Lutheranism 101

Sermon: The LORD Our Shepherd

16th Sunday after Pentecost, 2010

Rev. Brian L. Kachelmeier

Ezekiel 34:11-24

In the name of Jesus. Amen.

There is a television show called Animal Cops. In this series, camera crews follow investigators who are investigating cases of animal cruelty in cities such as Houston, Philadelphia, and Phoenix. The teams arrive at locations that are abandoned properties or small spaces that are overpopulated with animals. These trained professionals are looking out for the welfare of these animals. They are fighting for justice on behalf of mistreated cats, dogs, horses, hawks, tigers, chickens, and even some sheep. Their job consists of seizing the sick and rescuing the abused. These confiscated animals are brought to a SPCA shelter for rehabilitation. The goal of the shelter is to return wildlife to the wild and find someone to adopt the domesticated for continued care.

In Ezekiel chapter thirty-four, we hear of a case of animal cruelty. But, God does not need to send an investigative team. He already knows about the cruelty, the neglect, and the abuse. Even though the shepherds think that they are doing their deeds in the dark, all things are done in front of God. He knows. Thus, he doesn’t send an investigator and a camera crew; instead, He sends the prophet Ezekiel who gives to us a written account.

The first ten verses of the chapter open with the word of God spoken against the shepherds that is the rulers and leaders of the people of God. These shepherds were feeding themselves and not the sheep that is God’s people. They failed to strengthen the weak. They neglected to heal the sick. They did not bind up the injured. They abandoned the strays. They refused to seek out the lost. Because these sheep lacked shepherds, they were scattered. In verse ten, the LORD declares, “No longer shall the shepherds feed themselves. I will rescue my sheep from their mouths, that they may not be food for them.” (Ezekiel 34:10, ESV) 

Today’s Old Testament text opens at this point in chapter thirty-four. These shepherds have failed.  Thus, the LORD Himself will be the Shepherd and fight off the wolves. Verses eleven and twelve state, “For thus says the LORD God: Behold, I, I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out. As a shepherd seeks out his flock when he is among his sheep that have been scattered, so will I seek out my sheep, and I will rescue them from all places where they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness.” (Ezekiel 34:11-12, ESV) And again in verse fifteen, the LORD declares, “I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I myself will make them lie down, declares the Lord GOD." (Ezekiel 34:15, ESV) Where the earthly shepherds were unsuccessful, the LORD will succeed. They fed themselves. The LORD will feed His sheep. They scattered the sheep. The LORD will gather them into the Promised Land. They neglected the sheep. The LORD will bind the injured and strengthen the weak. They abandoned the sheep. The LORD will rescue them. They lost the sheep. The LORD will find them. He will seek and search for the strays. 

Now before we assume that it is only the shepherds that were bad, we must continue to hear the word against the sheep. The sheep were not perfect either. Starting at verse seventeen of today’s text, Ezekiel writes, “As for you, my flock, thus says the Lord God: Behold, I judge between sheep and sheep, between rams and male goats.” (Ezekiel 34:17, ESV) Here is a word against the sheep. He goes on to say, “Is it not enough for you to feed on the good pasture, that you must tread down with your feet the rest of your pasture; and to drink of clear water, that you must muddy the rest of the water with your feet?” (Ezekiel 34:18, ESV) And again in verse twenty-one, “Because you push with side and shoulder, and thrust at all the weak with your horns, till you have scattered them abroad,” (Ezekiel 34:21, ESV) These sheep did not act like the LORD’s sheep. No, they acted as if they were lost, by themselves, and concerned only with themselves. This is not about being the victims and complaining that their lot in life is the fault of someone else namely the bad shepherds. As sheep, they are helpless, but this is no excuse to go around only helping themselves. We are these sheep.

Now this is not like the television show. The people of Israel had been scattered just like Moses warned them. They were not living in an abandoned property they had abandoned the promises and were scattered to another property. They had gone wild, but the LORD will not return them to the wild. No, the LORD will be their Shepherd. He will restore their souls. He will make them to lie down in green pastures and lead them by the still waters. He will bring them home to their land where they belong. They will dwell in fellowship with their Shepherd. There is no need to look for someone qualified to adopt them. They will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. These were the promises given to the sheep as they lived in exile. 

These words come to the church in our day teaching shepherds to shepherd the sheep of God speaking the voice of God. These words teach us as sheep to listen to the voice of the Good Shepherd and be His sheep. We are to regard each other as those who belong to the LORD. We are to love one another. If we go around filling our bellies with the green pastures and have no regard for the other sheep, we break the fifth commandment. We are not to drink of the clean water and muddy the water for the next person having no regard for others. 

We are not to bully each other like a goat. We are not to push and shove others out of the way thinking only of ourselves. We are not to supposed to act like lions, tigers, or bears. In doing so, sheep scatter sheep driving them out of the church and into the wastelands. The LORD will be the judge. He knows what is done in secret. He will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep. He know about those who over indulge themselves at the expense of others who are starved. The church is not a junkyard in which dog eats dog and only the strong survive. The church is a shelter in which our souls and many others are restored. As the Good Shepherd has loved us we are learning to love others.

