faith – Page 6 – From the Pulpit

Posted on September 15, 2024 by pastorkevinjud

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Pentecost 17, 2024 Proper 19
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hamilton, Ohio
Pastor Kevin Jud
September 15, 2024
Isaiah 50:4-10, James 3:1-12, Mark 9:14-29

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What is a disciple? What is an apostle? What do these terms mean? In the Gospel of Mark the terms are pretty clear. Disciple means follower. Apostle means sent one. The word “disciple” is used 42 times in the Gospel of Mark; the word “apostle” is only used twice. The first in Mark 3:14–15 (ESV) 14 And [Jesus] appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach 15 and have authority to cast out demons.”

In the beginning of Mark 6 we read, Mark 6:7 (ESV) 7 And [Jesus] called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits.” They return at the end of Mark 6. Mark 6:30 (ESV) 30 The apostles returned to Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught.”

The apostles were sent by Jesus with authority over unclean spirits and they returned and reported to Jesus. They were sent on a mission and then the mission was finished.

Later, in Mark chapter 8 Jesus tells the disciples what is going to happen to Him, Mark 8:31 (ESV) 31 And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again.” This appears to be a big change in Jesus’ mission and the disciples are greatly troubled.

Six days later Jesus takes Peter, James and John up on a high mountain and He is transfigured before them and Elijah and Moses appear with Him and they are overshadowed by a cloud and the voice of God says, Mark 9:7 (ESV) 7 …“This is my beloved Son; listen to him.”

While Jesus and the three disciples are up on a high mountain, what are the other nine up to? As Jesus, Peter, James and John are coming down the mountain they see a large crowd gathered around the disciples and the scribes who are arguing. Coming down the mountain to this scene of chaos conjures up memory of Moses coming down from Mt. Sinai with the 10 Commandments and hearing the chaotic sound of the gathered crowd worshiping the golden calf they built.

Jesus comes down from the Mount of Transfiguration to find His disciples arguing with the scribes and a whole crowd of people is gathered around. What is going on? It turns out that the disciples have been trying to drive an unclean spirit out of a boy but are unable to do it. Perhaps the disciples are remembering all that they had done when Jesus gave them authority and sent them to drive out unclean spirits. Maybe they are thinking that doing this in front of a crowd and the scribes will really show everyone the disciples’ power. It will show everyone the disciples’ greatness. But what happens? Nothing happens. The disciples are unable to drive out the unclean spirit. This must cause incredible delight for the scribes who are looking to discredit Jesus and His followers. Jesus has told the disciples that He will be rejected by the scribes. You can almost hear their taunting, “What’s wrong?! Is the demon too strong for you? You work for the devil; you’d think he would cooperate. We knew it. You all are just a bunch of phonies.” Maybe they start to stir up the crowd to denounce the disciples or even attack them. It appears that the disciples and the scribes are battling about who is the greatest? Who is the best? They are caring not so much about God but, rather, about themselves.

There is great temptation to make being a Christian be all about yourself and who you are and what you do. It can be all about how good you are, how dedicated you are at prayer, how much you read the Bible, how often you attend church, how much you serve, how much you give. You tell yourself, “I may not be perfect, but I am doing a lot better than that other guy. I have my little pet sins, but I am not like those really bad people.” It is a great temptation to make Christianity all about you. But then it would not be Christianity it would be Youianity. Youianity. The religion all about you.

Being a follower…being a disciple of Jesus is all about Jesus. And yet we see here the disciples trying to show off their power; trying to demonstrate their greatness. They currently do not have the authority to drive out unclean spirits, but they are going to try to do it anyway.

Now the father of this boy possessed by an unclean spirit just wants his boy to be better. He’s heard about Jesus and came to his disciples, but the disciples could not drive out the demon and now he and his boy have become the center of an argument between the scribes and Jesus’ disciples. The disciples and the scribes are going at as to who is better, all the while the boy is still possessed by an unclean spirit. There is a lot of noise and confusion and anger and it is helping no one. The father is losing hope.

Jesus arrives and the father explains what is happening and how he asked the disciples to cast it out and they were not able. Mark 9:19-20 (ESV) 19 And [Jesus] answered them, “O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to me.” 20 And they brought the boy to him. And when the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth.” The father tells Jesus that this has been going on since childhood and the spirit has cast the boy into fire and into water trying to destroy him. The hopeless father begs Jesus, Mark 9:22 (ESV) 22 …But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” The father has experienced nothing but failure with freeing his son from this evil spirit and he wants to believe that Jesus can help, but he is not too sure.

Mark 9:23-24 (ESV) 23 And Jesus [says] to him, “ ‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.” 24 Immediately the father of the child [cries] out and [says], “I believe; help my unbelief!”

The father has heard what Jesus can do. He wants to believe it is true. He believes Jesus can help, but then he still has doubts. And yet we see here that he is oriented in the right direction. He is not seeking additional strength from within — he is asking Jesus for help. “I believe, help my unbelief.”

This is a wonderful short prayer that you can use over and over in your struggles. “I believe, help my unbelief.” The simple prayer of this father can also be paired with the simple prayer of the thief on the cross. “Luke 23:42 (ESV) 42 … “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” “I believe, help my unbelief.” Both of these short prayers orient you to receive from Jesus rather than trying to find comfort in yourself.

When you seek forgiveness you do not look to yourself; you look to Jesus. What we do as a church is not from us, it is from Jesus

It seems that the crowd watching the argument between the disciples and the scribes now notice that the boy and his father are over a ways talking with Jesus and the crowd comes running towards them. Jesus immediately rebukes the unclean spirit, Mark 9:25 (ESV) 25 … “You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.” The demon comes out of the boy and it appears the boy is dead, but Jesus takes him by the hand and lifts him up and he is fine.

Later, Mark 9:28–29 (ESV) 28 …when he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?” 29 And he said to them, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.”

This is a puzzling declaration. What does Jesus mean? Well, prayer directs the disciples away from themselves. Prayer forces the disciples to quit looking at themselves and instead look to Jesus. Prayer shows it is not about the disciples being powerful or great. Prayer orients you, in faith, away from yourself and toward Jesus. Christianity does not bring you power and greatness…power and greatness is from Jesus.

When you seek forgiveness you do not look to yourself; you look to Jesus. What we do as a church is not from us, it is from Jesus. By nature, you are drawn to be curved in on yourself; to be most concerned about your emotions, your feelings, your ideas, your desires. Jesus calls you away from yourself to live in love for God and love for your neighbor. Being a follower of Jesus is not at all about being powerful and great, it is about following Jesus.

This lesson is valuable for all of us, but it is very important for the guy up front wearing the white robe and green stole who is called to teach and preach. As we learn from our epistle lesson, James 3:1 (ESV) 1 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.” Along with Jesus’ first disciples, pastors and teachers need great humility and constant prayer to remember that all that we teach and preach is from Jesus — and about Jesus. It is about Jesus and not about me. It is not about you. It is about Jesus for you.

And so…as a disciple of Jesus…follow Jesus. And when you struggle…pray…“I believe, help my unbelief.” Amen.

Posted on August 11, 2024 by pastorkevinjud

Idolatry or Christ?

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Pentecost 12, 2024
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hamilton, Ohio
Pastor Kevin Jud
August 11, 2024
1 Kings 19:1-8, Ephesians 4:17-5:2, John 6:35-51

Idolatry or Christ?

The children of Israel in the Northern Kingdom at the time of King Ahab and his wife Jezebel have a big problem. They have given up on worshiping YHWH, the true God, and instead are worshiping the local gods Baal and Asherah, fertility gods with sexual perversion as part of their worship.

The prophet Elijah summons 450 prophets of Baal to Mt. Carmel where there is a showdown between YHWH and Baal and YHWH wins. Israel needs a clean break from idolatry. After Baal’s defeat, 1 Kings 18:40 (ESV) 40 …Elijah said to them, “Seize the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape.” And they seized them. And Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon and slaughtered them there.”

Idolatry or Christ? Elijah makes a clean break from idolatry by slaughtering the prophets of Baal. He is clearly on the side of YHWH. Elijah is forced to flee the wrath of Queen Jezebel. Rejecting idolatry can have it costs.

You were born into a perverse and idolatrous world. What Paul says in Ephesians about the people of the world is still true today. They walk… Ephesians 4:17–19 (ESV) 17 … in the futility of their minds. 18 They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. 19 They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. Idolatry or Christ?

