Sermon prepared for Pacific Lutheran University, Tacoma WA; Chapel Service
Monday, December 6, 2010
Text: Mark 1:1-4
Repentance and Kingdom Interruptions
Mark used the prophet Isaiah’s words, and pointed them almost 600 years later to John the Baptizer: A voice cries out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, straighten his paths!’ Or, as we’ll hear in a few minutes from the brass, ‘Prepare the royal highway, a level road appear!’ Mark passed on all the nativity, and took us right to the wild and wooly John, coming out of the wilderness. He came preaching a baptism of repentance.
Repent. We sometimes think of repentance as this thing we do where we come to worship and we pause for about 5.3 seconds, then admit that we’ve sinned thought word and deed. Then having briefly admitted our sinfulness, we’re told that we’re entirely forgiven. Or, for a more intense experience, you could go to someone and admit specifically what you’ve done, what’s burdening you, for what you need forgiveness.
But no. repent means—not just to re-tell your sins—but to turn aside for a moment, from the path you are on and re-think your life in light of a new situation and message. Or, in our case, in light of your relationship with Jesus, re-consider what you’ve been doing. Is it life-giving, or life-draining, for you or for others? In light of Jesus, who does, in fact, forgive you all your sins, and who also calls you to walk a new path with him, how does your life reflect?
Make way for the Lord, a pathway, in your life.
Paul wrote to the Romans, 13:12, to get ready for the advent of Christ, "The night is far gone; day is near: ...put on the armor of light." Your Kingdom come, we pray, and our Advent prayer is to let it come in and through us. Let people feel God's love and passion adventuring through us. We are called to be examples of new paths, a new way of living.
A couple of weeks ago I was reminded of this. I went to work, to my church in Auburn. I was tired, grumpy, but knew I had a lot to get done in the office. A private school meets in our building, and as I approached the doors to our church, I could hear children. Now, normally I like kids. We have two little boys of our own… which is why I sometimes don’t like little kids so much. And that day, I heard those kids and paused, “Should I walk through, or go around these noisy kids?” I decided to just duck my head and walk quickly through to my office.
"Pastor Greg!" One little boy called out and ran over to wrap himself around my leg. "Look guys, it's Pastor Greg!" Then, after I peeled that boy off, a staff member of school greeted me with a simple smile, “Good morning, Pastor Greg.”
They brought Kingdom, even tho' I didn't deserve it, was even avoiding, and potentially working against it. But instead, through them God allowed his welcome, grace and love to flow into me. I was reminded of what Jesus said about God's Kingdom: "Whenever you accept a child like this," Jesus said, "you accept me." "Whenever you welcome one of my servants, you've welcomed me." Being prepared for the coming Kingdom isn’t so much about behaving 24 hours a day and keeping your nose clean, as it is being open and allowing his Kingdom to come to interrupt you and work through you.
The rest of that day was full of interruptions, some as good and delightful, others more difficult or sad. It’s life. Does my work suffer for it? I'm behind in many things, I have plenty to schedule and do... Many of you can relate! And I suppose if it's all about a weekly quiz or score, or presentation, or papers to grade, syllabi to finish or books to order, what we produce may suffer to some degree when we allow these kingdom moments to interrupt our plans.
Now, don’t think that I’m giving you—or that God is giving you—an excuse to sluff off or procrastinate, especially this late in the semester. But keep it in perspective. Take the stress off of the urgent thing, even off the grade, and rethink it in light of what is truly important and significant: your relationship with Christ, your call to be Christ for others. Don’t let these relationships suffer for the sake of projects, grades or success. Love kindness. Love the kindness God has shown to you, so much, and allow his loving-kindness to show through you.
It's not, in the end, about the grades, achievements or products themselves. It’s about the journey, our advent through life with Christ. It is about being open and ready to listen and care. It is about all of the people and the creation that these projects, classes, and tests are meant, finally, to serve. It is about being able and willing to take sudden course changes when necessary… and you will.
He will work through it all. Along this great venture, I pray that he is making me and all of us into people for his Kingdom to pour through.
Will you pray with me?...[ad lib prayer]
Monday, December 6, 2010
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Adventurous
Sermon prepared for Messiah Lutheran Church
Auburn WA
by Gregory S. Kaurin, pastor
November 28; 1st Sunday of Advent
Texts: Romans 13:11-14; Matthew 24:36-44
Adventurous
“Advent,” the word means going through an opening or doorway, going through it to a new time and place. It’s kind of appropriate; my mind’s been on the ‘new paths’ ahead for us, for Pr. Jon’s family, and the congregation they’ll be joining in a few weeks. The Season of Advent looks forward to the coming of that new time and place: the coming of the Christ child, but also the coming of his Kingdom.
Jesus would speak of that Day, an unpredictable Day that will come when people are at their normal tasks, and the message is to live prepared, because even more often Jesus would talk about how it is nearby, at hand, and that it happens, the Kingdom happens whenever we respond to God's mercy, forgiveness, kindness and generosity by being merciful, forgiving, kind and generous.
It's kind of like this word, adventure. It means going through an opening or pathway to something new, but some people are adventurous, they carry that sense of looking for, or--even better--being that pathway for others. When you're around adventurous people, you can get caught up in their excitement and enthusiasm. “Yeah, take me! I wanna go!”
Paul wrote to the Romans 13:12, to get ready, "The night is far gone; day is near: ...put on the armor of light" ...vs. 14, "Put on the Lord Jesus Christ." And then he added, "Make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires." When Paul talks about gratifying flesh, he's not just talking about sex or gluttony, but all self-turned, self-centered concerns and actions. Turn outward, he was saying. Be adventurous; make ways for the Kingdom to come.
Thy Kingdom come, we pray, and let it come in and through us, make us pourous to the Kingdom, let it people feel God's love and passion through us, in other words, adventurous. Make us into openings to a new day, a new life, a new kind of living.
Only a week or so ago I was reminded of this. I came to work tired, grumpy, but knew I had a lot to get done in the office. As I approached the doors to the church, I could hear children from Gateway school. Should I walk through, or around? I decided to just duck my head and walk quickly through.
"Pastor Greg!" One little boy called out and ran over to hug my leg. "Look guys, it's Pastor Greg!" Then, a staff member of Gateway School greeted me with a simple smile.
They brought Kingdom, even tho' I didn't deserve it, was even actively avoiding, and potentially working against it. But instead, through them God allowed his welcome, grace and love to flow into me. I was reminded of God's Kingdom: "Whenever you accept a child like this," Jesus said, "you accept me." "Whenever you welcome one of my servants, you've welcomed me."
The rest of that day was full of interruptions, some as good and delightful, others more difficult or sad. Did my work suffer for it? Does it suffer? I'm behind in some things, and have plenty to schedule... I suppose if it's all about a weekly quiz or score, or a product, what I produce probably does suffer to some degree. But hopefully, I am opening up to a more authentic life. It's not about product.
This applies even to worship services. We'll talk about the centrality of worship in a congregation, or a Christian's life, and that's true. We need a regular touchstone, a reminder to worship, to turn ourselves and all we do toward God, and allow God to touch us, to be fed from Jesus' hands.
But, just as important as what we make or give or say or sing right here in this hour of worship, is what we bring to it did, who we were, up to this point, to get to this point. Our worship, at least from Christ's point of view, includes all that. We don't just worship Christ here in church; we bring our worship, we bring ourselves, to him: everything we've done right, and everything we've done wrong. If I've been mean-spirited or hurtful to get my way, if I've been abusing myself or neglecting others, then I am going to feel fake and disconnected here, like I'm wearing my Christian mask, and other people will probably feel it...
