Pentecost 2 [series A] - preached June 22,2014 @ Emmaus Lutheran Church

Sermon Text:      Matthew 10:5a, 21-33

Title:           “Who’s the Head of Your House?”

I.        To make Satan the head of your house means death.

II.       To make Jesus the head of your house means life.

THROUGH THE GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, YOU HAVE REMAINED FAITHFUL AND NOW ENTER YOUR HEAVENLY HOME

In the name of the Father and the Son + and 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 2nd Sunday after Pentecost, is taken from the Gospel lesson.

 

 

These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them…“²¹ Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death, ²² and you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. ²³ When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next, for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.

²⁴ “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant^[e] above his master. ²⁵ It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign^[f] those of his household.
²⁶ “So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. ²⁷ What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. ²⁸ And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.^{[g] 29} Are not two sparrows sold for a penny?^[h] And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. ³⁰ But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. ³¹ Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. ³² So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, ³³ but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.

 

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

I.

In our text today Jesus says…

A student is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. 

Jesus is saying here that a student or disciple believes, teaches and confesses that which his teacher believes, teaches and confesses.  So it is also with the slave, for a slave is owned by the master and will do the master’s will – not his own. One theologian puts it this way, “Neither disciple nor slave is above his teacher or master. If he ceases to believe, teach or confess as does his teacher or if he substitutes his own will for that of his master, he ceases to be disciple and slave.” (Buls’ Notes).

Then Jesus says…

It is enough for the student to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master.

In other words – it’s ok for disciple and servant to be like teacher and master and to share in their lot in life.

Then Jesus says…

If the head of the house has been called Beelzebub, how much more the members of his household!

Here’s where the Law starts to make us feel uncomfortable. Jesus is saying if the head of the house is called Satan, then it follows that those who are of the same house as the head of the house will follow suit. Makes sense and at the same time scares the dickens out of us.

Why? Well – because as we take a good, long, hard look at ourselves, we see that we seem to set Satan up as the head of our household many times don’t we? Throughout the days of our lives we are continually setting our will before the will of the LORD.

I want to do what I want to do. I want to sleep in on Sundays. I want to give less to church. I want to say no when asked to serve at the church. I want to drink until I get drunk. I want to scream at my spouse and kids. I want to be lazy at work. And the list goes on and on and on doesn’t it? And if I’ve missed your particular sin, feel free to add it to the list in your mind. 

For none of us sitting here today can escape the accusations of the Law. None of us can look at the Law and honestly say, “Nope, didn’t break any of these.” Not one of us can say, “Holy Scripture isn’t talking about me when it speaks of the sins of man.”

No – not one of us standing on our own merits and worthiness can stand before the Law pure and Holy. Instead we stand accused, tried and convicted of breaking not just one of these, but all of them millions of times over, and in fact we were conceived in this condition.  There hasn’t been one millisecond in our life – even in our mothers’ womb – where we weren’t guilty of the charges leveled against us.  This is our condition – guilty and awaiting the executioner’s axe.

II.

And even though there is seemingly nothing to save us from this verdict and sentence – in steps our Savior – Jesus. He climbs the steps of the gallows He lifts you off of your knees and leads you away from the chopping block and then He goes back and kneels in your place. He is guilty of none of what you have been accused. He is spotless and perfect – without defect. He deserves none of this – and yet there He is ready to take the punishment – your punishment. He is ready to die.  And so He does.

The Father looks at you in your rags and the filth of your sin and He cuts your bonds holding your hands behind your back. You are no longer a prisoner bound by the shackles of sin. He embraces you and calls you child. Your Father washes the dirt from your soul with the waters and the Word of Holy Baptism. He gives you His Holy Spirit – so that you may call Jesus LORD. Your Father gives you something to eat and drink to nourish you – the very Body and Blood of His Son Jesus. He stands ready to clothe you in the white robe of Jesus’ righteousness – which is now yours through faith! 

And you stand in utter awe and disbelief. You say to yourself, “How can this be?”  You look at your hands and wrists. Gone are the biting, red, swollen marks. Gone are the rags. Gone is the dirt and filth. You stand before the LORD washed, fed – perfect. You stand in hope. You know it wasn’t your doing but that of Jesus – the One who went to the gallows in your place – for there is nothing you could have done to accomplish this. And now your risen LORD Jesus Christ stands there ready to welcome you into the Kingdom of Heaven.  For you have – through the gift and peculiar work of the Holy Spirit – remained faithful.

In Christ Jesus and His work on the Cross – you have – through the power of the Holy Spirit – made Jesus the head of your house! And now are welcomed by Him to enter your heavenly home, forever and ever. Amen.

The peace of the LORD which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.  Amen.        

