Ok… If you say so!

February 7th, 2010

Rev. Brian Henderson, Pastor-Trinity Lutheran Church-San Diego
Epiphany 5C, February 7, 2010
Click here for audio of this message

“Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” (Luke 5:10b) 

It’s been a long morning of hard work for Simon-Peter.  Fishing, fishing, and more fishing and not a single fish to show for his labor.  Peter is tired and he is discouraged!  He’s sitting at the edge of the lake cleaning his nets, hearing Jesus speak… hearing Him teach, but not really listening to the words.  He’s more concerned about how he’s going to care for his family.  Have you been there?  Do you know how Peter feels? 

The crowds are pressing in on Jesus to hear the word of God. They seem hungry to hear it, and all Peter can think of is how hungry his family will be if he can’t put food on the table!  As the crowd presses in on Jesus, they’re also moving Him to the water’s edge. What’s Jesus answer to this dilemma?  He calls for a pulpit and they bring him a boat, Simon Peter’s boat to be exact.  Peter must have thought, “Well at least it’s good for something!  It sure didn’t do me any good!”   Jesus climbs into the boat and begins to teach the people about God and His kingdom of grace. They are hanging on His every Word, because they are like sheep without a shepherd.  Within the voice of this shepherd, unlike false ones, they find an unexplainable sense of comfort and assurance within His words.

We don’t know what exactly what Jesus preached that day because it isn’t recorded for us.  Peter probably didn’t know either, because He was more interested in cleaning his nets and providing for his family.  But we do know that He was most certainly preaching faith into the hearts of those who were listening!  “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing the Word of God,” which is always centered in the message of Christ Jesus!   What is that message?  Repent!  Turn away from your sinful notions about God and His Kingdom of righteousness; hear the truth about your sinful nature, and then hear how the Father of mercy and love has solved that fatal problem, and hear how He gives you new life through the forgiveness of your many sins!

Now when Jesus had finished His sermon, knowing that those Word’s were bringing new life into the hearts of the people, He turned to the one man who needed to be listening, but wasn’t.  He turned to Simon-Peter and said, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.”  And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.” [Luke. 5:4-5]

Could you hear the frustration in Peter’s words?  “Put out?!  What do you think we’ve been doing all morning?  But, ok Lord… if you say so!  But I’m not happy with this!”  Some of us might find fault with Peter for throwing his little fit… I mean after all, this is the same Jesus who recently healed his mother-in-law from a life threatening illness!  “Come on man!” we might be thinking, “Where’s your appreciation?  Where’s your faith?”  But the proof of faith is in the fruit of service! Peter did as the living Word of God instructed, all be it reluctantly.  And in the end, he was blessed because of his obedience. 

Friends, attitude and obedience are not the same thing!  Attitudes change like the winds, or like the waves upon the waters that are being fished!  But obedience and trust in God’s Word are the very thing that controls the winds and the waters, even the fish beneath them.  

While Peter was busy tending to the worries of life, hundreds of people were blessed with faith unto salvation, which came to them through the living Word of God.  This was a Word that Peter had probably heard many times.  Maybe he felt that he could afford to do something else with his time… this time, but Jesus had other ideas.  Jesus wanted Peter to be blessed also.  So He calls and Peter responds!  Reluctant but obedient!  

Peter needed to hear the Word… we need to hear it!  But what is that word? 

It is the same message that the people on shore needed to hear… forgiveness!  What was Peter’s reaction to the miraculous catch of fish that he, John and James took in?  He was ashamed!  Ashamed that he neglected the Words of His Master!  Ashamed that His heart was not centered on the miraculous Words of Jesus.  And so we hear his confession, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” [vs.8]   

Dear friends, in this simple story we see the loving care that Jesus demonstrates for all God’s children, even the ones who aren’t listening or won’t listen!  Peter’s ears had checked out because his heart was consumed by other things.  But He needed to hear the Word; he needed to hear about God’s love, so Jesus engaged his eyes in order to open his heart!  And so it is with us! 

So many times we let the worries and cares, or maybe the fun and distractions of our lives drowned out God’s Word… His living presence in our lives.  And when we do this, we begin to lose perspective, God’s perspective; so He intervenes.  What is He trying to tell us?  That we need Him… we need His forgiveness… we need His Words of eternal life!  For in Him we live and breathe, and find our existence!  And when He gets our attention, like Peter, we are ashamed and full of remorse!  We confess to Him that we have lived our lives as if He did not matter.  And praise God for this confession friends, because it is the very thing that moves His to quickly speak His Words of love and forgiveness to us.  “Do not be afraid!  I have overcome sin, death and the devil!  You are saved from these things… you are forgiven.  But you are saved with a purpose!” 

And what’s that purpose?  To be obedient!  Jesus wants you to follow Him where ever He leads!  He wants you to take His Word with you in your heart wherever you go!  What Word is that?  The same Word you received in your baptism… the same Word you hear preached and read for yourself… the same Word you eat and drink; the Word of repentance and forgiveness!  Jesus wants you to bring Him and His message of eternal life to your neighbor… He wants you to be a fisher of men!  And unlike the fishing that takes place in rivers, lakes, and oceans, where being caught means death, He wants to help you catch your neighbor so that He can bring them life!  He wants you to catch people unto eternal life! 

Jesus asked Peter to leave everything and follow Him.  And for some, for pastors, chaplains, deaconesses and missionaries, that is still His call!  While that certain call is admirable, it is not the only call!  Jesus calls each of us in whatever position of life we find ourselves to be fishers of men!  You don’t need to take a course of evangelism or persuasive speech to fish these waters!  All you need is a call!  All you need is a Word from God!  And my friends, each of us has this call, and each of us has the message.  We are to speak the Words of life… we are to speak of repentance and forgiveness.  The same message that saved us is the very message that will save our neighbors! 

Dear friends, this story about Peter’s experience is recorded here for us, so that his experience will become ours; so that the same faith and energy that was created in Peter will be created in us.  God wants us like Peter to have a strong faith that will overcome the doubts of this world, and then He wants us to have the obedience to follow Jesus and see others caught by the very same message.  

As you live your life friends, be ready to allow God to speak to you and through you… be ready to let Him call you and lead you.  And when you have an opportunity to speak for Him, share His message with your neighbors.  The ones that God has prepared friends will listen and they will follow you, just as the crowds on the lake shore hung on every Word that Jesus spoke.  And where will you lead them?  To the very same place that God dutifully ministers to you… right here in this very church!  Here where the baptism font waits to destroy the power of sin, death, and the devil!  Here to hear the Words of eternal life proclaimed!  Here to feast at His table where forgiveness is served through His body and blood in, with, and under the bread and wine! 

Well, let me close with the remainder of our lesson this morning, and then offer a final thought:  After Jesus gave Peter his direction, and after Peter responded in obedience, the result was a catch of fish that was miraculous.  Seeing that this catch was far more than he could have imagined or handled alone, “(He) signaled to (his) partners in the other boat to come and help (him). And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink.” [vs. 7]  Dear friends, fishing for men is a team endeavor.  We need you if we are to fill this boat, Christ’s church, even this little boat we call Trinity.  That’s your calling; it’s the calling of each and every one of us!  And why should we fill this church?  So that the Word that is proclaimed may draw other “fishers of men” into the service of Christ, and so that the Kingdom may be expanded one forgiven sinner at a time! 

I pray for a blessed and fruitful catch, in Jesus name…. AMEN!

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Love in Action

January 31st, 2010

Rev. Brian Henderson, Pastor-Trinity Lutheran Church-San Diego
Epiphany 4C, January 31, 2010
Click here for audio of this message

“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.  Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” (1 Cor. 13:4-7) 

INTRODUCTION:  A woman was injured as a streetcar derailed and veered slightly off the track and onto a portion of the platform where she was standing. She was caught beneath one of the cars. The police sent for a crane to lift the car off her body. While waiting for the crane, a crowd of people gathered out of curiosity.
    One man pushed through the crowd, crawled beneath the car that had been derailed and was teetering precariously, and said to her, “Take my hand.” As she took his hand, she felt warmth and courage. This calmed her and prevented her from going into shock.
    After the crane arrived and the woman was released, she said, “I never thought an outstretched hand could mean so much.” 

We all love to hear heroic, self sacrificing stories like this one because they communicate some of the best qualities of love that people can display.  We celebrate this type of “self sacrificing” love when we hear about it, and God agrees… we should celebrate!  And yet, God doesn’t want you to just admire and celebrate this type of love, He insists that it should be alive and central within each of us!  He wants you to be a doer not just an admirer!  Listen to how Jesus uses love to sum up the all of the 10 Commandments: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.  This is the great and first commandment.  And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.  On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” [Matthew 22:37–40]

 This morning dear friends, God is stretching out His hand to you in this sinful world and He wants you to grab onto Him through His Word.  He wants His Word to change you and rearrange you so that this type of self giving even self sacrificing love WILL be natural within you.  He has already begun this great work within your heart through your Holy baptism, and now he wants to continue that work.  Listen to the Words God gave to St. Paul and let His Spirit work within you.  

