Tag: Sermon (Page 1 of 11)

There is a lot in Scripture that is difficult to accept; difficult to believe. There is a lot that is at odds with what our reason or what our society says. There is a lot of difference between what God’s heart tells us as shared in His Word and what our own hearts tell us.

Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God.

Hebrews 3:12

As Shakespeare put it, “there’s the rub!”We seem to constantly be comparing the two – God’s way or ours. God’s Word or ours. God’s heart or ours.

And with any seeming “win” we think we have in these situations there is something else which accompanies it – the path toward evil; toward destruction; toward death.Having a heart that believes God in one thing but denies in anther is grossly inconsistent, spiritually dangerous, and disastrously foolish.

Yet we seem comfortable – even desirable – of that dichotomy.
Brothers and sisters, this must not be!

When there is a difference between God and us – our heart and His, His must win! Always! In every area!

It’s ok to feel and know there is tension between the two, but when it comes down to it, God calls on us to have a heart that fully fears, loves, and trusts in Him regardless of how we feel about it. He calls us to follow His will and directions, even when they conflict with what we think it best. He calls us to have a heart that believes in His love and salvation in Jesus over and against anything else that we may believe.

And here’s something beautiful: He knows that we have a hard time with this, so what He demand of our heart, He freely gives! Through the Holy Spirit, our hearts are turned to Him in faith; turned to Jesus in salvation; turned to Him in obedience.

We will continue to have doubting hearts at times. There will continue to be tension at times, and God knows that. But in those times of uncertainly and doubt; those times of a difference in our hearts, look to Jesus on the cross and to the empty tomb and believe! Take the next steps in faith through the Holy Spirit, even in the doubt. Live in the believing heart of faith He gives and strengthens us with constantly!

Acknowledge the tension but move forward with a believing heart in faith. In Jesus’ name, Amen!

Scriptures

• Hebrews 3:12-19
• Mark 10:17-22

“Whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” Mark 10:15

I think sometimes we equate that with entering with tantrums, trying to get our way, and have everything the way we want! We mistake child-like with childish.

Of coure that’s not what’s meant.

Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.

Mark 10:15

It means loving God in a way that He is the center of our universe and where, in our eyes, He can do no wrong. It means trusting God, knowing He will take care of us no matter what, forever. It means fearing and respecting Him, knowing He is God and we are not and that, no matter what, His way will always prevail.

When we take our faith in a childish way instead of child-like, we expect things to revolve around us and not God.

One of the ways we do this is in how we plan and deal with our “legacy.” How will I be celebrated when I pass? How will I be remembered? How will my name – how will I live on?

How foolish! How juvenile! How childish!

What people do to “celebrate us” after we pass is fleeting. Whether or not people remember us is irrelevant. Whether or not our name ‘lives’ on is ridiculous.

Whether or not people celebrate Jesus’ victory over sin, death, and the devil is what endures. Whether or not people remember Jesus is what is all relevant! Whether we do all we can to let people know that Jesus and His name alone lives is what is all important!

Our whole goal in life and death should be knowing, living, and sharing Jesus! He should be our focus in legacy.

And the beautiful thing is, through faith in Him, we already have the best, everlasting, beautiful legacy we could imagine – Heaven with Him! He makes our lives here worth living and our lives hereafter guaranteed!

Why do we need people to celebrate us when the angels celebrate our repentance and return to Him? Why do we want or need others to remember us when God does? Why do we need our names written large on tombstones or buildings when they are already written on the palm of His hand?

Through faith in Jesus, we already have the perfect legacy for all time – Jesus! Celebrate, remember, and share Him, with a child-like, and enduring faith!

“We thank You, Lord, for the perfect, lasting gift of Jesus, who has forgiven our sins and given us His name as a guarantee of the legacy of Heaven that awaits! Grant us Your Spirit to celebrate, live and share Him so their everlasting legacy is secured, too. In Jesus’ name, Amen!”

Scriptures

• Mark 10:13-16
• Psalm 128

There are usually two extremes when thinking about our sin. We either think it is too great for God to forgive (it’s not) or we think too little of it and justify it, knowing it’s forgiven anyway.

Just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification.

Romans 6:19bc

I suspect we normally fall into the latter camp of thinking.

We usually think too little of our sins, or think of them as too little. We minimize them. We excuse them. And we keep engaging in them.

Jesus tells us in Matthew that if a hand or foot or eye causes us to sin, we should cut it off.

That sounds pretty serious!

