Pray, proclaim, invite, and give thanks.

 

Sermon for Pentecost 7, July 27, 2025

Now may the God of hope fill you with complete joy and peace as you continue to believe, so that you overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

1 Timothy 2:1-7  First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, ²for kings and all those who are in authority, in order that we might live a quiet and peaceful life in all godliness and dignity.  ³This is good and pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, ⁴who wants all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.  ⁵For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, ⁶who gave himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time.  ⁷For this testimony, I was appointed a herald and an apostle—I speak the truth; I am not lying—a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth. (EHV)

Pray, proclaim, invite, and give thanks.

Dear fellow redeemed,

            Many years ago, I had a job selling farm machinery.  At first, I had some success, but the longer I was at it, the more I became reluctant to try to convince farmers to buy.  You see, the farm economy was entering into one of the worst depressions we have ever seen, and the dealership wanted me to see every customer every month to encourage purchases that most of them either didn’t need or could no longer afford.  I felt like I was just badgering people instead of helping them.  I began to hate the job and even to be afraid to try to meet the people I wanted to help.

It’s a sad truth that sometimes, we feel the same way about sharing our Christian faith with our neighbors.  Perhaps, we begin to think that they don’t need to know what we know.  Sometimes, we are embarrassed by the idea that we could help them.  Often, we are simply afraid we will offend others or even hurt them spiritually if we say the wrong thing.  So, we quit, or maybe never begin, to help the very people our God wants to save.  In our text, the Holy Spirit, through St. Paul is inviting, encouraging, and even commanding all believing Christians to Pray, proclaim, invite, and give thanks.

Paul wrote, “First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people for kings and all those who are in authority, in order that we might live a quiet and peaceful life in all godliness and dignity.”  Through Paul, the Lord is issuing an urgent call and plea, you might even say begging or commanding all people to have this concern and take action for the proclamation of God’s saving grace.  Where then, should we begin?  With the Lord, of course.  Remember how Jesus instructed His disciples before sending them out to proclaim His salvation: “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.  Therefore pray that the Lord of the harvest will send out workers into his harvest.” (Matthew 9:37-38)

As believing Christians, we have access to the All-powerful God and His assurance that He hears our prayers and answers them.  Jesus said, “Amen, Amen, I tell you: Whatever you ask the Father in my name, he will give you. … Ask, and you will receive, so that your joy may be made complete.” (John 16:23-24)  King David wrote about the Savior, “You make him the ruler over the works of your hands.  You put everything under his feet.” (Psalm 8:6)  And in Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, the Holy Spirit encourages us to have confidence in our prayers, for Paul wrote, “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you may know the hope to which he has called you, just how rich his glorious inheritance among the saints is, and just how surpassingly great his power is for us who believe.” (Ephesians 1:18-19)  So, you see, Jesus has the power to control the events of the world, to influence rulers and societies, and to give you the strength of faith to overcome your fears.

The most vivid display of Christ’s power is His resurrection from the dead.  Jesus thereby proved His divine nature and His ability to conquer any enemy that might try to stop us from doing God’s will.  Thus, the Lord invites us to pray for all those put in authority on earth, because their very purpose in this world is to provide the peaceful societies that allow for the opportunity to share God’s Good News wherever and whenever it is needed, and it is needed everywhere!

Just as much, Jesus’ resurrection is the certain proof that we have the sure cure every person on earth needs.  Therefore, we never need fear whether we are bringing our neighbors something they need, because we all need God’s grace and the forgiveness of our sins.  Indeed, Paul wrote, “There is no difference, because all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 3:22-24)

We, likewise, needn’t think we are trying to convince or coerce someone into possessing something they don’t need or can’t afford.  No unbeliever trapped in sin knows he needs Jesus.  Neither does the unbeliever desire to serve God.  He may desire to serve some imagined power or goal, but the sinner can only know Jesus through the faith the Holy Spirit works in him by the power of the Gospel. 

Our job is simply to share the Good News of all Jesus has done for the world.  Furthermore, we proclaim that Good News in a variety of ways.  The preacher is sent to proclaim it publicly.  The faithful believers proclaim it through the lives they live, the kindnesses they show to the hurting and lost, the support they give to the prophets’ hands, and their invitation to troubled souls to learn about Jesus and receive forgiveness and life everlasting.

