From the Desk of Pastor Kroninger

All Saints' Sunday

2011-11-07T11:34:00.001-08:00

[This sermon was preached on November 6, 2011 --- All Saints’ Sunday. The sermon text is Revelation 7:9-17. It is entitled You’ve Got to See It to Believe It.”]

INTRODUCTION

In case you didn’t notice ---

there has been an up-turn in traffic around here the past few weeks.

The reason is pretty obvious:

+++the leaves have been changing;

+++the colors have been spectacular; and

+++people from all over have come enjoy the beauty of God’s creation here.

Imagine when these people return home from their trip to the Smoky Mountains ---

and people ask them to describe what they saw.

+++What would they say?

+++What would you say if someone asked you to describe the scenery around here?

It’s an incredibly daunting task --- isn’t it?

As soon as you begin to try ---

you quickly discover the limitations of your words:

+++your vocabulary isn’t extensive enough;

+++adjectives you can think of aren’t descriptive enough.

Try as you may to paint that picture ---

in the end, I think you would have to say:

you’ve got to see it to believe it.

DESCRIBING HEAVEN

+++As we celebrate All Saints’ Sunday;

+++as we remember loved ones who have passed away ---

I think it is a natural time for us to think about eternal life --- and ask ourselves:

What will heaven be like?

And while it may be a natural question to ask ---

the answer proves far more elusive.

For most of us ---

our images of heaven come from:

+++the Scriptures;

+++popular mythology; or

+++some combination of the two.

Here are some of the more common images of heaven we hear about:

+++it has pearly gates and you’ll be greeted at the entrance by Saint Peter himself;

+++it is a giant mansion with rooms enough for everyone;

+++it is lined with streets of gold;

+++it is where people fly around on fluffy clouds playing their harps all day.

Now I don’t want to speak for you here ---

but for myself:

+++none of these images is overly-compelling;

+++none of them makes me think that heaven is a far better place; and

+++none of them makes me want to declare like Paul once did:

“To live is Christ, to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:21)

I think I know part of the reason why ---

and it goes back to my opening analogy.

What is true about the Smoky Mountains is more true when it comes to heaven:

+++our vocabulary isn’t extensive enough;

+++our adjectives aren’t descriptive enough.

Try as we may to paint a picture of heaven ---

in the end, we will have to admit:

we’ll have to see it to believe it.

A GLIMPSE OF HEAVEN

But still, our curiosity persists:

+++we live with the knowledge that one day our earthly lives will end; but as Christians

+++we also live with this promise that we will be the recipients of eternal life ---

and that this heavenly existence will be better than life as we know it now.

So still the question remains:

What will heaven be like?

And while admittedly it is:

+++an incomplete picture;

+++a description that is lacking on many levels ---

the Scriptures do offer us some glimpses into what our heavenly home will be like.

And so turning back to our first lesson for today from the 7^th chapter of Revelation ---

let me share with you a few things I think we can say definitively about our heavenly home.

First, it will filled with people ---

and will include incredible diversity. John shares this picture:

“After this I looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count,

from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages.” (Revelation 7:9)

The Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. once remarked that Sunday morning at 11:00 o’clock is the most

segregated hour in the week ---

and there remains a lot of truth to his words:

+++we separate along racial lines;

+++we separate along denominational lines;

+++we separate because of language;

+++we separate because of worship and music preferences ---

and no doubt there are other reasons.

But such will not be the case in heaven.

While I can’t fathom how it will work ---

+++people from every nation;

+++people speaking different languages;

+++people from different denominational backgrounds;

+++people from various periods in history ---

will all be together, and

+++despite this incredible diversity;

+++there will be a remarkable unity ---

as they will be gathered for a common purpose ---

which leads me to my second point.

In heaven, worship will play an important role.

Again, John shares this vision of what he saw:

“…they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, singing,

‘Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and

power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.’" (Revelation 7:11-12)

Again, I can’t fully fathom how this will work.

After all, to say that heaven will be filled with worship is not an enticement to all people:

+++some find worship to be more of a chore than a joy;

+++they think one hour a week is quite sufficient.

So to suggest that worship will be non-stop worship may seem more like a

punishment than a blessing to some!

But I don’t think that will be the case.

As I think about what worship will be like in heaven ---

I start by thinking about the most special worship services I’ve attended ---

and realize that these are just dim reflections of what heavenly worship

will be like:

+++when we will be in the very presence of God;

+++when we will be in the midst of the cloud of witnesses;

+++when our focus won’t be on ourselves or our concerns ---

but on God.

And third, heaven will be a place of divine healing ---

with God himself being the great comforter. John writes:

“…God will wipe away every tear from their eyes." (Revelation 7:17)

and later on In Revelation, John adds these words:

“…he will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more;

mourning and crying and pain will be no more…” (Revelation 21:4)

Just as a parent tenderly wipes the tears away from a weeping child ---

God will wipe away our tears.

But even more, God promises that the things:

+++ that brought us sorrow;

+++that brought about our tears;

+++that caused us pain and suffering ---

will cease to exist in our heavenly home.

And while we may have trouble imagining what that will be like ---

it is most certainly a promise we can all cling to during the tough times ---

trusting that these earthly challenges are only temporary.

CONCLUSION

Even as I conclude my sermon this morning ---

it is with a sense of frustration that I have failed:

+++in trying to paint a clearer picture of heaven;

+++I realize that I have fallen woefully short.