He says that is we temp others into sin, it would be better to be drowned in the depth of the sea.

That sounds pretty serious!

Yet we usually gloss over those words and get right to forgiveness. Right to mercy. Right to the Gospel.

‘Let’s not dwell on the sins,’ we seem to be saying. ‘Give us the Gospel and forgiveness and let me move on (and keep on sinning).’

Certainly there is forgiveness through faith in Jesus. That is beyond dispute and should never be minimized. Yet if we belittle the sacrifice of Jesus in accomplishing our forgiveness, we belittle the true measure of Grace we are really receiving.

We constantly seem to live in our old ways, presenting our bodies for ‘impurity’ and ‘lawlessness.’ But that should not be!

We need to humbly ourselves like a child; truly repent in sorrow of our hearts, doing all we can to change our ways from this time forward with the help and guidance of the Holy Spirit; and then in His mercy and grace, joyfully stand up in His forgiveness to new life and new living!

If our actions don’t change, our heart probably hasn’t either. If our heart hasn’t changed, our faith is either stagnant or diminishing. If our faith is stagnant or diminishing, we are in danger of heading to a time when we lose it altogether.

Take your sins seriously. God does. Move to amend your sinful ways. God will help you. But do not lose faith or hope. Rather, take even more seriously God’s grace through faith in Jesus.

“The wages of sin is death. But the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord!” (Romans 6:23).

“Lord, forgive. Lord, help. Thank You in Jesus, my Savior. Amen.”

Scriptures

• Matthew 18:1-10
• Romans 5:20–21
• Romans 6:19, 23

There is a lot to unpack in today’s reading, and we can’t and won’t cover all of it. But the basics go something like this: our hearts go after and desire all kinds of things to fulfill our passions and glory to satisfy our pride.

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

James 4:7-8

Our hearts are far from God, even through His heart is with us.

He is jealous for us. That’s why Jesus came, suffered, dies, and rose; so that we could be with Him forever. Yet for reasons beyond comprehension, that isn’t enough for us. We want more. We want to satisfy our ‘bitter jealousy,’ ‘selfish ambition,’ and ‘passions’ instead of being utterly and completely devoted to and desiring of Him.

How foolish!

We need to repent! We need to “mourn and weep.” We need to return to Him in humility and with a new, clean heart. We need to “draw near to God,” desiring Him only and let the rest fall away.

That is impossible for us on our own, but it is so much easier when we see His heart seeks us out; His life given for ours; His love shown through acts of sacrifice. His heart is with us! He has already drawn near to ours – and He wants ours to draw near to Him! When we repent, turn, and draw near to Him, we see Him closer and more satisfying of all our wants and needs than we ever thought possible!

“Forgive us, Lord, for hearts that haven’t desired or sought You. Break us and turn us back to You and let all other things fall away. Move us to draw near to You in everything at all times and, in so doing, see You, Your heart, Your love, and Your mercy, through Jesus! In His precious name, amen!”

Scriptures

• James 3:113-18
• James 4:1-10
• Jeremiah 29:13

“Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me.”

Such goes the common saying.

But we know that’s not true. At all.

Words constantly hurt, in many ways.

I’m not saying we should be delicate and offended by what everyone says, but I am saying that words matter. They have meaning even beyond just what is said. They bear weight. They have lasting significance and standing.

No human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

James 3:8

Our Scripture for today says that if a person does not stumble in what they say, they are perfect and that no one can tame the tongue. It reminds us that what we say stains our body and sets the course of life on fire.

That is powerful!

And scary.

And condemning.

“With [our tongues] we bless [God] and…curse people…made in [God’s image.”

That truth should disgust us and convict us.

We are held to a higher standard in what we say, how we say it, and to whom we say it. We should be lifting people up and pointing them to Jesus, not tearing them down, belittling them, and condemning them.

But it actually goes further than this.

Scripture likens calling others “fools” to breaking the commandment on murder and puts in danger of hell!

Wow!

The solution? Setting our hearts on Jesus and keep our words those of praise, of thanksgiving, of edification, of glory! Singing songs of praise with our hearts and lips! Letting the Holy Spirit dwelling in our hearts be expressed in our words and letting the rest wither and die.

This is not possible by us. It is only possible by, in, and through God! Left to ourselves, we will continue to slip – in heart and tongue. But living out the indwelling Lord, both will edify and uplift!

Jesus has died for our sins – all of them, including those of our imperfect tongues. May we take His forgiveness to heart, sing His praise, and lift others up in our actions and words all our days!

