on Wednesday evening you know that Aaron had led the Israelites in worshipping a golden calf when they thought Moses wasn’t returning. 

            Like it or not, in a crisis, the IRS knows what to do.  I quote from the IRS Handbook, “During a state of national emergency, the essential functions of the IRS will be as follows:  assessing, collecting and recording taxes.”  While everyone panics, the IRS knows exactly what to do.  Get our money!

            Faced with not having Moses, Aaron and the Israelites didn’t know what to do.  They build a golden calf and worship it.  Moses comes down the mountain smashes the Ten Commandments, grinds up the golden calf, mixes it with water, and makes the people drink it.

            Verse 1 of our text, “The Lord said to Moses, ‘Cut for yourself two tablets of stone like the first, and I will write on the tablets the words that were on the first tablets, which you broke.’”  The Ten Commandments are smashed.  A new beginning is necessary.

            We are not much different than Aaron and Moses.  What do we do when faced with a crisis?  We become angry, impatient, faithless, and selfish.  We turn to our golden calves and look to them for salvation.  Our holy and righteous and perfect God has every right to dump us off at a train depot in Pensacola, Florida.

            But God doesn’t do that.  A new beginning is possible.  “The Lord descended in the cloud and stood with Moses there, and proclaimed the name of the Lord.” (v. 5)  Yahweh – God frequently comes down in the Book of Exodus.  He came down in the burning bush and Mt. Sinai and to the tabernacle to fill it with his glory.  Get it?  We can’t go up to God.  That is why God comes down to us, right where we are – in the basement of our broken commandments.

            What does God do when He comes down?  Scold us?  Berate us?  Reject us?  No.  Our compassionate and gracious God is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin.  A new beginning is possible.

            That brings us to Palm Sunday.  Jesus rides into Jerusalem on a donkey because the following Friday He is going to lift up the huge mess and place it where?  Upon Himself – all wickedness, rebellion, and sin.  Jesus is God in the flesh.  Jesus teaches and lives this love.  Jesus demonstrates this love by shedding his blood on the cross for you.  Palm Sunday announces it.  Good Friday shows it.  And Easter Sunday celebrates it.  Amazing!

            One day, while aimlessly walking around Pensacola, Florida, Jimmy Wayne – remember Jimmy Wayne? – little Jimmy Wayne spotted a man named Russ working in his garage.  Soon Russ and his wife Bea invited Jimmy to live with them.  This home was like heaven with a hot bath, hot meals and even TV.  Jimmy Wayne learned not to trust a soul.  Jimmy Wayne still wouldn’t unpack his bag.

            We can refuse to unpack our bag and reject divine love.  That is not Moses.  “Moses quickly bowed his head toward the earth and worshipped.” (v. 8)  I invite you to follow Moses.  Trust that God is who He says He is.  His love surpasses your fear, shame, and guilt.  Throw yourself before God.  Be a sponge not a rock.  Put a rock in the ocean and the outside gets wet.  Put a sponge in the ocean and what happens?  It absorbs water.  The ocean saturates the sponge.  God’s abounding steadfast-love surrounds us like an ocean.  Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Sunday.  Totally amazing.  What is our response? Rock or sponge?

            Jimmy Wayne had been rejected so many times that he was a rock – a hard, unmoved rock.  We get that.  That is why Jimmy never unpacked his bag.  It took another month before Russ and Bea convinced Jimmy that their love for him was real.  Finally, Jimmy Wayne unpacked his bag.  Jimmy Wayne is now a famous country music singer and songwriter.  But his new beginning started when he learned to trust – when he finally unpacked his bag.

            It’s Palm Sunday.  Hosanna!  Hosanna in the Highest!  Our past is behind us.  God’s grace is before us.  A new beginning awaits us.  So now what?  It’s time to unpack our bag.  Why do we do that?  Because we finally have a home.  Where?  Where?  With Jesus!

                                    Amen.     

Bulletin Announcements April 14, 2019

THOUGHTS ON STEWARDSHIP:   Luke 22:11 – “Tell the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says to you, Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with My disciples?’ ”  Did Jesus really need this man’s Upper Room?  If the man had refused to let Jesus use it would the work of salvation have been derailed?  Of course not.  But what an honor for the man who owned this room!  It is likewise with us.  The Lord needs none of us, but what an honor for God to choose to use our generosity in the work of His Church.

