Ash Wednesday - preached March 5, 2014 at St. Paul Lutheran Church Dewberry, Indiana

Sermon Text:      Acts 18:24-28

Title:          Catechesis: What does this mean? [Part 1 of Christ Our Teacher and Redeemer - Catechism]

I.        Christ our LORD teaches us through His Word

II.       Christ our LORD teaches us through Our Catechism

THROUGH CHRIST AND HIS CROSS HE TEACHES US WHAT WE NEED TO KNOW IN ORDER TO SEE OUR SIN AND OUR SAVIOR – THROUGH HIS WORD AND THROUGH THE CATECHISM.

In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

Grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father, and from our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ.  Amen.

The sermon text for this Ash Wednesday, is taken from Acts 18…

24 Now a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent man, competent in the Scriptures. 25 He had been instructed in the way of the Lord. And being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John. 26 He began to speak boldly in the synagogue, but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately. 27 And when he wished to cross to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples to welcome him. When he arrived, he greatly helped those who through grace had believed, 28 for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, showing by the Scriptures that the Christ was Jesus.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

I.

It is once again Ash Wednesday – that time of the Church year where we begin our journey through Lent. It wasn’t too long ago we were singing hymns about a silent night and a manger. We were decorating our homes with lights, going to choir concerts, buying presents, baking and watching our favorite TV shows and movies. If we listen closely we can still here the faint, distant echo of CHRISTmas bells and singing and laughter fading into the past.

Yes, here on Ash Wednesday things seem much darker and foreboding. The shadows seem longer and deeper, as if they are reaching out to us. The hymns have taken a turn toward a minor key. The subject of such hymns are sin, death and the devil. More to the point – this time of year we see and hear and even feel the purpose of that Baby born in Bethlehem – His death.

This time of year we reflect on the true Reason for the Season – our sin. We take time to dig deep into our souls and reveal what we don’t want to see – that we are sinners in need of a Savior – and we even have a dark smudge upon our foreheads this evening as a reminder.

During this Lenten season we will journey the Via Dolorosa – the path Jesus took to the Cross – and examine what Holy Scripture says regarding our sin and our salvation. We will at the same time examine Luther’s treasure given to the Church – his Small Catechism – and there we will discover a deeper and fuller understanding of GOD’S Word to us in the form of this small, yet significant book.

We begin by taking a look at our text for this evening. St. Luke writes in the book of Acts…

Now a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent man, competent in the Scriptures. 25 He had been instructed in the way of the Lord. And being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John.

Once again – just like this past Sunday – we take a look at a small word and discover that in this small word is a whole lot to be discovered. There in verse twenty-five we see the word instruction. Do you know what that word is in the original Greek? It is none other than the word Catechesis which means to instruct. Apollos had been catechized or instructed in the faith in Alexandria – which would be considered today an Ivy League education.

How was he catechized? Certainly through the very Word of GOD – where and when it was available. The Word of GOD supersedes all other writings and works and teachings. However, where other writings and works and teachings seek not to be above Sacred Scripture, but merely seek to flesh out the Word – these are considered helps and are a part of the catechesis process.

A sermon is catechetical. It is based in the Word but uses the pastor’s knowledge learned through seminary, experience and study of Holy Scripture, but also reading the works of others to help in understanding the very Word of GOD and be able to relate it to the flock.

Why is this so important? Because it shows us that a) catechesis was going on all the way back at the beginning of the Church, and b) it is important for Christians to be catechized. And no – it wasn’t Luther’s Catechism – but it was catechesis.

II.

Apollos needed to be instructed in the faith and so he was catechized – he was instructed. For what purpose was Apollos instructed? It’s twofold really.

One, it was for his own good. Apollos needed to be catechized so that he understood what it was he believed. And then when he shows up in Ephesus – this learned man from Alexandria – he needed even more instruction – more catechesis. He needed to understand it.

Does this mean NOW he knew everything there was to know about GOD and knew it perfectly? Of course not. When handed a math book in third grade, is it expected of you to understand Quantum Theory? Of course not. Nevertheless Apollos was instructed – he was catechized – to understand and know the faith to make him a more learned Christian.

The second purpose for Apollos catechization was so that he could tell others what he knew. It’s important that all Christians know their faith – not just for themselves – but for others too. This is a part of the Great Commission when Jesus tells the disciples to go into all of the world baptizing in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit AND don’t forget the rest of the commission - teaching them all that I have commanded you.

So it is important – not just for kids age 12 -14, but ALL PEOPLE – to be catechized and continue in catechesis throughout their lives. And that means you too. And that means me too.

When I was at Seminary my academic advisory Dr. Quill told me that I should never call the place where I park my desk – at the church or at home – my office. Never call it an office – it’s a study. Why? Because even though you have a master’s degree in theology and even though you will be ordained and be a pastor – you will never stop studying the Word – it will be a pursuit and endeavor and hard work for the rest of your life. And so it is for me and so it is for you.

We need to study the Word and use the gifts we are given like Luther’s Small Catechism to keep us sharply honed theological tools ready to give the answer to our faith – Jesus died a sinner’s death not for Himself but for me and for you. All so we might go to Heaven to be with Him for all eternity. This is the free gift of GOD – His grace to us.

Thanks be to GOD for His Word and thanks be to GOD for tools like the Catechism to help us understand our sin and our crucified Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.  

Peace of the LORD – which surpasses all understanding – will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus our LORD.  Amen.

 

+ Soli Deo Gloria +