September 17-19, 2022 Pastor Timothy J. Spaude Text: Luke 16:1-13 Lutherans Learn Lessons on Love from a Thief?

 

PROPER 20

September 17-19, 2022

Pastor Timothy J. Spaude

Text: Luke 16:1-13

 

Lutherans Learn Lessons on Love from a Thief?

1. Yes! The lesson of Today.

2. Yes! The lesson of Tomorrow.

3. Yes! The lesson of First Love.

 

Luke 16:1-13 (NIV1984) “Jesus told his disciples: "There was a rich man whose manager was accused of wasting his possessions. ²So he called him in and asked him, 'What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your management, because you cannot be manager any longer.' ³ "The manager said to himself, 'What shall I do now? My master is taking away my job. I'm not strong enough to dig, and I'm ashamed to beg-- ⁴ I know what I'll do so that, when I lose my job here, people will welcome me into their houses.' ⁵ "So he called in each one of his master's debtors. He asked the first, 'How much do you owe my master?' ⁶ " 'Eight hundred gallons of olive oil,' he replied. "The manager told him, 'Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it four hundred.' ⁷ "Then he asked the second, 'And how much do you owe?' " 'A thousand bushels of wheat,' he replied. "He told him, 'Take your bill and make it eight hundred.' ⁸ "The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light. ⁹ I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings. ¹⁰"Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. ¹¹So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? ¹²And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else's property, who will give you property of your own? ¹³"No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money."

 

          Over the past several weeks the Gospel lessons from Luke have presented us with some hard teachings of Jesus. His words remind us that while becoming a follower of Jesus is easy, (God does all the work), living as a follower of Jesus is not. As one writer put it, “Christianity is not for wimps!” Jesus has so far gotten in our face a little bit to make us understand that being a believer is a privilege. God does not need us. We need Him. He told us that the cost, the price of following Him is nothing less than everything. We can’t just be in 98%. It’s all or nothing. He will not accept second place. He changed our way of thinking about brothers and sisters who have fallen into sin from looking down on to wanting them back with His parables of the lost. Today He smacks our smugness yet again by urging us to learn from a thief. "The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light.”

          The naughty kid gets praised? Yes. Let’s see why. I won’t read the whole parable again as you just heard it but here’s what happened. There was a store manager who was about to lose his job because of incompetence. The owner told him that at the end of the day he was fired. The incompetent manager was afraid. How would he live? He came up with a plan to gain friends for himself who would take care of him once he lost his job. The plan? Steal from the owner. Immediately he found customers who owed considerable amounts of money and discounted their bills. They were extremely grateful and happy. The owner was robbed of money. Listen to the conclusion of the parable again. "The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly.” The master praised the dishonest manager. He praised a thief. And so Jesus wants us to learn lessons from a thief?

          Yes, but not to steal. To be shrewd and while Jesus has a lot to say about money here what He’s really talking about is love. Love for God. Love for people.  "The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light. ⁹ I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.” Lesson one is the lesson of Today. Urgency. When the manager found out he was going to lose his job he did not delay. He went into action. Time was short. Right away he called in customers who owed money. “Quickly!” he told them. There was urgency.

          Good lesson learned for our faith life and spiritual matters. Today is the day. There is urgency. We don’t know when our time on earth will end. We don’t know when someone else’s time on earth will end. Today is the day first to be doing what you are doing, feeding your faith, listening to God’s word. Today is the day for something else. Do you have people in your sphere of influence that you have been wanting to have that “What happens when you die?” conversation, the one that leads to Jesus? As you have been working on building relationships with other people has the Lord given you that opening that you forgot to take? You know where they asked you that question that you thought about later “What I should have said was…?” It’s not too late to reach out to them and say, “You know I was thinking about what you asked and what helps me through is Jesus.” See where it goes. First lesson Lutherans need to learn from this thief is Today. Urgency.

          The second lesson is Tomorrow. That there is a future to be ready for. "The manager said to himself, 'What shall I do now? My master is taking away my job. I'm not strong enough to dig, and I'm ashamed to beg-- ⁴ I know what I'll do so that, when I lose my job here, people will welcome me into their houses.” Those of you who know my frugal nature will get a kick out of knowing I once saw an establishment that had a sign prominently posted offering free beer tomorrow…and I went. You can play those games with words but the lesson of tomorrow is that you have a future life. God does not guarantee any of us more days on this earth but He does guarantee eternity, for everyone. Souls do not die. They do not end. They live forever in either heaven or hell. Either fully with God or full separated from Him and His goodness. Are you thinking about your tomorrow? When Jesus gives you the gift of heaven how many people there are going to say, “Thank you! Thank you, friend! Thank you for making sure I heard about Jesus?”

          And that’s why this is really a lesson on love as the third lesson we learn from this thief is you only get one first love. "No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money." This is a lesson we know well but have trouble putting into practice. Love God first. Bible 101. Love myself first. Human 101. It’s that nasty sinful nature we have. Even though when God brought us into His family in Baptism and gave us the new self that is connected to Christ we still have our sinful nature. It still leads us to value things wrongly. We can all think of many times in life when something else was first. Like being a part of a friend group. Like getting to start for a sports team. Like the latest video game. Those things are fine but need to be valued in their right place. Kids, who does Fortnight anymore? Two years ago rage is today’s lame. The thieving manager loved himself first and that’s why he misused money. Jesus used him to teach us the lesson of loving God first so we will know how to use money. Not as a rival to God but in service to God. To be his hands in helping others, yes with physical needs but more importantly with their need of knowing Jesus as Savior. It might be hard to do that so Jesus helps us. “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. ¹¹So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? ¹²And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else's property, who will give you property of your own?” There is a promise there. Show yourself trustworthy with the blessing of money and you will be entrusted with true riches.

          I guess it’s true. We Lutherans do need to learn lessons from a thief. But actually we already have. There is another thief in the Bible whose lessons we have loved to learn. The thief on the cross. Today! Jesus words teach us what happens when we die. Heaven! Tomorrow. Heaven is our eternal tomorrow. First love. All that happens because Jesus loved us first. We’re His first love. Let’s find ways to let others know that Jesus loves them too! Amen.