FAITH IN ACTION OF BLOOMINGTON/NORMAL:   One ride, one visit, one Senior at a time.  Need a ride?  Want to volunteer?  Need more information?  Call (309) 827-7780; or email: office@bnfia.org or contact Barry Hamlin at (309) 750-9424.

OUR SUNDAY SCHOOL meets at 9:15 a.m. in the Choir Room which is located on the 2nd level (the west side).

THE ADULT BIBLE CLASS meets in the basement at 9:15 a.m.

HOLY WEEK:  Big, big week in the life of the Church – Holy Week!  May the Holy Spirit move your heart and mind to be part of the worship here at Good Shepherd.  Maundy Thursday Worship with Holy Communion is at 7:00 p.m.  The message: Access!”  Good Friday there is a brief “Tre Ore” Service at noon.  Good Friday Evening, the meaningful and Christ-inspired “Tenebrae Worship Service” marks one of the most important days in Christendom.  (Service of Darkness)  This Service with Holy Communion begins at 7:00 p.m. and is a great beginning to the weekend that is climaxed by Easter Worship next Sunday, April 21st.  Our Easter Services are at 7:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.  Pastor Lueck concludes our Lenten/Easter Sermon Series from Exodus with: “Against All Odds!”  There is an Easter Breakfast that follows the early service.  Adult Bible Class and Sunday School is at 9:15 a.m.

EASTER LILIES:  If you would like to purchase an Easter Lily for the altar on Easter Sunday, there is sign-up sheet  on the table in the narthex.  Lilies are $10.00 each.   Cash or checks made payable to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church.   Please indicate on the memo line: “Easter Lily”.  You may pick up your Easter Lily following the late service on Easter Sunday.  If you have any questions, please see or contact Jackie Kwasny at (309) 662-4995.  Thank you.

FROM THE OFFICE:  Copies of the updated Church Directory are available on the table in the narthex.  Pickup your copy today!

NEXT SUNDAY is the deadline for items to be submitted for the MAY NEWSLETTER.   Any announcements you want to be published in the Newsletter should be submitted via email to goodshepherdblm@frontier.com, via mail, hand-delivered, or you may call (309) 662-8905 or (309) 838-1552.  Thank you!

CAN YOU HELP:  Good Shepherd is once again privileged to minster to International Students at Illinois State University.  We will provide a meal for them and their guests at Wittenberg Lutheran Center on Friday, April 26th at 6:00 p.m  If you can provide food and/or help serve we have a sign-up on the table in the narthex.  Thank you.

PORTALS OF PRAYER: The April – June 2019 Portals of Prayer are available on the book rack in the narthex.  Pick up your free copy today.  Large pint also available.

FELLOWSHIP HOSTS:  In order to get more people involved in our Coffee/Donut Fellowship for 2019 we have two separate sign-ups: Donut Pick-up and Coffee Set-up.  We would like to encourage you to sign-up for one or the other.  You may also sign-up for both if you wish.  The sign-up sheet is by the door by the north stairwell.

THE LUTHERAN HOUR:  “Cross In The Garden” is the topic for next Sunday.  The sermon text will be from John 19:30—20:18.  God is the true Gardener.  He brought the soil of His garden into His being to make a new creation.  The speaker will be Reverend Dr. Michael Zeigler.  Hear his message on The Lutheran Hour on WGN (720) at 6:00 a.m.; WJWR (104.7 FM) and WJWR (90.3 FM) both on Sunday at 3:00 p.m.  Also, if you can receive Lincoln, IL radio station WLLM (1370 AM) the program is broadcast two times on Sunday at 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.  Tune in!  You can also listen to The Lutheran Hour on your personal computer at RealAudio, www.lhm.org.

FROM THE CHURCH OFFICE:  If you miss church, please be reminded that copies of the previous week’s sermon are available on the table in the narthex.  Also, the sermon will be available on our web site at www.goodshepherdblm.org.  Thank you.