Unless. Unless I'm coming today in confession, ready to let go, receive forgiveness and start a new way, a better path. And it’s not about perfection, trying to live perfectly from this point out. That will pull us right back down into the mud. It’s about confession, humility and love, ready to bend and listen, to thank others as Pastor Jon spoke in last Wednesday’s message, to greet them, and make room for them.
God has made us into living pathways through Christ and for Christ. Just as we seek and find God's love and forgiveness for ourselves, we are called to be porous with those gifts to everyone: family members, friends, co-workers, tellers and cashiers, strangers. Otherwise, our worship is plastic and fake as the Santa on my neighbor's lawn.
We might look back on the past weeks and can be tempted to get mired in places where we messed up, where we hurt others to get ahead, or passed by people or charged through others' needs because we had our own things to do. But listen to this, in going forward, our worship includes laying down our sins at his feet, as if they were… gifts. Jesus accepts our praises, but he even accepts our admission of sins, our sense of shame, as worship when we give it to him.
He will work through it all. Along this great venture, I pray that he is making me and all of us into people for his Kingdom to pour through.
Will you pray with me?...[ad lib prayer]
May joy and peace surround you, Contentment latch your door, Happiness be with you now, and bless you evermore. Amen.
Auburn WA
by Gregory S. Kaurin, pastor
November 28; 1st Sunday of Advent
Texts: Romans 13:11-14; Matthew 24:36-44
Adventurous
“Advent,” the word means going through an opening or doorway, going through it to a new time and place. It’s kind of appropriate; my mind’s been on the ‘new paths’ ahead for us, for Pr. Jon’s family, and the congregation they’ll be joining in a few weeks. The Season of Advent looks forward to the coming of that new time and place: the coming of the Christ child, but also the coming of his Kingdom.
Jesus would speak of that Day, an unpredictable Day that will come when people are at their normal tasks, and the message is to live prepared, because even more often Jesus would talk about how it is nearby, at hand, and that it happens, the Kingdom happens whenever we respond to God's mercy, forgiveness, kindness and generosity by being merciful, forgiving, kind and generous.
It's kind of like this word, adventure. It means going through an opening or pathway to something new, but some people are adventurous, they carry that sense of looking for, or--even better--being that pathway for others. When you're around adventurous people, you can get caught up in their excitement and enthusiasm. “Yeah, take me! I wanna go!”
Paul wrote to the Romans 13:12, to get ready, "The night is far gone; day is near: ...put on the armor of light" ...vs. 14, "Put on the Lord Jesus Christ." And then he added, "Make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires." When Paul talks about gratifying flesh, he's not just talking about sex or gluttony, but all self-turned, self-centered concerns and actions. Turn outward, he was saying. Be adventurous; make ways for the Kingdom to come.
Thy Kingdom come, we pray, and let it come in and through us, make us pourous to the Kingdom, let it people feel God's love and passion through us, in other words, adventurous. Make us into openings to a new day, a new life, a new kind of living.
Only a week or so ago I was reminded of this. I came to work tired, grumpy, but knew I had a lot to get done in the office. As I approached the doors to the church, I could hear children from Gateway school. Should I walk through, or around? I decided to just duck my head and walk quickly through.
"Pastor Greg!" One little boy called out and ran over to hug my leg. "Look guys, it's Pastor Greg!" Then, a staff member of Gateway School greeted me with a simple smile.
They brought Kingdom, even tho' I didn't deserve it, was even actively avoiding, and potentially working against it. But instead, through them God allowed his welcome, grace and love to flow into me. I was reminded of God's Kingdom: "Whenever you accept a child like this," Jesus said, "you accept me." "Whenever you welcome one of my servants, you've welcomed me."
The rest of that day was full of interruptions, some as good and delightful, others more difficult or sad. Did my work suffer for it? Does it suffer? I'm behind in some things, and have plenty to schedule... I suppose if it's all about a weekly quiz or score, or a product, what I produce probably does suffer to some degree. But hopefully, I am opening up to a more authentic life. It's not about product.
This applies even to worship services. We'll talk about the centrality of worship in a congregation, or a Christian's life, and that's true. We need a regular touchstone, a reminder to worship, to turn ourselves and all we do toward God, and allow God to touch us, to be fed from Jesus' hands.
But, just as important as what we make or give or say or sing right here in this hour of worship, is what we bring to it did, who we were, up to this point, to get to this point. Our worship, at least from Christ's point of view, includes all that. We don't just worship Christ here in church; we bring our worship, we bring ourselves, to him: everything we've done right, and everything we've done wrong. If I've been mean-spirited or hurtful to get my way, if I've been abusing myself or neglecting others, then I am going to feel fake and disconnected here, like I'm wearing my Christian mask, and other people will probably feel it...
Unless. Unless I'm coming today in confession, ready to let go, receive forgiveness and start a new way, a better path. And it’s not about perfection, trying to live perfectly from this point out. That will pull us right back down into the mud. It’s about confession, humility and love, ready to bend and listen, to thank others as Pastor Jon spoke in last Wednesday’s message, to greet them, and make room for them.
God has made us into living pathways through Christ and for Christ. Just as we seek and find God's love and forgiveness for ourselves, we are called to be porous with those gifts to everyone: family members, friends, co-workers, tellers and cashiers, strangers. Otherwise, our worship is plastic and fake as the Santa on my neighbor's lawn.
We might look back on the past weeks and can be tempted to get mired in places where we messed up, where we hurt others to get ahead, or passed by people or charged through others' needs because we had our own things to do. But listen to this, in going forward, our worship includes laying down our sins at his feet, as if they were… gifts. Jesus accepts our praises, but he even accepts our admission of sins, our sense of shame, as worship when we give it to him.
He will work through it all. Along this great venture, I pray that he is making me and all of us into people for his Kingdom to pour through.
Will you pray with me?...[ad lib prayer]
May joy and peace surround you, Contentment latch your door, Happiness be with you now, and bless you evermore. Amen.
Monday, November 15, 2010
Raise an Ebenezer
Sermon
prepared by Pastor Greg Kaurin
for Messiah Lutheran Church, Auburn WA, 11/14/10
1 Samuel 7:10-14
Raise an Ebenezer
Some of you know that I spent a little time between calls as a bookseller. So, let’s try an experiment, to see how raising income in a church compares to booksales. Tell me how successful I’d be… Here’s a book. If you look it up on the web, you’ll find that you can buy it new from some sellers for about $22.00, used for as little as $6.00 including shipping. As college textbook, you might have to pay as much as $138.00 for it.
So, let’s say you’ve walked into my bookstore, a preacher’s bookstore, and found this on my shelf. Knowing what I’ve told you about it’s value, how much would you be willing to give me for this book? [Accept an offer or two.] …Are you kidding? Look at this title: Life’s Choices; Problems and Solutions. Wow! This thing will take care of everything for you! …Let me read to you from the back: “…Filled with case studies that show how others have handled career and work issues, relationship and intimacy dilemmas, family concerns, and other personal problems…You’ll learn to apply knowledge from psychological and social research to your own personal issues.” How much would you be willing to give to have solutions to all your problems?
Let’s try a different approach. Come on! This book I am offering to you has all these great answers to life’s question. And meantime, I have to pay for this bookstore, and all these staff. Don’t you care about them? Do you feel how warm and comfy I keep this store? We’ve got indoor bathrooms with running water, and complimentary coffee. Be generous! How about 10% of whatever you made this month? That’s a bargain considering what this book promises you. Come to think of it, considering how you’ll benefit after reading this as long as you live, how about I put you on an automatic withdrawal program for the rest of your life? …How long do you think my bookstore will stay open?