August 13-15, 2022 Pastor Timothy J. Spaude Text: Luke 12:49-53 (EHV) “WHEN HAVING FAITH ISN’T FUN…”

 

PROPER 15

August 13-15, 2022

Pastor Timothy J. Spaude

Text: Luke 12:49-53 (EHV)

 

“WHEN HAVING FAITH ISN’T FUN…”

1.     Keep your eyes on Jesus.

2.     Keep your eyes on the prize.

 

Luke 12:49-53 (EHV) “I came to throw fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already ignited. ⁵⁰But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is finished! ⁵¹Do you think that I came to bring peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. ⁵²Yes, from now on there will be five divided in one household: three against two, and two against three. ⁵³They will be divided: father against son, and son against father; mother against daughter, and daughter against mother; mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law, and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.”

 

          So, there are these things called uncomfortable or inconvenient truths. Such things are factually true but then in some way you wish you didn’t know it, or it makes your life difficult. Like what glue used to be made of, or what goes into a hot dog. Jesus presents us with one of those today.  “Do you think that I came to bring peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. ⁵²Yes, from now on there will be five divided in one household: three against two, and two against three. ⁵³They will be divided: father against son, and son against father; mother against daughter, and daughter against mother; mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law, and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.” The very presence of Jesus in our hearts and lives will cause divisions, even with the people closest to us!

          You already know this and have experienced it, and it is nothing new, but it’s getting to be more and more. When our nation was at least culturally Christian it usually only showed up when a family member married someone who was not a church goer and so the family had that Sunday morning division. At least back then people watched their mouths at work and on TV. At least back then people talked about going to church even if they didn’t. Now things have changed quite a bit. We are not a culturally Christian nation, and we are heading down the road of being a culturally anti-Christian nation. I found out recently that some of our brothers and sisters who live in Portland, Oregon, are leaving for a church service that starts at 10 at 7 in the morning. You want to know why? So their neighbors don’t see them going to church. “That’s weird,” you say. Well you don’t live in a city whose anti-Christian sentiment  is so strong that the homes and vehicles of Christians are getting vandalized and graffitied and where it is not uncommon to have to clean the human  excrement off the church door handles before service.

          Division. In your family too. Have you started to be a little bit more careful about how you talk about moral issues that deal with sex. marriage, gender identity and abortion? Are you noticing how people you know who have grown up knowing the truth that only Jesus sets them free, that only the Bible is absolutely authoritative, that there are absolute rights and wrongs, suddenly don’t think their faith or their church life that connects them to Jesus is all that important or they blatantly question what God clearly reveals is right and wrong? Have you had it happen that your Facebook friends whom you assumed would certainly take Jesus’ side in any online discussion are taking the anti-Jesus side so that maybe they unfriend you or you feel like unfriending them or just dumping Facebook totally? (I would not discourage you from that. Doing so has brought a lot of peace to a lot of people’s lives.) It seems that those who have living faith in Jesus and are living their faith in Jesus are the odd ones out. When you get the opposition in your family there is hurt, pain and confusion. When you get it at work or in social circles there can be first some anger and then some questioning as the Devil works on your heart to get you to give up your faith. You start wishing the hymn went “Sit down, shut for Jesus, your life will be easier” as you realize you are living at a time when having faith isn’t always fun.

          So, shall we spend our time today throwing ourselves a little pity party? Woe is us! Shall we rush to have our names enrolled on the list of martyrs? Nonsense. When the blessing of faith and living your faith is no fun, keep your eyes on Jesus. “I came to throw fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already ignited. ⁵⁰But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is finished!” Life was not always easy for Jesus. As He speaks these words he has his eyes set on Jerusalem. He has spent the last three years proving beyond all doubt that He is the Messiah God promised and world needs. He did the miracles to prove it. As Matthew points out in his Gospel Jesus fulfilled every Old Testament prophecy. He faithfully proclaimed God’s words and will and offered salvation freely to all who believe in Him. He knows the fire is coming, the refining fire when it will be clear to these Jewish people He is the Messiah and family members will need to choose. Stick with your society which will be your own family members and with what they feel is right or stick with Jesus. It’s time for Jesus to complete His work as Messiah. He calls it a Baptism to undergo. It will be no fun. He will feel the hurt of betrayal and denial. He will not defend Himself when He is arrested, falsely accused, spit on and tortured. He will submit to the will of His Father and become the world’s one and only sinner so the full wrath of God will be on Him when He is forsaken. And why does He do this? For you! For me. Sinners. To spare us what we have earned for ourselves. Does he throw Himself a pity party? Shy away? Whine and complain? No. “Let’s get this started. I want it finished.  Let’s save these souls no matter what the cost!”

          And Satan wants us to turn our backs on Him? No way. That’s why when the Apostles got their backs ripped open with a flog by the Sanhedrin they left rejoicing because they had been counted worthy to suffer for Jesus who suffered so much more for them. And that’s why when we have these times that having faith is no fun we need to rejoice to. It’s simply a sign that we are faithful to Jesus who was faithful to us first. And let’s understand what is really going on here. Satan is trying to get us to give up our faith. He can not snatch it away from us. God has forbidden him that power. Only we can give it up. So if he can get us to compromise Bible teaching, if he can get us to accept the lie that what the Bible says is not necessarily true anymore he can set us down the path of unbelief. All the moral issues that cause division, all the friction you feel with family members and friends really stems from that root cause, unbelief. It is rejection of Jesus. It’s what Satan wants in you because and it’s what condemns to Hell.

