Sunday, December 25, 2011
Sermon for December 25, 2011: The Signal
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
The text for this Christmas morning is from the Prophet Isaiah, chapter 52, verses 7-10:
Dear friends in Christ,
Merry Christmas! In the interest of full disclosure, this is my very first Christmas morning service. At least so far as I can remember. So, if my sermon this morning lets you down, if it disappoints you, it’s likely only because I have never heard a Christmas Day sermon. I will just attempt to do what I can do, and that is to preach the Word of God.
You see, the Word of God is not a sermon on why it’s better to say “Merry Christmas” rather than “Happy Holidays,” though this is debatable for sure. The Word of God is not a sermon that is going to tell you to focus on Jesus alone and not Santa Claus. The Word of God is not a sermon that is going to tell you that we should be out giving to and serving others rather than receiving and taking gifts from our family and friends. In fact, the Word of God is proclaimed in a sermon when that sermon focuses on Jesus Christ, when that sermon tells you what a wretched person you are, when that sermon tells you what an amazing and forgiving God we have, when that sermon proclaims to you the salvation and forgiveness won for you by Jesus Christ Himself. And God willing, that is what this sermon, that is what the Word of God, will proclaim here.
The text for this Christmas morning is from the Prophet Isaiah, chapter 52, verses 7-10:
How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news,Thus far the text.
who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, "Your God reigns."
The voice of your watchmen—they lift up their voice; together they sing for joy;
for eye to eye they see the return of the LORD to Zion.
Break forth together into singing, you waste places of Jerusalem, for the LORD has comforted his people; he has redeemed Jerusalem.
The LORD has bared his holy arm before the eyes of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.
Dear friends in Christ,
Merry Christmas! In the interest of full disclosure, this is my very first Christmas morning service. At least so far as I can remember. So, if my sermon this morning lets you down, if it disappoints you, it’s likely only because I have never heard a Christmas Day sermon. I will just attempt to do what I can do, and that is to preach the Word of God.
You see, the Word of God is not a sermon on why it’s better to say “Merry Christmas” rather than “Happy Holidays,” though this is debatable for sure. The Word of God is not a sermon that is going to tell you to focus on Jesus alone and not Santa Claus. The Word of God is not a sermon that is going to tell you that we should be out giving to and serving others rather than receiving and taking gifts from our family and friends. In fact, the Word of God is proclaimed in a sermon when that sermon focuses on Jesus Christ, when that sermon tells you what a wretched person you are, when that sermon tells you what an amazing and forgiving God we have, when that sermon proclaims to you the salvation and forgiveness won for you by Jesus Christ Himself. And God willing, that is what this sermon, that is what the Word of God, will proclaim here.
Friday, December 16, 2011
Repentance and Our Need for Advent, with Pr. Matt Harrison, 12/14/2011
Issues, Etc. had on their program President Harrison on December 14, 2011 (you can hear the program by clicking the link below). He was speaking of the mistreatment of pastors and how it's related to the idea that the Gospel disappears quite quickly. The full quote of President Harrison is below and I love this. Ah, American Christianity... (Think not we Lutherans are immune, for the mistreatment of pastors brings about this same problem, this absconding of the Gospel.)
Repentance and Our Need for Advent, with Pr. Matt Harrison, 12/14/2011
“Let us remember our former misery, and the darkness in which we dwelt. Germany, I am sure, has never before heard so much of God’s word as it is hearing today; certainly we read nothing of it in history. If we let it just slip by without thanks and honor, I fear we shall suffer a still more dreadful darkness and plague. O my beloved Germans, buy while the market is at your door; gather in the harvest while there is sunshine and fair weather; make use of God’s grace and word while it is there! For you should know that God’s word and grace is like a passing shower of rain which does not return where it has once been. It has been with the Jews, but when it’s gone it’s gone, and now they have nothing. Paul brought it to the Greeks; but again when it’s gone it’s gone, and now they have the Turk. Rome and the Latins also had it; but when it’s gone it’s gone, and now they have the pope. And you Germans need not think that you will have it forever, for ingratitude and contempt will not make it stay. Therefore, seize it and hold it fast, whoever can; for lazy hands are bound to have a lean year.”
~ Pastor Martin Luther (LW 45:352)
Repentance and Our Need for Advent, with Pr. Matt Harrison, 12/14/2011
Friday, December 9, 2011
Sermon for December 7, 2011: It's Time to Wake Up
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
The text this evening is from Paul’s Letter to the Romans, chapter 13, verses 11-14:
Dear friends in Christ,
Perhaps for many of you, the concept of oversleeping is something that is in the past. However, for me, I am constantly afraid of oversleeping, especially when school is in session. I hate the idea of being late for something. I like the old adage: “If you’re early, you’re on time. If you’re on time, you’re late. If you’re late, don’t even bother showing up.” Unfortunately, I like it so much that it often scares me.
The text this evening is from Paul’s Letter to the Romans, chapter 13, verses 11-14:
Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.Thus far the text.
Dear friends in Christ,
Perhaps for many of you, the concept of oversleeping is something that is in the past. However, for me, I am constantly afraid of oversleeping, especially when school is in session. I hate the idea of being late for something. I like the old adage: “If you’re early, you’re on time. If you’re on time, you’re late. If you’re late, don’t even bother showing up.” Unfortunately, I like it so much that it often scares me.
Monday, December 5, 2011
Sermon for December 4, 2011: Comfort, Comfort
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 Isaiah, chapter 40, especially verses 1 and 2 and 6 through 8:
Dear friends in Christ,
“Comfort, Comfort, my people.” The Isaiah text this morning is one of my favorite texts in Scripture, as it speaks poignantly to the human condition. We are sinners, this is true, and yet God desires that we are His, so He brings comfort, salve to a hurting people.
The text this morning is from the Old Testament lesson, the Prophet Isaiah, chapter 40, especially verses 1 and 2 and 6 through 8:
Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,Thus far the text.
and cry to her that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned,
that she has received from the LORD’s hand double for all her sins…
A voice says, "Cry!" And I said, "What shall I cry?"
All flesh is grass, and all its beauty is like the flower of the field.
The grass withers, the flower fades when the breath of the LORD blows on it;
surely the people are grass. The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.
Dear friends in Christ,
“Comfort, Comfort, my people.” The Isaiah text this morning is one of my favorite texts in Scripture, as it speaks poignantly to the human condition. We are sinners, this is true, and yet God desires that we are His, so He brings comfort, salve to a hurting people.
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