Throughout the history of the world, there has only been one perfect shepherd and one perfect lamb. He was promised by the Holy Spirit in the written text of the Old Testament. Today’s text ends with this wonderful promise of the Messiah, “And I will set up over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he shall feed them: he shall feed them and be their shepherd. And I, the Lord, will be their God, and my servant David shall be prince among them. I am the Lord; I have spoken.” (Ezekiel 34:23-24, ESV) Where the earthly kings and priests had failed, the Messiah would succeed. He would not be like them. He will be a servant. He will serve the LORD. He will restore what was lost and He will usher in the eternal kingdom. 

He will be the Shepherd. There will be one Shepherd and one people. Here we see the paradox. The LORD will be the promised Shepherd while at the same time the Messiah will be the promised Shepherd. There will be only one Shepherd. Here we are taught about the Holy Incarnation. God will become man. Jesus is both truly God and truly man. Jesus is the LORD. There will be One Shepherd and One Flock. He will rescue His sheep by giving up His life. Zechariah chapter thirteen declares, “Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered; I will turn my hand against the little ones.” (Zechariah 13:7, ESV) Jesus is the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for His sheep. He alone protects the sheep to the put of sacrificing Himself. 

Throughout the history of the world, there has only been one perfect lamb. Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes the sin of the world away. The prophet Isaiah declared, "He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter…” (Isaiah 53:7, ESV) Jesus alone completely listened to the voice of the Father and did not go astray. 

Jesus is the fulfillment of these promises. At the crucifixion, the disciples of Jesus scattered. But, after the resurrection, He began to gather His sheep again. The apostles were sent out to gather lost sheep of the house of Israel and then to make sheep of all nations. These sheep would hear the Shepherd voice and follow Him. He will raise them on the last day to which they will enter paradise. He came to seek and to save the lost. He heals the sick. He strengthens the weak. He feeds the sheep. He gathers the scattered. 

We are the gathered sheep. We are listening for our Shepherd’s voice. He feeds us with His word. We are learning to believe that we are His sheep. As His sheep, we are learning to believe that we are helpless, but not hopeless. The LORD Jesus is the One who helps us and gives us hope.   We are learning to believe that as sheep we are lost by nature, but found in Christ. The LORD Jesus is our Good Shepherd who has come to seek us out when we stray. We are learning to believe that because the LORD Jesus is our Shepherd, we shall not want. We need not push others out of the way to get what we want. He is the one who restores our souls. He leads us in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. He is the one that grants us goodness and mercy all the days of our lives. Each day, in which we listen to His voice, we learn how Good our Shepherd is. Amen.

Witness, Mercy, Life Together Video Clip

Witness, Mercy, Life Together Logo

Witness, Mercy, Life Together.

Actions of the 64th Regular Convention of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod produced a number of changes for our beloved Synod, not least of which were the election of President Matthew C. Harrison and the adoption of a number of resolutions brought forward by the Blue Ribbon Task Force on Synod Structure and Governance.  While delegates at the convention made dramatic decisions that will affect the future of the LCMS, its congregational principle and scriptural foundations remain unchanged.  And as President Harrison assumed his new responsibilities for leadership of the church and began pondering how to fulfill the responsibility of implementing the restructuring approved by convention, he wanted to start by focusing on the church's work and the emphasis of: witness, mercy, and life together. 

These phrases illustrate how the church lives and works together to proclaim the Gospel and to provide for our brothers and sisters in Christ in our congregations, communities and throughout the world.   And in all we do, Christ is at the center, leading us, sustaining us, keeping us focused on our mission.  This will never change.

http://www.lcms.org/

Architectural Rendering

Here is an architectural rendering of the new Redeemer Evangelical Lutheran Church building. 

Sermon: Life or Death

15th Sunday after Pentecost, 2010

Rev. Brian L. Kachelmeier

 

Deuteronomy 30:15-20

 

In the name of Jesus. Amen.

 

In today’s Old Testament text from Deuteronomy chapter thirty we hear these words, "See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil." (Deuteronomy 30:15, ESV) And the text goes on to say, "I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live," (Deuteronomy 30:19, ESV)

 

The age old question is this: What is the meaning of life? The answer to this question is extremely important yet profoundly neglected. We assume we know the answer until things don’t go the way we plan. Then we begin to ponder the question anew. What is the meaning of life? Who gives meaning to life? Do I? Do you? What is life? 

 

Well, some say life is a cereal or a bowl of cherries. In that way, all that matters is food. I suppose the bigger the bowl the better. But what type of diet is best? Jesus says, “Do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink.” (Matt. 6:25, ESV) Others say that life is a highway or a journey. In that way, all that matters is moving forward. I suppose the more comfortable the ride the better. But where are we going? Jesus says, "Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple." (Luke 14:27, ESV)

 

Some say that life is a game. In that way, all that matters is having fun. I suppose the more exciting the activities the better. But in the end who wins? Is it the one with the most money? Jesus says, "Any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple." (Luke 14:33, ESV) The other day I say a bumper sticker that said, “Life is the school. Love is the lesson.” In that way all that matters is learning to love. But if we are left to independent studies we will end up loving ourselves? Jesus says, "If anyone comes to me and does not hate… …even his own life, he cannot be my disciple." (Luke 14:26, ESV)

 

Moses doesn’t enroll the Israelites in a list of independent studies courses in which they can make love and not war, or grab whatever possessions they desire, or take the easy road, or indulge in any type of food. Instead, he teaches them and puts before them, life or death, good or evil, blessing or curse.  As Jesus says, “Wide and easy is the way that leads to death and narrow and difficult is the way that leads to life.” 