You are not my benefactors, and certainly not my customers. I’m not selling you faith or a slice of heaven. This is not what you have called me to do.
What is it that you have called me here to do? What is the main thing you think God wants me here to do as a pastor? ….Here’s a hint: When I was ordained, I was called into the ministry of “Word and Sacrament.” So, I’m here to… preach and teach, baptize and serve his Table. That is the center of what it means to be a Lutheran Pastor. Any other main tasks you expect from your pastor? [Visit, marry, bury, etc.] How far up on this totem pole of tasks is being a “fundraiser” for the congregation’s expenses?
Here, let me read from Messiah Lutheran Church’s own constitution regarding the duties of a pastor…
Chapter 9.
THE PASTOR
…*C9.03. Consistent with the faith and practice of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America,
A. Every ordained minister shall:
1. preach the Word;
2. administer the sacraments;
3. conduct public worship;
4. provide pastoral care; and
5. speak publicly to the world in solidarity with the poor and oppressed, calling for justice and proclaiming God’s love for the world.
B. Each ordained minister with a congregational call shall, within the congregation:
1. offer instruction, confirm, marry, visit the sick and distressed, and bury the dead;
2. supervise all schools and organizations of this congregation;
3. install regularly elected members of the Congregation Council; and
4. with the council, administer discipline.
C. Every pastor shall:
1. strive to extend the Kingdom of God in the community, in the nation, and abroad;
2. seek out and encourage qualified persons to prepare for the ministry of the Gospel;
3. impart knowledge of this church and its wider ministry through distribution of its periodicals and other publications; and
4. endeavor to increase the support given by the congregation to the work of the churchwide organization of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and of the Southwest Washington Synod of the ELCA.
There you go. What did you not hear in all that? Raising funds. As a member of this congregation, and one of its leaders, it is probably a part of what I need to help us do, but really financial support is what we all do together. Is it possible, though, especially during tougher times for a pastor and a congregation to get sidetracked? Can we sometimes find ourselves serving the budget and finances instead of the mission?
These past six weeks Traci, Jon and I have intentionally preached the wider message of Stewardship. Two weeks ago we heard Dr. Martin Luther talk about all that God has given in this message of the gospel, and our responsibility to pass it on. Last week, Pastor Jon spoke of God’s infinite willingness and ability to forgive, the promise of eternal life. Traci talked about the priceless gift of your church and the people around you, the abilities he has given.
Stewardship is simply all the resources and ways that God has called and given us as individuals and as a congregation to take part in the ministry and spread of his unqualified generosity to the world. Financially speaking, the Bible suggests practical amounts like the 10% tithe and offerings on top of that, or leaving some room and food for the poor. Jesus suggested that even more than that, calling for as much as your whole life, your everything.
However, when life gets hard, we can lose sight of the Kingdom that God has promised. The Israelites in our Old Testament lesson were outmatched, outgunned, and hopelessly outnumbered by the Philistines. They might’ve lost sight of the promises and faith. All reason told them to throw in the towel. Instead, they decided to trust and stake their small army on the promises of God. They decided to have faith and show it, even in the face of scarcity. They told Samuel to pray for them and marched forward. And on that field, after routing the Philistines, Samuel raised up a stone marker and called it Ebenezer, which simply means, “Rock of Help.”
The Ebenezer symbolized the day that they acted in faith, and the day that God didn’t let them down. It was their message of thanksgiving to God and a reminder to each other. It was a kind of spiritual boundary marker that reminded them to keep moving forward from that place in faith, trusting God, trusting their future in his hands, and not to retreat back into fear.
The 2nd stanza of “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing,” sings, “Here I raise my Ebenezer.” I always thought it was a weird image to lift poor old Scrooge up on a pole. An Ebenezer, my “stone of help,” can be any prayer or symbol of faith, any reminder of God’s grace that encourages me to move forward. It is also a promise, a boundary line. It’s like writing our signature on God’s promise, accepting his grace and help, and showing our intention—with the strength of his Spirit—to go on trusting our present and our future in his Holy hands.
Through Jesus, God raised himself up on the cross. He is our Rock of Salvation, the Greatest Ebenezer. In response to that symbol, here’s what I suggest, for wherever you might be in your faith-walk. Today, raise a small Ebenezer in your heart and mind as a way of lifting that cross once again into your life and applying it to your life. I’ll give you a few ideas in a minute.
In tough times, when the odds seem against you, it can be easy to give into fear, to back off, not just from the luxuries of life, but also the things that are more important. Sometimes, during these times, we try pour ourselves into those luxuries at the expense of things more important. Don’t do that. Tough times call for firm faith. Raise your Ebenezer in the places, the family, the church, and the relationships where God has called you. You might begin praying in situations you don’t normally pray. Change at least one habit for the better, with the Spirit’s help. More important you might take one fear, one anxiety you have and decide—on this spot—to give it to Christ; let Christ join you there and begin helping you.
One more idea: if you get our weekly emails from church, you may have read what I suggested about these pledge cards. They are only one option, but as a discipline, they are an example of what I’m talking about. Here’s what I wrote:
WHY PLEDGE?
It is a both 1) a tangible prayer to God, and also 2) a signed message to your church leaders.
What are you telling God? You are telling him that you trust him, that you love this local church to which he has led you or in which he has raised you. You are asking God for the means to support it. You are telling God that you trust his providence. You are accepting responsibility as a church-family member. You are raising an "Ebenezer," a physical statement against doubt, and a message of your trust and faith in God.
What are you telling your church leaders?... you are encouraging your church leaders not to back down [either], not to give into human fear. You are telling them to continue to provide meaningful worship & messages, ministry to our youth & families, and Christian service to our community. You are telling your church leaders to remain faithful, and that you will back them up. You are raising an "Ebenezer," a physical stance against fear, and a message of...appreciation and commitment...
Are there other ways of doing all this? Yes: involvement through any gift of time or generosity, whether or not it is "documented." In all circumstances, how we live or lives speaks loudly to God and others. However, for many of us, tangible markers like "pledges" can be a discipline to help keep us and our church more honest, motivated, and faithfully active.
Like any other human invention, pledge cards are fallible; they can be misused, even harmful. If done with prayerful intent, though, and kept in right perspective they can be a good discipline, leading to maturity and growth in generosity.
On a wider level, God has gifted us with a congregation and calls us to be a congregation with 1) a strong worship and message, with 2) a powerful ministry for youth and families, and 3) a huge heart for care and social outreach to our community and beyond. These three things are both our treasure and our calling. They define our gifts and ministry in Auburn.
When funds grow scarce do we respond by backing off, cutting back what we offer, our worship or our dedication to our youth or services to the community, our mission and ministry? So long as we remain in faithful prayer to God, doing what he would have us do here on the corner of 4th and H Streets in Auburn, God will resource our ministry. Let this message be my Ebenezer. Against all fear, any doubts, I trust us in the Hands of God Almighty.
Tough times call for firm faith and courageous living. Amen.
prepared by Pastor Greg Kaurin
for Messiah Lutheran Church, Auburn WA, 11/14/10
1 Samuel 7:10-14
Raise an Ebenezer
Some of you know that I spent a little time between calls as a bookseller. So, let’s try an experiment, to see how raising income in a church compares to booksales. Tell me how successful I’d be… Here’s a book. If you look it up on the web, you’ll find that you can buy it new from some sellers for about $22.00, used for as little as $6.00 including shipping. As college textbook, you might have to pay as much as $138.00 for it.