I. Love is patient and kind: A better word I think for patience is “longsuffering”.  Love is longsuffering and kind!  This world we live in is full of evil people; dare I say there are even evil people in Christ’s church.  When evil confronts us, when a Christian brother or sister deliberately sins against us, our society advises, “Pay them back!”  But God’s Word says, “No!  Because you are to love me, you must then let that love step in and take over.  Don’t pay evil for evil, instead love your enemy; pray for them.  Don’t follow your natural instinct because it is sinful, instead suffer long, and be kind to that person.” 

I know, already we’ve been confronted with God’s Word in a way that really makes us uncomfortable, and yet that is the true meaning of what God demands from us within His commandments.  But our text this morning takes us even deeper; deeper to the point of despair.  Listen as God explains how we must love each other: 

A. Love does not envy!  Another way to say that is, “Love does not speak or do evil out of jealousy!”  That green eyed monster called Jealousy is never happy with what it has, but it’s always eyeballing what someone else has and saying, “That should be mine.  I deserve that too!”  Why if we let it, that monster would trample over anything and anyone just to get what it wants.  But if you really love as God demands, you won’t let jealousy control you! 

B. Love doesn’t boast or brag!  We know envy is wrong, and so, to combat it what do we do?  We brag about what we do have, knowing that these very words may lead others to become jealous!  So, love does not envy or boast!  Not in words and not in actions!        

C. Love isn’t arrogant!  In other words, if you really love, you will not be “full of yourself” but full of God’s love for others; when your ego is bigger than your heart, someone will always get hurt.  Is that what you want?

D. Love is not rude!  Another way to say this is, “Love never behaves improperly!”  True love is always concerned for what is right in God’s sight and then it goes out of its way not to offend others.  Paul uses this same word in other places when he talks about how people are shamefully and improperly led by their sexual desires.  If you really have love, then you will act properly!

E. Love doesn’t insist on its own way!  What this means friends, is that love is not self pleasing.  If you know others are watching you and will be offended by something you do or don’t do, don’t simply say, “Well I’m saved by grace so I can do or not do whatever I like!”  No friends, true love is always interested in the welfare of others!

F. Love isn’t irritable… it isn’t easily provoked into anger!  Well these words speak for themselves, so we’ll let them stand. 

G. Love isn’t resentful!  Or another way to say this is that love does not keep a list of wrongs on someone else.

H. Finally, love doesn’t rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth!  If we love friends, we will not keep silent when we see something happening that we know is wrong!  If we love, we will not let political correctness or peer pressure keep us from speaking the truth in love!  Wrong doing will hide the truth, but God’s love is displayed in His Word!

 God’s Word… so full of love but so full of truth, and truth can be a hard pill to swallow!  God’s truthful Word comes to our sin like a bright search light searching for any threat to God’s perfect righteousness.  It shows us what we must discover…something we would rather not discover.  And when we see it, we try to pretend it isn’t there!

ILLUS: A wealthy old woman was staring at an image she had never seen before in the city’s art museum. She called to an employee and said, “Come here young man! What is the meaning of this awful picture you have displayed here?  I find the image shallow and revolting! What do you call it?” The employee answered without even the slightest expression, “That madam, is a mirror.”

Dear friends, God’s Word is also a mirror. We may pick it up and read it simply to evaluate it with a critical eye, but in the end, we always find that we are the ones being evaluated. It shows us how we really look..  But if you are willing to force yourself to look, and if you will fight the urge to turn away, Jesus will show you a more excellent way!  He will step in front of your reflection and cover it with His own and say, “Let my reflection be yours!  Look at my image and then see your new reflection; a reflection that I gave to you within your baptism.  Look now at my love and let it change you!”

 II. Well, let’s do just that.  Let’s look at the same list that describes perfect God-given love and see how Jesus did with it.  Let’s see what a marvelous reflection He’s exchanged for ours:

 A. Love does not envy! Jesus said, “All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.  For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me.” [Jn. 6:37-39]

B. Love does not boast or brag! As the all powerful Son of God hung upon the cross, “knowing that all was now finished, (He) said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.” [Jn. 19:28]

C. Love is not arrogant! “But (He) made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” [Phil. 2:7]

D. D. Love is not rude!  “When he had said these things, one of the officers standing by struck Jesus with his hand, saying, “Is that how you answer the high priest?” Jesus answered him, “If what I said is wrong, bear witness about the wrong; but if what I said is right, why do you strike me?” [Jn. 18:22-23]

E. Love doesn’t insist on its own way!  “For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of Him who sent Me.” [Jn. 6:38]

F. Love isn’t irritable… it isn’t easily provoked into anger!  “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem (Jesus said), the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not!” [Lk. 13:34]                   

G. Love isn’t resentful!  “And when they came to the place that is called (Golgotha) The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left.  And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” [Lk. 23:33-34]

 III. Dear friends, Christ has really replaced your sinful reflection with His own.  He has covered your “unrighteousness” with His righteousness; He did this long ago upon the cross… the tree of love and longsuffering.  He chose to be planted and crucified upon the hard rock called Golgotha so that by His pain, suffering, and death your hard rocky heart of sin might be smashed and rebuilt into a heart of love.  And all of this work was made yours in your baptism.  In your baptism, Jesus promised you that you are not alone!  Like the man in the story who crawled under the street car with the trapped and dying woman to hold her hand and encourage her to hang on, Jesus is with you!  He is reminding you that His love and long suffering are now yours and He is encouraging you to take it.  This love friends, is a spiritual gift which moves your heat and hands to serve and become a Christ-like person for your neighbor.  True God given love dear friends, is the name not for the act of love, but for the heart that feels it!  This sinful world might be able to imitate the actions of love, but without Christ love implanted within their hearts, their work is simply as St. Paul says, “Like a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.”  It is nothing!

 CONCLUSION: This morning friends, if you find yourself falling short, go to the one who is longsuffering and patient, kind and loving!  Go to the only person who never fell to envy or pride!  Go to your brother who is never arrogant or rude.  Go to Jesus Christ, your brother and your friend, who is also your God and your Savior.  Confess to Him how you’ve fallen short of His love and then hear His Words of forgiveness and restoration new and fresh!  

Believe that through His Word first given to you in the waters of your Holy baptism you were born again.  Believe that through His Holy Meal you are allowed to hear, see, smell, touch, and taste forgiveness.  And then leave this place refreshed and forgiven for a purpose… you are to be Christ for your neighbor!  You are to be a person who lives for others! 

 You will be this person, because He who began this good work in you long ago will complete it!  We pray this truth in Jesus name… AMEN!

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One Baptism—One Body!

January 24th, 2010

“For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body” [1 Corinthians 12:13b]
Rev. Brian Henderson—Pastor, Trinity Lutheran Church of San Diego, CA
Click here for audio of this message

INTORDUCTION: First Corinthians is a letter from St. Paul to a church that God created out of nothing in a pagan city called Corinth.  In this letter, Paul continually reminds the Corinthians that they need to strive for unity within the body of Christ (12:12). In other words, there is only one body and one Spirit, one Lord, and one Baptism [12:4 ff., 13]. And yet, Paul has discovered the very opposite is true in their church!  Instead of unity, there are divisions and factions.  Paul’s intention then, is to unite these factions and remove the confusion that’s been caused by bad doctrine.  If they will listen and follow God’s Word then God will unite them! God unites the Corinthians the same way he unites us, by reminding us of our baptism.  A baptism, which reminds us that while we may be many members, we are but one body—while we may be many congregations, we are but one Church!

I. (vs. 12-13) Friends, Christ’s church, our church, is like the human body.  Let’s consider the human body for a moment.  Within our bodies we see the very picture of unity and completeness through a lot of individual parts. Now, this is also true with Christ’s body, the Church. To illustrate this truth, Paul begins with the oneness of the body and then to its many parts through these words: “the body is one and has many members”; he then goes backward from the many parts to the oneness of the whole by saying: “and all the members of the body, being many, are one body.” And throughout Christ’s body, He is always present and active in each one of us—He is throughout the whole body!  How?  Through God’s mysterious work in our own baptism.

In Holy Baptism friends, each one of us was baptized “in” one Spirit, in union with Jesus.  Our baptism is a vital connection with him. In our baptism, God’s Spirit is always present and always making a spiritual change within us—a change, which creates a new spiritual life within us and maintains a right spiritual relationship with God and other members of His Church.  This mystical union of Christ with the church friends is our true union with God, and it is a union that is identically sustained within each of us through Christ’s own Word and sacraments. 

Now, think about what this truth must have meant to the Corinthian church, and then think about what it means for Trinity.  “Jews are equal to pagan Greeks?”  Friends, do you see how in Christ’s body… the Church, all extremes of the human race have been drawn together into Christ and then melted and fused together into one indistinguishable whole? What was lower than a slave, human property with almost no rights? Yet Paul is telling those rich cats and property owners, many of who owned slaves that they are their equals! Christ is in their slaves just as he is in them… they are one!  It’s quite the wakeup call isn’t it?  The same is true with us friends; through our baptism, we are one with the butcher, the baker, the president, the junkie, the homeless, the parent and the child.  People of all races and back grounds, through their baptisms are “one body” just like the physical human body. 

Now with this central truth stated about our physical bodies and the church, think of how preposterous it would be for a toe no longer wanting to be part of the foot, or an eye thinking that it is better than the ear.  We need all of our body parts to function the way God designed them so that we can have a complete and healthy body, and this is also the truth with Christ’s body the church! 