 

Now what does it mean that the Israelites can either have life or have death? They are already living and one day they will all die. They are living in the already but not yet. They have life. God is the source of all life for He is life. They have God with them. There is life in His word. They are already living and already dying at the same time. Yet, they are being pointed toward their future life with God in the Promised Land. Life with God leads to eternity with God. Jesus says, “Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live.” (John 11:25, ESV) Life separated from God leads to eternity apart from Him. Their life is tied to the land that God has chosen to give to them. In this land, the LORD has chosen a place for His name where He will dwell with His people. In this land, the LORD will take upon flesh and blood. He will be born in this land. He will die in this land. He will rise again in this land. To live in this place is to have true life. To be removed from the land leads to death. They are warned not to forsake the fellowship that they have with God. They are instructed to choose life. 

 

In our lives, we are faced with many choices on a daily basis. Just the other day I was at the donut shop and I was faced with the choice of which donut to eat. There were so many choices to choose from. In fact, there were almost too many choices. You see, I have a difficult time choosing which one would be best, because I know that there always might be a better choice. Now in today’s text the choice is simple: life or death.

 

We must understand that the people of God are not told to choose God. In fact God has already chosen them. These people have already been redeemed from slavery in Egypt. Moses tells us in Deuteronomy chapter four that because the LORD loved their fathers, He chose them and brought them out of Egypt. In Deuteronomy chapter seven, we are told that the LORD chose them as His special treasured possession because He loved them. 

 

Thus, in today’s text they are told that the LORD is their God. They have already been chosen and loved by God. Likewise, we are told that God loved us and sent His Son to die for us. As God’s people we have been chosen in Christ. We have been redeemed from slavery to sin. The choice is not about making God our Redeemer. He already took care of that. He chose death to give us life. Rather, the choice is about rejoicing in the fellowship that we have with Him or rejecting this fellowship. Either we go with the grain of the cross or we cut against it. In our lives, we either live with God or against God. Either we learn from God or we try to teach God.

 

If we see life as a school and the lesson to be learned is love, then we cannot just embrace any concept of love. We are to love God. Deuteronomy six states, “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.”" (Deuteronomy 6:4-5, ESV) As disciples, we are learning. Moses gives to us the lesson plan which consists of loving God, walking in His way, keeping His commandments, hearing His voice, and holding fast to Him. This does not come naturally. It needs to be learned. These Israelites don’t tell Moses we already know about the exodus because we learned that lesson in Sunday School class. They need to continue to learn it so that they do not forget it. 

 

In Deuteronomy chapter thirteen, Moses teaches us that the LORD will allow false prophets to come in our midst who will try to lead us away to follow after false gods for the purpose of testing our love for the LORD. Before this happens we are told to be so familiar with God’s voice found in His written word so that we do not listen to the false voices. Loving, walking, hearing, and keeping are all related to the knowledge of God’s word. God’s word is life. The one who hears and believes is like a tree planted by the streams of water yielding its fruit. Moses warns us so that our hearts will not turn away from the LORD our God, that we will not close our ears to the voice of God, and that we will not set our eyes on other gods. We are learning to swim against the current.

 

There’s a game show on television called “Are You Smarter than a Fifth Grader?” On that show, adult contestants are brought on with the challenge of answering fifth grade level questions. Subjects such as history, geography, grammar, and science are covered. While the contestant is given the question, there is a group of fifth graders who are also preparing their own individual answers. If the contestant gets stumped, he can ask for help. But, he can only ask for help three times. His options are to peek, copy, or save. If he gets the answer incorrect, he can be saved if the student gets the answer correct. The correct answer is credited to him as if he had answered it himself.

 

In the school of life, we come up short. We are spiritually challenged students. We get the answers wrong. Based upon our own merits we fail. Yet, there is one star student who scored straight “A’s.” His answers are always correct. His answers are credited to us. He alone perfectly loved the Father, walked in His way, listened to Him, and followed His will to the point of death. On the cross, He became the curse, evil was poured out on Him, and He was delivered over to death for us. He chose that path for us so that we would need to choose it. He has become our life, our good, and our blessing. He has chosen a place for His name and that is on all who have been baptized. If we have the Son, we have life. Amen.

We believe...

We believe...

...The One True God has revealed Himself to be Triune (one God in three persons): the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God.  We teach and confess the doctrine of the Holy Trinity in the words of the Aposltes' Creed, the Nicene Creed, and the Athanasian Creed.  The Holy Blessed Trinity has created us, redeemed us, and sanctified us.