So, let’s say you’ve walked into my bookstore, a preacher’s bookstore, and found this on my shelf. Knowing what I’ve told you about it’s value, how much would you be willing to give me for this book? [Accept an offer or two.] …Are you kidding? Look at this title: Life’s Choices; Problems and Solutions. Wow! This thing will take care of everything for you! …Let me read to you from the back: “…Filled with case studies that show how others have handled career and work issues, relationship and intimacy dilemmas, family concerns, and other personal problems…You’ll learn to apply knowledge from psychological and social research to your own personal issues.” How much would you be willing to give to have solutions to all your problems?
Let’s try a different approach. Come on! This book I am offering to you has all these great answers to life’s question. And meantime, I have to pay for this bookstore, and all these staff. Don’t you care about them? Do you feel how warm and comfy I keep this store? We’ve got indoor bathrooms with running water, and complimentary coffee. Be generous! How about 10% of whatever you made this month? That’s a bargain considering what this book promises you. Come to think of it, considering how you’ll benefit after reading this as long as you live, how about I put you on an automatic withdrawal program for the rest of your life? …How long do you think my bookstore will stay open?
You are not my benefactors, and certainly not my customers. I’m not selling you faith or a slice of heaven. This is not what you have called me to do.
What is it that you have called me here to do? What is the main thing you think God wants me here to do as a pastor? ….Here’s a hint: When I was ordained, I was called into the ministry of “Word and Sacrament.” So, I’m here to… preach and teach, baptize and serve his Table. That is the center of what it means to be a Lutheran Pastor. Any other main tasks you expect from your pastor? [Visit, marry, bury, etc.] How far up on this totem pole of tasks is being a “fundraiser” for the congregation’s expenses?
Here, let me read from Messiah Lutheran Church’s own constitution regarding the duties of a pastor…
Chapter 9.
THE PASTOR
…*C9.03. Consistent with the faith and practice of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America,
A. Every ordained minister shall:
1. preach the Word;
2. administer the sacraments;
3. conduct public worship;
4. provide pastoral care; and
5. speak publicly to the world in solidarity with the poor and oppressed, calling for justice and proclaiming God’s love for the world.
B. Each ordained minister with a congregational call shall, within the congregation:
1. offer instruction, confirm, marry, visit the sick and distressed, and bury the dead;
2. supervise all schools and organizations of this congregation;
3. install regularly elected members of the Congregation Council; and
4. with the council, administer discipline.
C. Every pastor shall:
1. strive to extend the Kingdom of God in the community, in the nation, and abroad;
2. seek out and encourage qualified persons to prepare for the ministry of the Gospel;
3. impart knowledge of this church and its wider ministry through distribution of its periodicals and other publications; and
4. endeavor to increase the support given by the congregation to the work of the churchwide organization of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and of the Southwest Washington Synod of the ELCA.
There you go. What did you not hear in all that? Raising funds. As a member of this congregation, and one of its leaders, it is probably a part of what I need to help us do, but really financial support is what we all do together. Is it possible, though, especially during tougher times for a pastor and a congregation to get sidetracked? Can we sometimes find ourselves serving the budget and finances instead of the mission?
These past six weeks Traci, Jon and I have intentionally preached the wider message of Stewardship. Two weeks ago we heard Dr. Martin Luther talk about all that God has given in this message of the gospel, and our responsibility to pass it on. Last week, Pastor Jon spoke of God’s infinite willingness and ability to forgive, the promise of eternal life. Traci talked about the priceless gift of your church and the people around you, the abilities he has given.
Stewardship is simply all the resources and ways that God has called and given us as individuals and as a congregation to take part in the ministry and spread of his unqualified generosity to the world. Financially speaking, the Bible suggests practical amounts like the 10% tithe and offerings on top of that, or leaving some room and food for the poor. Jesus suggested that even more than that, calling for as much as your whole life, your everything.
However, when life gets hard, we can lose sight of the Kingdom that God has promised. The Israelites in our Old Testament lesson were outmatched, outgunned, and hopelessly outnumbered by the Philistines. They might’ve lost sight of the promises and faith. All reason told them to throw in the towel. Instead, they decided to trust and stake their small army on the promises of God. They decided to have faith and show it, even in the face of scarcity. They told Samuel to pray for them and marched forward. And on that field, after routing the Philistines, Samuel raised up a stone marker and called it Ebenezer, which simply means, “Rock of Help.”
The Ebenezer symbolized the day that they acted in faith, and the day that God didn’t let them down. It was their message of thanksgiving to God and a reminder to each other. It was a kind of spiritual boundary marker that reminded them to keep moving forward from that place in faith, trusting God, trusting their future in his hands, and not to retreat back into fear.
The 2nd stanza of “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing,” sings, “Here I raise my Ebenezer.” I always thought it was a weird image to lift poor old Scrooge up on a pole. An Ebenezer, my “stone of help,” can be any prayer or symbol of faith, any reminder of God’s grace that encourages me to move forward. It is also a promise, a boundary line. It’s like writing our signature on God’s promise, accepting his grace and help, and showing our intention—with the strength of his Spirit—to go on trusting our present and our future in his Holy hands.
Through Jesus, God raised himself up on the cross. He is our Rock of Salvation, the Greatest Ebenezer. In response to that symbol, here’s what I suggest, for wherever you might be in your faith-walk. Today, raise a small Ebenezer in your heart and mind as a way of lifting that cross once again into your life and applying it to your life. I’ll give you a few ideas in a minute.
In tough times, when the odds seem against you, it can be easy to give into fear, to back off, not just from the luxuries of life, but also the things that are more important. Sometimes, during these times, we try pour ourselves into those luxuries at the expense of things more important. Don’t do that. Tough times call for firm faith. Raise your Ebenezer in the places, the family, the church, and the relationships where God has called you. You might begin praying in situations you don’t normally pray. Change at least one habit for the better, with the Spirit’s help. More important you might take one fear, one anxiety you have and decide—on this spot—to give it to Christ; let Christ join you there and begin helping you.
One more idea: if you get our weekly emails from church, you may have read what I suggested about these pledge cards. They are only one option, but as a discipline, they are an example of what I’m talking about. Here’s what I wrote:
WHY PLEDGE?
It is a both 1) a tangible prayer to God, and also 2) a signed message to your church leaders.
What are you telling God? You are telling him that you trust him, that you love this local church to which he has led you or in which he has raised you. You are asking God for the means to support it. You are telling God that you trust his providence. You are accepting responsibility as a church-family member. You are raising an "Ebenezer," a physical statement against doubt, and a message of your trust and faith in God.
What are you telling your church leaders?... you are encouraging your church leaders not to back down [either], not to give into human fear. You are telling them to continue to provide meaningful worship & messages, ministry to our youth & families, and Christian service to our community. You are telling your church leaders to remain faithful, and that you will back them up. You are raising an "Ebenezer," a physical stance against fear, and a message of...appreciation and commitment...
Are there other ways of doing all this? Yes: involvement through any gift of time or generosity, whether or not it is "documented." In all circumstances, how we live or lives speaks loudly to God and others. However, for many of us, tangible markers like "pledges" can be a discipline to help keep us and our church more honest, motivated, and faithfully active.
Like any other human invention, pledge cards are fallible; they can be misused, even harmful. If done with prayerful intent, though, and kept in right perspective they can be a good discipline, leading to maturity and growth in generosity.
On a wider level, God has gifted us with a congregation and calls us to be a congregation with 1) a strong worship and message, with 2) a powerful ministry for youth and families, and 3) a huge heart for care and social outreach to our community and beyond. These three things are both our treasure and our calling. They define our gifts and ministry in Auburn.