In the end, I realize that what I said at the beginning of my sermon remains true ---

when it comes to our heavenly home ---

we will have to see it to believe it.

But thanks be to God ---

one day we will see it ---

and we will call it HOME!

AMEN

Reformation Sunday

2011-10-31T11:18:00.000-07:00

[This sermon was preached on October 30, 2011 --- Reformation Sunday. The sermon text is John 8:31-36. It is entitled “Outrageous Claims.”]

INTRODUCTION

Awhile back ---

a friend showed me an advertisement for a product.

And after reading about it ---

I realized that this could be the thing that changed my whole life.

The product is called God’s Miracle Box:

+++it costs only $29.95;

+++when you hear what it does;

+++you won’t believe what an incredible bargain it is.

Apparently, it works something like this;

+++you write your prayer concerns on small slips of paper;

+++you place them into God’s Miracle Box; and then

+++you sit back and wait for God to grant your requests.

Here are a few of the claims made in the advertisement:

+++“It’s very powerful in drawing God’s power for more success and having your

every prayer answered”; and also

+++“It’s perfect for solving your problems --- health, love, money, and more!”

Anybody ready to write a check for $29.95!?

I didn’t think so!

While it obviously sounds good ---

we also know that it is too good to be true.

Anyone who purchases this product will end up disappointed.

In the end, God’s Miracle Box:

+++despite its bold claims;

+++isn’t able to deliver on those promises.

A BRIEF HISTORY LESSON

Of course, this is not the first case of religious people making outrageous claims.

As we celebrate Reformation Sunday, we remember that:

+++on October 31, 1517;

+++Martin Luther posted the 95 Theses on the doors of the Castle Church in Wittenberg;

+++the main premise of those Theses was to address the issue of indulgences;

+++which were essentially an outrageous claim made by the Church that for a price ---

one could purchase God’s favor and forgiveness:

+++for oneself; or

+++for a loved one.

And just like with God’s Miracle Box:

+++despite the bold claims;

+++indulgences couldn’t deliver on those promises.

But it goes back even farther than that.

In today’s gospel reading ---

there was another outrageous claim made by religious people.

Did you notice it?

At the point in which we pick up the story in John ---

Jesus is speaking to:

+++some of his fellow Jews; in fact

+++those who have been following him during his ministry ---

and he shares with them this promise:

“If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will

know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” (John 8:31-32)

And this is where the outrageous claim comes in.

Upon hearing Jesus proclaim that they will be “free” ---

some of his followers recoil and respond indignantly:

“We are descendants of Abraham and have never been slave to anyone.

What do you mean by saying, ‘You will be made free?’” (John 8:33)

The children of Abraham had never been slaves to anyone?!

A quick history lesson reveals how preposterous that statement was:

+++we can begin with their nearly 400 years of captivity at the hands of the Egyptians;

+++we recall how in 722 B.C. the people of the Northern Kingdom of Israel was overrun

by the Assyrians --- who took some of the people into bondage;

+++we remember that in 586 B.C. the Southern Kingdom of Judah was crushed by the

Babylonians --- beginning another period of captivity; and

+++lest another forgot – at the time these words were spoken, they were an occupied

territory --- under the rule of the Roman Empire.

NEVER SLAVES TO ANYONE?

Who were they kidding?

In their storied history ---

Abraham’s children were in bondage as often as they were free!

But interestingly, rather than:

+++giving them this history lesson; or

+++chiding them for their outrageous claim ---

Jesus takes the understanding of bondage in a totally different direction:

+++not focusing on political bondage; but instead

+++focusing on spiritual bondage ---

their bondage to sin.

He says to them:

“Very truly, I tell you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin.” (John 8:34)

Jesus certainly knew that his people had been enslaved to others ---

but here, he wanted to make an even more critical point:

+++these people were enslaved to themselves;

+++they were in bondage to their sinful natures.

And as they began to grasp the point Jesus was making here ---

he comes to them with a message of good news:

“So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.” (John 8:36)

Sadly, some of those who heard Jesus speak these words:

+++did not receive them as good news; but

+++engaged him in a debate over their chosen status as children of Abraham ---

thinking that was what made them free before God.

THE GOSPEL

This lesson from John 8 is the designated gospel reading every Reformation Sunday ---

and for very good reasons.

Jesus’ words here are especially relevant to:

+++the life of Martin Luther; and

+++the reformation of the Church he helped to bring about.

Let me go back to the final two quotes I shared. First, Jesus says:

“Very truly, I tell you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin.” (John 8:34)

How accurately this described Luther’s self-understanding:

+++he knew that he committed sins; even more

+++he knew that he was a slave to sin.

The following story from Luther’s life highlights his struggle with sin.

During his time in the monastery ---

Luther found great comfort in his times of personal confession.

In fact, according to his biographer Roland Bainton ---

there were days Luther spent six hours in confession:

+++detailing each and every sin he had committed;

+++until the Father Confessor became weary and told him to stop;

+++and not return until he had something worthy of confessing.

And while we may chuckle at this ---

after all, how much trouble could anyone get into living in a monastery?:

+++Luther knew that sin was serious business to God; and

+++he came to discover that there was nothing he could do to atone for it.

