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Pentecost 26, 2024 Proper 28
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hamilton, Ohio
Pastor Kevin Jud
November 17, 2024
Daniel 12:1-3, Hebrews 10:11-25, Mark 13:1-13

Sermons online: 
Text and Audio:         immanuelhamiltonchurch.com   click “sermons”
Text:                           pastorjud.org  
Audio:                         pastorjud.podbean.com 
itunes:                         bit.ly/pastorjud
Full Service Audio:    bit.ly/ImmanuelWorship

            There is a great difficulty in being a Christian who comes to church; it is the hypocrisy; the hypocrisy of a broken person coming into a holy place.  You are called to be perfect in Christ — to love God and love your neighbor — and you try. Sometimes you do ok and other times you fail miserably.  Over and over you fail to live up to being who you are as a Christian and you still come to Church to gather with others and you think, “If these people only knew the real me.  If they knew my struggles…if they knew my failures…they would kick me out and forbid me to return.”  If only they knew…but they do know.  They know about you, because they are thinking the same thing about themselves.  It is shocking hypocrisy.  This church is full of sinners and the one up front is the worst. 

I’ve told Bible class groups, but I’m not sure if I have ever said it in a sermon. After I graduated from seminary and was driving up to Hamilton from St. Louis I feared God would strike me dead before He would ever let me become a pastor.  I had gotten through seminary and field work and vicarage and driving up it struck me that this is all for nothing.  Who am I fooling?  God will never allow this.  Pastors are good people and I am not a good person.  Well…God let me to live…and be ordained and has allowed me to serve here for 23 years.  Apparently God really can use broken people. 

            The church here is full of broken people.  This is most certainly true.  But do you know what else is most certainly true?  The church here is full of perfect people.  You are perfect.  I am perfect. Jesus has declared it to be so.  Jesus declares broken people to be perfect, because Jesus is the single sacrifice for sins.  Hebrews 10:14 (ESV) 14 For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.”  He has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.

            To be sanctified is to be made holy.  You are perfect in Jesus – righteous, innocent and blessed — and you are being made holy.  This is quite a paradox.  You are holy and you are being made holy at the same time.

            You have been forgiven in Christ.  Jesus promises, Hebrews 10:17 (ESV) 17 … “I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.”  You are safe in Jesus’ love.  Romans 8:35–39 (ESV) 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  Nothing can separate you from the love of God in Christ Jesus. 

            You are more than a conqueror through Jesus.  You have been made perfect in Jesus and He will not remember your sin.  In Christ, you are well equipped for the challenges of life in this world as you wait for Jesus to return.  You are ready for Jesus to return, but for now…you have to wait.  And the wait can be long and difficult.

            The day is coming.  The day is coming when Jesus will return and it will be the end; and a new beginning. I think we sometimes have the sense that the goal of the Christian life is to die and go to heaven as if that is the end.  Certainly, many from our fellowship have died and their spirits are at peace with the Lord, but their bodies are still in the cemetery.  They are at peace, but there is still evil in the world.  There is still violence and anger and hatred and selfishness — and sickness and injury and disability and death.  Those who have died are at peace, but you are still in the struggle.  You are still looking for Jesus to return and eliminate evil forever and raise the dead. 

            The day is coming, as we hear in our reading from Daniel 12:1–2 (ESV) 1 “…there shall be a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time. But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book. 2 And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.”

            There shall be a time of trouble.  In our Gospel reading Jesus warns the disciples about the coming destruction of the temple in 70 AD at the hand of the Romans, but it is also a warning for us today waiting for the last day.  Mark 13:5–8 (ESV) 5 And Jesus began to say to them, “See that no one leads you astray. 6 Many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!’ and they will lead many astray. 7 And when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. This must take place, but the end is not yet. 8 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. These are but the beginning of the birth pains.”  The wait for Jesus’ return will be tumultuous and difficult. 

            Mark 13:9–13 (ESV) 9 “…be on your guard. For they will deliver you over to councils, and you will be beaten in synagogues, and you will stand before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them. 10 And the gospel must first be proclaimed to all nations. 11 And when they bring you to trial and deliver you over, do not be anxious beforehand what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit. 12 And brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death. 13 And you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.”  We see this happening to the apostles in the book of Acts and it is still happening today around the world.  It could happen to you as a follower of Jesus, because the world hates Jesus. 

            You are ready and you are waiting.  So how do you wait?  You gather here each week to receive what you need for the journey.  You have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus.  There is a new and living way to God through Jesus’ flesh who is the once-for-all sacrifice for sin.  He is the sacrifice and He is the great High Priest.  How do you wait?  The most powerful thing you can do during the wait is to come to church and be a part of a congregation of Christians as we read in Hebrews 10:22 (ESV) 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.”  As a baptized follower of Jesus, washed with pure water, you come into the presence of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit to receive, once again, through your ears and your mouth, the forgiveness of sins in God’s Word and in His precious Body and Blood. Here you are strengthened for the journey and preserved for everlasting life.  You worship during the wait.

            How do you wait?  Hebrews 10:23 (ESV) 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.”  As Jesus teaches, John 8:31–32 (ESV) 31 … “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”  Hold fast to the truth of scripture.  Strive to know the truth so well that you can easily spot counterfeit teaching.  You study during the wait. 

