Christ is Coming!

²⁵ “There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. ²⁶ Men will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. ²⁷ At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. ²⁸ When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”

²⁹ He told them this parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees. ³⁰ When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near. ³¹ Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near.

³² “I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. ³³ Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

³⁴ “Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap. ³⁵ For it will come upon all those who live on the face of the whole earth. ³⁶ Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.”

“Band Ten hut!” I was in a marching band when I was in high-school, and everyone in the band knew exactly what to do when they heard that command. Stop whatever you're doing; stand at attention and listen closely to whatever instructions followed. You had to listen because what followed was probably something important that you needed to know. I'm sure that those of you with military experience could tell us that it was no joke when you got called to attention. It was important that you'd stand up and listen.

Jesus calls us to attention in today's Gospel. As well he should. It's the season of advent, when we talk about his coming. We're getting ready to celebrate his first coming, and we're preparing for his second coming as well. So he has some important instructions for us to follow as we wait for the last day. He tells us to stand tall and to stand firm.

Jesus gives us a glimpse of what it will be like when he returns. He says, “There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. ²⁶ Men will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken.” It doesn't sound like it would be very easy to stand tall in that situation. The picture that Jesus just painted with his words here actually sounds kind of frightening. Everything is gonna change. The sun and the moon and the stars – the things that we think of as the most stable things imaginable in this world – are gonna be shaken. And Jesus says that plenty of people are going to be afraid, even to the point that they faint. Things are gonna get crazy, and it might not be the easiest thing in the world to stand tall in the face of all of that.

In fact, we've seen some of these things start to happen already, haven't we? This drought that our land has been plagued with reminds us that this world isn't going to be around forever. And how about the verse that says, “nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea”? Doesn't that sound a little bit like what the people on the east coast went through a little while ago? These things are signs that Christ is coming. Think about it this way: How do you know that Christmas is coming up? You see the decorations in the streets, you see commercials on tv, you hear Christmas music on the radio. All these things remind you that Christmas is on its way. The same is true with these signs of the end. They remind us that Christ is on his way. Jesus put it this way: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees. ³⁰ When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near. ³¹ Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near.” It'd be pretty terrible if we didn't recognize these signs and listen to the warning they have for us. We'd probably be pretty frightened if we weren't ready when Jesus came back. And plenty of people will be afraid on that last day because they'll fear Jesus' judgment. And they have good reason for that. All these signs of the earth coming to an end remind us of the consequences of sin – destruction and death. And, really, that's what we all deserve because of our sin too. For all the times that that we've thought of God and his Word as anything but the most important thing in our lives, we deserve judgment. And Jesus' call to attention today tells us that we should stand tall when he returns? How could we possibly stand tall when we realize the judgment that we deserve? Jesus tells us where we find that courage and confidence. He said, “At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. ²⁸ When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” We don't need to be afraid of Jesus coming back. You see, for us, Jesus' return doesn't signify judgment. For us, Jesus' return means redemption. When Jesus came the first time, he redeemed us with his death on the cross. When he returns a second time, he's gonna take us away from all the bad things that happen in this world. So, when he comes, we'll stand tall, excited and ready to spend eternity with our God.

So, Jesus has told us what to do when that last day comes – stand tall and lift up your heads. In the next few verses, he has some instructions for what we should do in the mean time while we wait for that last day. He tells us that we should also stand firm.

It's important that we stand firm because there will be distractions. Jesus tells us, “Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap.” Jesus gets pretty pointed here, naming a couple specific ways that people can get distracted. He tells us to avoid those. The first thing he tells us to avoid is dissipation and drunkenness. “Dissipation” isn't a word we use too much in every day life. Maybe another way to say it would be, “indulgence”. Instead of living a life of indulgence, deny yourself and stand firm while you wait for Jesus to return.

The second thing that he warns us about is “the anxieties of life”. Do you ever find yourself so busy during a day, running from one appointment to another, that you forget to set aside time to spend with God in his Word? Or maybe you're just so exhausted when you come home from work that you just don't have the energy to focus on anything, including your personal devotions. It's probably true of all of us that in one way or another we've been distracted from what's really important by the things of this life. This should not be. That is exactly how people would get distracted and have the last day close on them “like a trap”.

But Jesus knows that we're sinful people and that we'll be tempted to get distracted sometimes. So he tells us how to avoid that. He said, “Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.” Jesus has warned us that bad things are gonna happen. He tells us to watch out, so that we won't be surprised or caught off guard by them. When you're ready for these bad things to happen, you won't be afraid of them, because they will remind you that Jesus is coming soon to take you to be with him.

And he tells us to pray that we won't be overwhelmed by the bad things that will happen. The wonderful thing about this command to pray is that Jesus tells us right here the kind of answer we can expect. He says, “my words will never pass away.” You realize what that means that none of God's promises will ever pass away? Jesus said, “It is finished.” That's never going to change. And God said that nothing can separate you from his love. When we root ourselves in these promises, that's how we stand firm.

There are all sorts of things vying for your attention at this time of year. It'd be easy to get distracted from what's really important. So, as we prepare to celebrate Christ's first coming in a few weeks, we realize that we also prepare for his second coming. We prepare for both by listening to Jesus' call for our attention today. That we stand tall when he comes back, and stand firm until then.

Keep Christ

People look forward to this time of year for a lot of different reasons. Some people look forward to some time off from work. Others get excited about spending some time with relatives. Lots of people look forward to unwrapping presents on Christmas.

If you think about it, none of those things are really unique to Christmastime. You probably get some time off of work periodically throughout the year. You may get to see members of your family at other times as well. Plenty of people get birthday presents as well as Christmas presents. There is, however, one part of Christmas that's unheard of at any other time of the year.

Christmas music! It's the only Christmas tradition that I can think of that has a generally accepted rule about when you can observe it. No Christmas music until after Thanksgiving. To be honest, I've never quite understood that rule. If Christmas music is something that makes you happy, why not listen to it all year?