+++And what Jesus; and

+++what Luther understood --- remains true for all of us today:

+++everyone commits sin; and so

+++everyone is a slave to sin.

We cannot understand the importance of:

+++Martin Luther;

+++the Protestant Reformation; or ultimately

+++the good news of Jesus Christ ---

without being honest about our own sin.

But in openly acknowledging our sinfulness ---

we can turn our attention to Jesus’ other words ---

which convey the hope of the good news:

“So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.” (John 8:36)

In time, Luther began studying Paul’s letter to the Romans ---

and he came to see that:

+++his bondage to sin was not the final word;

+++God was not vengeful and waiting to punish him for each and every sin.

Instead, he began to discover:

+++that God loved him --- even though he was a sinner;

+++that Jesus’ death had paid the penalty for his sin; and

+++that in God’s Son --- he truly was free.

And in describing the newfound freedom, Luther wrote:

“Then I grasped that the justice of God is that righteousness by which through grace

and sheer mercy God justified us through faith. Thereupon I felt myself to be reborn

and to have gone through the open doors to paradise.”

Again, we cannot understand the importance of:

+++Martin Luther;

+++the Protestant Reformation; or

+++the good news of Jesus Christ ---

without knowing and experiencing this freedom --- this grace of God.

CONCLUSION

+++You were in bondage to sin ---

but you have been set free in Jesus Christ.

+++You were dead in your trespasses ---

but you have been made alive again in Jesus Christ.

Those claims may sound outrageous, but:

+++they are the truth;

+++the truth of God --- for each and every one of us!

AMEN

11th Sunday after Pentecost - Matthew 16:13-28

2011-08-28T16:24:00.000-07:00

[This sermon was preached on August 28, 2011. The sermon text is Matthew 16:13-28. It is entitled “More Than the Right Words.”]

INTRODUCTION

President Abraham Lincoln once commented:

“Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt.”

And while this may be hard for you to believe ---

especially since as your pastor ---

you essentially pay me to open my mouth each week ---

but this was actually my personal creed throughout my years of school.

Starting in elementary school and going all the way through seminary:

+++I decided that opening up my mouth was risky business;

+++I never wanted my teachers to know how much I didn’t know, so when

+++I did speak up --- it was only when I was 100% sure of the answer.

I can still vividly remember one time in college when:

+++I threw caution to the wind; and

+++I boldly spoke up ---

only to regret that decision soon afterward.

I was sitting in a Church Music class ---

[yes --- at a Lutheran, liberal arts college, you can take a course on Church music!]

and the professor asked if anyone knew anything about the Thirty Years War.

Seeing no one responding and being a history major ---

I confidently spoke up and said:

“It was a European War fought between 1618-1648.”

Right at the point I was ready to pat myself on the back for a job well done ---

my professor asked me a follow-up question:

“What was the main reason for this war?”

Ut oh --- I thought to myself.

And at that moment, I felt pretty small ---

as I had to admit:

+++to my professor; and

+++to my classmates --- that I honestly didn’t know.

As I left the class that day ---

I remember being very annoyed at myself.

Even though my first answer was correct ---

I realized that sharing the right words still didn’t mean that I had

any real understanding of the subject matter.

PETER GETS IT RIGHT

If ever there was a person who consistently failed to heed Lincoln’s advice ---

that person was Simon Peter.

On numerous occasions ---

when Jesus asked the disciples a question ---

it is Peter who was the first to share his thoughts.

A case in point is our gospel reading for this morning.

It starts out with Jesus asking his followers a rather innocent question:

“Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” (Matthew 16:13)

Without much risk involved ---

apparently a number of disciples were willing to speak up:

+++“Some say that you are John the Baptist” --- one replies;

+++“I’ve heard others compare you to Elijah” --- another chimes in;

+++“Some think you a one of the prophets, perhaps Jeremiah” --- a third responds.

But then Jesus gets to the heart of the matter:

+++both for his disciples;

+++and ultimately for us ---

with the question we must all wrestle with and answer:

“But who do you say that I am?” (Matthew 16:15)

Suddenly, the disciples become very quiet, deciding:

+++it was better to remain silent and have Jesus think them foolish; rather than

+++to attempt an answer and remove all doubt!

All of them, that is, expect Peter.

In his usual impetuous manner ---

Peter throws caution to the wind and takes a stab at answering Jesus’ question:

“You are the Messiah, the Son of the Living God.” (Matthew 16:16)

And lo and behold ---

Peter gets it right!

And as a result:

+++Jesus blesses him; and

+++informs him that he is the foundation on which he will build his Church.

PETER GETS IT WRONG

Yes --- Peter got the right answer that day:

+++but just as I learned in my college classroom many years ago;

+++Peter was about to discover that giving the right answer didn’t really mean that he

understood.

For soon afterward ---

Jesus tells Peter and the others exactly what it means to be the “Messiah.”

Stating his mission succinctly, Jesus informs them:

+++he will be going to Jerusalem;

+++he will suffer greatly at the hands of the elders, chief priests, and scribes;

+++he will be killed and then be raised on the third day.

+++Apparently, this picture of the “Messiah” did not match the one in Peter’s mind;

+++evidently, this image of God’s Son was not the one Peter envisioned ---

so Peter took Jesus aside to ask him why he was speaking such nonsense:

“God forbid it, Lord! This must never happen to you.” (Matthew 16:22)

And with those few words ---

Peter demonstrated that his understanding was indeed limited:

+++while the Spirit inspired him earlier to speak the right answer as to who Jesus is;

+++he did not yet know what it really meant to call Jesus:

+++the Messiah;

+++the Son of the Living God.

