Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Podcast Sermon for March 28, 2012: Words from the Cross… About the Cross: It is Finished
A sermon preached by Vicar Lewis Polzin on March 28, 2012 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Troy, MO, on John 19:30. The text of this sermon may be found at the following web address: http://apastoralapproach.blogspot.com/2012/03/sermon-for-march-28-2012-words-from.html. The sermon recording may also be accessed by clicking the title of this blog post and playing it in your browser.
Sermon for March 28, 2012: Words from the Cross... About the Cross: Itis Finished
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
The text this evening for our sermon series, Words from the Cross… About the Cross, comes from St. John’s Gospel, the nineteenth chapter:
Dear friends in Christ,
Here we are, nearing the end of Lent, and leading into Holy Week, we arrive at the crux of the whole Passion narrative, the last of Christ’s words, the most important declaration ever made: It is finished.
And what is it that is finished? Christ’s life? Assuredly. The crucifixion? Absolutely. But is there something more? Yes. When Christ says, “It is finished,” He’s not just talking about Himself. He’s talking about everything.
What do I mean? Remember that Christ, the man who is dying and dead on the cross of Calvary, is God, the very same God that has been willing and active in His creation from the very beginning. From before time, God had a plan in action to redeem His sinful creation. You see, it wasn’t very long that man was on the planet and we fell into sin. Did God create mankind as a personal, sinless creation? Of course He did. But to think that God did not know that His own creation would disown Him, forget His own words that He spoke, is to limit the power of God. God knows everything!
The text this evening for our sermon series, Words from the Cross… About the Cross, comes from St. John’s Gospel, the nineteenth chapter:
When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.Thus far the text.
Dear friends in Christ,
Here we are, nearing the end of Lent, and leading into Holy Week, we arrive at the crux of the whole Passion narrative, the last of Christ’s words, the most important declaration ever made: It is finished.
And what is it that is finished? Christ’s life? Assuredly. The crucifixion? Absolutely. But is there something more? Yes. When Christ says, “It is finished,” He’s not just talking about Himself. He’s talking about everything.
What do I mean? Remember that Christ, the man who is dying and dead on the cross of Calvary, is God, the very same God that has been willing and active in His creation from the very beginning. From before time, God had a plan in action to redeem His sinful creation. You see, it wasn’t very long that man was on the planet and we fell into sin. Did God create mankind as a personal, sinless creation? Of course He did. But to think that God did not know that His own creation would disown Him, forget His own words that He spoke, is to limit the power of God. God knows everything!
Friday, March 23, 2012
Podcast Sermon for March 21, 2012: Words from the Cross… About the Cross: I Thirst
A sermon preached by Vicar Lewis Polzin on March 21, 2012 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Troy, MO, on John 19:28-29. The text of this sermon may be found at the following web address: http://apastoralapproach.blogspot.com/2012/03/sermon-for-march-21-2012-words-from.html. The sermon recording may also be accessed by clicking the title of this blog post and playing it in your browser.
Sermon for March 21, 2012: Words from the Cross… About the Cross: I Thirst
Grace and peace to you from God our Father, and from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
The text for today’s message for the sermon series “Words from the Cross, About the Cross…” comes from the Gospel of St. John, the nineteenth chapter:
Dear Friends in Christ,
“I thirst.” Two very simple words. Perhaps even words you yourself have said in some fashion or another.
I remember once when I was about 14 years old. I was in the Boy Scouts and we were camping somewhere in the hills of Northern Kentucky. Now it’s not a very mountainous area down there, but the hills, when you’re climbing them, they seem somewhat daunting, especially when you’re an overweight little kid like I was.
We were about 10 miles into a 14-mile hike, and all of the sudden, my strength was sapped, gone. I couldn’t go on. My back was sweaty and had soaked the contents of the framed backpack I was carrying (which as you may know, is a hard thing to do). My legs were cramping and giving out. My lungs were heaving, trying to take in any oxygen I could find. My head was spinning. I had finished all the water I had brought with me 2 miles back. I had left the rest of my supplies back at the camp. I was the antithesis of the Boy Scout motto. I was not prepared.
The text for today’s message for the sermon series “Words from the Cross, About the Cross…” comes from the Gospel of St. John, the nineteenth chapter:
After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.” A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth.Thus far the text.
