Guest Pastor John Boggs delivers a sermon entitled “We Believe and Therefore Speak” based on 2 Corinthians 4:13-15 at Peace Lutheran Church in Hartford, Wisconsin.
Delivered on Sunday, February 3, 2019
Transcript not available
Pastor Jeremy Husby delivers a sermon entitled “Jesus is Anointed to Fulfill the Scriptures” based on Luke 4:14-21 at Peace Lutheran Church in Hartford, Wisconsin.
Delivered on Sunday, January 27, 2019
It was Jesus’ custom to go to the synagogue on the Sabbath Day. That didn’t start simply after his baptism in the River Jordan, his temptation in the wilderness that followed, or when he got back from the wedding at Cana. It was his custom from the 8th day of his life. At his circumcision, in some ways not unlike after a child is baptized today, Jesus was welcomed into the family of God and, after that ceremony, he was brought to weekly worship.
However, even though it was his custom, there was something that made this Saturday’s worship attendance a little different. His presence at that particular place of worship was somewhat of a homecoming experience. He had been away—being baptized at the River Jordan, facing the devil’s temptations, attending a wedding and, after that first miracle, performing other miracles as well.
In addition, news had been spreading about him lately. The Nazareth Daily Bugle, if it would have existed, would have had op eds written about the local boy who had turned into a countryside and countrywide phenomenon. People wanted to hear him preach and teach. They wanted to watch him perform signs and wonders. They just wanted to be around this captivating man.
So, it is no surprise that when Jesus went back into the synagogue that he grew up inside, the people would want to hear what he had to say. Somewhat similarly to what is done in worship services today, prayers, songs, and readings from God’s Word were regular portions of the synagogue’s liturgy and order of service. And, after a few readings, there was time for a speaker to preach a message based on one of those readings. (If only we had kept the custom of sitting down to preach that message!) Either way, when the time came for that Sabbath’s sermon, Jesus stood up to read and sat down to preach.
What would the local boy say? What applications could the carpenter’s son proclaim from Isaiah’s prophecy? In the verses that follow the Gospel reading appointed for today, it seems as though the people didn’t much care for his sermon. But it wasn’t because he still needed some seasoning in his presentation, like a seminary student who preaches the whole counsel of God with gestures and inflection that could use a little more experience. Nor was it because he had one of those sermons where he probably could have said amen 6 or 7 times already, but just said the same thing again and again. They certainly couldn’t have been upset about it being too long—it was only 8 words!
No, the reason they didn’t much care for his prepared remarks was because, in those 8 words, he was claiming to be something special and something for which they had been waiting so long to see. In fact, their waiting was so long that their impression of how those scriptures would be fulfilled had gathered some extra expectations that Jesus certainly wasn’t living up to.
They wanted a king. They wanted political freedom. They wanted someone to sit, not on a synagogue chair, but on a golden throne in an ornate castle and spread the borders of his kingdom with actions, not simply with words.
Is that what you want in your Jesus? Someone who isn’t only going to speak, but is going to act? Someone who will fill your bank account. Someone who will turn this corrupt democracy into a productive theocracy. Someone who will support you when you do what feels right to you. Someone who will take action against the terrorists and those zealots who kill and destroy in the name of false gods.
Like the people of Nazareth, there are times when the expectations of who Jesus, the Christ, should be overshadow exactly who God told you he would be. Instead, rather than looking for signs and wonders, listen to him. Listen again to Jesus’ short sermonette: Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.
The one who fulfills the Scriptures did so, and does so, for you through what you hear.
The work Jesus was anointed to accomplish, according to the prophecy of Isaiah, doesn’t have anything to do with your bank account, corrupt politicians, or terrorists. It didn’t deal with the Messiah, the Christ, that people wanted, but the one that they, and all people, including you and me, needed.
Friends, you were poor; not because your savings couldn’t support your daily physical needs, but because you were lacking the wealth of the riches stored up for you in heaven.
You, too, were captives; not because you can’t get your governmental representatives to pass laws against abortion or in support of your personal political platform, but because you had a master who enslaved you and forced you to act in contrast to what your conscience told you was right.
However, though your conscience protested, it is not as though your slave-master, the devil, had to whip you into submission to serve him in sin. Many times, all he had to do was suggest something enticing to your own sinful nature—a nature that was blinded from seeing the difference between selfishness and selflessness.
You were oppressed by the devil, this world around you, and your own sinful nature, which kept you in the state of being a poor prisoner, without any hope of seeing the light of God’s truth.
And, while you were looking, either for ways to continue down the road of death and destruction, or to take the high road of enlightenment, one day, either quite recently or many years ago, the scriptures that testified about Jesus were fulfilled in your hearing.