For when Jesus explained it to him ---

he was not ready to accept it.

10th Sunday after Pentecost - Matthew 16:13-20

2011-08-22T13:01:00.000-07:00

[This sermon was preached on August 21, 2011. The sermon text is Matthew 16:13-20. It is entitled “Defensive or Offensive?”]

INTRODUCTION

Last week, I mentioned that I have a unique sense of humor.

To further elaborate on that this morning ---

let me add that my all-time favorite cartoon strip is “The Far Side.”

I have always appreciated Gary Larson’s quirky view of things.

As I was preparing my sermon this week:

+++I was reminded of one of his cartoons;

+++one that I always thought was especially funny.

In this particular scene:

+++two men are standing on top of a wall ---

a wall that is obviously meant to be the Great Wall of China; and

+++with spears by their sides ---

these men are clearly standing guard.

The caption beneath reads:

“NOW we’ll see if that dog can get in here!”

SEEKING SANCTUARY

Now in doing extensive historical research ---

I did learn that Gary Larson was wrong here.

The Great Wall of China was in fact:

+++not built to keep out an annoying dog; but instead

+++to protect the Chinese people from outside invaders!

But seriously, as I think about that image of a wall ---

I sometimes get the sense that this is was the Church has done ---

perhaps at times going to great lengths to keep ourselves separated from the world.

Think about it for a minute.

The place we gather to worship in each week we call the “sanctuary”---

which according to my dictionary has three definitions:

+++it is a “holy space”;

+++it is also a place where wild animals are protected; and finally

+++it is a place of refuge.

+++A place to be protected;

+++a place of refuge.

To be honest, that is what this space is for me at times.

For various reasons, I feel safer when I am within these walls:

+++in the midst of other believers;

+++seemingly buffered from the insanity around us.

And let’s face it ---

it may be quite tempting for us to:

+++hunker down in here; and

+++build the walls around us higher and longer.

This world can be a frightening place ---

and not just in places like Iraq or Afghanistan ---

where we have become almost immune to hearing about violence, but also in

+++Norway ---- where a crazed individual’s rampage killed 77 innocent people;

+++London --- where the recent riots left several dead and hundreds more injured;

+++northeast Ohio --- where seven more people were shot to death.

Understandably --- the Church has become for many Christians:

+++a place of refuge;

+++a place to seek protection from the chaos in the world around us.

ON THE OFFENSIVE

But importantly, this is NOT the picture Jesus envisioned for his Church ---

not even close.

You may find in interesting to know that Jesus only mentions the word “Church”

three times in the gospels ---

once in today’s lesson and twice more in Matthew 18.

Thus, with so few references to the Church ---

what Jesus says on those occasions takes on additional significance.

And in today’s lesson, Jesus makes a remarkable PROMISE to the Church:

“…I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not

prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:19)

Let me explain what Jesus means here ---

that the Church Jesus builds is expected to overcome the “gates of Hades.”

According to my former New Testament professor Mark Allan Powell:

+++Hades refers here to the sphere of Satan’s power --- which is waning;

+++while the metaphor “gates” implies the realm where the devil rules ---

which has been forced to assume a defensive posture.

So --- when Jesus promises that the gates of Hades will not prevail against his Church:
he is not suggesting that:

+++Satan will assail the Church; and

+++the Church will --- by God’s grace --- somehow withstand those assaults.

Instead, Jesus is presenting a very different picture here ---

but oftentimes, his logic is missed.

Simply put:

gates do not attack --- they get attacked!

So --- Jesus expects his Church to storm the gates of Hades:

+++aggressively confronting the powers of evil in the world around us;

+++with the assurance that those gates will give way against such an assault.

When you think about it ---

this picture of the Church Jesus draws for us is the opposite of:

+++the one I presented earlier; and

+++the one we often envision.

Here Jesus is telling us plainly that:

+++his Church is the one on the offensive; and

+++the rule of Satan is on the defensive.

We would be wise to remember that since it is Jesus’ Church ---

it is his picture of it that should ultimately guide us.

RESISTANCE REMAINS

And while this promise of our Lord is sure ---

Jesus was also not naïve.

While Satan’s power is waning ---

he will continue to fight hard until the end.

As a result, Jesus understands that there will be times when it does not look like the Church

is beating down the gates of Hades. Quite simply:

+++Jesus assures us that the victory is ours; but

+++he reminds us that it will not always be easy.

When sending his disciples out on their first missionary journey, Jesus warns them:

+++“See, I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves…”

+++“When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next…”

+++“You will be hated by all because of my name…” (Matthew 10:10, 23, 22)

These words serve as vivid reminders that:

+++the forces of evil remain; and

+++lead us to ponder whether hiding might not be our best option.

THE VICTORY BELONGS TO JESUS

But again, Jesus comes to us ---

reminding us that appearances can be deceiving.

After all, when Jesus was:

+++betrayed;

+++arrested;

+++tortured; and finally

+++crucified ---

it certainly appeared that Satan had won his greatest victory.

But as we know ---

that particular story did not end with the events of that tragic Friday.