You have made a clean break from this world. In the waters of baptism God stripped away from you the filthy garments of your old sinful self and has given you the robe of Jesus’ righteousness made white in the blood of the Lamb of God. He has delivered [you] from the domain of darkness and transferred [you] to the kingdom of his beloved Son. In baptism, the Old Adam in you, the old sinful self, is drowned and dies. You are given a clean break from idolatry. You are in Christ. As a baptized child of God you are kept safe and secure in the holy ark of the Christian Church, being separated from the multitude of unbelievers and serving God’s name at all time with a fervent spirit and a joyful hope.

Idolatry or Christ? You have made a clean break from life in the world. You have made a clean break from the devil; the god of this world. As the community of Christ, at a baptism we renounce the devil, and all of his works, and all of his ways. We disown the devil. We give up life in his world to live life in the kingdom of God. Life in the kingdom of God is life lived, in community, with the people of Christ. It is life lived in the Church of Christ. It is life lived together in Christ.

What does life in the Kingdom of God look like?

In the Kingdom of God you are… Ephesians 4:22–24 (ESV) 22 to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, 23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.” Put off your old self. Put on the new self.

In our Epistle reading Paul teaches about life together as the Church. As followers of Jesus, set apart from the multitude of unbelievers, how should you live together knowing that the devil desperately wants to tear you apart through disputes and anger and bitterness and sin. How should you live together? Ephesians 4:25 (ESV) 25 Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.” You all belong to one another, so speak the truth in love. Pastors must teach the truth of God and not let the lies of the world creep into the teaching of the church as so many pastors are doing. Megan Basham’s has a new book entitled, “Shepherds For Sale: How Evangelical Leaders Traded The Truth for a Leftist Agenda.” In this book it is reported that influential leaders in evangelical churches have been paid off by far left influencers to stop teaching the truth of God’s word and instead adapt their teaching to be compatible with the ways of the cultural elites. This is a well-organized, well-funded movement in order to influence the political voting of the members of their churches.

Idolatry or Christ? Speak the truth.

Ephesians 4:26–27 (ESV) 26 Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and give no opportunity to the devil.” This is an interesting verse. It is actually a quote from Psalm 4:4 (ESV) 4 Be angry, and do not sin; ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and be silent.”

The danger of this verse is I think it can lead us to believe that it is okay to get angry, at least to a certain extent, and we use this verse to justify our anger. However, the word “angry” in Psalm 4 can be translated “be agitated,” or even “tremble.” You can feel agitation and trembling when you are getting angry. As a situation grows more stressful you can feel the anxiety building, and you can begin to physically shake; maybe just your hands… maybe your whole body. Your temper is building and getting ready to blow. What are the triggers for you losing your temper? Some of my triggers for feeling like this are automated customer service help lines where you dial a number and answer a bunch of questions by voice and push a bunch of buttons and then it puts you back to the beginning and you have to start over and it will not let you speak to a real person. Or when the copier won’t work, or the computer is not cooperating. I am doing exactly what I have done before, but this time it is not working. Or trying to login to a website and it keeps rejecting the password I know is correct and my anger rises. Another time I get agitated is when I am eating out and have finished the meal and ready to head home and the waitress disappears. I just want to get the check and go but they have me trapped. This agitates me. It can make me tremble. Jeannette surely has many more examples.

Be agitated, and do not sin. Anger is a problem for children, teenagers, adults, seniors. We all struggle with anger, some more than others. As a child of God, control your anger… because when you lose your temper you sin. You do things and say things that you need to repent of. Losing your temper can permanently break relationships. You hurt others. The devil loves to get you angry. Don’t give the devil a foothold. Take a break. Call a timeout. Go for a walk. Take some deep breaths. Regain control over yourself. Self-control is one of the fruits of the Spirit.

Anger is dangerous in marriages, in families, and in congregations. Anger gives the devil a foothold to take over your life and pull you away from Christ into idolatry. The devil wants nothing more than for church members to get angry with each other. An angry church member or an angry pastor can do great harm to the Body of Christ. Anger is not a Christian virtue and yet so many Christians are angry. Control your emotions. Rejoice in the Lord. Rejoice in your salvation. Be on guard and do not let the sun go down on your anger. Repent of your anger. Before you go to bed, reach out to the one you are angry with and make amends. Apologize for losing your temper. Apologize for your anger. Ephesians 4:26–27 (ESV) 26 Be [agitated] and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and give no opportunity to the devil.”

Ephesians 4:28 (ESV) 28 Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.” Repent of your wrongdoing and do good. Not just for yourself, but so that you can help others.

Ephesians 4:29–30 (ESV) 29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” You are a baptized child of God. You are redeemed. You have the gift of eternal life. Your body is a temple for the Holy Spirit. Live out your Spirit-filled identity in Christ. Does Christ tear others down? Does He talk trash about others? Does Jesus tell dirty jokes? Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. You are a new creation in Christ filled with the Holy Spirit. Live out your life in Christ.

It is a daily struggle, as a vessel of the Holy Spirit, to live out your identity. Ephesians 4:31 (ESV) 31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Ephesians 4:32 (ESV) 32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”

Forgiveness is key to life in Christ as a temple of the Holy Spirit. When someone wrongs you, you have the right to get even. You have the right to take revenge. God has the right to punish you for your sins. You are a sinner. The wages of sin is death. You deserve death and hell. God has a right to punish you but He gives up that right. Jesus is punished instead and you are forgiven. Forgive one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

After our reading today Paul goes on to warn about sexual immorality and covetousness and filthy talk. These are the ways of the world. But you are no longer of the world.

Idolatry or Christ? You have renounced the devil. In baptism you have been set apart from the multitude of unbelievers. You belong to Jesus. You are a community in Christ. You are the body of Christ. Ephesians 5:1–2 (ESV) 1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”

Walk in love because you are in Christ. Amen

Posted on July 29, 2024 by pastorkevinjud

God’s Promises

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Pentecost 10, 2024
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hamilton, Ohio
Pastor Kevin Jud
July 28, 2024
Genesis 9:8-17, Ephesians 3:14-21, Mark 6:45-56

Have you ever seen a doomsday movie where the hero emerges from an underground shelter to the new, post-apocalyptic world? The unlikely hero blinks at the light and looks around at the destruction and then tries to overcome the challenges of life in the harshness of the new world.

For Noah and his wife and his sons and their wives it is no fiction. For a year they have been sealed up in a coffin-shaped ark filled with the sounds and smells of the most complete zoo of all times. For an entire year they have been confined in a floating menagerie 450 feet long, 75 feet wide and 45 feet high.

God has destroyed the earth with a flood because of the sins of man. In that ark is all that is left of humanity as well as the birds and land animals that will repopulate the earth.

The story of Noah’s Ark is an incredibly harsh story, but I think sometimes we can get distracted by the perceived cuteness of the ark and the animals. There are children’s nurseries decorated in a Noah’s Ark theme with two elephants coming down the gangplank and two giraffes’ heads sticking out of the top of an adorable little boat which appears to be a terribly overloaded bathtub toy. In the background, there is a rainbow.

Animals are cute and all but I think that may mask the reality. The story of Noah’s Ark is a story of worldwide extermination. It is God’s wrath coming down upon sinful humans in the complete devastation of a deadly, worldwide flood.

The world’s population is reduced to eight souls closed up in a tiny speck of a boat on the vast, endless ocean. After what must have been a very long year, the waters finally recede and the land emerges. The ark comes to rest on a mountain and the eight people and all the creatures come out of the ark.

How strange it must be for Noah and his family emerging into an empty world. There is no one else around; everyone is gone, drowned in the deluge. The eight survivors likely feel very vulnerable in the aftermath of God’s wrath and any rain storm may now trigger horrible memories and fears.

God speaks to Noah and his family and makes a promise to them that He will never again destroy the earth with the waters of a flood. This promise is to Noah and his wife and his sons and their wives and their offspring, including you. It is a promise to every living creature coming off the ark, God will never again destroy the earth with water. And God gives Himself a sign to remember His promise. God sets a bow in the cloud as a sign of the covenant. The bow, a rainbow, is a sign for God that will remind Him that when He sends rain He will never again use it to destroy the earth. And it is a sign to us of God’s covenant promise. So, perhaps in the nursery of one of Noah’s great-great grandchildren, a scene of his Ark and the rainbow is a good reminder of God’s promise.

It is an awesome thing to see a rainbow, all those amazing colors painting the sky. I have heard that in days past children were taught to say the Lord’s Prayer when they saw a rainbow. I don’t remember doing that. At my house, growing up, my mom would give us a Popsicle to celebrate a rainbow. When you see one, you want to share it with others. Rainbows are special.

But the true meaning of the rainbow lately has gotten obscured. We have tales of the Leprechaun’s pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, we have Judy Garland singing “Over the Rainbow” in the “Wizard of Oz”. Gay rights groups resonated with Garland’s rough and tumble battles in life and adopted a rainbow flag as a symbol of their movement. And so now if you see a rainbow symbol at a church it is not clear what it means.

