Monday, February 23, 2015

What’s He Worth to You? (A sermon based on Zechariah 11:7-13)

"How much is that worth?" I'd ask my dad about some collectible. But you think I'd stop asking because his answer was always the same: "It's worth however much you can get someone to give you for it." His point was that one man's trash is another man's treasure. As we again review the suffering and death of our Savior this Lenten season, we're asked to consider the question: "How much is he worth to you?" For some, they thought he was trash. He wasn't worth much, just thirty pieces of silver. But to us, who know what Jesus did for us by that betrayal, to rescue us from our own betrayals, he is a priceless treasure! He is worth everything to us! Read or listen to (download or stream) this sermon based on Zechariah 11:7-13 and be reminded how much he's worth...

What's He Worth to You?

A sermon based on Zechariah 11:7-13

Sunday, February 22, 2015 – Lent 1B

 

For some people, it's no big deal to drop $100 on nice dinner out. Others, would rather buy 23 big macs for the same price and eat for a month. Still others would rather buy enough ramen to eat for a year.

Some people would gladly pay for tickets to see a performance in the theater. Others would rather rent 20 streaming movies online. Still others would rather pick up a free DVD at the library.

I guess it really comes down to the question, "What's it worth to you?" Every day you face that question, "What's it worth to you?" Whether you are talking about spending money, or effort or time: Is it worth the time to run in to town for a gallon of milk right now, or should I put it on the list for next time I'm going out? Is it worth going to gym today or should I just workout tomorrow?

Some people spend their money and time on hunting and fishing, others on movies and entertainment. Some spend their money on big toys, others on daily coffees. So that what people find worthwhile in their lives is clearly reflected in their budgets and where they spend their dollars. But maybe it's reflected even more in their schedules and where they spend their time. "What's it worth to you?" That can be clearly seen.

But this morning, the prophet Zechariah changes that question just a bit. He doesn't ask "What's it worth to you?" He asks, "What's He worth to you?" "What value to put on Jesus?" Listen to his prophecy about Jesus' worth, recorded for us in Zechariah 11:7-13…

 

7 So I pastured the flock marked for slaughter, particularly the oppressed of the flock. Then I took two staffs and called one Favor and the other Union, and I pastured the flock. 8 In one month I got rid of the three shepherds.

The flock detested me, and I grew weary of them 9 and said, "I will not be your shepherd. Let the dying die, and the perishing perish. Let those who are left eat one another's flesh."

10 Then I took my staff called Favor and broke it, revoking the covenant I had made with all the nations. 11 It was revoked on that day, and so the afflicted of the flock who were watching me knew it was the word of the Lord.

12 I told them, "If you think it best, give me my pay; but if not, keep it." So they paid me thirty pieces of silver.

13 And the Lord said to me, "Throw it to the potter"—the handsome price at which they priced me! So I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them into the house of the Lord to the potter.

 

The prophet Zechariah described the events of Jesus' suffering and death with such vivid clarity, centuries before those events took place, that he's been given the nickname, "The Holy Week Prophet." We'll continue to explore some of those prophecies this Lenten season and see how Jesus fulfilled them all so he could cry from the cross: "It is finished," about God's plan of salvation and about the prophecies that described it.

But this morning, Zechariah describes a guy who's fed up with his job. He's ready to quit. The shepherd was hired to pasture the flock, but not the healthy sheep, not the ones they would keep around for dairy and wool. His job was to watch the sheep marked for slaughter. And it was a dead-end job. There were layoffs and he had finally had enough.

7 So I pastured the flock marked for slaughter, particularly the oppressed of the flock... In one month I got rid of the three shepherds.

The flock detested me, and I grew weary of them and said, "I will not be your shepherd. Let the dying die, and the perishing perish. Let those who are left eat one another's flesh."

You can almost hear it can't you? "I've had enough! I quit!" And he was so fed up, he didn't even care if he got his last paycheck. "I told them, 'If you think it best, give me my pay; but if not, keep it.'" "I don't even care. I'm just done." But they did give him his severance package: "So they paid me thirty pieces of silver."

Thirty pieces of silver was worth about four months wages. Most scholars give an estimate of about $10,000 to $15,000. Not a small amount, but not exactly great annual salary for a job where you're overworked and underappreciated. Thirty pieces of silver offered for services rendered was an insult to the shepherd. "This is what we think you're worth."

 

Now this parable of Zechariah's may have been a description of how he felt as the prophet and priest of God's rebellious people. After all the word pastor is just Latin for shepherd. He may have been quite frustrated with his ministry. Serving a group of people who got rid of the other prophets (the three in one month), who wearied Zechariah by refusing to listen to him, he finally grew weary of them and said, "Fine. I'll leave you alone." "The flock detested me, and I grew weary of them and said, 'I will not be your shepherd. Let the dying die, and the perishing perish.'"

But more than just describing his own frustration, Zechariah was prophesying about Jesus.

Jesus is the Good Shepherd. He had a care for his people perfectly. He loved them dearly and had only their best interest at heart. But the people weren't always interested in having him shepherd them. They didn't want to follow this Shepherd's lead and so they rejected him. They chanted "Crucify him, Crucify him!" rejecting him in such a vivid way.

And what did they think he was worth? Thirty pieces of silver—the price you'd pay for a slave. Thirty pieces of silver was the price you'd pay for a slave. Thirty pieces of silver was a slap in the face. The faithful Shepherd gave so much and what were they willing to pay him in return—$10,000? $15,000?

These words find their fulfillment in Judas. He turned Jesus over for 30 pieces of silver. And when he saw what he had done, he was filled with remorse and threw the pieces back into the temple. The leaders used the blood money to buy the potter's field. All direct fulfillments of the words that Zechariah foretold.

For Judas, he'd rather have thirty pieces of silver than Jesus. "What's he worth to you?" was the question he asked the chief priests and that was his answer. The "handsome" price that was paid for his blood was thirty pieces of silver. How humiliating!

 

So, let me ask you, "What's he worth to you?" "What is Jesus worth to you?" Would you sell out and betray him for $10,000? For $15,000? Would you pretend you didn't know him for $50,000? For $100,000? I know we'd all like to answer, "No. Never! I'd never sell out and give up my faith for any amount of money!"

