Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God, our Father, and from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, amen. The text for the sermon this morning comes from the Epistle, which was read earlier.

In today’s religious marketplace, churches are selling success – financial, social, bodily, and spiritual success. With these teachings, there is no room for suffering. Rather, suffering is seen by some as a sign of God’s punishment, or at least the absence of His favor. In today’s Epistle, we learn that suffering, especially suffering for the sake of Christ, can actually be a gift from God and serve to further His kingdom.

Paul led a long life. During this life he led, he suffered. He suffered from a thorn in the flesh, “a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited.” Paul suffered from being imprisoned three different times in his life. Paul suffered from being shipwrecked on the island of Malta for three months on his way from Caesarea to Rome. Needless to say, Paul suffered during his life; this was just the suffering that he faced once he became a Christian following his Damascus Road conversion.

Suffering for the Christian is nothing new. It’s not something that the Christian looks forward to, yet it is something that the Christian will face during their life. Not only is it something that we face, it is nothing short of a gift from God. Faith is a gift, “granted” to us “for the sake of Christ.”

Like faith, we see that suffering is a gift, though not a gift like you and I would think of. Faith is something given to us for our benefit; no one would deny that fact. But can we say the same about suffering? Is suffering given to us for our benefit? The answer is yes. It is granted to us, as Paul says.

Most would not consider suffering a gift. When one thinks of a gift, they think of money, jewelry, a new car, but not suffering. If you had the choice between a gift of one-million dollars or suffering, your choice would be a no-brainer: you would take the money.

Paul was not your “model Christian” by any means; actually, Paul was no Christian at all. He had lived his life by the name of Saul. He knew of Jesus and had one goal in life: to stamp out Christianity and everything Christ stood for. He caused suffering to many a Christian, suffering to the point of death. Saul had everything going for him, until one fateful day on the Damascus Road. It was there that Saul met Jesus, face-to-face. It was there that Saul was converted from a non-Christian to a Christian. It was from that moment on that Paul’s life would change.

Following his conversion, Paul suffered many a thing. However, he did not count it as a curse, but rather as a blessing. This conversion left Paul with one simple message: “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Paul’s suffering, while it was difficult at times, furthered the work of the Gospel. Early in our text, Paul makes mention of his imprisonment. It was not punishment for disobeying God, but a result of faithfully speaking the Word of God. That suffering for speaking the Gospel was bearing fruit. The imperial guard and all the rest had heard of Christ as a result of Paul’s suffering. Because of the message of Christ which Paul was preaching, others were becoming confident in speaking of Christ because of Paul’s suffering. Suffering like Paul talks about here is echoed throughout his epistles. We see Paul’s suffering instrumental in the founding, the upbringing, the doctrine, and the chastisement of congregations in Rome, Corinth, Galatia, Ephesus, Philippi, and Colossae.

Just like Paul, you and I are called to accept the gift of suffering for the sake of the Gospel. We may suffer for the speaking the Word. We may face embarrassment, harassment, fallings out with family and friends and cold shoulders. We may face sanctions at work, restrictions in public activities. Yet we are called to “preach the Word; be ready in season and out of season.” We are called to “reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.”

Paul is not the only illustration of suffering we see in Scripture. Jesus Christ is the greatest example we see in Scripture of suffering for the sake of the Gospel.

Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ shows to us the ultimate sacrifice for the sake of the Gospel. Paul gives to us a great understanding of the work of Jesus Christ in Philippians 2: “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.”

Suffering for the sake of the Gospel leads us to one thing and one thing only: trust in Christ and Christ alone. Christ has suffered our same sufferings, as well as sufferings that we can never suffer. He became man and suffered what you and I were meant to suffer. Because of your sins and mine, He was harassed, humiliated, abandoned by friends, and excluded by Jewish leadership. He was arrested, imprisoned, beaten and killed, all for the sins of the world. He was damned, rejected by His Father, and suffered the torments of hell; not for His behalf, but on behalf of you, the people whom God was making His own by the work of His Son. It is by His life, suffering, death, and resurrection that you and I have received a prize: that prize is everlasting life. That is exactly what we hear from the Gospel of John: “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.”