When funds grow scarce do we respond by backing off, cutting back what we offer, our worship or our dedication to our youth or services to the community, our mission and ministry? So long as we remain in faithful prayer to God, doing what he would have us do here on the corner of 4th and H Streets in Auburn, God will resource our ministry. Let this message be my Ebenezer. Against all fear, any doubts, I trust us in the Hands of God Almighty.
Tough times call for firm faith and courageous living. Amen.
Sunday, October 31, 2010
The Message We Bear
Message prepared for Messiah Lutheran Church, Auburn WA
Reformation Sunday; October 31, 2010.
Texts: Jeremiah 31:31-34; Psalms 46; Romans 3:19-28; John 8:31-35
The Message We Bear
FOR TODAY’S SERMON, imagine that you are in Wittenberg, Germany. It is October 31, 1522; exactly five years after Martin Luther posted his “95 Theses” against papal indulgences. Since that posting, he has been served papers and excommunicated by the Church (June, 1520). He defended his writings in Worms (April, 1521).
That May, he was taken into protection in the Wartburg Castle near Eisenach through February of 1522. He had already written some of his more famous publications including: A Treatise on Good Works, An Open Letter to the Christian Nobility, The Babylonian Captivity, The Freedom of the Christian Man.
In March of 1522, the ban against Luther was lifted and he returned to his congregation in Wittenberg, where some leaders—in their attempt to follow Luther, and shake off the Roman Church—had thrown the liturgy into confusion, were destroying furniture and iconography, and were harassing monks and priests who would not conform. Luther immediately launched a harsh sermon series, preaching daily from Sunday to Sunday, re-establishing the gospel message, priority, and order.
In September of 1522, at the age of 38, and a month prior to his preaching today, Luther published his translation of the New Testament from the original Greek into common German. His preface to Paul’s Letter to the Romans included these frequently quoted words on faith: “Faith is a living, daring confidence in God's grace, so sure and certain that you could stake your life on it a thousand times.”
[This message was delivered in the costume and personage of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther, and adapted from several of his own sermons: 1) a preface to “The Sermon Preached in the Castle at Leipzig,” June 29, 1519; 2) “The First Sermon,” “The Second Sermon,” & “The Sixth Sermon,” March 9-14, 1522, an 8-part sermon series delivered in Wittenberg; and 3) “The Sermon on the Sum of the Christian Life,” November 24, 1532. These are NOT meant to be taken as quotations from Martin Luther's works. Parts in brackets are longer additions of my own.]
[How good to be back with you here in Wittenberg!] It is doubtless known to you that I have been out among other churches, still speaking against the abuse of the Roman indulgence. I do this in Christian faithfulness and good intentions; since I have seen how the people were being misled by the excessive greed of some preachers, and the people were being deprived of what little they did have. …In all this, what has grieved me most is that this movement and my words have prompted so many Christian people to hatred, jealousy, backbiting, frivolous judgment, when—if it were not for this damnable greed—these indulgences…are not and cannot ever be worth the price of one heart poisoned.
…One can see why they have made such a hullabaloo and uproar against me …And though I might justly attack them in return I have refrained …seeing that God, who has forgiven me many thousands of times has commanded us to do the same. I am also at peace, knowing that though the envier and hoards of devils may battle against the truth, they shall never gain the upper hand. It seems right however, that I should do what I can to warn all Christians to guard their souls against these slanderous tongues, and I am willing, with God’s help and grace, to die for this gospel message.
For the summons of death comes to us all, and no one can die for another. All of us must fight our own battle with death…alone. We can shout into another’s ears, but every one must be prepared for the time of death, for I will not be with you then, nor you with me. Therefore let every one …know and be armed with the chief things which concern a Christian. And these are what you, my beloved, have heard from me many days.
In the first place, we must know that we are the children of wrath, and all our works, intentions, and thoughts are nothing at all. Here we need a clear, strong text to bear out this point. Such is the saying of St. Paul in [Romans 3: There is no one on earth who is good and who understands God and does good; rather they all need God’s grace. And since “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”] they must be justified by his grace as a gift. So, please do not undertake to say: I have paid for or built an altar, given a foundation for the church, etc. It will not stand without grace.
Secondly, we must know that God has sent us his only-begotten Son that we may believe in him and that whoever trusts in him shall be free from sin and a child of God, as [Jesus declared in John’s third chapter, “You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free…And if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed]. We should all be well versed in the Bible and ready to confront the devil with many passages like these.
Thirdly, we must also have love and through love we must do to one another as God has done to us through faith. For without love faith is nothing, as St. Paul says in I Cor. 13: If I had the tongues of angels and could speak of the highest things in faith, and have not love, I am nothing.
Here let us beware lest our town become like the Biblical Capernaum [which Jesus cast into the depths of the sea for its lack of goodness and repentance]. I notice that many preachers and leaders these days have a great deal to say of the doctrines quoting scripture to back themselves up …And this is no wonder; a donkey’s ass can almost recite the lessons, so why would these others not be able to repeat the doctrines and formulas?
Dear friends, the kingdom of God,—and we are that kingdom—does not come in talk or words, but in activity, in deeds, in works and exercises. God does not want mere listeners and repeaters of words, but followers and doers, and this occurs in faith through love. For a faith without love loving action is not enough.
Fourthly, in bearing this message we also need patience. For whoever has faith—trusting in God, showing love to his neighbor, and practicing it day by day—must suffer persecution. For the devil never sleeps, but constantly gives plenty of trouble. But patience works, and patience produces hope. And hope through affliction and persecution, increases, and is strengthened day by day. A heart thus blessed with [God’s grace, followed by faith, patience, and then hope] can never rest or restrain itself, but rather pours itself out again and again for the benefit and service of the neighbor, just as God has done for us.
And here, dear friends, one must not insist upon rights, but must see what may be useful and helpful to the neighbor, as Paul says “All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful.” For we are not all equally strong in faith; some of you have a stronger faith than I. Therefore we must not look upon ourselves, or our strength, or our prestige, but upon our neighbor.
Let me illustrate. The sun has two properties, light and heat. No king has power enough to bend or guide the light of the sun; it remains fixed in its place. But the heat may be turned and guided… Thus faith must always remain pure and immovable in our hearts, never wavering; but love bends and turns so that our neighbor may grasp and follow it.
There are some who can run, others must walk, still others can hardly creep. Therefore we must not look upon our own, but upon our neighbor’s powers, so that the one who is weak in faith, and attempts to follow the strong, may not be destroyed of the devil. Therefore, dear friends, follow my example; I have never been a destroyer. And I cannot run away, but will remain among you as long as God allows. I was the one to whom God first revealed that his true Word should be preached rightly to you. I am therefore sure that you have the pure Word of God.
Let us, therefore, let us act with fear and humility, cast ourselves to one another’s needs, join hands with each other, and help one another in walking onward. I will do my part… for I love you even as I love my own soul. For here we battle not against pope or bishop, [or doctrines and words], but against the devil, and do you imagine he is asleep? He is not, but sees the true light rising, and to keep it from shining into his eyes he would like to make a flank attack upon us—and he will succeed, if we are not on our guard.
[That is why we gather to hear his Word.] Dear friends, you know how earnestly God has commanded everyone to hear and to learn his precious Word in worship, for it cost him much to bring it to the world…even sent his own Son and allowed him to be crucified and to die for this. He permitted all the apostles to be persecuted and all Christians to be afflicted for this purpose, and he commanded some to preach the Word, and others to hear it. …This one reason would be sufficient, for as creatures we owe it to our Lord and Creator to be obedient to him.