            How do you wait?  Hebrews 10:24–25 (ESV) 24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”  You gather as the fellowship of believers to be encouraged to do acts of mercy and witness.

            Gathered together you inspire each other to love and to service.  By the physical act of fellowship together in person you encourage one another.  By knowing that your struggles are not yours alone but the common struggles of all Christians, you are able to carry on as broken people made perfect in Christ.  It can be lonely to be a Christ-follower in a world that hates Jesus, but knowing that you are not alone in this world of falsehood and hatred strengthens you for the journey.  For families raising children in this sin sick world it is good to know you have a support system here to help.  You are not alone.

            Worship, Study, Mercy, Witness, Fellowship.  Come to church each week to join with your fellow believers as you wait for Jesus to return.  Come to church each week until the time comes that you are physically unable to get to church and then we will bring church to you.  Make church attendance each week a top priority.  You know this, of course.  You are here, I am preaching to the choir.  You are ready now and you are waiting for Jesus. 

            The day is drawing near.  Jesus is coming back.  Stay ready.  Keep waiting. “The one who remains to the end will be saved.”  Amen. 

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Reformation Day 2024
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hamilton, Ohio
Pastor Kevin Jud
October 27, 2024

Sermons online: 
Text and Audio:         immanuelhamiltonchurch.com   click “sermons”
Text:                           pastorjud.org   
Audio:                         pastorjud.podbean.com 
itunes:                         bit.ly/pastorjud
Full Service Audio:    bit.ly/ImmanuelWorship

            Today we celebrate Reformation Day.  We remember Martin Luther nailing the 95 theses to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg Germany on the Eve of All Saints Day in the year 1517.  This call for debate on the sale of indulgences began the Reformation of the church and led to the Lutheran Church coming into existence. 

I confess that I may have, at times, turned the Reformation Day sermon into a sort of pep rally for Lutheranism, but I have  not yet in the cheerleaders from school to lead us in a rousing chant, “Lutherans are ready… Lutherans are smooth… Lutherans will take control and stomp all over you!”  I haven’t gone that far for Reformation Day, but it certainly seems to be a day to be proud to be Lutheran.  Proud to be Lutheran!  But wait…is that an okay thing to say?  In the Gospel of Mark we learn that pride is one of evils that come from the heart of man. And, interestingly, what Luther rediscovered about humanity in Holy Scripture is not a source of pride.

            The beginning of the Reformation came from Luther questioning the sale of indulgences which promised to remit all earthly punishments for sin for someone who is alive.  Or, an indulgence could be purchased for someone who had died with the promise that they would spring from purgatory as soon as the coin in the coffer clings. 

As a Lutheran pastor I am not overly familiar with the teachings about purgatory, so, at a casual discussion group I was chatting with a young Catholic priest and he talked about the dignity of purgatory.  He said a person has dignity because they suffer on account of their sins either in this life, doing penance, or in purgatory.  Now, dignity means to be worthy of honor or respect.  Does the Bible teach that you have dignity because of your actions?  Is there dignity in the doing? 

            Even today, for Roman Catholics who want to avoid purgatory, they can still get an indulgence.  You cannot buy one, but a quick internet search shows there are still many ways to earn a plenary indulgence which is the full remission of the earthly penalty for your sins.  You can earn one each day, by being in a state of grace and with a proper disposition, go to confession, receive communion, and pray for the intentions of the pope.  You can apply the indulgence to yourself or to someone who has died.  In 2025 you can earn two indulgences each day because the pope has declared it is a jubilee year.  For the jubilee year there is a detailed list of many ways to earn an indulgence; you can go on a pilgrimage, perform an act of mercy, fast from social media, and many other things.  From these instructions it seems that there is dignity in the doing. 

            But what does the Bible say?  Looking at our Epistle reading from Romans, what can we learn about our dignity?  Romans 3:19 (ESV) 19 Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God.”

            God’s law stops your mouth, leaving you nothing to say in your defense.  The law says you have no excuse.  You get no dignity from the law.  Paul continues, Romans 3:22–23 (ESV) 22 … there is no distinction: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…”  In our gospel reading Jesus teaches more about sin, John 8:34 (ESV) 34 …“Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin.”

            The very difficult thing about Christianity is the knowledge that you cannot save yourself.  As a descendent of Adam and Eve, you are, by nature, sinful and unclean.  You cannot undo that.  The Bible is clear about the source of salvation.  Ephesians 2:8–9 (ESV) 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”  It is utterly humbling to realize that you cannot do it.  There is nothing you can do to save yourself.  With man it is impossible.  You are poor in spirit.  You have nothing to offer God. 

We like to go through life pretending that we are pretty good people and we are doing ok, not like those really bad people, but then we learn from Holy Scripture, Isaiah 64:6 (ESV) 6 We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away. 

            The New Testament is no more encouraging.  1 Peter 1:24–25 (ESV) 24 for “All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, 25 but the word of the Lord remains forever.” And this word is the good news that was preached to you.”

            You are like grass that withers.  Your righteous deeds are like a polluted garment.  You cannot do it.  There is no dignity in your doing. 

            This can make it hard to market Lutheran theology.  “Come to our church and we will let you know that you are a helpless sinner and you can do nothing to save yourself.”  That is not a very positive message.   