II. (Vs. 14-20) So why do some members of Christ’s Church feel inferior and jealous of others if all of us are baptized into the same body?  To answer this question, let’s first go back to Paul’s illustration of the human body.  Why does the ear say, “Because I am not an eye, I’m not important so that must mean that I’m not really part of the body?”  Does the ears feeling change the fact that it is truly part of the body?  All of its gripping won’t change a thing. It’s not only useless; it’s foolish, because the body can’t be just one member!  We need each member because each member has its own function. Wouldn’t it be foolish if the foot tried to grasp something or shake hands with somebody when it’s real purpose is to help the body walk and move from one place to another?  The same is true about an ear that wants to be an eye when the body really needs it for hearing.  This unity in diversity friends is what makes the body whole and functioning.  Instead of complaining about what it isn’t each part should celebrate what it is, because without each part, the body wouldn’t be whole.  This is also true about each member of Christ’s church and our congregation. Suppose a member were actually what these complainers say: not a part of Christ’s body—well what would it be? Jesus answered this question clearly; He said it would be a dead branch, fit only to be burned. Dear friends, instead of wishing we were someone else or something “better,” we should thank God for the place he has assigned to us and then work with the Holy Spirit to do our part not only expertly but also joyfully!

Don’t you think that all of this jealousy and envy is foolishness?  After all, wasn’t it “God (who) arranged (all of) the members in the body, each one of them, (just) as He chose(?) (If each of us were the same member), where would the body be?  (So, we see friends), there are many parts, yet one body.” [vs. 18-20]   All of this is part of God’s divine work of creation!  He did it all according to His will when He formed the human body and when He created His church!   He desired that both bodies would consist of many members. Each one He set into its perfect place within the body. Do we really want to find fault with what God did? Do we really have the audacity to think that we can improve on His work? Well, the fact stands: God made the true Church what it is and He made you as you are for a purpose… now we must live out that purpose as He leads us! 

III. (Vs. 21-26) Ok, but then why do some people act like they’re superior or better than others?  Or as Paul says, “Why does the eye say to the hand, “I don’t need you,” or the head to the feet, “Go away, you’re not needed”?  Why indeed and here we go again!  Once again there’s grumbling within the body; but this time it’s a different kind of grumbling.  Now it’s the eye and the head’s turn to voice their sinful feelings, each looking down on a different body part and thinking that they are superior to them.  One looks down on the hand, and the other is looking down on the feet.  What’s going on here?  There seems to be trouble throughout the body!  And this is what Paul is saying about the church at Corinth.  And so we see him expertly using God’s law to attack their habit of looking down on others. 

Let me ask you a question: When are we more likely to look down on others?   I think the answer is when we think that they’re not in our class!  Social status, education, health, and many other conditions fuel our disdain for others!  We’re inclined to look down on others when we feel that their talents or position seems lower than our own. To illustrate this, Paul lets the eye and the head speak. Now, because the eye is able to reach out to great distances it looks down on the hand which can only grasp what is in arms reach. And because the head is placed so high above all of the other members, it is prone to look down with disdain on the feet, which are dutifully plodding away on the hard and dirty streets below! So you see, those who have been given what seems to be greater gifts and talents might be tempted to foolishly think that they don’t need those who have what appears to be inferior gifts and talents, but in reality, once again each of us must remember that we are not individuals but part of a whole.  What each part has is only part of the whole body… a body designed by our Creator! 

But what about our more humble parishioners; the very old, the sick, and the disabled?  Paul compares them with our private body parts; the ones we keep hidden—the parts that we might be ashamed of?  Listen to what he says: “And on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another.  If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.” [vs. 23-26]

ILLUSTRATION (Please listen to the audio attached with this message to hear the illustration)

Dear friends, when I think about my Aunt Dianne and her little church, I can’t help but wonder if we as a congregation demonstrate the same interest and care for our weaker members.  I hope that we do, don’t you?

God will help us do this very thing if we will remember that it was the Creator who put all of us in our proper place within His Church and within this congregation!  But what if we are having problems living out this truth? 

IV. (Vs. 25-30) What’s the solution? How are we to be saved from these terrible sins that divide us?  Well friends, God does this very thing by taking us back to our own baptism—back to the truth of our equal standing as sinners before God.  He takes us and back His Word, which promises and gives forgiveness; a word that reminds us that each of us, as members of God’s church, are equally loved by Him.  And friends, God wants us to demonstrate that same love and care to others who are also members of His church.  With His Holy Spirit living within us, He reminds us that if one of us suffers, then all of us suffer together; if one member is honored, then all of us will celebrate together.

Let’s look to our own bodies one more time to illustrate this truth: If our foot is in pain, even if it’s the little toe, won’t our eye immediately look to see what’s wrong?  And won’t we use our fingers to hold it and caress it, as our face twists in pain and our whole body bends over to assist in its care?  And as the entire body is caring for this one ailing part, the entire body is benefited when the pain is soothed!  

Dear friends, isn’t it a blessing to be part of a body where “if one member suffers, all members suffer together, and if one member is honored, all members rejoice together?”

CONCLUSION: Rejoice dear friends in the truth that Christ’s suffering and death upon the cross was equally given to each of us within the waters of our own baptism—for you see it is the same sin that was covered, but more than covered, it was the same sin that was drowned and destroyed.  It is that same sin that equally drives each of us to the font with the same need and the same identity… beggars in need of God’s grace.  And as we remember this truth let’s also rejoice together in yet another truth…He is still giving us that same grace through His Word and His Holy Supper!  Praise God dear friends!  Praise Him all creatures here below.  Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost…AMEN!

 

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I Will Not Keep Silent!

January 17th, 2010

Rev. Brian Henderson, Pastor-Trinity Lutheran Church-San Diego
Sanctity of Life Sunday, January 17, 2010
Click here for audio of this message 

Grace, Mercy and Peace are yours, from God our Father and for the sake of our Savior Jesus Christ!  AMEN

“For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not be quiet, until her righteousness goes forth as brightness and her salvation as a burning torch.” [Isaiah 62:1]

INTRODUCTION:  A professor in a medical school once posed this medical situation — an ethical problem — to his students: “Here’s the family history: The father has syphilis. The mother has TB. They already have had four children. The first is blind. The second had died. The third is deaf. The fourth has TB. Now the mother is pregnant again.  So the parents have come to you for advice. They are willing to have an abortion, if you decide they should. What do you say?”

The students broke into small groups for “consultation.” All of the groups came back to report that they would recommend abortion.

“Congratulations,” the professor said, “You just took the life of Beethoven!”

Well that’s just a story pastor.  We live in the real world.  Ok, here’s a “real world” poll taken in New England, which revealed that, if parents were able to know these things in advance, 1 percent of them would abort a child on the basis of sex, 6 percent would abort a child likely to get Alzheimer’s disease, and an incredible 11 percent would abort a child predisposed to obesity.  In essence, they would abort many of us!

I.  Sin is sin.  God’s Word clearly identifies what is sinful and what is pleasing to Him.  There are no gray areas in God’s eyes, and yet we like to create these gray areas, don’t we?  We make the gray areas because we don’t like facing our own sinfulness.  Oh, and in case you think that claiming ignorance of God’s will might offer you some protection, listen to God answer you from the book of Proverbs: “If you say, “Surely we did not know this, “Does not He who weighs the heart consider it?  He who keeps your soul, does He not know it?  And will He not render to each man according to his deeds? [Proverbs 24:11-12]

Friends, we’ve been called by Jesus Christ, the living Word of God to be both His church and His voice of truth in this world of sin.  We are His prophets.  But before we can fulfill this role, we need to agree that God is right and we are wrong!  Now as your pastor, you have called me to speak and teach you that Word, so together we will hear His Word, be changed and strengthened by it, and then go out into our communities where we can be God’s salt and light.  Now here’s the fascinating part of this calling; if we are faithful, God assures us that to the world, we will be like a crown of beauty, a royal diadem in His hand.  In other words, we’ll bring Him glory here on earth!

Friends, if we are faithful in speaking for God to those we encounter, He promises that we will experience his blessings in a way that will change the very way we think and live.  In other words, God promises that through our obedience we will discover that we are not only precious in His sight, but we are in fact His delight.

II. But we have a slight problem; the enemy doesn’t want us to live out this new identity, so he’s set some traps in order to deceive us.  These traps come to us through the use of science and the sinful society we live in; a society that loves to call evil good and good evil.  But even if we successfully avoid these traps, the enemy still has one more trick up his sleeve; he intends to stop us by overwhelming us with so much opposition and anger that we’ll no longer see the good of speaking God’s truth to such an evil society.  In other words, he wants to demoralize us to the point where we just simply give up.  Now, this same tactic has been used by the enemy in the past with great success.  It’s called institutionalized sin—sins that have been accepted by our society as normal.  If you don’t believe this truth, just look back no farther than 150 years ago when the institution of slavery—the trafficking of human beings was considered normal.  And even after a bloody civil war that nearly destroyed our nation, that sin still remains and it is still trying to capture the hearts and minds of our children.  This hatred of others is a sin that places “self” as the ultimate authority, which in turn allows us to see some people as less than human.