Interestingly, the pride flag has only six colors whereas God’s rainbow has seven. Six is the number of man, seven, the number of God. God’s rainbow is the sign of His promise to you as the offspring of Noah. And that promise is still in effect today; never again a great flood.

And you can see evidence of that great flood all around you. The stones of this building are full of fossil evidence of the flood. As you look at the rocks and see fossil remains of countless animals buried in rock layers, you are reminded that where you sit today was the bottom of an ocean thousands of feet deep. When you see the fossil remains of an animal, you are reminded of God’s judgment at the time of Noah.

And when you see a rainbow in the sky, remember God’s promise to never again destroy the earth with a flood. Never again with a flood…but the earth will be destroyed. God has promised to destroy the earth on the last day… with fire. The judgment day is coming and even then there will be a rainbow.

In the Revelation of John we see the rainbow surrounding the throne of the Lamb of God, the Lord Jesus. Jesus sits on the judgment seat surrounded by a rainbow and this is good news.

But how can the judgment throne of God be good news? God is perfect and you are flawed. God is Holy and you are a sinner. When Martin Luther was a monk he feared the judgment throne. Luther writes, “For I did not believe in Christ; I regarded Him only as a severe and terrible Judge, portrayed as seated on a rainbow.”[1]

But after Luther discovered the Gospel he looked forward to the Day of Judgment with joy, “Therefore we who come to Christ want to have Him as a gracious Lord. The rainbow on which He sits enthroned does not terrify me; it appears for my salvation. We do not look upon Him as a judge. He will call for us. He will not reject us. He will also protect us against the devil.” [2]

God has made a promise to you in Christ Jesus. You need not fear the judgment because you are covered by the grace of Jesus. You still have the sign of the rainbow that God will not destroy the world with water. Now He saves with water. As we hear in 1 Peter 3:20–21 (ESV) 20 … they formerly did not obey, when God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water. 21 Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ…”

You have water as a sign and method of salvation through Holy Baptism. How do you know you are saved? Because you have been baptized into Jesus’ death and resurrection.

And you have the sign and method of salvation in Holy Communion. How do you know Jesus died for you and promises you salvation? Because He has given you His flesh to eat and His blood to drink.

You have the sign of the holy cross showing you how Jesus saves you, as Luther writes, “To us in the New Testament, Baptism and the Eucharist have been given as the visible signs of grace, so that we might firmly believe that our sins have been forgiven through Christ’s suffering and that we have been redeemed by His death. Thus the church has never been deprived to such an extent of outward signs that it became impossible to know where God could surely be found.”[3]

God has promised to save you. He gives you baptism. He gives you Holy Communion. Trust God.

When you see a rainbow, take a moment to ponder what Noah and his family must have been thinking when they emerged from the Ark, and what an amazing promise God made to them with the rainbow. When you see water, remember the promise of your baptism. When you see bread or wine, remember God’s promise to you in Holy Communion. When you see a cross remember you are forgiven in the blood of Jesus. Remember you are free in Christ. Amen.

[1] (Luther’s Works 24), S. 24:24

[2] (Luther’s Works 23), S. 23:61

[3] (Luther’s Works 1), S. 1:248

Posted on June 16, 2024 by pastorkevinjud

Small, Plain and Ordinary

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Pentecost 4 2024 Proper 6
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hamilton, Ohio
Pastor Kevin Jud
June 16, 2024
Ezekial 17, 22-24, 2 Corinthians 5:1-17, Mark 4:26-34

This is a beautiful church building. We have been blessed by those who were here in the 1940s that they chose a classic style and durable materials to build our Romanesque style church modeled after St. Bernard church in Cincinnati. This is a beautiful space in which to have the divine service.

When Jeannette and I were in Europe in April we visited cathedrals and churches, and monastery chapels in Germany, Austria and Hungary. The cathedrals and chapels were incredibly large, towering, ornate monuments to the architectural styles of their time. In the Baroque style cathedral in Passau Germany, there is a gigantic golden pulpit with figures of Jesus and angels and the four gospel writers and the last supper and so much more. It is magnificent. So large, so beautiful, so ornate. What would it be like to preach from a pulpit like that? Wow! People must be impressed with a sermon from a golden pulpit. Now, I love my pulpit here, but it is plain and ordinary compared to European cathedrals.

Jesus is plain and ordinary. This must be what the disciples think about Jesus and His ministry compared to the Temple in Jerusalem with its magnificent tall pillars and gold and decorations. The priests adorned in amazing robes with golden threads in white linen. By contrast, Jesus is a homeless teacher wandering around the backwater areas of Galilee with a rag tag band of followers including fishermen and even a tax collector. Sometimes Jesus teaches in the synagogues but mostly outdoors on a hill or by the lake. Jesus is not even just plain and ordinary, He is poor and lowly and weak and insignificant. Dressed like a normal person, He preaches and teaches and heals the sick and casts out demons but it does not look like much. The healings and exorcisms are remarkable, but Jesus does not make a big deal about them, he even tells folks to keep quiet about being healed. There are crowds following Him to be healed and to hear the teaching but it a crowd of poor, lowly people. When the rich, powerful, important people come around Jesus they are offended by Him; they oppose Jesus. They look to trap Jesus because they want to destroy Him. They see the good Jesus is doing and accuse Him of being in league with the devil. Plain, ordinary Jesus just keeps doing what He is doing; He does not care what the cool kids think of Him.

Jesus tells the disciples a couple of parables to steady them as they follow Jesus. The first is about the Kingdom of God being like a man scattering seed on the ground and the seed sprouts and grows all on its own. While the man goes about his life, the earth produces automatically until the harvest. Jesus spreads the Word and it produces on its own without human assistance. Jesus’ Word produces fruit in the lives of His followers all by itself.

Like the disciples, we really want to believe that faith, and forgiveness, and the Kingdom of God is about us and what we do — but it is not about you, it is about Jesus for you. There is a terrible infection afflicting church bodies that causes folks to believe that God needs our help. There is a thought that God’s Word is good and everything, but we really need find more and more clever ways to present it so people will believe. In churches there is a thought that, “if we can just…whatever,” then everything would be better. If we can just…have a better Sunday School program. If we can just… build a better building. If we can just…. have the youth more involved. If we can just… do more with senior ministry. If we can just… reach out better to the people in the neighborhood. If we can just… find the right program at the right time. If we can just…do whatever it takes to help God. We are looking for a silver bullet fix to whatever ails the church, but there are no silver bullets. God’s Word is sufficient. Isaiah 55:10–11 (ESV) 10 “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, 11 so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.”

This is humbling for pastors. God does not need me. The Kingdom of God will grow by the power of God. I am called to proclaim the Word of God. It is not about me being ingenious; it is about God’s Word succeeding without my assistance.

Jesus continues with a second parable. Mark 4:30–32 (ESV) 30 And he said, “With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable shall we use for it? 31 It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when sown on the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth, 32 yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and puts out large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.”

Now when you think of kingdoms you think of splendid castles and throne rooms and ornate robes and crowns. Jesus here teaches about the Kingdom of God; the reign and rule of God, and it is like, it is like — a mustard seed. I bought a pack of mustard seeds to see what they look like. They are tiny, brown and round; just about 1 millimeter in size; small, plain and ordinary. I put a few mustard seeds in every pew this morning, but I doubt anyone noticed. You would have trouble finding them even if you looked. A mustard seed is tiny, plain, ordinary and almost invisible. The Kingdom of God begins quite small, plain and ordinary there in Galilee and Jerusalem, but it grows and grows and grows. Now the reign of God in Christ Jesus has spread all over the world, but it still appears to be small, plain and ordinary.

The Word of God is the only source of salvation and eternal life but it is so plain and ordinary and folks are not impressed by plain and ordinary. People want something exciting and entertaining. The news media will report all sorts of meaningless stories about rich, famous, powerful, important people, but they ignore what God is doing.

God is here today, in this place, to forgive your sins and feed you the food of eternal life. Jesus, the source of eternal life, is here with you and people act like nothing is going on. They just ignore it because it is plain and ordinary and boring.

Far too many church bodies have grown weary of the Word of God and have moved on to preach and teach what people’s itching ears want to hear. They constantly adjust their teachings so that the cool kids of society will not look down on them. So many churches will fall all over themselves to change what they teach to fit whatever is the latest and greatest rejection of God’s Word put forth by the cultural elites in New York, and D.C., and Los Angeles. They care so much what the cool kids think that they have given up on God. They have rejected the Word of God, and forgiveness, and eternal life so they can fit in with people who change their beliefs as often as their clothes.

