Reformation Sunday

So What?
What difference does the Reformation make in our lives today?

You know you are a Lutheran when...
You only serve Jell-O in the proper liturgical color for the season.

You didn't know chow mein noodles were a Chinese food.

During communion you hum the hymns so you can see who's at church that Sunday..

Rather than introducing yourself to a visitor at church, you check their name out in the guestbook

A midlife crisis means switching from the old hymnbook to the new one.

You forget to put water in the baptismal font but never forget to put water in the coffee pot.

The pastor skips the last hymn to make sure church lasts exactly 60 minutes.

You make spaghetti at your house with the little macaroni noodles because they're not so messy then.

You don't make eye contact when passing someone in the hall because you think it's impolite.

You think a meeting isn't legitimate unless it's at least three hours long.

Peas in your tuna noodle hotdish add too much color.

You make change in the offering plate for a ten. ..the only open pew is up front, so you volunteer to shovel the sidewalk.

Ole and Lena are really the names of your relatives.

Do you know what it means to be a Lutheran? Besides all the cute funny one liners shared just now and the comedy behind “Church Basement Ladies”. Who are we as Christians who define ourselves as Lutherans? What difference does our identity mean?

Lets face it, unless we as a church make it a priority for the future generations and the youth in our church what our identity is, how it shapes and informs us, and what difference it makes we will quickly loose what we have come to understand ourselves as, namely Lutherans.

The greatest result of the reformation that we bear witness to today is revealed in the words from Jeremiah. “No longer shall they teach one another, ‘Know the Lord.’, for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, says the Lord; for I will forgive their iniquity, and remember their sin no more.” We have the knowledge that God acts to bring about salvation to the vilest of sinners. The knowledge of this is no longer secret, hidden in the minds and words of only a secret select in the church, but rather is clearly spoken and embraced. This is the gift of the reformation. That God would stir up in a monk named Martin Luther a quest to know God not just for his wrath but also for the grace that comes to us new every morning. This is the good news.

What Difference then does the Reformation make in our lives today?
Applying the Text to Our Lives

(1) Grace Alone.

GRACE IS EVERYTHING FOR NOTHING TO THOSE WHO DON'T DESERVE ANYTHING

“For these is no distinction, since all have fallen short of the glory of God; they are now justified by his GRACE as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a sacrifice of atonement by his blood, effective through faith.”

“Grace is given to heal the spiritually sick, not to decorate spiritual heroes” Martin Luther

For Luther the encounter of grace found only in God’s Word was enough for him to finally believe that God forgives the sinner and grants new life, truly and endlessly. He wouldn’t have to scratch his way back into heaven through good works, outdoing his neighbor in the number of prayers spoken, or even look religious to gain the favor of God.

For me it was these words from Ephesians 2:8-9 which have been etched on my heart,

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God— not the result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life.”

Thank God salvation is not dependent on my efforts to somehow win over God. Doing good works is a product of our faith - ‘created in Christ for good works’ is what defines us as Christians.

(2) Word Alone

“If you continue in my Word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth and it will set you free.”

“I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.”

In a typical week, during how many days, if any, would you read the Bible, not including the time you are at church? Daily, 13%; 3 times a week, 32%; Not at all, 43%. Barna Research Group, 1992
What happened since the reformation? In a world overtaken by multi- media, television - our attention span is gone. If God’s word is a gift given to us and is in our own native language then why not find ourselves deep in it?
“The Bible is the cradle wherein Christ is laid.” Martin Luther

(3) Faith Alone

“A person is made right (justified) by faith apart from works prescribed by the law”

“All who call on God in true faith, earnestly from the heart, will certainly be heard, and will receive what they have asked and desired, although not in the hour or in the measure, or the very thing which they ask. Yet they will obtain something greater and more glorious than they had dared to ask.” Martin Luther

“Faith is a living and unshakable confidence, a belief in the grace of God so assured that a man would die a thousand deaths for its sake”
Martin Luther

For Bonhoeffer, faith was a matter not of taking a stance but of being a follower of Christ.

Our faith compels us to be bold, confident, and assured in the witness that we share with our neighbor. For we are saved by grace alone revealed to us through God’s Holy Word and this gift comes to us through faith.

23rd Sunday After Pentecost - Nearing the End of this Blessed Season of Green

Thoughts to Begin the Sermon

To: Internal Revenue Service, Department of the Treasury Washington, DC 20001

Enclosed is my 2003 Form 1040, together with payment. Please take note of the attached article from USA Today archives. In the article, you will note that the Pentagon paid $171.50 each for hammers and NASA paid $600.00 each for toilet seats.

Please find enclosed in this package four toilet seats (value $2,400.00) and six hammers (value $1,029.00). This is in payment for my total tax due of $3,429.00.

Out of a sense of patriotic duty, and to assist in the political purification of our government, I am also enclosing a 1.5 inch Phillips head screw, for which HUD duly recorded and approved a purchase value of $22.00, as my contribution to fulfill the Presidential Election Fund option on Form 1040.

It has been a pleasure to pay my taxes this year, and I look forward to paying them again next year in accordance with officially established government values.

Sincerely,
Another satisfied taxpayer

Is it lawful for us to pay “taxes”? What is our Christian responsibility as we live out our lives in this nation? Can we live out the command, “Give to the emperor what is his and to God’s what is God’s?” What is Jesus guiding us to do in light of the lessons today?

Applying the Text

(1) The call to living out our lives requires us to be active citizens.

“Whose head is on the coin and what is its title?” We need to identify that we are living out our Christian vocation in the context of a greater world. Christians are asked to be blameless, law abiding citizens. Can we see government as an agent of God?

Can we see past the former identity of a “Christian nation”? Can we still be citizens of such a nation?