Today we celebrate “Sanctity of Life” Sunday.  This is the day that we as a church have set aside to remind us that God has declared all human life precious in His sight; the unborn, born, and even those who are frail and near death.  But science and our society tell us something very different—they say that the unborn are merely potential life, and the old and frail are just a life that’s already been lived.  They would have us believe that neither can really be counted important.  But listen to God speak through the voice of the Psalmist and let the voice of our enemy the devil and this sinful society be silenced: “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.” [Psalm 139:13-18]   And if that’s not enough for you, listen to the living Word of God drive home the message through the Apostle Paul: “(Don’t) you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” [1 Corinthians 6:19-20] 

 Friends, you have heard God’s Word… you know that there are no gray areas.  Right is right and wrong is wrong.  Now God wants to send you out into this world as His burning torch of truth and salvation.  But you say, “Pastor what can I do?  It’s the law of the land; abortion is legal, right?”  Well do you have a mouth?  Then for the sake of the unborn and for the credibility of the church, speak out.  Use your mouth to change hearts and minds, and use your vote to change the law.  And all the while, God wants you to pray!  Pray for your leaders and pray for your neighbors, and then work against the enemies of God who joyfully lead others astray by convincing them to take a life through abortion.  Pray that God will change both their hearts and minds so that this evil will be erased from our society.  Listen to St. Paul’s advice; he says, ” First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” [1 Timothy 2:1-4]  Pray dear friends, pray and don’t grow weary of prayer.  Don’t give up in speaking the truth; don’t surrender in the fight.  Keep on doing what you know is right.  Listen to God’s Living Word, and then be decided in your heart that you will do what Jesus tells you!

 III. In our gospel reading this morning, Mary, the mother of God the Son, Jesus Christ had a dilemma.  She was one of the matrons, or sponsors responsible for the smooth operation of a wedding party.  But the wine was running low, and the party was still jumping!  Now granted, when compared to other real life issues, running out of wine means very little in the large scheme of things, but at the time it was important to Mary.  She had doubts and fears; so where did she go?  She went to Jesus!  Now the fact that she went to Jesus isn’t that fascinating, after all, Jesus is her son, but what happened next would change everything.  It would change the way faithful people live and it would change the way faithful people think!

 Have you ever wondered why Jesus called His own mother “woman” instead of “mother”?  “Jesus?  Son?”  Mary called.  “They are almost out of wine,” she says.  And to this Jesus answers, “Woman, what does this have to do with (you and) me?  My hour (or my time) has not yet come.”  Here friends, Jesus mother turns to her son as she undoubtedly did so many times before, but this time it is different…it’s a critical moment where ordinary help won’t suffice.  She knew that Jesus had no money and as a stranger in this town he had no connections.  Yet they needed wine.  So why turn to Jesus?  Because friends, she never forgot that her son was also the Son of God, the Messiah… her Savior.  You see, in this small dilemma, ordinary help would fail; they had neither the time nor the means to get more wine, so Mary knew she must look for extraordinary help.  Mary didn’t need familial help, she needed divine hope.  And to give this hope, Jesus must first eternally change her relationship with Him. 

 Friends, when Jesus called His mother woman, He was declaring to her that His position as a dutiful son was eternally ended.  He was telling her that from that moment on He would be assuming a much higher position; one as Savior and Redeemer.  And this divine work can only be done on God’s terms and in God’s time, not hers and not ours.  Like Mary, we too must learn that if we really want divine hope and help, we must first recognize who Jesus really is.  It is Jesus, the Son of God, together with the Father, and the Holy Spirit alone who determine when and how God will miraculously intervene—even in hopeless situations!

 Friends, it was this first miraculous sign from Jesus—turning water into wine—that would forever direct both Mary and the entire church to ask and receive all things through Jesus Christ alone, and then simply and trust that He would act according to His time!  It is in Him alone that we are to place our trust.  And with this new truth, Mary has a new teaching to share with her assistants at the party and with us…

 “Do whatever He tells you.” [John 2:5b]  Do you understand what this means friends?  It means that we must do whatever God’s Word says.  What God’s Word calls good, we are to call good.  What He calls sinful and evil we are to say also.  In His Word alone, we are to live, breath, and find our existence and fulfillment.  Yet we still sin daily.  We sin against God and we sin against each other.  Since this is most certainly true, it is critical that we hear what comes next.  It there is anyone here this morning who has in the past had an abortion, assisted with or counseled for an abortion, performed an abortion, or has simply been indifferent to abortion, let God speak to your heart.  Let His Spirit convince you that abortion is a sin?  Has He shown you that it is your sin?  Are you sorry for this sin and all others that you have committed and do you sincerely repent of them?  Is it your intention to agree with God that this is an evil that must be defeated… that was defeated upon the cross of Jesus Christ?  Do you desire to be free of this evil now and for all eternity? 

Dear friends, because Jesus has defeated both the devil and all evil through His death upon the cross, and because He has given this victory to you through the washing of the water and the Word in your own baptism, hear the sweet words of the gospel, the forgiveness of your many sins.  You are forgiven!  You no longer need to live in shame and reproach.  Through God’s Holy work alone He has taken away your sorrow and shame and He has given you a new name…. you are called Christian.  You are a child of faith!  As a member of the Holy Christian Church you are now the beloved bride of Jesus Christ Himself!

Now dear saints, as the beloved bride of Christ, hear the words of mother Mary fresh and new… “Go, and do whatever our Lord tells you.”  What is He telling us?  Speak up for those who have no voice!  Call evil what it is!  Don’t be afraid of the ungodly, because they will soon have their punishment handed down to them.  Instead, speak up and speak out to those who will hear the Word of God and repent, just as you have.  Join your pastors and the whole church and preach Christ Himself and His Holy Word until He comes again to judge the living and the dead.  Do whatever God’s Word tells you because He is your salvation, and let politics and this sinful society be damned!

Let this world and our sinful society see our Holy God’s righteousness shine through each of us as individuals and as His church so that all may see us as justified and equipped by God for this battle—not with the laws of man but with the highest law there is… the Living Word of God!

CONCLUSION: Dear friends, do whatever Jesus tells you.  Repent and be baptized.  Repent and believe you’ve been forgiven and changed.  This is the message we are to speak to our neighbors and even to our elected leaders.  Let’s speak this message in our conversation and let’s speak it through the ballot box.  We will not be silent… because we cannot be silent.  Yes we’ll be ridiculed and marginalized, but as I said in the beginning of this message, we must speak out, because we are God’s crown of beauty and we are a holy and royal diadem in His hand.  We alone can bring Him glory, because we alone are called by a new name…. Christian!  Jesus we are yours… save us!  AMEN!

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She Loved With All Her Mite

January 3rd, 2010

Pastor Brian Henderson, Trinity Lutheran Church-San Diego
Click here for audio of this message

 Grace, Mercy and Peace are yours, from God our Father and for the sake of our Savior Jesus Christ!  AMEN

“They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything–all she had to live on.”  Thus far our text.

 The story is told of a very wealthy man who had never been known for his generosity to the church. The church was involved in a big financial program and they resolved to pay him a visit. When the committee met with the man one afternoon, they said that in view of his considerable resources they were sure that he would like to make a substantial contribution to this program.

“I see,” he said, “so you have it all figured out have you? In the course of your investigation did you discover that I have a widowed mother who has no other means of support but me?” No, they responded, they did not know that.  “Did you know that I have a sister who was left by a drunken husband with five children and no means to provide for them?” No, they said, we did not know that either. “Well, gentlemen, did you know also that I have a brother who is crippled due to an automobile accident and can never work another day to support his wife and family?” Embarrassingly, they responded, no sir, we did not know that either. “Well,” he thundered triumphantly, “I’ve never given any of them a cent so why should I give anything to you?”

Giving is easier for some than others.  Some give liberally but others seem to be challenged and even overcome with the worries and demands of life. 

For a few moments this morning I do not want to talk about dollar amounts that are given to the church but instead let’s talk about motivation. Why do we do what we do? What is the motivation behind our giving?

Our gospel reading has been called the story of the widow’s mite. Many of you are familiar with this event in the life of our Lord.  It’s about an incident where a widow gave all the money she had in a Temple offering and through her giving she received praise from God himself. The gospel lesson is generally perceived to be one about giving and clearly that element is there. In terms of the actual amount that she gave it was a mere pittance—less than one penny in today’s money. The extravagance in it was that it represented all the money she had.  But there is another element to this story that maybe we fail to see.  Let me explain.

 Jesus had just been watching the Pharisees in their giving practices. Now, we are talking big bucks. And they were very open about their giving. Everyone knew their giving record; in fact, they made it a point to ensure that everyone could see and acknowledge how generous they were!   It was in the light of this, that Jesus pointed out the widow.

