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Sermon: Christmas Day (12/25/11)
	Author: Pastor Schultz Text: Hebrews 1: 1-3 Title: God's Christmas Gift for You, Today!
Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God our Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. The text for this blessed Christmas morning's message is the first three verses of our Epistle lesson from Hebrews chapter 1: Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high. Will he remember me again this year? Have you ever asked this question about a loved one as Christmas approached? You remember the close relationship; you treasure it in your heart. You hope that he holds the same feelings for you. Will there be an expression of love again this year at Christmas? This day isn't about what you received or didn't receive from a loved one, today is really God's special day. It is one of the great feast days on the church calendar. We are gathered here this morning because God did remember His own over 2,000 years ago. He remembered them affectionately! He gave them the gift of the Messiah, the Christ, the Babe in Bethlehem. What a thrill and a joy to contemplate the measure of love that prompted such a gift! Our response can only be one of gratitude and praise. This finds expression in some of our favorite hymns of joyous adoration. But that was a long time ago. Jesus was a gift given centuries ago. Will God remember his own today? Will there be a gift for me and for you? I hope that you came expecting one for God has a gift for you once again this Christmas morning. Reach out for it dear friends with a faith-filled heart. It's a treasure beyond compare. This gift isn't made of gold or silver or any other precious metal. This gift is made of flesh and blood. God's gift for you this morning is His own Son, Jesus. Our text for this morning tells us that God talks to us by His Son. But what if God chose not to speak? Have you ever thought what it would be like to have a God who was silent? God's people who lived from 430 B.C. until the birth of Jesus Christ lived in a time when God was silent. They heard of God who spoke by the prophets to their ancestors and they yearned for God to speak again. There were so many years of silence. Those years of silence carried the implied meaning of anger. Oh, how they desired for a word of grace, a word of mercy, a word of love from their God who had promised so much through the voices of His prophets. Has a friend or a loved one ever turned away from you in silence? Silence is a common way of expressing disapproval and even anger. Parents, have you ever experienced the silence of a pouting child? Spouses, have you ever received the silent treatment? Teens, have you ever had a friend who was close to you who suddenly would no longer talk to you or even look at you? Who can measure the hurt that is bundled up in the rejection of silence? The hurt is even deeper when we reflect on the reason and discover that the silence of rejection is justified, that we deserved it. In the words of our text for this morning, the writer to the Hebrews is saying to us; "Don't miss this gift to you. Don't fail to see that God, who chose to speak at one time through His prophets, has chosen to speak today through His Son. To hear again the voice of a gracious God as He speaks through His Son "What a precious gift! Yet, maybe you have worried about hearing from God. Were you afraid that if He should speak to you it would be a word of rejection or anger? To be sure there are plenty of good reasons for Him to reject each and every one of us, for His anger to burn against us, and for Him to give us the silent treatment. There are all the actions and words that constituted rebellion against Him. There are the times when we only thought of our needs, our desires and not of what our Lord desires. There are the numerous idols that have kept us from worshiping the one true God. Plenty of reasons exist, these and others, for God to be angry, to lash out in fury, even in this Christmas season, and to be forever silent. But today again He talks to you. Imagine the wonder of it! God speaks to you with a tender voice, not the booming, demanding warning voice of the prophets. God talks to you with a loving voice as He says, "I forgive you. I have adopted you as a son or daughter. I love you with an everlasting love." This is the meaning of the message of the Christmas angel, " For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord." ( Luke 2:11) Our text for this morning reminds us that God did more than just speak; our God is a God of action. Our text reminds us that our God created the world. It reminds us that God upholds the universe by the word of his power. These actions alone are wonderful gifts yet our God has given us something even greater, His Son, who after making purification for sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high. God sent His Son, true God, to be born of the Virgin Mary and at the proper time Joseph named Him Jesus as he was commanded by the angel. This Jesus, true God and true man, lived the perfect, sinless life that we could not so that He could be the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. This atonement for sin took place on Mt. Calvary when Jesus died as the ultimate and final sacrifice for the sins of the whole world. On the third day the Father raised Jesus from the depths of death to live at his right hand for all of eternity. Because of Jesus' actions while on this earth we are able to hear the gentle voice of our God. My Son, Jesus has made atonement for your sins. All of your sins are forgiven, go in peace and live as my child. My Son, Jesus has conquered death and the grave. You no longer need to fear death for through Him you have the sure hope of eternal life. My Son, Jesus will come again in glory to restore all of creation to its intended glory. You, as a believer in my Son, have a place reserved just for you in this glorious Kingdom of Mine. Will he remember me again this year? Will there be an expression of love again this year at Christmas? We are always in the thoughts of our God and his love for us is expressed every day, not only at Christmas. He shows His love in that He speaks to us through His Son. He speaks to us through the Gospel message. He speaks to us through His actions for He was and is the perfect Lamb who redeemed mankind. Your gift from God this Christmas morning and every morning is His dear Son who is the Christ, the Messiah, Prophet, Priest and King. Reach out for it dear friends with a faith-filled heart. It's a treasure beyond compare. Amen.