We are called to a dual citizenship - We live in this world yet we are not limited by this world. We belong to God and our citizenship is in heaven.

The frustration comes when we are called to be and live out that role as a citizenship. How can our Christian viewpoint and witness be a light to the nations?

(2) Be imitators of the saints who are in our memory and of the Lord who has saved you.

“And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for in spite of persecution you received the word with joy inspired by the Holy Spirit, so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia”

(3) Be guided and assured in the power and presence of the Lord.

“My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

Sabbath

This past Sunday evening through Tuesday afternoon Randi and I had the blessed opportunity to retreat at the Sinsinawa Mound Retreat Center in southern Wisconsin near Dubuque. Pictured above the chapel and worship center at the retreat center. The retreat complex overlooks the river valley so you can imagine how beautiful the area is. This year we listen to a presentation on the shalom process in the congregation. I will add more info soon about what it means for our congregation to be a place of shalom.

Things that make you go hmmm...

These tidbits were offered in a sermon preached by Pastor D at our annual Pastor's theological conference this past Sunday - Tuesday. Larry the Cable Guy's wisdom for the day eh?

1. A day without sunshine is like night.

2. On the other hand, you have different fingers.

3. 42.7 percent of all statistics are made up on the spot.

4. 99 percent of lawyers give the rest a bad name.

5. Remember, half the people you know are below average.

6. He who laughs last thinks slowest.

7. Depression is merely anger without enthusiasm.

8. The early bird may get the worm, but the second mouse
gets the cheese in the trap.

9. Support bacteria. They're the only culture some people have.

10. A clear conscience is usually the sign of a bad memory.

11. Change is inevitable, except from vending machines.

12. If you think nobody cares, try missing a couple of payments.

13. How many of you believe in psycho-kinesis? Raise my hand.

14. OK, so what's the speed of dark?

15. When everything is coming your way, you're in the wrong
lane.

16. Hard work pays off in the future. Laziness pays off now.

17. How much deeper would the ocean be without sponges?

18. Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet
engines

19. What happens if you get scared half to death, twice?

20. Why do psychics have to ask you for your name?

21. Inside every older person is a younger person wondering,
"What the heck happened?"

22. Just remember -- if the world didn't suck, we would all
fall off.

23. Light travels faster than sound. That's why some people
appear bright until you hear them speak.

24. Life isn't like a box of chocolates. Its more like a jar
of jalapenos. What you do today, might burn your butt tomorrow.

22nd Sunday After Pentecost

This sermon was preached on Sunday, October 12, 2008. Because I left my voice recorder at home there will be no audio for this Sunday.

Rules to Live By

God’s invitation is free, but it is also demanding. God wants something from us more than blindly following him or prescribing ourselves to a doctrine. What does it mean to truly follow Jesus and be a disciple? What can we learn from this parable on following Jesus?

Do we hear the invitation? How then are we to live as disciples called to serve Christ and his kingdom in this age?

Applying the Text

Rules to live by as offered by St. Paul:

(1) “Be of the same mind in the Lord.”

In the struggle to find reconciliation we called to “help these women” for they have struggled besides me in the gospel. We struggle together and we need this togetherness in order to be confident in the witness we share.

(2) Rejoice in the Lord.

(3) Let your gentleness be known to everyone

(4) Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving your request made known to God.

The peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus...Think then about these things.

Meet our Editor Basset

Thought it would be a good time to introduce our managing editor of this here blogspot. Fearless, great friend of many, and an occasional horse for our daughter Kjersti Madison would like to introduce herself.

AROOOOOOOOOOOOO!

There that is out of the way, now back to getting ready for council.

Peace,
Pastor Kris

21st Sunday After Pentecost in a Season of Green

Who then is Jesus?
A Lesson on Authority and Identity

In a 1983 Gallup poll Americans were asked 'who do you think Jesus is."

70% of those interviewed said Jesus was not just another man.

42% stated Jesus was God among men.

27% felt Jesus was only human but divinely called.

9% states Jesus was divine because he embodied the best of humanity.

Also, 81% of Americans consider themselves to be Christians.

“I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the sharing of his sufferings by becoming like him in his death.”

“Because they regarded him as a prophet.”

I believe that Jesus Christ, true God, begotten of the Father from eternity, and also true man, born of the Virgin Mary, is my Lord, who has redeemed me, a lost and condemned creature, purchased and won [delivered] me from all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil, not with gold or silver, but with His holy, precious blood and with His innocent suffering and death, in order that I may be [wholly] His own, and live under Him in His kingdom, and serve Him in everlasting righteousness, innocence, and blessedness, even as He is risen from the dead, lives and reigns to all eternity. This is most certainly true.

In the first lesson we hear about God’s expectations for His people. Sending prophets, sending a message, giving hope - yet, “Why did it yield wild grapes?”. “Expected justice but saw bloodshed.”

Paul saw “everything as a loss” in comparison to his relationship with Jesus. “I regard everything as loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Jesus Christ.”

Knowing, believing, hoping, and living out our faith in a complex and often hostile world means that we stand as prophet in the midst of deaf ears, that we hold firm to our convictions about who Jesus is to us and the difference faith can make, and that we recognize the ways that we too can reject the message of the Gospel and the movement of God in our lives.

Applying the Text

(1) Our identity is shaped and molded by our faith in the Lord Jesus.

“As to the law a pharisee, as to zeal, a persecutor of the church, as to righteousness under the law, blameless. Yet whatever gains I had, these I have come to regard as loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.”

“They wanted to arrest him but feared the crowds, because they regarded him as a prophet.”

(2) Our understanding of who Jesus is comes through a relationship with him.

(3) Our mission and goals as a faith community are defined by the witness of the Word, the faith of those who stand beside us, and the legacy of faith that has gone before us.