Dear Friends in Christ,
“I thirst.” Two very simple words. Perhaps even words you yourself have said in some fashion or another.
I remember once when I was about 14 years old. I was in the Boy Scouts and we were camping somewhere in the hills of Northern Kentucky. Now it’s not a very mountainous area down there, but the hills, when you’re climbing them, they seem somewhat daunting, especially when you’re an overweight little kid like I was.
We were about 10 miles into a 14-mile hike, and all of the sudden, my strength was sapped, gone. I couldn’t go on. My back was sweaty and had soaked the contents of the framed backpack I was carrying (which as you may know, is a hard thing to do). My legs were cramping and giving out. My lungs were heaving, trying to take in any oxygen I could find. My head was spinning. I had finished all the water I had brought with me 2 miles back. I had left the rest of my supplies back at the camp. I was the antithesis of the Boy Scout motto. I was not prepared.
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
The Catholic, and Nicene Creed
This is a beautiful reminder of the catholicity of the Christian faith. The original video comes from YouTube (link here), but I have included it for you to download as well by clicking the link in the blog post title. This reading of the Nicene Creed, which dates back over a 1,000 years in the the Christian church, was recorded at Trinity Lutheran Church, Klein, TX during the March 4, 2012 church services by three members of Trinity as part of Lutheran Schools week.
These three members, and students (former and present) are: Mr. Erich Klenk, 97 years old, confirmed in 1928, past Chairman of the congregation, charter member of the Men’s Club in 1946, and Trinity’s oldest member; Lyle Lovett, great grandson of Trinity founding father Adam Klein, confirmed in 1971, singer/songwriter, and winner of four Grammys; Erin Pali, class of 2016 and current 4th grade student of Trinity.
This faith, this ancient faith, this faith that will continue to the future, is true and catholic. It is beyond you. It is centered on Jesus Christ and the considerable, all-consuming love He has for His creation. May this bless you as much as it blessed me.
These three members, and students (former and present) are: Mr. Erich Klenk, 97 years old, confirmed in 1928, past Chairman of the congregation, charter member of the Men’s Club in 1946, and Trinity’s oldest member; Lyle Lovett, great grandson of Trinity founding father Adam Klein, confirmed in 1971, singer/songwriter, and winner of four Grammys; Erin Pali, class of 2016 and current 4th grade student of Trinity.
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Podcast Sermon for March 11, 2012: What is Wise?
A sermon preached by Vicar Lewis Polzin on March 11, 2012 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Troy, MO, on 1 Corinthians 1:18-31. The text of this sermon may be found at the following web address: http://apastoralapproach.blogspot.com/2012/03/sermon-for-march-11-2012-what-is-wise.html. The sermon recording may also be accessed by clicking the title of this blog post and playing it in your browser.
Sermon for March 11, 2012: What is Wise?
Grace and peace to you from God our Father, and from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
The text for this morning’s message comes from Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, the first chapter:
Dear Friends in Christ,
Oxymorons: Jumbo shrimp. Active retirement. Blind eye. Forward lateral. Business ethics. Agree to disagree. Congressional ethics. Civil War. Even odds. Government intelligence. Icy Hot. Liquid smoke. New tradition. Dry ice. Pure evil. Sound of silence. Grateful Dead. My favorite: Microsoft Works.
These are some of the better oxymorons. What’s an oxymoron? An oxymoron is a figure of speech that combines contradictory terms. Jumbo shrimp. Microsoft Works, get it? I’m an Apple kind of guy anyway.
In Paul’s letter, we see a similar type of contradiction going on. God chooses what is foolish to the world to be wisdom. God takes what is wise in the world and makes it foolish. Wise foolish. Foolish wise. Ah, yes, this sounds very good to our ears, doesn’t it? This is a good Word from the Lord. Now, let’s move on. Get on to something interesting, Vicar.
But wait! Do you get it? Do you understand it? Do you know what Paul is saying here? Do you see what he’s saying? If you don’t get the whole idea behind Paul’s writing, you’ll miss what he’s saying entirely.
The text for this morning’s message comes from Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, the first chapter:
For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written,Thus far the text.
“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.”
Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men…
Dear Friends in Christ,
Oxymorons: Jumbo shrimp. Active retirement. Blind eye. Forward lateral. Business ethics. Agree to disagree. Congressional ethics. Civil War. Even odds. Government intelligence. Icy Hot. Liquid smoke. New tradition. Dry ice. Pure evil. Sound of silence. Grateful Dead. My favorite: Microsoft Works.