            But that is not the whole message.  God’s truth is not all about God’s law.  Romans 3:21–22 (ESV) 21 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe…” 

            Righteousness does not come through the law, but through faith in Jesus Christ.  Romans 3:22–25 (ESV) 22 … there is no distinction: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation (an appeasement) by his blood, to be received by faith. …”

            You can do nothing to merit salvation.  You cannot gain dignity by doing.  It has been done for you.  Jesus did it for you and gives it to you as a gift.  Romans 3:27 (ESV) 27 Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith.  John 8:36 (ESV) 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” 

            You are free in Christ.  You can trust this Good News because Jesus did it all without your help and Jesus does things perfectly.  In Christ you have the perfect promise. 

Which of these two statements gives you more assurance? “I am saved because I believe in Jesus.” Or “I am saved because Jesus died for me.”  If you emphasize your belief you are always left wondering, do I believe enough?  If it is about what Jesus has done, you can trust it completely.  You are saved — because Jesus died for you.  Let the joy of that promise sink in.  The truth is that you can do nothing to aid in your salvation; you have no dignity in the doing, and that is the most joyous truth because it means that you need not doubt.  You need not wonder — have I done enough.  Jesus has done it all. 

            Jesus delivers this saving grace to you in the waters of Holy Baptism, in His Body and Blood in Holy Communion, and in His Word. 

            Lutherans follow scripture alone.  Whatever I teach from this pulpit or in a class, I need to be able to show you where it comes from in the Bible because the Bible is God’s Word.  In scripture you find truth. 

             As Jesus teaches, John 8:31–32 (ESV) 31 … “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”  

            1 Peter 1:24–25 (ESV) 24 … The grass withers, and the flower falls, 25 but the word of the Lord remains forever.” VDMA Verbum Domini Manet in Aeternum.  The word of the Lord remains forever.  This is the motto of the Lutheran Reformation.  So we sing and we pray, “Lord, keep us steadfast in your word.”

            You have the amazing, pure Good News that your sins are forgiven in Jesus.  And today we remember and celebrate the rediscovery of that Good News begun by Martin Luther in Wittenberg.

            Jesus saves you, you do not save yourself.  There is no doubt of what Jesus has done.  You can trust that His redemption of you is complete. And so, while you still struggle with temptation and sin, Jesus has declared you to be a saint; holy, righteous and pure.  The joy and light of Jesus shine forth from you as a redeemed child of God destined for eternal life in the Heavenly City.

            You are destined for eternity with Jesus, but for now there are dangers lurking, so be aware.  The devil will tempt you to believe that you have to do something to complete your salvation; that your sins are forgiven, if, you do your part.  The devil will tempt you to abuse your salvation by acting like an unbeliever following the ways of the world, instead of acting like the saint that you are following the commandments of God.  The devil will try to get you to abandon God’s truth and believe the devil’s lies. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.   

            Today, we celebrate Reformation Day.  We remember a brave, stubborn monk who rediscovered the truth that dignity is not in the doing, or in the buying of an indulgence, or suffering in purgatory, an imaginary place invented by men.  Jesus’ grace is a free gift for all people. 

For questioning indulgences, Martin Luther was kicked out of the Roman Church and sentenced to death.  The penalty for translating the Bible into any language other than Latin was also punishable by death.  So since he was already under a death sentence, and with the protection of his prince, Luther translated the Bible into German so the German people could read the Bible in their own language.  The people could abide in God’s Word and the truth set them free.  Luther gave people the Word of God and churches were able to learn the truth of the Bible. 

Luther did not start something new.  He did not start a new church of the enlightenment period in which he lived in order to make everything make sense.  He did not start a new church that rejected infant baptism and rejected the real presence of Jesus’ Body and Blood in Holy Communion because that just makes more rational sense. Luther did not start something new. Luther went back to an earlier form of the Church when scripture alone was the source of church teaching. Luther called it the Evangelical Church. The Gospel Church.  The Good News Church.  “Lutheran” was first a name coined by Luther’s enemies, but the churches began using the term in the middle of the 16th century to distinguish themselves from Anabaptists and Calvinists.  So now we are called Lutherans and the last Sunday of October each year we remember and celebrate the Reformation.  We are tempted to say, “I’m proud to be Lutheran,” but perhaps it is better to say, “I am thankful to be Lutheran because I know the truth. Jesus has fully redeemed me and I need not doubt God’s promise to me.” 

You know the truth and the truth sets you free.  If the Son sets you free, you are free indeed.  The word of the Lord remains forever.  Amen. 

 

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Pentecost 22, 2024, Proper 24
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hamilton, Ohio
Pastor Kevin Jud
October 20, 2024
Ecclesiastes 5:10-20, Hebrews 4:1-13, Mark 10:23-31

Sermons online: 
Text and Audio:         immanuelhamiltonchurch.com   click “sermons”
Text:                           pastorjud.org   
Audio:                         pastorjud.podbean.com 
itunes:                         bit.ly/pastorjud
Full Service Audio:    bit.ly/ImmanuelWorship

            When I was in my late 20s I went to work as a representative for AAL, Aid Association for Lutherans, which was a forerunner of Thrivent Financial today.  I worked with families regarding their finances, and sold insurance and mutual funds to try to meet their financial needs. I taught people the value of investing money over time to grow wealth.  I taught my children that when they get their first adult job they should invest in their 401K or 403B in their 20s because if they can get a good chunk invested by the age of 30 they should have 40+ years for that money to grow.  It takes as long to double $1,000 to $2,000 as it does to double a $500,000 to $1,000,000.  So, the earlier you start, the more chances of doubling you have.  As you manage money, wise investing is a good thing.  But with money there is always a danger. 