Being a Christian is not about attaining success as the world counts success. Being a Christian may mean suffering for the sake of the Gospel. In every kind of suffering, we are comforted that it comes to us as a gift, just as faith comes to us as a gift. The sufferings we experience drive us to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. It is our hope as Christians to suffer and not be ashamed, for that which we suffer is far greater than what we could expect in this life; we desire to suffer for the sake of Jesus Christ and His Word, because He has suffered in our place. In Jesus’ name, amen. Now the peace of God which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds through faith in Christ Jesus until life everlasting, amen.

Pentecost 19A 2008

Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God, our Father, and from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, amen. The text for the sermon this morning comes from the Epistle, which was read earlier.

In today’s religious marketplace, churches are selling success – financial, social, bodily, and spiritual success. With these teachings, there is no room for suffering. Rather, suffering is seen by some as a sign of God’s punishment, or at least the absence of His favor. In today’s Epistle, we learn that suffering, especially suffering for the sake of Christ, can actually be a gift from God and serve to further His kingdom.

Paul led a long life. During this life he led, he suffered. He suffered from a thorn in the flesh, “a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited.” Paul suffered from being imprisoned three different times in his life. Paul suffered from being shipwrecked on the island of Malta for three months on his way from Caesarea to Rome. Needless to say, Paul suffered during his life; this was just the suffering that he faced once he became a Christian following his Damascus Road conversion.

Suffering for the Christian is nothing new. It’s not something that the Christian looks forward to, yet it is something that the Christian will face during their life. Not only is it something that we face, it is nothing short of a gift from God. Faith is a gift, “granted” to us “for the sake of Christ.”

Like faith, we see that suffering is a gift, though not a gift like you and I would think of. Faith is something given to us for our benefit; no one would deny that fact. But can we say the same about suffering? Is suffering given to us for our benefit? The answer is yes. It is granted to us, as Paul says.

Most would not consider suffering a gift. When one thinks of a gift, they think of money, jewelry, a new car, but not suffering. If you had the choice between a gift of one-million dollars or suffering, your choice would be a no-brainer: you would take the money.

Paul was not your “model Christian” by any means; actually, Paul was no Christian at all. He had lived his life by the name of Saul. He knew of Jesus and had one goal in life: to stamp out Christianity and everything Christ stood for. He caused suffering to many a Christian, suffering to the point of death. Saul had everything going for him, until one fateful day on the Damascus Road. It was there that Saul met Jesus, face-to-face. It was there that Saul was converted from a non-Christian to a Christian. It was from that moment on that Paul’s life would change.

Following his conversion, Paul suffered many a thing. However, he did not count it as a curse, but rather as a blessing. This conversion left Paul with one simple message: “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Paul’s suffering, while it was difficult at times, furthered the work of the Gospel. Early in our text, Paul makes mention of his imprisonment. It was not punishment for disobeying God, but a result of faithfully speaking the Word of God. That suffering for speaking the Gospel was bearing fruit. The imperial guard and all the rest had heard of Christ as a result of Paul’s suffering. Because of the message of Christ which Paul was preaching, others were becoming confident in speaking of Christ because of Paul’s suffering. Suffering like Paul talks about here is echoed throughout his epistles. We see Paul’s suffering instrumental in the founding, the upbringing, the doctrine, and the chastisement of congregations in Rome, Corinth, Galatia, Ephesus, Philippi, and Colossae.

Just like Paul, you and I are called to accept the gift of suffering for the sake of the Gospel. We may suffer for the speaking the Word. We may face embarrassment, harassment, fallings out with family and friends and cold shoulders. We may face sanctions at work, restrictions in public activities. Yet we are called to “preach the Word; be ready in season and out of season.” We are called to “reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.”

Paul is not the only illustration of suffering we see in Scripture. Jesus Christ is the greatest example we see in Scripture of suffering for the sake of the Gospel.

Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ shows to us the ultimate sacrifice for the sake of the Gospel. Paul gives to us a great understanding of the work of Jesus Christ in Philippians 2: “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.”

Suffering for the sake of the Gospel leads us to one thing and one thing only: trust in Christ and Christ alone. Christ has suffered our same sufferings, as well as sufferings that we can never suffer. He became man and suffered what you and I were meant to suffer. Because of your sins and mine, He was harassed, humiliated, abandoned by friends, and excluded by Jewish leadership. He was arrested, imprisoned, beaten and killed, all for the sins of the world. He was damned, rejected by His Father, and suffered the torments of hell; not for His behalf, but on behalf of you, the people whom God was making His own by the work of His Son. It is by His life, suffering, death, and resurrection that you and I have received a prize: that prize is everlasting life. That is exactly what we hear from the Gospel of John: “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.”