          So when having faith isn’t so much fun also keep your eyes on the prize. You don’t want to give up that faith. “Do you think that I came to bring peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division.” Hey, wait a minute. I thought when Jesus was born the angels sang, “Peace on earth, good will toward mankind?” They did. But the peace they were singing of was not peace between people, but peace between God and people. They looked ahead to when Jesus would remove the divider of sin. Ever since Adam and Eve plunged this world into ruin and imperfection is has never been God’s plan to leave us stuck here in shame and pain and hurt. He has perfection in store for us. Call it heaven. Call it paradise. Call it amazing. Jesus did not come to bring peace on earth but between God and his people so we can one day live in the glory of heaven. That’s the prize! Keep your eyes there. It will keep your chin up for those times when being blessed with faith is not fun.

          The hymn doesn’t say, “Sit down, shut up for Jesus.” It’s “Stand up, stand up. Our last hymn is not going to urge us to surrender the good fight but to fight the good fight. Our opening hymn did not tell the church to kneel down and wave the surrender flag but to arise and put our armor on. We are not alone. Jesus is with us The Spirit is with us. The Father will never leave us or forsake us and as one dear Christian sister once put it, “One person plus Jesus always makes the majority.” And we have more than one person. We have each other. That’s why it is so important to gather regularly so we can encourage one another. That’s also why we give extra thanks today that our Lord has provided us with more called workers to serve us, be served by us, serve with us, serve Jesus. Pastor Langebartels, Mrs. Hackmann, Mrs. Mork you have been given a unique privilege and honor to serve God’s people at St. Jacobi. I hope you don’t take that lightly. I know you will have lots of fun. These are great people. But not perfect people. So sometimes serving won’t be fun. Wah, wah! Get over it. Join the called workers of the past who rejoiced if they got to suffer for Jesus. Join the rest of us in keeping your eyes on Jesus and your eyes on the prize. For one day, because of Jesus, all we’re going to have is FUN! Amen.

August 6-8, 2022 Pastor Timothy J. Spaude Text: Luke 12:22-34 (EHV) “GOD’S LOVING CARE FREES US!”

 

PROPER 14

August 6-8, 2022

Pastor Timothy J. Spaude

Text: Luke 12:22-34 (EHV)

 

“GOD’S LOVING CARE FREES US!”

1.     From the daily distraction of doubt and worry.

2.     So we can get really rich!

 

Luke 12:22-34 (EHV) “Jesus said to his disciples, “For that reason I tell you, stop worrying about your life, about what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear. ²³Certainly life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing. ²⁴Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap; they have no warehouse or barn; and yet God feeds them. How much more valuable are you than birds! ²⁵And who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his lifespan? ²⁶Since you are not able to do this little thing, why do you worry about the rest? ²⁷Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. But I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory was dressed like one of these. ²⁸If this is how God clothes the grass in the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, how much more will he clothe you, you of little faith? ²⁹Do not constantly chase after what you will eat or what you will drink. Do not be worried about it. ³⁰To be sure, the nations of the world chase after all of these things, but your Father knows that you need them. ³¹Instead, continue to seek the kingdom of God, and all these things will be added to you. ³²Do not be afraid, little flock, because your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom. ³³Sell your possessions and give to the needy. Provide money bags for yourselves that do not become old, a treasure in the heavens that will not fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. ³⁴For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

 

          Squirrel! Have you notice how easy it is to get distracted and lose your focus. It happens when you get up from the couch to get something and your phone buzzes and all of the sudden you are wondering “Now what was I going to get?” Think of how hard it is to pray without your mind wandering! So many things vie for our attention. But keeping your focus is so very important. It saves you from wasted time and trips. It helps with communication to God and others and it is vitally important for our eternity. What has our Lord told us? Set your mind on things above, not on earthly things. Seek first the kingdom of God. But our citizenship is in heaven. That’s to be our focus. Yet we all know how easy it is to get distracted with those earthly things. Thankfully our Lord Jesus comes to us in His word to help. He points us to God’s loving care that frees us.

          It frees us first of all from the daily distractions of doubt and worry. What is it that keeps you up at night? A major financial issue? Relationships? Worrying about the kids? China? Ukraine? Personal safety. I’m guessing you don’t lose sleep over whether you will have food to eat tomorrow or clothes to wear. That has not always been so.  “Jesus said to his disciples, “For that reason I tell you, stop worrying about your life, about what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear. ²³Certainly life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing.” Jesus is speaking to his disciples. At that time many people’s daily hope was that they could earn enough to have food and clothing for the day. Jesus had already sent his disciples out once with the instructions not to take anything with them but live on the kindness of the people they served. Can you imagine? Think of how your life would be different today if you were wearing your only set of clothes and shoes and there was no food in the house. And Jesus dares to say to them, “Don’t worry!?” Why not?

          He points to God’s loving care. “Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap; they have no warehouse or barn; and yet God feeds them. How much more valuable are you than birds! ²⁵And who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his lifespan? ²⁶Since you are not able to do this little thing, why do you worry about the rest? ²⁷Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. But I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory was dressed like one of these. ²⁸If this is how God clothes the grass in the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, how much more will he clothe you, you of little faith? ²⁹Do not constantly chase after what you will eat or what you will drink. Do not be worried about it. ³⁰To be sure, the nations of the world chase after all of these things, but your Father knows that you need them. ³¹Instead, continue to seek the kingdom of God, and all these things will be added to you. ³²Do not be afraid, little flock, because your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom.” How different our Lord Jesus is! If you have gotten stuck watching political commercials, have you noticed what is often used as a motivating force? Fear. Worry. Inflation. Recession. How does Jesus motivate? Love. Provision. Look at how God takes care of the plants and animals. They have their food. They have their beauty to wear. They have no bank accounts! No paychecks? How is this happening? God provides. Sometimes through my birdfeeder or yours. Sometimes in other ways. Always what is needed.

          And he loves you more. I want you now to think back in your life to something you spent time worrying about. Did not God provide and take care of things in some way? Maybe not the way you thought but he did provide. And if you can find something that He did not provide an honest look will reveal it was a want, not a need. God’s loving care frees you, brothers and sisters. You may worry and doubt if you want. It won’t accomplish anything good. And you don’t have to. God will provide. That is His promise.