Unfortunately, there might be one other thing that is only socially acceptable to talk about at Christmastime – Christ. I always cringe a little bit when I hear someone say, “Keep Christ in Christmas.” Now, I can understand that statement properly. We want to make sure that our focus is on the Word becoming flesh, which is the reason for our joy this time of year. That's good. I'm all for keeping Christ in Christmas, but I don't want to leave him there. I want us to take him with us throughout the rest of the year as well. So, let's keep Christ in December 26^th, after you've thrown away all the wrapping paper. Keep Christ in January 7^th, after you've put all the decorations away. And keep Christ in June 6^th as well, because he's the reason for our joy then too. 

Luke 2:10,11 tells us about the reason for our joy. It says, “But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.'” This joyful message didn't just stay with the shepherds in the fields that night. It was intended for all people of all time, and it's repeated all over the world every year. It brings joy to all of us because everyone has a need for a Savior. That need is fulfilled by Jesus. May this good news bring you joy this Christmas season, and may it continue to give you joy throughout the months and years to come.

Bless the one whose grace unbounded has this wondrous supper founded.

Of all the ministry experiences I've had, few are more remarkable than distributing communion.  I enjoy seeing the fruits of hard work pay off in a sermon.  I appreciate the opportunity to share the gospel with someone who is confined to a nursing home bed.  I know that God works through his gospel, whether it's preached from a pulpit or a living room.  But that is never so evident as during the distribution of the Lord's Supper.

I've had the opportunity to commune the pastor that confirmed me.  I've communed pastors that taught me in high-school and encouraged me to enter the ministry.  I've communed the pastor who will write my vicar report.  I've communed my parents.  When I have given the Lord's body and blood to these people, it's so obvious that it's God working...not me.  "May this true body and blood strengthen and preserve you until life everlasting.  Depart in peace; your sins are forgiven."  That has nothing to do with me; it's all God.  And that's awesome.

Today I got to give someone his¹first communion.  It was so exciting to get to pronounce the forgiveness of sins to someone in such a tangible way for the very first time.  Now, every first communion may not be quite as exciting as this one was. However, I pray that I never lose appreciation for the fact that God has used me to accomplish such an awesome task.

To God be the glory!

---

1 Just like with my last blog, the gender of a person who is mentioned in a post may or may not correspond with reality.^↩

Winning!

You remember when Charlie Sheen went crazy?  There he was, the star of television's #1 comedy.  Then, in a matter of a few days, he threw it all away.  His motto during all of this?  "Winning!"

It was pretty obvious to even the casual observer that Charlie Sheen wasn't making winning choices.  Actually, you could say that those choices made a winner into a loser.  People make all sorts of losing choices every day, but, most often, they're far less obvious than a Charlie Sheen type bender.

So where do you look for your victory?  Lots of people seek victory in their employment.  While your earthly vocation certainly provides you with meaningful opportunities, it's not going to last forever, and any job can take a turn for the worse without much warning.  Lots of people try to "win" by seeking the approval of others.  While it's not bad to do your best to please a spouse, employer or parent, it's not their approval that matters in the end.  I'm obviously not going to be able to name everyone's personal quest for victory here.  But it's something for you to reflect upon.

Where should we look for victory?  Is it too simple to say, "Jesus"?  Today was, "Saints Triumphant" Sunday in the church year.  It's the day that we celebrate the victory that is ours because of Jesus.  Today's second lesson was from Hebrews chapter ten.  Look at verse 17:

         “Their sins and lawless acts
         I will remember no more.”
Now that's winning.  God has put our sins completely out of his memory.  He's forgotten them.  This is our victory.  So, if you, as a Christian, claim to be, "Winning!" it'll be true.
Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through Jesus Christ our Lord!

Honor Jesus

¹⁹ Jesus gave them this answer: “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. ²⁰ For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, to your amazement he will show him even greater things than these. ²¹ For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it. ²² Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, ²³ that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him.

Last year, while I was at seminary, I worked a retail job at a store in a rather affluent part of the community. Sometimes people's behavior would shock me. They'd just about throw a temper tantrum if we didn't have this or that product just the way they wanted it. Most of the time, dealing with these customers was the most frustrating part of the job. But, a couple times, after such a person would leave the store, another employee would say, “Do you know who that was?” Then I'd find out that I had just checked out a professional athlete or a newspaper writer or an executive from a major company. Now, this didn't necessarily make these sorts of encounters any more pleasant, but it changed my perspective a little bit. Rather than feeling annoyed that I had to deal with people with an unrivaled sense of entitlement, I maybe felt a little bit important because I was brushing shoulders with some big shots. It certainly made me wonder how I would have treated them differently had I recognized who they were.

Today is Last Judgment Sunday. You probably realized from the other readings that this is the Sunday in the church year when we focus our thoughts on Jesus' return. As we say in the Apostles' Creed, he'll return to judge the living and the dead. When you realize this about Jesus, you'll naturally give him the honor he deserves. So, honor Jesus because he is your God and your gracious judge.

In the section just before we pick up our text for today, there were some Jews who would've treated Jesus quite a bit differently if only they had recognized him for who he was. They were upset by some of the things he said, specifically that he claimed to be God, so they persecuted and tried to kill him. They probably wouldn't have done that if they had recognized that his claims were true.

People today are still offended by some of the things Jesus says, aren't they? People are offended when Jesus says that he should come first rather than family. People don't like it when Jesus tells them to give up whatever's gonna get in the way of a good relationship with him. People think that it's simply unloving that Jesus refers to himself as “the way” rather than “a way”.

Do you see any of that in yourself? We may not like it when we hear Jesus tells us to turn the other cheek or to love our enemies. Our sinful, human nature wants to rebel against words like those. And sometimes we do rebel. So we, too, need to recognize Jesus for who he is. We need to honor him as God.