But the truth is, there are times that we sell out for so much less. We trade Jesus for the acceptance of our peers. We trade Jesus for a few hours of entertainment or sleep. We sell out in order to hoard the income that Jesus allows us to earn instead of giving him a generous portion. We undervalue the Shepherd when we spend all our effort and energy on entertainment instead of devotion, on play instead of prayer. We value "me-time" way more than "he-time." And our bank statements and schedules bear witness against us. The price that we often put on Jesus head is even less than the one that Judas did.

And for that we deserve that punishment that came to the flock. We deserve to have Jesus take his staff, Favor, the favor he shows to us, and snap it across his knee. We who have, undervalued and rejected the Good Shepherd so often and sold him out for so little… We deserve to have him quit us and say, "The flock detested me, and I grew weary of them and said, 'I will not be your shepherd. Let the dying die, and the perishing perish.'"

That's what we deserve, no Shepherd, no patience, no life! We deserve to be cut off from the flock and to perish eternally!

But the Shepherd loves us more than to leave us on our own. He steps in and shows us an undeserved love. If he were to be asked, "What is that sinner worth to you?" he would say with no hesitation at all, "That sinner is worth everything! That sinner is worth my life. That sinner is worth my soul."

Did you notice what seems to be a discrepancy between the prophecy and the fulfillment? In Zechariah, it's Jesus who throws the money into the temple, in the gospel of Matthew it's Judas. A contradiction? A near, but not quite accurate, fulfillment? Hardly. You see, Jesus was so in control of everything that happened to him, he was so willing to be sold for thirty pieces of silver, it's as if he shook on the deal himself.

Jesus was glad to be betrayed with a kiss, glad to be handed over to his enemies, glad to be sentenced to die. He could have walked off the set at any turn but he didn't. He kept the scene rolling so that you and I could have salvation. He "bought in" to a plan to be "sold out" by Judas so that he could be our Savior.

And now, we know what he's really worth. Worth far more than 30 silver pieces – Jesus paid for our sins! He paid for our ticket to heaven—"not with silver or gold, but with his holy precious blood, and with his innocent suffering and death." (cf. Luther's explanation to the 2nd Article of the Apostles' Creed referring to 1 Peter 1:18-19).

And now, forgiven and bought back to him, we can have a change of heart. We value him the way he deserves. We seek to glorify his name with all that we are and all that we do. We gladly give him offerings of our income and of our time and of our attitudes. We show what's he worth to us in the way we worship him and the way that we are willing to make our lives living sacrifices. We make sure that others know that he has value in our lives and we share him with them.

So what's he worth to you? Is he worth giving up a few trinkets and toys a few nights out or a little entertainment that you might support his church with your gifts? Is he worth the time lost if you come to serve in his house with a cheerful heart? Is he worth the discomfort of talking about him to a neighbor or friend?

Though the people of Zechariah's day answered, "Not much," to the question "What's he worth to you?" We know better. We know that he's worth everything! He's our precious, priceless, irreplaceable Savior! And we'll gladly give all to him! In Jesus' name, and by his great grace, amen.


In Him,
Pastor Rob Guenther

Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church
47585 Ciechanski Road, Kenai, AK 99611

Listen to sermons online: www.GraceLutheranKenai.com/Podcast
Watch services online: www.GraceLutheranKenai.com/Webcast

Have you been blessed by our ministry at Grace? Consider supporting us with your generous gifts. Give securely online with a check or credit or debit card here: www.GraceLutheranKenai.com/Give

Posted by at No comments:

Thursday, February 19, 2015

"Return to Me!" (A sermon based on Zechariah 1:1-6)

Ever feel distant from God? If so, you can be sure that God's not the one who moved away. In this Ash Wednesday sermon, God, through the prophet Zechariah calls us to return to him in true repentance. But he enables us to do that by his gracious promise that he will return to us. Thank God that through Christ we are reconciled to God. That makes us eager to always return to him. Read or listen to (download or stream) this sermon based on Zechariah 1:1-6 and rejoice that we can always go home to God!

It Is Finished!

"Return to Me!"

A sermon based on Zechariah 1:1-6

Wednesday, February 18, 2015 – Ash Wednesday

 

The young man stormed out of the room and slammed the door as he left! Yes, he was caught lying to his dad, but he didn't care for the way dad had scolded him. He didn't say a word as dad laid into him, but when dad was done, so was he. He was done with this house, done with these rules, done doing what others told him. He was old enough to be on his own and there were plenty of jobs that didn't require a high school diploma. So he stormed off in a rage and with a plan to launch out on his own.

Dad waited up late that night. And the next. And the next. He wondered if his son would ever return, if they could ever have a good relationship again. Eventually, dad stopped waiting up so late. He had other children that needed his energy. He had other work to do. But he never stopped thinking about his estranged son. He never gave up hope that someday, he would return home.

That sad, but true story, is a fitting illustration for the way God looks at his wayward and wandering people. He never stops loving them. He never stops holding out the hope that they will return to him. But he won't force them to return. He won't go and capture them and chain them up. He lets them wander far away from home, but he also gives the comforting promise, that when they return to him, he'll return to them.

Our text for this Ash Wednesday evening is from Zechariah 1:1-6…

 

In the eighth month of the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came to the prophet Zechariah son of Berekiah, the son of Iddo:

2 "The Lord was very angry with your forefathers. 3 Therefore tell the people: This is what the Lord Almighty says: 'Return to me,' declares the Lord Almighty, 'and I will return to you,' says the Lord Almighty. 4 Do not be like your forefathers, to whom the earlier prophets proclaimed: This is what the Lord Almighty says: 'Turn from your evil ways and your evil practices.' But they would not listen or pay attention to me, declares the Lord. 5 Where are your forefathers now? And the prophets, do they live forever? 6 But did not my words and my decrees, which I commanded my servants the prophets, overtake your forefathers?

"Then they repented and said, 'The Lord Almighty has done to us what our ways and practices deserve, just as he determined to do.' "

 

Throughout the season of Lent, we're going to take a look at the prophecies made by Zechariah, son of Berekiah, the son of Iddo. Each Sunday we'll look at one of his prophecies regarding Holy Week and we'll see how he described Jesus' suffering and death with such vivid detail that the nickname "The Holy Week Prophet" is really a fitting moniker for this prophet of God.