Scriptures

• James 3:1-12
• Matthew 5:21-22
• Isaiah 50:4-10
• Psalm 116:1-9 (Confession and Absolution)

Jesus essentially called a woman a “dog,” and she didn’t disagree!

She answered [Jesus], “Yes, Lord; yet even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.”

Mark 7:28

Wow!

Unfortunately, that’s focus for many in today’s reading.

But what most miss is the incredible faith of this woman – acknowledged and praised by Jesus, and the healing of her little daughter!

The Matthian account adds that Jesus said, “O woman, great is your faith!”

Jesus came first and foremost to the lost of Israel. That wasn’t this woman – or us! We are like the dogs in this story, too!

Yet what the woman received was the same thing Israel received; the same thing we receive – the Grace of God! Even crumbs of His grace is more than sufficient for us and our salvation!

There are some forms that ask for race or ethnicity. Sometimes I just put “European Mutt” to throw them off. But mutts are faithful and lovable (like me?)!

I don’t mind being a dog like the woman in today’s story. In fact, I relish even the crumbs of Grace God lets me have every day! Through faith, those crumbs are all I will ever need to supply what I need here and for life everlasting! His grace and mercy are that overflowing; that amazing; that salvific; that living!

Today we have a baptism, too. Like all baptisms, it matters not how much water is there; whether a trickle or an immersion. However much is used – like crumbs – is more than enough for all of God’s salvation Grace to cover us for life everlasting!

“Gracious Lord, thank You for Your amazing Grace shown to us each and every day; whether they be crumbs or an overflowing of baptismal waters! Grant us the desire for You all our days! In Jesus’ Name. Amen.”

Scriptures

• Mark 7:24-30
• Psalm 146

“The things that come out of a person are what defile him.” (Mark 7:15)

That’s what Jesus said. And, boy, do a lot of defiled things come out of us!

The things that come out of a person are what defile him.

Mark 7:15

There is a phrase that was popular when I studies programming many moons ago: “GIGO!” It stands for “Garbage in. Garbage out.” If you aren’t careful with the inputs, your outputs will be of no use.

We certainly need to be cautious of what we take in: what we watch, persons we hang around with, things we read, and the like. They affect us. But it is what comes from us that is a reflection, not only of what we take in externally, but the sate of our hearts and mind, too; and those are affected most of all by how closely they are aligned with Jesus and the Scriptures.

If our heart and mind are defiled, we will output defilement, and desire to take in more defiled things! It is a vicious circle.

And the way to stop it? We need a new heart and mind. Cleansed. Focused on Him. Desiring and spewing forth His grace, His forgiveness, His righteousness, His mercy; Him!

And we can’t change our hearts and minds. We need God to do it for us. To rid us of the filth and vileness that stains and defines us and exchanged for a heart and mind that eagerly desires and pursues His heart; His mind; His will; His ways!

“Create in us a clean heart, O God, and renew a right Spirit within us. Grant that we are so desiring of You we take in that which is good, right, and proper, and radiate out all that is holy, and just, and true! In Jesus’ Name. Amen!”

Scriptures

• Psalm 51:1-12
• Mark 7:14-23

Last week we discussed serving the LORD, not just with words, but with actions; based on His Word and will.

This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me; in vain do they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.

Mark 7:6b,7

This week has a similar message.

In our reading from Mark, Jesus chastises the Pharisees who were placing their traditions and rules over those of God’s. He quotes from Isaiah, showing the issue to be an old and oft-repeated one.

One thing that is not said, however (but often implied), is that Jesus doesn’t tell the people to ignore honoring Him with their lips. He wanted to make sure they know that their hearts were more important.

When God has our hearts, our lips of praise will follow!

We should always be away of doing something just because of tradition, or expediency, or desire. How do our actions reflect our hearts and draw us closer to Him? How can our lips better express our love and praise of God because our hearts love and service Him at their very core? How can we better honor God with our lips because, through faith and forgiveness, He already has our heart forever?

If we truly know the heart of God for us, reflected in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, how can we not want Him, with every fiber of our being, to have our hearts and lips of praise in everything?!

“Lord Jesus, we praise and thank You for Your salvation through death and resurrection. We lift You up in praise and thanksgiving with our hearts and lips – always! Amen!”

Scriptures

• Mark 7:1-13

There are many more who say they are Christians than actually are. There are many who say they believe, say they love God, say they will obey Him, say they want to live as He says to in Scripture; many more who say than do.