Someone, somewhere, at some time, came to you in the power of the Spirit. Whether their preaching was a 35 minute sermon delivered rather awkwardly or a quick whisper which wrought welcome relief in your time of woe, it was dynamic; not because of what you saw or felt, but because of what you heard.
It may have been attached to the waters of your baptism, taught to you in a Sunday School classroom, sung into your heart by your mother while you cuddled in her warm embrace, or heard in Steinbrenner’s sermon last Sunday, but either way, anyway it was preached, it was powerful because, through it, the Spirit that was on Jesus (v. 14) then went to work in you.
That good news brought the wealth of salvation to your poor soul, freed you from your enslavement to sin, by opening your eyes to see Jesus as the only way to heaven.
The power of the Spirit, sent through the Word that you heard, convinced your heart to trust that Jesus’ perfect life was lived in your place and that his atoning sacrifice was made to bring you at one with your creator.
The power of the Spirit, sent through the Word that you heard, produced faith in your heart that unlocked Jesus as the fulfillment of all of the Scriptures. Sinful assumptions and expectations are removed and your ears have heard how Jesus is your Messiah and Christ, the same One who was promised to Eve and Adam, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and that, because of what he has done for you, the Lord’s favor rests upon you year after year.
Whether you’ve been spending your time away in foreign lands, facing the temptations of the Devil, or attending weddings, make it your custom to come back to your home church week after week to hear his proclamation to you. Jesus was anointed to fulfill the Scriptures and he did, for you and for all. Amen.
Pastor Aaron Steinbrenner delivers a sermon entitled “What Our Family Needs Most – Jesus!” based on John 2:1-11 at Peace Lutheran Church in Hartford, Wisconsin.
Delivered on Sunday, January 20, 2019
I recently read that in 1960 there were 308 cases of child abuse reported in the U.S. Today, there’s a report of child abuse every ten seconds. In 1960 the divorce rate was under 20%. Today, the divorce rate is nearly triple that. Would you be surprised to learn that in 1960 teenage homelessness and teenage suicide were not nearly as prevalent as they are today?
I’m not suggesting that the year 1960 was a little slice of heaven on earth. What I am suggesting is that the home…the family unit…the very core that God designed is under a tremendous amount of stress today. I am suggesting that the devil, that roaring lion, has been trying to sink his teeth into the family unit for generations upon generations. I am suggesting that societal trends are doing less to build up and support God-fearing families and they’re doing more to tear them apart.
What are Christians to do? Run scared? Surrender? If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em? I am suggesting that we redouble our efforts….that we regroup…that we surround ourselves with godly influences and peer groups and friends who will support us in our Christian faith, not try to sabotage us. And mostly, I am suggesting that we rally around the One Our Families Need Most – Jesus.
Today in our Gospel we see him as he often shows himself in Scripture…steady…caring…ready to help. It’s the first of his miraculous sings, we’re told. Well, it must have been a doozy, huh? Actually, it was all pretty lowkey. It happened in a little town called Cana at a little wedding. Wedding celebrations lasted days, even up to a week. People took off of work and celebrated with the family. Wine was not only a staple – something people would drink with meals, but it was also part of the celebration. At some point the wine ran out. Mary approaches Jesus. Jesus reminds Mary that he will dole out blessings at his rate and in his time. Mary steps back and waits on Jesus.
Isn’t that a beautiful, peaceful picture…Mary steps back and waits on Jesus, telling the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” Our homes could use a little more of that…waiting on the Lord…trusting in his hand of blessings…trusting him to give at his rate and in his time. If I had to make a list of things that would instantly make my life better, what would I include?
Instead, you already have what your family needs most – Jesus. And he knows how to take care of you. Bring your requests to him…big ones and small ones…just like Mary did. Pour your heart out to him. He’s listening. But then step back and wait. Step back and trust.
Turning water into wine may not seem so flashy, but it does show you and me that Jesus cares…he pays attention. When things matter to us, they matter to Jesus too. But know this, just because this miracle of turning water into wine might seem lowkey, but it is no simple matter.
In 1988, first game of the Word Series – A’s versus Dodgers. Bottom of the 9th. 2 outs. Dodgers are down 3-4. After a nearly 7-minute at bat, Vic Scully, Dodgers announcers exuberantly shouts out, “The impossible has happened.” That’s because Kirk Gibson, who could barely walk, stepped up to the plate and hit a 3-2 slider over the right field wall…home run…Dodgers win. “The impossible has happened.” Improbable yes. Unlikely, yes. Against the odds that a badly injured Gibson would hit a home run in that scenario, yes. But not impossible. Impossible means it cannot be done. Impossible means there is no way something can happen in the natural course of things. Impossible means it would take a miracle…the hand of God…intervention from God himself. Kirk Gibson hit a baseball 375 feet. There are literally thousands upon thousands of people who can and have hit a baseball that far. That’s not impossible. Turning water into wine. That’s impossible. That takes power. That takes the hand of God.