 

+ Soli Deo Gloria +

Holy Trinity Sunday [Series A] - preached June 15, 2014 @ Emmaus Lutheran Church Indianapolis, IN

Sermon Text:      Matthew 28:16-20

Title:          GO!

I.        Jesus says to His disciples GO!

II.       Jesus says to Emmaus GO!

WE HAVE THE GREAT NEWS OF SALVATION TO SHARE WITH OUR PART OF HIS HOLY VINEYARD - FOUNTAIN SQUARE!

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 text for the homily for this Holy Trinity Sunday, is taken from the today’s Gospel lesson…

16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

 

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

I.

Ever been told to do something that you didn’t want to do? When you were a kid? As an adult? Sure you have. In fact some of you may be here this morning against your own wishes!

We are told lots of times to do things. Clean up your room! Take out the trash! Get your feet off of the furniture! And these are just what is said to us Dads!

Perhaps it’s a bit more serious than that. Go tell your teacher that you cheated on that test! Go tell your Mom or Dad that you lied about where you were last night! Go tell your boss that you’ve been stealing from the supply cabinet at work. Go tell your pastor why you haven’t been in church lately!

All of these are of a much more serious nature aren’t they? All of them have consequences don’t they? All of them are going to get us into trouble.

Yet – they are what we need to do. They are what is necessary. Each one is filled with dread and the not wanting to do it – but if we are honest with ourselves we know in our hearts that we have to do it – regardless of the outcome.

In our text today Jesus stands before His disciples giving them such a command. He tells them to GO! BAPTIZE! TEACH!

At first you might think, ‘That’s nothing!’ Telling my Mom or Dad that I wrecked my car or telling my boss I’ve lied about being sick – again, those are hard to do. Talking to people about Jesus, sprinkling some water on their heads – bah, that’s easy!

But 43 days prior to this moment with Jesus they had a very gory, bloody, real example of what happens to someone who preaches and teaches the Kingdom of GOD in Christ Jesus – Jesus Himself hanging on a bloody cross. Flesh tattered and torn, bruises, swollen eyes, hair ripped out, open bleeding wounds all over His body – and you want me to go into this hostile, evil world to do that? NO!

II.

Here at Emmaus we have a similar – no – we have the exact same charge of GO! BAPTIZE! TEACH!

The disciples were given an entire world to go to. We here at Emmaus – although we do things with our district and synod and maybe even individually for missionaries and worldly evangelism – we have a smaller area given to us to cover.

Right here on the corner of Laurel and Orange – in the heart of Fountain Square – IS THE KINGDOM! Right here on our little corner is one small spot in the Vineyard. Right here is our command – just like the disciples.

And although we are small and seemingly insignificant – we are hugely important for the Kingdom!

We have been given the task of carrying out the mission of the Church on this small forgotten corner in a large city – to proclaim Jesus Christ – the very Son of GOD – as the Savior of the world! We have been given the honor and the privilege of telling people that there is a way out of their desperation and despair and loneliness and guilt and fear and hate and sin – and it can be found in Jesus Christ and it can be found right here at this small corner in Fountain Square – it can be found at Emmaus!

How can we say such things? Because we have been where others are. We have felt all of those feelings of abandonment and shame and agony. And to be honest – in a sin-filled world – we still do at times, even as the saved in Christ. Why? Because we take our eyes off of the Cross of Jesus. And others? They don't even know the Cross is there.

But we have a power that goes beyond what this world can dish out, a power that fills us with hope and love and kindness and comfort and faith – we have the Holy Spirit! Sent from heaven to help us through this treacherous, hard-knock life – the Holy Spirit fills us with the Light of forgiveness and salvation, faith, hope and love.

And the greatest thing about all of that wonderful stuff? We get to share it! We don’t have to look at it as a chore, but as a blessing! It’s not a have to, but a get to! We actually get to TELL people about Jesus and His life saving sacrifice on the Cross!

We have a vast amount of potential and opportunity here at Emmaus Lutheran Church and School – even after 111 years – they are still there. And by they I mean the need and the seed. People need to know Jesus Christ. And we have the seed – the Word and the Light and the Love and the Faith that is Jesus Christ. And all we have to do is what Jesus tells the disciples – go. And thanks be to GOD for the Planting Gospel Seeds While Serving Human Needs program we just went through. This is a great and wonderful way to do the GO!

We were planted here 111 years ago to serve this neighborhood. It still needs serving. To quote and add to a movie from my teenage years – this neighborhood has the need for seed! This is our great work entrusted to us by the LORD – to reach His people with the Gospel Seed in Fountain Square. May GOD grant it! Amen.

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

 

+ Soli Deo Gloria +