As far as the cost of forgiveness and salvation, God charges us nothing.  Instead, He graciously gave His Son into death and the grave so that we might be redeemed and cleansed of all sin.  Then by His Word and the water of Baptism, the Holy Spirit brings the faith in Jesus that sets us free from the devil and eternal condemnation.  Death once reigned over us and all people, “But God, because he is rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in trespasses.  It is by grace you have been saved!” (Ephesians 2:4-5)

Forgiveness and salvation cost us nothing.  Yet, there is a cost for following Jesus; it is the cost of living in this world but not remaining part of the world.  “Jesus said to his disciples, ‘If anyone wants to follow me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.  In fact whoever wants to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.  After all, what will it benefit a person if he gains the whole world, but forfeits his soul?  Or what can a person give in exchange for his soul?’” (Matthew 16:24-26)

Considering that all the riches of this world are mere fool’s gold, we pray for the peace that allows us to live in quiet godliness, for “This is good and pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”  There has never ever been people so lost that Jesus doesn’t want to save them.  There has never ever been anyone so evil that Jesus didn’t pay for his sins.  “For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time.” 

No matter how unlikable someone might seem to us, Jesus loved that person enough to give His life to pay for that person’s redemption.  No matter how unforgivable our own shortcomings might feel, Jesus loved you and me enough to purify us in God’s sight by His life, death, resurrection, and the gift of the Holy Spirit poured out on us in our Baptisms.  Continually in heaven, Jesus intercedes with His Father for the defense of His people.  The Father’s love for His Son is gratified and expanded by the love Jesus has shown to us all.  Therefore, through the power of the Holy Spirit in Word and Sacrament, we are encouraged to Pray, proclaim, invite, and give thanks.

In fact, that is one of the reasons we are here this morning.  Here, God serves us with His gifts of the Spirit and the salvation of our souls.  Here, by the gifts of the Spirit, He builds up our faith to participate in His saving ways.  Here, we jointly offer up together our prayers and intercessions for those who yet need to learn about Jesus.  Here, Jesus feeds us with His true body and blood in the bread and wine of the Supper.  By that holy meal, we are again and again assured of the forgiveness Jesus won for us all on the cross.  Here, God nourishes us with the Bread of Life which is His holy Word that teaches us right from wrong and shows us the love the Father has for every person who has ever lived.  Here, we lift up our voices in thanksgiving and praise for all that God, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, has given us.

There was a man who hated Jesus and everything He stood for.  This man hunted Christians with the intention to end their faith and gain his own good standing before God.  That man was lost in his evil ways, but then, Jesus rescued him from darkness on the road to Damascus, and we now know him as St. Paul who the Lord called to faith and sent out as the apostle to the Gentiles. 

Here, Paul writes, “For this testimony, I was appointed a herald and an apostle—I speak the truth; I am not lying—a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.”  We give thanks to the Lord that Jesus rescued Paul from the darkness of sin and death, because it is through Paul that the Holy Spirit has given us the great teachings and information about forgiveness and salvation through faith in Jesus.

Dear friends, like Paul, you and I can be a great help to the troubled soul, because through the Word of our God and Savior, we can bring life and salvation to the hurting and lost.  We can give comfort to the troubled heart, strength and assurance to the weak and worried.  Not that we ourselves can cure anyone else’s problems, but our Savior Jesus works all things for the good of those who believe in Him.  Thus, we proudly and boldly proclaim the Lord until he comes as we with confidence in Jesus and His sacrifice, also willingly Pray, proclaim, invite, and give thanks.  Amen.

May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and in his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and establish you in every good work and word.  Amen.

God promises the impossible that brings life.

 

Sermon for Pentecost 6, July 20, 2025

Grace, mercy, peace, and abundant joy to you from God the Father and Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Genesis 18:1-14  The Lord appeared to Abraham by the oaks of Mamre, as he was sitting by the door to his tent during the heat of the day.  ²Abraham looked up, and he saw three men standing in front of him.  When he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them, and he bowed down to the ground.  ³He said, “My lord, if I have now found favor in your sight, please do not pass your servant by.  ⁴Now let me get a little water so that all of you can wash your feet and rest under the tree.  ⁵Let me get some bread so that you can refresh yourselves.  After that you may go your way.  That is why you have come to your servant.”  They said, “Yes, do as you have said.”  ⁶Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah and said, “Quickly prepare twenty quarts of fine flour, knead it, and make some loaves of bread.”  ⁷Abraham ran to the herd, brought a good, tender calf, and gave it to the servant.  He hurried to prepare it.  ⁸He took cheese curds, milk, and the calf that he had prepared and set it before them.  He stood beside them under the tree while they ate.  ⁹They asked him, “Where is Sarah, your wife?”  He said, “She is over there in the tent.”  ¹⁰One of the men said, “I will certainly return to you when this season comes around next year.  Then Sarah your wife will have a son.”  Sarah was listening to this from the tent door, which was behind him.  ¹¹Now Abraham and Sarah were old, well into old age.  Sarah was past the age for childbearing.  ¹²Sarah laughed to herself, saying, “After I am worn out, will I have pleasure, since my lord is also old?”  ¹³The Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Will I really give birth to a child though I am old?’  ¹⁴Is anything impossible for the Lord?  At the set time next year I will return to you, and Sarah will have a son.” (EHV)