Not so for you. You are a follower of Jesus Christ. You are bound to the Word of God. You cannot care what the cool kids think. You cannot adjust your life to fit their perverse teachings. As the Church of Christ, you stand firm on the plain and ordinary Word of God and reject false teachers. You are warned about this in the book of Jude. Jude 4, 8 (ESV) 4 For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ …these people also, relying on their dreams, defile the flesh, reject authority, and blaspheme the glorious ones.”

Trust God’s Word because God’s Word will not return empty. The plain and ordinary Word of God is effective and the seed planted will grow by itself by the power of God. Trust the Gospel; the Good News of forgiveness of sins through the life death and resurrection of Jesus. Trust the power and promise of your baptism. Trust Jesus’ words of pardon for sin. Trust the forgiveness given in the Lord’s Supper. Trust…even though it is plain, ordinary water combined with the Word of God. Trust the plain, ordinary words of absolution. Trust the plain, ordinary bread and wine combined with the Word of God. Trust that God works as He has promised.

Trust the Gospel to accomplish what it promises. Follow God — obey God — not out of fear of punishment — the punishment was taken by Jesus; not out of hope of reward–you have already been given eternal life. Follow God — obey God — out of love for God because of what He has done for you through Jesus and the Holy Spirit.

It can be difficult because obeying God out of love is messy. We are so much more comfortable with punishment and reward. Do this and you get this in return. Don’t do this or else you will be disciplined.

Living in the plain, ordinary love of God is messy… wonderfully messy. Your sinful side so much wants to be in control…but you are not in charge. God is in charge, and the Word of God is working in you, and the day of harvest will come and Jesus will return to judge the living and the dead and you will be declared righteous, pure and holy because Jesus’ robe of righteousness covers all your sin.

It does not matter how foolish the cool kids think you are. It does not matter how foolish they think Jesus is. It does not matter how small and plain and ordinary Jesus’ Church is. God’s Word does not return empty. We so much want to have some kind of spiritual experience that we can point to, some exciting happening, some spiritual high, but we get God’s plain and ordinary promises and that is good.

It can be difficult because obeying God out of love is messy. We are so much more comfortable with punishment and reward. Do this and you get this in return. Don’t do this or else you will be disciplined.

So follow Jesus…trust Jesus…live in the messiness of His love for you. Obey God out of love. Repent when you get distracted by the world and give in to temptation. Receive His forgiveness…over and over and over.

As Jesus’ Church we do what God has given us to do. We make disciples of all nations, baptizing and teaching. Even though it is not exciting and entertaining we pronounce the forgiveness of sins, preach the truth of God’s Word, administer the Lord’s sacrament of His Body and Blood, and we trust God’s Word to do what God has promised it will do.

It does not matter if the pulpit is golden, or wooden, or no pulpit at all, the Word of God is effective. Trust in the promises of God regardless of what the cool kids think. Amen.

Posted on June 9, 2024 by pastorkevinjud

What is the Opposite of God?

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“What Is the Opposite of God?”
Vicar Matthew Kinne
6/9/24
Texts: Mark 3:20-35; Genesis 3:8-15; 1 Corinthians 4:13-5:1

Hear Jesus’ words from our Gospel reading today:

“If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand.”

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

What is the opposite of God? If you were to ask this question to a room full of people hearing about God for the first time, what do you think the responses would be? I can tell you from experience some may say “Well, if God is good, that means His opposite is evil.” Okay… this would be a logical response as we are creatures that appreciate the scales of counterparts to be balanced. We like the idea of Ying & Yang. Think of any story, myth, movie, or book that encounters good versus evil other than the Bible. It seems like there is always an equal opposite to the protagonist. There is always a chance that good will prevail and classically we call that comedy; the good guy wins in the end. It gives us a good feeling inside. But there is also a chance that evil will win. The good guy either dies or becomes corrupt himself. We call this tragedy, and some believe that this is just as acceptable to let evil win. In some ways, we are programmed to believe that if there is a righteous character then there must be an equally evil character. One cannot exist without the other.

Of course, God is good and there is evil, so there must be some form of truth to the answer. But if it is the case that God has some equally corrupted counterpart, what would that mean for your salvation? It would mean that there is no promise and no guarantee for your eternal life. It would be a 50/50 chance: a flip of a coin. Good versus evil would never be resolved, and you would be in a prison of limbo forever. Does that sound like a good time to you? Is that really how the story of our great and mighty God goes? I hope not. And in fact, by faith through the Holy Spirit and the confirmation of witnesses in the Scriptures, I know it is not.

Sometimes we forget that the evil in this world came from the weak and rebellious will of creatures. When God created man, He gave him the ability to choose God’s way or his own way. And to our mystery today, as the story is told in Genesis, man was weak and listened to the tempter that came in the form a serpent. We do not know much about the origin of the tempter, but we do know that just like man, he chose to oppose his Creator. We know that he is a fallen angel as Jesus says in Luke’s account, “I saw Satan fall like lighting from heaven”. But just because he opposes God does not make him God’s equal opponent. Satan is still a creature, one that is defeated just when he thinks he is on the cusp of victory by getting Jesus on a cross. He did put up what he thought was a good fight but God, who is the author of this life, binds up Satan and crushes His head at the foot of the cross where Jesus Christ is glorified. Satan’s own battle strategy kills his own kingdom in the end. Satan’s pride is his own demise!

Without the knowledge that the Holy Spirit gives through God’s Word, it is easy to be influenced by and even sympathize with the citizens of the tempter’s kingdom. It is certainly more comfortable to accept the evil that surrounds us every day than to swim against the tide and be at odds with friends and family members who follow the ways of the world. But do you realize Satan has us right where he wants us? In the land of the free and the home of brave, we are given the right to worship our God by the said freedom of our county’s constitution. But where man has the freedom to follow God in our country, man also has the equal freedom to fall away and uplift evil in this land. It is a nation divided.

The flag that once stood for freedom, hope, and prosperity, is now often replaced or redesigned by a perverted rainbow flag movement which teaches people to believe that the church is built on hate. The claim “all are welcome” sounds beautiful and righteous. But that welcome sign is a work of the devil when it is not a welcome to repent because the reign of God is at hand. It is a work of the devil when it rejects the Word of God and follows the way of man. That is because, just like the serpent, the will of man opposes the standard of life made by his Creator.

Let’s focus the magnifying glass a little closer to home. Just like Adam and Eve, and even the Pharisees, it is easy for us in the church to point the finger at others. It is not hard to find a quote of scripture and tell someone else “you are wrong”. God does tell us to use His word for reproof, and to understand the standard of what is right and what is wrong. But can you go one day without breaking a commandment? Can you live up to the righteous standard of God on your own?

If you say you can live without sinning and you can save yourself by being better than everyone else, you are living a life of deception. The truth is not in you. The sin against the Holy Spirit, the sin of unbelief, is at large in you if you believe this. And if you think the church gathers because we are better than those who parade in city centers opposing God’s gift of marriage and life, you again would be wrong. The purpose of the church is not to be a political platform of this earthly kingdom. It is to be a place where the sick are tended to by their physician. It is where forgiveness is given to sinners who naturally oppose our Creator. God’s Word is where we find the standard of holy living, but it is more importantly the place where we read about God’s redemption of mankind for living in sin.

The answer to the question, “What is God’s equal opposite?” is… nothing. And maybe that is more than the truth. Maybe a better way to say it is that without God, there is no existence. The opposite of creating man, however, is man decomposing. Without God we are hopeless, dying beings desperate for meaning. We are creatures sustained by the graces of our God. Our God is not a tyrant God, not one who demands our praises, not one who demands good works. But rather a loving God, who sustains and comforts us. Because of that we sing praise about our God to others, and lead lives of active service to our neighbor.

The only place to find life is in God’s presence. He is the one who gives life and maintains life. When man chooses his own pride and sin over God, he walks in the direction of death. He steps away from God. That is not God’s fault. It is man’s fault. Man’s most grievous fault. And for that, man is humbled before a righteous God who wants all people to repent of their sin and be reminded that we are part of His kingdom in the baptism He bestows on us.

Satan’s kingdom is divided. He cannot win. Do not follow him or even listen to him. Drive him out of your life! If you feel like he is knocking at your door, yell “Be gone Satan! My God has defeated you. Go back to dark and foul hole you came from!”