But tonight, we hear the opening words of his book and really hear his theme: 'Return to me,' declares the Lord Almighty, 'and I will return to you,' says the Lord Almighty 

But why does God say that? Where had they gone that they should now return home? After all, Zechariah's prophecies were made and his book written after the exiles had already returned to the Promised Land, in the second year of Darius. They were now living in relative peace and with a recovering economy.

Well, you know that God wasn't calling them to return to him physically, but spiritually. He was calling them to repent and turn to him. You see, after they came home, they forgot about God. They became so focused on rebuilding their lives, planting their fields, renovating their homes, and restoring their bank accounts, that they forgot about God and about his promises.

So Zechariah, whose name means, "The LORD Remembers," would help them to remember him. And he began by calling them to return to the LORD:

The Lord was very angry with your forefathers… Do not be like your forefathers, to whom the earlier prophets proclaimed: This is what the Lord Almighty says: 'Turn from your evil ways and your evil practices.' But they would not listen or pay attention to me, declares the Lord.

The Lord had been very angry—literally "He raged! He raged against your forefathers." He was tired of the rebellion that his people showed him again and again. And though they heard his warnings, they refused to listen when he told them to knock it off. So he disciplined them. He took away their nice homes when they were burned to the ground. He took away their homeland as they were carried off to Babylon. He took away their freedom as they became slaves to an enemy nation.

But now the next generation was home. And Zechariah held up their forefathers as a bad example: Where are your forefathers now? And the prophets, do they live forever? But did not my words and my decrees, which I commanded my servants the prophets, overtake your forefathers?

"Look around," he told them, "Where are your fathers now? What happened to them when they disobeyed? Everything God said would happen, did! Will you take a lesson from their history and learn from them? Or will you repeat their mistakes? And don't think that God's offer of grace will last forever. I won't be around forever to keep warning you after you reject God's grace.

Someone once said that the only reason some people exist is to serve as a bad example for others. How sad!

But will we learn from the Israelites' mistakes? Or will we go on to repeat them? After all, we too need to be called to repent and turn back to God. For we too daily sin much and make God rage, rage against us. We too get distracted by the cares and concerns of this life, by our jobs and our homes and our bank accounts. And we too all too often forget about God.

And so if God has ever seemed distant from you, you can figure out which of the two of you wandered away. And I'll even give you a hint: It wasn't God.

It may not be with a slammed door and curses mumbled under our breath, but just as a relationship with a parent can be strained by atrophy, one too many forgotten phone calls, long stretches between visits, and little communication when you are together, so too, our relationship with God can be strained not just by rebellion, but by atrophy. Missing one too many worship services, long stretches of time since between opening our Bibles at home, and little real worship even when we are in the building, can all leave us feeling distant from God.

But either way you can be sure that our strained relationship with God is entirely our fault. And we deserve to have him rage, rage at us. We deserve to have him slam the door and bolt it shut forever.

 

Ah… but that's not how God deals with his wayward and rebellious people. The LORD remembers. The LORD—the God of faithful, steadfast, and never-ending love—never forgets his people, he never stops loving them, and never stops holding out the hope that they will return to him. But he won't force them to return.

3 Therefore tell the people: This is what the Lord Almighty says: 'Return to me,' declares the Lord Almighty, 'and I will return to you,' says the Lord Almighty.

"Come home!" God pleads, "And you know that I will welcome you with open arms. Repent, turning from your sin, turning back to me, and you know that I will return to you."

So tonight, we set aside time to reflect… on our sin, on our apathy toward the Word, on our negligence in our relationship with God, on all of our sins, and then to repent—to turn away from them in sincere sorrow and regret and to turn to the Lord.

In fact, let's pause right now to do that. I'm going to use the questions and answers on pg. 156 in the front of the hymnal. If you have a hymnal you can follow along. Otherwise, just listen and consider…

 

Q:   What does God tell me about myself in his holy Word?

A:   He says that I am a sinner and deserve only his punishment.

 

Q:   What should I do if I am not aware of my sins or am not troubled by them?

A:   I should examine myself according to the Ten Commandments and ask how well I have carried out my responsibilities as a husband or wife or single person, as a parent or child, an employer or employee, a teacher or student. Have I loved God with all my heart, gladly heard his Word, and patiently endured affliction? Have I been disobedient, proud, or unforgiving? Have I been selfish, lazy, envious, or quarrelsome? Have I lied or deceived, taken something not mine, or given anyone a bad name? Have I abused my body or permitted indecent thoughts to linger in my mind? Have I failed to do what is right and good?

 

Q:   When I realize that I have sinned against God and deserve his punishment, what should I do?

A:   I will confess before God all my sins, those which I remember as well as those of which I am unaware. I will pray to God for his mercy and forgiveness.

 

That's not always easy, is it? It's never really fun. But here's how we can do this self-examination often and without fear: We know God's gracious promise: This is what the Lord Almighty says: 'Return to me,' declares the Lord Almighty, 'and I will return to you,' says the Lord Almighty.

And notice how Zechariah emphasizes the truth that this is not his idea, but is the certain promise of God. In this one, short verse he says it three times: This is what the Lord Almighty says… declares the Lord Almighty… says the Lord Almighty." "Return to me… and I will return to you."

The LORD—the God of faithful, steadfast, and never-ending love—remembers us. He never forgets us, he never stops loving us.

The young man in our introduction did eventually go home. Years later, after rebelling against his earthly father and against his heavenly Father, he returned to both fathers. And both forgave him of his sins against them, welcomed him home with loving arms, and embraced him with joy. And since, Lee Strobel (the young man in that true story) has gone on to author The Case for Christ, The Case for the Creator, The Case for Easter, and many other Christian apologetic books, helping countless other wayward sons and daughters find their way home.

And his story is really our story too, isn't it? Even if you never left home and were estranged from your earthly father, you have been reconciled to your heavenly Father. Because the LORD remembers, he remembered his promise to send a Savior in the person of Jesus. And he reconciled you to God. So, back to page. 156…

 

Q:   How do I receive his gracious forgiveness?