Picture Jesus is sitting now with the leaders of the temple—the Sadducees, and observing the people as they came in, watching their donations. There’s no paper money so it all makes a terrible noise as it rolls down this long horn shaped object and then it falls into the pool of coins. So here comes this little old lady and she has two small coins and she drops them in. They barely make a noise. You can almost see the Temple leaders as they roll their eyes and hope for better results with the next person who walks in the door. Then Jesus calls his Disciples over and says, “This poor widow has put more in to the treasury than all the others.” To the Sadducees this woman is a waste of time but to Jesus she is the stuff that Kingdoms are built by. So, at its heart, the widow’s mite is not a story about giving, but rather it is a story about motivation. Why do we do what we do? What do we hope to achieve by our giving? The Pharisees and Sadducees gave to receive peer recognition. And, Jesus said that they had already received their reward. People praised them. The woman, on the other hand, she gave out of love for God. According to Jesus, she also received her reward, peace with God.

What can we learn from this?  Jesus watches us from a location opposite of where we place our attention.  He sees what others cann’t; specifically He sees into our hearts.   He notices the rich and the poor; the important and the simple.  Jesus pays special attention to those things that are most important to us, because they are what motivates every thing else that we do in this life.  While I do not know everything that Jesus sees within my own heart, I do know what he hopes to find in all of our hearts.  He hopes to find a heart that is like the widow’s; a heart that seeks to find and maintain a relationship of trustful dependency on Him.  That is a relationship he desires to bless and develop.  This relationship is sustained by faith, but it is born in love.

Love is what led the widow to give all that she had to the Lord.  Love is the natural response of a forgiven sinner.  And love is what naturally motivates us to give our time, talent, and yes even our money to the Lord.  Now, these words may have made you a bit uncomfortable, because they don’t address what we all really want to know, “How much of my time, talent and treasure, should I give?”  Well, the Gospel’s advice is that ‘We should give according to the dictates of our own hearts,’ and that brings me back on topic.

 Do you remember when Jesus asked St. Peter shortly before He ascended into heaven, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?”  And Peter answered, “Yes, Lord,” you know that I love you.” What did Jesus say next?  “Feed my sheep.”  Did you ever wonder why Jesus asked him three times?  Well, how many times did Peter deny knowing Jesus?  Three times; so Jesus was telling Peter that His forgiveness was complete—lacking nothing; as deep seated as Peter’s sin was, God’s forgiveness goes even deeper.  But, I submit to you that He also asked the question three times in order to change Peter’s heart and our hearts!  In this question and in the story of the Widow’s mite, Jesus is asking us to look within our own hearts and discover what things are really most important to us, and if His forgiveness and love for us aren’t our first priority, then He wants to change our hearts!  And once our hearts have been changed friends, He asks us to respond with our actions by “Feeding His Sheep.” 

 Friends, do you hear Him in your heart speaking to you this morning: ‘Dear Saints at Trinity, do you love me?  Do you trust me?  Do you realize that your church is really my Church?  Then feed my sheep.  My sheep are fed the Words of eternal life right here at Trinity, and they are right outside your doors in the communities of Encanto, Jamacha, Lemmon Grove and Spring Valley.  Friend, do you love me?  Do you understand that my sheep through Holy Baptism have been given assurance that a seat has been reserved for them at my Father’s table, just as has been done for you?  Then feed my sheep.  Friend, do you truly love me?  Then you must know that my sheep are sustained by my very body and blood at my table right here in this church, just as you are.  Feed my sheep.’ 

Friends, since we love God, then it only makes sense that we will love the place where he faithfully meets us in Word and Sacrament.  Since Jesus has truly saved us from our sin and eternal separation from God, then it is only natural that we will love Him who first loved us! 

In the next year, a lot of exciting ministries will be starting here at Trinity.  Each one of these ministries will have God’s Word as its central power.  These ministries will present many opportunities for you to demonstrate your love for God as you feed His sheep through your time, talent, and treasure.  Pray and ask God to show you how you can become a part of His love which flows from His Holy Word and Sacraments to you, and out to your neighbor.  Pray, and ask this always in Jesus name, AMEN!

  Now may this love and peace that surpasses all understanding be yours, through Christ Jesus our Lord!  AMEN

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Press on Towards the Goal!

December 31st, 2009

December 31, 2009 (New Year’s Eve)

Rev. Brian Henderson-Pastor, Trinity Lutheran Church, San Diego, CA
Click here for audio of this message 

“But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus..”[Philip. 3:13b-14]

 INTRODUCTION: I think that all of us this evening can hear these Words, and say a loud Amen!  But then again, we might hear them and say, “If only it was that easy.  If only I could forget the past and just be joyful about what lies ahead!”  Is it really that easy?  Can we really forget the pain, mistakes and sins of 2009 and realistically be optimistic about 2010?  St. Paul answers with a resounding yes, and this evening he’ll not only tell us why, but he’ll also tell us how!

 In our epistle lesson this evening, Paul is writing to the Church in Philippi; it’s a pastoral letter that he worte to thank them for their continuing Christian love, but he also wants to warn them about a two prong attack that is threatening their future; it was quickly moving from church to church, with the aim of ruining the faith of young Christians, a faith that rested in Christ alone.  This two prong attack was actually two different groups.  One group was openly against the Law of God and the other group was trying to convince the gentile Christians that they needed to embrace not just the Jewish culture but also the Levitical laws (specifically circumcision), if they really wanted to be saved. Today, these two groups still exist today, and they still are a threat to many congregations.

I. Against the Antinomians (Faith without works is dead)—In the preceding chapters of his letter, Paul attacked the doctrine of those who claimed that God’s Holy Law no longer applied to Christians.  To correct this lie, Paul provided some harsh truth.  His first counter-attack was intended to defend a Christian’s obligation to serve their neighbor and each other out of love.  Paul not only upheld God’s commandments, but he also adds these wonderful words, “Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.  Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” [Philippians 2:3 – 4] And, “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.  And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” [Philippians 2:5-8]  But Paul doesn’t stop there, he also says in regards to our Christian service we should “Do all things without grumbling or questioning,” [Philippians 2:14]  and he adds that this can only be done because it is God’s will in baptized Christians, to provide both the desire and the ability to do good works.  

What Paul is saying is this: True Christians will always do good works; they just can’t help it.  Those who say that they are a Christian, but have no proof or fruit of faith in their lives are in and of themselves proof that they aren’t what they claim to be; DON’T FOLLOW THEM.  DON’T BE A LIP SERVICE CHRISTIAN!  This is the consistent message throughout God’s Word.  A message that clearly declares that good works will always flow from a faith that trusts solely in God’s mercy as shown through the Messiah, His Son Jesus Christ.

ILLUSTRATION: The United States Senate has a tradition of talking something to death.  It’s called a filibuster. Even when the talk is not officially a filibuster the spirit of the filibuster lives on in that place every day.   Talk, talk, talk, and all the while nothing but self-serving legislation seems to become law, and what is the result?  The people pay, while others play.  Sadly, sometimes congregations can be reduced to something like a filibuster. People talk and dream about what the church should do, but very few are willing to put the ideas into practice.  In the end, very little is done and needs remain unmet.

Our Lord speaks to those who profess faith without action in our gospel lesson this evening when He says, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone?  Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, and when it falls on anyone, it will crush him.” [Luke 20:9-20]  There will always be some who talk a good game, but have nothing to show for their supposed faith.  In the end they will answer to Christ, who will say, “Depart from me.  I never knew you!”

Paul said that good works and love for God and neighbor will flow naturally from a Christian.  In fact, Paul taught that a person led by faith in Christ should be willing to die performing acts of love towards God and neighbor rather than abandoning them.  Listen to Paul’s own words concerning this very point: “Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me.” [Philippians 2:17 – 18]  Paul was of course referring to his own approaching death as a result of proclaiming and living out his faith in Christ. 

The truth is friends, Paul wasn’t ashamed of Jesus, because Jesus wasn’t ashamed to call him, and Jesus is not ashamed to call you and me as well.  Jesus bore on His body the punishment we deserve. His good work of saving the world from sin looked like foolishness to the world in Paul’s time, and it still looks the same to the world in our own time. Jesus said and did many things that the world considers offensive. He called a thing what it was.  If it was shallow lip-service faith, He said so! He showed the Pharisees, the Jewish rulers, and the Romans what true righteousness was; He exposed their phony faith that lacked the fruits of repentance and forgiveness. His “consistent” good works made Him public enemy number one. Even when He hung on the cross to pay for your sin He was ridiculed as a fool. Yet what looks foolish to the world is wisdom to the child of God. The words of the worthy prophets were proven true. God is near His people and not afar off. God is as near as the tree of the cross, the tree that bears good fruit.  And it’s that very tree that Paul stayed close to, even when he knew that it would cost him his life. 

II. Against the Judiaizers (Jesus Plus Nothing)—Well, let’s move on to the second threat to the church at Philippi—those who felt that Christ’s sacrifice, His grace wasn’t quite enough to ensure someone a place in heaven at Jesus side.  They said, “No brother, that’s not quite enough! You need to include with your faith in Christ the rite of circumcision and the fulfillment of some other Jewish rules.  Today, that spirit of legalism is still trying to lead the faithful astray—it rears its ugly head in any person or organization that presents a doctrine called Faith in Jesus PLUS!  It could be faith in Jesus plus tithing; faith in Jesus plus acts of contrition; or faith in Jesus plus faithful church and Sunday School attendance.  Paul called these kinds of people Judiaizers and mutilators.  They want to cut the skin but God desires that their hearts be cut.  He wants them to be cut to pieces over their sinfulness.  He wants them to see how lost they are and how badly they need a Savior, but these mutilators only like to impose pain on others, while ignoring their own hopeless condition.  St. Paul warns the church at Philippi about these people when he says, “Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. [Philippians 3:2] St. Paul is warning them, and he is warning us, ‘Look out for anyone who brings to you a gospel that is Jesus plus this or that.  Look out for anyone who brings you a gospel that includes anything but faith in Christ alone!