          And that promise frees us to get really rich. Do you know anyone who truly doesn’t want to be rich? A couple of things. There is nothing wrong with earthly wealth in and of itself. Money is simply a tool, a thing. It helps you get things done just like spoons and shovels and saws. What’s wrong is when we value money the wrong way. People are what really matters. So, you treasure people and use money. You don’t use people and treasure money. The problem with money is it does not last. At the beginning of this Gospel text Jesus said, “For that reason I tell you…” That reason is what you heard last week in church. The parable of the rich fool who died and could not take his money with him. It was a vapor. Did you hear about the person from Illinois who won the 1.2 billion dollar lottery? Do you know how much of that they will receive? Forbes magazine crunched the numbers and if they take the upfront payout, after federal and state income tax, they will receive about 434 million. That’s still a lot of money but it started out as 1.2 billion. Where is the rest of it? Vapor.

          And yet we want to get rich. But brothers and sisters, we already are and we will be really rich. Jesus went on to say, “Do not be afraid, little flock, because your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom. ³³Sell your possessions and give to the needy. Provide money bags for yourselves that do not become old, a treasure in the heavens that will not fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. ³⁴For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Gas prices, taxes and recessions, Oh my! Do not fear, says Jesus. You are rich. The Father will give you the kingdom. He’s talking about our life in heaven and he’s urging us to get rich with everlasting money bags and treasures that don’t evaporate. Do you know what he’s talking about? People. People are the only space takers on earth that will take up space in heaven. Everything else will turn to vapor when the Lord comes to judge. But not all people go to heaven. Only those who believe in Jesus.

          I was talking with a member recently and they described an interaction they had with their neighbor. This neighbor has a lot of money. But when he stopped over and saw our member’s family he remarked how wealthy our member was. He was talking about family. And he had none. Now maybe you have lots of immediate family, maybe you have none. Maybe yours are all dead or because of you or because of them they don’t want to be with you. Lots of messes in this sin ruined world. But you are all rich and you have the chance yet to get really rich. Because the blood tie that matters most for eternity is not what flows through these veins but the blood of Jesus Christ, God’s Son, that cleanses us from every sin. Everyone who believes that is saved for eternity. And so every person that I have some part in proclaiming God’s salvation plan becomes my treasure. Same for you. Of all the disciples who first heard these words from Jesus we only know the Apostle Peter got married. We hear nothing of any children, but Jesus said they would have many treasures. Makes me think of how the oldest living Apostle John wrote in his epistles, “My dear children.” His family of faith was his family and he is rich, really rich.

          And so are you and more and more can be added. The more witnessing we do for Jesus with those we have built relationships with, the more lambs we teach in our schools, the more we get the message out, the more we support mission work, the more opportunities we have to be a part of building a lasting family of faith in heaven where no sin will divide, no hurt separate, no longing go unfulfilled, the more treasures we will have in heaven. Why can we do this? God’s loving provision frees us. My work, my retirement account is simply a mask for God to wear. He provides. Don’t worry, be happy. Keep your focus. It’s about people. Pray for people. Personally and together, get the Good News of Jesus to people, lots of people. They are your treasure. Who knows? One of us might win the 1.2 billion people lottery of people in heaven. That would make you really rich. And no government could take a cut of that. So watch out for those “squirrels” and keep your focus on what will last. Everything else, the Father will provide. Amen.

 

July 9-11, 2022 Pastor Timothy J. Spaude Text: Luke 10:25-37 “THE GOOD SAMARITAN…”

 

PROPER 10

July 9-11, 2022

Pastor Timothy J. Spaude

Text: Luke 10:25-37

 

“THE GOOD SAMARITAN…”

1.     Exposes me.

2.     Inspires me.

 

Luke 10:25-37 (EHV) “Just then, an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus, saying, “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” ²⁶“What is written in the law?” he asked him. “What do you read there?” ²⁷He replied, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind; and, love your neighbor as yourself.” ²⁸He said to him, “You have answered correctly. Do this, and you will live.” ²⁹But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” ³⁰Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho. He fell among robbers who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. ³¹It just so happened that a priest was going down that way. But when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. ³²In the same way, a Levite also happened to go there, but when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. ³³A Samaritan, as he traveled, came to where the man was. When he saw him, he felt sorry for the man. ³⁴He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them. He put him on his own animal, took him to an inn, and took care of him. ³⁵The next day, when he left, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, ‘Take care of him. Whatever extra you spend, I will repay you when I return.’ ³⁶Which of these three do you think acted like a neighbor to the man who fell among robbers?” ³⁷“The one who showed mercy to him,” he replied. Then Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

 

          The Bible is not as popular as it used to be. Shocker, right? Instead of loving the God who sacrifices His own Son to save those who sin against Him many of our fellow Americans reject Him. A God who demands payment for sin? What God says about sex and marriage? Creation? The Flood? Most of  the Bible is flat out rejected. There is still one Bible story most if not all people still like. The Good Samaritan. Google that phrase and find out how many organizations that seek to help people have that name. We have Good Samaritan laws that protect people who accidentally cause harm while trying to help other people. Everybody admires the idea of the Good Samaritan. But that’s only because they are ignorant of the real reason Jesus told that parable in the first place.

          But you aren’t. “Just then, an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus, saying, “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” An expert in the law. This is someone whose life work is to try to put into writing every possible scenario of what is right and wrong. Look carefully at his question. “What must I do?” He wants to know how to earn heaven on his own. Jesus replied, “What is written in the law?” he asked him. “What do you read there?”  Okay, expert in the law, show just how expert you are. “He replied, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind; and, love your neighbor as yourself.” At least he knows what God said. That is the simple summary of God’s holy will. Jesus answered him.  “You have answered correctly. Do this, and you will live.” There it is. If you want to be good enough for heaven all you have to do is love God first perfectly 24/7. Love others in the exact same way you love yourself all the time. Simple. Do this perfectly all the time and you will live eternally. Unspoken? Don’t do this perfectly and you will die eternally. Gulp! The expert looks for some wiggle room. “And who is my neighbor?”