With Jesus we get used to seeing the impossible happen.
This powerful Son of God intervenes. He takes care of our biggest problem of sin and carts it away – removes it from the equation. He confronts our biggest obstacle, death, and turns it into a sleep…a doorway to heaven. That’s a miracle! That’s something thousands of people cannot do….only ONE can and has.
This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed in Cana of Galilee. He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him. The Gospels are filled with miracles. Again and again Jesus did things that only God could do. This miracle in Cana, along with all the other miracles, got people to pay attention to his greatest work (that only God could do): his death and resurrection. AND these miracles bolster and build up the faith of his disciples.
Don’t the miracles of Jesus do the same for us?
The world is not a nice place. Our families struggle at times. Let’s not wish we could turn back time and revisit the 1960’s, let’s instead run to Jesus…rally around Jesus. What Our Families Need Most…we already have. Jesus. Helper in every trouble, the Forgiver of every sin, the Listener to every prayer, the Provider of every need…and we pray, the welcome Guest in every marriage…every home…every family. Amen.
Pastor Paul Waldschmidt delivers a sermon entitled “Jesus is Better than Just OK” based on Luke 3:15-17, 21-22 at Peace Lutheran Church in Hartford, Wisconsin.
Delivered on Sunday, January 13, 2019
The nervous couple sits in a hospital room, anxiously waiting for the surgeon to arrive. They ask their nurse, “Have your ever worked with Dr. Francis?” “Oh yeah,” she says, “He’s okay.” As they scrunch up their noses at that less than enthusiastic endorsement, the surgeon himself comes bebopping into the room, loudly chirping, “Guess who just got reinstated?!?!” And under his breath he whispers, “Well, not officially.” The rest of the commercial from ATT continues in that general direction, all leading up to the tagline: Just ok is not ok. And the message hits home. When it comes to important stuff—like a surgeon, or to a lesser degree—your wireless service, just ok is not ok.
How about when it comes to your eternal salvation? Obviously, just ok is not ok. You don’t want to be on your death bed, having gone with a provider who only has 75% success rate. You would rightfully be quite nervous to stand before the eternal judge, having put your trust in one who can only guarantee that God will…probably let you into heaven. When it comes to the most important stuff like having a Savior, just ok is not ok. You need the best. You need a guarantee. You need someone who inspires your confidence. In our text for this 2nd Sunday of Epiphany, we see that Jesus is the right man for the job of saving you. Jesus is so much better than just ok.
When John the Baptist says “one who is more powerful than I will come…He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. (He will)…. gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” you know he’s not talking about agriculture. Gathering wheat and burning up chaff refers to sending people to their eternal destinies. It lets you know that this is important stuff, the most important in fact. We’re dealing here with the something that matters for eternity.
Isn’t it easy to get messed up on that? How much more important the next life is than this one! So often when we’re going through especially dark days, eternity becomes almost an afterthought. A “taken for granted” that gets quickly acknowledged and then pushed aside as we seek relief for more pressing pain. “Yes, yes, I have a Savior who rose from the dead for me. Yes, yes eternal life in heaven gives me hope. I don’t doubt those things, Pastor. I love those things. But….I want something to save me from the pain that I’m feeling right now.”
This world around us offers us any number of saviors (small s) that say they can help with that. There are all kinds of unhealthy behaviors can numb our pain. Overspending, overeating, overdrinking. Porn says that it can save you from pain. Social media offers a temporary escape to happier times and places. Maybe it’s a boat or a cabin that offers refuge and respite. Maybe it’s living vicariously through our kids, maybe it’s an obsession with career advancement or house pride—there’s any number of little saviors in our lives that people turn to make us feel ok. But depending on which one we’re talking about those saviors range from just ok at best to sinful Soul-destroyers at worst.
They may give relief, but it doesn’t last. They may numb heartache, but heartache comes back tomorrow. That makes all those things sub-par saviors. Only Jesus gives you relief that is long term, forever lasting. That makes him so much more than just OK.
His baptism is his promise that he’s all in with you for the long haul. When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. A couple weeks ago, we pointed out that Jesus’ investment with us as shown by his willingness to share our humanity and all the negatives that come with it. Today, we see Jesus’ investment with us in another way, in his willingness to stand in line, side by side with everyone else and be baptized. Jesus wasn’t baptized because he needed forgiveness of sins. He had no sins. He was baptized to send a message: I’m walking in your shoes. I’m standing with you. The things that humans do, I will do as well. You and I are in this together. Jesus is better than just ok because he is totally invested in you.