Originally, the first man and woman were created good.  Then they sinned, breaking fellowship with God and bringing death into the world.  After the fall into sin, all humanity is by nature in slavery to sin, death, and the devil.  Jesus Christ alone is our Redeemer, meaning that He has purchased and won us from the power of sin, death, and the devil.  Jesus Christ has redeemed us, meaning that He has bought and purchased us not with gold or silver, but by the shedding of His blood, giving to us forgiveness, life, and salvation.

An individual receives this gift of redemption by God's grace alone.  An individual is justified, declared righteous in the sight of God, by faith alone in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross.  This faith itself is a gift from God.  It is the work of the Holy Spirit who creates and strengthens faith in the individual through the hearing of God's Word and in the receiving of baptism and the Lord's Supper.  This message of redemption in the name of Jesus is revealed to us in God's written Word of the Old and New Testaments.  Only in these writings can we be certain and sure of what God desires for us to believe, teach, and confess.

Sermon: Acceptable Worship and Pleasing Sacrifices

14th Sunday after Pentecost, 2010

Rev. Brian L. Kachelmeier

Hebrews 13:1-17

In the name of Jesus. Amen.

One school year, we visited a friend attending Texas A & M in College Station. While on campus, she pointed out to us a certain plot of grass that was set apart from the rest. No one was allowed to walk on the grass. It was deemed unacceptable and it would not please the cadets. It was clear that I was not at liberty to determine what behavior and practice on that campus was deemed acceptable and pleasing. Now before you think that this was just some silly ritual followed on the campus to Texas A & M, note that we have the same type of ideas of what is acceptable and pleasing. We know that it would not be acceptable and pleasing to the county if a person were to ride a motor cycle on the golf course. We know that it would not be acceptable and pleasing if a person drove a car on to Sullivan football field at the high school. We know that it would not be acceptable and pleasing to park a big RV on your neighbor’s front lawn without asking permission. You can’t just go into someone else’s house and make up your own rules of etiquette.

It is the same way in the church. We are called to offer acceptable worship and pleasing sacrifices to God. Chapter twelve in the book of Hebrews closes with this remark, "Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire." (Hebrews 12:28-29, ESV) And from today’s lesson in chapter thirteen we hear these words, "Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God." (Hebrews 13:15-16, ESV)   So what is acceptable worship? What are sacrifices that are pleasing to God? What does it mean to continually offer up sacrifice of praises?

In the late 1700’s, the founding fathers of this nation felt that the freedom of religion was a natural right of all men. However, this understanding was forged out of a belief that the individual has the right to choose what is acceptable worship and pleasing sacrifices to God. Also, this feeling was based upon the idea that any religion that teaches man to be good is a good religion and therefore good for society.

In his book Rights of Man, Thomas Paine describes religion as “…man bringing tohis maker the fruits of his heart; and though these fruits may differ from each other, like the fruits of the earth, the grateful tribute of every one is accepted.” And also he says, “Why may we not suppose, that the great Father of all is pleased with variety of devotion.” For Thomas Paine acceptable worship is a fruit of the heart. In other words, if the person is sincere, then the worship is acceptable. Likewise, Paine concluded that God must be pleased with a variety of devotion which shows individual creativity.

In the Old Testament scriptures, God makes it clear what type of worship is acceptable to Him and what sacrifices He is pleased with. He definitely did not accept the worship of the Canaanites nor was He pleased with their sacrifices. Their religion was based upon creation just like that of the Deist in the days of Thomas Paine. Acceptable worship is not determined by what is pleasing to the worshiper, but rather by the One who is worshiped. When Israel tried to copy the style of their contemporaries, they were not accepted and they did not please God. God alone determines what is pleasing and acceptable to Him. 

First, we must understand that these sacrifices do no remove sin. In the book of Hebrews we learn about the sacrificial system instituted by God. Under the Old Testament, the high priest was appointed to act in behalf of men to offer gifts and sacrifices as Hebrews chapter five tells us. (Hebrews 5:1, ESV) However, these gifts and sacrifices that they offered could not perfect the conscience of the worshiper as Hebrews chapter nine tells us. (Hebrews 9:9-10, ESV) These sacrifices offered were shadows of the reality to come which would make us perfect as Hebrews chapter ten teaches us. (Hebrews 10:1, ESV) 

Jesus is the reality both as the true High Priest and as the true sacrifice. For this reason, the Son of God took upon a body in order to die and cleanse us with His blood. Through His sacrificial death we have been sanctified. He put away sins once and for all. Only the sacrifice of Jesus removes sin, makes perfect, and purifies the conscience. By his blood we have been freed from our sins and made into a kingdom and a royal priesthood. (Revelation 1:5-6, ESV)

Second, when we are told to continually offer up acceptable worship and pleasing sacrifices to God we recognize that the words “acceptable” and “pleasing” are the same Greek word. Our spiritual sacrifices are acceptable and pleasing to God through Jesus because His sacrifice makes us acceptable and pleasing to God. Thus, we are told to offer up these sacrifices through Him. In today’s epistle, we are told, "Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice.” (Hebrews 13:15, ESV)   In First Peter chapter two we are told, "As you come to him [Jesus], a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." (1 Peter 2:4-5, ESV) The sacrificial death of Jesus has enabled us to be a royal priesthood as the baptized. 