Money is tricky.  If you work hard and control your spending and save money and invest wisely you can end up wealthy.  Or if you are an entrepreneur and build a successful business and employ people, you can be wealthy.  Also, you can work hard and save money and invest and run a business, and circumstances can make money disappear. 

Here, at Immanuel, we have folks that are barely scraping by, we have many who work hard to make ends meet each month, and we have folks that are quite well off.  But no matter how much you have, money is tricky for everyone.  In our Gospel reading today Jesus teaches, Mark 10:24–25 (ESV) 24 …“Children, how difficult it is to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” 

It is impossible for a rich person to enter the kingdom.  Now, you may think, that is bad news for Warren Buffet, good thing I am not rich.  But you are rich.  By world standards, every one of you here is rich.  To be rich by world standards is to have more than one pair of shoes and get to choose what you eat.  In 2019, 85% of Africans lived on less than $5.50 per day.  If you have a roof over your head, clothing and shoes to wear, and food to eat you are rich.  Most of us have far, far more than we need, but how much is enough?

John D. Rockefeller was the founder of the Standard Oil Company and the first billionaire of the United States of America — he was at one time the richest man on Earth.  Rockefeller was once asked by a reporter, “How much money is enough?” He calmly replied, “Just a little bit more.”

            Money is tricky because it is easy to believe you never have enough.  You can feel like you never have enough when you spend everything you have and come up short every month.  You can feel like you never have enough when you are barely making ends meet.  You can feel like you never have enough when you have more money than month and savings and investment accounts grow. 

How much money is enough?  There is an ever present danger to love money.  We all need money, and it is nice to have more money and so the desire to love money is a constant temptation. 

Money is a good gift of God, but oddly enough, loving money will ruin it for you. If you love money you will be like Rockefeller — always wanting more — never satisfied.  In our reading today from Ecclesiastes wealthy King Solomon shares wisdom about money.  Ecclesiastes 5:10 (ESV) 10 He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity.”

            Throughout the Bible you are warned about the love of money.  1 Timothy 6:6–10 (ESV) 6 But godliness with contentment is great gain, 7 for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. 8 But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. 9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.”  The desire to be rich can bring ruin and destruction.  The love of money can cause people to wander away from the faith.

            In our Gospel reading from Mark 10 we learn that it is impossible for you to save yourself.  And yet, you are saved.  You believe Jesus is your Lord and Savior, but your saving faith is not from you, it is a miracle of God.  It is not from your own reason or strength, but the Holy Spirit has called you by the Gospel, enlightened you with His gifts, sanctified and kept you in the true faith. You cannot save yourself.  Jesus saves you.  As Jesus says, Mark 10:27 (ESV) 27 … “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.” 

            Afterwards, in response to Peter saying that the disciples have left everything to follow, Jesus responds with a promise.  Mark 10:29–30 (ESV) 29 Jesus [says], “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, 30 who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life.”

            Jesus promises they will have abundance in this time. Jesus promises you will have abundance in this time.  You have abundance because, as a follower of Jesus, you are content with what you have been given.  Being content brings great joy and thanksgiving for all you have received from God. 

Enjoy what God has given you.  Eat and drink and enjoy the work that God has given you to do, whatever it is.  How wonderful to enjoy your labor and receive wages for doing it.  God’s grace and provision are sufficient for you.  Be content with what you have been given by God — and manage it well. 

Twenty percent of the commandments deal with the sin of coveting.  Coveting is having a sinful desire for what belongs to another.  The opposite of coveting is to be content; to be satisfied with what you have.  Godliness with contentment is great gain.  Godliness with contentment makes you wealthy.  Being content with what you have makes you wealthier than John D. Rockefeller who was never satisfied.  Being content, you are wealthier than Rockefeller who always wanted more.

            You have enough.  God promises, “My grace is sufficient for you.”  You have been rescued from the devil’s darkness and through Jesus you are brought into the kingdom of light and love.  Be content with what you have.  Take Solomon’s teaching to heart and live it out. Ecclesiastes 5:18 (ESV) 18 Behold, what I have seen to be good and fitting is to eat and drink and find enjoyment in all the toil with which one toils under the sun the few days of his life that God has given him, for this is his lot.”

            Enjoy what God has given you.  Eat and drink and enjoy the work that God has given you to do, whatever it is.  How wonderful to enjoy your labor and receive wages for doing it.  God’s grace and provision are sufficient for you.  Be content with what you have been given by God — and manage it well. 

Jesus gave everything for you.  He redeemed you with His holy, precious blood and His suffering and death.  As a baptized child of God, all that you are and all that you have belongs to God.  Be a good steward of God’s body that you care for, and manage well God’s money and God’s possessions He has entrusted to your care.  Work hard in whatever you have been given to do and be a good steward of God’s gifts to you.  If you work hard and you manage money and possessions well they may grow. That growth in God’s gifts gives you more opportunity for tremendous generosity.

            Being content with what God has given you will bring joy.  Rejoice in your toil.  Give thanks for all God has given you to do at school, at work, at home, at church, in the community.  And as Solomon teaches, Ecclesiastes 5:19–20 (ESV) 19 Everyone also to whom God has given wealth and possessions and power to enjoy them, and to accept his lot and rejoice in his toil—this is the gift of God. 20 For he will not much remember the days of his life because God keeps him occupied with joy in his heart.” 