A:   His Word assures me that Jesus led a pure and holy life for me and died on the cross for me to pay the full price for all my sins. Through faith in Jesus, I have been clothed in my Savior's perfect righteousness and holiness.

 

When we return to God in repentance, he returns to us with assurance. When we return to him in confession, he returns to us in absolution. When we return to him and seek his favor, he returns to us and assures us that we've had it all along for Jesus' sake.

Yes, we may still suffer the consequences of our sins, and confess with quiet resignation, "The Lord Almighty has done to us what our ways and practices deserve, just as he determined to do." But we still rejoice that we never get the full punishment of hell that our sins deserve and we accept his forgiveness with joy.

And then, in turn, we also return to God our lives. We give them back to him in thanks. We change our minds about what is important in life. We're no longer distracted by the cares and concerns of this life, by our jobs, by our homes, and by our bank accounts. But we seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, trusting that all these things will be added as well.

Rejoice, dear friends, that though you've often wandered and run away from home, the promise of the LORD remains: "Return to me… and I will return to you." So come on, friends, let's go home! In Jesus' name, and by his grace, amen.


In Him,
Pastor Rob Guenther

Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church
47585 Ciechanski Road, Kenai, AK 99611

Listen to sermons online: www.GraceLutheranKenai.com/Podcast
Watch services online: www.GraceLutheranKenai.com/Webcast

Have you been blessed by our ministry at Grace? Consider supporting us with your generous gifts. Give securely online with a check or credit or debit card here: www.GraceLutheranKenai.com/Give

Posted by at No comments:

Tuesday, February 17, 2015

​A Tale of Two Mountains (A sermon based on Mark 9:2-9)

Imagine the glory that the three disciples saw on the top of the Mount of Transfiguration! No wonder Peter wanted to put up three tents to stay right there in that moment of glory! But if Jesus stayed put right there, how horrible that would be for us! Imagine the terror the disciples felt when they knew that Jesus had been crucified! But what a glorious mountain Mount Calvary became when they understood why he was killed. Read or listen to (download or stream) this sermon based on Mark 9:2-9 and hear the "Tale of Two Mountains"...

​A Tale of Two Mountains

A sermon based on Mark 9:2-9

Sunday, March 15, 2015 – Transfiguration B

 

Okay, so a few weeks ago we talked about the best of men and the worst of men. Well, I know I already used the introduction and illustration, but today, we're going to do it again. Today we're going to hear a tale of two mountains.

The first mountain of course, is the Mount of Transfiguration. It was the best of mountains! There Jesus showed his true glory in all of its splendor. But Jesus couldn't stay on that mountain. If he would have just stayed put, it would have been the worst of mountains.

Instead he went on to another mountain: the Mount of Crucifixion. That was the worst of mountains. There our Savior was tortured to death and endured the agony of hell itself on the cross. But it was the best of mountains in that there on Calvary our sins were paid for, we were rescued from satan, we were ransomed out of hell.

This Transfiguration Sunday which ends the season of Epiphany—where Jesus reveals himself as the Son of God—and prepares us for Lent—where we see Jesus suffer and die for our sins—we begin at the Mount of Transfiguration as the events are described in Mark 9:2-9…

 

2 After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them. 3 His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. 4 And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus. 5 Peter said to Jesus, "Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah." 6 (He did not know what to say, they were so frightened.) 7 Then a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and a voice came from the cloud: "This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!" 8 Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus. 9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead.

I.      From the Mount of Transfiguration 

One evening Jesus took three of his disciples, his three closest friends, Peter, James and John, mountain climbing. These three were in Jesus' inner circle, who alone accompanied him inside the house of Jairus when Jesus raised his daughter from the dead. These three were invited to come with Jesus when he would pray in the Garden of Gethsemane, and these three were invited this evening to travel to the top of a high mountain to join Jesus in prayer and quiet instruction.

But it was late and the disciples were tired. In the gospel of Luke we learn that before long they started to drift off. But when they woke up, how startled they must have been! There was Jesus, but boy did he look different! He had transformed or transfigured. This is the Greek word from which we get our English word metamorphosis. He was completely changed—all lit up in brilliant light!

Have you ever been asleep in the dark when someone suddenly turns on the brightest lights in the room? It takes a minute for your eyes to adjust and at first it's so bright that it hurts your eyes. You have to look away. That's how it must have been for Peter, James and John. Mark says that, "His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them." And Matthew and Luke tell us why. Jesus himself was shining as bright as the sun. Matthew says "His face shone like the sun," and Luke, "His clothes became as bright as a flash of lightening." How spectacular! But that wasn't all…

Two dead men were standing with Jesus, talking to him. We don't know how the disciples recognized them, but somehow they knew who the other two men were—Moses and Elijah—the two great prophets of the Old Testament. No wonder the disciples were terrified!

And bold, impetuous Peter, scared half to death, couldn't just keep quiet and watch and listen. Instead, he started talking. Though he didn't really know what he was saying he was so scared, he interrupted Jesus conversation with the prophets to suggest that they put up three tents to put the glorious scene on hold.

And then, just as amazing as the Transfiguration, God the Father interrupted Peter! God revealed that he was too was present on that mountain in the form of a cloud, like he was so apt to do (just think of the pillar of cloud and fire he used to lead the Israelites through the desert, or the cloud that covered Mount Sinai when God gave Moses his Law, or the cloud that settled over the tabernacle and filled the Holy of Holies when God was present with his people). And just as he did at Jesus Baptism, God the Father spoke.

"This is my Son, whom I love." The other gospels add, "whom I have chosen," and, "with him I am well pleased." Then, "Listen to him!" Peter and the others understandably grew even more terrified, since, after all, Peter was just told off by God. "Don't speak, Peter. Don't interrupt. Listen to him."

And yet, as terrifying as it must have been, how exciting it must have been! Peter was right when he said, "Rabbi, it is good for us to be here." They got a glimpse of Jesus' divine glory! There was no doubt in their minds that Jesus was the Son of God, the one and only eternal God, Jehovah himself! How that mountain must have been the very best of mountains to them!