Third, these sacrifices are done through faith in Christ. Hebrews chapter eleven tells us,“And without faith it is impossible to please him,” (Hebrews 11:6, ESV) Again, we have the same Greek word that refers to the acceptable worship, pleasing sacrifices, and being pleasing to God. When we trust in the person and work of Jesus Christ, who is the perfect pleasing sacrifice, we are made perfect and pleasing to God. Hebrews chapter also teaches us that this is the difference between the sacrifice offered by Abel and the one offered by Cain. We are called to offer up sacrifices of praise that are the fruit of lips that confess the name of Jesus. Where there is faith in the name of Jesus, there is fruit from the Holy Spirit.

As His people we are called to offer acceptable worship and pleasing sacrifices. Through the waters of Holy Baptism, we have been marked as the children of God and heirs of the kingdom. The pleasing sacrifices from the pleasing priesthood are not optional. As those who are called acceptable by God we are called to offer acceptable worship.

It would be like going to purchase a new car and the salesperson giving to you a list of optional items that are expected to come with the car. As if he asked, “Would you like the optional package that comes with tire? Would you like the optional windows and front windshield? Would you like the optional doors and seatbelts?”   See when you go to purchase a car that has been made to transport you from point “A” to point “B,” these essential items are not optional. You don’t have to wonder whether or not your new car will come with a steering wheel. That’s not an option. It comes with a car that was built for driving.

The LORD your God has created you and redeemed you and made you into His holy priesthood to offer acceptable worship and pleasing sacrifices. In Hebrews chapter eleven we are warned, "For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins." (Hebrews 10:26, ESV) In today’s epistle, we are given a list of unholy actives that we are to flee from. These activities are not acceptable and they are not pleasing to God. We are to refrain from being unloving, not hospitable to strangers, forgetful of those in prison, sexual immorality, the love of money, dishonor to the leaders in the church, following false teachings about Jesus.

These are unacceptable and not pleasing uses of our bodies that have been made holy through the body of Jesus. In Romans Paul writes,

"I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." (Romans 12:1-2, ESV)

Because Jesus took upon our flesh and died in our place, He has made our bodies holy and acceptable to God. His body was used for our good. Because our bodies are made good by Him, we are to use our bodies for the good of our neighbor. Our good works do not make us good. God does not need our good works but our neighbor does.

It’s because of Jesus, through Jesus, and in faith, trusting what Jesus has done that makes us pleasing and acceptable to God so that we can do acceptable and pleasing things for our neighbor. "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." (Hebrews 13:8, ESV) Jesus is unchangeable. He is holy. In Him, we are holy and those we are being changed from sinners to forgiven sinners who serve other sinners. 

Out of great love for us, Christ gave up His life for us. As He first loved us, we are learning to love others by sacrificing our own selfish desires to serve them. Our sacrifices are the fruit of lips that confess the name of Jesus trusting that He has made us acceptable and pleasing to the Father. Because of Jesus and through Jesus we offer these sacrifices in faith. In this way, we offer acceptable worship and sacrifices that are pleasing to the Lord our God. Amen.

The Book of Concord

Sermon: Strive to Enter

13th Sunday after Pentecost, 2010

Rev. Brian L. Kachelmeier

Luke 13:22-30

In the name of Jesus. Amen.

Last month, when we were in Texas, we stopped in San Antonio. Of course, we decided to go downtown and see the Alamo. First, we ate lunch in the shopping mall. Then, we meandered through the shops. Next, we got on the river boat ride for a relaxing cruise. Then, we went back into the shopping mall. Now we were ready to head to the Alamo. When we had arrived at the Alamo, to our surprise, it was closed. We were unable to get into the Alamo. Visiting hours were over. We took our pictures so that we could remember the day that we were locked outside of the Alamo. Now it didn’t matter that we desired to go into the Alamo. Once the door was shut, it was too late. We were stuck on the outside. I sure wish we would have bothered to find out the operating hours. We will remember the Alamo a little bit differently than other people.

In our Gospel text, Jesus says, “When once the master of the house has risen and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, open to us,’ then he will answer you, ‘I do not know where you come from.’” (Luke 13:25, ESV) Now there is no true comparison between being stuck on the outside of the Alamo and being shut out of the kingdom of God. But if we can contemplate for a moment upon the angst of temporal discouragements, how much more do we want to avoid the angst of the eternal discouragement of seeing “Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God but you yourselves cast out” ? (Luke 13:28, ESV) This is one of those sayings of Jesus that is difficult to hear.

Now before we jump to the liberal so-called scholar mode of interpretation and convince ourselves that Jesus couldn’t have said this because it doesn’t sound nice, let us realize that our God is not an idol that we can form and shape into our own image. Now before we jump to the American so-called evangelical mode of interpretation and just assume that Jesus is talking about those who don’t come to church, let us realize that the words of law and gospel are spoken to the church.

