September 21-23, 2024 Pastor Timothy J. Spaude Text: Mark 9: 30-37 “WHO IS GOD’S G.O.A.T?”

 

PENTECOST 18

September 21-23, 2024

Pastor Timothy J. Spaude

Text: Mark 9: 30-37

 

“WHO IS GOD’S G.O.A.T?”

1.     The Lamb!

2.     Followed by the sheep.

 

Who is the greatest? The question is not new. In centuries past pharaohs and emperors and kings wanted to be known as the greatest ruler that ever lived. In our times that debate has been held almost exclusively in the sports arena. Muhammed Ali proclaimed himself the greatest. In sports everyone wants to be the GOAT, the Greatest Of All Time. Who is the GOAT, the greatest of all time for NFL quarterbacks? Is it Tom Brady or will he be surpassed by Patrick Mahomes? The word of God from the Gospel of Mark deals with the issue of greatness. In it we see one who really is the greatest of all time and some who want to be. Some questions need to be answered. Just what is it that makes someone great? Who gets to determine what makes someone great? Do you want to be great?

Last week Pastor Langebartels told us of a time when Jesus cast a demon out of a young boy. It was shortly after Jesus had taken three of His disciples, Peter, James and John to witness His transfiguration. The time is nearing for Jesus to complete His earthly mission with His sacrifice on the cross and resurrection from the dead. He doesn’t want to attract crowds at this time. He wants to teach His disciples privately and so Mark tells us, “They went on from there and passed through Galilee. He did not want anyone to know this, ³¹because he was teaching his disciples. He told them, “The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men, and they will kill him. But three days after he is killed, he will rise.” ³²But they did not understand the statement and were afraid to ask him about it.”

          Here we get an answer to one of our questions. What is it that makes someone great? Humble service to others. This is not the first time that Jesus spoke plainly to His disciples about the real nature of His mission. This is not the first time that the disciples remained clueless even though Jesus told them plainly. Jesus’ determination to carry out His mission as Savior shows He is the GOAT! He is the greatest of all time. Even though He is King of kings and LORD of lords, the maker and sustainer of all things, the Holy, Holy, Holy, I AM he humbles Himself to become man. He allows Himself to be betrayed and crucified. Why? It’s what people needed. A solution to the problem of sin. The only way God can remain just and punish sin without punishing the sinners is for Jesus to come and be the perfect substitute, the Lamb of God who will take away the sin of the world. He did. Jesus is God’s G.O.A.T. because the real measure of greatness is not how many points you score or who much money you have or how much land you control. It’s the number of people you serve humbly, without expecting anything in return. Jesus served all. The Lamb of God is God’s GOAT.

Who gets to determine what makes someone great? The word goes on. “They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the way?” ³⁴But they remained silent, because on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest.  ³⁵Jesus sat down, called the Twelve, and said to them, “If anyone wants to be first, he will be the last of all and the servant of all.” ³⁶Then he took a little child and placed him in their midst. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them, ³⁷“Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me. And whoever welcomes me, welcomes not just me but also him who sent me.” Jesus’ disciples wanted to be considered great. I guess we can take a little bit of comfort, some schadenfreude, that those who got to follow Jesus in the flesh still were thick in the head, had misplaced priorities and got right things so wrong just like we do. It is shameful, though, when grown children of God act like spoiled little kids. The disciples were arguing about which one of them was the greatest among them all. From their shamed silence it’s not hard to guess what standards they were using and how they were acting. Peter says, “I am the greatest! Jesus let me see Him transfigured.” “You’re not so special,” says James and John, “he took us too!” “I’m the one He trusts with our money,” says Judas. “I’m better than you.” Like little boys on the playground they went back and forth arguing, embellishing, trying to make their pitiful little accomplishments bigger than they were because the standard of greatness they were using was wrong. They used the world’s way, power, prestige, money.

But the world does not get to establish what makes a person great. Oh, it tries. It will list the Forbes most wealthy, and Time’s person of the year. The sports world has developed their own awards for their own people picked by themselves, just like the entertainment world has done the same, Emmys, Oscars, Golden Globes, Tonies. Seriously. How many do they need to boost their fragile egos? I’ve offered before, but no one has taken me up on it. I’ll host The Platinum Preacher award, an award developed by pastors for pastors awarded to the pastor whose golden tongued delivery can keep the most people awake. Foolishness. For the followers of Christ there is only one whose standard matters. Jesus. He gets to tell us what makes a person great. And He has. Humble service. Serving the needs of others without expecting something in return like little children who are by very nature takers, not givers, and in no position to repay us. This is what makes a person great in the eyes of our Lord. Humble service. Humility. Not thinking less of yourself or poorly of yourself. You dare not. God made each of you fearfully, wonderfully and well. Rather thinking more of the needs of others. Service, trying to meet those needs.