These are some of the better oxymorons. What’s an oxymoron? An oxymoron is a figure of speech that combines contradictory terms. Jumbo shrimp. Microsoft Works, get it? I’m an Apple kind of guy anyway.
In Paul’s letter, we see a similar type of contradiction going on. God chooses what is foolish to the world to be wisdom. God takes what is wise in the world and makes it foolish. Wise foolish. Foolish wise. Ah, yes, this sounds very good to our ears, doesn’t it? This is a good Word from the Lord. Now, let’s move on. Get on to something interesting, Vicar.
But wait! Do you get it? Do you understand it? Do you know what Paul is saying here? Do you see what he’s saying? If you don’t get the whole idea behind Paul’s writing, you’ll miss what he’s saying entirely.
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Podcast Sermon for March 4, 2012: No Longer Enemies
A sermon preached by Vicar Lewis Polzin on March 4, 2012 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Troy, MO, on Romans 5:1-11. The text of this sermon may be found at the following web address: http://apastoralapproach.blogspot.com/2012/03/sermon-for-march-4-2012-no-longer.html. The sermon recording may also be accessed by clicking the title of this blog post and playing it in your browser.
Sermon for March 4, 2012: No Longer Enemies
Grace and peace to you from God our Father, and from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
The text for this morning’s message comes from Paul’s Letter to the Romans, the fifth chapter, of selected verses:
Dear Friends in Christ,
A Jewish man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine.
All of the sudden, the robbers came back. They had decided they didn’t have enough fun with the Jewish man and so they wanted to beat him still. Instead, they saw the Good Samaritan leaning over the man and so they started bashing the Samaritan over the head instead of the Jewish man. The Samaritan begged them to cease for only a moment, and said to them, “Hold on. I know you are violent men and intend to do me harm. Please know that I am the most powerful man in the country. I have been trained in every martial art and no one can stand up when I wield my sword. But, I will allow you to rob me, I will allow you to beat me, I will allow you to murder me, I will allow you to mock me. Only give me your word that you will let the other traveler go. Let me take the burden of what you intend to do to him. Give me a double beating for his sake.”
The robbers accepted the Samaritan’s plea, and crushed all the bones in his body, bashed in his face, cut his skin all over so his blood flowed freely, all this they did as he laid passively on the ground allowing them to do with him what they will. They left the other man on the side of the road, bloody and suffering, but healed by the Good Samaritan’s efforts. When he awoke, he was confused by the body of a bloodied and dead man sitting by him. After sitting there for a little while, he was approached by a witness who explained everything that had happened, and explaining the situation to him, let him know that he had been spared because of the punishment the Samaritan took for the man. He nudged the man with his foot, saw he was truly dead, and went on his way.
The text for this morning’s message comes from Paul’s Letter to the Romans, the fifth chapter, of selected verses:
Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ…
For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly… but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
Thus far the text.
Dear Friends in Christ,
A Jewish man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine.
All of the sudden, the robbers came back. They had decided they didn’t have enough fun with the Jewish man and so they wanted to beat him still. Instead, they saw the Good Samaritan leaning over the man and so they started bashing the Samaritan over the head instead of the Jewish man. The Samaritan begged them to cease for only a moment, and said to them, “Hold on. I know you are violent men and intend to do me harm. Please know that I am the most powerful man in the country. I have been trained in every martial art and no one can stand up when I wield my sword. But, I will allow you to rob me, I will allow you to beat me, I will allow you to murder me, I will allow you to mock me. Only give me your word that you will let the other traveler go. Let me take the burden of what you intend to do to him. Give me a double beating for his sake.”
The robbers accepted the Samaritan’s plea, and crushed all the bones in his body, bashed in his face, cut his skin all over so his blood flowed freely, all this they did as he laid passively on the ground allowing them to do with him what they will. They left the other man on the side of the road, bloody and suffering, but healed by the Good Samaritan’s efforts. When he awoke, he was confused by the body of a bloodied and dead man sitting by him. After sitting there for a little while, he was approached by a witness who explained everything that had happened, and explaining the situation to him, let him know that he had been spared because of the punishment the Samaritan took for the man. He nudged the man with his foot, saw he was truly dead, and went on his way.
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