November 20, 2022                                        Text:  Colossians 1:13-20

Dear Friends in Christ,

    We interrupt this broadcast for a test – of the emergency Judgment Day Warning System – this is only a test:  “Jesus Is Coming!”  This has been a test of the emergency Judgment Day Warning System.  Had this been the actual event, the message you heard…would have been too late.  In the event of the final judgment, you will not have time to tune to your local radio or TV station, there will be no time to await further instructions; no time to react; no time to change the condition of your heart.  We now resume our normal broadcast.  Thank you.

    Now that is a little frightening.  Nothing like getting hit with the law early in the sermon.  It is the end of the church year.  Advent is next Sunday.  We prepare the way for the Lord.  We are who we are because of Jesus.  Be at peace.

“YOUR LIFE AND IDENTITY ARE DETERMINED BY JESUS”

    Where are we?  Well, here at the beginning of our text we are in “the domain of darkness.”  Sounds like a movie preview, doesn’t it?  Can you escape “the domain of darkness?”  Honestly, sometimes we can’t.  We are in darkness because we can’t see the way to the truth.  We stumble, we grope, we walk in spiritual blindness.  Satan has his way with us.  He works on you when no one else is with you and you assume no one sees or cares what you are doing.  Darkness is his favorite place – especially when he’s there with you.

    From that domain of darkness, you have been delivered.  By a man of light, born in the light of Bethlehem and risen on the third day when the light began to spread on the earth.  He rules the darkness as well.  In the world to come there will be no need for sun or moon because the brightness of Christ will be our light.  “He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son.”(v. 13)  In Jesus, “we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” (v. 14). He paid the debt of your sin.  You have been delivered.

    Why should He redeem you or anyone else?  Was it your sparkling Sunday School attendance record?  Is it your warm and fuzzy personality trait that everyone loves?  No.  You are who you are in Christ only because of who He is.  He is the Head of creation, and He shall have what is His.  “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.  For in him all were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities – all things were created through him and for him.  And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” (vs. 15-17)  You were made by God for more than wallowing in your sin and your filthy mouth and the whims of us those around you.  You were made to live under Christ’s gracious reign in His Kingdom.

    Before you took your first breath, before your parents ever met, before Adam and Eve made earth their home, God knew you from eternity.  You can’t see the Father’s face, but you can see Jesus.  In order to know the Father’s will you need to know Jesus.  Jesus is the only way to salvation because He is the only access point we have to the eternal Father.  “He is the head of the body, the church.  He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.” (v. 18)

    Your identity is taking shape.  Delivered by Christ.  Created for Christ.  And now, at peace.  “For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.” (vs. 19-20)  

    Wouldn’t you like a little peace?  But I know you dread the holidays coming up and the relatives who want to talk about more than the weather.  I know the grudges you still hold because of something said 17 years ago.  I know what that girl did to you.  Everyone here has pain, regret, broken links of love, frayed nerves because of what you have inflicted on others or what they inflicted on you.  

    Because of Jesus you are not captive to these emotions.  You are not caught in the web of darkness.  You are redeemed; you are delivered; you have transferred out; you are forgiven; you are set free; you are cleansed; you are healed.  

    The blood of Jesus sets you at peace with others.  Remember that when Cousin Blowhard wants to talk politics before you carve the turkey or prepare to open gifts.  Remember that when the lines are long because the workers are few, but the customers are many.  You have peace with God because God has made peace.  You have peace with your fellow men and women because God is at peace.  I have the privilege of sharing this peace with you at the end of the divine service.  This is the peace Jesus has won for you by His blood and by His cross and by His resurrected life.

    So go in peace.  You are free of darkness – your identity.  You live in His light – your identity.  Your faith has saved you because you trust in Christ alone – your identity.  You are at peace with others because God is at peace with you through Jesus – your identity.  This is your life because you belong to Christ.  Enjoy the glory now and into eternity.

                                        Amen.       

November 13, 2022 – Stewardship Sunday                            Text:  Luke 12:13-21

Dear Friends in Christ,

    Almost everyone in the world from Alaska to Australia, from Siberia to South African observe a general festival of thanksgiving.  In Bible times both Pentecost and Succoth were such festivals.  The idea did not originate with the Pilgrims.  We mark the completion of seedtime and harvest.  In reality, we usually spend the weekend overeating, oversitting and overspending.  Prayerfully, we remember our many blessings.  We have a total dependence upon God.  It is Stewardship Sunday, and this question is posed . . . 