So do you still want to be great, great in the eyes of God’s GOAT? Jesus’ disciples had to wrestle with that question after He sat them down. And from their history recorded in the Acts of the Apostles, every one but Judas said, “Yes. I desire your approval Lord, more than anyone else’s.” What’s your answer? How will you pattern your life? Jesus, the Lamb of God, the GOAT, is our leader. He’s perfect at it. How is our following? When I was a child I wanted to be great at what I did. I was really good at ping pong. I won every grade school tournament I entered. Got some really cool plastic trophies. I even held on to them when Chris and I got married. I’m sure she didn’t roll her eyes. They are all gone, broken trashed. Didn’t mean anything anymore once I matured. I understand now that when I meet my Lord Jesus He is not going to ask me how many ping pong tournaments I won, but rather if I took care of His sheep and His lambs. And after I give report I just want to hear Him say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
          Will you join me brothers and sisters, and seek to serve rather than be served? Will you do so for the joy of serving the Lamb who has served you so well? This weekend we as a congregation will thank some of those who have served us in this past year. But winning our thanks not why they served. They saw a need and filled it. You can too, through faithful praying, words and acts of kindness to neighbors or those who live in your senior living center, giving rides to church. A special appeal to you parents to serve your kids. What they need is their heart tied to Jesus. I want you to think about how zealous you are in getting your kids to every sports practice and game and musical practice and concert and every other extra they are in. That’s great if you can make it work without stressing the family. The honest truth is none of them are going to make it to the pros. But they will make it to Hell if their faith in Jesus is not fed. They need you reading Bible stories and devotions at home. They need you to get them to church. Do you want to be great? Serve the needs of a child. “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me. And whoever welcomes me, welcomes not just me but also him who sent me.” So says the Lamb, God’s GOAT. You are His sheep. Will you follow? Amen.

August 10-12, 2024 Pastor Timothy J. Spaude Text: Exodus 16:15-31 “GOD’S WORK, GOD’S WAY!

 

PENTECOST 12

August 10-12, 2024

Pastor Timothy J. Spaude

Text: Exodus 16:15-31

 

“GOD’S WORK, GOD’S WAY!

 

This weekend we are installing teachers for this coming school year. It’s important that teachers know how students learn. One way that people learn is to go from the lesser to the greater. You show how something is true for something small and easy to grasp to teach how something is true for something that is bigger and harder to grasp. God knows how people learn and Het taught that way. In the book of Hebrews, the Holy Spirit had these words written, “For every house is built by someone, and God is the one who built everything.” He teaches from the lesser to the greater. Everyone admits to the truth that if a house exists, someone built it. So the greater is true. The universe has to have a builder, and that builder is God. That’s why God calls those who say there is no God, fools. They are ignoring obvious truth. Another way to teach is to use something simple and visible to teach about something you can’t see. God does that too. Think of Baptism. He has us use water. It’s everywhere and necessary. What do we mostly use water for? To clean and sustain life. So if we think about it, every time we wash dirty dishes or dirty hands or enjoy that cold glass of water on a hot, humid summer day it can teach us that our Baptism that connects us to Jesus washes and cleans dirty sinners and gives spiritual life.

          A similar thing was done by God for the Old Testament people and us with the sending of manna. You heard about it in our first reading. In Hebrew “What is it?” sounds like “manuh, manuh?” Manna, bread from heaven. A quick catch up on the background. God had rescued the Israelites from slavery in Egypt with the miraculous plagues. Now they were wandering the wilderness. They grumbled and complained that God had rescued them because they had no more food. These former slaves had a lot of learning to do, most of it spiritual, to trust in the Lord with all their heart and lean not on their own understanding. Instead of punishing the Israelites for their lack of trust God graciously provided manna, bread from heaven that had a honey taste to it. There were specific instructions that came with this food from the Lord. “This is what the Lord has commanded: All of them are to gather as much of it as they need to eat”…and “No one is to leave any of it until morning.” 

          God was teaching. God’s work must be done God’s way! Trust God. He will provide for you. Daily bread. Now if they would follow their own understanding they would gather as much food as they could. “What if it didn’t come the next day? Better to store up plenty for yourself. God’s way doesn’t make sense.” Let’s see how that worked for them. “However, they did not listen to Moses. Some of them left part of it until morning, and it became full of worms and stank.” Ooh, gross! Maggots. Smell! It does not turn out well when God’s people trust in themselves with all their heart and lean not on the Lord who loves them.