            So, beware the temptation to love money.  Resist the devil and he will flee from you.  Beware the strong desire to never be content with what you have and what you have been given to do.  Beware the love of money.  Beware the devil and the world’s desire to keep you discontent.

The antidote for the love of money is generosity.  Be generous with what you have.  Give a generous, first-fruits offering to the Lord’s church.  Give to deserving charities to help those in need. As you can, directly help out those in need.  Share with others.  Lend without expecting repayment.  Be generous with your wealth and with your time. 

            Jesus gave everything for you.  Enjoy what God has given you.  Be content with what you have.  God’s grace is sufficient for you.  God’s provision is sufficient.  Rejoice in all God has given you.  You have enough.  Amen. 

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Pentecost 21 2024, Proper 23
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hamilton, Ohio
Pastor Kevin Jud
October 13, 2024
Amos 5:6-7, 10-15, Hebrews 3:12-19, Mark 10:17-22

Sermons online: 
Text and Audio:         immanuelhamiltonchurch.com   click “sermons”
Text:                           pastorjud.org   
Audio:                         pastorjud.podbean.com 
itunes:                         bit.ly/pastorjud
Full Service Audio:    bit.ly/ImmanuelWorship

            Elon Musk is needy and helpless.  Jeff Bezos is needy and helpless.  Bill Gates is needy and helpless.  Like everyone else, the very wealthy are needy and helpless, but, far too often, they do not know it. 

The very wealthy can do things that normal people cannot even imagine.  They own islands, airplanes, huge collections of exotic cars, they get things done by using their power, wealth, and influence. They are problem solvers.  The Bill and Melinda Gates foundation has projects going on all around the world dealing with issues of poverty.  They are working improve education, agriculture, health and nutrition in some of the poorest nations.  Jeff Bezos recently gave over $100 million to fight homelessness in the U.S.  In response to Hurricane Helene, Elon Musk sent helicopters into Western North Carolina to set up hundreds of Starlink internet stations so people can get on the internet and be able to communicate and let their families know they are safe. 

Rich people see a problem and have the resources to make things happen and solve the problem.  I would think that to become very wealthy you need to have a “git r done” kind of attitude. The very wealthy are problem solvers. Here is a problem.  How can I fix it? 

            In our Gospel reading today we meet a very wealthy man who is used to solving problems.  He comes to Jesus after Jesus has just finished teaching about children and the Kingdom of Heaven.  Mark 10:15 (ESV) 15 Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.”  Whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.

            Now, the disciples originally tried to keep the children away, but the rich man encounters no interference.  The disciples are likely quite impressed that the rich man is coming to them.  He runs right up to Jesus and kneels before Him and asks, Mark 10:17 (ESV) 17 …“Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”  What does the rich man believe about Jesus?  The man seems to have a high view of Jesus as he genuflects before Him and calls Him “good teacher.”  “Good teacher” is an unusual title in Jewish culture; only God is good.  This prompts Jesus’ response,  Mark 10:18 (ESV) 18 …“Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.”  Does this man know Jesus is God?  Does he think He is a prophet?  Maybe He has heard all Jesus has done and suspects the truth, wonders about the truth, but is not quite ready to believe the truth.  Much like the father of the demon possessed boy who says to Jesus, Mark 9:22, 24 (ESV) 22 … But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us….[, and] “I believe, help my unbelief.” 

            The rich man may suspect Jesus is possibly divine, but does not know what all that means.  There are so many today that have some idea about Jesus, they may say they believe in Jesus, but they misunderstand Him, they do not know who Jesus is and how He works.  They are looking for Jesus to be a helper and a coach and a comforter.  They are looking for Jesus to help them be successful. But Jesus did not come to help you be successful; Jesus came to save you.  The rich man asks a question, but it is the wrong question.  Mark 10:17 (ESV) “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”  It is a very normal question, a very typical question, but it is the wrong question.  Jesus answers him.  Mark 10:19 (ESV) 19 You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’ ”   Basically, all you have to do is keep the 10 commandments. 

            The man answers, Mark 10:20 (ESV) 20 … “Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth.”  This guy believes he is one of the good ones.  He believes that he is good enough.  His wealth is a sign that God is blessing him and he believes he is keeping the commandments.  Now, you know that, 1 John 1:8 (ESV) 8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” But somehow the rich man has convinced himself he is keeping the commandments.  The man is seeking the right thing, but he is asking the wrong question, and he is lying to himself about keeping the commandments.  Jesus looks at him with love and lowers the hammer of the law onto the rich young man with one sentence.   Mark 10:21 (ESV) 21 …“You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; ….”  The man may think he is doing well with the second table of the law, but what about the first table; the commandments about God.  What about the first commandment; you shall have no other Gods? 

            Who or what does the man fear, love and trust?  Does he fear, love and trust God… or money?  Jesus convicts the man with this one sentence. The man realizes that he is not keeping the first commandment and this breaks him.  He is broken by the law of God.  But Jesus does not crush him with the law and leave him crushed.  He invites the man, “…come, follow me.” 

            Jesus loves the man and wants him to be saved, but the man does not follow Jesus.  Something else is more important.  Mark 10:22 (ESV) 22 Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.”