Satan wants you to also believe that God’s kingdom is a mess and is divided into a thousand pieces. God’s kingdom, however, is forever because it is not divided. Now, it is easy to think the church is not unified. When you drive downtown Hamilton count how many steeples there are. There are so many buildings, confessions, hymnals, translations, and political views pulling apart the church on earth. But these things are not what the church stands upon. These are things built and produced by the hands of sinful man. The church is instead built on the foundation of Christ’s constitution, which is not written in ink on paper, but by His blood writing into the wood of the cross from the nails piecing His hands and feet.

A bridge to God once existed in the garden, but it was burned up by man’s sin. God had to rebuild this bridge using Jesus’ perfect body. Jesus’ incarnation bridged heaven and earth together. God’s Word lives among us. His Kingdom was brought back into this world by His birth in Bethlehem where His perfect little body lie in a manger. This same body and blood that we take in, is the foundation of Christ’s church. His body, though put to death, was never broken. It was never divided. He was put into a grave, but He conquered death three days later. He never let evil prevail. The good guy not only won, but never had a chance to lose. God the Father called all the shots of His Son’s death and resurrection. And since Jesus wins, you win. Because He died, your sinful Adam dies. Because He lives, you also will continue to live into eternity with Him.

We just sang about this glorious victory in our hymn today. If you turn in your service bulletin to page 8, look at stanza one. See how the confession of the Church is not divided! The works of Satan is conquered through the work of our Emmanuel. If you’d like to sing it with me one more time, feel free to join.

668 Rise! To Arms! With Prayer Employ You

Text and tune: Public domain

Even though it may feel like Satan has the upper hand in this world because he influences the hearts of divided and sinful man. God is victorious! The church stands outside of any government in this world, it does not proudly parade sinful ideals, it does not give into catchy slogans or earthly philosophies. It stands on the Word of God, and this is what gives us strength to live together as the church until our Lord’s comes back to take us to Himself in heaven. It is then we will celebrate with all the saints that God’s kingdom was never divided and that His mighty hand saved us. Amen.

Posted on May 26, 2024 by pastorkevinjud

God loves in this way

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Trinity 2024
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hamilton, Ohio
Pastor Kevin Jud
May 26, 2024
Isaiah 6:1-8, Acts 2:14a, 22-35, John 3:1-17

In our Gospel reading today we get that all so familiar passage of John 3:16 (ESV) 16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

This is likely the most familiar verse in the whole Bible and the one that more people have memorized than any other. It is called the Gospel in a nutshell. You all know it quite well, but it can be familiarity that can at times empty something of its meaning as you think, “I already know this. I am not going to gain anything more from this verse.”

So, let’s take a little time this morning and slow down and dig into this verse. I got my undergraduate degree in print journalism and we were trained to ask the familiar questions, Who, what, where, when, why and how?

Who? Who is this verse talking about? John 3:16 (ESV) 16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” God the Father gave God the Son on behalf of the world that whoever — meaning anyone in the world — believes in him will have eternal life. In just this one verse you learn that God is complex beyond your comprehension. How does God the Father have a Son? God the Father does not have a body yet begets, generates, God the Son — from eternity. Jesus has always been. We learn this in John 1:1 (ESV) 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” John 1:14 (ESV) 14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

And not only is there God the Father and God the Son, but Jesus teaches about the Holy Spirit just before this, John 3:5 (ESV) 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.”

We have God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit. One of the proofs that Christianity is true is that the Trinity does not make sense. How can God be three persons and one God? When people make up a religion they mostly make up gods that make sense. Gods that are a lot like us. Gods that act like we do. Gods that make demands and give you a list of things you must do to appease them. The true God is different. He is incomprehensible. Three persons, one God — who freely gives you grace and mercy.

Who is involved here? God — Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and the world — all people, everywhere. That is a big who.

What? What is happening? A Pharisee, Nicodemus, comes to Jesus secretly at night. Nicodemus knows some things about Jesus, but has come to learn more. Jesus tells him that he needs to be born again of water and the Spirit. Then Jesus tells Nicodemus how people will have eternal life. John 3:14–15 (ESV) 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.”

What? What is happening is that God the Father gives His only Son to be lifted up.

Where? Where will this happen? We are not told that here with Nicodemus. When? When will it happen? We are not given specifics as to when.

Why? Why does God send His Son to be lifted up? It is a one word answer. Love. God loves the world. God loves with a selfless love. He loves with a love that does not count the cost. God’s love for you is beyond comprehension. In baptism you are born again by water and the Spirit into this love of God as we got to see once again this morning with the baptism of little David. God’s love envelopes little David. God’s love envelopes you; covers you. You live surrounded by the love of God. Paul describes this love in Ephesians 3:17–19 (ESV) 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” You are rooted and grounded in the incomprehensible love of God. You are filled with the fullness of God.

Why? Because God loves you.

Who, what, where, when, why and how? How? This is an interesting question. We hear, “For God so loved the world” and it can sound like, because God loved the world soooo much. Indeed it is true that God loves sooo much. God’s love is beyond understanding. But, “For God so loved the world,” means God loves the world in this way…God so loves…God loves in this manner. How does God love the world? He gives His only son to be lifted up.

God wants all people to be saved. God knows the problem of sin and God gives the solution. How does God love? In this manner — He sends Jesus to be the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

John 3:14–15 (ESV) 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

In the book of Numbers, after God sends fiery serpents among the complaining Israelites in the wilderness God instructs Moses to put a bronze serpent on a pole that whoever looks upon it will be healed from snakebite. How does looking a snake statue cure snakebite? It does not make any medical sense, but that is what God said to do, and it worked.

Jesus, the Son of Man, given by God the Father, will be lifted up. In our reading today Nicodemus does not yet know what this means — to be lifted up — but we know what this means Jesus will die on the cross at Golgotha to save sinners. How does Jesus’ death on a cross save sinners? This does not make sense. How can Jesus’ brutal death grant us eternal life? It is not the way I would do it. But you know it is true because God said it is true. John 3:16 (ESV) 16 “…whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

God wants all people to be saved. God knows the problem of sin and God gives the solution. How does God love? In this manner — He sends Jesus to be the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

God wants all people to be saved because He loves all people. God the Father gives Jesus to be the sacrificial Lamb of God to take away the sins of the world. The gift of eternal life is for all people. How utterly heartbreaking it is when one of God’s beloved children who is loved with God’s incomprehensible love, rejects that love. How tragic when someone rejects God’s gift of eternal life in order follow a made up god with a checklist of demands. How awful when someone follows their own do-it-yourself spirituality that adapts to their every whim and desire. How senseless that someone lets the cares of this world and the busyness of life choke out God’s love for them. How evil when someone chooses darkness over the light. John 3:19–20 (ESV) 19 …the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. 20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.”

The eternal fire is prepared for the devil and his angels and yet so many love the darkness rather than the love of God and choose to go to the eternal fire with the Devil.

God does not send people to hell. They choose hell. God wants everyone to be saved and offers the gift to all. 1 Timothy 2:4 (ESV) 4 [God] desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

God knows the world needs to be saved from the darkness and He saves it, out of love, despite the cost.

God loves the world with incomprehensible, selfless love. He loves the world — in this way — by giving His Son to be lifted up on the cross, and lifted up from the grave, that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. God loves you with incomprehensible, selfless love so that you have eternal life in Him. Amen.

Posted on May 19, 2024 by pastorkevinjud

Pentecost Graduation

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Pentecost Day 2024
The Milestone of Life
Vicar Kinne
Texts: John 15:26-27 & 16:4b-15; Acts 2: 1-21; Ezekiel 37:1-14

The stadium is packed with people. The band plays Pomp and Circumstance for the last time. The valedictorian gives his speech. The principal, whether liked or not by the students, shakes each graduate’s hand and gives them a blank booklet intended for a piece of paper that will be sent in the mail in a few weeks. The class stands up together for the last time, and many thrilled students toss their caps up in the air hoping to find them again among in the sea of other thrown hats. Then everyone breaks off for pictures with grandmas and grandpas, and then to parties for a little bit. This is a scene many of us have witnessed which honors students for achievement in their studies and involvement in the community.

For some of us, it might bring back memories of the “good ole days”. Yet for some of us this memory is no more than a week old. Either way, times like these are meant to be celebratory for yet one more milestone in life is achieved.

However, memories of these milestones never come with all cords fully tied. Some loose ends are never mended while new things begin. “What am I gonna do now?” “Should I be taking a year off?” “Do I go to college, or do I just work?” “Do I live with my parents, or do I move out?” Looking into the unknown future can be scary! This is because life does not always show you what the next milestone is. Uncertainty can cause a spike in one’s anxiety. But we should always remember that God looks over His children. He takes care of every single one of us. And even though we may not understand the tests and trials God puts us through in a given moment, faith clings to Him, and He will give us the strength to make it through the next milestone in life.