But if we're gonna honor someone as God, we want to be absolutely sure that they deserve such honor. So, how can we be so sure that Jesus is true God? Well, we see a couple proofs of that in our text today. When the Jews got upset with Jesus for claiming to be God's Son, he said, ““I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.” Jesus tells us here that he really is God. He's so equal to the Father that he saw whatever the Father was doing and he acted in perfect harmony. It's only because Jesus was true God that he was able to act in perfect harmony with God's will. Because you and I are sinful people, we can't do that. We come up short. So we needed someone to live the perfect life that we couldn't. And Jesus was the one who could do that, and did, because he is true God.

In fact, Jesus couldn't have done anything differently. He is so equal to the father that it would be impossible for the two to be at odds. This can be said only of Jesus, who, as we confess in the Nicene creed, is, “one being with the Father.” He drives that point home very clearly here. The Jews were upset with him for making himself equal with God, so he told them in some pretty clear terms here, “I really am God.”

So, Jesus has claimed to be God. But then he went on to say, “the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does.” Now, at this point you might be thinking, “Wait a second, doesn't Jesus already know everything?” Well, yes. Jesus is true God and, as true God, knows everything. But while Jesus was on earth he didn't always use his divine attributes as much as he could. This is why he was born as an infant that communicated by crying. This is why he sat at the feet of the teachers in the temple, asking them questions. He didn't always make use of his omniscience, but he certainly always had it.

But, even at this time when Jesus didn't make use of this knowledge, the Father loved the Son, and showed him all that he did. This really is just another demonstration of Jesus' oneness with the Father. Even while Jesus was in his state of humiliation, the Father loved and blessed him so much that he gave Jesus this special knowledge. That's not something that God does to simple, sinful human beings. Jesus demonstrated his divinity in what he knew and did, in that it demonstrated his oneness with the Father.

So, these verses show us pretty clearly that Jesus truly is God. But why is it important for us to recognize that? Well, it's crucial for us to recognize that Jesus is God because it was his divinity that enabled him to redeem us. Because he is true God, he was able to live a life that was free from sin. And it's only because he is true God that his perfect life and sacrificial death count for everyone. And then, because he was God, he rose again. You see, it's so important for us to recognize and honor Jesus as God because our salvation depends on his divinity. If he hadn't been God, his death couldn't save us. And if he hadn't risen from the dead, we'd have no hope for ourselves.

But Jesus is God. We just saw a couple clear proofs of that. And because he is God, we're confident that our salvation is secure and that he will also raise us from the dead. Verse 21 says, “the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it.” And this is where we get to last judgment Sunday. As God, Jesus will also stand as your judge. So we honor him also, because he is a gracious judge.

Jesus said, “the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, ” On the last day, Jesus will be there as judge. That might be a scary thought for some people. This was certainly intended as a warning for the Jews who refused to honor him in his day, and that warning rings true today too. People recognize Jesus as an important person, a good teacher, a loving leader, but God and judge? Maybe not so much. For someone who only views Jesus as a moral teacher, the thought of him as judge would be pretty scary, because who of us has lived up perfectly to his moral teachings?

But for you, who recognize that Jesus is far more than a moral teacher, the picture of him as judge is comforting. You all know that you've fallen short of God's glory, and that you'll die one day because of it. That'd be a scary thought, if it weren't for the fact that Jesus will be your judge. But because Jesus will be your judge, when you face the final judgment, you will hear the same “not guilty!” verdict that was pronounced to you at your baptism. Just as that not guilty verdict is repeated in the absolution every week in church, so it will be repeated again on the last day. How beautiful it is, that the person who will judge you is the same one that died for you. May that be your comfort as we consider the last judgment today.

So, because Jesus is our gracious judge, we give him all glory. Jesus said, “all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him.” This is how we praise God. God has revealed himself to us in Jesus, so we give him all the honor that he deserves. And this comes naturally when we realize that Jesus is God incarnate, who has forgiven all of our sins and who will graciously judge us on the last day. In thanksgiving, we worship him, just as we worship the Father.

There were a few times at my last job where I was a little bit embarrassed for not putting my best foot forward when there was an important person around. But you know who Jesus is, so honor him. Give him all the honor and glory and praise that he deserves, because he is your God and your gracious judge. Amen.

1 John 3:16-18

The sermon that I preached on 10/14

¹⁶ This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. ¹⁷ If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? ¹⁸ Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.

In 1993, while on a trip to Sudan, a photographer by the name of Kevin Carter took one of the more remarkable photos of all time. Maybe you've seen it. Just outside a U.N. Feeding center, there's a child hunched over on the ground, with a vulture standing right behind it. This photograph so strikingly captured the starvation that takes place in that part of the world that this photograph won the Pulitzer Prize the following year. But that's not the end of the story. When Carter returned to the US, people wanted to know what happened to the child. All Carter could respond with was, “I don't know.” We might look at a story like that and think, “How could he do that?!” But before we point the finger at him, let's take a look at ourselves. There might be times in our lives when we see someone in need and then just walk away. Our sinful nature wants us to be selfish and think only of our own needs and desires. But In our text today, we see what Christian love really is and how it'll show itself in our lives. As we examine John's words, we'll see that

Christian love is sacrificial

1. He urges us to Know it
2. and to Show it

People talk a lot about love in the world today. They say that the world would be a better place if we could all just love each other a little bit more. But what is love? And how do we show love? Well, John tells us pretty clearly in our text, “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.” Now, that's love. This isn't some warm, fuzzy feeling. No, it's far more than that. Jesus shows us here that his love is sacrificial. We had a need. Our sins had separated us from God. But Jesus loved us, so he laid down his life for you. That's how you know what love is.