            The man is disheartened because he realizes that he is not good enough.  He realizes that he cannot do it himself.  He realizes that he needs help.  He is wealthy.  He can get things done.  He is a problem solver.  But this is a problem he cannot solve.  He is needy and helpless.  This is a new, confusing sensation for the wealthy man.  He is…needy…and…helpless, like…a…child.  Jesus invites him to follow, but to follow Jesus would be admitting that he is needy.  So, just like the man declared he is keeping commandments 4 to 10 he does not want to admit that he is breaking the first and greatest commandment by loving money more than God… and he walks away.

            This is still a hard lesson today.  This is a most difficult teaching.  You live in a land of great abundance and are constantly tempted to love money and love stuff.  It is way too easy to fear, love and trust in possessions and money and investments.  You worry that if forced to choose between wealth and Jesus you would be sorely tempted to choose wealth.  Wealth is the way of the world.  The world teaches you to love money and use people.  Jesus teaches you to love people and use money.

You know the temptation, so you come here each week and get on your knees and admit you are needy.  You are needy and helpless like a little child.  No matter how much money you have, you are needy and helpless when facing the law of God.

            Jesus’ disciples are also having that same problem. In next week’s Gospel reading, after the rich man went away, Mark 10:23 (ESV) 23 …Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” 

“What must I do to inherit eternal life?” is the wrong question.  There is nothing you can do.  You do not deserve it, you cannot earn it, it can only come as a gift from God.  Salvation comes from God alone.  Jesus is the way, the truth and the life.  With God all things are possible.

            The disciples are amazed.  How can this be?  Everyone wants to be rich.  They believe wealth is a sign of God’s blessing, and yet they just saw a rich man turn his back on Jesus and walk away disheartened.  He could not admit he is a helpless, needy child.  Jesus continues, and notice how He addresses the disciples.  Mark 10:24–25 (ESV) 24 …“Children, how difficult it is to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” 

            A camel…through the eye of a needle…that’s crazy…that’s impossible.  The disciples are confused.  Mark 10:26 (ESV) 26 … “Then who can be saved?”  Mark 10:27 (ESV) 27 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.”  

“What must I do to inherit eternal life?” is the wrong question.  There is nothing you can do.  You do not deserve it, you cannot earn it, it can only come as a gift from God.  Salvation comes from God alone.  Jesus is the way, the truth and the life.  With God all things are possible.

            The rich man in our Gospel reading is needy and helpless.  The very wealthy today are needy and helpless.  You are needy and helpless.  The advantage you have is that you know it.  You know you are a spiritually needy, helpless child, and you know the way of salvation through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.  You are a baptized child of God.  Jesus gave you the gift of the Holy Spirit.  You have heard Jesus’ invitation, “follow me,” and you follow Him because you know He is the Christ, the Son of the Living God. You know you cannot do it on your own. You follow Jesus.  Amen.    

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BULLETIN

SERMON TEXT BELOW

St. Michael and All Angels                
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hamilton, Ohio
Pastor Kevin Jud
September 29, 2024
Daniel 10:10-14, 12:1-3, Revelation 123:7-12, Luke 10:17-20

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            What would it be like to be, right now, in the presence of God — with the angels and the archangels and all the company of heaven? As we read in Daniel 7:9–10 (ESV) 9 “As I looked, thrones were placed, and the Ancient of Days took his seat; his clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames; its wheels were burning fire. 10 A stream of fire issued and came out from before him; a thousand thousands served him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him; the court sat in judgment, and the books were opened.”  In God’s presence there are countless angels all around the throne of God. 

            If you ever had to go to court as the defendant, what kind of representation would you want?  Would you want a lawyer who believes you are totally guilty and who keeps telling the judge how guilty you are and if given the opportunity you will do worse? Because that is what it would be like to have that fallen angel, the devil, representing you before the throne of God.  In the Old Testament in Job and Zechariah we see the devil accusing God’s saints, Job and Joshua, the high priest.  The devil once had a place in the council of angels before the throne of God… and then everything changed. 

            2,000 years ago God the Son leaves heaven to take on human flesh in the womb of the Virgin Mary.  God takes on flesh and the devil sees an opportunity to defeat the Son of God while He is a vulnerable human. 

            The book of Revelation is full of prophetic picture language, but we can clearly see the battle between light and darkness, good and evil, in Revelation 12:4–6 (ESV) 4 [The dragon’s] tail swept down a third of the stars of heaven and cast them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she bore her child he might devour it. 5 She gave birth to a male child, one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, but her child was caught up to God and to his throne, 6 and the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, in which she is to be nourished for 1,260 days.”

            The woman is Mary — and the Church.  Satan uses Herod the Great to try to destroy the Christ child in Bethlehem, but Joseph, Mary and Jesus flee in the middle of the night to Egypt. After returning to Nazareth, Jesus grows to adulthood.  At age 30 He begins His ministry and fulfills His mission of being the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world in Jerusalem on that awful Friday we call Good. The devil uses the Jewish leaders, Jesus’ disciple Judas, Jewish crowds, and the Roman governor to carry out his evil plan to nail Jesus to the cross to die in utter humiliation.  As Jesus declares, “It is finished,” and breathes His last, the devil thinks He has won… but Jesus does not stay dead.  On Sunday morning His tomb is empty. Jesus descends to Hell to preach a victory sermon and He appears to His disciples and over 500 others.  Jesus is victorious over sin, over death and over the devil.  Forty days later Jesus ascends to heaven from the Mount of Olives and arrives at the throne of God.  The devil tried to get rid of the Christ and establish himself as the prince of angels, but he is defeated.  Jesus wins the right to represent fallen humanity and He is the one, Revelation 1:5 (ESV) 5 … who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood”

            In a war of words, Michael and his angels throw Satan and His angels out of heaven and down to earth.  Michael means, “Who is God?”  The answer is, “Jesus is God; the devil is not.”