Sermon: Christmas Eve (12/24/11)
	Author: Pastor Schultz Text: Matthew 1: 18-25 Title: Baby Blue and Royal Purple
Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God our Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. The text for this Christmas Eve message is Matthew 1:18-25. 18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19 And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. 20 But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: 23 "Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel" (which means, God with us). 24 When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, 25 but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus. Here ends our text. It was a boy Mary would bear. It was a royal baby, heir of David, the great king of Israel! Baby blue and royal purple would be the natural choice of colors if we were to decorate His nursery properly! But sadly, there was no nursery. There was a stable, perhaps only a stable in a cave. "Rude and bare" was His cradle, as the carol says ("As with Gladness Men of Old") . There were no adornments, no tapestries, no robes, and no luxurious draperies of baby blue and royal purple, only the smoke-blackened walls of a cave and a well-used feedbox. Nothing more. Yet in the simplicity of Jesus' nativity we have something more regal than any palace could provide. It is not the setting that gives Jesus His noble titles, King of kings and Lord of lords, but God Himself. It is not the colors baby blue and royal purple that matter, but the crimson red stain of sin which His people bore that Jesus came to erase. The salvation which He provides turns that scarlet stain to a white as pure as freshly fallen snow. Matthew states clearly that Jesus is not just another baby born in the squalor of the times. He describes the birth of the Messiah, the long-awaited chosen one of God, the one whom prophets had foretold, and the one whom Apostles would proclaim. It is no ordinary birth. Jesus was not conceived as other children. "She was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit," Matthew explains. Later he assures us that Joseph took Mary as his wife, "but knew her not until she had given birth to a son". It was a miraculous event unlike any other. This marvelous incarnation was God's use of nature as well as a glorious demonstration of His supreme authority over nature. It was no magical act, astonishing, but yet deceptive. It was God entering into the human world to experience it in human form. So the King came as a baby. His kingdom was not of this world, but His infancy most certainly was! He was nursed and nurtured, caressed and cradled. He hungered and cried as an infant. He grew weary; He slept. We can imagine that He smiled at the worn faces of shepherds and laughed at the strange voices of the Magi. He gave up his equality with God. St. Paul writes, "But made Himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross" (Phil 2:7-8) . Jesus, the wondrous Babe of Bethlehem, came to die the death of a sacrificial lamb. He came to make a conquest of life and death. He would never wear the colors of baby blue and royal purple. Instead, He wore a scarlet robe as the Roman soldiers mocked him. He died colored in the red of blood which ran down from His wounds while on the cross. Jesus came to offer our world hope and peace. Jesus came so that our lives would be less "blue" and more royal. When the Danish Queen visited a small home for the elderly, it had been announced in advance and everyone knew she was coming. They recognized her immediately, except for one elderly, nearly deaf woman who kept asking who came in with all the fanfare. She couldn't hear the answers, so even as the Queen shook her hand, the woman was still asking those around her who had come. "The Queen" she whispered in her ear. The woman did not understand. Again the Queen said slightly louder, "The Queen." Still, the woman was puzzled. When the Queen realized the woman had a hearing problem, she almost shouted, "The Queen!" Then the woman not only heard, but also recognized the Danish monarch standing before her. Embarrassed, she asked why someone hadn't told her earlier. Those around her laughed. It was no laughing matter when Jesus appeared and was not recognized as the King of kings. Many in the world today have turned a deaf ear to the "baby blue" infant of Bethlehem, and have plugged their ears to the "royal purple" Good News with words of denial. But fortunately, God keeps shouting for mankind to recognize Him, to hear that the King has come and His name is Jesus, Immanuel, "God with us." He keeps shouting that He loves and seeks all men for membership in His royal family. This Christmas we remember baby blue and royal purple are merely color swatches in time. Jesus grew from infancy to manhood. He grew beyond the shades of human coloring to be the vivid Lord of all. From cradle to cross, from Bethlehem's cave to Calvary's crucifixion, Jesus painted an image of God's immense love for us. As Easter morning dawned and the conquest of death became complete, we thrilled to the golden sunrise that changed the color of life forever. Instead of thick, depressing darkness, His victory gave life the brilliance of joy. Having been made His brothers and sisters through Baptism, He longs to share with us the brilliant colors of blue and purple and others that we will see when we enter into His eternal kingdom. As we treasure the voice of God speaking to us in His Word and delight in the carols of praise, we recognize that Jesus fills our lives with more than just color.He offers forgiveness and love that never blur or fade or wash out. Let us, then, like the shepherds, cherish the miracle of Christmas and experience the baby blue of God's grace and the royal purple of His salvation. Amen.