So, Jesus has shown us the most perfect love there ever was. Now, what's our response to that? Maybe it's too simple for me to just stand up here and say, “Be like Jesus.” But John's instructions for us are basically right along those lines. He says, “we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.” So, be like Jesus. But how do we lay down our lives for our brothers? Well, that's gonna look different in each person's life. Maybe a husband would sacrifice a few minutes of sports center each day to talk and listen to your wife. Perhaps as a father you sacrifice a couple hours at work to spend some time with your kids. A student might drop her homework for a little bit to chat with a friend who's going through a rough time. We could go on all day giving examples of how each one of you could sacrifice for others in the different roles that you fill. But you've gotta make that application for yourself. You know your situations in life a whole lot better than I do, and you know the opportunities that come your way to demonstrate Christ-like, sacrificial love. But no matter what place in life you find yourself in, Jesus' sacrifice for you shows you how you can sacrifice for your brothers and sisters in Christ. When we know this perfect love, we are able to show others love in our own lives.

But if I let any of you leave here with the impression that Jesus laid down his life primarily to give you an example of how you should show love in your life, then I haven't done my job, and we're missing the big picture altogether. Jesus' sacrificial love isn't some story that we listen to on Sunday mornings so that we're better people throughout the week. And it's not just knowledge that we've stored away in our minds along with the other facts of history. Instead, your knowledge of Jesus' love is based on the experiences you've had.. I'm not talking about some mystical experience here. No, I'm talking about the very real, life-changing ways that you have experienced Jesus' love in your life. For example, because of Jesus' sacrificial love, God welcomed you into his family at baptism. The love of Jesus allows you to experience God's peace as you read the promises that God has recorded for us in his Word. You experience Jesus' love every time you receive his body and blood in the Lord's Supper. Jesus' love is far more than an exemplary story.

Let's take a look again at the passage to see exactly why Jesus laid down his life. “Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.” The most important thing for you to know about love is that Jesus loved you enough to lay down his life in your place. Because of that sacrificial act of love, eternal life is yours.

This knowledge of Jesus' sacrificial love for you is really where our conversation about Christian love always needs to start. It's only when we properly know about Jesus' love for us that we're able to show that love to others in our lives.

We have to start there because any Christian love that we have in our hearts is a response to God's grace. Later on in the letter of 1 John there's the familiar passage that says, “We love because God first loved us.” That principle is something that I think we've covered pretty well: Christians love because Jesus loved us. But in the next two verses John gives some pretty specific and striking applications of that principle.

Verse 17 says, “If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?” That's a pretty convicting statement in Scripture, isn't it? I think that, if we're honest, we'll admit that there are some times when we would rather just turn a blind eye to someone in need. Now, let's be clear that this doesn't mean that you should doubt your salvation if you don't donate to every cause that comes along asking for money. No, we're saved by grace alone, not grace plus donations or anything else. But still, the natural conclusion that we come to is this: If Christian love is a fruit of faith, a lack of Christian love shows a serious, spiritual problem. If you know and understand the sacrificial love that Jesus has shown to you, how could you not have compassion on a fellow Christian in need? But, I'm confident that you all know what it's like to feel pity when you see or hear about a fellow believer in need.

But it doesn't stop there with feeling pity. When Jesus saw us in our fallen state, he did more than simply pity us. His compassion moved him to action. It moved him to sacrifice his own life for the sake of ours. The same is true for us. When we see fellow believers in need, we don't simply feel bad for them and then do nothing about it. No, Christian love moves believers to sacrifice in order to meet the needs of others.

John encourages us to demonstrate that love by saying, “Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.” For an example of how to put our love into actions, think about how Jesus interacted with people during his time on earth. The Bible tells us that he had compassion on the crowds that came to him. This compassionate love led him to heal many of their sicknesses and diseases, but there was still more to it than that. He not only took care of their physical needs, but he also shared God's Word with them and prayed for their spiritual condition.

As we show love to fellow Christians, we follow Jesus' model. We show our love in deeds. Those deeds will vary based on the situation we're in. While we can't heal sicknesses like Jesus could, we can provide physical and financial assistance to people in need. Perhaps that would be sending a few dollars to a relative who's fallen upon some tough times. Maybe it would mean donating to a food pantry. But maybe you're not in a position right now where you can give much money to other people. That doesn't mean that you can't show people your love through your actions. As you come across people in your life with needs, you can love them by praying for them. You can love God's people by volunteering your time and talents in the service of the church. However it is that you show love to fellow believers through your actions, all these deeds give thanks to Jesus for the love that he showed us.

While it is true that part of us might want to just turn a blind eye when we see people in need, we can overcome that sinful desire. Listen again to the secret to showing love in our lives: “Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.” When we know that sacrifice and what it means for us, we respond by showing Christian love with our own sacrificial actions.

1 Peter 4

Here's the second sermon that I preached in Brookings, based on 1 Peter 4:12-18:

Can you think of some people who’ve had to suffer just because they’re different? I can think of some people who have. Some people get picked on in school because they look different. They’re maybe too short or too tall, too fat or too skinny. But that seems trivial when you think that people in this country, as recently as sixty years ago, were treated like second class citizens, or even physically harmed simply because of the color of their skin. We could go on and on listing examples of how people suffer for being different. Now, when you imagine these scenarios in your mind, how do the people react when they’re mistreated? The child in school might cry or tell an adult. Those who were denied basic liberties stood up for their rights. One thing is for sure, no matter how many examples we looked at, it’d be hard to find someone who just rejoiced when they were forced to suffer. Well, that’s exactly what Peter says to do in the section of Scripture before us today. He tells us,

Rejoice when you suffer as a Christian

• Because God is with you

• Because God is faithful

Now, this was an especially timely message for Peter's first century audience. Right from the beginning of the letter, Peter mentions that many of them had been going through some painful trials. This was apparently one of the reasons that Peter wrote the letter. He wanted to encourage them and give them some words of wisdom to help them get through their trials.