          And then Jesus tells the parable of the Good Samaritan. Its purpose? To help the man see he needed a Savior, he needed Jesus to get to heaven and without Jesus he was headed for hell. You think most people in our country would like to hear that message? I think not. But they need it. We need it. See, the Good Samaritan exposes me. It shows me how badly I need a Savior. You too! Let’s see how. To help I’ll modernize it a bit. And because it’s really hard to find a modern parallel for Americans that is like the Jews and Samaritans let’s all pretend we are Ukrainians. So one of our fellow Ukrainians is walking down Forest Home late at night to Pick n Save. He gets beat up and mugged and is lying at the curb by some bushes. We need some “recognized as religious” people. Ahh Principal Walker is walking home after a late night of work, sees the man lying there, pauses, looks things over, crosses to the other side of Forest Home, jaywalking, and keeps on going. Then Pastor Waldschmidt is out for his evening stroll, sees the man, sizes up the situation, also crosses over to the other side. Now wait a minute before you judge too harshly. There’s no 911 to call. It’s dark. Could be a trap. Think about it? If you were by yourself would you really stop? But someone did. The former Russian soldier. Remember, we’re Ukrainians who didn’t stop to help a fellow Ukrainian. But the Russian enemy did. That’s the picture Jesus painted.

          “Which of these three do you think acted like a neighbor to the man who fell among robbers?” ³⁷“The one who showed mercy to him,” he replied. Then Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.” The expert in the law got exposed. You want to claim you are really keeping God’s commandments then show sacrificial love, that costs you, that endangers you, to your worst enemy. Exposed. Not just him. Me. You. The Good Samaritan exposes the fact that we do not love as God commands. We don’t even love each other as ourselves. I’ll prove it to you. You don’t have my children listed as beneficiaries in your will, do you? You only have your own children. You don’t love me as your love yourself. That’s OK. I don’t have your children in my will so I’m not loving you as I love myself either. Our love is limited. We practice levels of love with different groups deserving of more or less love. We extend it to family, but not all. We grant it to friends and fellow church members but only in a limited way. Not the way we love ourselves. The Good Samaritan exposes us. We can’t do what is required to inherit eternal life.

          And yet we will inherit eternal life. That is only because someone did what was needed for us. Someone once told me that when you study the parables of Jesus look for the person who does not act like people normally do and there you will find a picture of your Savior God. Look at the Good Samaritan. Who is that? The one who puts Himself in harms way to help us. The one who provides for our future at His own expense. The one who helps the helpless. The Good Samaritan is Jesus. He does love God with all his heart, soul and mind and He does love all people more than He loves Himself. He perfectly kept the law earned eternal life and then shares that inheritance with you and me. He pays the sin debt we owe at His own expense. The only real Good Samaritan is Jesus.

          And that Good Samaritan inspires me and you to be like Him in showing love further than we normally would. I remember a long running commercial when Michael Jordan was in his prime. “Be like Mike!” They were trying to get you to buy and drink Gatorade. Didn’t inspire me. But Jesus does. Jesus who loves me no matter what. Jesus who forgives me over and over again. Be like Christ. We love because He first loved us. Who do we love? Family. Friends. Fellow church members. Look back at what Paul wrote to the churches in Galatia. It’s not always easy to love each other. We are messy people with a sinful nature that is capable of everything Paul listed and worse. But the Good Samaritan inspires us. As we have been shown love we can now love. As we have been forgiven we too can forgive. As He has sacrificed for us we can make sacrifices of time and money to help one another. But can we go even further inspired by the Good Samaritan who is really our Good Savior Jesus? Remember what He taught in the Sermon on the Mount? “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ ⁴⁴ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, ⁴⁵ so that you may be children of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun to rise on the evil and the good and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”  

          God’s love extends to the unrighteous too. So our needs to. Remember how so many of our fellow Americans reject the Bible? That makes them our enemies. If we are going to get any opportunities to speak God’s truth in love to them so that the Spirit can change their hearts we can’t be known as the haters. We need to be known as the lovers. That’s how the first Christians made a good impression on their neighbors. They too lived at a time when most people rejected the Bible and did not look to Jesus as Savior. But people saw how they lived and said, “See how they love each other!” And they got opportunities to speak. Our fellow Americans may not know the real reason Jesus told story of the Good Samaritan. But we do. It exposes our need for a Savior. It inspires to follow Him. “Which of these three do you think acted like a neighbor to the man who fell among robbers?” ³⁷“The one who showed mercy to him,” he replied. Then Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.” Amen.

 

June 4-6, 2022 Pastor Timothy J. Spaude Text: Acts 2:1-21 “THANK YOU, HOLY SPIRIT!”

 

PENTECOST

June 4-6, 2022

Pastor Timothy J. Spaude

Text: Acts 2:1-21

 

“THANK YOU, HOLY SPIRIT!”

1.     For giving us signs of your presence.

2.     For giving us understanding of the word.

3.     For giving us meaning and purpose.

 

          Today we celebrate Pentecost. It comes from the Greek word for fiftieth. It’s the church year festival that focuses on the blessing of the Holy Spirit. It commemorates the special way the Holy Spirit was poured out on the Apostles 50 days after Jesus rose from the dead. You heard about that in our first reading. On that day about 3000 people were added to the brand new Christian Church. For that reason Pentecost is also called the birthday of the Christian church. Funny thing about birthdays. You get gifts for your birthday. The Holy Spirit is a master gift picker and that’s great news for us because the gifts that matter for the Christian church are the ones the Holy Spirit gives. So for this Pentecost we thank the Holy Spirit for gifts past and present.