Sermon: Midweek Advent 4 (12/21/11)
	Author: Pastor Schultz Text: Matthew 16: 13-20 Title: Out of the Blue
Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God our Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. In our examination of Advent blues, we have been reminded that we no longer need sing "the blues," because Jesus, as prophet, preaches the Good News, we have been reminded that He has achieved the highest honor possible--the blue ribbon of the priest-king Melchizedek. Last week we traced His life as King, a blue blood unlike any other. These are more than majestic titles and distinguished honors. They are claims Scripture makes for Jesus that Jesus Himself fulfills. Today, we discover Jesus as the Messiah, a gift "out of the blue." Matthew's description of the event at Caesarea Philippi, late in the Lord's ministry, is familiar to most of us. Jesus was there with His twelve disciples, in a pagan place surrounded by statues of Greek and Roman gods and goddesses. Jesus asks, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" The disciples responded with a variety names: "John the Baptist,""Elijah,""Jeremiah,""one of the prophets." "But who do you say that I am?" asks Jesus, seemingly out of the blue. Peter responds with his revealing answer, "You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God". This response seems to come from out of the blue but Jesus acknowledges that Simon Peter's revelation was given to Him by God: "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven". Some perceive Peter's response as spontaneous, impulsive, and hasty or you might say out of the blue but really it was not. The disciples had heard Jesus preach and they saw the mighty works of His hands. Jesus preached in parables which described the Kingdom of God and these He explained to the disciples so that they would understand. Jesus walked on water, healed many of diseases, and fed thousands upon thousands with only a few loaves of bread and a couple of fish. There was a gradual progression. It was not a hasty response. Jesus did not want His role as Messiah to be a bolt out of the blue"an impromptu strike of lightning"but an executed plan that began with God and was carefully fulfilled in and through Jesus. How could people know Jesus as God's Son if He only "declared" Himself to be the Messiah? But by pointing to the Father, Jesus' followers saw that He was not just a son, but "the Son of the living God." Because of Old Testament prophecies, the Jews looked forward to when the Messiah would come. Daniel and Isaiah painted wondrous pictures of Him. But --about 70 B.C. there emerged a book which spoke much about the Son of Man, and which sharpened and intensified the picture." The Book of Enoch proclaimed the Messiah to be militant. Terror would grip His enemies. In this book, the Messiah is --a divine, superhuman, apocalyptic figure." He will destroy God's enemies and lift up the righteous. This was not the Messiah Jesus came to be, thus He had to teach people all over again that the views of Daniel and Isaiah’s Suffering Servant were accurate. Enoch's view was patriotic, comforting to the beleaguered Jews, but its suggestions were romanticized nationalism. Jesus made numerous claims to the role of Messiah even before His resurrection. At Caesarea Philippi, He acknowledged it to Peter and the rest of the disciples. To John the Baptist's inquiry if He was the Messiah, Jesus responded, "Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them." At Nazareth, when He preached in His home town synagogue, Jesus read the words of Isaiah: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." When He finished, Jesus said, "Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing". After His arrest, when Jesus was asked, "Tell us if You are the Christ [the Messiah], the Son of God," He answered, "I am". Here is the Messiah God designed and Jesus fulfilled. He came "out of the blue". He was not a national liberator, but an international, multicultural, multiracial Savior. As the Prophet above all prophets, the Priest unexcelled, the King who reigns above all kings, Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah, the one who comes in love. St. Paul writes in Colossians 1:20; and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. He writes in Romans 5:8; but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. . He writes in Ephesians 2:4-5; But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ'by grace you have been saved. In the South Pacific during World War II, a nineteenth-century Melanesian religion was revived among tribal peoples. Airplanes dropped immense crates of supplies to help the embattled people with food and medicines and also dropped weapons and war equipment for the armies defending them. As the people were primitive, they thought it was one of their gods blessing them with material gifts dropped out of the blue. Thus the cult became a thriving religion. God’s plan of salvation was not intended to provide material wealth or even war supplies, but eternal joy. Jesus the Messiah was not an impromptu supply drop, but One whose planned invasion of earth had been carefully planned before the ages began. Thus the prophets foretold concerning Him. A people were appointed to receive Him. And God gave to the world a Savior, out of the blue; the promise long made was now fulfilled. It was Jesus, the infant of Bethlehem. It was Jesus, the carpenter of Nazareth. It was Jesus, the Galilean rabbi. It was Jesus, the crucified one of Calvary, and the risen one of Easter morning. In Him all the pieces of the puzzle of salvation fit together--all the prophecies and all the proofs of His earthly ministry. Jesus came from out of the blue, intent on fulfilling the Father’s plan to save the world. It was not a momentary decision but the plan that love carved out before the beginnings of the universe. Jesus is the Messiah. Alleluia! Prophet, Priest, and King, the Christ, the Son of God. Alleluia! Amen.