PRAYER CIRCLE:  If you have a prayer request please submit them by email to Mary Anne Kirchner at makirchner@yahoo.com or you may phone a Prayer Request to Mary Anne; her cell phone# is (309) 532-2582.  The Prayer Request box is on the table in the narthex for any written requests.

Bulletin Announcements

April 7, 2019

THOUGHTS ON STEWARDSHIP:  Luke 20:16 – “He will come and destroy those tenants and give the vineyard to others.”  When they heard this, they said, “Surely not!”  The crowds were shocked at Jesus’ parable because they took the grace of God for granted.  They never thought that God would actually take “the vineyard” away from them.  But we only have access to God by faith.  And we can drive faith and the Holy Spirit away. That is the warning of the parable.  The Lord has graciously given us His Kingdom.  Let us not take it for granted, but instead let us respond with humble thanksgiving!

FAITH IN ACTION OF BLOOMINGTON/NORMAL:   One ride, one visit, one Senior at a time.  Need a ride?  Want to volunteer?  Need more information?  Call (309) 827-7780; or email: office@bnfia.org or contact Barry Hamlin at (309) 750-9424.

OUR SUNDAY SCHOOL meets at 9:15 a.m. in the Choir Room which is located on the 2nd level (the west side).

THE ADULT BIBLE CLASS meets in the basement at 9:15 a.m.

TODAY:  We welcome to Good Shepherd and Central Illinois Seminarian Joseph Schlie, wife Kristen, and newborn daughter Fern.  We pray the Lord’s blessings on their last months at Seminary and the call into the ministry at the end of April

MIDWEEK LENTEN WORSHIP 5 will be this Wednesday at 7:00 p.m.  The message is “Struck!” from our Exodus Lenten Sermon Series “Let My People Go”.  An evening supper provided by the hands and minds of your fellow church members (or you) will commence serving at 5:30 p.m.  The free-will Offering will be given to the Campus Ministry of Wittenberg Lutheran Center.    

EASTER LILIES:  If you would like to purchase an Easter Lily for the altar on Easter Sunday, there is sign-up sheet  on the table in the narthex.  Lilies are $10.00 each.   Cash or checks made payable to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church.   Please indicate on the memo line: “Easter Lily”.  You may pick up your Easter Lily following the late service on Easter Sunday.  If you have any questions, please see or contact Jackie Kwasny at (309) 662-4995.  Thank you.

PORTALS OF PRAYER: The April – June 2019 Portals of Prayer are available on the book rack in the narthex.  Pick up your free copy today.  Large pint also available.

“WALK FOR LIFE”:  Pastor and Toni make their annual trek in the Living Alternatives – Pregnancy Resource Center’s Annual “Walk For Life”.  The walk will be held at Christ Church, PCA in Normal this coming Saturday, April 13th, beginning at 9:00 a.m.  If you would like to walk, please see Pastor who has the forms. Also, please speak with Pastor if you would like to support the Lueck’s.  Thank you.

FELLOWSHIP HOSTS:  In order to get more people involved in our Coffee/Donut Fellowship for 2019 we have two separate sign-ups: Donut Pick-up and Coffee Set-up.  We would like to encourage you to sign-up for one or the other.  You may also sign-up for both if you wish.  The sign-up sheet is by the door by the north stairwell.

THE LUTHERAN HOUR:  “He Love Them to the End” is the topic for next Sunday.  The sermon text will be from John 13:18-19.  We are people of diverse backgrounds drawn together by Jesus.  We want to share His life with you.  The speaker will be Reverend Dr. Michael Zeigler.  Hear his message on The Lutheran Hour on WGN (720) at 6:00 a.m.; WJWR (104.7 FM) and WJWR (90.3 FM) both on Sunday at 3:00 p.m.  Also, if you can receive Lincoln, IL radio station WLLM (1370 AM) the program is broadcast two times on Sunday at 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.  Tune in!  You can also listen to The Lutheran Hour on your personal computer at RealAudio, www.lhm.org.

FROM THE CHURCH OFFICE:  If you miss church, please be reminded that copies of the previous week’s sermon are available on the table in the narthex.  Also, the sermon will be available on our web site at www.goodshepherdblm.org.  Thank you.