But he does not leave it at that; he does not wish that it be imposed upon us only as a command or demand it as bound in duty, but he also promises that great fruits and benefits shall [be given through worship. The world is full of ways and places to worship God. The mother serves and worships God best through her care and upbringing of her children, likewise the father diapering an infant or teaching a child, or the carpenter or swine herder doing their work whatever it is. They do it to their best ability, for the sake of their neighbor, and for God who gave them ability. This is all good and true worship of God, as Paul says, “Everything you do, do it to the glory of God.”]
But God has also exalted and extolled this service of worship, both of those who hear and those who preach his Word. This day he has specially marked out and commanded that it be kept, so that all can expect and plan for it. He has also appointed special places, churches or houses, where we come together. He has instituted and preserved the whole priesthood of believers for this purpose, [and through their mutual treasures, efforts, gifts, God supports and] has given the world a special commandment and [a place to worship him and keep his Word alive and thriving in the hearts of people around the world.]
Now, as for a man who will neither listen to this nor gladly hear and learn from God’s Word whenever he can, I do not know how to advise him, for I cannot drag anybody in by the hair. Anybody who despises it, let that person go on despising it and remain the pot-bellied sow that he or she is!
[On the other hand, it is you my brothers and sisters, who will reach and change the world around you, through your families, children, servants and friends, even your enemies, by the grace God gave you, by turning around and giving the same to them. As Christ prayed for you, pray for them. As Christ taught and was patient with you, do likewise. As Christ did all for God’s glory, so you live and do your best, offering it with humility to the God who accepts all you do as forgiven, good and holy. This is the message we bear. And you, my friends, are not to keep this treasure to yourselves, but to share it out. We are stewards of the greatest treasure.]
[How then shall we bring the message we bear to those who need it so desperately? How shall we change lives? How shall we change our city, and make children and neighbor believe as we do? The same way Christ did. For he] allowed the Word to act and prayed for them. For the Word who created heaven and earth and all things; the Word must do this thing too, and not we poor sinners. In short, preach it, teach it, speak it, write it, live it, but …constrain no one by force, for faith must come freely without compulsion. Take myself as an example. I opposed indulgences and all the papists, but never with force. I simply taught, preached, and wrote God’s Word; otherwise I did nothing. And while I slept, or drank good Wittenberg beer with my friends, Philip and Amsdorf, the Word so greatly weakened the papacy that no prince or emperor ever inflicted such losses upon it. I did nothing; the Word did everything.
[How can we trust ourselves and the message to do such amazing things? We will do what we need to do. Sacrifice what we need to sacrifice: for faith and love.] Believe that God steps in for you and stakes all he has and his blood for you. It is as if he were saying: Fall in behind me without fear or delay, and then let us see what can harm you; come devil, death, sin, and hell, and all creation, [God shall protect you, God is our refuge and strength, a mighty fortress. Be still and know that he is God most exalted.]
In closing, faith is a living, daring confidence in God's grace, so sure and certain that you could stake your life on it a thousand times.
That faith is the message we bear, and it is our greatest treasure. But we are commanded joyfully to break open this treasure to all who will hear it. Let this suffice for today’s message. I commend you to God.
Reformation Sunday; October 31, 2010.
Texts: Jeremiah 31:31-34; Psalms 46; Romans 3:19-28; John 8:31-35
The Message We Bear
FOR TODAY’S SERMON, imagine that you are in Wittenberg, Germany. It is October 31, 1522; exactly five years after Martin Luther posted his “95 Theses” against papal indulgences. Since that posting, he has been served papers and excommunicated by the Church (June, 1520). He defended his writings in Worms (April, 1521).
That May, he was taken into protection in the Wartburg Castle near Eisenach through February of 1522. He had already written some of his more famous publications including: A Treatise on Good Works, An Open Letter to the Christian Nobility, The Babylonian Captivity, The Freedom of the Christian Man.
In March of 1522, the ban against Luther was lifted and he returned to his congregation in Wittenberg, where some leaders—in their attempt to follow Luther, and shake off the Roman Church—had thrown the liturgy into confusion, were destroying furniture and iconography, and were harassing monks and priests who would not conform. Luther immediately launched a harsh sermon series, preaching daily from Sunday to Sunday, re-establishing the gospel message, priority, and order.
In September of 1522, at the age of 38, and a month prior to his preaching today, Luther published his translation of the New Testament from the original Greek into common German. His preface to Paul’s Letter to the Romans included these frequently quoted words on faith: “Faith is a living, daring confidence in God's grace, so sure and certain that you could stake your life on it a thousand times.”
[This message was delivered in the costume and personage of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther, and adapted from several of his own sermons: 1) a preface to “The Sermon Preached in the Castle at Leipzig,” June 29, 1519; 2) “The First Sermon,” “The Second Sermon,” & “The Sixth Sermon,” March 9-14, 1522, an 8-part sermon series delivered in Wittenberg; and 3) “The Sermon on the Sum of the Christian Life,” November 24, 1532. These are NOT meant to be taken as quotations from Martin Luther's works. Parts in brackets are longer additions of my own.]
[How good to be back with you here in Wittenberg!] It is doubtless known to you that I have been out among other churches, still speaking against the abuse of the Roman indulgence. I do this in Christian faithfulness and good intentions; since I have seen how the people were being misled by the excessive greed of some preachers, and the people were being deprived of what little they did have. …In all this, what has grieved me most is that this movement and my words have prompted so many Christian people to hatred, jealousy, backbiting, frivolous judgment, when—if it were not for this damnable greed—these indulgences…are not and cannot ever be worth the price of one heart poisoned.
…One can see why they have made such a hullabaloo and uproar against me …And though I might justly attack them in return I have refrained …seeing that God, who has forgiven me many thousands of times has commanded us to do the same. I am also at peace, knowing that though the envier and hoards of devils may battle against the truth, they shall never gain the upper hand. It seems right however, that I should do what I can to warn all Christians to guard their souls against these slanderous tongues, and I am willing, with God’s help and grace, to die for this gospel message.
For the summons of death comes to us all, and no one can die for another. All of us must fight our own battle with death…alone. We can shout into another’s ears, but every one must be prepared for the time of death, for I will not be with you then, nor you with me. Therefore let every one …know and be armed with the chief things which concern a Christian. And these are what you, my beloved, have heard from me many days.
In the first place, we must know that we are the children of wrath, and all our works, intentions, and thoughts are nothing at all. Here we need a clear, strong text to bear out this point. Such is the saying of St. Paul in [Romans 3: There is no one on earth who is good and who understands God and does good; rather they all need God’s grace. And since “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”] they must be justified by his grace as a gift. So, please do not undertake to say: I have paid for or built an altar, given a foundation for the church, etc. It will not stand without grace.
Secondly, we must know that God has sent us his only-begotten Son that we may believe in him and that whoever trusts in him shall be free from sin and a child of God, as [Jesus declared in John’s third chapter, “You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free…And if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed]. We should all be well versed in the Bible and ready to confront the devil with many passages like these.
Thirdly, we must also have love and through love we must do to one another as God has done to us through faith. For without love faith is nothing, as St. Paul says in I Cor. 13: If I had the tongues of angels and could speak of the highest things in faith, and have not love, I am nothing.
Here let us beware lest our town become like the Biblical Capernaum [which Jesus cast into the depths of the sea for its lack of goodness and repentance]. I notice that many preachers and leaders these days have a great deal to say of the doctrines quoting scripture to back themselves up …And this is no wonder; a donkey’s ass can almost recite the lessons, so why would these others not be able to repeat the doctrines and formulas?