A recent study says around 40% of college students report they have attended a church service of some kind within their first month of school. They may be going for different reasons. A student could just be a regular church goer and continue the path they were instructed in from childhood. Maybe some students see leaving their parents’ home for the first time as an opportunity to explore other options. After all, going to see what church is “all about” would be educational for their young adult experience. Regardless of the reason, it is also said that somewhere between 50-80% of these students who attend a service in their first month of college also fall away from going to church all together. This means less than 20% of our college students today are walking through their college life with a Christian spiritual guide.

It does not matter what the plans are for their future—going to college, getting a job, getting married, buying a house, having children, traveling the world, maybe having all of these things at one time—parents sending a child out into the world is scary! After all, Christian parents live in the wisdom that the ways of this sinful world can lead a young person down the path of evil and ultimately death. There are incredible and beautiful things God puts in His creation for all of us to enjoy, and we want our children to see and experience those things, but at what cost? Will they get to their destination safely? Will they stay on the straight and narrow path along the way? These questions are uncertain. But there is always one certainty that brings us comfort and that is the message of Christ’s Gospel.

There is only one person in the history of mankind who never strayed away from the path of righteousness, that is Jesus Christ. This may sound like a cliché Sunday school answer, but the truth of this Gospel needs to be the most precious thing to a person. It needs to be valued above one’s educational degree, one’s marriage, one’s job, and even one’s children. The things of this world always change, but the gift of eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord is the only milestone that is certain and matters!

Today, we commemorate a celebratory moment in the church year, Pentecost. In the Hebrew calendar this feast is celebrated 50 days after Passover. During the time of Jesus’ ministry and the early church, Jews and God-fearing people would come to Jerusalem for this festival to give thanks to God for the Torah; the word of God handed to Moses on Mount Sinai. But for the Christian, it is 50 days after one of the greatest milestones in history… the resurrection of our Lord. On this day we celebrate a type of graduation, one that would change the history of the whole world.

As the disciples gather in a house on Pentecost, Jesus, from His ascended throne sends the Holy Spirit like a rushing wind among them. This “helper”, as Jesus called Him in John’s Gospel, gives the disciples a special ability. This ability given to them is far more valuable than a piece of paper with a signature saying, “This Disciple of Jesus has been given full honors and is suited to preach on behalf of the Church”. No, this “diploma” from Holy Spirit is practical and instrumental in fulfilling Jesus’ command of going out to make disciples of all nations and baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. They are given the ability to speak in any language so that all who are in Jerusalem for the Feast of Pentecost can hear that the Messiah, Jesus Christ, was put to death as a sacrifice for the world, He was raised from dead, and ascended on high.

Can you list the works of Christ on your transcript? Did you earn this credit? Of course not. Jesus’ work, alone, saves you. You did nothing to earn your salvation. Like the worst participant in a group project, you earn the credit of the best in the group; the one who did all the work for you. It is a comfort to know that Jesus’ dying on the cross and His conquering over death still gives you an A+ before our Father in heaven.

When you feel like you are not worthy of Christ’s forgiveness, take a look at whom our Lord chooses to give the Holy Spirit to on Pentecost. These disciples betrayed Him. They ran away and disowned their Master before He was crucified. They hid in locked rooms fearing that they may be put to death by the Jews. Even after Jesus presents Himself to them multiple times after the resurrection, they are still scared.

These men do not seem fit to graduate from their seminary experience! But they are witnesses of Christ’s ministry. They saw Him raise people from the dead. They saw Him heal the lame, the deaf, mute, blind, and even cast out demons. They saw storms being stilled by His word alone. Because they are witnesses of these things, they are also the chosen candidates to receive the Holy Spirit and be sent to the four corners of the ancient world to spread the Good News of what they witnessed before men. So, knowing the disciples are forgiven and receive life and salvation even after denying Christ to His face, you can be confident that your Savior saves you.

When the disciples receive the Holy Spirit, it is as if a veil is taken away from their face. They understand the mission their Master has for them in the world. Before Pentecost, they sat behind closed doors waiting in anxiety, thinking their lives were coming to an end. But now the Holy Spirit is directing them. They are not ashamed of the Gospel. In fact, they are so confident in preaching Christ crucified, that over 3000 people at that day believe in Jesus and are baptized. Everywhere the disciples went, the Word of God is preached, and new believers are brought into the family of God.

That day of Pentecost in Jerusalem, with the bestowal of the Holy Spirit in wind and flame, is a type of graduation. But like graduation from school, it did not ensure a trouble free life. Just because you have a diploma, just because you graduate with high honors, does not mean that there will be no trouble. You may apply for your dream job and be denied. You may ask your high school sweetheart to marry you and she says, “I don’t”. You may pursue a course of study at the university and flunk required classes. You may try moving out of your parents’ house just to be turned away after submitting a renter’s application.

Just because the disciples are given the gift of the Holy Spirit, it does not mean that everything goes according to their plan. It does not mean that everything is smooth sailing after Pentecost. In fact, the life of the disciples becomes busier and harder. Yes, the Lord provides for them in the ministry, but many reject Jesus and His followers bringing the Good News. And because of this the disciples were persecuted, as Jesus said they would in Matthew chapter 5, “10“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

Some of these disciples are innocently imprisoned. Some escape death on multiple accounts. Others are stoned to death. Peter is crucified upside down! Being given the Holy Spirit and sent to be witnesses for Jesus makes their lives difficult. Most people reject Jesus and His followers and turn away from His church. For the apostles, receiving the Holy Spirit brings hardship and trouble in this life. But by the Holy Spirit these men know that comfort in this life is not the most important thing.

Through your parents you inherit sin and death. It is this sin and death our Lord overcomes by His cross and resurrection. At your baptism He gives the diploma of everlasting life through the water and the Word where you receive His Holy Spirit and His righteousness. His name is autographed on your forehead and upon your heart marking you as one redeemed by Christ the crucified.

Graduations are big milestones in life, but the ultimate milestone is eternal life. This is coming for you as a gift from the Lord. Just like the disciples, death may come to you before our Lord returns but the life He gives to you and everyone in the church is ultimately bigger and better than this sinful life we are in now.

So, toss your hats everyone! You have the Holy Spirit living in you. You are a temple for the Breath of God. Celebrate and share the good news with others in the world! Be graduates of the church not ashamed of the diploma you have been given. Give thanks for God’s continual gift of His love in His Word and Sacraments. Rejoice because our Lord gives you His gown of righteousness! Amen.

Posted on April 21, 2024 by pastorkevinjud

You are not a Rented Mule

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Easter 4 2024
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hamilton, Ohio
Pastor Kevin Jud April 21, 2024
Acts 4:1-12, 1 John 3:16-24, John 10:11-18

You are on a business trip driving down the road with a coworker when you hit a bone-jarring pothole. Your coworker looks at you with a grimace and softly says, “Ouch!” You calmly reply, “No worries, it’s a rental car.”

It seems that human nature is to care for something better when it is your own rather than belonging to someone else. We have some ugly expressions that reflect this idea. We say, “That team got beat like a rented mule”, or more horribly, “beat like a red-headed stepchild.” If it is not your own then you are thought not to care as much for it. And it seems that this is nothing new.

Jesus says, “11I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. 14I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.”

This is unbelievably good news. Jesus, the Good Shepherd, does not treat you like a rented mule; like someone else’s sheep. He cares for you as one of His own sheep. Jesus loves you as His own. You belong to Jesus.

You are the sheep, Jesus is the shepherd. So, who is the wolf? It is the devil. The devil is ever prowling. Ever looking for another sheep to drag away and devour.

You are one of those sheep out in the field doing what sheep do. You hear a noise in the grass and look up and you see the gray fur moving through the meadow. You stare and see the wolf raise up his head and look right at you. You can see the look of hunger in his eyes; you see his sharp teeth as he snarls. You are in great danger. The wolf is coming to destroy you. The wolf is coming to tear you apart and consume you, leaving nothing but a lifeless pile of bones.

You panic, but don’t know what to do. The wolf senses your panicked confusion and pounces toward you, bounding over the grass in gigantic strides. You freeze in fear and await certain death. The wolf is going to get you.

But, just as the wolf takes his final leap to snatch you, the shepherd steps in between you and the wolf. The shepherd blocks the wolf with his staff and the wolf turns his attack to the shepherd. The wolf’s long, sharp teeth tear at the shepherd’s flesh bringing forth blood and agony as the shepherd offers Himself to the wolf in order to protect you. The shepherd continues to give himself to the wolf until the shepherd lies dead in the grass.

All this you watch, trembling with great fear. Now the shepherd is dead. The shepherd gave his life to protect you. But for what purpose? You are now left all alone to face the wolf.