 

When you hear about Peter, James and John's experience, do you wish that you could have been there? Do you wish that you could see a glimpse of God's glory now? Well, if so, you're in luck! Those three disciples aren't the only ones who get to see God's glory! Because they recorded these events for us, we get to see his glory too. Through the Word of God recorded in the pages of Scripture we get just as great a view of Jesus' divine glory. Peter later wrote of this transfiguration experience, "We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased." We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain and we have the word of the prophets made more certain…" (2 Peter 1:16-19)

We have the Word made more certain since we have seen God's full plan of salvation completed. We have seen the glory of God when we realize how Jesus has fulfilled every Old Testament prophecy given through Moses, Elijah, and all the other prophets. We see Jesus' glory when he reveals himself among us, not in a cloud that envelops us, but in the quiet whisper of a sermon, in, with, and under the bread and wine in the Lord's Supper, in waters of Baptism where he gives us the comforting assurance, "Never will I leave you; Never will I forsake you." We see his glory when we see that Christianity isn't a new religion created in the hundreds AD, but the only true religion given to Adam and Eve, to Moses, to Elijah, to every true prophet.

And what comfort we have in climbing that mountain with Jesus and seeing our Savior's glory! When we read of Jesus' miracles and when we hear of his proclamation, "Son, your sins are forgiven," when we wonder "Are these things true?" then we climb the mountain, see the transfiguration and say, "Yes! Jesus is God's Son, God himself with full authority to do what only God can. He did please God in every way on our behalf. We can listen to him and trust every word that he says." Dear friends, when you see God's glory, don't speak, but listen. Observe and marvel at the glory of our God! 

II.            To the Mount of Crucifixion

Now, while there could no longer be any doubt to the disciples that Jesus was the only true God, they still didn't really get what his mission was about. As quickly as it began the transfiguration was over. Moses and Elijah were gone and Jesus looked like he usually did once more. But the disciples were confused. Why couldn't they stay on the mountain? Make some tents to keep the glory? What did this all mean?

Well, Jesus had just told them what it all meant only six days ago. Mark tells us in chapter 8, "He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. He spoke plainly about this…"

Whenever God appeared to his people in a cloud, it meant that he was about to act in some supernatural way. When he appeared to Abram in a smoking fire pot, he was about to make a new nation. When he appeared to the Israelites in a pillar of cloud and fire he was delivering them out of Egypt and into the Promised Land. When he covered Mount Sinai in the cloud he himself inscribed the 10 commandments on the tablets of stone. When the cloud settled over the Tabernacle, God himself was present among his people acting on their behalf.

Now that he appeared again in the cloud on the Mount of Transfiguration, he was ready to act in a supernatural way again. Jesus could not stay on that mountain in his glory. That really would have made it the worst of mountains. But from the Mount of Transfiguration Jesus set out toward Jerusalem one last time. Again and again he told his disciples what would happen there, "We are going up to Jerusalem," he said, "and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles, who will mock him and spit on him, flog him and kill him. Three days later he will rise." (Mark 10:33-34)

Even that evening of the Transfiguration he, Moses and Elijah were discussing Jesus death on the cross. Luke tells us, "They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem." And though the disciples were listening in, they didn't seem to get it. Peter rebuked Jesus. The three discussed what exactly does he mean by, "Rise from the dead"? Though he spoke to them plainly, they didn't understand what he meant and were too scared to ask him about it.

But even though they didn't get it that night that they saw Jesus glory, even though they didn't understand the night of Jesus' betrayal or the day of his crucifixion, imagine what comfort that climb up the Mount of Transfiguration brought Peter, James and John later.

After they climbed the Mount of Crucifixion they were tempted to think, "He's dead. He's defeated. He's not the Messiah, not our Savior. Everything is hopeless." That mountain must have seemed like the worst of mountains at the time. But after the Holy Spirit enlightened them at Pentecost, they could take comfort in the Mount of Transfiguraton. "Jesus is God. We were there. We were eyewitnesses of his majesty.[1] We have seen his glory; the glory of the One and Only![2]"

What comfort they had when they realized that as true God, he could have stopped the crucifixion from happening at any moment. He could have called down an army of angels to defend him, but instead he went to die, to suffer hell, willingly and he did it all for them. What comfort they had when realized that since Jesus is true God his death on that cross could pay for every one of their sins. God's death on one end of the scale far outweighed the sins of the whole world of all time on the other end. And what peace they found in the events that took place on that Mount of Crucifixion—that best of mountains!— strengthened by their experience on the Mount of Transfiguration.

 

Dear friends, blessed with the Gospels and Epistles of the New Testament, we have "the word of the prophets made more certain." And in 20/20 hindsight, we understand what the disciples at first did not. But even though we get why Jesus had to be handed over, killed and rise again, often times we're still tempted to doubt too aren't we? When I lose my job, my health, or a close friend or family member, when I go through the worst of times, I'm tempted to wonder "Is Jesus really in control of the situation? Is he really God?" When the guilt of my sins weighs me down I'm tempted to think, "I'm the worst of sinners. So how can Jesus really forgive me?"

But when I start to think that way, I need to go mountain climbing with Jesus. It's not by accident that the Last Sunday of Epiphany, Transfiguration Sunday, where we see Jesus in all his glorious splendor, comes right before the season of Lent. Because the Mount of Crucifixion means nothing without the Mount of Transfiguration.

What comfort I find when I first climb the Mount of Transfiguration—the best of mountains!—where I see Jesus in his glorious splendor. Yes! He is true God. He is in control at all times! What comfort I find when I follow him from that mount to the Mount of Crucifixion—the best of mountains!—and see that though Jesus, the One and Only God, could have easily stopped the crucifixion at any time, he didn't. He suffered willingly for me. What comfort I find when I remember that as true God his death on the cross does count for me. His death was not just the death of "some guy," but the death of the living God in my place. I am forgiven. I am at peace with God.

This Lenten season as you climb with our Savior to Mount Calvary and watch him go to the cross to pay for our sins, don't forget the first mountain, the Mount of Transfiguration, and remember what you've seen. Then that mountain won't be the worst of mountains, but the best of mountains as you realize that our Savior is the God of Glory! It wasn't weakness that took him to the cross, but love—his great love for you. It is good, Lord, to be here to see our Savior's glory! In his name dear friends, amen.