God promises the impossible that brings life.

Precious servants of the Living Lord,

            In our three readings today, we see believers serving their Savior.  In our epistle lesson, St. Paul was dutifully sharing what Christ has done for us all.  The Gospel lesson reported that Mary and Martha were faithfully serving, though Jesus had to rebuke Martha when, in a moment of weakness, she felt that serving her Savior a meal was more important than hearing what Jesus was teaching.  That lesson reminds us that hearing God’s message of grace is the most important thing.

In our sermon text, too, we see faithful believers serving their Lord.  Abraham gladly welcomed three strangers with great hospitality.  His wife hurried to serve their guests, as did their young servant who prepared the meat for the meal.  Yet, this text is not so much about hospitality as it is about our Lord diligently serving us.  You see, God promises the impossible that brings life.

Throughout history, our flawed nature assumed that God needs our help in carrying out His role of caring for us.  Pagan worship was built on the false idea that one had to influence the forces of nature to gain a prosperous life.  Still today, many teach that you have to do certain things to get God to help you.  If you want God listen to you, they say, you must say the right prayer, the right number of times, in the right place, or it can be that you must show repentance in specific ways, or honor certain things, or do some contrived rituals so that God will credit you with good works.  Sometimes, it is as simple as believing that because you attend church on Sunday, God must treat you well.

However, is it really true that God needs our help to accomplish His purposes?  Does He really need our feeble efforts to save us?  This text helps us understand that the Lord is behind every good thing, and we have very little involvement until after the fact of our rescue.  For instance, we see Abraham being the ideal host here, but that had absolutely no role in saving his soul.  In fact, Moses reported that before Abram ever did anything to serve his Lord, “Abram believed in the LORD, and the Lord credited it to him as righteousness.” (Genesis 15:6)  Of course, some would object that by believing, Abram was contributing to his salvation.  However, like all the rest of us, Abram became a believer when the power of God’s promise brought life to Abram’s soul.

Our sermon text tells of another time when the Lord came directly to Abraham.  What was the purpose of this visit?  It appears there were several, but the main one seems to be to help Sarah, who wasn’t so confident that the Lord would deliver on His promise to give her and Abraham a son.  We know for sure that Abraham had told her God’s plan, since they had previously conspired to try to assist God with that promise through Sarah’s handmaiden, Hagar.

However, as it is for all of us, it was hard for Sarah to wait patiently for the Lord.  She knew her womb had long since dried up.  Sarah and Abraham had lived together as husband and wife for many decades with no child being conceived, so her hope for a child was dried up, as well.  That was made clear when Sarah laughed at the Lord’s announcement that He would return the coming year and she would be holding a newborn son of her own womb.  “Sarah laughed to herself, saying, ‘After I am worn out, will I have pleasure, since my lord is also old?’”  Would she, at the age of ninety, finally give birth to a son?  How foolish, Sarah thought; how impossible even to consider.  Yet, The Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Will I really give birth to a child though I am old?’  Is anything impossible for the Lord?”

"Is anything impossible for the LORD?”  As always, when we find someone caught in a weakness of faith, it would be easy for us to look down on that person or puff ourselves up with the idea that we wouldn’t be susceptible to that type of fault.  But, is that really true?  Or, do we too, like Sarah, sometimes have trouble believing that the Lord will keep all His promises for us?

All around us, we find people who doubt that the miracles of the Bible could have happened, and because of their faithless arguments, believers are often tempted to doubt God.  Miracles fall outside of our normal experience, so many people find it hard to believe they were done.  At the very least, men search for ways miraculous things could have happened through natural means, as if our Lord couldn’t work outside of the laws of the nature He created. 