Let us be disciples and learn from the voice of the master who controls the door. Our Gospel text opens with these words," [Jesus] went on his way through towns and villages, teaching and journeying toward Jerusalem. And someone said to him, “Lord, will those who are saved be few?”" (Luke 13:22-23, ESV) That is a strange question. Now at this point, the liberal so-called scholar would expect Jesus to say, “Oh no. You need not worry about these things, because everyone will be saved.” But, that is not what Jesus says.

Listen to Jesus. He says, "“Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able." (Luke 13:24, ESV) We cannot mix God’s attributes of love and justice. God is love and desires all people to be saved. God is holy and divine justice must be met. For this reason, the Father sent the Son, out of love, to be the atoning sacrifice for all. The Bible does not teach universalism in which all people will be saved.

Instead, the Bible teaches universal atonement in which Jesus died on the cross for the sins of the world. All are sinners. All people have forgiveness in Jesus alone. Either you are a repentant sinner that trusts in this forgiveness or you are an unrepentant sinner who rejects this forgiveness. Only through Jesus can one enter into the kingdom. Those who seek to enter and are not able are those who do not put their trust in the sacrificial death of Jesus that alone gains access to the kingdom. God is holy and His holiness demands justice. Either justice is met in the death of Jesus for our sins or justice is met in the death of the sinner for his own unbelief. "Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him." (John 3:36, ESV)

At the same time, we don’t want to fall into the mode of the American so-called evangelicals who assume the Christian life is to be a bed of rose filled with nothing but happiness in which God gives to you everything your heart desires. The problem with these two different modes of interpretation is that they are motivated from a hatred for discipline and they end up casting God’s word away (Psalm 50:17).

Jesus says, "“Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able." (Luke 13:24, ESV) The Greek word for “strive” is ἀγωνίζομαι which means to compete, fight, struggle, or to make an intense effort. We can hear our English word “agony.” This is the same word that is used for an athlete. As St. Paul says, "Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable." (1 Cor. 9:25, ESV) If an athlete struggles for something temporal, how much more should we put forth an intense effort for the eternal prize? This is not a sprint it is a long distance marathon.

This is the same Greek word found in today’s epistle lesson which reads, "In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood." (Hebrews 12:4, ESV) Of course, verse one of that same chapter opened with the image of a runner running a race with endurance.

It is the same Greek word in which Paul encourages Timothy to"Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses." (1 Timothy 6:12, ESV) And then Paul tells Timothy, "I have fought the good fight , I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." (2 Timothy 4:7, ESV) It is the word that the Holy Spirit uses to express the seriousness of keeping the teaching of the Apostles. The church is to struggle to keep the doctrine pure. We are called to struggle individually against sin. This is not an easy task.

We are called to strive, to struggle, and to fight in order to enter through the narrow door. We are warned now so that we do not find ourselves on the outside of the closed door saying ‘Lord, open to us,’ and ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’ (Luke 13:25-26, ESV) To such people Jesus will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of evil!’"(Luke 13:27, ESV) Listen and learn these words now so that you will not need to hear them at the end of time. Now we struggle so that we can rest then.

We cannot boast at that time, “We built a new church building for you dear Redeemer and we even named it after you. We went into the doors of our new church building and ate and drank in your presence. You taught us their.” This boast is in vain if we do not strive, struggle, and fight to enter through the narrow door. We are in a battle.

When Davy Crockett, Jim Bowie and the others took refuge in the Alamo in those days, they did not just close the doors of the mission and wait for their death. They strove, they struggled, and they fought to the end. Now our fight is not against flesh and blood. We fight against the spiritual forces of evil. We struggle with sin in our own lives. We are called to fight it and put it to death. We strive to enter into the narrow door that leads to eternal life.

Let us not concern ourselves with how many will be saved by entering through the doors of our new building. How successful will it be? Are there going to be a few or a lot? That is the Lord’s job. Knowing that there will be few, let us strive to enter in. Strive to enter in so that you are a part of the few. As we gather to learn, to eat and to drink in the presence of Christ, we do so confessing our sins. We speak the words of Psalm 6 saying, “O Lord, rebuke me not in your anger, nor discipline me in your wrath.” And again, “Turn, O Lord, deliver my life; save me for the sake of your steadfast love.” As we say these words in faith now then the words of Psalm 6 will not be said against us then which say, “Depart from me, all you workers of evil!’" (Luke 13:27, ESV) We are to depart from the sin in our own hearts now trusting that Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes our sin away.

Listen to the boasting of the people outside the door at the end of time. They say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence” not that we believed in your promises in the eating and drinking. “[Y]ou taught in our streets” not that we learned anything though. (Luke 13:26, ESV) At least we showed up to the divine service doesn’t that count for anything?

Jesus will say, “No, it doesn’t. Depart from Me you workers of unrighteousness.” You see at the End of Time at the Final Judgment we will stand before the Judge. Either we will stand as a worker of unrighteousness or as righteous worker. With faith we have the righteousness of Jesus. Without faith all we have is our own unrighteousness. We know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the good news is that Christ became unrighteous for us so that we maybe righteous. He came to die on the cross to earn, to win, and to give to us the kingdom as a gift. The Apostle Paul tells us we were workers of unrighteousness, "But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God." (1 Corinthians 6:9-11, ESV) In baptism you have been washed and made holy. You have been justified, that is declared righteous based upon the works of Jesus.

