Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Sermon for November 23, 2011: Thanking the Priest
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
The text this evening is from the Gospel lesson, the book of Luke, especially verses 14-16:
Dear friends in Christ,
Happy Thanksgiving! Well, a day early anyway. Perhaps many of you would be surprised to know that Thanksgiving Day is not a religious holiday, although it has always been celebrated by religious people. In America, it was a holiday probably started by the Pilgrims after watching such thanksgiving celebrations in the city of Lieden in the Netherlands. They had taken shelter there from religious persecution before they had set out for America. Contrary to popular belief, the first thanksgiving likely had no American Indians, but was a celebration by the Pilgrims at the anniversary of their colony’s founding and because they had such a bountiful harvest.
We like to think of Thanksgiving, certainly, as the time we give thanks for the things that we have received. In fact, if you’re on Facebook or have an internet presence, you may have seen, as I did, many people participating in what they call a month of thanks, where each day they give thanks for the things they appreciate in their lives. Children, family, jobs, traditions, faith, God, all these and more have been recognized as something for which we should give thanks.
The text this evening is from the Gospel lesson, the book of Luke, especially verses 14-16:
When Jesus saw them he said to them, "Go and show yourselves to the priests." And as they went they were cleansed. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; and he fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks.Thus far the text.
Dear friends in Christ,
Happy Thanksgiving! Well, a day early anyway. Perhaps many of you would be surprised to know that Thanksgiving Day is not a religious holiday, although it has always been celebrated by religious people. In America, it was a holiday probably started by the Pilgrims after watching such thanksgiving celebrations in the city of Lieden in the Netherlands. They had taken shelter there from religious persecution before they had set out for America. Contrary to popular belief, the first thanksgiving likely had no American Indians, but was a celebration by the Pilgrims at the anniversary of their colony’s founding and because they had such a bountiful harvest.
We like to think of Thanksgiving, certainly, as the time we give thanks for the things that we have received. In fact, if you’re on Facebook or have an internet presence, you may have seen, as I did, many people participating in what they call a month of thanks, where each day they give thanks for the things they appreciate in their lives. Children, family, jobs, traditions, faith, God, all these and more have been recognized as something for which we should give thanks.
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Relationships or proclamation?
Just a fantastic quote from Dr. Kim Riddlebarger on the White Horse Inn podcast from June 15, 2008. I didn't want to lose it, so it's being posted here. We hear so much about "relational ministry:" get to know people and slowly gain their trust enough so they can be evangelized (or some other definition where relationship trumps proclamation). Riddlebarger basically reminds us that the way most churches seem to encourage ministers and people to share the faith is not the way of THE Church. You can listen to the (shortened) podcast at this iTunes link or at their website. The episode is called "The Gospel of Pragmatism." It's quite excellent.
"What [evangelical] ministers don't seem to have any category for is the fact that in their job, in their office as minister, it's their job to proclaim the Gospel, the objective truth of the Gospel, from their pulpits. And I think they forget that the primary way that evangelism takes place in the New Testament is not relational [ministry] but it's the proclamation of the Gospel by those to whom God has called and sent for that specific purpose."
- Dr. Kim Riddlebarger
Monday, November 21, 2011
Sermon for November 20, 2011: The Last Sunday
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
The text this morning is from the Gospel lesson, the Apostle Matthew, chapter 25, especially verses 33-39:
Dear friends in Christ,
This day is the Last Sunday of the Church Year. So what? I’ll tell you so what. Today is the day that we celebrate the end of our earthly lives. It’s a pre-death funeral of sorts. You see, we have just come out of the great time of the Church. Seriously, this vocabulary is how we as the Church speak of such things. The whole of the Church Year is set up to reflect the entire message of the Gospel and the life of the Church, and we are the Church. To get that full musical reflection on the Christian life, we are singing a broad range of hymns today. That’s why we are singing Easter and Christmas and Church militant hymns together.
The text this morning is from the Gospel lesson, the Apostle Matthew, chapter 25, especially verses 33-39:
He will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.'Thus far the text.
Dear friends in Christ,
This day is the Last Sunday of the Church Year. So what? I’ll tell you so what. Today is the day that we celebrate the end of our earthly lives. It’s a pre-death funeral of sorts. You see, we have just come out of the great time of the Church. Seriously, this vocabulary is how we as the Church speak of such things. The whole of the Church Year is set up to reflect the entire message of the Gospel and the life of the Church, and we are the Church. To get that full musical reflection on the Christian life, we are singing a broad range of hymns today. That’s why we are singing Easter and Christmas and Church militant hymns together.
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Sermon for November 13, 2011: Putting on Our Own Clothes
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
The text this morning is from the Old Testament lesson, the prophet Zephaniah, chapter 1, specifically verses 7 through 16:
Dear friends in Christ,
In these days of November, when our daylight savings have run out, the days are getting darker as the setting sun comes earlier and earlier. This now is the forerunner time of the great season of waiting, the season of Advent, when the Son of God brings His light into the world, first as a new born child and soon again as the coming king of the universe. But it is a time of waiting and we struggle to see the light.
We see that we are living in dark times, not only in the setting of the sun, but also in the world. We have wars, rumors of wars, famines, plagues, earthquakes, and floods. The world is not getting any better. In fact, the world appears to be getting darker and darker.
The Old Testament text today is a grim warning against the people who have rejected God. The prophet Zephaniah was a man with a dark message. He wasn’t one of these modern day prophets who’ll tell you that God spoke to them in the night that He wants you to be happy and wealthy. If such a prophet is around you, cast him out! No, a prophet like Zephaniah speaks the Word of God. He speaks of sinners and He speaks of God’s forgiveness.
The text this morning is from the Old Testament lesson, the prophet Zephaniah, chapter 1, specifically verses 7 through 16:
Be silent before the Lord GOD! For the day of the LORD is near;Thus far the text.
the LORD has prepared a sacrifice and consecrated his guests.
And on the day of the LORD’s sacrifice— "I will punish the officials and the king’s sons and all who array themselves in foreign attire.
On that day I will punish everyone who leaps over the threshold,
and those who fill their master’s house with violence and fraud.
Dear friends in Christ,
In these days of November, when our daylight savings have run out, the days are getting darker as the setting sun comes earlier and earlier. This now is the forerunner time of the great season of waiting, the season of Advent, when the Son of God brings His light into the world, first as a new born child and soon again as the coming king of the universe. But it is a time of waiting and we struggle to see the light.
We see that we are living in dark times, not only in the setting of the sun, but also in the world. We have wars, rumors of wars, famines, plagues, earthquakes, and floods. The world is not getting any better. In fact, the world appears to be getting darker and darker.
The Old Testament text today is a grim warning against the people who have rejected God. The prophet Zephaniah was a man with a dark message. He wasn’t one of these modern day prophets who’ll tell you that God spoke to them in the night that He wants you to be happy and wealthy. If such a prophet is around you, cast him out! No, a prophet like Zephaniah speaks the Word of God. He speaks of sinners and He speaks of God’s forgiveness.
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