Many sceptics and scholars claim God couldn’t have created the world in just six days; some swear that it isn’t possible for Jesus to put His body and blood in the bread and wine of His Supper, while others argue that the Holy Spirit couldn’t give life and faith through the water and Word of Baptism, but “Is anything impossible for the Lord?”

Some people teach that faith in Jesus as your Savior is a decision you make.  Yet, Scripture clearly teaches, “Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message comes through the word of Christ.” (Romans 10:17)  Likewise, God’s promise of a son to Abraham and Sarah would happen whether Sarah believed God would allow her to become pregnant at her age or not.  In the same way, saving faith isn’t something you do, or choose.  Rather, “God, because he is rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in trespasses.  It is by grace you have been saved!” (Ephesians 2:4-5)

Another problem many people have is the idea that we must deserve God’s forgiveness.  That’s one of the devil’s most powerful temptations.  If he can get us to believe that it is impossible for God to love us, then Satan can keep us trusting his lies instead of God’s kind Word.  In medieval times, that misunderstanding led monks like the young Martin Luther to whip themselves, to do all kinds of menial labor, to make pilgrimages to so-called holy sites, to starve themselves and withhold any pleasure from their lives, and actually to do any silly thing someone would imagine as a work to satisfy a vengeful god.  Still today, multiple religions continue to teach such devious lies.  They might call it earning karma, or submitting to their god, or simply doing your part.  But, God promises the impossible that brings life.

The Lord visited Abraham and Sarah to remind them that there is nothing outside of His control and nothing that could stop Him from carrying out His salvation plans.  That God would make it possible for a ninety-year-old woman to give birth to a son from a hundred-year-old man shows the world that it is just as true that God brought His Son into the world by a virgin birth.  Since God could resurrect Sarah’s long-dead womb, why would anyone doubt that He could raise His own Son from the grave after being three days dead?  Especially, if God could forgive His chosen people like Abraham and Sarah for their weak faith, can He not forgive you too?  If God could call to faith His most ardent enemy, a man named Saul who had been breathing murder against Christians throughout Palestine, could He not also call you to faith without your help?

            Dear friends, the Bible is filled with the accounts of sinners who didn’t deserve God’s forgiveness: King David—guilty of adultery and murder, Adam and Eve—guilty of abandoning holiness for the whole human race, Sarah—who wasn’t confident God could deliver on His promise, a whole nation of people that continually strayed from God’s loving care, the prophet Jonah—who heard God’s call to rescue a large city of sinners and ran the other direction, Peter—denying His Lord and Savior three times in one night, Saul—doing everything in his power to stop the spread of the Good News of Jesus Christ.  The story goes on and on telling us of how everyone needs a Savior, and of how God has provided the perfect One in His Son. 

This plan of salvation isn’t something man could ever dream up.  We always expect retribution for our guilt.  That’s why we have so much trouble believing that we are forgiven.  We know we have sinned.  We know others sin too, and we find it hard to forgive them, which makes us think that God doesn’t want to forgive us.  Yet, that thought simply isn’t true, is it?  God wants to forgive every sin.  He wants to heal every hurting soul.  He wants everyone to return to Him in faith and live.  That’s why God chose to send His own dear Son to be our Savior at the perfect time and place in history.

Could God love a sinner like you?  Jesus declared, “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)  In His Son, God loved us all: the bad, the worse, and the very worst.  Isaiah wrote, “Each of us has turned to his own way, but the Lord has charged all our guilt to him.” (Isaiah 53:6)

Still, what if you are feeling really guilty, filthy on the inside and the out, could God really have a forgiving heart for you too?  The Bible answers all objections.  “God made him, who did not know sin, to become sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God in him.” (2 Corinthians 5:20-21)  Can this really mean you, too?  The Bible assures the terrified soul, " Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, you and your household." (Acts 16:31)  But don’t I have to do something to help the Lord save me?  Jesus says, " Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved.” (Mark 16:16)

We started out today talking about hospitality and serving the Lord.  Those are things that we naturally want to do only after we have been brought to faith in Jesus.  Before we had that faith, we couldn’t do anything good, nor did we truly desire to do so, for everything about us was corrupted by sin.  Now, though, as believers sanctified by faith, “We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared in advance so that we would walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10)  This is what we do as we walk in faith; we serve our Lord, just like Mary did when she sat at Jesus’ feet and soaked in every word He had to say; as Peter did when he wept and repented of his betrayal.  Like the prison guard who fell on his knees in terror saying, “What must I do to be saved?” (Acts 16:31)  When he heard, "Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved,” he rejoiced to take those preachers to his own house so that his whole family could hear the Good News and live.  For them and for us, God promises the impossible that brings life.