          Like signs of His presence. How do you know when the Holy Spirit is at work? He’s unseen. He’s spirit. Some people believe that the Holy Spirit’s presence is felt inside of you in some special way. But that’s not what the Bible says. And that feeling might just be indigestion—or something worse. Here’s what the Bible tells us. “When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. ²Suddenly a sound like the rushing of a violent wind came from heaven, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. ³They saw divided tongues that were like fire resting on each one of them. ⁴They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, since the Spirit was giving them the ability to speak fluently.” When the Holy Spirit is at work there are signs. Not inside of people. On the outside. So important for Jesus’ disciples. He had told them to wait in Jerusalem until they received the Holy Spirit. How would they know? No worries. The Holy Spirit made it obvious. The sound of a violent wind. Tongues of fire. The ability to fluently speak languages they had never learned.

          Now while that is really cool and were the signs of the Holy Spirit’s presence that the Apostles needed. It’s not the ones we need. We have been given our own. Once again it is not a feeling on the inside. Our recently confirmed students know. B, B, LS. Bible. Baptism. Lord’s Supper. The Spirit is there. It’s something you see externally. There’s more. Since the first Pentecost hundreds of millions if not billions of people have pledged and lived loyalty to Jesus Christ whom they have never seen. Millions have died rather than deny Him. Your very presence in worship is a sign of the Holy Spirit’s presence here and in you. What are you doing here? You’re an American. You have packed your lives with way too many things and made yourself way too busy. You don’t have time to worship. But you are. The Holy Spirit has made you His temple and He wants Jesus worshipped so you do. Why the time and money given to help your church carry out the mission Jesus has given to us. Don’t you know you only get so much? Why give it away? These brothers and sisters are signs of the Holy Spirit’s presence. And we thank Him for them.

          As we thank Him for understanding of God’s Word. The Apostles got theirs. Prior to Pentecost we have the soon to be Apostles arguing about who is the greatest. Urging Jesus not to go to Jerusalem and die. Wondering when Jesus was going to make the nation of Israel great again. Pentecost happens. The Holy Spirit brings birthday gifts and you get this. “They were completely baffled and said to each other, “Look, are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? ⁸Then how is it that each of us hears them speaking in his own native language? ⁹Parthians, Medes, and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, and of Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, ¹⁰Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt, and the parts of Libya around Cyrene; visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes; ¹¹Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring in our own languages the wonderful works of God.” ¹²They were all amazed and perplexed. They kept saying to one another, “What does this mean?” ¹³But others mocked them and said, “They are full of new wine.” ¹⁴Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice, and spoke loudly and clearly to them: “Men of Judea, and all you residents of Jerusalem, understand this, and listen closely to my words. ¹⁵These men are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only the third hour of the day. ¹⁶On the contrary, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:

 

¹⁷This is what God says will happen in the last days:

I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh.

Your sons and your daughters will prophesy.

Your young men will see visions.

Your old men will dream dreams.

¹⁸Even on my servants, both men and women,

I will pour out my Spirit in those days,

and they will prophesy.

¹⁹I will show wonders in the sky above,

and signs on the earth below,

blood and fire and a rising cloud of smoke.

²⁰The sun will be turned to darkness

and the moon to blood

before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.

²¹And this will happen: Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will              be saved.”

 

All of a sudden Peter is taking a complex prophecy from Joel and explaining exactly what it means. How? The Holy Spirit provided him understanding of God’s word.

          We got that too. The Bible is a big book. We don’t understand everything that’s in there. But what we need, we do. While God’s truths of saving by grace through faith are foolishness to many people in this world, they are not to you. You receive them as the wisdom of God. You get comfort and peace. What is it that makes you and I different from the people who consider that foolishness? The Holy Spirit. So thank you Holy Spirit for the gift of understanding.

          And thank you for meaning and purpose in life. The Apostles got that gift. The prophecy from Joel ended, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will                 be saved.” From that day on wherever the Apostles went they carried the name of the Lord with them. They were witnesses for Christ. Some who heard believed and are with the Apostles in heaven even as we speak. They are the Apostle’s treasures.

          You and I have that same purpose and meaning. God has all of us doing things that make a difference in people’s lives. Maybe you make people’s lives more comfortable by making sure their AC works properly, or secure by fixing their cars. Maybe you give comfort and care as a nurse or CNA. Maybe you protect people’s futures by working in the legal or financial fields. Maybe you use your time to be a good neighbor. All these ways and many more are useful things God wants done well to make people’s earthly lives more tolerable. But you are so much more than that. You, like the Apostles, are witnesses for Jesus. And while you fix cars, provide care or other needed services, while you practice being a good neighbor, look for those opportunities to name drop. Jesus’ name drop. Because everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved and you might be the one God will use to let them know who to call on and they will become your treasures in heaven. Literally every human interaction that you have, all the things you do that lead up to those interactions, become filled with the greater meaning and purpose of God’s salvation plan. Thank you Holy Spirit!

          He’s the master gift giver. Always picking just what people need. There’s this thing about birthday gifts. Once they are given, they are yours. You get to use them. Today the Christian church is one year older thanks to the Holy Spirit. And thanks to the Holy Spirit we have what we need. Signs of His presence. Understanding. Meaning and purpose. Time to enjoy and use. Amen.

May 28-30, 2022 Pastor Timothy J. Spaude Text: Revelation 22:12-17, 20 “A PERFECT UNION!

 

EASTER 7

May 28-30, 2022

Pastor Timothy J. Spaude

Text: Revelation 22:12-17, 20

 

“A PERFECT UNION!

1.     Sin and unbelief has been, and is, the real divider.

2.     Only Jesus can provide true unity.

 

Revelation 22:12-17, 20 (EHV) “Look, I am coming soon and my reward is with me, to repay each one according to what he has done. ¹³ I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. ¹⁴ Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the Tree of Life and so that they may enter through the gates into the city. ¹⁵ Outside are the dogs, that is, the sorcerers, the adulterers, the murderers, the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood. ¹⁶ I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the bright Morning Star.

¹⁷ The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears this say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come. Let the one who wants the water of life take it as a gift….²⁰ The one who testifies about these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!”