We don’t gather in His presence now so that we can just say, “Yeah, you use to teach us, we ate with you, drank with you, and we even named our church after you.” No, we gather in His presence to receive the kingdom now. He gives to us His own righteousness and takes away our own wretchedness. We come before Him humbly confessing our sins. "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9, ESV) We stand in His mercy.

Jesus is the one at the door. He is the One who lets the people in to the kingdom. Either we enter in through his righteousness or we stand outside in our own unrighteousness. Jesus is the Judge and we already know the verdict: Not guilty, because He removes our guilt. We are waiting for that time here in Los Alamos. We do not sit back and merely wait for the end to come. We strive, we struggle, and we fight to the end. We are not fighting against flesh and blood. We are in a spiritual battle. We are in a fight here in Los Alamos and we gather to take refuge in this building now and in the new building in the days to come. We shall remember the Alamos differently. Strive, struggle, and fight knowing that your confidence is built upon His righteousness. Jesus is the Redeemer of this church not in name only, but in reality. Amen.

LCMS President-Elect Harrison's Convention Address 2010

Did Luther Endorse “Bar” Music for the Church? by Phillip Magness

Over at the Brothers of John the Steadfast site, Phillip Magness (Cantor of Bethany Lutheran Church in Naperville, Illinois) addresses the common myth about Luther using "bar music" in the Divine Service.  Check out the link below:

Did Luther Endorse “Bar” Music for the Church? by Phillip Magness

The Church Stands on the Doctrine of Justification

It has been said that the Christian Church stands or falls on the doctrine of justification through faith alone. When it is rightly taught it gives all glory to Jesus and true comfort to the terrified conscience.

No one would like to see the church fall, or the individual stumble, more than Satan. He continues to send his false teachers who steal glory from Jesus and rob consciences of comfort and peace. He tries to strip us of the righteousness of Christ and leave us dressed in our own sin. Keep in mind that the devil is a liar and a murder.

Therefore, it is necessary to continually meditate upon the true doctrine of justification, so that one is not lead astray. It is God the Holy Spirit who is active in the Holy Christian Church teaching us and bringing back to our minds the promise of the gospel. He is the Spirit of Truth and the Giver of Life.

He declares to us in Galatians chapter three, “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you that have been baptized into Christ have been clothed with Christ.” As baptized believers, we are covered with Christ. The righteousness of Jesus has been imputed, credited, and accounted to be our own. On the other hand, our sin has been imputed, credited, and accounted to belong to Jesus.

The doctrine of justification is the life giving message of Jesus. He is both the sacrificial Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world and the Ascended High Priest who is presently standing as our Mediator between us and God. In Christ there is victory over sin, death, and the devil.

Breaking Ground

Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. (Psalm 127:1, ESV)
In August, we broke ground!  We pray that the LORD would bless our efforts.  To God be the glory!!!  The completeion of our new church building is set for this winter.  Now of course it all depends upon how much snow we receive this year.  By the end of this coming week, the foundation should be poured.  By the end of this month, the exterior walls on the building should be up.  Currently, we are leasing a store front space for the teaching of God's word, the preaching of the gospel, and the administration of the sacraments.  See the slideshow below.

Sermon: The LORD Our Shield

SERMON

11th Sunday after Pentecost, 2010

Rev. Brian L. Kachelmeier


Genesis 15:1-6


In the name of Jesus. Amen

When I was a child I thought like a child. My heroes were the super heroes from the comic books. I can remember playing super heroes on the playground and pretending to fight evil. Spider-man could crawl on walls and shoot webs. Batman had a utility belt with more gadgets than a Swiss Army knife. Superman could fly and bend a steel beam with his bare hands. Captain America had a shield. Now a shield didn’t seem like a lot compared to the gifts that all the others had. Yet, Captain America boldly ran around with a patriotic shield.

A shield is a relic of the past. There aren’t many people walking around with a shield in our day. Unless you happen to walk by a Medieval reenactment festival, you probably won’t see one being used. Historically, it protected you from the onslaught of arrows. It blocked the smashing blow of a sword. The shield takes the damage that was intended for the person using it. Shields save lives. Now in order for the shield to work properly, the soldier must grab a hold of it tightly and not let go.

Today’s Old Testament text opens with these words," After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.” (Genesis 15:1, ESV) With these simple yet powerful words of promise, the LORD declares to be Abram’s shield. Abram has no need to fear with the LORD as his shield. The LORD promises to protect him from his enemies who bring the onslaught of arrows and the smashing blows of swords. The LORD will take the damage intended for Abraham. He will save his life. Abraham is invited to cling to the LORD and hold on tight to His word while the battle proceeds on this earth.

Now this is not the first time that Abraham heard the promises from God. He was already given the promise back in chapter twelve. In chapter twelve, Moses tells us that God initially gave Abraham the word of promise when He called him out of the land of Ur. The LORD said, "And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”" (Genesis 12:2-3, ESV) In addition, the LORD promised Abraham,“To your offspring I will give this land.” (Genesis 12:7, ESV) Some time had passed between chapters twelve and fifteen.