Lastly, in the account of Jesus’ baptism, we see that the Father and the Holy Spirit think Jesus is more than just OK too. As he was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” There’s something about a powerful, personal testimony that makes moves us even when nothing else will. I would never have bought an instant pot, but when my sister talked about how easy it was to use…. We attend a certain church, send our kids to a certain school, dine at a certain restaurant, wear a certain brand of shoes all because someone we trust said, “I’ve had a really good experience with this. I totally stand behind it.”
Isn’t that what’s also happening in our text? If God in heaven says Jesus is more than ok—that he is the Son who brings a smile to the Father face, we nod our heads in agreement and joyfully concur. That’s all that we need to hear. Jesus is so much more than just OK because God himself gives him a personal, powerful endorsement.
You know that Jesus is more than OK. You knew that before you came today. So what’s the impact of this message for you? First of all, your baptism connects you with Jesus. What he is becomes what you are. And so if the Father looks at Jesus and says, “In him I am well pleased” that means that he also looks at you and says, “In you, I am well pleased.” All because you have a Savior who’s more than just okay.
And being attached to Jesus with the insoluble bonds of water and promise means something else too. It’s summed up nicely in a phrase that you may have passed over without a second thought when we read our text. At that moment, “heaven was opened.” That’s what Jesus came to do. His perfect life fit the lock, his innocent death turned the key, his glorious resurrection pushed open the door that Adam and Eve had slammed shut. Jesus is more than just an okay Savior and that means heaven is opened for us.
Even if you knew that before you came maybe, by God’s grace, you leave a different person than when you came. You and I have an awesome Savior, one who’s so much better than just ok. And that stokes the fire in our souls. We want to be better than OK for him. Maybe we leave here a little less content with obedience that’s just ok, with a just okay reining in of our eyes, our thoughts, our mouths. Maybe we’re no longer so okay with just okay marriages, just okay parenting, just okay worship, just okay Bible Study, a just okay prayer life. Maybe instead, by God’s grace we are baptized with the Holy Spirit and with fire. Maybe we, by the Spirit’s power become even better models for our kids of what living faith looks like. Maybe we, by the Spirit’s power start to take our faith all the more seriously–actively seeking to grow and improve and to truly be invested in the One who is so truly invested in us. That would be more than OK. That would be awesome. Amen.
Pastor Jeremy Husby delivers a sermon entitled “Jesus-the Authoritative Instructor” based on Mark 1:21-28 at Peace Lutheran Church in Hartford, Wisconsin.
Delivered: Sunday, January 28, 2017
It could have been all the talk of tradition. When questions came to light, the reaction had always been to say or to do this—and it worked; so whenever it came up again, they reacted in the same way. There weren’t specific bible passages that addressed that particular topic. They weren’t saying it had to be done that way, but rather than re-inventing the wheel, you worked with the pattern and blueprint that was time-tested and approved.
Or, it might have been something a little worse. Maybe the issue was their teachings that were but rules taught by men. They came up with regulations for how many steps you were allowed to take on a Sabbath Day, how long your robe had to be, or what psalms you had to sing after a new moon celebration. No specific bible passages on these topics either, but there was no Judaic freedom allowed. You couldn’t re-invent the wheel, even if you wanted to. You were called a sinner if you didn’t do exactly as they directed.
But, it may not have been so bad. In those days, not everyone; in fact, almost no one, had a Scripture scroll at home that they could reference whenever they had a question about the teachings of God. So, they would, with good conscience and good reason, go to the people who did. They went to those whose job it was not only to make copies of those sacred writings, but to study them day and night. And, when they did, those teachers of the law would, at times, simply respond with what the bible said and finish by saying, “Thus says the LORD.”
When Jesus went into the synagogue on that Saturday Sabbath in Capernaum, he taught the people. They had questions and he had answers. But his responses were different that the ones that the teachers of the law gave.
He didn’t relay the traditions of the Church because he is the one who established the Church. He didn’t explain any reasonings behind additional statutes that went above and beyond what the Scriptures said because he came up with the original ordinances himself and declared them to be sufficient. He didn’t have to search the Scriptures to quote them word for word because he was their initial author.
In that way, most certainly, Jesus taught with authority. He was autonomous. Yes, his teachings were precisely in line with what the bible said. Those teachers of the law could have copied down every word he said and compared it with their sacred scrolls without finding any inconsistencies. But that wasn’t the point. They didn’t need to. The message he shared, and the way in which he shared it, gave credence to who he was. It revealed him to be the very Son of God who was promised to come into the world and save it.
You see, Jesus’ teaching in the synagogues was not simply meant to impress people. There have been and still are plenty of speakers in the world who have either done thorough study in a particular topic or are able to share the lessons that they have learned through their own personal experience. Many of them not only have a wealth of information, just waiting to be shared, but also have the ability to present that information in a way that is easy to hear, to follow, and to understand. You believe them because they know what they are talking about.