Dear friends, the Gospel of our God—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit—makes it clear that there is nothing that could deter Him from saving those He has chosen.  The devil, the world, and our own flesh couldn’t stop God from carrying out His promises to send a Savior, nor stop Him from working faith in our hearts.  Therefore, may our lives of service give thanks and praise for the forgiveness, eternal life, and salvation that Jesus has graciously given to us, for the prayers He answers, and for the comfort His abiding presence gives us, because God promises the impossible that brings us life.  Amen.

The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus unto life everlasting.  Amen.

Love with the Savior who paid for your care.

 

Sermon for Pentecost 5, July 13, 2025

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Luke 10:25-37  ²⁵Just then, an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus, saying, “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”  ²⁶“What is written in the law?” he asked him.  “What do you read there?”  ²⁷He replied, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind; and, love your neighbor as yourself.”  ²⁸He said to him, “You have answered correctly.  Do this, and you will live.”  ²⁹But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”  ³⁰Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho.  He fell among robbers who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead.  ³¹It just so happened that a priest was going down that way.  But when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side.  ³²In the same way, a Levite also happened to go there, but when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side.  ³³A Samaritan, as he traveled, came to where the man was.  When he saw him, he felt sorry for the man.  ³⁴He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them.  He put him on his own animal, took him to an inn, and took care of him.  ³⁵The next day, when he left, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, ‘Take care of him.  Whatever extra you spend, I will repay you when I return.’  ³⁶Which of these three do you think acted like a neighbor to the man who fell among robbers?”  ³⁷“The one who showed mercy to him,” he replied.  Then Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.” (EHV)

Love with the Savior who paid for your care.

Dear wounded travelers,

            There is a good chance that from many a contemporary pulpit, today, you might hear a sermon theme based on this text that goes something like, “Be a good neighbor,” or “Rescue the hurting stranger on your path,” or “Who is my neighbor?” or “Jesus says, ‘Go and do likewise!’”  All of these are textual, but all are obvious applications of law, and many would likely miss Jesus’ point. 

While trying to put Jesus to the test, that lawyer tried to redirect Jesus by asking, “And who is my neighbor?”  However, Jesus saw through the lawyer’s subterfuge and answered not just the “who” question but especially “how” one should love, teaching us to Love with the Savior who paid for your care.

The Jewish teachers were experts in the Mosaic Law.  Unfortunately, they couldn’t see how they failed to obey it.  This lawyer repeated a summary of the law with stunning accuracy, yet he never once considered that he might not love God as well as the law commands.  He didn’t even doubt that he could properly love his fellow man, but still trying to trip Jesus, the lawyer asked how to identify those people who were worthy to receive his love.  To be merciful, Jesus told the story of the good Samaritan to picture for the lawyer, and for all of us, what kind of love He was talking about.

Now, I could spend a lot of time telling you precisely how we need to help and serve our neighbors.  I could tell you that your neighbor is anyone you ever meet, or anyone else who may ever need your help.  I likely could make you feel guilty about all the times you have failed to measure up.  And, it would be pretty easy to leave you wondering how you could ever be saved, since we all so often fail to show mercy like that Samaritan.  However, the reason Jesus told this story is so that we all could understand what He has done for us, so that we may Love with the Savior who paid for your care.

For just a second, take a look at the picture on the front of your bulletin.  Now, close your eyes and think of the wounded man lying on that long ago road.  With your eyes closed, remember the face.  Do you recall what he looks like?  Ideally, I would have you see the face like you were looking in a mirror.  You see, that wounded man, who had been attacked by robbers, represents you and me. 

You and I, and every other person in the history of the world (including that lawyer), have been surrounded by thieves who stripped us of all righteousness and stole every good thing we could have offered to the Lord.  The devil stole our innocence in the Garden of Eden.  He took away our peace with God, our ability to love, and our universal kindness.  Not only did we lose everything to the thieves, but knowing we now sin against God and our neighbors, our consciences beat us with accusations of guilt.  We daily suffer the cruel blows of the temptations of the world.  We have often endured the taunts of those who reject God and think we are fools for believing.  Furthermore, sin stabbed us in the heart leaving us for dead in the roadway of our earthly lives. 