In Him,
Pastor Rob Guenther

Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church
47585 Ciechanski Road, Kenai, AK 99611

Listen to sermons online: www.GraceLutheranKenai.com/Podcast
Watch services online: www.GraceLutheranKenai.com/Webcast

Have you been blessed by our ministry at Grace? Consider supporting us with your generous gifts. Give securely online with a check or credit or debit card here: www.GraceLutheranKenai.com/Give​ 

[1] 2 Peter 1:16

[2] John 1:14​

​

Posted by at No comments:

Tuesday, February 10, 2015

Not So Fast! (A sermon based on Mark 2:18-22)

Have you ever fasted and gone a day without eating? On purpose? What was the goal of fasting? Some fast to lose weight. Some fast as a devotional aid. Some fast to get closer to God. In this week's sermon, Jesus addresses some concerns about fasting. He makes it clear that we don't need to fast with Moses, but can feast with him. Read or listen to (download or stream) this sermon based on Mark 2:18-22 and rejoice in what Jesus has done to bring you close to God! 

Not So Fast!

A sermon based on Mark 2:18-22

Sunday, February 8, 2015 – Epiphany 5(8)B

 

Okay. So I'm back at it. I'm working out again about 4 times a week. I'm trying to get fit again and care for the body that God has given me. But my doctor likes to remind me that working out really isn't going to help me lose that much weight. If I want to be a thinner me, he says it's all about diet.

Okay… so what diet works? Obviously my "see-food diet" where I "see food" and eat it, isn't working. But there are so many out there. There's the Atkins Diet where I can eat all the meat and cheese I want, but cut out the carbs. There's the Paleo Diet where I eat nothing processed. There are diets that cut out white wheat and sugar. There are diets that cut out everything but juiced fruit and vegetables. There are diets that recommend controlled fasting. If you put zero calories in, your body will have to feed off of your fat reserves and you will lose weight.

And in Jesus' day it was a common practice to fast, that is to eat nothing twice a week. Every Monday and every Thursday, certain sects would eat no food at all all day long. Was that healthy? I guess that's debatable. But they weren't fasting for health reasons. They were fasting for religious reasons. They were fasting in order to be closer to God.

The disciples of John the Baptist were fasting. The disciples of the Pharisees were fasting. And even Jesus had preached about fasting and prayer in his Sermon on the Mount. But now Jesus' disciples weren't fasting. In fact, they were feasting on a Monday or a Thursday! They were feasting at the house of a tax collector of all people and it made some wonder: "Why didn't they fast? Did they care nothing about piety and propriety? Didn't they want to be closer to God?!"

But Jesus told them, "Not so fast! You misunderstand fasting. Fasting doesn't bring you closer to God." And he taught them about fasting with Moses and about feasting with him. Our text for this morning is found in Mark 2:18-22…

 

18 Now John's disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. Some people came and asked Jesus, "How is it that John's disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees are fasting, but yours are not?"

19 Jesus answered, "How can the guests of the bridegroom fast while he is with them? They cannot, so long as they have him with them. 20 But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them, and on that day they will fast.

21 "No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. If he does, the new piece will pull away from the old, making the tear worse. 22 And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the wineskins will be ruined. No, he pours new wine into new wineskins."


I.              Fasting with Moses

 

One lesson in the Latin class that I teach introduces the discipuli (or students) to Latin manners. And one of the phrases in that lesson is how to say "please" in Latin. But good Latin manners sometimes make for horrible theology. You see, the phrase, "amabo te," (translated "please") literally means, "I will love you." Implied is that I will love you if you do what I ask. So, "May I please have a cookie?" is literally rendered "I will love you if I can have a cookie," in Latin.

That's how many of Jesus' day viewed God's love—that there were strings attached. He would love them if… He would love them if they kept the commandments. He would love them if they followed the Mosaic laws. He would love them if they fasted twice a week.

Now, fasting was commanded by God through Moses for one day of the year: on Yom Kippur or the Day of Atonement (cf. Leviticus 16:29 and 23:27). It was to be a time of repentance and sorrow in view of God's judgment against sin. But the Pharisees took it a step further. They made it a tradition to fast twice a week in commemoration of Moses' ascent on Mt. Sinai on a Thursday and his descent on a Monday. And now they were offended that Jesus' disciples were eating and drinking and having a good time on those days.

But why did they fast? As a devotional aid to help them remember the words and promises of God? Or because they thought that by it they were earning God's favor? They thought that if they did right by God that God would love them more.

And that "amabo te" view of God's love is still around today, isn't it? Have you ever felt that if you do the right things God would love you more? If you were more productive, if you could get out of debt, if you could accomplish some goal, if you could lose more weight, then you would be more loveable? Then God would love you more?

Well, how's that working for you? Do you feel closer to God when you work hard to earn his love? Not really, right? That kind of thinking puts us on the path of a cut and paste approach to religion that make ours just like everyone else's: either a religion of works and self righteousness (choosing to fast, but ignoring the lust, or choosing to pray, but ignoring the greed), or a religion of smorgasbord Christianity—a little of this and a little of that, but nothing that really gets in the way of what our selfish nature wants to do.

But Jesus warns us, "Not so fast!" This old religion of earning God's love is already stretched and shrunk and worn out. It simply won't work. If you want to do right by God and earn his love, he tells us how: Be perfect. And since we aren't perfect compared to his holy standard, we're left feeling guilty and burdened and burned out when we approach God thinking we can make him love us. And so trying to earn God's love is like running on a treadmill: You work hard, but go nowhere. But unlike running on a treadmill that offers health benefits, trying to earn God's love keeps you away from him since you really put your trust in you.

Fasting with Moses may have health benefits, but it cannot ever get you closer to God. Serving God and following the rules and keeping his commands may give you a better life, but it cannot help you face God after death. But there's a better way to get close to God… A way that actually works…


II.            Feasting with Christ

 

In college, I suddenly became a little more popular when I started making homebrewed beer. I'd helped my dad make beer a few times growing up and already knew how it worked: Yeast eats the sugar in the brew which produces the alcohol. But it also creates a lot of gas as a byproduct. And that gas needs to escape while you brew or later the bottle caps will shoot off the bottles. So brewers use an air lock filled with water. The gas escapes, bubbling through the water, but no air can get back in down through the water, keeping the brew from becoming contaminated.