“Now therefore fear the LORD and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness…And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve…But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”

Joshua 24:14a, 15a-b,e

This, of course, is not new. Joshua saw this when he was dealing with the Israelites. They said they believed the LORD, but their actions belied their true beliefs. Many who said they would worship Him only, but they ended up serving other gods. Many who said the right things but did the wrong ones.

They offered lip service, not heart service.

They ‘talked-the-talk,’ but didn’t ‘walk the walk.’

They were foolish.

We see this is our day and age, too. Many who claim to follow Jesus, but denigrate others. Many who say they believe but engage in sexual immorality. Many who lift the Name of Jesus one minutes but curse by that same Name the next. Many who say they want to follow God’s ways laid out in the Bible, but take the time to even know what it says.

The Epistle tells us not to “walk as unwise but as wise” and “not to be “foolish.”

We should not repeat the mistakes of the past – or of our past!

It is time to get into His Word – and live it! It is time to put away what we feel and want and do what He says! It is time to put away our idols and choose to follow Him only!

Of course we won’t do that perfectly. Of course we will sometimes make the wrong choices. Of course we will sin.

But we should put away the laissez-faire attitude of following Him; not because it earns us salvation, but because through faith in Him we have salvation through His perfect fulfillment!

We are free to serve Him and not ourselves; not idols. We are free to follow Him even though we will mess up!

God has chosen us in Jesus! Respond in thanks, choosing to follow Him, not just in talk, but in joyful action!

Scriptures

• Joshua 24:1-2, 14-18
• Ephesians 5:6-17

Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!

Psalm 34:8

The Old Testament lesson for today is the middle part of one of my favorite stories in Scripture.

Elijah has just proved in magnificent fashion that Yahweh is the true God and that Baal is false and following that Divine exhibition, the evil Jezebel, wife of King Ahab, threatens Elijah, and he runs far away.

God has just proved Himself to the people and His faithful servant is now afraid of a threat by a mere mortal enemy!

Quite pathetic, really.

Yet we act the same way!

Through Jesus’ victory over sin, death, and the devil himself, we have victory! Complete victory! Unqualified victory! Everlasting victory!

Through faith in Jesus, we can take comfort that our enemies are defeated and any pain they inflict are temporary.

We need not every worry or fear, for our refuge is in the Almighty; the Eternal; the God of gods and Lord of lords! We can face all challenges, all heartaches, all combats as ones already settled and taken care of by God through faith in His Son!

“Thank You, Lord, for defeating all our enemies in and through Jesus! Our eternal refuge is in You!”

Scriptures

• 1 Kings 19:1-8
• Psalm 34:1-8

“The whole congregation of the people…grumbled against Moses and Aaron.”

When the people of Israel saw it, they said to one another, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. And Moses said to them, “It is the bread that the Lord has given you to eat.

Exodus 16:15 (ESV)

Ah, the Israelites! Let us shake our head in disbelief. Constantly seeing God’s grace, provision, and providence and yet, time and again, questioning, rebelling, and grumbling!

It’s it great that we aren’t like that at all!

Of course, we are like that – all the time.

In our text, God has just brought the people of Israel out of Egypt, the land of their slavery for 400 years, with a mighty hand and outstretched arm. They saw miracle after miracle of God’s protection and deliverance. And yet…they rebel and grumble! Today’s gripe? Food.

They complain that they preferred being slaves with full bellies than freedom as God’s people with His provisions.

Ugh!

But God continues to provide through it all! In our reading, He provides “manna,” what the Israelites originally asked, “what is it?”

Granted, not the most diverse diet for their forty years, but they would not go hungry! God provided what was needed (even if it wasn’t what they wanted).

There are many jokes made about the taste (or lack thereof) of the wafers in Holy Communion. They have been compared to “styrofoam” or “cardboard.”

Clearly, not “Taste of Texas!”

But what is received is far more important! Far more satisfying! Far more sustaining!

The Israelites received bread that sustained their lives and focused them on God.

In Holy Communion, we received bread joining with God in Jesus that not only sustains our lives here, but forgives our sins and gives us a foretaste of Heaven itself!

“What is it?”

Glorious!

“We thank You, Lord, for the Heavenly food of Holy Communion, where we receive and know that You are God! Grant us graciousness, not grumbling, for all Your miracles of grace through Jesus, Your Son, our Lord!”

Scriptures

• Exodus 16:2-15
• Psalm 145:10-21