Dear friends, the world doesn’t care if we never make it home.  In fact, the devil is actively trying to keep us from reaching our Father in heaven.  Truly, Satan would much rather see us rot right where he left us lying in the filth of our uncleanness.

Now that you know the thieves’ victims, take a look at those who passed by on the other side of the road.  Jesus made a point of showing that those were the kind of men the lawyer respected.  They are the law-preachers and sometimes leading politicians—the legalists of every age—who may know what is right but are not able, or not willing, to do what should be done to rescue the hurting.  They look good to the world.  They can be highly respected among men, but in God’s eyes they are sons of the devil.  Jesus once said, “They tie up heavy loads, burdens that are hard to carry, and place them on people’s shoulders, but they will not lift a finger to help them.” (Matthew 23:4)

On the other hand, into a world of naked, bloody, beaten, dying sinners came a Man who was willing to help.  To the Jews, a Samaritan was a mixed blood person they despised.  Strangely, the leaders of the Jews mocked Jesus by calling Him a Samaritan.  If you look closely at the picture in our minds, though, you see Jesus truly is that Samaritan in the parable.  To rescue those of us who were dying, “God sent his Son to be born of a woman, so that he would be born under the law, in order to redeem those under the law, so that we would be adopted as sons.” (Galatians 4:5)  The holy Son of God came down to earth to walk our road so that He could rescue us from the murderous robbers.  Christ took on human flesh so He could fulfil all the demands of the Law for us.  You see, before any of us entered life, Jesus already saw us lying wounded, dying in the dust, unable to help ourselves or lift ourselves up for healing.

After describing the victim’s sad position, Jesus told that lawyer, "A Samaritan, as he traveled, came to where the man was.  When he saw him, he felt sorry for the man.  He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them.  He put him on his own animal, took him to an inn, and took care of him.  The next day, when he left, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, ‘Take care of him.  Whatever extra you spend, I will repay you when I return.'”  God doesn’t demand that we come to Him by works of law; rather, His Son came to us, overlooking our uncleanness, so that He could make us whole.

Our rescuing Savior cleaned our wounds with the blood and water He shed on the cross.  There, Jesus dirtied His hands by taking upon Himself all our sins and our guilt.  Our Savior washed away our oozing guilt with the water and Word of Baptism.  He dressed our wounds with the Gospel of His grace, and He wrapped us in the robe of His own righteousness.  Our Savior didn’t stop there.  He picked us up, still hurting and bleeding into the bandages He had wrapped around us, and He brought us to the Church, where He tells the innkeepers (the preachers of Christ’s Gospel), “Take care of him.  Whatever extra you spend, I will repay you when I return.” 

Dear friends, our Savior loved that lawyer too.  In His merciful kindness, Jesus was reaching out to him with open arms, showing how He had come to the world to save those who were dying.  Jesus didn’t tell the man point blank how to be saved.  Rather, Jesus gave him a picture and asked him to see the Merciful One.  Then, Jesus asked him, " Which of these three do you think acted like a neighbor to the man who fell among robbers?”  “The one who showed mercy to him,” he replied.  Then Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise."  No one could ever be as merciful as Jesus has been to us all.  If I told you to go out and love your neighbors but never teach you how to do so, you might give away all your money, spend your whole life serving the poor, but still be lying there dying in the dirt. 

Now, I don’t know whether that lawyer understood what Jesus was trying to show him, but Jesus gave him much the same command He gives us.  Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise."  It’s very similar to what Jesus told His disciples before He returned to His Father’s side; He said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Therefore go and gather disciples from all nations by baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and by teaching them to keep all the instructions I have given you.  And surely I am with you always until the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20)

Jesus teaches us to go and share His mercy and healing with the dying and abused of our world.  What an amazing command our Savior gives us.  You and I could never save the world with our works.  We couldn’t even save ourselves, but we can be good neighbors and rescuing Samaritans to the hurting and abused sinners of the world by sharing Jesus and His Word.  In other words, as we Love with the Savior who paid for your care.

Now that we have been healed of the spiritual abuse that had left us dying in the filth of our sin, our Lord has commissioned us to walk the dusty, dangerous roads of this world, so that whenever we might find some poor soul dying along the road, stripped of any good, beaten, and abused by the devil, the world, and his own sinful flesh, we too can rescue the injured soul with the One Man who lived and died to rescue us all.  Whenever we meet one of those poor broken sinners, we can wash his bloody wounds with the water and blood Jesus shed.  We can bind up the injuries with the Gospel of Jesus’ holy life and innocent death in our place, and we can lead that hurting soul to the place of healing, the Church our Lord Jesus built to give respite to the recovering, wounded soul, and where He still, today, heals and gives life.