The wolf circles the dead shepherd for a few moments and then slowly moves toward you… licking his lips… already tasting your flesh.

But then, incredibly, the shepherd is back… standing between you and the wolf. He has come back from the dead, and the wolf, seeing the resurrected shepherd flees–with his tail between his legs.

Jesus is the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

You see Jesus’ love for you for you in that He is willing to die to save you. He willingly lays down His life to redeem you. He lays down his life… out of love… for you.

John talks about this love in the epistle reading today, “16By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us,”

And then John teaches what it means to be one of the Good Shepherd’s sheep. Since we know His love, in the same way we should love one another, “and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.”

Jesus cares for us as the shepherd, not as a hired hand. We are to care for one another not as hired hands, but out of great love for one another. We cannot treat each other like rented mules.

We are certainly called to love our own. We are called to look after and love our families. We are called to care for our loved ones. The question is, who are our loved ones?

In marriage men promise to love their wives the way Christ loves the church. That is a heavy responsibility. If a man is out walking with his wife and a big, angry dog approaches, the man’s duty is to step between his wife and the dog and, if necessary, get bitten to protect his wife.

As we marked the remembrance of the sinking of the Titanic on April 15, 1912, it is good to note the many men who gave up their places in the life boats in order to save the women and children.

So, who are your loved ones? As a follower of the Good Shepherd, as one for whom the Good Shepherd has laid down his life, you are called to love not only your family, but you are called to love one another. You cannot treat others like they don’t belong to you. You are united as sheep in the Good Shepherd’s flock. These others belong to you. You belong to them.

You are called to lay down your life for your brothers and sisters. And while we pray it will not come down to actually having to die for one another, you are called to selflessly love one another. To give up your own desires in service to others.

There is great teaching about love in 1 Corinthians 13 which is often read at weddings, but this scripture is not particularly about married love. It is about how you should love one another as fellow sheep in the Good Shepherd’s flock.

With the Good Shepherd you are safe from the wolf; safe from the devil. The devil has no power over you to snatch you away or scatter the flock.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (ESV and my translation) 4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 [Love supports without limits, trusts without limits, hopes without limits, never gives up.]

This is the love you are to have for each other because you have already been saved by the Good Shepherd. This is the kind of love you have for each other because you already are part of the Good Shepherd’s flock. The Good Shepherd is the one who has washed you clean and poured onto you His very name. The Good Shepherd is the one who feeds you with His very Body and Blood, the same body and blood that He offered to the wolf in your place. The Good Shepherd loves you because you are His own.

With the Good Shepherd you are safe from the wolf; safe from the devil. The devil has no power over you to snatch you away or scatter the flock.

But the wolf does not give up easily. He will do all he can to stir up dissension among the sheep. He will do all he can to get the sheep to bite and harass each other. He will try to get you to treat others as if they do not belong to you. He will tempt the sheep to act like there is no shepherd. He will entice the sheep to run away from the Good Shepherd. He will accuse the sheep, telling you that since you are not able to perfectly love one another that you must not really be the Good Shepherd’s sheep. As you deal with others, the devil will try to get you to treat them like rented mules instead of treasuring your fellow sheep in the flock of the Good Shepherd.

But the wolf has no standing. The wolf is powerless against the Good Shepherd. The wolf has been undone through the power of the cross of Christ. So do not give the wolf any leeway. Do not try to fight the wolf on your own as if you could go toe to toe with the Prince of Darkness. Do not engage with the wolf. You will just end up a tasty snack for the evil one.

Rather, resist the devil and he will flee from you. (James 4:7) And when the wolf comes prowling; when the wolf comes stirring trouble; when the wolf comes accusing, simply point him to Jesus, the Good Shepherd, and say, “I belong to Him.”

Amen.

Posted on March 31, 2024 by pastorkevinjud

The Thrill of Victory

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The Festival of the Resurrection of our Lord 2024
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hamilton, Ohio
Pastor Kevin Jud
March 31, 2024
Is. 25:6-9, 1 Cor. 15:1-11, Mark 16:1-8

This is the feast of victory for our God. Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! The Lamb who was slain has begun to reign! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Christ is Risen! He is Risen indeed! Alleluia!

This is the Feast of Victory! Feel the thrill of victory.

What does victory feel like? It feels great to get an A on a test or a promotion at work. It is a great feeling to win a youth soccer game or watch your kid win. Victory feels wonderful.

I am not old enough to remember the feeling when the U.S. won a war, but I imagine the end of World War II must have been just incredible for those at home and those in the fight. The fighting is over. The war is won. The enemy is defeated. The sacrifices have been worth it. Victory is ours.

What does victory feel like? For avid sports fans it is that feeling when your team wins the national championship. Whole cities lose their minds with the elation of being the victorious champions.

Try to imagine for a moment that feeling of victory. The joy…the excitement…the elation…the utter jubilation. Now take that feeling and multiply it by 100…1,000…1 million. This is the Feast of Victory for our God. The Lamb who was slain has begun to reign. Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia! This is the greatest victory of all time. Jesus has the victory and He gives the victory to you.

For those old enough to remember ABC’s Wide World of Sports, there is the thrill of victory… and the agony of defeat. And since we are celebrating victory it means someone has been defeated. Who today suffers the agony of defeat? Christ is Risen! He is Risen indeed! Alleluia!

Early that Sunday morning 2,000 years ago, Jesus emerges from the tomb, alive and well, and sin is defeated, death is defeated, and the devil is defeated. The Lamb of God takes away the sin of the world and the Lamb rises from the dead to show total victory. Christ is Risen! He is Risen indeed! Alleluia!

Jesus defeats sin. Sin is your enemy and your enemy has been defeated. Now sin is tricky. You are a natural born sinner who likes to sin, but as a baptized child of God you are called to struggle against sin. The struggle often does not go well. It is very frustrating to realize you are in bondage to sin and cannot free yourself.

Why are you a sinner? Are you a sinner because you sin, or do you sin because you are a sinner? Which statement is better? I am a sinner because I sin. Or, I sin because I am a sinner. Which is the better answer? It is the second. You sin because you are a sinner. And when did you become a sinner? At the moment of conception. You inherited sin from your father, who got it from his father, all the way back to great-great-grandpa Adam. You sin because you are a sinner and that does not seem fair, but it is the way it is. You try to stop sinning, but, as we talked about a couple of weeks ago you don’t know how bad you truly are until you have tried really hard to be good.

The struggle with sin is frustrating and can lead people to become self-righteous and say, “I might be a sinner, but I am not as bad as that other guy,” Or it can lead you to despair because you can never be good enough. But neither of these is necessary. Jesus has defeated sin. Jesus has cancelled the power of sin. Jesus has victory over sin. Jesus has covered over your sin with His robe of righteousness. While you still struggle with sin and temptation, the war is won. When God looks at you He does not see your sin, but rather He sees Jesus’ perfection covering you. Jesus declares you to be righteous, innocent and blessed. Jesus proclaims your sins are forgiven, and if Jesus declares it, it is true. In Christ you are a saint of God as we hear in 2 Corinthians 5:21 (ESV) 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” You are forgiven all your sins because Jesus’ death and resurrection has been applied to you. Sin has been defeated. Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!

Death has been defeated. Death…is…defeated. This is huge. Anyone who has stood beside the grave of a loved one knows death is the enemy. Death feels so absolute, so devastatingly final. At the grave it really seems that death has the victory, but Jesus’ resurrection changes all of that. Jesus defeats death. As we heard last week at Lazarus’ grave Jesus announces, John 11:25–26 (ESV) 25 … “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. …” In your baptism you have been given the gift of eternal life. Though you die, yet shall you live. As Christians we grieve, but not like those who have no hope, because the grave is not forever. On the Last Day Jesus will call you out of the grave and your spirit and body will be reunited and you will rise up in your perfected, imperishable, immortal body to go and live with Jesus forever, and as St. Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 15:54–57 (ESV) 54 When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” 55 “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” This is the Feast of victory for our God! Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!

Jesus is victorious over the devil. That wily liar has been slithering around since the Garden of Eden repeating his age-old question of temptation, “Did God really say?” The lying devil calls God a liar and your sinful side loves to think that God is lying because your sinful self wants to pursue all kinds of things that God has forbidden. On that Friday, the devil thought the cross was the end of Jesus. The devil thought he was victorious, but the devil was wrong. While the devil did not know it, Jesus conquered Satan on the cross at Golgotha and victory was complete that Sunday morning at the empty tomb.

That Sunday morning Jesus descended into hell to preach a victory sermon to the spirits in prison. As we read in Colossians 2:15 (ESV) 15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.”