Being a Christian is not about attaining success as the world counts success. Being a Christian may mean suffering for the sake of the Gospel. In every kind of suffering, we are comforted that it comes to us as a gift, just as faith comes to us as a gift. The sufferings we experience drive us to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. It is our hope as Christians to suffer and not be ashamed, for that which we suffer is far greater than what we could expect in this life; we desire to suffer for the sake of Jesus Christ and His Word, because He has suffered in our place. In Jesus’ name, amen. Now the peace of God which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds through faith in Christ Jesus until life everlasting, amen.

Pentecost 19A 2008

Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God, our Father, and from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, amen. The text for the sermon today comes from the Gospel, which was read earlier.

If you caught any bit of the 2008 Summer Olympics, you will be able to see which country was the greatest with regards to medals: the United States took the medal count with 110. If you look at the greatest athlete at the games, one would say the greatest would be Michael Phelps. He went a perfect 8-for-8 in Beijing, breaking Mark Spitz’s single-Games record for gold medals. He swam 17 times over nine days and broke the world record in four of his five individual swims. His three relay teams also set world marks. The United States and Michael Phelps are arguably the greatest of the 2008 Summer Olympics. But what about all the other Olympic athletes who didn’t win a medal? Because they didn’t win a medal, does that mean that they are not the greatest?

The same question was made by the disciples with regards to heaven: “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” They had discussed among themselves on the road to Capernaum. They had held their peace because of a guilty feeling. They wanted to know who was greater. The implication was that all of the Twelve would be great, yet that some would be greater than the rest. On the road, the Twelve had had their dispute, and Jesus had delayed until this time in order most thoroughly to settle this question that was so fraught with danger because of envy, jealousy, pride and hatred. There was a possibility that it might disrupt this little band of twelve.

Mark describes Jesus as sitting down and then calling the Twelve to Himself and making an opening statement before He called the little child to Himself. So, after the disciples had confessed their dispute, we must imagine that Jesus formally seated Himself, His manner indicating that He intended once for all to clear up this question of precedence and greatness in His kingdom. Who is the greatest: a child.

Everybody thinks babies are cute and cuddly; I’ll be the first to agree with that statement. Besides entertainment value, rarely do adults consider that such little ones could ever be of much practical use. Jesus has a different view. These babies grow into something far valuable than we could ever imagine: children. He says that we must all become children in order to be saved and enter heaven. From the high places in the kingdom after which the disciples were striving, Jesus takes them back to the very portal of that kingdom. The disciples are given two choices: receive a child in Jesus’ name or cause a child to sin.

Jesus gives us the formula of salvation: faith like a child. Faith like a child is not something that comes easy, especially to adults. We grow up, we learn to be

self-dependant. We even adopt the idea of “survival of the fittest.” We are taught to strive to be the greatest in all that we do. Maybe you have heard the saying, “Second place is the first loser.” Who is stronger: a weak child or a strong man? For Jesus, faith is best seen not by a man, but by a child.

Jesus has in mind the turning which is usually called conversion, equivalent to the regeneration He required of Nicodemus. To permit oneself to be called, led, loved, without pride and without doubt, in simple trust, that is childlikeness even as this is the nature of children who possess nothing but need everything; who are able to do nothing but receive everything as a gift – this must be the way for all who desire to enter the kingdom of heaven. Humble trustfulness is a good summary of what Jesus has in mind, this translated into the spiritual realm, into our relation to Jesus. A king’s child plays with a beggar’s child, and neither feels above the other. We bring our children up, while God brings His children down. Many have thought that children must first grow to manhood before they can enter the kingdom; Jesus reverses this: He teaches that the disciples must go back and become little children.