The first piece of wisdom that we see today is that Peter told them not to be surprised as they faced this suffering. Instead, they should be ready for people to persecute them because of their Christian faith. While they had experienced some suffering already, Peter wanted to prepare them for what was about to come their way. And, apparently, what was about to come their way was going to be a lot more difficult to deal with than anything they had seen before. You see, shortly before Peter wrote this letter, the Roman government had banned Christianity. The worst was on its way. Peter wanted these Christians to expect that, so they'd be ready to face it in a God-pleasing manner.

But what is a God-pleasing response to tribulation? Peter told them to expect it, but how would they actually deal with it when persecution came knocking at their door? How would they react when the authorities would tell these early Christians that they couldn't hold public worship services? How would they react when a loved one faced physical harm? Peter tells them: Rejoice. But he can't be serious, right? I mean, you all know your history. You know the brutal ways that the Romans persecuted the early Christians. How could someone rejoice through all of that? Well, Peter tells these Christians that they can rejoice no matter how bleak their situation may seem because God is with them as they suffer.

• Peter said, “Rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.” Jesus made it clear several times throughout his ministry that his disciples could expect to receive the same kind of treatment that he did. People called Jesus names; the disciples could expect that too. Eventually, Jesus was executed, and the same would happen to some of his followers. But as Jesus' followers would go through these trials, they could rejoice because their Savior wasn't a distant figure that was unable to relate. No, Jesus had gone through all these struggles too, and because he persevered through them all, he won the forgiveness of sins for all people. As Christians struggle to bear their crosses throughout this life, Jesus is with them, ready to remove their pain and give them the crown that he has won for them when the time is right.

Thanks be to God that Jesus' story didn't end with his sufferings on the cross. No, he was raised and glorified and is seated at God's right hand. Peter reminds his audience here that they can expect to be glorified in the end as well. Even if these coming persecutions took their lives, they knew that death wasn't the end for them. When Jesus returns in glory, they will also be glorified. They'll rise from the dead to go to be with God forever. Because of this picture, Christians can rejoice in their sufferings, knowing that they will share in Jesus' glory, just as they have shared in his sufferings.

Peter went on to explain how God is with Christians in the midst of their sufferings by saying, “If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.” With these words, Peter made it clear that the Holy Spirit will accomplish his work despite the sufferings that Christians face. As Christians face these unpleasant trials, God is there, using these events to accomplish his will.

For example, the persecution of Christians helped build the church. First of all, the persecution spread Christians out so that they could reach more people. As Christians were pushed out of one city, they took the gospel message with them to another. And not just that, but the martyrs provided a terrific witness. From our vantage point, we can look back and see how God used these tragic events to spread the gospel. And the gospel spread so quickly that by the end of the apostles' lives, there were Christians all throughout Asia-Minor, and into Europe. God certainly was with the early Christians, allowing their testimony to spread, and because of that they could rejoice.

But even in all of that, the Holy Spirit wasn't just working through these suffering Christians. No, as he stayed with them through all their troubles, he worked on them too. He had created faith in their hearts, and he sustained that faith. So, no matter what they faced, they could rejoice in God's promise that nothing can separate a Christian from God's love. These Christians certainly had plenty of reasons for joy even as Peter warned them that significant trials were on their way.

So, what's the takeaway for us from Peter's words here? First of all, let's be clear that we're certainly deserving of any suffering that comes our way. Because we're sinful people, we deserve not only for difficulty to come into our lives now, but we really deserve to be punished in hell forever. Thanks be to God that he has spared us from that suffering and from many other sufferings in this life as well. As far as we can tell, there's no imminent physical persecution on its way from our government. But that doesn't mean that we're not gonna have any troubles in our lives as Christians. Quite the opposite, Scripture tells us that we have to endure many hardships to enter the kingdom of God. So, we too should be ready for those hardships and not be surprised when they come our way.

And when they do come our way, just like the apostles, we can rejoice that we share in Jesus' sufferings. But, How, today in 2012, might we find ourselves suffering like Jesus did? Think about this:

Jesus had a message that was unpopular with a lot of people in his day. At times the Pharisees tried to trick him into misspeaking. Other times they tried to silence his message so that no one would hear it. In the end, they hated what he had to say so much that they arrested and killed him. While it's unlikely that any of us will be imprisoned or crucified for speaking God's Word, we also have a message that's pretty unpopular today, don't we? You see, the message of the cross is always counter-cultural. While the mantra of society says, “I can do anything I set my mind to” the Christian says, “I can't, but Jesus did.” that doesn't sit too well with man's proud sinful nature. So the sinful man tries to do away with everything that he doesn't like about God's Word. You can expect that people will try to silence your viewpoint when you speak the truth about God's will for our lives. You can expect that the unbelievers you come into contact with will mock you and try to make you sound silly for believing what God has to say about the history of the world. But as we go through these problems, we realize that Jesus has been there. Jesus went through all this and has won the victory for us. So we rejoice.

But there's plenty more reason to rejoice even as we suffer. Not only is God with us as we suffer, but the reason he is with us is because he's faithful. That faithfulness gives us great comfort and allows us to rejoice.

Peter reminded his audience of God's faithfulness by reminding them that judgment was coming. He said, “it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? ¹⁸ And, 'if it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?'”Christians didn't need to fear this judgment because they knew about the ransom that Jesus paid. Yet, While Christians knew that their salvation was secure, they might've been a little bit irked by the fact that the wicked seemed to prosper so much in their world. And While it is true that those who were in power at the time were not friendly to Christians, the day was coming when those rulers would face judgment. Peter pointed his hearers to a teaching that is found throughout Scripture – the way of the wicked will perish.

So, until then, Peter urged them that “those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.” There are a couple points to be highlighted in the name that Peter used for God here. In the title “creator”, God's power is emphasized. God was powerful enough to create the entire universe, he was certainly powerful enough to bring Christians through their trials. This title also points us to God's faithfulness. God has demonstrated his faithfulness ever since creation by sustaining the world and caring for it. So, Christians can rejoice in their tribulations because they have a God who is powerful and faithful, as we see in his creation.