III. Living for the moment and for the future—Friends, the true gospel always reveals God’s love and mercy to those who deserve neither of them.  It’s foolishness to the world because it’s been provided by a man who is also God, Jesus the Christ.  Yes it’s foolishness to those who are dying—those who persist in ignoring God’s Holy Law and those who wish to add to Christ’s gift of grace, but to those who believe, it is amazing!

In our Epistle reading this evening Paul began with a fairly impressive biography about his early adult life.  He did this to silence the voice of the dogs that were prowling; waiting to attack the church at Philippi.  At first, it might seem that Paul was presenting himself as a super-human, one who far surpassed the phony credentials of the false teachers, but then he added something incredible, he said that all of his accomplishments were garbage, just trash when compared to the unfathomable wealth he had acquired once he knew Jesus Christ as his Lord, Savior, and God!  He said that he had gladly traded his own accomplishments for those of Jesus Christ, who was crucified on a tree.  Why?  Because of God’s gift of faith!  Paul said that through faith, he gladly suffered the loss of all things in order to gain Christ and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of his own that comes from the law, but one that comes through faith in Christ.  Why?  So that He might know him and the power of His resurrection!

When Paul wrote this epistle, he most likely got to a certain point and thought, ‘Will these good people in Philippi think that I am now finished running my race in life?  Will they believe that my walk of faith is finished and I can “glory” and rest in my accomplishments?’  That wasn’t the impression He wanted to make, and to be sure that this didn’t happen he wrote: “Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me His own.  Brothers I do not consider that I have made it my own.”  Paul made it clear from his prison cell that he still had a lot to do and to teach concerning the Christian faith and his own Christian walk.  His message was and still is, that while it is God who works salvation for us, we must continue working out that reality; we all must become what God has already declared that we are—perfect,  holy, and righteous!  We must continue our walk of faith, which is also many times a walk of pain, shame, and testing, because it’s also a walk of joy!  Its joy, because we’ve been assured that our life of faith is really a walk through the same veil of tears that Jesus walked.  It’s all joy, because we know that the closer that we come to our goal the sooner we will receive the prize!

CONCLUSION:  Friends, listen to how St. Paul closed our epistle lesson this evening: “I press on toward the goal—for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”  Do you know what that upward call of God in Christ Jesus is?  It is the promise of victory over the grave, it’s the very promise God made to you in your Baptism; a promise that ensures you that you one day you will rise from the dead just as he had.  To those of us who are burdened with fear of sin, death, and the devil, these are the sweetest words we could ever hear.  What better New Year’s resolution could any of us make this year?  Let’s resolve to press on towards the goal—towards the prize of heaven that is ours through Christ Jesus! As we do this, Jesus assures us we WILL have a very blessed 2010!

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Are Ya Saved?

December 27th, 2009

First Sunday after Christmas, December 26, 2009
Rev. Brian Henderson-Pastor, Trinity Lutheran Church, San Diego, CA
Click here for audio of this message 

INTRODUCTION: “Are ya saved yet?” Have you ever had a well meaning Christian ask you that question or something similar?  Usually when they ask you a question like that they want you to recall some specific moment in your life when you knew for the first time that God loved you.  They seem to want to evoke some kind of emotional response from you as proof that God really saved you.  Well if you are like most truthful Christians you will probably find yourself struggling with an answer to this well meaning but misdirected Christian neighbor. 

This morning, we will be looking at the life of Simeon, the man in our gospel reading (Luke 2:22-35), to get a better handle on God’s meaning for the word “Salvation”.  I believe that by the time our message is complete this morning, you will see that the correct answer to the question “Are ya saved?” is: “Yes, I’m saved; yes I’m being saved; and yes I will be saved!” 

I. Yes I’m Saved: Let me ask you a question—Before Simeon saw baby Jesus in person, was he saved?  What I mean by that is, did he have the assurance from God’s Word that He was loved by God, and that he would receive God’s peace and forgiveness?  Before you answer, let’s look at verses 25 and 26 of our gospel reading: “Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon Him and it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.” [Luke 2:25,26] 

Good old Simeon!  Have you ever heard or used that expression to describe someone?  Good old Bruce!  Good old Susan!  When we use those words, usually what we mean is that person in no one remarkable, their just ordinary but dependable people.  Usually they’re just like you!  And that was Simeon—good old Simeon.  In the world’s eyes he was no one worth calling attention to; he was just a man, one of many that seemed to always be at God’s house.  There was nothing great and wonderful about him; he had no high office; no authority or power, yet God called him a righteous man; that means friends, that God judged him worthy of salvation.  The Jews would simply say that he was devout, devoted to God’s Law and temple, but so what!  He is simply doing what everyone should be doing!  But God said, “Oh no!  He is far more than just a church-goer; he is a true child of Abraham… he is a man of faith!”  

Why?  What did God see in Simeon that others missed?  Friends, God knew that Simeon was anxiously awaiting and praying for the consolation of Israel… the coming of the Messiah.  Who was the Messiah?  He was the one foretold throughout Holy Scripture who would smash the head of Satan, by destroying the power of sin, death, and the devil.  He was the one who would restore man’s lost relationship of love with God their Creator! 

Simeon, like many people of faith who had gone before him, trusted in God’s forgiving love simply because God’s Word promised that very thing!  Simeon knew that no one deserved God’s mercy, love, and forgiveness, but if God said it then it was so!  That’s why Simeon was righteous in God’s sight, because he trusted or had faith in God’s Word.  Because of this faith, God saved him from his many sins.  But that’s not the end of Simeon’s faith story. 

In verse 26, we learn something even more amazing: “It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.”  Are you amazed by this?  Good!  The work of God’s Holy Spirit should always amaze us!  Are you desirous of this experience?  Why?  You have the same promise that he had.  In your own baptism, God promised you that through the water and His Word, the eyes of your heart, your eyes of faith would be opened and you also will behold the Lord’s Christ!  Will you rest in that promise?  In your baptism you have been given Christ and the promise of salvation—peace with God.  Every day, God shows you His Chris so that you can say with Simeon…. 

II. I am Being Saved! Verse 27 of our gospel continues with these words: “And he (Simeon) came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, he took him up in his arms and blessed God.” [Luke 2:27]  Now, let me pause here and say that up to this point, you are no different than Simeon.  You too were filled with God’s Holy Spirit at your baptism.  You too, are able to hear that same Spirit speak to you through God’s Word; and through that Word you too can lift up Christ in your heart.  And you can also receive Him in your hands at His Holy Table and bless God as He blesses you through the eating and drinking of His body and blood in, with, and under the bread and wine.  Like Simeon, you too are promised by God that you can see His Christ, and behold, you have seen Him through the means that I have just shared with you! 

And like Simeon friends, God has put a song in your heart!  Let’s sing Simeon’s song together, before we talk about your song.  Simeon’s Song is the Nunc Dimittis, which in Latin means “Now Dismiss”.  “Lord, now let your servant depart in heavenly peace, for I have seen the glory of Your redeeming grace; A light to lead the Gentiles unto Your holy hill.  The glory of Your people, Your chosen Israel.” [Luke 2:29-32; LSB #211 vs. 1]   

Friends, unlike Simeon, our song, our personal testimony to God’s faithfulness will never be recorded as Holy Scripture, but in God’s eyes it is every bit as holy!  You see, it is your story… your testimony about how God met you in the waters of Holy Baptism and saved you from this evil age.  It is the story about how every day His own Word assures you that nothing can ever separate you from His love; not your sins, not your death, and not even the devil.  It is the story that explains that even if others give up on you, God is always your ever present hand in times of trouble saving you from anything that seeks to separate you from God’s love, which is yours through Jesus Christ!  So, you see friends, God has saved you and He is saving you, but there is still one more truth for you to proclaim; you must tell them… 

III. God Will Save Me! Friends, when you give your testimony to others, give it with certainty because that is how God makes His promise of salvation to you.  Let those who hear your testimony marvel as Mary and Joseph marveled at the words of prophecy Simeon spoke.  But don’t let them marvel at your faith but at the reason for your faith—Jesus Christ… God’s only Son your Lord, who was born of the Virgin Mary; who suffered under Pontius Pilate, and was crucified, died, and was buried for you!  Don’t hold back; tell it boldly like Simeon did, listen: “And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary His mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.” [Luke 2:34,35]  

Dear friends, when your well meaning Christian neighbors try to invoke a personal or emotional salvation story from you, send them and your own heart to the same place God through Simeon’s testimony sent mother Mary… send them to the cross!  Center all hopes there alone!  Tell them this: “I know that I will be saved only because God’s Word is true and that Word promises that because of Christ’s suffering and death upon the cross I am forgiven.”  Tell them that you have no experience to share that could ever be greater than our Lord’s cross.