For God proclaimed the final word that Sunday morning ---

proving once and for all that Satan’s worst was no match for God’s best!

And that remains our hope even now:

+++the Church of Christ will triumph;

+++for the battle has already been won.

CONCLUSION

As we do each Sunday ---

we have come together to worship God in this sanctuary:

+++certainly a “holy space”;

+++and maybe even a place of refuge as well.

And while we have come here for this time ---

we know that we cannot stay here ---

for our Lord has called us to be in the world.

In fact, at the end of every service ---

I dismiss you with these two verbs:

+++go; and

+++serve.

But as we “go” to “serve” ---

it is with the Lord’s promise that we are protected:

+++not just within these walls;

+++but also beyond them.

“Lo, I am with you always…” (Matthew 28:20)

Jesus assures us.

And so may be move confidently back into the world:

+++to be the type of Church Jesus empowers us to be;

+++letting the words of Paul in his letter to the Romans be our guide and inspiration:

“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12:21)

AMEN

9th Sunday after Pentecost - Matthew 15:21-28

2011-08-16T20:10:00.000-07:00

[This sermon was preached on August 14, 2011. The sermon text is Matthew 15:21-28. It is entitled “A Matter of Interpretation.”]

INTRODUCTION

I got an email from my former college roommate the other day.

In it, he asked these two questions:

+++“How is the church?”; and

+++“Found anybody who appreciates (or at least tolerates) your humor?”

And while I have been on my best behavior so far:

+++the longer I am here;

+++the more you will be exposed to my unique sense of humor.

In time, you will discover that:

+++other than when I am wearing these robes;

+++there is a good chance I am joking.

When you are with me in person ---

it is pretty easy to tell when I am joking:

+++you can hear it in my voice;

+++you can see a smile start to break out on my face. However:

+++as I have discovered; and

+++as Allison can attest to ---

when I am writing to someone ---

there are times the joke gets lost.

On more than one occasion ---

I have written something on Facebook that was meant to be funny:

+++but some who read my post took my words at face value; and

+++falsely assumed that I was serious when I was actually joking.

I found the confusion quite funny ---

but, in the end, I couldn’t fault those people for misunderstanding:

+++when you are only reading words;

+++there is a lot of room to interpret them in different ways.

SEGUE

I begin with that thought because, as:

+++I look at our gospel lesson for this morning;

+++I think that very same principle applies.

Of all the stories found in our gospels ---

I would argue that the encounter:

+++between Jesus;

+++and the Canaanite woman ---

is one of the most challenging to interpret.

The reason is this:

it’s hard to know what to make of Jesus’ responses to her:

+++because they sound so harsh;

+++because they seem so out of character for Jesus ---

we are left to ponder:

+++Are we to take Jesus’ words at face value?; or

+++Was Jesus being somewhat tongue-in-cheek when speaking with her?

And trust me ---

in reading people’s interpretation of this text ---

there was no clear consensus.

But I came upon some thoughts from:

+++John Ortberg; and

+++Kenneth Bailey ---

that rang true for me ---

so let me share them now.

TWIN TESTS

To best understand what it going on in this passage ---

it is helpful to think that Jesus is giving a test simultaneously to two sets of people:

+++the woman; and

+++his disciples.

The story starts to unfold when this woman:

+++a “Canaanite” woman; that is

+++a Gentile woman ---

approaches Jesus with a special plea:

“Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is

tormented by a demon.” (Matthew 15:22)

+++This certainly was not the first time that someone came to Jesus for help; and

+++it certainly wouldn’t be the last time.

And time after time ---

Jesus responded to such requests and brought healing to those in need.

But not this time. Matthew records Jesus surprising response:

“But [Jesus] did not answer her at all.” (Matthew 15:23)

And herein lies the first test for:

+++both the woman;

+++and for the disciples.

+++Would the woman persist --- or would she walk away?

+++Would the disciples speak up on behalf of this woman and her need ---

or would they remain silent?

We learn first how the disciples respond to their first test ---

and unfortunately for them, it is not good news.

+++They don’t keep silent; but

+++they also don’t come to her defense. Instead they tell Jesus:

“Send her away, for she keeps shouting after us.” (Matthew 15:23)

+++Get rid of her, Jesus!

+++She’s bothering us!

That was the disciples’ less-than-compassionate reply.

Jesus doesn’t heed their advice ---

but offers words that bring yet another test to:

+++both this Canaanite woman;

+++and his disciples:

“I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”

(Matthew 15:24)

In the disciples’ minds ---

Jesus was simply reiterating what they already believed:

+++Jesus was their Messiah; and

+++this woman had no right to make any requests from him.

I can picture them nodding their heads as Jesus spoke those words.

But this woman, driven by:

+++love for her daughter; and

+++the firm belief that Jesus could help her ---

was not ready to give up.

Despite the rejection she had received:

+++from the disciples; and seemingly

+++from Jesus himself ---

she returned to him:

+++knelt before him; and

+++begged him to help her.

This was a heart-felt plea from a desperate woman ---

not unlike the one Peter made on the water.

Once again, Jesus looks around at his followers, wondering:

Will any of them stand up for her?

Once again, no one did.

So hearing nothing from his followers ---

Jesus turns his attention to this woman, stating:

“It is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.” (Matthew 15:26)

Since we only have the words themselves ---

we don’t know exactly how Jesus spoke them.