Dear friends, the kingdom of God,—and we are that kingdom—does not come in talk or words, but in activity, in deeds, in works and exercises. God does not want mere listeners and repeaters of words, but followers and doers, and this occurs in faith through love. For a faith without love loving action is not enough.
Fourthly, in bearing this message we also need patience. For whoever has faith—trusting in God, showing love to his neighbor, and practicing it day by day—must suffer persecution. For the devil never sleeps, but constantly gives plenty of trouble. But patience works, and patience produces hope. And hope through affliction and persecution, increases, and is strengthened day by day. A heart thus blessed with [God’s grace, followed by faith, patience, and then hope] can never rest or restrain itself, but rather pours itself out again and again for the benefit and service of the neighbor, just as God has done for us.
And here, dear friends, one must not insist upon rights, but must see what may be useful and helpful to the neighbor, as Paul says “All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful.” For we are not all equally strong in faith; some of you have a stronger faith than I. Therefore we must not look upon ourselves, or our strength, or our prestige, but upon our neighbor.
Let me illustrate. The sun has two properties, light and heat. No king has power enough to bend or guide the light of the sun; it remains fixed in its place. But the heat may be turned and guided… Thus faith must always remain pure and immovable in our hearts, never wavering; but love bends and turns so that our neighbor may grasp and follow it.
There are some who can run, others must walk, still others can hardly creep. Therefore we must not look upon our own, but upon our neighbor’s powers, so that the one who is weak in faith, and attempts to follow the strong, may not be destroyed of the devil. Therefore, dear friends, follow my example; I have never been a destroyer. And I cannot run away, but will remain among you as long as God allows. I was the one to whom God first revealed that his true Word should be preached rightly to you. I am therefore sure that you have the pure Word of God.
Let us, therefore, let us act with fear and humility, cast ourselves to one another’s needs, join hands with each other, and help one another in walking onward. I will do my part… for I love you even as I love my own soul. For here we battle not against pope or bishop, [or doctrines and words], but against the devil, and do you imagine he is asleep? He is not, but sees the true light rising, and to keep it from shining into his eyes he would like to make a flank attack upon us—and he will succeed, if we are not on our guard.
[That is why we gather to hear his Word.] Dear friends, you know how earnestly God has commanded everyone to hear and to learn his precious Word in worship, for it cost him much to bring it to the world…even sent his own Son and allowed him to be crucified and to die for this. He permitted all the apostles to be persecuted and all Christians to be afflicted for this purpose, and he commanded some to preach the Word, and others to hear it. …This one reason would be sufficient, for as creatures we owe it to our Lord and Creator to be obedient to him.
But he does not leave it at that; he does not wish that it be imposed upon us only as a command or demand it as bound in duty, but he also promises that great fruits and benefits shall [be given through worship. The world is full of ways and places to worship God. The mother serves and worships God best through her care and upbringing of her children, likewise the father diapering an infant or teaching a child, or the carpenter or swine herder doing their work whatever it is. They do it to their best ability, for the sake of their neighbor, and for God who gave them ability. This is all good and true worship of God, as Paul says, “Everything you do, do it to the glory of God.”]
But God has also exalted and extolled this service of worship, both of those who hear and those who preach his Word. This day he has specially marked out and commanded that it be kept, so that all can expect and plan for it. He has also appointed special places, churches or houses, where we come together. He has instituted and preserved the whole priesthood of believers for this purpose, [and through their mutual treasures, efforts, gifts, God supports and] has given the world a special commandment and [a place to worship him and keep his Word alive and thriving in the hearts of people around the world.]
Now, as for a man who will neither listen to this nor gladly hear and learn from God’s Word whenever he can, I do not know how to advise him, for I cannot drag anybody in by the hair. Anybody who despises it, let that person go on despising it and remain the pot-bellied sow that he or she is!
[On the other hand, it is you my brothers and sisters, who will reach and change the world around you, through your families, children, servants and friends, even your enemies, by the grace God gave you, by turning around and giving the same to them. As Christ prayed for you, pray for them. As Christ taught and was patient with you, do likewise. As Christ did all for God’s glory, so you live and do your best, offering it with humility to the God who accepts all you do as forgiven, good and holy. This is the message we bear. And you, my friends, are not to keep this treasure to yourselves, but to share it out. We are stewards of the greatest treasure.]
[How then shall we bring the message we bear to those who need it so desperately? How shall we change lives? How shall we change our city, and make children and neighbor believe as we do? The same way Christ did. For he] allowed the Word to act and prayed for them. For the Word who created heaven and earth and all things; the Word must do this thing too, and not we poor sinners. In short, preach it, teach it, speak it, write it, live it, but …constrain no one by force, for faith must come freely without compulsion. Take myself as an example. I opposed indulgences and all the papists, but never with force. I simply taught, preached, and wrote God’s Word; otherwise I did nothing. And while I slept, or drank good Wittenberg beer with my friends, Philip and Amsdorf, the Word so greatly weakened the papacy that no prince or emperor ever inflicted such losses upon it. I did nothing; the Word did everything.
[How can we trust ourselves and the message to do such amazing things? We will do what we need to do. Sacrifice what we need to sacrifice: for faith and love.] Believe that God steps in for you and stakes all he has and his blood for you. It is as if he were saying: Fall in behind me without fear or delay, and then let us see what can harm you; come devil, death, sin, and hell, and all creation, [God shall protect you, God is our refuge and strength, a mighty fortress. Be still and know that he is God most exalted.]
In closing, faith is a living, daring confidence in God's grace, so sure and certain that you could stake your life on it a thousand times.
That faith is the message we bear, and it is our greatest treasure. But we are commanded joyfully to break open this treasure to all who will hear it. Let this suffice for today’s message. I commend you to God.
Monday, October 18, 2010
A Steward's Faith
Sermon prepared for Messiah Lutheran Church
Auburn WA
by Gregory S. Kaurin, pastor
October 17; 21st Sunday after Pentecost
Texts: Genesis 32:22-31; Psalm 121; 2 Timothy 3:14 - 4:5; & Luke 18:1-8
The Steward's Faith
The record album came out in 1986, the year I graduated from highschool. A few months later, this song would hit number one for a full month. The song was about a young dock worker named Tommy and his girlfriend, Gina, who worked all day at the diner. They didn't have much. In fact, Tommy had to put his six-string guitar in hock along with his dreams. But Gina assured him, "We've got to hold on to what we've got. Doesn't make a difference if we make it or not. We've got each other and that's a lot. For love--we'll give it a shot." The song was called, "Livin' on a Prayer" by Jon Bon Jovi.
Okay, that was the promises of the 1980's: All we need is each other, love, and a prayer. Romantic or tragic. I can't say that Jon Bon Jovi was ever a favorite, but this is the song that was running through my head all week as I studied today's lessons, so I thought I'd make all of you join my misery. Hold on to what you've got, and pray. We've got each other, we have our faith, and that's a lot.
In the Old Testament lesson Jacob sent everyone else away so he could be alone with his fears and conscience. Sometime during the night the Lord came to him in the form of a man, and wrestled with him, all night until day was about to break. Even after Jacob's thigh became dislocated, he held on, kept wrestling, and demanded a blessing from this stranger.
Finally, the stranger gave in, and gave Jacob the name Israel which can mean Struggles with God, or that God Strives, both appropriate. The first is good advice, "Don't let go, hold on to your faith in God through Christ." The second is a promise, "God never lets go of you." Jacob, or Israel, limped away from that match, but alive, blessed, and ready to face his fears: to be humble but bravely honest in front of his brother. He finally realized that with God he had nothing to lose.