Furthermore, our rescuing Savior promises to return to repay us for this healing work.  It costs us very little, but the reward will be everlasting.  When the last day comes, “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.  For I was hungry and you gave me food to eat.  I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink.  I was a stranger and you welcomed me.  I was lacking clothes and you clothed me.  I was sick and you took care of me.  I was in prison and you visited me.’” (Matthew 25:34-36)  Jesus says, "Go and do likewise."  Love with the Savior who paid for your care.  Amen.

To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his own blood and made us a kingdom and priests to God his Father—to him be the glory and the power forever.  Amen.

Receive the crown of glory by faith.

 

Sermon for Pentecost 4, July 6, 2025

Mercy and peace to you all, “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all people.”  Amen.

1 Peter 5:1-4  Therefore, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and as one who also shares in the glory that is about to be revealed, I appeal to the elders among you: ²Shepherd God’s flock that is among you, serving as overseers, not grudgingly but willingly, as God desires, not because you are greedy for money but because you are eager to do it.  ³Do not lord it over those entrusted to your care, but be examples for the flock.  ⁴And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive an unfading crown of glory. (EHV)

Receive the crown of glory by faith.

Dear lambs, precious to our Savior,

            As we read this text, you may have considered that it would be an appropriate text for an ordination or installation of a pastor, and indeed, that has often been the case.  It speaks to faithful service in the Church of those placed in positions of authority or leadership of Christ’s flock.  Thus, you might wonder what does that have to do with you?  Shouldn’t I be preaching this toward myself?  A sceptic might even reply by quoting Jesus when He was confronting people of His hometown, who resented His words.  He told them, “Certainly you will quote this proverb to me, ‘Physician, heal yourself!’” (Luke 4:23)

At the same time, if we dive a little deeper into the message Peter delivers, it soon becomes apparent that this teaching applies to all of us who have any measure of authority among God’s people.  Certainly, it applies to the pastor.  Likewise, it applies to the men of the congregation entrusted with the care of the congregation as a whole.  It applies to fathers concerning their care for their wife and children.  It applies to the wives as they care for and teach the children.  Even children have a responsibility in these words, because like all the rest of us, they need to give heed to the authority placed over them by God’s loving grace.

Once we understand that every Christian has responsibility among God’s beloved people, we are likewise struck by how often we have failed to live up to the law’s demand as presented here by the Apostle Peter.  We might ask ourselves, how often have I failed to be that humble example to others?  How well and how willingly have I served without any concern for my own comfort or gain?  Have I ever unjustly placed myself above another?  Have I always been eager to serve? 

Many a pastor, and I suspect many ordinary men and women, have been brought to their knees by the realization that we simply never measure up to the task.  We fail far too often, and often far too willingly, to deserve the crown of glory which is salvation of our souls in heaven.  Yet, isn’t that the point?  That we don’t receive God’s grace because we deserve it, but that forgiveness and salvation are gifts of our loving God, so that we Receive the crown of glory by faith.

Peter comes to us with this message as one who has seen it all.  He was a witness to the sufferings of Christ Jesus on behalf of the whole human race.  However, Peter doesn’t speak to us as one without sin, for Peter had committed perhaps the greatest betrayal of all time.  Peter would be the first to admit that he abandoned His Savior just moments after boasting of his unwavering commitment.  Still, Peter speaks with full confidence in the love Jesus has for him.  He writes, “Therefore, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and as one who also shares in the glory that is about to be revealed, I appeal to the elders among you:” 

Understand the humility of Peter’s appeal.  He is giving this strong advice and encouragement, not as commands which must be obeyed in order to be counted holy.  Rather, this is an urgent plea that we all do whatever we can to serve those placed under our care so that they too will experience the grace of God poured out for all His people.  Naturally, Peter expects the elders to lead by example. 