“DO YOU HAVE A LASTING BLESSING?”

    Stewardship Sundays are usually on one of three topics – our talent, our time, our treasure.  Looking at sermons of the past on this day they have usually been on time and talent with a little treasure thrown in.  That is my fault.  I don’t like people telling me what do with my treasure so I have shied away from preaching on it.  But that is ridiculous as this is a biblical topic.   When we sent the letter out earlier this year on the state of the church’s finances you brothers and sisters are so amazing you thanked us for it.  You want to know.  It’s your church.  We are in this together.  This sermon like the letter is not an “open your pocketbooks” more Law sermon.  It is a reminder of what good fortune we have been blessed with.  It is that reminder that all good gifts come from God.  It is that reminder that what we have is temporary in one way but what the Lord provides is eternal.  

    Only about half of you who are in the pews this morning will stay for our meeting today.    I don’t need to reiterate the challenges we faced at the end of last year and beginning of this year.  It has made…well 2022…a good exercise in frugality.  But as always, along the way the gracious hand of our Lord has been a constant.  We approached a few tipping points and then boom….thank you Lord!  

    Do you know the most surprising part of the pandemic for those of us in the clergy?  The offerings given.  Never expected it.  75-80% of LCMS churches saw higher offerings in 2020.  Studies have been done as to why, but the main reason…God is good.  Most churches have seen the opposite in 2022.  Why?  Because people are scared.  Why did people build bomb shelters in the 1950’s or why did those who lived through the Depression horde food?  Fear.  It paralyzes us.  As I said earlier in a sermon and it has borne itself out in our giving, $5 gas scared us.  You then add on the cost of energy, food, sundry items and we all start to look inward instead of outward.  Why can’t we in the 21st century figure out a way to have new cars on the lots?  Cars are being made, we all know that.  When life doesn’t make sense where do we go?

    God’s Word.  It is really that simple.  Today’s text has been called “The Parable of the Rich Fool.”  However, he wasn’t a fool for being rich.  He was probably a great farmer or good business manager.  The man was a fool because of the wrong conclusions he drew from being rich.  His riches were foolishness because they were wrongly used.

    His biggest problem was that he his didn’t realize his riches had no lasting value.  “Fool!  This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?” (v. 20)  He had a temporary blessing.  Sooner or later, it would be taken away.

    Look at all the pronouns in this text they are almost all “I” and “my”.  It is the same way we speak.  My house, my car, my money, my clothes.  Are they really ours?  Does the farmer cause the seed to germinate and the rain to fall and the sun to shine?  That all comes from the hand of God.  God entrusts us with many things, but they are really His because He provided them.

    Do you have a lasting blessing?  Today people are not buried in a shroud.  It is usually a nice suit or dress.  In earlier times a shroud was used.  But it lacks one thing – pockets.  The reason?  We take nothing with us when we go, even as we brought nothing with us when we came.  Jesus came into the world with no home, no fancy clothes, no comfortable bed.  Still, on the Last Day, every knee will bow before Him.  Why?  Because he was poor?  No, because He faithfully carried out the Father’s will to save us.

    You see the Lord knows you are sacred.  He made you.  You are the crown of His creation.  He provides you with the greatest riches.  Your fear is replaced with hope.  Your inward cocoon now sees outward possibilities.  He unfolds your tight fists with percentage giving.  It is all made possible through His love and grace.  A Calvary Cross.  An empty tomb.  A promise to always be with us.  What is there to be frightened of?  Read your history.  Really, everything in His hands.  We have a priceless inheritance with Christ in heaven.  I can’t wait for that lasting blessing to be an eternal joy.  Are you there, with me?  I look forward to seeing you.

    Today is again a reminder that we are all rich.  In a way the world doesn’t understand.  May God grant us such a faith in Him, that our hearts and eyes will be fixed where true joys are to be found.  That we will be grateful stewards of the material things entrusted to us and use them for God’s glory and the welfare of others. 

                            Amen.