There are certain false teachings in the Church which may cause us to stumble. One such practice is the theology of glory. The theology of glory places greater emphasis on human abilities and human reason. It expects favorable results if we do our part. This thinking is quite opposite the child’s helplessly receiving whatever comes. Another false teaching of the Church is withholding Baptism from an infant. There are those who do not practice infant Baptism because they say that a child cannot believe. However, their logic is flawed. A child can believe. A child can talk, a child can walk, and a child can sin. Those who believe this way suggest that an adult’s reason or ability to believe is necessary for and contributes to salvation. That is not what we see in Scripture. Jesus says at the end of Matthew, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit….” Under the category of “all nations” fall infants. They are just as capable of having faith to receive the gift of Holy Baptism, just as any adult is.

If we are to follow the words of Jesus, how do we “turn and become like children?” We do not become like children by our own actions. Our sin hinders us from becoming like children. Because of our sin, we are not able to see ourselves as children: doing what we ought not to do, going where we ought not go, looking, leering, and imagining what we ought not see. We deceive ourselves if we think that there is anything that we can do to save ourselves. Salvation comes only by faith, faith like a child.

How does one become a child of faith? It is difficult, no doubt about it. Our minds must be transformed by the Word of Jesus, not by the word of the world. We must solely rely on God and Him alone to provide us with our daily bread. We must rely on Jesus to be who He says He is: “the way, and the truth, and the life.” We must not rely on our own thoughts, words, or deeds to bring about our salvation. We must not rely on the world to give to us everlasting life. It is purely the act of the Holy Spirit to give to us faith. The Holy Spirit reveals how we, as dependent, weak, and helpless babes, are cradled in the arms of God. When our hearts and minds are reshaped by Word and Sacrament, we gain an awareness of this truth.

Earlier I mentioned a false teaching of the Church – the theology of glory. It sounds very good and very promising. However, the theology of glory is not what we find in Scripture. We don’t see our lives played out like the movie, Field of Dreams. Our lives are not, “If you want it” or “If you do it, God will give it.” That is not how God works. He gives to us that which we need to sustain our bodies and lives each day. We must reject this idea of theology of glory and instead focus on a theology of the cross. That is done when we think not of our faith in terms of adult-mindedness, but in simple terms as a child. That is the same thing that Jesus does in our text. He rejects the false teachings of the Christian world in much the same way. He makes clear that “these little ones…believe in me.”

One thing that is confusing to me is when a church, during the Divine Service, has “children’s church” at the same time. “Children’s church” is taking the young children out of the Divine Service and having an extended Sunday School time, or “church” that is more of a play time with games so that they don’t interrupt the Divine Service for the adults. Here’s the problem: if the children are off having “children’s church,” how will they learn to behave in the Divine Service? How will they begin to learn what is taking place in the Divine Service?

Becoming children of God is indeed hard for us adults – and that includes the hard-hearted “adults” we are from the moment of conception, at birth, and at any age throughout life. In fact, it’s impossible for us. But it has happened already. Jesus, the only Son of the Father, makes us children of that same Father by Holy Baptism. We see that displayed for us in Infant Baptism; the most beautiful display of the Gospel, because it visually demonstrates our complete dependence on God and His grace: every Christian is a tiny child in the arms of Jesus. In Jesus’ name, amen. Now the peace of God which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus until life everlasting, amen.

Pentecost 17A 2008

Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God, our Father, and from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, amen. The text for the sermon today comes from the Gospel, which was read earlier.

If you caught any bit of the 2008 Summer Olympics, you will be able to see which country was the greatest with regards to medals: the United States took the medal count with 110. If you look at the greatest athlete at the games, one would say the greatest would be Michael Phelps. He went a perfect 8-for-8 in Beijing, breaking Mark Spitz’s single-Games record for gold medals. He swam 17 times over nine days and broke the world record in four of his five individual swims. His three relay teams also set world marks. The United States and Michael Phelps are arguably the greatest of the 2008 Summer Olympics. But what about all the other Olympic athletes who didn’t win a medal? Because they didn’t win a medal, does that mean that they are not the greatest?

The same question was made by the disciples with regards to heaven: “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” They had discussed among themselves on the road to Capernaum. They had held their peace because of a guilty feeling. They wanted to know who was greater. The implication was that all of the Twelve would be great, yet that some would be greater than the rest. On the road, the Twelve had had their dispute, and Jesus had delayed until this time in order most thoroughly to settle this question that was so fraught with danger because of envy, jealousy, pride and hatred. There was a possibility that it might disrupt this little band of twelve.