PRAYER CIRCLE:  If you have a prayer request please submit them by email to Mary Anne Kirchner at makirchner@yahoo.com or you may phone a Prayer Request to Mary Anne; her cell phone# is (309) 532-2582.  The Prayer Request box is on the table in the narthex for any written requests.

Sermon Text 3.31.2019 — How do people make it without Christ?

March 31, 2019                                                                    Text:  2 Corinthians 5:16-21

            A phrase we have spoken or have heard spoken when we see non-believers faced with worldly problems is, “How Do People Make It Without Christ?”  A group of believers may also utter these words when they are receiving peace and comfort in their troubles.  The answer to that question, “How Do People Make It Without Christ?” is . . . they don’t. 

            But you see everyone ponders the question.  The atheist, the agnostic, those searching, those turning their back on the church.  They deal with death and problems and challenges and without Christ they have nowhere to turn.  Being human can slap you in the face and with a brain everyone knows sooner or later someone is controlling the rolling sphere where we make our home.

            Let’s take Paul’s words this morning and see the importance of our Lord and what it means for our lives.  And so the questions once again . . .

“HOW DO PEOPLE MAKE IT WITHOUT CHRIST?”

            On either side – heaven or earth – the non-believer lives in a state of nothingness or eternal damnation.  There is no hope or purpose.

            Listen to this from a Dr. Howard J Van Till in an article entitled, “Faith and the Cosmos:  Our Search For Life.”  “Perhaps we should ask even deeper questions about life.  Not just, ‘Where is life?’  But, ‘Why is life?’  ‘What is its ultimate purpose?’  ‘Is it to experience love?’  Questions like this take us far beyond planetary cosmology and into the realm of human experience – from the purely physical to the profoundly spiritual.  If the giving and receiving of love is the ultimate purpose of life, then why is there pain and grief?  There is much that I do not know, but this I have learned:  one’s greatest experiences of love’s light follow one’s darkest nights of need.  Perhaps that is what finding life is really about.”

            Aspirin anyone.  Talk about depressing.  Life without Christ is nothing but an on-going puzzle with more and more questions.  “How Do People Make It Without Christ?”  They don’t.  They never have and they never will.

            Listen to Paul’s words in our text.  “From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh.  Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer.  Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.  The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.  All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.” (v. 16-19)

            All of Dr. Van Till’s questions are answered in these few verses.  Man rebelled, decay and death came, “pain and grief” to use Van Till’s words.  God did something about this separation from God.  He was reconciling the world and not counting their trespasses against them.  God sent Christ to pay for our sins and earn for us forgiveness.  He also gave us a reason for existing – He has entrusted us with the message of reconciliation.  We have words of comfort and hope for all the Dr. Van Till’s.

            When I was an accountant for my dad’s business, each month I had to reconcile the bank statements.  This means that what we had in the ledger lined up with the bank’s figures.  Like I do with our checkbook at home, I sat there at my desk until every penny was accounted for.  Being off 3 cents could take an hour or longer to figure out.  It was pure elation when those 3 cents were found.

            God does the same with us.  Our reconciliation took considerable doing.  Only God could manage it.  In this scenario we have no part in the reconciliation, God has done it all.  We could never track down or correct every error or sin we’ve committed in our dealing with God and neighbor.  God simply declares the accounts reconciled by stating:  “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” (Mt. 3:17)  The Father accepted the Son’s sacrifice and we are complete.  We are forgiven and heaven bound.  We make it with Christ as our Savior.

            Unfortunately, all of us sitting here today know someone or a lot of someone’s who are on the outside of Christianity.  They put on a good front but inside they hurt, they long for purpose, they ache for peace in their lives.  Who can share that with them?  You and I.  Our text says we are “ambassadors for Christ.”  Ambassadors in our world represent countries.  That government sends them.  Christ has sent us.  We speak His Words.  We share His love.  We talk of His plan of salvation.  Not everyone will eagerly receive this message.  But speak we do because there is no more glorious calling.  There is no higher honor God could give us than to be His ambassadors of reconciliation.

            The world continues to search.  Their human reasoning looking for answers.  We know the answer.  Aren’t you glad you know Christ?  And doesn’t that change the way you live . . . and see . . . everything?  Everything.

                                                                                                Amen.