Sermon: Midweek Advent 3 (12/14/11)
	Author: Pastor Schultz Text: John 18:33-37 Title: Blue Blood
Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God our Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. In our examination of Advent Blues, we have been reminded that we no longer need to sing “the blues” because Jesus, as prophet preaches the Good news. We have also been reminded that Jesus has achieved the highest rank possible, the blue ribbon of the priest-king Melchizedek. These are more that lofty titles or high honors. They are claims that Scripture makes for Jesus that He Himself fulfills. Today, we discover Jesus is a blue blood; He descended from kings and is a king in His own right. The Gospel of John describes the scene in Pilate’s headquarters. 33 So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” 34 Jesus answered, “Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?” 35 Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done?” 36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.” 37 Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world— to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” John 18:33-37 (ESV) I don’t know about you, but I have never seen a king or queen in person. The closest that I have come to royalty is seeing members of the British Monarchy on television. Yet in our country we crown many beauty queens, Elvis Presley was deemed the king of rock and roll, there is a self -titled King James in the NBA, there is an actress/singer named Queen Latifah, and yet there are others but none of these are quite the same as blue bloods. I have known of only one real, genuine, completely authentic King, not a pretender but a bona fide blue blood, the King of kings and the Lord of lords, Jesus Christ. You know Him too. He doesn’t reign from an elaborate earthly throne and doesn’t wear a jewel encrusted crown. His kingdom is not one of geographical boundaries, but is, instead of human hearts. His people are not those united by language or race or ethnicity, but by faith and prayer and the Sacraments, by God’s Word and Christ’s Church. His rule extends over the universe, but He has more than an embassy in every believing heart. He has a dwelling place, a palace of hope, a home where He Himself lives. This is the one we know as Christ the King. Magi traveled over many desert miles from the East, seeking the birthplace of history’s most important King. This is the Rabbi whose teachings and miracles caused Galileans to try to take Him by force to name Him Israel’s King. This is the one about whom the prophet Isaiah said, “He will reign on David’s throne . . . forever”. The prophet Micah foretold that He would be born in Bethlehem but would rule all Israel. Jesus came to be a far different King than earthly monarchs; He came as a blue blood of heavenly blue. He wasn’t born in a palace. His only crown was one of thorns. His only scepter was a reed. His regal cloak was a faded cape used by His captors to mock Him. He didn’t commanded military forces nor sentence renegades to death from a judgment seat as did Pilate and Herod. But He touched the sick with healing hands and absolved the repentant from their awful deeds. Jesus was a King unlike any other. He was a King who died to save His people from their sins. Then He rose from the dead to rule with love and grace. He dispenses forgiveness rather than retribution and welcomes everyone into His eternal kingdom. He was and is the most humble blue blood this world will ever know. Our King seeks to strengthen His rule in our lives so that when we do fail, we are led to repent. As we shed the sin and remember the lesson learned, we can move on with a new will to live as He desires. “Be perfect,” commands our King, “as your heavenly Father is perfect”. That is possible only as we allow King Jesus to erase sins and renew us with love’s forgiveness Oscar Wilde’s The Happy Prince is similar to Jesus our blue blood King. In the story, the people erected a marvelous statue of the prince atop a tall column in order to remember this ruler who seemed always happy. They brightened it with gold leaf, used sapphires for its eyes, put a ruby in its sword, and decorated its neck chain with semiprecious stones and pearls. Whenever the people looked at the statue of the Happy Prince, they became happy too. Late one fall, a swallow perched between the feet of the Happy Prince to spend the night. As he tucked his head under his wing, a large drop of water landed on the weary bird. Looking up, he saw that the Happy Prince was not happy at all—he was crying. The swallow flew to his shoulder. The prince told his new friend that he was happy when he lived behind palace walls but now he could see the poor and the struggling, those enduring pain and those living with heartache. He asked the bird for a favor. “Take the ruby from the hilt of my sword and carry it to that house some streets to the north, where a poor widow is caring for a sick child.” The swallow obeyed. Entering an open window, he dropped the ruby where the mother would find it. The swallow reported back to the Happy Prince, but the prince was still sad because there was another family about to be