Apparently Abraham was wondering about the validity of the promise that God had gave to him. Verses two and three of today’s text state, But Abram said, “O Lord God, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” And Abram said, “Behold, you have given me no offspring, and a member of my household will be my heir.” (Genesis 15:2-3, ESV) In our own lives we may have periods of doubt or bewilderment. We ask where is God? Why are these things happening to me? As God continued to come to Abraham with His word, He continues to come to us with His promises.

For this reason, the Holy Spirit gives to us the gift of the book of Psalms in which we are taught to meditate upon the promises of God. For example, Psalm eighteen teaches us, "This God—his way is perfect; the word of the Lord proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him." (Psalm 18:30, ESV) Psalm 119 declares, "You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in your word." (Psalm 119:114, ESV) Today we spoke the words of Psalm thirty-three which states, "Our soul waits for the LORD; he is our help and our shield."(Psalm 33:20, ESV) Just as the LORD assured Abraham with His word, the LORD assures us not to fear for He is our shield. If an ancient soldier was confident while holding on to a wooden or metal shield, how much more should we be bold to stand firm under the attacks of the devil with God as our shield? We are weak, but God is strong. No matter what the circumstance maybe, the LORD is our shield.

The LORD likes to repeat His promises to us. We learn in today’s text that the LORD comes to dwell with us in our weakness here on this earth as He did with Abraham with His word. Verse four states, “And behold, the word of the Lord came to him: “This man shall not be your heir; your very own son shall be your heir.” (Genesis 15:4, ESV) We learn how God wants to dwell with us in our condition assuring us not to doubt. Ultimately, such passages point to the Holy Incarnation in which God takes upon our own flesh and blood to dwell in our midst speaking His word to us. Every promise of God is connected to Christ.

We have life, because Christ is our life. We receive our daily bread from the hand of God, because Christ’s hands were pierced for us. We have a place in the Kingdom, because Christ is our King. We are declared righteous in God’s sight, because Christ is our righteousness. We have been born by water and the Spirit, because Christ is eternally begotten from the Father. He takes us into the His family.

Yet, in this life, we are weak and not super human. Sin, like kryptonite, overpowers us. We can’t help but dwell upon the feelings of day to day occurrences. One day we feel close to God and the next day we cry out wondering where God is. For this reason, God comes to us with His word to assure us that because of Christ, we have fellowship with the Father. The more sin clings to us, the more we shall cling to the LORD as our shield.

In verse five the LORD reassures Abraham that he will have many sons, “And he brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” (Genesis 15:5, ESV) As the LORD attached His word of promise to the rainbow for Noah, He attaches His word of promise to the stars for Abraham. The LORD loves His creation. For this reason, He has gone to great extents to restore this creation. We look toward a new heaven and a new earth.

But until that day, we look at created things around us and meditate upon God’s promises. Look at the rainbow and know that the Creator of the rainbow will never destroy the earth with the flood waters again. Look at the water of the baptismal font and know that the LORD has washed away your sins and called you His own child. Look at the stars in the heaven and know that the LORD made a promise to Abraham that he would be a blessing to the nations and that those who would come to believe in the Messiah would be as numerous as the stars in the heavens.

But the stars don’t stop here in this gathering. We continue to locate stars in the heaven as we continue to make disciples on earth by baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit and by teaching them the words of Jesus. In this way, many more will hear the promise of the LORD, believe and be counted righteous for the sake of Jesus.

Verse six states, “And he believed the LORD, and he counted it to him as righteousness.” (Genesis 15:6, ESV) In this wonderful Old Testament text, we learn that the emphasis is placed upon God. The emphasis is not placed upon Abraham. The LORD our God gave to Abraham the word of promise and Abraham believed. Abraham grabbed a hold of this word from God. The LORD did not declare Abraham righteous based upon his achieved merit or super human strength. Abraham brought nothing to the table except his own questions infected with sin. “For without faith it is impossible to please Him” (Hebrews 11:6, ESV) Everything is based upon the promise of God. As Abraham clings to the promise, the LORD regards Abraham as righteous. He attaches himself to His shield.

In Santa Fe, there are billboards with an image of a mother and child wrapped in a blue blanket. It is an advertisement for Blue Cross Blue Shield. You see, they are covered as far as health insurance is concerned. In our baptism, we have been covered with Christ. He gives to us the gift of eternal life insurance. There are no payments. He has paid it in full. Better than a blue cross is the cross of Christ. Better than a blue shield is Christ our shield. We take our refuge in Him.

True heroes take up God as their shield. In this way, we recognize who the true heroes are in this life. This is no playground. This is the real thing. These ones are not comic book heroes who have special powers that make them super human. Rather, the true heroes consist of flesh and blood people like you and me who have faith in Christ. By faith, Abel, Noah, Abraham, and Moses lived on this earth. Their shield and our shield is the LORD. Amen.

Here is a reading from Luther's Large Catechism.  Like Luther, we maintain that baptism is a gift from God in which the name of the Holy Trinity is placed upon us.  We are baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.  What a wonderful gift!!!