            There is great joy in heaven at the devil’s eviction. Revelation 12:10–12 (ESV) 10 And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. 11 And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. 12 Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!” 

            There is a cosmic battle of good versus evil; light versus darkness.  The battle in heaven has been won and the evil one and all his angels have been thrown down.  The devil tries to destroy the church, but God’s Church is protected by the Lord.  The Church is built on the rock that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, and the gates of hell will not overcome Christ’s Church.  Who is God? Jesus is God. 

            The devil cannot destroy Jesus.  The devil cannot destroy the Church.  So the devil is going after you. Revelation 12:17 (ESV) 17 Then the dragon became furious with the woman and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus…”

You know the devil is a liar.  He wants to convince you that you can work off your sins, but you know, Ephesians 2:8–9 (ESV) 8 … by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”  

The devil is furious and he is coming after you with his accusations and his lies.  The devil will hold up your evil deeds in front of you and declare that you are a sinner who deserves death and hell.  The devil will tell you that God cannot love you because of your sin, but you can work your way back into His favor by being good enough; that it is all up to you.  Also, the devil will try to convince you that sin is okay, everyone is doing it; you can decide for yourself what is sin and what isn’t.  The devil is clever and the devil is furious, but for a follower of Jesus, the devil is powerless.  For a Christian, the devil is like a 2-year-old having a temper tantrum; lots of bluster — amounting to nothing.  Because you know the truth.  You know that you are a sinner, you readily admit that. You get on your knees each week as we begin worship and confess you are a sinner who deserves death and hell thus rendering the devil’s accusation powerless. 

You know the devil is a liar.  He wants to convince you that you can work off your sins, but you know, Ephesians 2:8–9 (ESV) 8 … by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”  

The devil wants you to embrace sin because sin does not matter, but you know sin is real, and sin is serious because the wages of sin is death, and that is why Jesus had to die for you.  The devil is a furious, powerless liar.  He only has power if you give him power.  You do not belong to the devil.  You belong to Jesus. 

We read in 1 John 2:1 (ESV) 1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.”

The devil wants to act like he has some control; like he has some influence; like he has some power.  But that is the great good news of our reading from Revelation today.  When Jesus ascended to heaven to be your advocate with God the Father, the devil was kicked out of heaven.  The devil cannot accuse you to God.  The devil has no access to God.  Jesus speaks to God the Father on your behalf.  Jesus is your advocate with the Father.  He is your defense attorney and He is the one who paid the penalty.  He also is the prosecutor and the judge.  There is no one in heaven to accuse you, because you are covered by the righteousness of Jesus.  He is the one who has washed you clean and presents you Ephesians 5:27 (ESV) 27 … in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that [you] might be holy and without blemish.”

            The devil tries to accuse you and lie to you, but he is just babbling nonsense.  Don’t listen to him.  Do not give him any power.  You don’t belong to the devil.  Like he did with Eve, the devil wants you to believe that you can be like God, but you cannot be like God.  Remember what the angel Michael’s name means.  “Who is God?”  God is God, and you His beloved creation.  You are the apple of His eye.  You belong to Jesus. 

Jesus has declared that your sins are forgiven and you are holy, innocent and blessed.  Jesus is at the right hand of God declaring this about you to God the Father.  The lying devil is powerless unless you give him power.  Stay alert for his lies.  Ignore his accusations.  You belong to Jesus.  Jesus’ angels defend you.  Let His holy angel be with you, that the evil foe may have no power over you. 

In Martin Luther’s hymn “A Mighty Fortress” there is a stanza about the devil that fits so well with our lesson today. 

3     Though devils all the world should fill,
    All eager to devour us,
We tremble not, we fear no ill;
    They shall not overpow’r us.
This world’s prince may still
Scowl fierce as he will,
    He can harm us none.
    He’s judged; the deed is done;
One little word can fell him.

            One little word.  “Liar!”  Amen

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BULLETIN

SERMON TEXT BELOW

Pentecost 18, 2024, Proper 20
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hamilton, Ohio
September 22, 2024
Pastor Kevin Jud
Jeremiah 11:18-20, James 3:13-4:10, Mark 9:30-37

            The old saying is, “Winning isn’t everything, it’s the only thing.”  You want to win.  You want to be successful.  You want to overcome obstacles and accomplish your dreams.

We love rags to riches stories.  We love to hear about people, who, through hard work and perseverance, accomplish great things.  It is the American dream.  Work hard and achieve greatness.

            We compare ourselves to others in order to see how we are doing.  We keep score so we know we are keeping ahead of others.

            In school we keep score with grades, friends, trophies, clothes, electronics, and the number of likes on Instagram.  As we get older we keep score with houses and cars and paychecks.  Parents keep score by the progress of their children.  “My child learned to walk at 7 months.  He already has 8 teeth.”  Pastors keep score by the size of their congregations and the number of new members. 