Mark describes Jesus as sitting down and then calling the Twelve to Himself and making an opening statement before He called the little child to Himself. So, after the disciples had confessed their dispute, we must imagine that Jesus formally seated Himself, His manner indicating that He intended once for all to clear up this question of precedence and greatness in His kingdom. Who is the greatest: a child.

Everybody thinks babies are cute and cuddly; I’ll be the first to agree with that statement. Besides entertainment value, rarely do adults consider that such little ones could ever be of much practical use. Jesus has a different view. These babies grow into something far valuable than we could ever imagine: children. He says that we must all become children in order to be saved and enter heaven. From the high places in the kingdom after which the disciples were striving, Jesus takes them back to the very portal of that kingdom. The disciples are given two choices: receive a child in Jesus’ name or cause a child to sin.

Jesus gives us the formula of salvation: faith like a child. Faith like a child is not something that comes easy, especially to adults. We grow up, we learn to be

self-dependant. We even adopt the idea of “survival of the fittest.” We are taught to strive to be the greatest in all that we do. Maybe you have heard the saying, “Second place is the first loser.” Who is stronger: a weak child or a strong man? For Jesus, faith is best seen not by a man, but by a child.

Jesus has in mind the turning which is usually called conversion, equivalent to the regeneration He required of Nicodemus. To permit oneself to be called, led, loved, without pride and without doubt, in simple trust, that is childlikeness even as this is the nature of children who possess nothing but need everything; who are able to do nothing but receive everything as a gift – this must be the way for all who desire to enter the kingdom of heaven. Humble trustfulness is a good summary of what Jesus has in mind, this translated into the spiritual realm, into our relation to Jesus. A king’s child plays with a beggar’s child, and neither feels above the other. We bring our children up, while God brings His children down. Many have thought that children must first grow to manhood before they can enter the kingdom; Jesus reverses this: He teaches that the disciples must go back and become little children.

There are certain false teachings in the Church which may cause us to stumble. One such practice is the theology of glory. The theology of glory places greater emphasis on human abilities and human reason. It expects favorable results if we do our part. This thinking is quite opposite the child’s helplessly receiving whatever comes. Another false teaching of the Church is withholding Baptism from an infant. There are those who do not practice infant Baptism because they say that a child cannot believe. However, their logic is flawed. A child can believe. A child can talk, a child can walk, and a child can sin. Those who believe this way suggest that an adult’s reason or ability to believe is necessary for and contributes to salvation. That is not what we see in Scripture. Jesus says at the end of Matthew, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit….” Under the category of “all nations” fall infants. They are just as capable of having faith to receive the gift of Holy Baptism, just as any adult is.

If we are to follow the words of Jesus, how do we “turn and become like children?” We do not become like children by our own actions. Our sin hinders us from becoming like children. Because of our sin, we are not able to see ourselves as children: doing what we ought not to do, going where we ought not go, looking, leering, and imagining what we ought not see. We deceive ourselves if we think that there is anything that we can do to save ourselves. Salvation comes only by faith, faith like a child.

How does one become a child of faith? It is difficult, no doubt about it. Our minds must be transformed by the Word of Jesus, not by the word of the world. We must solely rely on God and Him alone to provide us with our daily bread. We must rely on Jesus to be who He says He is: “the way, and the truth, and the life.” We must not rely on our own thoughts, words, or deeds to bring about our salvation. We must not rely on the world to give to us everlasting life. It is purely the act of the Holy Spirit to give to us faith. The Holy Spirit reveals how we, as dependent, weak, and helpless babes, are cradled in the arms of God. When our hearts and minds are reshaped by Word and Sacrament, we gain an awareness of this truth.

Earlier I mentioned a false teaching of the Church – the theology of glory. It sounds very good and very promising. However, the theology of glory is not what we find in Scripture. We don’t see our lives played out like the movie, Field of Dreams. Our lives are not, “If you want it” or “If you do it, God will give it.” That is not how God works. He gives to us that which we need to sustain our bodies and lives each day. We must reject this idea of theology of glory and instead focus on a theology of the cross. That is done when we think not of our faith in terms of adult-mindedness, but in simple terms as a child. That is the same thing that Jesus does in our text. He rejects the false teachings of the Christian world in much the same way. He makes clear that “these little ones…believe in me.”