evicted from their home. “Take the jewels from my neck,” instructed the prince, “and give them to the family.” The swallow took the necklace, dropped it on the steps, and flew to a nearby branch to watch. When a child came out to look for twigs for the fire, he found the valuable jewelry and shouted with delight. The swallow reported back to the prince. Days passed and the swallow needed to fly south, but there were other favors to do for the prince. The bird peeled off leaves of gold and dropped them in the cups of the beggars. Finally, the prince told him to take one of the sapphires from his eyes to help an orphan who was selling matches. Then the Happy Prince asked the swallow to pry out the other sapphire and take it to a student’s room. The student was destitute and so weak from hunger that he could not study. By now the swallow had delayed its flight south so long that it was too late to make the journey. He decided to stay and be eyes for the Happy Prince—to tell him about the happiness spread because of the prince’s love for his people. The story continues in the same vein. The Happy Prince is a legend, but the King of kings is a genuine blue blood who didn’t give jewels and leaves of gold to His subjects, but His innocent suffering and death. He brought joy to our world not by offering glittering gems, but by giving us the sparkling gifts of salvation and eternal life. He came to be King of our hearts, so that we can love as He loves. He came to be King of our heads, so that we can think of others as He does. He came to be King of our souls, so that we can live as He lives—forever. He came to be King of our will, so that we can will what the Father wills—to do and be the truth. Jesus is our joyous King, the happy Prince of Peace, who seeks to give us His grace through His proclaimed Word and the Sacraments. This King, whose blue blood was so royal that it was shed for all His subjects to redeem them eternally, desires to dwell in your heart. We pray King Jesus come into our hearts, come again in glory to take us to eternal peace. Amen.
Sermon: 3rd Sunday in Advent (12/11/11)
	Author: Pastor Schultz Text: Thessalonians 5:16-24 Title: An Advent Checklist
Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God our Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. The sermon text for this morning is the Epistle lesson from 1st Thessalonians chapter 5. When the secular world gets ready to celebrate Christmas, the central figure in their celebration carefully checks out those whom he will visit. Isn’t that what the world’s Christmas song tells us about that central figure, Santa Claus? “He’s making a list and checking it twice …” The Christian understanding of Christmas is much different! Our central figure, God Himself, isn’t checking to see who’s been naughty or nice. There’s really no question about that, because we all are sinful and because mankind is sinful God set into motion His redemptive plan in the coming of Jesus Christ. St. Paul states this clearly in his letter to the young pastor, Timothy; Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners… (1 Timothy 1:15) Our Word from God for this day is aimed right at forgiven sinners; that is Christians. Our text is part of the final instructions that St. Paul gives to the church at Thessalonica. In this text he gives us a sort of check list. It’s far different than Santa’s. It’s a checklist for Christians, it’s your checklist and it’s one that could be appropriately titled, “An Advent Checklist.” The first item that St. Paul puts on this Advent check list is the words of verse 16; Rejoice always. But what does it mean to rejoice? The Gospel of Matthew gives us a good illustration of rejoicing. Chapter 2:9-10; And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. Rejoicing is much more than being happy, laughing, or simply having fun. For the magi it was a heightened state of gladness, they were delighted because the star that led them to Jerusalem had reappeared to lead them to the new born King of the Jews. Christians rejoice because they can see the mighty hand of God actually working in history, in the world around them, and even in their lives. Recognizing His hand in our lives gives us the confidence that all things will work for our good. Rejoicing requires a lively sense of God’s intimate and continuous care. When you have that confidence, rejoicing is easy, and it becomes the constant attitude of the Christian life. If we join St. Paul in confessing that nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus, then that’s exactly what I’m going to let stand in the way of my spirit rejoicing – nothing. The next item on this Advent check list is the words of verses 17 & 18; 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances. One of the reasons that we can and do rejoice in the Lord is that we have the privilege of prayer. Prayer is simply conversation with God. Sometimes we reveal our innermost thoughts and concerns in prayer. Other times it takes the form of an often repeated rhymed table prayer or bedtime prayer. Prayer is our act of confidence in God for we know that before we call He answers and while we are yet speaking He hears. (Isaiah 