Sermon Archive

Simple and Certain

Simple and certain? No. Confusing and challenging. The exclusive statements and demands of Jesus can be hard to accept when we want to solve our spiritual needs by ourselves. It is pretty exclusive when Jesus says in John 14, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (Verse 6) Peter would speak about the exclusive need for being born again and being born from above when he preached, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12). No other name. Exclusive.

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The Forgiving Word

Yet most of the disciples who defended Jesus’ honor so vociferously were not to be seen or heard of at the crucifixion. The only ones at the cross were Mary Magdalene, Jesus’ mother Mary, and John. (At least one of the Thunder Boys had enough fire in his belly to brave the cruel public execution of Jesus). When Jesus was arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane, all the apostles fled. “Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered…” (Zech. 13:7; cf. Matt. 26:31).

But Jesus didn’t hold that against them. If we were betrayed or abandoned like that, we would probably nurse our pride and brood bitterly on how bereft we are in this world. Jesus did not. Instead he prayed for them. He prayed for the Jewish priests who mocked him. He prayed for the Roman soldiers who nailed him to the cross. He prayed for us all. “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34).

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The Ongoing Battle

The battle is in us, around us and below us.  “Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.  Resist him, standing firm in the faith.” (I Peter 5:8-9a) The devil has all types of names.  Devil = accuser. Satan= adversary. Destroyer. Thief. Prince of darkness. It says of him that “he comes only to steal, kill and destroy.”  (John 10:10) He is not on your side. Revelation says of him, and his ultimate demise, “For the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down.  They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony.” (Revelation 12:10-11)

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The Promising Word

What sort of Man is this who promises Paradise to a dying thief who admits the guilt of crime? What sort of justice is this that speaks pardon to the unpardonable, that acquits the guilty, that saves those society deems unsalvageable and worthy of the cruelest form of death? This is the Savior of the world, the Redeemer of fallen mankind, the One who reconciles the enemy as enemy and justifies the sinner as sinner. “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

“Today, you will be with Me in Paradise.” Hear that word of promise for yourself. Hear it now, and at the hour of your death, for none of us knows the day and the hour of our “Today” when Paradise is opened to us in our death.

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Are You Blind?

Are you blind?  Blindness comes not just to the eyes though, it moves to other parts of the body as well.  The heart is blind when it does not believe in or follow Jesus. There is an old Scottish saying that says, “There’s none so blind as those who will not see.”  Maybe that is why Paul would write to the Ephesians with the words, “I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you.”  (1:18) I find it interesting that on the Mount of Transfiguration after the great brilliance of Jesus was revealed, the word from the Heavenly Father was, “This is My Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased.  Listen to Him.”  (Matthew 17:5)  Sight is enhanced by what we hear about our Savior and then we follow His voice.

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Grow Up

Growing up means nor being childish and selfish and difficult but being childlike.  In John 3 Jesus would say, “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.”  (John 3:3)

It is easy to spot someone who is childish.  God has not developed them, they are stuck in infancy.  But the one who is grown up is childlike – born again by God’s Spirit, living in a humble way, attributing every goodness in life to a generous Father.  As Peter writes, “Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.”  (I Peter 2:2-3)

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Something To Say

Here’s what we have to say: “I want others to know this God who can change life.”  I don’t want to be the only one saying how great our God is.  I don’t want you to be the only ones who are just overwhelmed by the hope and joy that Jesus brings to the world.  I want others to know it.  Paul, in the last chapter of Roman’s reveals his goal of life, “It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ is not known.”  (Romans 15:20a)

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Foolishness and Weakness

The cross teaches us that we, one by one, are treasured by God.  At Holy Communion after I say Jesus’ words, “Take and eat, this is my body…Take and drink, this is my blood given for the forgiveness of sins”, I speak the concluding words of Paul, “For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.”  (I Corinthians 11:26)  Foolishness and weakness of the cross?  NO!!  We boast in His crucifixion and suffering and sacrifice.  By that cross Jesus saves us and made us whole.

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Together

Who brings us together?  Jesus does.  To drive home the unity Paul gives a picture of the church, that congregation, as a human body.  Each part is different, but each part needs one another.  “The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body.  So it is with Christ.  For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body – whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free – and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.”  (I Corinthians 12:12-13)

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Did God Really Say?

In Genesis 3 the word of doubt was begun with a question, “Did God really say?”  The consequences of leaving God’s word was disastrous.  For all of life and for the decisions we make on how we will live it, we are lead by what God speaks and says.  And, now, looking at God’s final word, Jesus, we treasure the great love and forgiveness and new life He now gives.

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