While they sound quite harsh ---

I think there must have been some playfulness to them ---

for the woman’s response certainly has a playful tone to it:

“Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall

from the master’s table.” (Matthew 15:27)

And with that:

+++the test is over; and

+++this Gentile woman not only passed; but

+++received from Jesus the highest praise:

“Great is your faith!” (Matthew 15:28) ---

and with that, he healed her daughter instantly.

LESSONS TO BE LEARNED

So what does this text have to say to us today?

Let me close by suggesting two things ---

depending on whether you relate more to:

+++the Canaanite woman; or

+++Jesus’ disciples.

For those who know what it feels like to be the Canaanite woman ---

which likely includes all of us at times:

+++in dire straits;

+++in desperate need of Jesus working a miracle in our life ---

the lesson we learn from her is:

+++persevere;

+++don’t give up easily.

+++We may make an initial request ---

only to be met by God’s silence;

+++we may kneel before God and beg for help ---

only to seemingly be told that no help is forthcoming.

But that should not deter from going back to God ---

again and again if necessary ---

making known the deepest desires of our heart.

I can’t explain the ways of God:

+++why some prayers seem to be answered immediately; and

+++why some require great perseverance.

But for those things we are fervent about ---

I believe the message to us is:

+++keep on praying; and

+++watch to see how God responds.

And second, for those who can relate to the disciples ---

which likely includes all of us at times:

+++ignoring the needs of those around us;

+++thinking that God’s care extends only to some and not to all ---

the lesson we learn from them is to open our hearts and minds ---

remembering that God’s mercy knows no bounds.

+++Jesus may have come for the lost sheep of the house of Israel; but

+++Jesus didn’t limit it to that small circle ---

but kept enlarging it to include:

+++Gentiles as well as Jews;

+++a Roman centurions as well as Pharisees;

+++a Canaanite woman as well as a synagogue leader.

In short, Jesus expanded the circle to encompass everyone ---

and that is what he expects of us --- his church ---

to be an “all-inclusive” community where all are welcome ---

including each and every one of us.

And that, my friends, is no joke!

AMEN

Sermon June 5th Our Savior Lutheran Church John 17

2011-06-06T14:22:00.000-07:00

I have often taken great comfort in the knowledge that I have people praying for me. In recent years as I struggled through some health issues, I was overwhelmed and touched by the prayers offered for the return of my good health. During this time I became more aware of the power of prayer and I have learned that many faithful people lift me in prayer, sometimes I learned it was people I might least suspect……..

Just one example would be: one day when I was nearly through 7 weeks of daily radiation treatments and getting uncomfortable while still working full time I had a client’s printing job that needed to be picked up. I was grumpy to have to drive to Sevierville again as I had been there just an hour earlier for treatment. When I got to the printer we took care of our business and as I left - -never having shared one tiny bit of information about my health issues with this person she put her hand on mine and said –I am praying for you each day. I couldn’t believe it. I later learned how she knew I was struggling. God had been at work through her and I didn’t even know it! This happened often this last year and it was a very heart opening experience.

It seems that in some of my most pressing times, the Lord will send along someone to let me know of their prayers on my behalf.

As wonderful as that is, there is something even more profound in our text today. It is the knowledge that God's own Son prays for you and me!

I can say with confidence to every believer here today and everyone who will come to the faith, Jesus Christ Himself has prayed for you.

Jesus was within hours of facing the agony of the cross when He prayed what some have referred to as “ the most magnificent prayer ever uttered “ and so let us dig into this prayer and see what we can discover.

It is amazing to me that as Jesus faces his greatest trial, what does he do but pray for us…

As we review Jesus’ words I have decided to use the version from The Message to help us hear this prayer offered another way:

John 17:

Jesus' Prayer for His Followers

^1-5 Jesus said these things. Then, raising his eyes in prayer, he said:

   Father, it's time.
   Display the bright splendor of your Son
   So the Son in turn may show your bright splendor.
   You put him in charge of everything human
   So he might give real and eternal life to all in his charge.
   And this is the real and eternal life:
   That they know you,
   The one and only true God,
   And Jesus Christ, whom you sent.

   I glorified you on earth
   By completing down to the last detail
   What you assigned me to do.
   And now, Father, glorify me with your very own splendor,
   The very splendor I had in your presence
   Before there was a world.

Jesus opens his prayer by looking Upward to his Father

Jesus is looking up to the one to whom he has always prayed, to the one who always hears his voice. Jesus' focus, even as he considers the cross, is his heavenly Father. That is important, as in our times of trial; we may not be so likely to follow that example.

Pastor’s words to me as we worked on our message today were -do we focus on the Mountain Mover or the Mountain? It’s funny how we can live in faith and spend our lives praying and not really understand this. When he said this to me it had meaning suddenly – a bit of an epiphany happened and I am anxious to try to redirect my focus on the mountain mover and not the mountain.

In our times of need, we can learn from Jesus that an upward focus is the way to go

When we pray individually and as a church where does the focus of our prayer begin?

In the first few verses of Jesus’ prayer Jesus also focuses Inward. Jesus turns the focus of His prayer in as he prays for the mission to which He has been called. He prays about His work!

Jesus’ mission is specifically the cross. In his ministry Jesus revealed God to people through his teachings and relationships, but it is through the cross that he will bring people to the Father. It is on the cross that the Father is most glorified.