Psalm 121 is called a psalm of ascent; it was recited by pilgrims as they went up to Jerusalem, and by Christian pilgrims ever since, because of this promise, "My help comes from the Lord, maker of heaven and earth; he will watch over, will not let your foot slip." Again and again, Psalm 121 assures us that God watches and guards. These are important promises for pilgrims in life, and it assures us that, in faith, no matter how broken or crooked, by God's forgiveness, his promises, he makes our meanderways straight to him.
When we speak of faith, there are different meanings, but first: it's our relationship. It’s our relationship with God, not with people, like in the Bon Jovi song, but it is testified by people, by the Body of Christ.
Then in today’s epistle lesson, we have Paul's great advice to Timothy. Believe it or not, one great Christian tool is our doubts, our quest to dig deeper. We can stay relatively humble about many important, even Biblical concepts, except –as Paul wrote to Timothy, stay firm and hold onto the center. The message, the immovable reality, is our relationship, our faith, in God through Christ.
So finally, we turn to the gospel parable about the unjust judge. Jesus said: if this judge, who could care less, answered the woman's pleas for his selfish reasons, how much more is God bringing appropriate justice? Others title this parable "the persistent widow," and that is the right stress, on the woman's persistence against all odds.
Her need caused her to be bravely persitant. For Jacob, the same; he wrestled with his fears and God all night, but he held on. Paul said to Timothy: hold on, remember the strength of those who taught and called you, remember the central message of scripture. Embrace, live and teach that center.
We have this relationship to rely on. We need to steward our faith, nourish, care and rely on it, and share it for the benefit of others. In the end, our faith is the greatest resource God has given us to use share. The rest is meant to support and spread the central belief that we are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.
Listen, ask, share, even doubt, and share those questions and doubts with others. They makes us real, but like Job, in 19th ch, after all his suffering we need to come back to center. "Ten times" he told his so-called friends, you've made my suffering and questions worse with all your easy speeches, but then he came back to center and said, "Oh, that my words could be written down, that with an iron tool they could be engraven into rock forever. For I know that my Redeemer lives, and that at the last, even after my skin has been thus destroyed, I shall see God, whom I shall see on my side. This my eyes will behold and no less. How my heart yearns within me!"
In other words, no matter what hits us, we have been given guts! The seat of grace, the Bible tells us, is in the middle of the gut. We talk about having heart, but grace gives us guts. God's free grace, his assurance of forgiveness and an eternal relationship with him fuels our ability to hold on and move forward.
The number one thing that keeps us from commiting deeply in our faith, in church, when we speak of growing or jumping into a tithe is fear. What keeps us from making a change in way we portion our lives, or time, or money? Fear. Afraid of what? Return to the promises of Psalm 121. "I lift my eyes to the hills; from where is my help to come? My help comes from the Lord, maker of heaven and earth. The Lord will not let your foot slip, nor will the one who watches over you fall asleep."
May joy and peace surround you, Contentment latch your door, Happiness be with you now, and bless you evermore. Amen.
Auburn WA
by Gregory S. Kaurin, pastor
October 17; 21st Sunday after Pentecost
Texts: Genesis 32:22-31; Psalm 121; 2 Timothy 3:14 - 4:5; & Luke 18:1-8
The Steward's Faith
The record album came out in 1986, the year I graduated from highschool. A few months later, this song would hit number one for a full month. The song was about a young dock worker named Tommy and his girlfriend, Gina, who worked all day at the diner. They didn't have much. In fact, Tommy had to put his six-string guitar in hock along with his dreams. But Gina assured him, "We've got to hold on to what we've got. Doesn't make a difference if we make it or not. We've got each other and that's a lot. For love--we'll give it a shot." The song was called, "Livin' on a Prayer" by Jon Bon Jovi.
Okay, that was the promises of the 1980's: All we need is each other, love, and a prayer. Romantic or tragic. I can't say that Jon Bon Jovi was ever a favorite, but this is the song that was running through my head all week as I studied today's lessons, so I thought I'd make all of you join my misery. Hold on to what you've got, and pray. We've got each other, we have our faith, and that's a lot.
In the Old Testament lesson Jacob sent everyone else away so he could be alone with his fears and conscience. Sometime during the night the Lord came to him in the form of a man, and wrestled with him, all night until day was about to break. Even after Jacob's thigh became dislocated, he held on, kept wrestling, and demanded a blessing from this stranger.
Finally, the stranger gave in, and gave Jacob the name Israel which can mean Struggles with God, or that God Strives, both appropriate. The first is good advice, "Don't let go, hold on to your faith in God through Christ." The second is a promise, "God never lets go of you." Jacob, or Israel, limped away from that match, but alive, blessed, and ready to face his fears: to be humble but bravely honest in front of his brother. He finally realized that with God he had nothing to lose.
Psalm 121 is called a psalm of ascent; it was recited by pilgrims as they went up to Jerusalem, and by Christian pilgrims ever since, because of this promise, "My help comes from the Lord, maker of heaven and earth; he will watch over, will not let your foot slip." Again and again, Psalm 121 assures us that God watches and guards. These are important promises for pilgrims in life, and it assures us that, in faith, no matter how broken or crooked, by God's forgiveness, his promises, he makes our meanderways straight to him.
When we speak of faith, there are different meanings, but first: it's our relationship. It’s our relationship with God, not with people, like in the Bon Jovi song, but it is testified by people, by the Body of Christ.
Then in today’s epistle lesson, we have Paul's great advice to Timothy. Believe it or not, one great Christian tool is our doubts, our quest to dig deeper. We can stay relatively humble about many important, even Biblical concepts, except –as Paul wrote to Timothy, stay firm and hold onto the center. The message, the immovable reality, is our relationship, our faith, in God through Christ.
So finally, we turn to the gospel parable about the unjust judge. Jesus said: if this judge, who could care less, answered the woman's pleas for his selfish reasons, how much more is God bringing appropriate justice? Others title this parable "the persistent widow," and that is the right stress, on the woman's persistence against all odds.
Her need caused her to be bravely persitant. For Jacob, the same; he wrestled with his fears and God all night, but he held on. Paul said to Timothy: hold on, remember the strength of those who taught and called you, remember the central message of scripture. Embrace, live and teach that center.
We have this relationship to rely on. We need to steward our faith, nourish, care and rely on it, and share it for the benefit of others. In the end, our faith is the greatest resource God has given us to use share. The rest is meant to support and spread the central belief that we are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.
Listen, ask, share, even doubt, and share those questions and doubts with others. They makes us real, but like Job, in 19th ch, after all his suffering we need to come back to center. "Ten times" he told his so-called friends, you've made my suffering and questions worse with all your easy speeches, but then he came back to center and said, "Oh, that my words could be written down, that with an iron tool they could be engraven into rock forever. For I know that my Redeemer lives, and that at the last, even after my skin has been thus destroyed, I shall see God, whom I shall see on my side. This my eyes will behold and no less. How my heart yearns within me!"
In other words, no matter what hits us, we have been given guts! The seat of grace, the Bible tells us, is in the middle of the gut. We talk about having heart, but grace gives us guts. God's free grace, his assurance of forgiveness and an eternal relationship with him fuels our ability to hold on and move forward.
The number one thing that keeps us from commiting deeply in our faith, in church, when we speak of growing or jumping into a tithe is fear. What keeps us from making a change in way we portion our lives, or time, or money? Fear. Afraid of what? Return to the promises of Psalm 121. "I lift my eyes to the hills; from where is my help to come? My help comes from the Lord, maker of heaven and earth. The Lord will not let your foot slip, nor will the one who watches over you fall asleep."
May joy and peace surround you, Contentment latch your door, Happiness be with you now, and bless you evermore. Amen.
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