          Then God switched things up. “They gathered it each morning. All of them gathered as much as they needed to eat. When the sun grew hot, it melted away. ²²On the sixth day they gathered twice as much food, two omers for each person, and all the leaders of the community came and reported to Moses. ²³He said to them, “This is what the Lord has said: Tomorrow is a complete rest, a holy sabbath to the Lord. Bake what you want to bake, and boil what you want to boil, but set aside for yourselves all the rest of it to be kept until morning.” ²⁴So they set it aside until morning as Moses commanded, and it did not stink, and there were no worms in it. ²⁵Moses said, “Today eat whatever is left over, for today is a sabbath to the Lord. Today you will not find any around the camp. ²⁶Six days you will gather it, but on the seventh day, the Sabbath, there will not be any.” Again, God was teaching them. He knew their needs. They needed rest for their bodies and rest for their souls. The seventh day would be a day to find rest from their regular physical work and to worship and find rest in God’s word. The manna they saved on the 6^th day would not rot. It’s just like Jesus told us, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you as well.” And what about those who didn’t listen? “On the seventh day some of the people went out to gather it, but they did not find any.” Students! They had to learn.

          So do we and God knows how we learn. From the lesser to the greater and from the visible to the blessings we can’t see. His lessons for Old Testament Israel are there to teach us just as Paul alluded to in his letter to the Corinthians. Let’s start with the lesser and the visible. We need food for our bodies. God provides. It’s His work. It must be done His way. If you can’t get a job or are unable to work, He will provide. Trust in Him and don’t lean on your own understanding. Trust Him when you are past your working years. He will provide. If we are able to work and can get a job in our working years, we should. And God will provide for us. If we don’t work, we shouldn’t expect to eat. It’s God’s work to provide for our physical needs and His people need to do that God’s way. The lesser and the visible are our physical needs.

          The greater and the blessings we can’t see are the spiritual ones. Once again, this is God’s work. Only He knows what we need spiritually. Only He can provide what we need spiritually. His work. And His way? Through the word! Specifically, through the Gospel messages that points us to all the blessings we have in Jesus. What we need is the forgiveness of our sins. What we need is the righteousness we lack. What we need is the ability to trust what God says. Only Jesus gives us this. The manna in the desert was a set up to point people to Jesus, the Bread of Life you heard about in the Gospel lesson. The way He chooses to be found is in His words and the Gospel of the Sacraments. How foolish the Israelites were who did not gather the manna God provided. How foolish they were to put physical needs above spiritual. And how much more foolish we are if we don’t use God’s word. How much more foolish we are not to gather for public worship one day a week. Because we know better than they did. We have their example to learn from. It’s God’s work. It must be done God’s way.

          And for you new teachers to St. Jacobi and teachers taking on new duties, remember that truth as a warning, and as a comfort.  St. Jacobi operates a school to proclaim the Gospel. That is the work God has given to us as a congregation. You have been called to do God’s work. It must be done God’s way. God’s way relies on the power of the Gospel in God’s Word. So, if you excel in teaching reading, writing and rithmatic but do not excel in feeding Jesus’ lambs, doing what you can to feed their faith and tie their hearts to Jesus, you are going to stink up God’s classroom, school and church. It will smell worse to God than rotting manna did to the Israelites. On the other hand, when you seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness in your classrooms, all the other things will be added to you as well. You will be able to sleep good every night you can say, “I gave them Jesus!” It’s God’s work, God’s way!

          For most students and teachers a new school year will begin soon. Every teacher’s goal, hope, prayer is that their students learn what is taught, grow and become productive members of their families, their communities. God’s goal for us is the same. Learn, grow and be productive with His work until He takes us to the glory of heaven. To that end may He bless His teaching and our learning. Amen.

 

 

Sept. 7-9. 2024 Pastor Timothy J. Spaude Text: Isaiah 35:3-7a “BE STRONG!”

 

PENTECOST 16

Sept. 7-9. 2024

Pastor Timothy J. Spaude

Text: Isaiah 35:3-7a

 

“BE STRONG!”

1.     The Lord has come to save you.

2.     The Lord will come to save you.

 

Isaiah 35:3-7 EHV “Strengthen the weak hands and make the shaky knees steady.
⁴ Tell those who have a fearful heart: Be strong. Do not be afraid. Look! Your God will come with vengeance. With God’s own retribution, he will come and save you.

⁵ Then the eyes of the blind will be opened, and the ears of the deaf will be unplugged. ⁶ The crippled will leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute will sing for joy. Waters will flow in the wilderness, and streams in the wasteland. ⁷ The burning sand will become a pool, and in the thirsty ground there will be springs of water.”