But back in Jesus' day, they didn't have airlocks. Instead they had leather skins. And as the gas would expand, it would simply stretch the skins. Of course, if you had already used the skin and it had already been stretched, they couldn't stretch any more. Put new wine in an old wineskin and it would burst, obviously ruining both the skin and the wine.

Okay. Got it. But what's Jesus point in this colorful illustration that seems to take a jab at their very complaint as he uses wine-making to teach about fasting?

Well, Jesus' point was that he was doing something new—something new that the old way of thinking simply couldn't contain. The old way was the Law. The new way was Christ himself. The Old Testament covenant with all of its laws and rules kept God's people separate, and distinct, and focused on and looking for the promised Savior. But Jesus changed it. He fulfilled the law and burst the Old Testament ceremonies. They no longer needed to fast even on the Day of Atonement.

Paul put it this way in Colossians 2:16-17, "Do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ."

The old wineskins of the Law can't contain the new thing Christ was doing. The unshrunk Gospel rips apart old legalism. And you can't put the two together in some hybrid or you ruin both. Chocolate is delicious. So are pickles. But chocolate covered pickles sound disgusting. Both would be ruined. Likewise you can't mix a little legalism with a little Gospel or you ruin both. In fact, mixing law and Gospel into some hybrid religion is eternally disastrous.

Jesus said that fasting as a sign of sorrow and repentance did have its place. A time would come when the disciples would fast—a day when Jesus would be taken from them—on Good Friday. But that sorrow did not save them. What Jesus accomplished on the cross did. And even the sorrow of Good Friday gave way to Easter Sunday joy! As Jesus burst from the tomb, he burst through the law! Jesus lives! Your sins are forgiven! You have peace with God! You have the unending, unconditional, love of your bridegroom without having to do a thing. He says, "amabo te," "I will love you… period." "I will love you… for Christ's sake." "I will love you… always."

And that, dear friends, is cause for celebration! No more moping! No more whining and complaining! No more walking around with our heads down! No! Not so fast! We no longer need to fast with Moses! But can feast with Jesus as we rejoice that Jesus has done everything for our salvation! We can feast on the love of our faithful groom just as Hosea described it even as we look forward to the culmination of that love in the Marriage Feast of heaven as John described it in Revelation. (cf. Hosea 2:14-16, 19-20 and Revelation 21:1-6)

And we feast, as we live our lives in joy, confident that we don't have to do a thing to earn God's love. We feast as we enjoy the peace that that brings. We feast as we share this heavenly food with others. We feast as live to serve our Savior and return the love he's shown to us.

Fasting might help you lose a few pounds. But it won't get you closer to God. What will get close to him? Not so fast! You are already close to him through Jesus. You're married to him, not until death do you part, but until death brings you fully together! So don't fast with Moses, but feast with Jesus! Celebrate him and his love! And live for him in thanks! In Jesus' name, dear friends, amen.


In Him,
Pastor Rob Guenther

Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church
47585 Ciechanski Road, Kenai, AK 99611

Listen to sermons online: www.GraceLutheranKenai.com/Podcast
Watch services online: www.GraceLutheranKenai.com/Webcast

Have you been blessed by our ministry at Grace? Consider supporting us with your generous gifts. Give securely online with a check or credit or debit card here: www.GraceLutheranKenai.com/Give

Posted by at No comments:

Wednesday, February 4, 2015

That’s Easy for You to Say! (A sermon based on Mark 2:1-12)

"That's easy for you to say!" But some things are easier said than done. Just because it's easy to say, doesn't mean it's easy to do. When Jesus claimed to have the ability to forgive sins, some questioned his ability to actually do it. But Jesus demonstrated that he can say it and do it. By a miracle, he proved his divinity and authority to forgive sins. Read or listen to (download or stream) this sermon based on Mark 2:1-12 and rejoice that Jesus can forgive and has forgiven you... 

​That's Easy for You to Say!

A sermon based on Mark 2:1-12

Sunday, February 1, 2015 – Epiphany 4B

 

This Super Bowl is going to be awesome! I know, you're thinking, "That's easy for you to say. Your team is in the game." Well, what if I told you that I know that the Seahawks will win by exactly 28 points and that I will help them do it? That too was easy to say. It was so easy in fact that I'll gladly say it again: "I know that the Seahawks will win by exactly 28 points and that I will help them do it." But you don't believe me, do you? (That's okay. Neither do I. I don't know that my Hawks will win and I certainly can't help them try.) But just because something is easy to say doesn't make it easy to do, and it doesn't make it true.

This morning, when Jesus claimed to have the power and authority to forgive sins, some teachers of the law thought, "That's easy for you to say," but they doubted that he had the power to actually do it. So Jesus demonstrated that it wasn't just easy for him to say, but that it was easy for him to do. And we thank God that he gives us the proof that he does indeed have the power to forgive so we know that we too are forgiven. Our text for this morning is from Mark 2:1-12…

 

A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. 2 So many gathered that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. 3 Some men came, bringing to him a paralytic, carried by four of them. 4 Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus and, after digging through it, lowered the mat the paralyzed man was lying on. 5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven."

6 Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, 7 "Why does this fellow talk like that? He's blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?"

8 Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, "Why are you thinking these things? 9 Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up, take your mat and walk'? 10 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins…." He said to the paralytic, 11 "I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home." 12 He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, "We have never seen anything like this!"

I.    Easy for You to Say, "Sins Are Forgiven"

 

The place was packed! It was standing room only in that house that day. Jesus had been gone for a few weeks, traveling around Galilee, and now he had come home to Capernaum.  Word got out that he was back, and people came to the house to listen to the master preacher. And the house was packed; not one more body could have been squeezed in the door.

That caused a problem for some who desperately wanted to get in. Four men had some heavy baggage they were eager to deliver to Jesus: They carried their paralyzed friend on his mattress. Can you imagine their frustration and disappointment when they found out that this show was sold out? But that didn't stop them. They were determined and so they would find a way to get their friend to the one they hoped would help him.