This is the feast of victory for our God. You have the thrill of victory. Sin, death and the devil have the agony of defeat.

The devil has been defeated. He has been bound and cast into the bottomless pit. The devil cannot seize you and drag you away. He cannot take hold of you unless you invite him in. Now, the devil is still in the world, and you still need to be on guard against his deceptions and temptations. You need to stay aware of the devil’s yearning to have you stop loving God and stop loving your neighbor and instead follow your own desires and make sin your lifestyle. The devil is wily, but the old evil foe is like a dog on a chain. It is easy to avoid a chained up dog, but he will try to get you to come close and pet him by making sin seem harmless and normal. Do not be fooled. While restrained, the devil can still tempt, so know his temptations. As we learn in James 4:7 (ESV) 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” You do not belong to the devil. You do not answer to the devil.

The devil will try to accuse you of your sins. Rebuke him. Martin Luther wrote in a letter to a friend, “When the devil throws our sins up to us and declares we deserve death and hell, we ought to speak thus: “I admit that I deserve death and hell. What of it? Does this mean that I shall be sentenced to eternal damnation? By no means. For I know One who suffered and made a satisfaction in my behalf. His name is Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Where he is, there I shall be also.” When the devil tries to accuse you, remind the devil that he has been defeated. Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!

This is the feast of victory for our God. You have the thrill of victory. Sin, death and the devil have the agony of defeat.

The victory has been won. The victory is yours in Christ. Today we rejoice as we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus and victory over sin, death and the devil. Today we celebrate Jesus’ resurrection, but this is not a once-a-year celebration. We celebrate victory each Sunday as we remember Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. Each Sunday we remember that greatest Sunday, victory Sunday, as we again receive the gifts of God’s forgiveness and eternal life.

Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!

Amen.

Posted on March 3, 2024 by pastorkevinjud

Ugly, stupid, weak failure

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Lent 3 2024
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hamilton, Ohio
Pastor Kevin Jud
March 3, 2024
Exodus 20:1-17, 1 Cor. 1:18-31, John 2:13-22

My morning routine is when I first get up I turn on the TV news and then pause it. When I get back later to eat breakfast I can watch the news and fast forward through the commercials. I mostly just want to hear about the weather for the day and the commercials feel like a waste of time. Plus they can make me want something that I did not desire before I saw the ad. Advertisers are smart. So often commercials will appeal to our attraction to beauty, intelligence, success and power and they are effective because we like things that are beautiful, intelligent, successful and powerful because we want to be beautiful, intelligent, successful and powerful. The world is all about these things because these things are attractive… it is only natural. As a citizen of the world it is easy to believe these are the most important things of life.

The world tells you that life is all about becoming more beautiful, more intelligent, more successful and more powerful, and then you come in here on a Sunday morning and you are confronted by Jesus on the cross. Jesus on the cross is ugly. There is nothing smart about the brutal violence and humiliation and suffering of the cross. It is utter failure and helplessness.

Being far removed from actual crucifixions you can lose the complete sense of how awful crucifixion was and how it was only used against the worst rebels and criminals. By design, it is one of the most shameful, degrading, agonizing ways to die. The one being crucified is completely at the mercy of those around him and little mercy is shown. The arms of the condemned are stretched out and nailed to a beam so that his hands are useless and his shameful nakedness is on display to all. Hanging like that, the prisoner’s chest juts forward and he is forced to work at exhaling instead of inhaling and he will quickly grow exhausted and die of suffocation. So, in order to slow down the process the Romans nail the prisoner’s feet to a board so the condemned can push up against the nails and catch a small breath before being overwhelmed by the pain. They might also perhaps put a small piece of wood under his backside so the one being crucified will squirm in agony against the nails; desperate to catch a breath; feeling always like he is on the verge of suffocation hour after hour. The Romans perfected this horrifying method of execution so they could get prisoner to last two or three days on the cross constantly praying to die. Through this process the condemned one is so broken and humiliated that anyone observing would declare, “Whatever happens, I do not want to die like that.” Crucifixion is utter powerlessness.

When you think about God and what is God like, what words come to mind? God is good, gracious, faithful, eternal, immutable, almighty, omniscient, omnipresent, holy, just, love. When you think about how you expect God to act, it is easy to want to think that God is all about beauty, intelligence, success and power. It is easy to fall into thinking like the Jews that you want God to work signs. Like King Herod you want Jesus to perform at your command. You want to see Jesus’ beauty, intelligence, success and power. It only makes sense… but then there is the cross. The bloody, awful cross slaps you in the face with the truth that God’s ways are not your ways. The ways of the world and the ways of God are different. As you are repulsed by the cross and are tempted to seek a cleaner, more beautiful savior, the words Jesus used to rebuke Peter echo in your mind. Mark 8:33 (ESV) 33 … “Get behind me, Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”

The cross is awful, but to want Jesus to skip the cross is satanic. The wisdom of God is found at the cross of Christ. The power of God is found at the cross. Jesus’ strength is found in His weakness.

You come to the throne of God in weakness. The world is impressed by beauty, intelligence, success and power, but Jesus is not impressed. Jesus does not care about that. Mark 10:13–16 (ESV) 13 And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. 14 But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. 15 Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” 16 And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them.

You come to Jesus as a helpless, needy child. You come to Him not based on who you are but based on who He is. You come to Jesus poor in spirit, empty handed, with nothing but your sin and guilt.

Being a Christian is not about being beautiful, intelligent, successful and powerful. It is admitting that you are an ugly, stupid, weak, failure. This is why Christianity is foolishness to the world. The word of the cross is folly. How could anything good come from something so awful? The world rejects Christ on the cross because it exposes their failure and weakness when trying to be good enough.

So many churches, especially it seems the mega churches, have pushed the cross of Christ out of its center place and instead teach a message that if you are faithful enough God will bless you with beauty, intelligence, success and power. Joel Osteen teaches that you can speak these things into existence by your words. “I am beautiful. I am intelligent. I am successful. I am powerful.” Sadly there was a shooter that came into his church a couple of weeks ago, but I bring him up because he is one of the most prominent preachers in one of the biggest churches in America. But it certainly seems like the cross is foolishness to Joel Osteen.

The message of the cross is foolishness to these folks because they are teaching that the good news of Christianity is achieving the American dream. In a gospel of success there is no room for the cross and often there is no cross visible in their worship space. The people come to church not because they know they are broken and weak, but so they can find out how to be successful in life. What they receive is not the Good News; not the Gospel of Christ. They receive a damning message of “try harder, do more, do better.” Each week they return to hear again how they can improve if they just do better. They hear how they can achieve beauty, intelligence, success and power. The world seeks after these things but they are all temporary things of this life – just fleeting objectives that quickly disappear like a morning mist.

Paul warns Timothy that this will happen. 2 Timothy 4:3–4 (ESV) 3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.”

Jesus covers over your ugly, stupid, failing weakness with His perfection. Jesus clothes you in the robe of His righteousness. He gives you heavenly beauty. He gives you eternal wisdom. He makes you His own child, a member of the King’s family. He gives you the crown of eternal life and the unsearchable riches of Christ.

When people make up a new religion they take Christ off the cross or minimize the cross. Muslims teach that Jesus did not die on the cross, only someone who looked like him. Mormons teach that Jesus atoned for sin in the Garden of Gethsemane and not on the cross. Jehovah’s Witnesses teach that Jesus died on a stake and that the use of a cross is idolatry. They want nothing to do with the cross.

We preach Christ crucified.

You come into the presence of God here, by getting on your knees and confessing that you are a poor, miserable sinner who deserves punishment, now and forever. You come to God on your knees admitting your ugly, stupid, failing weakness. Somehow I don’t think that will make for a very pithy church sign. You come to God in ugly honesty. You come to the cross of Christ and Jesus pours out His forgiveness on you. His weakness is His power. His foolishness is wisdom for eternity.

Jesus covers over your ugly, stupid, failing weakness with His perfection. Jesus clothes you in the robe of His righteousness. He gives you heavenly beauty. He gives you eternal wisdom. He makes you His own child, a member of the King’s family. He gives you the crown of eternal life and the unsearchable riches of Christ.

The cross is offensive to the world, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. And so we preach Christ crucified even though it is a stumbling block and considered foolishness. We have no other option. You called me to be your pastor to preach Christ crucified to you.

Christianity is not a set of philosophical principles to help you get along with others and improve your life. Christianity is not about making you beautiful, intelligent, successful and powerful. Christianity is Christ on the cross for you. It is Christ risen from the dead for you. Christianity is you bringing nothing but sin to Jesus and receiving from Jesus forgiveness and eternal life. It is not about you. It is about Jesus for you. Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord. Amen.