However, no matter how engaging their discourse may be, no matter how intriguing their subject matter, it pales in comparison to the importance of what Jesus so authoritatively instructed throughout his ministry here on earth.
Jesus’ authority with his words meant that he was able to things, simply by opening his mouth, that no one else could do.
example of just that followed his bible class while they were still in the synagogue. Listen again:
Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an evil spirit cried out, “What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!” “Be quiet!” said Jesus sternly. “Come out of him!” The evil spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek.
Even the demons listened to, and submitted themselves to, the authoritative teaching of Jesus. They did so because they knew that he was the Holy One of God. They knew that he was the one who had created them and the one who could, with his authority over them and all things, do whatever he wanted to them.
Yes, Jesus’ authority means that he can say whatever he wants and it will happen. No matter what stands in his way, if he so chooses, he has the ability to overcome it simply by speaking.
He could, if he desired, take away all of the problems that you face in your life. Cancer is nothing to him. He could tell it to leave. He could bump up your bank account without making even one deposit. He could introduce you to the love of your life, make your sister apologize for what she did to you, clean your house, fold those stupid socks, or add that additional bedroom you’re going to need in nine months without even lifting a finger. He could even raise your deceased spouse back to life and make it so that you never even felt the pain of their departure. If it was his prerogative, he could make it so without a second thought.
So why hasn’t he? Why won’t he?
That, friends, is the more important part of Jesus’ authoritative teaching. Those things would be amazing. But Jesus’ authority also means that he knows what is best for you. He knows what you need and when you need it. He also knows what you don’t need and why you don’t need it.
He knows, just like the best teachers you have had in the past, that, at times, you need to be tested. He knows that, sometimes, the best way for you to learn is not simply to give you all the answers to the questions that you have asked. He knows that, for you to understand and pay attention to the lessons that you need to learn, there are times when you need the distractions that surround you to be removed.
He knows that, while the blessings of health, wealth, and the love of family and friends may indeed be beneficial to your life here on earth, there is only one thing that you need to learn and trust to be true so that you have life forever in heaven.
Listen to his instruction on how to be declared perfect and righteous in the sight of your God as he said, The Son of Man did not come into the world to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. And further, God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
Listen to his instruction on how his ransom for your sins and the sins of the world was paid and accepted as payment when, from the cross, he said, It is finished.
Listen to his instruction on what he is doing, even now, for you, after that payment was made and accepted when he said, In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me, that you also may be where I am.
Listen to his instruction on how to deal with the day to day struggles and disappointments you face when he said, Do not worry, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, What shall we wear? For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. And further, Come to me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest.
Listen to Jesus, the authoritative instructor, and be amazed at the way in which he speaks. Give him praise and glory—and your attention—because of it. But don’t stop there. Listen to him as he reveals himself to be your Savior. Listen and believe it to be true for you because Jesus has the authority to do whatever he wants; and he uses that authority over all things for your good, both now and forever. Amen.
Pastor Paul Waldschmidt delivers a sermon entitled “The Dream Team” based on Mark 1:14-20 at Peace Lutheran Church in Hartford, Wisconsin.
Delivered: Sunday, January 21, 2017
In the Name of the One who calls us, shows his glory to us, and then shows his glory through us,
Dear Brothers and Sisters in the Family of God,
Jeff Grayer. Willie Anderson. JR Reid. Ever heard any of those names before? Probably only if you are both a die hard basketball fan. Those obscure names from the hardwood were members of the 1988 US Men’s Olympic Basketball team. They lost to the Soviets in the Semifinals and ended up with a disappointing bronze. In the four years that followed, the rules were changed, and NBA players were allowed to participate for the first time.
Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson. Ever heard any of those names before? Probably. They played on the 1992 Men’s Olympic basketball team. When NBA players were given the green light to play in the Olympics, the powers that be selected professional basketball’s best scorer. And then they handpicked the NBA’s best passer, best defender, best shooter, best rebounder, best shot blocker. And they brought them all together for a historic run of decisive victories. Defeating their opponents by an average of 44 points, they easily won the gold medal. History remembers them as the “Dream Team.”
I thought of the Dream Team when I read our text for tonight from Mark, chapter 1. 14 After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. 15 “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!” This was a one of a kind moment in history. “The time has come!” The often promised, long awaited Son of God had come to save the world. And his gospel would need to go out from there to be preached to hundreds of nations, over thousands of years, to billions of people. You would think that, with so much hanging in the balance that Jesus would have assumed a dream team of helpers, servants, disciples.