Are we remembering to ask our Father to assist us in his mission through us? That is a good and important question, and one we as a church hope to continue to seek to understand as we move forward in our ministry in the next 50 years and beyond.

We don’t want to fall into the trap of just going about ministry! Pastor gave me a good quote, that we should be doing what God is blessing and not ask God to bless what we are doing.

As we read on further we hear Jesus’ prayer also has an Outward focus,
Jesus says:

   For I'm no longer going to be visible in the world;
   They'll continue in the world
   While I return to you.

   Holy Father, guard them as they pursue this life
   That you conferred as a gift through me,
   So they can be one heart and mind
   As we are one heart and mind.

In this part of Jesus’ prayer he prays for the men and their preservation – he prays that they would be kept by the Father. Jesus knew the wickedness of the world and He had seen first hand the human heart. He knew that left to themselves, the disciples would not be able to maintain their relationship with the Father. Therefore, He took that responsibility and placed it squarely upon the shoulders of the Father by asking the Father to guard over them.

Jesus clearly is saying that the world is a dangerous place for his followers, but in the world we will stay for now. From what dangers do we need protection?

Greed Hatred Prejudice are only a few

Recognizing these dangers, what is our outward focus as individuals and as a congregation?

How can we better focus outward?

Can we begin dialog that helps us move outside ourselves?

Where can we create new relationships that help us open dialog where the Light of Jesus Christ can be shared?

I found as I studied this prayer I simply couldn’t quit at verse 11! There is too much to consider in the full context of the prayer to stop there! What do we find as we read further past today’s text in this special prayer….

Jesus continues on to pray:

^13-19Now I'm returning to you.
   I'm saying these things in the world's hearing
   So my people can experience
   My joy completed in them.
   I gave them your word;
   The godless world hated them because of it,
   Because they didn't join the world's ways,
   Just as I didn't join the world's ways.
   I'm not asking that you take them out of the world
   But that you guard them from the Evil One.
   They are no more defined by the world
   Than I am defined by the world.
   Make them holy—consecrated—with the truth;
   Your word is consecrating truth.
   In the same way that you gave me a mission in the world,
   I give them a mission in the world.
   I'm consecrating myself for their sakes
   So they'll be truth-consecrated in their mission.

Here we find that Jesus has an Onward Focus

It is important for us to recognize that after Jesus is "glorified," the work of the Church will continue, or maybe it would be more accurate to say, "begin". We carry on the mission begun in Jesus. We can take comfort in knowing that Jesus prays for our protection.

We can easily feel removed from some of the persecution faced by many Christians around the world, but are we really?   Maybe we face a different form of persecution. In our efforts to not be intolerant of other religions and cultures are we afraid to speak up in belief of the mission carried out on the cross?

What does that mean to us today,           this morning,             in our everyday lives?

Well, to me it says that Jesus has concern for us. He is concerned that we be kept in unity and that we are kept from evil. He clearly prays for protection from the Father for us as we carry His mission forward
Do you think about what you are singing in the morning when we are starting worship by singing our purpose…….   We join in unity at that time to seal in our hearts before God that we are indeed, Called Equipped and Sent by the Holy Spirit.

Jesus prayed for his disciples then and he prays for us, as disciples now as he knows we have received the Word.

If we desire Jesus’ prayer today on our own behalf we simply need to be his disciples.

As we close today we look at our own prayer life as a church. If we focus Upward we can give thanks and seek guidance from our Father. We can focus on the Mountain –mover not the mountain. We can look inward and see where God has gifted us for His purpose and then share those gifts freely, We can look outward and look for opportunities to shed the Light of Jesus and lastly we can look onward as we carry Jesus’ mission in this world on through us, the mission begun on the cross.

We are God’s Church.   As we rediscover today’s precious prayer we ask our Heavenly Father for the unity that Jesus calls out for, We pray to be his disciples worthy of such a prayer, We pray for the Holy Spirit’s guidance as we seek to see where we are called to carry his mission

Let’s end in prayer.

Lord, lead us in faith towards your purpose for us. As we look to celebrate Pentecost next week, send your Holy Spirit among us and bring us into your splendor. Help us to share in your gifts and be a part of your gracious love. Help us in prayer to focus upward to you, inward to your personal mission in us, outward as we seek to see outside ourselves and onward as we look to share the your message of love with others.

Amen

Transfiguration of Our Lord

2011-03-06T17:38:00.001-08:00

[This sermon was preached on March 6, 2011. The sermon text is Matthew 17:1-9. It is entitled “Halfway There.”]

INTRODUCTION

In a few prior sermons ---

I have made some embarrassing admissions ---

especially for one who is serving in the midst of the Smoky Mountains.

As you may recall, I admitted to you:

+++that I am not a camper; and also

+++that I am not a fisherman.

Today, however, instead of embarrassing myself yet again ---

I am actually going to give myself some props ---

letting you know that there is an activity:

+++one commonly done in this area; and

+++one that many of you participate in ---

that I actually enjoy as well: HIKING!

Thanks in large measure to my father ---

who is an extremely avid hiker:

+++I have done a number of hikes over the years; and

+++I have come to appreciate it:

+++as a way to get some good exercise; and

+++as a way to enjoy the beauty of God’s creation.