You, too, can be sure of God's faithfulness and rejoice in your sufferings. One reason to rejoice is because you can expect vindication. When people bring trouble to your life, you can keep your coming glory at the front of your mind. You will struggle, but that struggle won't last. Still, it might not always be easy to keep that vision in focus. After all, if you take a look around at the who's who in our country, doesn't it seem like the wicked are doing pretty well? We don't need to name names here, but you can probably think of several examples off the top of your head of people who seem to prosper despite the fact that they lead ungodly lives. But you have chosen what is better. Instead of chasing money or the pleasures of this world, you've clung to the promises of God. Because God has given us that faith and sustained it in us, we can rejoice despite all of our sufferings.

As we rejoice, we're placing our souls into the care of our faithful creator. And because he has faithfully sustained creation, we're confident that he'll sustain us too. After all, The sun comes up day after day. Jesus tells us that God cares for even the seemingly insignificant sparrows. He'll care for us too.

So what's our response now that we have this confidence in God? What will this look like in our lives? We'll continue to do good. We do good even to those who cause trouble for us. That lets our light shine, that they, too, might come to faith in Jesus. And it gives thanks to God, for giving us reason to rejoice no matter what comes our way.

So, while it might not be fun that we have to face trials in this life because of our Christian faith, we still have plenty of reasons to rejoice as we suffer as Christians. We rejoice because our God is with us through it all, and we know that he will be faithful to us no matter what comes our way.

Engagement Revisited

Perhaps it's a little bit cocky to say that I think the post on my previous blog could be valuable resources for people as they face certain issues.  But, if I didn't feel that way, why would I have written them in the first place?  So, if anyone asks for specific posts or topics from my previous blog, I'll look to revisit them here.  Topic #1 is engagement:

"This is a touchy subject. As I begin to write, I find myself hesitant to write because I know I'll need to tread gently due to the life experiences of my potential audience. I pray that I can walk the line to speak authoritatively, but gently. . . .

When you become engaged, to whom are you promising? Your fiance(e).
I know, I've heard people say, 'When you get engaged, you're married in God's eyes.' I don't think I've ever heard this from a pastor or a teacher, so I'm not sure where this thought has come from, but it is wrong! God says that a man will leave his father and mother to become one with his wife. This isn't some bachelor movin' in with his girlfriend. No, it's a young man making his commitment in the eyes of his parents, society and God that he will be united to this woman for the rest of his life. Is this what happens in engagement? His friends may view him as tied down for the rest of his life, but has he voiced this commitment before society and God? No. Society says that in order to be committed for the rest of your life in their eyes, you need to sign on the dotted line along with an authorized representative.

I'ma just come right out and say it: Can you have sex when you're engaged?
. . .
No.
When you've made your promise to another person that you will marry them, you have promised to them that you will commit to them for the rest of your life. You have not publicly pronounced that commitment before God and his people. So, until you make that before God, his people, and his other kingdom (the state), don't do it.

So, if the promise of an engagement is not so binding that you can consummate it, can you break it off at your own will?
Certainly not.
While the commitment you have made is not one that takes place before God and his people, it is a commitment nonetheless. When you say that you will marry someone, you are making a promise. If you promise someone that you'll give them half your cheese curds at lunch and you don't do it, that's a sin. If you promise someone that you'll marry them and you don't, that's a sin too. I'm going to go on the record and say that there can be cases of casuistry and that what I said is not necessarily absolute, but I don't intend to go into those here. This is getting long enough as it is.

You just heard the news from a friend, "I'm engaged!" You're not really sure how you feel about these people getting engaged at this time. So, how do you react?
Given that we've established that breaking an engagement is not the right thing to do, once a couple is engaged, Shut your mouth. Voice your doubts when a couple is dating. If you voice your doubts when a couple is already engaged, you are encouraging them to sin. Don't be that guy. If you think it's too soon, shut up. If you're not sure if they're really compatible, shut up. If you find that person's fiance(e) annoying, shut the heck up. Instead, encourage the couple to figure out how they can love one another more perfectly and fulfill the roles that God has given them in marriage."

Now to add a little bit more to an already lengthy post:
I did not intend to say, "never address any concerns you have with an engaged couple."  You should talk with your engaged and married friends about concerns you have, just like you should with your single friends.  However, don't do so in such a way that discourages people from keeping their promises.

Any questions?

First sermon

This is the first sermon that i ever preached in a church.  I also preached this in Brookings as my first sermon on 8/19/12.  I hope that all the sermons that follow this one will be significantly better.  But, for historical purposes, here it is:

“I said 'I love you. That's forever. This I promise from the heart.” If you listened to popular music in the late 1970's, you probably recognized that line from a popular song. If you didn't catch that one, don't worry. I'll quote a couple more that you might recognize. Here's another one: “I think you ought to know that I intend to hold you for the longest time.” And one more: “As long as I have you by my side, there's a roof above and good walls all around.” Now, these songs might seem to just be sappy love songs, but there's something significant about them: 
The pop singer Billy Joel wrote all three of these songs, and he wrote them for three different women. I have absolutely no doubt that he was completely sincere when he wrote them; he was in love and found a woman he considered a treasure. But you have to wonder if he underestimated how much it would cost him to cherish those treasures forever. 
Sometimes Christians underestimate how much they need to cherish the treasure they have from God. We know Jesus is important; we hear his Word on Sundays, and we put our faith to use during the week, especially when times are tough. But we can admit that there have been times when we haven’t thought all that much about God’s gifts, when we haven’t considered the tremendous value we have in our relationship with God.
In the Gospel for today, Jesus reminds us how important it is to consider his kingdom our most valuable treasure. He's talking here about his forgiveness, his love, and his willingness to take care of us—all the things that he does for us in his kingdom. He talks about these things in three parables. This is the lesson he wants us to learn:
Be serious about your priceless treasure.
x Value it
x Prize It
x Share It
Here’s the first parable Jesus told:
The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.
1. Jesus tells us about a man who was walking through a field. He doesn't say why he was walking through the field. He may have been taking a shortcut from one place to another. Maybe he saw some flowers he wanted to take home for his wife. We don't really know. As he was in the field, he stumbled upon a treasure. Again, Jesus doesn't bog us down with the details. He just tells us that he found the treasure. What he focuses on is the man's reaction. When the man found it, he went away and sold everything he had so that he could buy the treasure.
So, why does Jesus tell this story? He wants us to know that his forgiveness is the most valuable treasure we have. In fact, without this treasure, we live in absolute poverty. No matter what our bank accounts may say, we are dirt poor because of our sins. In fact, we're not just broke, but we've got a huge debt. We've got so much debt that we can't even begin to chip away at it. Anything of value that we may want to bring to pay off our debt is about as valuable as old paint rags. But because he loved us, God erased the debt. God saw us in our state of poverty and sent Jesus to turn our rags to riches. By his death on the cross, Jesus gives us the forgiveness of sins and every other blessing we need. With this story, Jesus wants us to recognize exactly how valuable this treasure is. Just like the man in the field, we value this so much that we experience great joy, give up everything, and hang on to this priceless treasure.
By the grace of God, you have received this treasure through the Word. You've heard it here in church Sunday after Sunday. God brought you into his family in Holy Baptism at a time when most of you couldn’t walk or talk. You've heard the incredible treasures it contains. You know that God loves each and every one of you so much that he sent his Son to die for you so that you wouldn't have to spend eternity apart from him. 
We know this treasure is more valuable than anything else. Because of its great value, Jesus encourages us to cherish it above all else and to strive for it and hang on to it with all we have. 

2. Why? Why does Jesus care so much that we strive for his treasure and hang on to it? He gives us the answer in two more parables.
The first of these two parables is very similar to the one we just considered. He said:
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.
At first glance, it seems that these two parables are practically identical. I mean, they both are about a man who finds something valuable, sells everything he has and buys it. But there is a difference between the two. The difference is how the two men come upon the treasure. The first man simply stumbles upon the treasure in a field, but in this story, the merchant man was looking for fine pearls. This is what he did. He bought and sold valuable pearls to make a living for himself. The man had certainly seen a treasure or two in his day. But this one pearl was so impressive that he gave up all the other pearls in his collection to have this one. Once the merchant man recognized the value of this pearl, he cherished it greatly.
We see this sort of situation play out in real life too. Most people understand that there is a god, and they crave a relationship with him. Unfortunately, this often points people in the wrong direction. Some cling to worldly philosophies or other religions. But some find the valuable pearl that surpasses all others. When people are exposed to the love of God, they realize that this is far better than anything else they had been clinging to before. A person who has had to sift through the supposed pearls of this world certainly cherishes the treasure of God's forgiveness greatly.
Now, many of us may not have had to sift through many other “pearls” before we came to possess this treasure of Christianity. But Jesus wants us to compare our treasure with all the other treasures people chase after. He wants us to know that it's of the utmost importance for us to cherish this treasure. 
To show us how important it is for us to cherish the treasure we've received, Jesus told another story. This time the story isn't about treasure; it's about fishing. 
Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
He described a huge net going out and scooping up all kinds of fish. But when the fishermen lifted up the net at the end of the day when it was full, their work still wasn't done. They had to keep the good fish and throw the bad fish away.
Jesus doesn't leave us guessing what we're supposed to take from this parable. He says in no uncertain terms that this is what's going to happen on the last day. The people who don't cherish the treasure that they've come into contact with, will have bad things happen to them. This is eternal punishment in hell that he's talking about here. If we don't hang onto this treasure, we could find yourself ourselves among the bad fish facing punishment.
The problem with the bad fish wasn't that they weren't in the net. No, the net of God’s grace scooped them up. The problem was that they were still bad fish, despite the fact that God loved them. 
And for bad fish, there was only one place: the fiery furnace. The truth is that there is a day when God will return in judgment and condemn everyone who fails to cherish him and his priceless treasure, and everyone who wonders about the value of God’s treasure would be wise to listen to Jesus words carefully. 
But to those who do cherish the prize, there is a wonderful reward. When the time comes that each one of us faces death, we can face it fearlessly, knowing that we will stand blameless before the throne of our God, dressed in the robe of righteousness that Jesus has won for us. Of all the treasures, our treasure is the only one that has eternal value. Retirement funds are subject to market change. Even if things work out well for us, earthly wealth only lasts through this life. All the possessions and treasures we build up in this life are simply left to decay after we’re gone. Jesus want us to compare our prize with all the other treasures people chase after and cherish the one treasure we’ll be enjoying when all the other treasures on earth are gathering dust.
The treasure that we have, contained in the Bible, changes lives. First of all, it lasts forever. This treasure will be just as valuable to us long after we’re gone from this earth as it is now. If we hang on to this treasure, we will be rewarded with eternal life with Jesus. Second, this treasure puts everything we face in this life into perspective. Since we have the confidence of eternal life, we can say with the apostle Paul that any sufferings we face in this life are simply not even worth comparing to the glory that awaits us. I mean, think about the treasures that other people chase after. People who have family troubles often seek solace in alcohol or other temporary pleasures. And when people have been beaten down by the pressures all around them, leaving them down and out, they make themselves feel better by talking bad about other people. But we don’t need to concern ourselves with things like that. Certainly eternal life with God is far better than a few hours of dulled emotions or a few moments of fleeting social glory. So let’s cherish the treasure that we’ve found, because it provides us the sort of comfort that no other treasure can.
After all, you have received the most valuable pearl of all. There are billions of people in the world who are searching for exactly what you've got. That is: peace with God. There is nothing more valuable. Cherish it as such.