“Okay, let me find the book smartest guy with the eidetic memory, so he can dispute the Torah with the Pharisees and scribes. Let me hand pick the street smartest guy, so he can figure how we’re going to put food on table and a roof over our heads. Let me find a few Type A personalities to plan our travel schedule and a couple of finance guys to take care of the treasury. (Anyone but Judas!) Give me a funny guy because he’ll be able to keep things light when times get stressful and tense. And give me the strongest guy who can fight off any enemies who decide they want to come after me with swords and clubs and what not.”
That would’ve made perfect sense—for Jesus to select a “Dream Team” of disciples to surround him during his life and then to send out after his ascension. Is that what he did?
16 As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 17 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” 18 At once they left their nets and followed him.
19 When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. 20 Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.
It almost seems like it’s the opposite of the “Dream Team”–like Jesus was walking on the seashore and said, “Ok, give me those two. And those two.” It wasn’t random, of course. Jesus’ time was too short and his mission too important to do anything randomly. He knew exactly what he was doing when he called Peter and Andrew, James and John. But we might be wondering…they themselves might’ve been wondering…..why Jesus chose them. They were trained in, a quite likely very successful at, an entirely different career field. And as the gospels play out this team of disciples reveal themselves to be something less than dreamy. We hear a lot about them misunderstanding Jesus, fighting amongst themselves for seniority in the organization, trying to run with hare-brained and half baked ideas. In short, they seem like pretty regular guys. Perhaps that’s exactly why Jesus chose them!
He didn’t put together the dream team, but instead he called people who didn’t always get it, and didn’t always have all the answers. Look beyond the disciples and you see that Jesus called people with emotional baggage, people with checkered pasts, people with confidence issues, people with family drama. People who weren’t good enough for anybody else were exactly the people that Jesus drew near to himself.
They were the ones who realized that they needed him the most. The Dream Team of Disciples, maybe they would’ve started to think this was all about them. And that maybe any success that they achieved was due to their proficiency, their brains, their eloquence. The anti-Dream Team starts with nothing and because they do, they eventually come to realize that Jesus is everything.
Jesus didn’t need a Dream Team to lead him. He called the anti Dream Team to follow him.” They would follow him—to other lakeshores, to mountainsides and open fields filled with thousands of people. They would follow him and learn about how he had come to pay for their sins. They would follow him to a cross and see for themselves how much he loved them—enough to be stripped of everything he had and crushed under the fist of a punishing God. They would follow him to a tomb on Easter Sunday morning, little knowing that he wasn’t going to be there.
Did they know they would see all those things and so much more when they heard his simple invitation on the sea of Galilee? Of course not. Following Jesus, took them in directions they never could have anticipated, but they never went there alone. Eventually, by faith, the followed Jesus to their heavenly home.
I hope you’re seeing it already. I hope it’s obvious. How much the folks he called to follow him back then have in common with the folks that he calls to follow him today. Everybody sitting around you comes here carrying some pretty heavy stuff. Just like you come here carrying some pretty heavy stuff. We come here looking a forgiveness for our guilt ridden hearts. We come here looking for a little calm in a chaotic world. We come here looking for hope when sadness overtakes us, purpose when life seems meaningless and heaven when it comes to die. We come looking for all those things and Jesus come, follow me, and you will find them.
A dream team of disciples we are not. That’s not implying that all God’s people are plain scoop of vanilla, in a cup, no sprinkles. That’s not denying that God’s people have a variety of gifts and talents. What it is saying is that we don’t have to be supermen or superwomen to be valuable to our God and useful in God’s kingdom.
He took Peter and Andrew, James and John, regular guys and he used them as the pillars in his visible church on earth. They were no dream team. Neither are we. Our names won’t find their way into any history books, most likely. They probably won’t mean much to people who live 100 years from now. But we can make a big difference in the lives of the people around us right now as Jesus works through us in their lives. So we follow him as the disciples of old—learning from him, caring like him, serving for him. Superstars, not at all. We’re just happy to be on the team. Amen.
Pastor Aaron Steinbrenner delivers a sermon entitled “Lord Make Me a Better__________” based on 1 Samuel 3:1-10 at Peace Lutheran Church in Hartford, Wisconsin.
Delivered: Sunday, January 14, 2017
Just for fun I googled Ten Best Role Models, and two seconds later google had a list for me. The list included a couple pro athletes, some actresses, a few pop/country singers, even a member of the British royalty. I don’t know about you, but I have a really hard time relating to celebrities. Regular people who work regular jobs and have regular incomes – I can relate to them.