And recently, I came upon a hiking quote that:

+++I’ve found to be true based on many of my previous hiking experiences; and

+++one that ties in well with my message this morning. It states:

“When you reach the mountaintop, you are only halfway there.”

THEIR MOUNTAINTOP EXPERIENCE

As you may have noticed ---

mountains play a significant role in the Scriptures as place of divine revelation:

+++Moses climbed Mount Sinai to receive the Law from God;

+++Elijah was on the same mountain when the Lord came to him in a still, small voice.

It seem that whenever someone climbs a mountain ---

God shows up and interesting things happen.

Certainly, that is the case in our gospel lesson for today.

Still, it begins innocently enough:

“Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John

and led them up a high mountain by themselves.” (Matthew 17:1)

It’s hard to know what those three disciples were expecting when Jesus told them they were

heading up the mountain ---

but I feel confident that none of them would have guessed what actually did occur.

It begins with a radical transformation of Jesus.

“And [Jesus] was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and

his clothes became dazzling white.” (Matthew 17:2)

Talk about an overwhelming experience!

Jesus changed right before their very eyes:

+++his face became radiant;

+++his clothes became whiter than anything they had ever seen.

And while Peter, James, and John likely had no clue what to make of it:

+++they certainly knew is was something extraordinary;

+++they knew with even more certainty that Jesus was unique.

But this unusual mountaintop experience didn’t end there.

Next came a couple of surprise visitors. Matthew writes:

“Suddenly, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with

[Jesus].” (Matthew 17:3)

+++Moses? Elijah? Having a conversation with Jesus?

+++What in the world was happening here?

I can’t help but think that this must have been:

+++an utterly confusing; but

+++incredibly spectacular --- experience for the three disciples who witnessed it.

And as remarkable as these first two things were ---

the most amazing was yet to come.

As Peter considers a way to commemorate this moment, we’re told:

“…suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud

a voice said, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well

pleased; listen to him.’” (Matthew 17:5)

Wow --- what an amazing sequence of events:

+++watching Jesus’ appearance change before their very eyes;

+++having the chance to see Moses and Elijah;

+++hearing for themselves the voice of God the Father.

Wouldn’t we all have wanted to be in their place that day?

OUR MOUNTAINTOP EXPERIENCES

And while ours aren’t nearly as spectacular as the one we’ve just studied ---

many of us have been blessed to have our own “mountaintop experiences” ---

+++when we have intentionally gotten away;

+++when we have focused our attention on God; and

+++when we have experienced God’s presence in a more profound way than usual.

For me, these meaningful spiritual experiences have most often occurred in retreat settings.

+++The same may be the case for some of the women from the WELCA group ---

who have gone on retreats in the past and are planning another on this year;

+++for the youth, it may be last year’s trip to Affirm ---

which they too are planning to do again this summer.

For me, there is just something reassuring about these “mountaintop experiences”:

+++hearing God’s voice more clearly than I usually do;

+++feeling God’s love for me more profoundly than I usually do.

At the conclusion of such events ---

I typically have the same thought:

I wish it didn’t have to end so soon!

And I have led enough retreats over the years to know that I’m not alone.

When we experience God’s presence in that deeply personal way ---

we naturally want it to last longer.

TIME TO HEAD DOWN

I can’t help but think that this is how Peter, James, and John must have felt that day ---

and may have even been the motivation behind Peter’s desire to build three shelters:

+++as a way to memorialize the moment;

+++as a way to remain there awhile longer.

But that’s not what happened:

+++they didn’t build any booths;

+++they didn’t linger on the mountaintop.

In fact, in a subtle but important turning point, Matthew writes:

“As they were coming down the mountain…” (Matthew 17:9)

As spectacular as that moment had been ---

Jesus brought them back down the mountain.

After all, there was more ministry to be done:

+++by Jesus; and

+++by those three disciples.

Of course, this shouldn’t surprise us. The same also happened to:

+++Moses --- who after spending forty days on Mount Sinai ---

had to come back down to deal with the rebellious Israelites; and

+++Elijah --- who after receiving encouragement from the Lord on the mountain ---

had to come back down to carry out God’s instructions to him.

And the same happens to us:

+++retreats end and we are forced to come back home; even

+++worship services --- which to me are like:

+++mini-retreats;

+++times we intentionally set aside to commune with God ---

conclude and we leave to return to our daily activities.

This is the way God meant to be.

Special times to be with God are vitally important for us:

+++they feed our souls;

+++they deepen our faith; and they also

+++equip us for ministry.

But ministry doesn’t happen in the top of the mountain ---

rather, it happens once we come back down.

CONCLUSION

And that leads me back to the quote I shared at the beginning:

“When you reach the mountaintop, you are only halfway there.”

This morning in this place ---

we have reached the halfway point:

+++we have heard the Word of God;

+++we will be fed at the Lord’s table;

+++we will be strengthened through our fellowship with other Christians.

+++And while it isn’t as dramatic as what Peter, James, and John experienced;

+++or even what we experience in a retreat setting ---

in a very real sense ---

it is our weekly hike to the mountaintop.

+++But just like those three disciples;

+++just like Moses and Elijah ---

God tells us:

+++we must leave here;

+++we must hike back down the mountain; after all

+++we have only completed half of the journey;

+++we have work to do down below.

But as we go ---

may we do so with this assurance:

+++God is not with us just on the mountaintop; much more

+++God promises to be with us wherever we go.

AMEN