One thing that is confusing to me is when a church, during the Divine Service, has “children’s church” at the same time. “Children’s church” is taking the young children out of the Divine Service and having an extended Sunday School time, or “church” that is more of a play time with games so that they don’t interrupt the Divine Service for the adults. Here’s the problem: if the children are off having “children’s church,” how will they learn to behave in the Divine Service? How will they begin to learn what is taking place in the Divine Service?

Becoming children of God is indeed hard for us adults – and that includes the hard-hearted “adults” we are from the moment of conception, at birth, and at any age throughout life. In fact, it’s impossible for us. But it has happened already. Jesus, the only Son of the Father, makes us children of that same Father by Holy Baptism. We see that displayed for us in Infant Baptism; the most beautiful display of the Gospel, because it visually demonstrates our complete dependence on God and His grace: every Christian is a tiny child in the arms of Jesus. In Jesus’ name, amen. Now the peace of God which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus until life everlasting, amen.

Pentecost 17A 2008

Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God, our Father, and from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, amen. The text for the sermon this morning comes from the Epistle, which was read earlier.

Looking around here, I notice all sorts of people. We have everything from infants to the elderly and everything in between. While each of us is different, we all go by the same name: Christian. But we have to ask the question, what type of Christian are you? Are you the “Sunday Christian”, are you the “Twice-a-year Christian” or are you the “Everyday of the year and then some Christian?” God does not want us to be the first two types of Christians. Paul tells us in today’s text to offer our bodies as “a living sacrifice.” A living sacrifice is not a “you must,” “you ought,” or “you should.” It is more than a grain offering or an animal sacrifice like those in the Old Testament, but a sacrifice of ourselves – our gifts, our talents, and our God-given blessings.

These living sacrifices are holy and pleasing to God. This is what God wants from us. He has given us all talents and gifts and He wants us to use them to further the work of His kingdom. Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ gave to us the greatest of all living sacrifices: He traded His life to save us from sin, death, and the devil. He traded His life so that you and I might have everlasting life. He traded His perfect life for our sin-ridden life. Paul speaks about our “bodies as a living sacrifice.” It is “holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” Before we go any further, let us ask the good Lutheran question, “What does this mean?” It means more than just simple recitation of words and sitting in a pew for one hour a week. Worship is an attitude of the heart, an attitude of giving praise and glory to God our Father, who gives gifts of mercy and forgiveness to us. Paul is teaching the Romans that this attitude is to be our constant companion, all the days of our life.

The power of self-sacrifice is really the power of love: real love, Christian love. In fact, self-sacrifice is the center and content of genuine love, the kind we see in the crucified Christ. When urging Christian people on to new heights, new levels of sanctification, we do well to copy Paul’s way of admonishing. It has well been said that “you must,” “you ought,” “you should,” are not proper terms for sanctification motivation. Far better it is to point away from the Christian, and to point instead to Christ. Consider God’s mercy. Think of the supreme sacrifice that He made on our behalf.

When we think of the magnitude of Christ’s sacrifice, we look at the sacrifices that we make. Regardless of our sacrifices, they fail in comparison to the sacrifice that Christ made. But with that said, that doesn’t mean that our sacrifices need to be any less than our best. Our sacrifice should be more than just mediocre. For the Christians in Rome that Paul is addressing, it would be life for life. Christ gave them His. Now they would give Him theirs in service. This living sacrifice would be holy and pleasing to the Lord, a sacrifice of thanksgiving. This lifelong sacrifice would be their “spiritual worship.” We are called to live a life worthy of what we have received in Christ. Yes, God has given us Jesus as a gift; freely and purely out of grace.

We must admit that it is easier said than done to live a life worthy of what we have received in Christ. The reason why this is so difficult to do is because we have to deal with the world. What makes up the world? Sin. Everywhere we turn, there it is. Our lives are nothing but sin. But there is a way out of that world. We are freed from the world of sin by the blood of Jesus Christ, shed for all of us on a cross. This will cause a spiritual transformation by the means of grace, a move away from the conforming to the world.

For people who are new to the Christian faith, Paul proceeds to spell out what a fitting living sacrifice and “spiritual worship” will and won’t include. It is dangerously easy for believers living in an age that is soft on sin to share the same lax attitude toward sin – be it immorality, greed, materialism or some other form of lovelessness. Therefore Paul reminds the readers that certain behavior is now off limits. In fact, believers are to be non-conformists; Christians are not to conform to the world’s pattern of rebellion against God’s Word.