So our role models don’t need to be celebrities. We can find role models from within our own ranks…in fact, I hope we do. And I hope we keep that in mind. For instance, our children may pay some attention to pro athletes and celebrities, but the role models that will influence them the most will be you – moms and dads and grandmas and grandpas. Athletes can show our kids what to do after making a three-pointer or after scoring a touchdown…
– they will learn how to be loving husbands and wives from you
– they will learn how to treat people with respect, even when you disagree with them from you
– they will learn how to and how often to worship from you
– they will learn how and why to bring offerings to church from you
– they will learn about what’s most important in life from you.
And isn’t it also true that our children can often be really good role models for us. It’s so encouraging and refreshing when we see in our children a child-like trusting faith in Jesus…when we see the excitement they have when they have learned a Bible story…or how unafraid they are to speak openly about their faith in Jesus. Today in 1 Samuel 3 we see a great role model for all of us. He’s not a celebrity…he’s not royalty…he’s a young boy and his name is Samuel.
Samuel teaches us how to listen
Just to understand the setting a little bit better. We’re told “in those days the word of the LORD was rare.” The first five books of the Bible had been written and compiled and were kept in the tabernacle. But the people ignored those books of the Bible…even the priests. And instead of being good spiritual leaders, the priests were taking advantage of the people…living godless lives and being very poor examples for the people. They had no good role models. And nobody seemed to be listening to God’s voice.
Enter Samuel. (now the 4th time the Lord called to him) The LORD came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”
Listening is important. In catechism class, we talked about how it is estimated that there are roughly 4,200 different branches and types of religions or belief systems in the world. Think about that a moment. All those different opinions and ideas about
– who is in control?
– what is right and what is wrong?
– why am I here and how did I get here…and where will I go when my “here” is over and done with?
Only our true God has the true answers. But it seems listening to him, even though we know he has the answers, can be harder than we think. Can I bore you with some stats for a minute?
– Over 200 billion emails are sent each day (that’s 2.4 million per second)
– Over 500 million tweets each day
– Between 2-3 billion snapchats per day (average user opens the app 18 times per day)
– Average American devotes 10 hours per day to some kind of screen time (computer/TV/phone/tablet)
I would say the average American is certainly connected and tapped into technology and the internet. In your opinion, have all those activities and connections translated into a greater and more consistent connection to God’s Word? And what happens when people stop listening to God’s Word?
• Things didn’t go well for Adam and Eve – they listened to the serpent.
• Eli and his sons closed their ears to God’s voice and they became bad role models and were judged for it.
• David, a man after God’s own heart, took a break from listening to God – that led to adultery and murder and cover-up and what he would later recount, the worst, most guilt-stricken time of his life.
• Judas, he stopped listening to God too…and it couldn’t have come at a worse time. He hanged himself in despair.
• It’s not good for us either. When we don’t listen to God’s voice, then we’ll end up only hearing all the garbage the world pumps into our eardrums and all the lies the devil whispers and all the rationalizing and justifying and bargaining our sinful nature hurls at us.
So with Samuel, we cry out, Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening. Speak, Lord, when I err…when I stray…when my immaturity gets the best of me…when my stubbornness doubles down…when my sinful nature digs in its heels…Speak, Lord, and cut me to pieces and help me see the danger and depravity of my sin. Knock me down into the dust and help cry out, Lord have mercy. Then speak, O Lord, and give me your mercy. Speak to me in your Word, and show me how deep and how unmatched your love. Speak…and give me the same promises you gave to Adam and Eve and David. Speak to me about Jesus. Speak to me in my baptism…speak to me in the supper…speak to me your words of forgiveness. Speak and never cease to speak. Help me to believe and never cease to believe.
In the bulletin the sermon theme was left blank. Lord, Make Me a Better _____________. I could think of several ways to fill in that blank. Lord, make me a better spouse…a better parent…a better pastor…a better evangelist…a better disciple…a better coworker…a better role model…and the lost goes on. You may fill in your blank however you wish. But might I suggest, Lord, Make Me a Better Listener?
If I am a better listener…If I am truly hearing the voice of my God over and through the many distractions…If I am listening to how patient he is with me – won’t that move me to be more patient with others? If I hear again and again how he graciously tracked down and found and claimed my lost soul – won’t that invigorate my efforts to reach out to the lost souls in my own neighborhood? If I am listening to how consistently he protects me and provides for me and attends to my prayers…how compassionate he is and how kind and generous to me even when and especially when I do not deserve one lick of it – wouldn’t that make me a kinder, more compassionate spouse and parents.
Lord, Make Me a Better Listener…and by the power of your gospel, increase my faith…and make me a better servant to those around me. Amen.
Video not available.
Pastor Jeremy Husby delivers a sermon entitled “The Chosen Substitute” based on Mark 1:4-11 at Peace Lutheran Church in Hartford, Wisconsin.