Sadly friends, some will not want to hear your testimony; they will tell you that just your baptism and the cross are not enough, but don’t listen to them… don’t let them shake your faith in Him who is faithful.  Remember that it was by His stripes alone that you were healed… saved from all manner of sin!  This simple truth has always caused many people to fall away from God’s love, but it is also the reason that many WILL rise up and be saved.  When people choose to reject God’s grace alone, and add their own devout living or their emotional experience, they are only demonstrating their unbelief in God’s means of grace, and if they won’t abandon that false hope they will fall and die in their sins.  But, if through your witness they see God’s work of faith in your life through His means of grace… His Word, Holy Baptism, and the Supper, then perhaps, they like you will know the certainty of God’s love and salvation.  Then they can also say along with you, “I will be saved!” 

CONCLUSION: “Are ya saved friend?”  Yes, I was saved long ago in the waters of Holy Baptism when I received the washing of the Word.  I am being saved every day when I read God’s Holy Word, hear it preached and taught—when I hear my pastor speak the sweet Words of absolution, the very Word, which assures me that my sins are forgiven.  I’m also being saved when I approach His Holy table and eat and drink His very body and blood for the forgiveness of all of my sins.  And I will be saved because just as Jesus rose from the dead on the third day and ascended into heaven, I too have been promised that when I close my eyes for the last time in death I shall join my Lord Jesus Christ in paradise forever.  Tell them, “That’s my experience, brother.  It’s an experience of faith.  It’s an experience of wonder and awe!” 

Dear friends, let me close with the words of the great hymn, Chief of Sinners Though I Be: “Chief of sinners though I be, Jesus shed His blood for me.  Died that I might live on high; lives that I might never die.  As the branch is to the vine, I am His and He is mine. [LSB #611 vs.1]  We sing the Nunc Dimittis (Sung) In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost…AMEN!

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A Christmas Eve Message

December 25th, 2009

The Angels Sing

A Christmas Message
Delivered by Rev. Brian Henderson
Pastor-Trinity Lutheran Church, San Diego, CA
December 24th (Christmas Eve)
Click here for audio of this message

While there is no written text posted for this message, it is my prayer that the audio version will be a blessing to you my Trinity family and to all visitors who will listen to this message.  May God richly bless you all through Christ Jesus our Lord.  Merry Christ and a blessed New Year!

Pastor Brian Henderson

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A TRADITION THAT CONTINUES TODAY!

December 22nd, 2009

A Christian Funeral
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Rev. Brian T. Henderson, Pastor Trinity Lutheran Church, San Diego, CA
Click here for audio of this message

A Song of Ascents. Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord! 2 O Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my pleas for mercy! 3 If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? 4 But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared. 5 I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope; 6 my soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning. 7 O Israel, hope in the Lord! For with the Lord there is steadfast love, and with him is plentiful redemption. 8 And he will redeem Israel from all his iniquities.

Grace, Mercy and Peace to you, from God our Father and our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

Long ago, a family tradition was started in a small Wisconsin town called Wild Rose, but the one who helped start it has left us; the tradition was helping the Sorenson family find peace and confidence in God’s Word, specifically with the familiar John 3:16 passage: “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only son, so that whoever believes and trusts in Him will not perish, but have everlasting life.”  That tradition continued on to other towns with names like Wisconsin Rapids, and Steven’s Pointe.  Oh it was a marvelous tradition of demonstrating exuberant love for God, family, church, and neighbor—the very same love that continues on through all of you who remain here still centered in God’s Word and the forgiving love of Jesus Christ.  A love, which the Sorenson children learned as their mother demonstrated it in a self-giving way; much like the description of the “Proverbs Woman” that we heard described in our Old Testament Lesson.  Yes it is quite a tradition, but the Christian woman, the loving mother who helped start that tradition has left us.   

God’s peace to you, children of Jeanette Louise Sorenson, to you Judy and Dale.  And God’s peace to you Patricia Sorenson, loving and devoted Sister-in-law.

God’s peace to all of you who are part of Jeanette’s Trinity family.  God’s peace to all the rest of you who are Jeanette’s friends, and that peace comes to all of us through the Word of the Lord.  “If you, God, kept records on wrongdoings, who would stand a chance?  As it turns out, forgiveness is your habit, and that’s why you’re worshiped.” (Psalm 130:3-4 NLT)

Thank God for that! Because if God kept a record of our wrong doings, if He counted our sins, if He judged our hearts, who would stand a chance? No one would!  We would all be doomed. We cannot stand against the holy and perfect Law of God, because all of us have sinned and fallen short. No one has obeyed his conscience. But there is forgiveness through Jesus Christ. There is reconciliation to the Father, a cleansing of souls in grace, a bestowal of mercy through the death and resurrection of the Son.  Death has been put to the death. The devil has been trounced and Heaven is open, because there is forgiveness in Jesus Christ.

And so it is that Jeanette and so many others, who have gone before her can say that whatever mistakes they may have made, whatever weaknesses they may have struggled with, whatever they may have been guilty of, they have now found peace and grace through faith in Jesus Christ.  You see, it is only with our Lord that any of us—no all of us can finally find God’s undeserved kindness and love. Thank God for that! For without that, there would be no hope for any of us.

This forgiveness, won and paid for by Jesus, is complete for all of us who believe in Him. It is valid, true and its real and Jeanette knew this to be so beyond any doubt, and God wants us to know and believe in this as well.  God’s Word assures us that no matter what sins may have entrapped us in this life, eventually there will be peace and forgiveness because of what Jesus did for everyone. 

You can take great comfort today knowing that Jeanette was rescued by God’s work of forgiveness in a font much like this one, in a little church called Immanuel Lutheran Church of Grand Rapids, Wisconsin.  In 1922, when she was just an infant, Jeanette Louise Sorenson was put to death in the waters of Holy Baptism, and from those Holy waters, through the power of His Word, God raised up a new Jeanette; a person that would forever be loved and who could love Him and all of you in return.

While it is true that Jeanette was a woman loved by God and changed by His grace through Jesus Christ, she would not want you to think that she was some kind of angelic presence.  You see, like the rest of us here today, she also struggled with putting to death her old sinful nature, but it is also true that  she never forgot just what God had done for her at that font in that little church back in 1922.  How do I know this?  Because she told me so many times!  You see I am her pastor, and it was my privilege to minister to her as she courageously fought her battle with brain cancer.  Each day that I would visit her, we would always celebrate some sort of divine service.  And in each meeting, before we heard the Word of God, before we prayed or celebrated Holy Communion, we would enter together into confessions before God.    

At first, before her illness began to really debilitate her, she would recite the confession by memory.  You know it, don’t you?  “O almighty God, merciful Father, I, a poor, miserable sinner, confess unto You all my sins and iniquities with which I have ever offended You and justly deserved Your temporal and eternal punishment.”  But after a couple weeks, as the disease began to advance, it became harder for her to remember things that earlier came so naturally from her lips.  So to compensate, I used the question and answer form of our confession, and it was in these moments that Jeanette Louise Sorenson began to truly teach me just what a strong and steadfast faith and tradition she really passed down to her children.  “Jeanette, do you confess to almighty God that you are a poor, miserable sinner?”  “Well sure.  We better all admit that or we’re in big trouble.”  “Do you confess to our merciful Father that you have sinned against Him in thought, word, and deed?”  “Oh my, yes!”  “Do you believe that our Lord Jesus Christ died for you and shed His blood for you on the cross for the forgiveness of all your sins?”  “I should say so!  Can you believe it?  Isn’t that a wonderful gift!  That’s just what I’ve always taught my children!”  At this point, I would start to fight a little chuckle that was bubbling up, because I wasn’t quite use to a running dialogue during confession, but she tolerated my hesitation as I found my place in rite and continued.  “Do you believe that our Lord Jesus Christ died for you and shed His blood for you on the cross for the forgiveness of all your sins?”  “Oh sure”, she would say.  “What a mess we’ve all made of our lives.  We all have.”  “Yes Jeanette,” I would reply, “all of us have”.  “Well that’s what I always taught my children!”  “OK sister, do you pray God, for the sake of the holy, innocent, bitter sufferings and death of His beloved Son, to be gracious to you?”  “Oh my, that is exactly what I pray for every day.”  “Finally sister, do you believe that my forgiveness is God’s forgiveness?”  “Well of course!”  “Then let it be done for you as you believe. In the stead and by the command of my Lord Jesus Christ I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”  “Amen.  Can you believe it?  Just like that.  Isn’t God’s love something pastor?”  Yes sister, it sure is!”  “Honestly” she replied, “I don’t know how some people can even live without that kind of good news!”

That was Jeanette; a faith so simple yet so strong; a faith so childlike and yet so mature.  What a wonderful question she poses to us this morning.  “Honestly, how can anyone even live without believing in that kind of good news?”  Dear friends, on this side of glory we all live in the midst of temptation and sorrow. Like King David before us, we all must learn to live with our past, but also like King David we must learn to look to the future and proclaim, “As it turns out (O Lord), forgiveness is your habit, and that’s why you’re worshiped.” We need God’s forgiveness, his undeserved kindness every day, every hour, and every minute. And without fail, God is always ready to give it. His forgiveness is constant and unchanging. He gives us all that we need for this faith. He calls us to hear His Word and receive His Holy Supper right here in this very church, and churches throughout this World, so that like Jeanette, we too may come to know His peace. 