            With whom do you compare yourself?  How do you keep score?  How do you know that you are doing better than others?

            Jesus is walking with his disciples coming back from the Mount of Transfiguration on their way to Capernaum.  Along the way Jesus drives out an unclean spirit from a boy after the disciples were unable to do it, and then they continue on their way. As they travel, Jesus teaches the disciples for the second time about what is going to happen to Him.  Mark 9:31-32 (ESV) 31 … “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him. And when he is killed, after three days he will rise.” 32 But they did not understand the saying, and were afraid to ask him.”

            The disciples are following this great teacher Jesus; He is wise, He is powerful, He can do miraculous things.  He is really going places.  The disciples are following Jesus right to the top.

            Jesus tells them what is going to happen, but they are confused.  This doesn’t sound like success.  Taken prisoner, killed, rise again.  Jesus is amazing and powerful and great; so, obviously, He must not know what He is talking about with this getting arrested and getting killed stuff.

            So the disciples ignore this second teaching about Jesus’ arrest, death and resurrection because they know better and they have more important things to worry about…like which of them is the greatest.

            How do you think the disciples keep score?  Maybe it’s who gets to sit next to Jesus at dinner? Maybe who gets to walk next to Jesus? Who gets to hold the money bag? Who Jesus talks with the most? Which of them is the greatest?

            Likely, in this conversation, Peter, James and John are arguing that “who is the greatest” is based on who got to go with Jesus up on the mountain of transfiguration.  The disciples are keeping score.  They want to know where they stand.  They are a lot like us.

            Jesus ignores their conversation as they walk along but after they arrive back at the house in Capernaum Jesus asks, “What were you discussing on the way?”

            The disciples are silent.  They realize their conversation was selfish and self-centered and they are worried that Jesus may have heard them.  They think they understand Jesus, but they do not yet really understand.  Like Adam and Eve hiding from God, the disciples think they can do things and say things without Jesus knowing.

            Jesus sits down and calls the silent twelve to Himself and says, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.”  Wait…what? That does not sound right.  To be first you have to be last? To be first you have to be servant of all?  What is that about?  The disciples must be thinking, “Uh… Jesus.  Uh… we are here because we want to be near your power and greatness because we want power and greatness; so what is all this servant talk?”

            Jesus’ teaching is all backwards.  It is all backwards for the disciples and it is all backwards for you and me.  We want to be great.  We want success.  We want to be winners.  We want to be number one.  But Jesus says that to be first you must be last.  To be number one, you must become servant of all.  Jesus then takes a little child and puts the child in the center of the group and hugs the child.  “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me.”

            Now, at Jesus’ time children have no status. They are helpless, dirty little tots who have no value until they are old enough to do some work, and due to lack of good medical care, half of them won’t even live to see adulthood. Children are fragile, whiny, and needy, and yet Jesus is saying that we are to receive the children in His name.

            The disciples must think, “Children are not great, they have not achieved anything.  We are so much more important than some stupid child…oh…that is the point Jesus is making…we are not more important than a child.”  The disciples are not more important.  You are not more important.  You are a humble servant.  You are a humble servant because the Lord is a humble servant.  Jesus serves you.  Jesus purchased and won you from sin, death and the power of the devil, not with gold or silver but with his holy, precious blood and his innocent suffering and death. 

In the cleansing waters of baptism Jesus sets you apart from the world and calls you to be a servant of all, and as you keep reading the Gospel you see Jesus live this out by being servant of all as He goes to the cross to die for you…to die for the whole world.

By nature you want to succeed.  You want more than others.  You want to be better than others.  You want it to be about me, me, me.  Jesus calls you to give up on greatness and humbly follow Him.

Against your nature you are called to be a servant.  You want to be great.  You want to know you where you stand with others.  Like so many of us, the disciples argue about who is the greatest.

            In our Epistle reading from James we see this very thing warned against. (James 4:1-7 ESV) 1What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? 2You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. 3You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. 4You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 5Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”? 6But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” 7Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

            By nature you want to succeed.  You want more than others.  You want to be better than others.  You want it to be about me, me, me.  Jesus calls you to give up on greatness and humbly follow Him.

            You have been marked by the cross of Christ.  You have been baptized into Christ.  You belong to Jesus.  You don’t have to do anything to make yourself great because you have been given the riches of the Kingdom of Heaven.  You are destined to live forever in the presence of the Lamb of God basking in His light in the Heavenly City of New Jerusalem.

            Jesus promises that one day you will live in His presence forever, but for now, you live here on earth in love and service for one another.  You support each other.  You work hard in service to your family; to your brothers and sisters in Christ, to your neighbor.  You work hard — not to achieve greatness, but in service to others.  You give of your time for others.  You give your money for others.  You give your life for others.  You are called to be a servant to all because you are already a child of God. 

            Success, greatness, and winning, these things are important to the world, but they are not important to God. 

            Many churches have become quite large and many pastors have become quite wealthy by preaching about how to achieve success and greatness in the world; which is exactly what peoples’ itching ears want to hear.  But this is not Jesus’ teaching.  This is the world’s teaching. 

            You are right now in the Kingdom of Heaven because the work of salvation has already been done for you by Jesus.  As a follower of Jesus, you live and work in humble service.  “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.”  Amen.