Delivered: Sunday, January 7, 2017
If you were to sit in on a class over at Peace Lutheran School, you could probably learn a lot of information. You could study the history of the United States or take a closer look at her presidents. You could relearn the basics of algebra or, if you are like me, maybe it would be better to take another glance at simple arithmetic. Perhaps sitting in on an art class or a lesson in music theory would be enlightening for you.
However, if you could only afford the time to participate in one class, the young people who would probably share with you the fact with the most significance are the preschoolers. If you were to ask them what Jesus did for them, they would likely give you one of two answers. They would tell you that Jesus either took away or washed away their sins.
That is most certainly the most important truth that anyone could ever learn in any classroom. While it would certainly be difficult to live your life without knowing how to read or to add two numbers together, if you did not know what Jesus has done for you, you would not live forever in heaven.
That truth is something that your pastors hope to teach or reteach you every weekend here in worship. Whether you are hearing it for the first time or for the four thousandth time, the hope is that you would walk away from this place knowing that Jesus took away or washed away your sins.
Forgiveness is an idea that is conveyed to Christians with many different metaphors. Forgiveness could be taught to be a cleansing. It could be explained as a courtroom acquittal. It could be seen as the result of a ransom payment or an undeserved reconciliation with someone you have offended.
Today’s Gospel reading from Mark, though, is literally a textbook example of how Jesus took away or washed away your sins. Even though you don’t see it at first glance, those phrases and descriptions of what Jesus did for you are right there in black and white. It just so happens that, in your bulletin, they are a little bit hidden. Listen again:
John came, baptizing in the desert region and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins…at that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.
There it is. God has declared that your sins are washed away because Jesus took them away. That’s what the preschoolers know after hearing these words. That’s because, even know they may not be aware of it, they know the nuances of the Greek language, from which this English translation was originally written.
The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were coming out to John in the desert for a reason.
Make no mistake, John was a preacher inspired by the Holy Spirit. That was enough to make people flock from all over to hear him. His camel hair clothing did make him a sight you had to see to believe, but not just because he had a different sense of style. He chose those clothes because that is what prophets before him, like Elijah, also wore. He was simply identifying his occupation.
People went out to see him because he was a prophet of God who was preaching the very Word of God and, on top of that, the Word that he preached was not only what the people needed to hear, but was what they were craving to hear.
Those people of God, like their forefathers before them, had been enslaved by an evil overlord who forced them to work against their wishes and think, say, and do what they did not want to do. But it was not Pharaoh from Egypt who was in control over them. It was the Devil, himself.
Each and every day they were crippled with their guilt and were taunted by Satan’s reminders that, because of their sin, they were not worthy to be God’s children, let alone to live with him forever.
They had something they needed to get rid of and so John came, offering to them a way for that guilt to be washed and taken away. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.
That word that is translated as baptized is used over and again in the New Testament and, every single time that it is used, it means washed with water. Whether it was pots and kettles, a ceremonial rinse of their hands, or a cleaning of a couch, the Israelites always used water to wash away whatever had been soiled.
So, when John offered to them that, through this baptism, they themselves could be baptized; that their sins could be washed away, it is no surprise that they flooded that desert region.
When they went into that water, that guilt that plagued them day and night was removed from them. It was taken away from them and they came up out of the water fresh and clean.
And, friends, that is why it is so important for you today to hear and to know that Jesus was baptized in the Jordan River, too.
As you well know, Jesus did not need to be baptized for the forgiveness of his sins. He, up unto that point and afterward, lived a perfect life, free from even a single sinful thought, word, or action. No he was not baptized so that his sins could be taken away, but, rather, so that he could take away your sins.
The sin and guilt of the Israelites did not remain in the water of the River Jordan like the dirt and grime of a third grader stays in the bathtub. When Jesus came up out of the water, the Holy Spirit descended upon him and the Father’s voice thundered approval from above because he did there what he was chosen to do. He took on himself the guilt that was taken away from the Israelites and all of the sins that were washed away from you in your Baptism.
And, after he got up out of that water, with your guilt and the sins of all people of all time covering him, he started his walk to Calvary’s cross. There, he not only took your sins away from you, but shed his own precious blood to pay the debt that sin had incurred.
In this great exchange that takes place through Jesus’ baptism and yours, God gave to Jesus the punishment that you deserved for your sins and gives to you the salvation that Jesus earned with his perfection.
Because of baptism, Jesus’ and yours, you are declared to be children of God, who he loves and, with Jesus’ righteousness substituted for yours, with you God is well pleased.
There are plenty of great things that have happened or that will happen in church today. It would be great if you leave here humming the tunes of the hymns that we sing or remember those we pray for in just a little bit in your own prayers at home. But if there is one thing that is most important for you to learn or to relearn today, it is what Jesus has done for you. He took away your sins by washing them away from you. You were baptized for the forgiveness of sins. Amen.