3. But Jesus doesn’t want us to stop there. Since we have this treasure that we value and cherish so much, he wants us to share it with as many people as we possibly can.
He explains to his disciples how they should share this treasure by telling them a metaphor. He said, “every teacher of the law who has been instructed about the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.”
Now, as we read this metaphor, it’s important to call to mind that these words wrap up a section of seven parables that Jesus told. At the beginning of this set of parables, Jesus’ disciples asked him, “Why do you speak in parables?” The answer to that question included a condemnation of the Jewish nation. Jesus wasn’t about to speak to eh Jews plainly because they had already rejected him. They were content with their Torah and the writings of their Jewish Fathers and weren’t really interested in what Jesus had to say. Jesus was teaching new things that Jewish believers refused to understand. Jesus’ point here is that a wise student of the scriptures accepts both the teachings of the Old Testament and the new teachings that Jesus brought.
So, what is Jesus telling us here? I mean, we‘re New Testament Christians, who cherish both the Old and the New testaments. Well, Jesus wants us to learn more and more about the Scriptures. He wants us to learn about the old parts we already know as well as the new parts we don‘t know. He wants us to focus daily on his law and his gospel, but he also wants us to broaden the scope of learning.
But there’s still more here. The owner of the house didn’t use the treasures that he gained only for himself. He brought them out and presented them to his servants and guests. We do the same. As we continue to learn more and more, we don’t let that knowledge just stay in our heads. We take this treasure and share it with others. Because we know that this treasure is so valuable and we know that it is the pearl to be cherished above all else, it comes naturally that we would want to share it. So, keep studying God’s word so that you can be ready, at a moment’s notice, to bring out the gems of God’s Word that you have in your storeroom. Bring out both the ones that you’ve had for your whole lives and the ones that you’ve just discovered this week. It is these things that make up the priceless treasure that we value, cherish and share.
Brothers and Sisters, I don't want you to look back on your confirmation vows like an embarrassed musician looks back on a love song. People who have written great love songs were passionate about the treasure they'd found, for sure. But a lot of times they didn't do all that they needed to do to hang on to that treasure. But you can hang onto your priceless treasure. Be serious about your priceless treasure by valuing it, cherishing it and sharing it. When you do these things, you can understand, appreciate, and experience the joys of this treasure to their fullest.

There's Nothing Wrong With Ohio?

In the build up to receiving this vicar call, it was somewhat inevitable that thoughts would cross my mind about where I might be going.  I tried to fight those thoughts off as much as I could since I really had no control over it, so to dwell on or worry about it wouldn't do too much good.  There was one thing that I let myself hope for: fun sports teams to cheer for.

So, I got called to South Dakota.  The nearest major sports market is at least a 4 hour drive away, but that's alright.  Who needs the Vikings or the Twins when you've got the Jackrabbits?  This got me to thinking today: what would be the worst possible place to get called as far as sports go?  Let me throw in the disclaimer here that it would be a privilege to be involved in gospel ministry anywhere, whether or not there are good sports teams there.  This post really could probably simply be titled, "The worst sports city in America." But, since I plan to adopt the local teams as my secondary home teams once I get a permanent call, it'll be entertaining to look at the possible landing spots and consider which cities would be harder to enjoy sports in.

In order for an even comparison, we've really gotta limit this to markets that support franchises of each of the big 3.  That limits us to 16 markets, which are: Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Arizona, Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit, Wisconsin, Dallas, Houston, Atlanta, Miami, Washington, Minnesota, Denver and San Francisco.

Here are my top 3 least desirable:

1. Cleveland.  If we're talking superlatives in any major sport, I'm not sure there'd be a "least desirable" franchise that's not located in Cleveland.  I don't even think this requires discussion.
2. New York.  There are six major sports franchises in New York, and the only one I have positive feelings about is the Knicks.  The Yankees and the Jets need no explanation.  The Giants are just irritating.  The Mets inexplicably manage to be irrelevant despite the fact that they're located on the biggest stage in the world.  And do we really need to talk about the team formerly known as the New Jersey Nets?  Even the Knicks have been most noteworthy in recent years for squandering playoff chances with talented teams.  New York is a Patrick Ewing away from overtaking the #1 spot.
3. Miami.  It surprises me a little bit that the home of the reigning NBA champs could make it this high.  That just speaks to how undesirable the other teams are.  The re-branded Marlins still can't get anyone to come to their games.  The two biggest questions for the Dolphins this year are, "how will we replace Dan Marino?" and "is it worth keeping Ryan Tannehill around just for his lady?"  Miami is in rough shape, but having the best player in professional sports will keep you out of the top two.

There they are.  I'd be happy to hear your thoughts as to which city should've made the list and why my picks are entirely wrong.

At Least I'm Not Like All Those Other Old Guys

I decided that it's time for me to get a grown-up blog.  My former blog displayed me developing from a young, fiery, intelligent but arrogant sixteen year old into a still developing, but hopefully more refined, passionate, understanding and humble young man who now serves the church full time.  While I cherish the growth that blogger has facilitated and reflected for me over the past eight years, that doesn't need to be displayed for the world to see.  I have retained all the posts in my own, personal files, but they don't need to be on the internet.

But I didn't want to stop blogging altogether.  I value the practice in composition that a blog offers.  A blog also gives me a venue in which I'm able to voice my thoughts and opinions that wouldn't necessarily get discussed in such detail in other places (especially since I'm separated from so many of my friends this year.)  Perhaps most importantly, this will give me an opportunity to update my friends and family on what's going on in my life this year (perhaps this would've been more appropriate to start a couple months ago...oh well.)

My posts will include some devotions and sermons that I've prepared, some chronicling of our adventures here, and sometimes just my thoughts on life.  Hope you enjoy it.  This is gonna be fun!