 

          Unity. It is desirable. People want it. Some of you may recognize these words. “We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union…” That comes from the Preamble to the United States Constitution. And how about these words? E Pluribus Unum. If you have a U.S. coin in your pocket, that phrase is inscribed on it. It’s Latin and it means, “Out of many, one.” It was meant to signify how the 13 original colonies and now 50 individual states became one nation under God. That’s the other phrase on your coins.

          Now we all know that neither of those phrases are actually true. God has been kicked out of our nation in many ways. And we really aren’t all that united nor have we been. It was not long after the defeat of Great Britain and America’s independence that the colonies began looking out for their own interests ahead of the nation’s. We are all aware of the horrible Civil War that was fought and needed to be fought so people would stop owning people. And while we like to think that America has been a melting pot where ethnic groups immigrated and gladly gave up their own former loyalties to be a part of a great nation we know that did not happen easily and does not happen easily today. Ethic groups have always tended to stick together and hold on to their language and customs for several generations before melting into the nation. I am quite certain that the many military people who gave their lives, whose sacrifices we remember on Memorial Day, would look at the state of our nation with its polarization, nastiness, willing and forced segregation and ongoing disunity and say, “That’s not what I gave my life for.” Sadness. And yet unity with one another. It’s so desirable.

          Thankfully our living Lord Jesus comes in as a fresh breath of air. Don’t give up on your longed for unity. He gives us something to look forward to. Perfect unity. It’s why he sent His Apostles out into all the world and to all the different ethnicities with the Good News that He is their Savior. It’s what Jesus prayed for in the Upper Room the night He was betrayed. True unity among people like He and the Father are one. And He tells us it's coming…soon! “Look, I am coming soon and my reward is with me, to repay each one according to what he has done. ¹³ I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.” With these words Jesus identifies Himself as the ultimate authority. Christ is risen! He is not dead. In every language, no matter how you say it, He is the beginning and end of all things. What He says goes. He points us to a time when their will be perfect unity.

          But first He has to deal with what really divides.  “Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the Tree of Life and so that they may enter through the gates into the city. ¹⁵ Outside are the dogs, that is, the sorcerers, the adulterers, the murderers, the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.” We are in the last book of the Bible, the last chapter. The end of what is is at hand. What will be is just beginning. Before the glorious and perfect union of all believers in heaven Jesus must deal with what divides. Unbelief. He calls them the dogs. I don’t know about you but I like dogs. They are such loyal friends. But the word for dogs Jesus uses is really the curs, the mongrels, the mangy mutts that are wicked and evil You heard some identifying signs. Sorcery, adultery, murder, idolatry, falsehood. And while all of us can be found guilty of some form of those sins at some time what these lifestyle sin groupings have in common is they flow from what really gets God’s wrath. Unbelief. Rejection of Jesus, His Son, who gave His life so all could be free. That gets God’s anger.

          Recently I was talking with another pastor. He has in his congregation someone we both know. He’s someone whose filter on what is appropriate to say or not say and when is a little faulty. He told me about a Bible Class he was teaching on Judgment Day. Our mutual acquaintance raised his hand. “Pastor, you know when Jesus comes back He’s going to kick some behind.” Only he didn’t say “behind.” He said something else. In Bible Class! Now while we may quibble with him over his choice of words we cannot with the content. When the last day comes it's called Judgment Day for a reason. You and I might get angry with senseless shooting, carjackings, window smashings, murders, drug dealers, logicless arguments advanced to give mothers the option to murder their babies, please understand, your anger and my anger is nothing compared to an angry God. Leave room for His wrath. And beware the call of the wild. The way of the wicked might seem easier or more fun at times but you want nothing to do with it. For unbelief divides and so those who reject Jesus will never get the perfect union we all desire.

          But those who believe will. For only Jesus can unite us. Let’s go back to what He said. “Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the Tree of Life and so that they may enter through the gates into the city.” Who’s blessed? Those who wash their robes. This comes from earlier in Revelation where the people in heaven were described as those “who have washed their robes and made the white in the blood of the Lamb.” That’s a picture of a believer in Jesus. Robes all dirty because of sin. The blood of the Lamb, Jesus’ death and sacrifice makes them clean. Jesus is the uniter. While sin separates and divides people from God Jesus, only Jesus brings them together. His perfect life. His innocent death. Those who believe receive the benefit of what Jesus has done. Only Jesus unites believers with God.

          And only Jesus brings unity between people. The Gospel message is meant for every language, tribe, nation and people. In heaven we will have not a more perfect union but a completely perfect union. Languages will not divide because we will all share the same one and despite what my college professor proclaimed I doubt it will be German. Skin tones won’t matter. Nor will economic status because we will all be rich in what really matters and not care about the gold used to pave heaven’s roads. Their will be no political divide for we will all rejoice being ruled by the King of kings and Lord of lords. And then let’s do those personal sin dividers. You have it your family. I have it in mine. It may be because of divorce. It may be caused by harsh words. It may be because of a great misunderstanding or a long held feud. It may be that a dearly loved child is rejecting you. These things happen and hurt among believer’s families. And the hurt may endure her. But not in heaven. In heaven Jesus unites. There will no more death or mourning or crying or pain or separation or hurt or grudge or resent. “Behold I am making everything new!” says Jesus as He gives us the perfect union.

          That’s something to look forward to. As the Lord ends the writing of the Bible it’s like a good series you want to binge where each episode you finish makes you want to see one more. Or a movie series that has you actually longing for the sequel. Listen to our living Lord as He sets our eyes on the prize! “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the bright Morning Star.¹⁷ The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears this say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come. Let the one who wants the water of life take it as a gift….²⁰ The one who testifies about these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” How do you respond to that? Say it with me! “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!”

 

 

May 14-16, 2022 Pastor Timothy J. Spaude Text: 1 Corinthians 1:4-9 OUR CONFIRMATION WAY OF LIFE

 

CONFIRMATION

May 14-16, 2022

Pastor Timothy J. Spaude

Text: 1 Corinthians 1:4-9

 

OUR CONFIRMATION WAY OF LIFE

1.     Built on God’s Confirmation.

2.     Shown in your Confirmation.

 

1 Corinthians 1:4-9 (NIV 1984) “I always thank God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. ⁵For in him you have been enriched in every way--in all your speaking and in all your knowledge-- ⁶because our testimony about Christ was confirmed in you. ⁷Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. ⁸He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.”