At the same time, Peter recognizes the grace he has been shown.  Peter makes no claim to deserving forgiveness for his abandonment of Jesus at His arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane, but Peter was shown mercy because of Christ’s love for him and for all.  By the faith in Jesus that Peter was granted by the Father in heaven, he receives also the promise of life everlasting in heaven.  You see, when Jesus asked His disciples, “But you, who do you say that I am?”  Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”  Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 16:15-17)

Likewise, you and I and all Christian believers have been brought into this kingdom of grace by the work of the Holy Spirit in Word and Sacrament.  It is God’s gift to us to be forgiven for Jesus’ sake.  The Father sent the Son into the world to redeem us from the curse of sin.  The Father and the Son, together, send the Holy Spirit with the power of the Gospel to work that faith in us.  You and I did nothing to deserve God’s merciful actions, but in His love for us, God refused to leave us in the devil’s hands.  Therefore, having been justified, that is being counted righteous before God, through the faith in Jesus worked in us, the Holy Spirit also works on our sanctification, which is continuing to build holy living among us.

Thus, we receive Peter’s instruction, here, as an appeal to live God’s love among those around us.  Peter wrote, “Shepherd God’s flock that is among you, serving as overseers, not grudgingly but willingly, as God desires, not because you are greedy for money but because you are eager to do it.”  True Christian faith doesn’t ask, “What do I have to do?” but rather asks what is God’s will for me so that others might be helped in this world and led into the faith that gives eternal life?  In that light, shepherding God’s people means leading them to the food of life.  It means correcting false ideas or misleading temptations that the enemy sows among us.  It means defending those in your care from the deceptions and attacks of the ravenous foe.

On the receiving end of those instructions, we also remain humble.  It is not the under shepherd who makes rules or tells the Christian how to live, but only to share how our Lord has lived so that we might be granted true righteousness.  Our sinful nature often rebels against the commands God has given for our good.  The believer has been brought to understand that obedience of the law will never save us, because we have already broken it.  However, we also understand that God gives law to preserve peace and safety among His people.  Still, it is not law that saves but the truth of what Jesus has done for us—that he lived holiness on our behalf, and that He died to pay the penalty for our guilt—that He rose from the dead on the third day just as promised so that we have sure confidence in everything Jesus has told and taught—so that we Receive the crown of glory by faith.

“Do not lord it over those entrusted to your care, but be examples for the flock.”  Having received such a great treasury of gifts of God’s grace, it isn’t hard to imagine that people might begin to assume that we deserve such things.  The Holy Spirit recognizes that the human nature often takes credit to itself for what God has done for us.  Therefore, He tells us here not to make ourselves pompous overlords, but rather that we lead by the example of humility that is most clearly seen in our Savior, Jesus Christ.  St. Paul wrote likewise:

Indeed, let this attitude be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.  Though he was by nature God, he did not consider equality with God as a prize to be displayed, but he emptied himself by taking the nature of a servant.  When he was born in human likeness, and his appearance was like that of any other man, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death—even death on a cross.” (Philippians 2:5-8)

Unworthy sinners that we all were, Jesus gave up His home in heaven to live on earth for us.  Rebellious enemies that we were, Jesus died for everyone who will ever walk on this planet, so that cleansed by His blood through the gift of faith, we can be called sons of God.  The apostle Jesus loved wrote, “See the kind of love the Father has given us that we should be called children of God, and that is what we are!” (1 John 3:1)

Knowing Jesus’ selfless sacrifice for us, how could we ever imagine ourselves as more worthy than any other sinner?  Instead, the appeal is that we do whatever we can to lead people to Jesus.  When discipline is needed, we will apply it with humility and kindness.  When right judgment is called for, the faithful, humble believer will speak only truth, even when judgment must be pronounced upon the unrepentant sinner.  And whenever the Gospel can be proclaimed, we will gladly and willingly, joyfully share with those in our care that Jesus lived, died, and rose again so that your guilt is taken away and forgiveness can be applied boldly and without question.

Ultimately, living in this grace we have been given, and diligently serving our Lord and our neighbor to the best of our ability, “And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive an unfading crown of glory.”  That is the reward won for His people and given to you by faith that every Christian believer looks forward to.  Our hope is not in ourselves but in Christ Jesus.  He is the One who made us righteous by His holy living and innocent death.  He is the Son of God and Man who reconciled us with the Almighty Creator of the world.  Jesus is the One who loved you enough to make you His brother by faith.  The crown of glory that Jesus forged in the fires of His trials, suffering, and death will be placed on the heads of all His faithful children.  God grant that we always live in humble service, fully trusting in Jesus alone for forgiveness and life, in which faith we will Receive the crown of glory by faith.  Amen.

Now may the God of peace—who brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, in connection with his blood, which established the eternal testament—may he equip you with every good thing to do his will, as he works in us what is pleasing in his sight through Jesus Christ.  To him be glory forever and ever.  Amen.