So it should be for us today as well. By heeding the words of Paul, by not conforming any longer to the things of this world, we see more than just the Law in front of us, our fall into sin, our failure to do what God commands of us, and we begin to see the Gospel before us, the gift of life everlasting through Christ. We see that we are more than just sinners in a sinful world. We see that we are redeemed children of God. We see that we are more than just our own self; we are a member of the body of Christ.

Paul has been speaking about transformation, about renewal. Now he gets to the first specific fruit that he desires to see as the result of such renewal. He wants to see a Christian congregation filled with a spirit of unity and God-pleasing harmony. Yet, he embarks upon some advice that people might be tempted to tune out.

The advice he gives at this point is seconded by the renewed Christian mind. No unbeliever wants to swallow the idea that he or she isn’t extremely important. Paul speaks here against pride. One has to wonder whether pride doesn’t cause more damage in the Christian congregation than any other particular sin. Isn’t it pride that can keep people apart for years on end? Remembering how many congregations Paul came into contact with, knowing how often he was the arbitrator of disputes, we can imagine that Paul knew how many troubles and long-term feuds could be extinguished, if only people would put aside their pride. That is why Paul encouraged the members of the young congregation in Rome to use their sanctified Christian common sense. When the inevitable comparisons would arise between the different members of the congregation, each one was to remember, “There but for the grace of God go I.”

As members of the body of Christ, there is a certain expectation placed upon us. That expectation is to be holy. The apostle Peter writes, “As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct.” We are not capable, by our own means, to be holy; our sin prohibits that. However, in Christ Jesus, our Lord, we are indeed made holy. We are given all the blessings which God had meant for us at the time of creation: to be sinless and holy and to live with Him in everlasting righteousness.

Most of us have heard the saying “A house divided against itself cannot stand.” That is how the body of Christ is. One part cannot carry the entire body, nor can the body exist without the one body part. The same holds true for us now. We cannot live without fellow Christians who strengthen us daily. We all sin and need repentance. Our brothers and sisters in Christ help give us the support network that we need to live a godly life. At the same time, the body cannot exist without Christ as the head. Christ is at the head of the body when we gather as fellow believers in Him, to hear the sweet sound of the Gospel and to receive the gift of His body and blood, given and shed for the forgiveness of our sins. Through this practice of spiritual worship, we are strengthened – both as individuals and as the body of Christ. In Jesus’ name, amen. Now the peace of God which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds through faith in Christ Jesus, amen.

Pentecost 15A

Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God, our Father, and from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, amen. The text for the sermon this morning comes from the Epistle, which was read earlier.

Looking around here, I notice all sorts of people. We have everything from infants to the elderly and everything in between. While each of us is different, we all go by the same name: Christian. But we have to ask the question, what type of Christian are you? Are you the “Sunday Christian”, are you the “Twice-a-year Christian” or are you the “Everyday of the year and then some Christian?” God does not want us to be the first two types of Christians. Paul tells us in today’s text to offer our bodies as “a living sacrifice.” A living sacrifice is not a “you must,” “you ought,” or “you should.” It is more than a grain offering or an animal sacrifice like those in the Old Testament, but a sacrifice of ourselves – our gifts, our talents, and our God-given blessings.

These living sacrifices are holy and pleasing to God. This is what God wants from us. He has given us all talents and gifts and He wants us to use them to further the work of His kingdom. Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ gave to us the greatest of all living sacrifices: He traded His life to save us from sin, death, and the devil. He traded His life so that you and I might have everlasting life. He traded His perfect life for our sin-ridden life. Paul speaks about our “bodies as a living sacrifice.” It is “holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” Before we go any further, let us ask the good Lutheran question, “What does this mean?” It means more than just simple recitation of words and sitting in a pew for one hour a week. Worship is an attitude of the heart, an attitude of giving praise and glory to God our Father, who gives gifts of mercy and forgiveness to us. Paul is teaching the Romans that this attitude is to be our constant companion, all the days of our life.

