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 +
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