So up to the roof they lugged their adult friend. And figuring the spot just above Jesus they dug a hole big enough and lowered him though. What great friends, huh? Wouldn't you like to have friends like that?

So picture it. The is sun shining through the newly installed skylight and there's a paralytic man on a mattress lying at Jesus' feet. The hopeful expectation was clear: "Do for our friend what you've done for so many others: Heal him. Make him whole again. Let him move. Let him walk. Let him enjoy life." But instead, Jesus spoke to a much bigger need. Without a word spoken from the men on the roof or the man on the mat, Jesus said, "Son, your sins are forgiven."

We can only imagine how those men felt. Were they relieved at the spiritual healing offered? Or were they disappointed that no physical healing accompanied it? Was the man who was let down through the roof let down in his hopes? We're not told what their reaction was. But we are told how the teachers of the law reacted. Even though they didn't say a word, Jesus knew what they were "thinking to themselves," "what they were thinking in their hearts." They though, "Well, that's easy for you to say, but what makes you think anyone would believe you?" "Why does this fellow talk like that? He's blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?"

It was as unbelievable to them that some traveling rabbi, as impressive as he may been, could actually do what he was claiming to do, as it is for you to believe that I can not only predict, but affect the outcome of today's big game. "It's ridiculous!" they thought. "You can forgive someone for hurting you, but how can you forgive someone for a sin against God unless you are yourself God?!" And they refused to believe that Jesus could do this—that he could forgive sins.

How about you? Do you ever doubt that Jesus has the ability to forgive sin? How about the sins of that one guy who hurt you badly? Would Jesus really forgive him? Is it really that easy? How about the habitual sinner? The addict? The one struggling with homosexuality? The one who's life is a mess because of all of the stupid, sinful things they've done? Does Jesus really forgive them the moment they turn to him in faith? Too often we act like the teachers of the law and wonder, "Can Jesus really forgive that broken man lying on the mattress?" And make no mistake, it wasn't just the teachers' thoughts that Jesus could read. He knows your every thought too.

Or how about you yourself? Do you ever doubt that Jesus has the ability to forgive your sin? After all that you've done? After all the times you've doubted his word when you were in pain or facing problems? After all the times you've just plain ignored it? Can you really be forgiven for all that doubt which is really calling God a liar? Can you really be forgiven for all that you've done?

Or how about all the good things you've left undone? Before I asked, "Wouldn't you like to have friends like the friends this paralytic had?" But now, let me turn it on you: have you been a friend like that to others? Would you willingly carry ¼ of the dead weight of a paralyzed friend? Or would you make excuses? "It's too much effort. I'm too busy. I don't have the time or the money. It's too hard. It's too crowded. We'd have to go to the roof. So let's just go home." How many of us would even try to help a friend like that? How many of us do go out of our way to help others in their need?

And when we consider all of our sin, all the evil we've done and all of the good we've left undone, can't it sometimes seem pretty hard to believe that Jesus would really forgive our sins? Isn't it easy to hear those words of absolution, "I forgive you all your sins" and think, "Yeah, sure. Easy for pastor to say. If only he knew all that I've done. Easy to say, but not so easy to believe,"? Isn't it easy to think, "Easy for you to say, Jesus. But do you really forgive me?"

But Jesus knew that it was easy to say, "Son, your sins are forgiven," but hard to believe. So he would give those doubting teachers the evidence they would need to believe…

 

II.   Easy for You to Say, "Get Up… and Walk"

 

Jesus knew these teachers' thoughts, so he challenged them: Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up, take your mat and walk'? Now, they didn't have a chance to answer, but you know what they would've said. "Of course it's easier to say 'Your sins are forgiven,' because nobody can tell if they are or aren't. The result is invisible. Anybody can say that, but who can verify that it happened?" "That's easy for you to say, because no one can prove it!"

But, what if he would say, "Get up and walk," and the man actually got up and walked? Then there would be no denying it! It would be obvious! Everyone could see it! There would be verifiable proof that Jesus could do what he said. If he could make the man get up and walk, which only God could do, it would prove that he also had the divine authority to forgive sins, which only God could do.

So he said, "But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins…." He said to the paralytic,  "I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home." And instantly, he was healed. His paralysis was cured. His muscles were strengthened with no need for physical therapy. Jesus' cure was perfect and complete. "He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all." He now carried the mattress that had so often carried him.

It's pretty clear proof isn't it? It's pretty simple logic: If he can heal the paralyzed man—a task that only God can do—then he is God and he can forgive sins—another task that only God can do. And with this evidence, the people believed: "This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, 'We have never seen anything like this!'"

And God gives us this same assurance too. Jesus is God. He did heal the sick and raise the dead. He did live a perfect life for you and died to pay for your sins. He did rise from the dead to remove all doubt that when he says to you, "Son, [daughter], your sins are forgiven," it is absolutely true, whether you read it in your Bible or hear it from your pastor. Your sins are forgiven!

So let your doubts vanish like this man's paralysis did! Let your doubts vanish with your sins! "Who can forgive sins but God alone?" This man—Jesus, the God-man—has the right to forgive sins! This man—Jesus—has forgiven your sins! Be amazed! And praise God! Have you ever seen anything like it?!

Now, I really don't know who will win the Super Bowl this afternoon. But I do know who will win in life: Those who believe that it really is easy for Jesus to say, "Your sins are forgiven," those who believe he has the power to do it, those who believe what he has done to forgive their sin.

So get up and walk, in faith clinging to God's gracious promises. Get up and walk, in service to him as you look for ways to serve others. Befriend them like the four who carried the paralytic to Jesus. Bring others to him however you can. And rejoice that Jesus says to you, "Son, [daughter], your sins are forgiven!" In his name, dear friends, amen.​


In Him,
Pastor Rob Guenther

Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church
47585 Ciechanski Road, Kenai, AK 99611

Listen to sermons online: www.GraceLutheranKenai.com/Podcast
Watch services online: www.GraceLutheranKenai.com/Webcast

Have you been blessed by our ministry at Grace? Consider supporting us with your generous gifts. Give securely online with a check or credit or debit card here: www.GraceLutheranKenai.com/Give

Posted by at No comments:
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)