 

          Bad news. It comes into everyone’s lives. Our world is not just tainted by sin. It is ruined. And that means people, all people, even God’s people, will get bad news. The unexpected death of a loved one. A bad result on a medical test. Job loss or rejection. The car accident. Being cut from the team or left off the invitation list. Bad news. It’s all bad news. When God sent the prophet Isaiah to the people of Judah he delivered some bad news. Really bad news that would affect a whole nation of people. The people of Judah as a whole had forsaken God. They were worshipping idols of the nations that surrounded them. As a consequence God had Isaiah tell them that they would be conquered by the Babylonians, who lived in the area of modern day Iraq. Their land and homes would be given to foreigners. They would be forced to march into exile, a journey of over 700 miles, on foot. Small children. Pregnant women. Seniors. This was some really bad news. Now for the people who did not believe in God they likely did not care. But there were still people faithful to God in Judah. This bad news fell on their ears just like ours does on our ears. A punch to the stomach. Legs shake. The heart races. Sleep is hard to come by. They needed some Good News. That’s what they got!

          God had Isaiah tell them. “Strengthen the weak hands and make the shaky knees steady. ⁴ Tell those who have a fearful heart: Be strong. Do not be afraid. Look! Your God will come with vengeance. With God’s own retribution, he will come and save you.” “Buck up, little trooper. Don’t cry, it will get better. Hang in there. This too shall pass.” We have all kinds of nice little phrases that we use to encourage our children, our friends, ourselves. God’s phrase of encouragement is “Be strong!” Ours and God’s are meaningless though, if there is no reason, no power behind those encouragements. The encouragement Isaiah brought was backed with a reason and with power. God will come and save you.

          How could they be sure? I want you to notice something important about the way God works. Everything is tied to His Son Jesus. To put it another way, your salvation for life’s many problems is directly tied to your SALVATION from life’s biggest problem, sin. Did you catch that? For the Old Testament believers of Isaiah’s time when he talked about God coming to save them, he immediately followed with, “Then the eyes of the blind will be opened, and the ears of the deaf will be unplugged. ⁶ The crippled will leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute will sing for joy. Waters will flow in the wilderness, and streams in the wasteland. ⁷ The burning sand will become a pool, and in the thirsty ground there will be springs of water.” God had the people look ahead to a time when blind people would miraculously see. Deaf people would miraculously hear. People who were lame and unable to walk would immediately be able to walk and jump. People previously unable to speak would sing. It would be like a desert land suddenly having plenty of water blooming and growing and thriving. Do you know of a time when that happened? When someone opened the eyes of the blind, the ears of the deaf and the mouths of the mute, when paralyzed people were able to walk? Of course you do! Jesus did all of that. You heard one example in the Gospel lesson. There are many more. But Jesus did not make all the mute speak or all the blind see or all the lame walk. The purpose of those miracles was to demonstrate that He really was the promised Messiah and to gain opportunities to talk about why He really came, to be the Savior from sin for all people.

          When God came to save the people of Isaiah’s time from Babylon, that was a little salvation. It was God’s proof that their bigger SALVATION was coming, the Messiah, the Savior from sin. Jesus. We are on the other side of the Savior so it works for us in the other way. The fact that God sent Jesus who lived and died in our place, whose work accomplished our SALVATION is His proof for the little salvations we need for the bad news that will inevitably come our way living in a sin ruined world. We can “Buck up, little trooper. Don’t cry, it will get better. Hang in there. This too shall pass. And Be strong” because there is power behind it, God’s power.  He has come to save His people means He will come to save His people. SALVATION is proof of salvation.

          That’s the good news God wants you to take away today. All of us have or are dealing with some bad news. Because we and our world are ruined by sin we can expect more. All of us k now people who have received or will receive bad news. What we all need is good news. We have it. God will come and save you. I don’t know how and I don’t know when. I do know He will. Jesus is His proof.

Maybe one thing we could all learn to do a little bit better though is to value our salvations in the right order. In the Gospel lesson the people were amazed and said Jesus did everything well even making the deaf hear and the mute speak. In the reading from Acts the people were filled with wonder and amazement when the apostles used Jesus’ power to make a lame man walk. Were they just as amazed that Jesus went to the cross for sinners like them? Were they amazed that Jesus rose from the dead so that the next time they heard the bad news that a loved one had died they could hold on to the Good news that those who die in Christ actually live just like He does? I don’t know. I don’t know if they even knew of their SALVATION. But we do. We are followers of Christ and followers of Christ know the true purpose of Christ’s power. It is not the temporary healing of a body that will at some point die anyway. It is the eternal healing of soul destined for Hell. So be strong. With whatever you are dealing with, be strong. God has saved you so in the most important way, He’ll take care of these other ones too. Amen.