Long ago, a tradition was started in the ancient church, through the work of God the Son alone.  And the one who started that tradition still lives with us and reigns as almighty God today; and that tradition was to announce and provide God’s peace to all of you who believe in Him.  To all of you who have come to mourn the loss of Jeanette Louise Sorenson, –your Mother, your Sister,  and your Friend: God the Father’s peace be upon you to enlighten your heart to His Word of truth about eternal life for His children–even for His beloved Jeanette. Christ’s gracious peace shine upon you to bring the light of everlasting gladness to break up the gloom of your sadness over the peace that Jeanette has now received from her Savior. The Holy Spirit of God dwell within you, that you may know the peace that He brings to you on this day and for all of your days–and even forevermore.   In † Jesus’ Name. Amen.

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The Word Became Flesh!

December 20th, 2009

Fourth Sunday of Advent, December 20, 2009
Rev. Brian Henderson-Pastor, Trinity Lutheran Church, San Diego, CA
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 INTRODUCTION: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made.” [John 1:1-3]

 Just when we think we have God all figured out, He comes out of left field and does something we never even considered. How many times have you encountered what you thought was a hopeless situation, only to have the whole thing turned around?  Oh we of little faith!

 The Jews knew that biting accusation all too well!  They were anxiously waiting for a warrior-king, a descendant of King David to come, who would make them a worldwide super power once again.  Oh their king came, a descendant of David certainly, but He didn’t come in a way they expected.  You see, there was no army carrying their king into battle; instead He was carried by a pregnant teenager who was about to give birth to their true king, God in human flesh.  Instead of defeating Rome and the Emperor, this King came to defeat sin, death, and the devil!

 How did they get so confused?  For the answer to that, let’s turn to God’s Word.

 Maybe they missed what God was doing because they concentrated on temporal things instead of eternal things.  Maybe they decided on concentrating on snippets of prophecy instead on the whole prophecy.  Maybe they used only portions of God’s Word, like those found in Micah, our Old Testament lesson this morning: “But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.”  So far, that sounds like help is on the way.  Let’s see what else they may have read that gave them hope that their warrior king was coming to fight for them.  How about this: “And He shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God. And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth.”  Well that sounds like super power talk doesn’t it?

 The problem was, they were only paying attention to the parts of God’s Word that they liked, and they were ignoring the parts of His Word that continuously reminded them that they were not living as God desired… they were not living as people of faith who trusted in, and waited on God to provide for them.  Listen to just a few of the many reminders God gave them: “Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the heart. To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.” [Proverbs 21:2,3]

“What to me is the multitude of your sacrifices? says the LORD; I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of well-fed beasts; I do not delight in the blood of bulls, or of lambs, or of goats. [Isaiah 1:11]

“But this command I gave them: ‘Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be my people. And walk in all the way that I command you, that it may be well with you.’ But they did not obey or incline their ear, but walked in their own counsels and the stubbornness of their evil hearts, and went backward and not forward.” [Jeremiah 7:23-25]

Israel thought that by observing a few religious rules God would wink at their sin.  They thought they could hide the evil in their hearts by appeasing God with a few sacrifices.  But do you know what God calls someone who only listens to parts of His Word, while comfortably ignoring the other parts?  Lost and damned in their sins!

Friends, God’s Word always comes to us in two parts, the Law and the Gospel.  When we only pick out the good news, the Word that speaks of God’s forgiving love, then we are sure to miss the way that He wants to bring us that good news… through our confession to Him that we are sinful.  We must be told by His Word that our hearts are sinful and we must admit it to Him before He will forgive.  His Word must show us that we are self-serving and prideful.  And by that same Word we must be convinced that the only way to know and experience God’s love is by confessing this truth.  If we do this as He asks, He in turn promises to make us self-giving and humble.  We must obey His call to confession and then admit our need for Him to change us before He will allow us to hear His Gospel Word of love and forgiveness.  If we will not approach Him as He desires then we, like the Jews will miss the true Gospel found in our reading from Micah: “Therefore he shall give them up until the time when she who is in labor has given birth; then the rest of his brothers shall return to the people of Israel. And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God. And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth. And he shall be their peace.” [Micah 5:3-5]  Like the Jews, all of mankind is lost unless we receive our Savior as He comes, as a baby; lowly and humble, through the womb of a teenaged virgin.

 “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” [John 1:14]  Dear friends, the warrior king that the Jews waited so long for did come, but He didn’t come as they expected.  If they had only drawn more deeply into God’s whole Word, it would have been so clear.  Their great King David, a man after God’s own heart spoke to them clearly in Psalm 40 about what this greater king and Messiah would do, listen: “In sacrifice and offering you have not delighted, but a body you have prepared for me.  Burnt offering and sin offering you have not required. Then I said, “Behold, I have come; in the scroll of the book it is written of me: I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.” I have told the glad news of deliverance in the great congregation; behold, I have not restrained my lips, as you know, O LORD. I have not hidden your deliverance within my heart; I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation; I have not concealed your steadfast love and your faithfulness from the great congregation. [Psalm 40:6-10 LXX]

In these very Words friends, God was telling Israel and the world today, that He is saving sinful man in a way that we would never expect.  He comes to us in our own flesh; because we could never on our own delight to do God’s will, God sends His Living Word to us to do it for us.  Listen now to that same Psalm as explained by the writer of our Epistle lesson: “Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said, “Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but you have now prepared a body for me; (hear the truth sinful children, God does) not delight in (your religious sacrifices)—in your burnt offerings and sin offerings (He takes) no pleasure. (But now Jesus says), ‘Behold, I have come to do your will, O God, as it is written of me in (their prophecies).”

 Dear friends, when Jesus Christ, the Word which became flesh said that God neither desires nor takes pleasure in the sacrifices and offerings of the Jews, He is speaking to us as well.  He is saying that our attempts to please Him by being good, by doing our best are not what He is looking for in us.  If these were good enough, then what need would any of us have for a Savior? Why must God the Father prepare a body for God the Son?  My friends, so that He could do what we cannot; so that in our flesh He can obey God in our stead! But friends, obedience wasn’t the only reason that Christ was given a body!  No, because of our many sins, something much costlier is required in order to make things right with God.  Willful sin has been committed on our part, and an acceptable sacrifice must be given… a life must be taken and blood must be spilled.  You see friends, Christ’s obedience is much greater than simply living a life that pleases God; His obedience also includes a sin offering, the offering of the very blood and life of God the Son.  This is the true and final offering for sin, because it is the ultimate sacrifice, which according to prophecy, God desired to be made, and friends He made it for you!

Think about the grandness of God’s love friends.  Hear the words of our Savior as He speaks them for you… as He speaks them to you in a way to make it clear that He alone can save you from the sin that has entrapped you.  With you on His heart He loudly speaks: “No, he will not die.  No she will not pay.  Here I am—it is written about me in the scroll—I have come to do your will, O God.  Send me in their place!”  In that spirit, the spirit of love for the Father and love for you, Jesus offered his life to the Father. It was that very same love that motivated him (John 4:34) and guided Him all the way to Calvary. What a great cost He has bought you with!  Think of Him wrestling in prayer in the garden of Gethsemane and you will begin to understand the cost.  Think of Him calling out alone upon the cross as the last of His life giving blood and the love of the Father left Him: “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” 

 This Christmas friends, it is good to remember the manger and the infant lowly, but do not lose sight of the cross!  Remember the cross, because to remember it is to remember a truth that will change the way you worship and the way you live your life in service to God: Jesus was born to die for you! 

A Christian once wrote a letter to the editor of the local newspaper and complained that it made no sense to go to church every Sunday. “I’ve gone for 30 years now,” he wrote, “and in that time I have heard something like 3,000 sermons. But for the life of me, I can’t remember a single one of them. So, I think I’m wasting my time and the pastors are wasting theirs by giving sermons at all.” This started a real controversy in the “Letters to the Editor” column, much to the delight of the editor. It went on for weeks until someone wrote this clincher: I’ve been married for 30 years now. In that time my wife has cooked some 32,000 meals. But for the life of me, I cannot recall the entire menu for a single one of those meals. But I do know this: They all nourished me and gave me the strength I needed to do my work. If my wife had not given me these meals, I would be physically dead today. Likewise, if I had not gone to church for nourishment, I would be spiritually dead today!”

Friends, do you want to live a life that pleases God friends?  Well the first step in doing that is confessing to Him that you can’t.  Confess your sinfulness to Him and then put His Law aside that terrifies you and hear the Gospel.  Hear the Good News that assures you that God does love you and He forgives you of all of your sins because of what Jesus has done for you.  Hear this good news often.  Come every week to this place of worship and let Him strengthen your faith and nourish your spirit.  Let Him change you from the inside out.  And as you do that, something new and different will happen, you will begin to find yourself becoming more and more like your Savior-King who died for you.  When God begins to look for your obedience in small things you will begin to find yourself saying: Here I am—Lord—I have come to do your will, O God.  Send me… use me!”  May the love of God through Christ Jesus move your hearts and minds to do this very thing…. I ask this in Jesus name… AMEN!

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