 

          Every once in a while people will ask me what it’s like to be a pastor. Besides telling them it’s a fun way to serve Jesus and people actually pay you to do it, I normally add, “Being a pastor isn’t a job. It’s a way of life.” You don’t punch a clock and all of the sudden stop being a pastor. You carry that with you wherever you are. It’s an honor and a privilege that comes with responsibility.

          The same thing can be said about being confirmed. It’s not a ceremony. It’s a way of life. It’s a way of life willingly chosen by believers in Jesus Christ who have been instructed in the truths of God’s word. Many of you have already been confirmed and some look forward to it. So today let’s look into God’s Word to see how being confirmed is a way of life.

          It’s a way of life that is built on God’s Confirmation. Some might wonder what confirmation is anyway. You already know. If you book a hotel room or a flight or a rental car you will want to receive a confirmation of that booking. A confirmation is a notice that tells you that you really have it. Yes, there is a seat reserved for you on this plane. Yes, we have a room set aside for you. A confirmation then is really a strengthening or a reinforcing that something really is true.

          God does that for us. He confirms what is really important for us to know. “I always thank God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. ⁵For in him you have been enriched in every way--in all your speaking and in all your knowledge-- ⁶because our testimony about Christ was confirmed in you, ⁷Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed.” The Apostle Paul wrote these words in his first letter to the Christian church in the city of Corinth. It was a congregation that had many spiritual troubles. Its people had to live in a very wicked city, where very few people actually believed in the Lord Jesus. Sound familiar? It was important for them to know they had what they needed from God. Paul confirmed it. He thanked God because they had received the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. Normally we think of grace as God’s undeserved love. It’s also a word that means gift. When the Corinthian Christians received faith in Jesus they received the gifts they needed. They were enriched in speaking and knowledge. Those folks lived in a city that valued eloquent speaking and human philosophy. Now they had better. They could speak words that would lead people to have eternal life. They had the true knowledge of the true God. They had the spiritual gifts necessary to stay faithful to Jesus. This was confirmed by the fact that they believed in Jesus.

          God has confirmed the same things for you, my friends. It’s easy to worry and fear when we look to what the future may hold for Christians in our country, especially our youth. But you know what? I have read some sermon and papers from Lutheran pastors from our sister churches that existed over a hundred years ago. Do you know what they said? They warned about what would happen to the youth because the country was getting so wicked and there was so much immorality and there was so much alcohol abuse. Now the young people of that time would then have been in their fifties and sixties during the time what many people call the good old days. But at the time they did not seem so good. My point is that in every generation confirmed Christians will face challenges to their faith. That is nothing new. And in each generation God is there confirming his people. Confirming you, that is strengthening and reinforcing you.

          He strengthens you by giving you your Baptism, something you can point back to and rely on that says you really are a child of God, despite your many sins and no matter what you are dealing with. He has given you His word, the Bible, so you know you have all the knowledge you need. Not everything you want, but everything you need. Over and over again He confirms the fact that you are forgiven all those sins as He has his ministers pronounce that in weekly worship. He goes further and confirms His love and forgiveness in the Sacrament of Holy Communion where Jesus’ true body and blood are present with bread and wine and say again, “You are forgiven. Here is the proof. I confirm it.”

And while it may happen that you get to the airport or to the hotel or to the car rental place only to find that your confirmation is not valid because they overbooked, that cannot happen with God’s confirmation. “He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.” God is faithful. You can count on Him. He will keep His word and promises. God is faithful.

And that’s why we want to be too. Which takes us to our Confirmation. For any of you who are unfamiliar with Lutheran practice in our churches the preteen children go through several years of formal instruction with their pastors. We want to make sure they have the basic knowledge of the Bible’s teaching. There is a lot of repetition. Then we have this ceremony that announces they have learned those teachings and agree with them. They get a chance to publicly promise to be faithful to Jesus all the way to their death, which is so important because Jesus said, “Everyone who confesses me before others, I will also confess before my Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 10:32)

Confirmation was never ever intended to be the end of anything. It does not mark the end of learning and relearning Bible truths. It does not mean you never again sit in class with your pastors learning God’s word. It is meant to mark a new beginning in your faith life. At your Baptism God made His promise to you that you were His redeemed child washed clean of your sins. At your Confirmation you promise, “Lord I will do my best to live like what you made me. I will strive to let the faith you have place in me on the inside show on the outside.” In other words, Confirmation is not just a ceremony. It’s a way of life.

As a confirmed Christian you don’t punch a clock. You aren’t working on faithfulness to Jesus 9-5 and then you are done. You don’t have a church life, a work life, an at home life. You are a confirmed Christian wherever you are. You don’t have a church mouth, a work mouth, a home mouth. You have one mouth that was created to declare the praises of God and to tell others the great things He has done for you at church, at home, at work. Being a confirmed Christian is a way of living very deliberately so that whether you eat, drink or whatever you do you will do it all for the glory of God. It’s a way of living where you deliberately strive to demonstrate faithfulness to the one who was faithful to you first, Jesus.

Here again is why it is so important that we do not view Confirmation as graduating from something. You can be done with going to elementary school. You can be done with going to high school. You never want to be done believing in Jesus. Faithfulness to Him is marked by regular weekly worship and daily devotion to His word. There you will find the strength you need to live your confirmation way of life. There you will find confirmation that you are still loved and forgiven by God when you stray and you will stray. And you will come back. That’s what Confirmed Christian do.

Being confirmed is not a ceremony. It is a way of life. It’s an honor and a privilege that comes with responsibility. You are making a commitment to strive to live faithful to Jesus every day for the rest of your life. And did I mention you get paid? Not money that is here and gone and loses value due to inflation. But the glories of heaven forever. Welcome to a way of life. Amen.