The power of self-sacrifice is really the power of love: real love, Christian love. In fact, self-sacrifice is the center and content of genuine love, the kind we see in the crucified Christ. When urging Christian people on to new heights, new levels of sanctification, we do well to copy Paul’s way of admonishing. It has well been said that “you must,” “you ought,” “you should,” are not proper terms for sanctification motivation. Far better it is to point away from the Christian, and to point instead to Christ. Consider God’s mercy. Think of the supreme sacrifice that He made on our behalf.

When we think of the magnitude of Christ’s sacrifice, we look at the sacrifices that we make. Regardless of our sacrifices, they fail in comparison to the sacrifice that Christ made. But with that said, that doesn’t mean that our sacrifices need to be any less than our best. Our sacrifice should be more than just mediocre. For the Christians in Rome that Paul is addressing, it would be life for life. Christ gave them His. Now they would give Him theirs in service. This living sacrifice would be holy and pleasing to the Lord, a sacrifice of thanksgiving. This lifelong sacrifice would be their “spiritual worship.” We are called to live a life worthy of what we have received in Christ. Yes, God has given us Jesus as a gift; freely and purely out of grace.

We must admit that it is easier said than done to live a life worthy of what we have received in Christ. The reason why this is so difficult to do is because we have to deal with the world. What makes up the world? Sin. Everywhere we turn, there it is. Our lives are nothing but sin. But there is a way out of that world. We are freed from the world of sin by the blood of Jesus Christ, shed for all of us on a cross. This will cause a spiritual transformation by the means of grace, a move away from the conforming to the world.

For people who are new to the Christian faith, Paul proceeds to spell out what a fitting living sacrifice and “spiritual worship” will and won’t include. It is dangerously easy for believers living in an age that is soft on sin to share the same lax attitude toward sin – be it immorality, greed, materialism or some other form of lovelessness. Therefore Paul reminds the readers that certain behavior is now off limits. In fact, believers are to be non-conformists; Christians are not to conform to the world’s pattern of rebellion against God’s Word.

So it should be for us today as well. By heeding the words of Paul, by not conforming any longer to the things of this world, we see more than just the Law in front of us, our fall into sin, our failure to do what God commands of us, and we begin to see the Gospel before us, the gift of life everlasting through Christ. We see that we are more than just sinners in a sinful world. We see that we are redeemed children of God. We see that we are more than just our own self; we are a member of the body of Christ.

Paul has been speaking about transformation, about renewal. Now he gets to the first specific fruit that he desires to see as the result of such renewal. He wants to see a Christian congregation filled with a spirit of unity and God-pleasing harmony. Yet, he embarks upon some advice that people might be tempted to tune out.

The advice he gives at this point is seconded by the renewed Christian mind. No unbeliever wants to swallow the idea that he or she isn’t extremely important. Paul speaks here against pride. One has to wonder whether pride doesn’t cause more damage in the Christian congregation than any other particular sin. Isn’t it pride that can keep people apart for years on end? Remembering how many congregations Paul came into contact with, knowing how often he was the arbitrator of disputes, we can imagine that Paul knew how many troubles and long-term feuds could be extinguished, if only people would put aside their pride. That is why Paul encouraged the members of the young congregation in Rome to use their sanctified Christian common sense. When the inevitable comparisons would arise between the different members of the congregation, each one was to remember, “There but for the grace of God go I.”

As members of the body of Christ, there is a certain expectation placed upon us. That expectation is to be holy. The apostle Peter writes, “As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct.” We are not capable, by our own means, to be holy; our sin prohibits that. However, in Christ Jesus, our Lord, we are indeed made holy. We are given all the blessings which God had meant for us at the time of creation: to be sinless and holy and to live with Him in everlasting righteousness.

Most of us have heard the saying “A house divided against itself cannot stand.” That is how the body of Christ is. One part cannot carry the entire body, nor can the body exist without the one body part. The same holds true for us now. We cannot live without fellow Christians who strengthen us daily. We all sin and need repentance. Our brothers and sisters in Christ help give us the support network that we need to live a godly life. At the same time, the body cannot exist without Christ as the head. Christ is at the head of the body when we gather as fellow believers in Him, to hear the sweet sound of the Gospel and to receive the gift of His body and blood, given and shed for the forgiveness of our sins. Through this practice of spiritual worship, we are strengthened – both as individuals and as the body of Christ. In Jesus’ name, amen. Now the peace of God which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds through faith in Christ Jesus, amen.

Pentecost 15A