65:24) Our prayers might include words of adoration as we remember the merciful actions of our God. They might include solemn words of confession and repentance. They might ask God for earthly or spiritual blessings. Lastly, our prayers should include words of thanksgiving, as our text states; give thanks in all circumstances. We have a Lord who rules all things and who carries us across every sweet or apparently bitter experience of life with the same kind of protection that He has used to guard His people of all time. This is why St. Paul can boldly state with confidence; give thanks in all circumstances. What a statement! It can only be made by one who knows that in everything there is cause to give thanks. A review of our prayer life is always appropriate, yet even more so in this Advent season as our hearts remember the coming of Christ: He came as the child in Bethlehem to redeem us, He comes into our lives through Baptism and lives with us daily through His word, and He will come again on the last day to establish the new heavens and earth. We pray about this also! The next item on this check list is a couple of negatives; Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not despise prophecies. Prophesy is a vehicle of the Spirit. Prophesy doesn’t just mean foretelling, it also includes forth telling, or speaking out. God’s people have been surrounded by prophetic messages. The writer of Hebrews reminds us of this in the opening words of the book; 1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son… Within the scope of the meaning of the word prophesy should be included all that God would have us to know through His Word. St. Peter writes in his second letter chapter one; 21 For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. Rejecting prophesy is actually quenching the Spirit. But The Spirit is also quenched when we fail to honor the gifts of the Spirit, the gift of the Sacraments. When we fail to remember the grace bestowed to us in our baptism and fail to receive the grace offered at the Lord’s Table then we prevent the Spirit from working in our hearts. Christians, working through their Advent checklist, take the Spirit and the Spirit’s message very seriously and they explore the meaning of both in their lives. The last item on this checklist is a rather all-inclusive statement; but test everything; hold fast what is good. 22 Abstain from every form of evil. What shall we test? Test your life, your value system, your moral standards, your view of justice, your view of your neighbor, the encroachment of materialism in your life, your commitment to Christ, your approach to authority, your views on what is important in your life, this sermon. Everything! Test it! But how? The Christians from another era who lived in a small Greek town called Berea tell us how. In the 17th chapter of Acts we are told that Paul and Silas preached the Gospel at the synagogue there. What did the people do when they heard the Gospel? Verse 11 states; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. If you want to test things, do it against God’s Word. Test everything that you are, all that you hear, all that you read against God’s Word and then follow through on Paul’s advice to the Thessalonians; hold fast what is good and abstain from evil. St. Paul’s Advent checklist is short, it only has four items, yet it is daunting. Who could ever put a check next to all four of the items? Who rejoices always and prays without ceasing? Who doesn’t quench the Spirit and despise prophesy? Who tests everything, holding on to what is good and curbs evil? Do you remember what was said earlier, how our text is aimed right at forgiven sinners? This Advent Checklist is a guide for the Christian life. We strive to live our lives with all four items checked yet when we fail we turn to our Savior who lived, died, and rose victoriously for us. When we fail we have a God who desires to hear our confession, who grants us the forgiveness of our sins, who desires that we turn from our sinful ways to live according to this checklist and all his commands. It is our God who declares us righteous for the sake of His Son, Jesus Christ. Santa Claus isn’t the only one who’s making a list and checking it twice. We too have a list that we should check every day, not just twice. When we look at our Advent check list and realize that we have failed to accomplish everything there, then we can be comforted by the last verses of our text; 23 Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it. Amen.
Sermon: Midweek Advent 2 (12/07/11)
	Author: Pastor Schultz Text: Hebrews 5: 5-10 Title: Jesus as Priest: Blue Ribbon
Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God our Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. This season we are examining the Advent blues. Last week, we discovered we no longer need to sing “the blues,” because Jesus, as prophet, preaches the Good News to dispel “blue” moods. Today we examine another of His roles; His role as priest. These are more than regal titles or lofty honors. They are claims that Scripture makes for Jesus that He Himself fulfills. Today, Jesus wins top honors with the blue ribbon. Blue ribbons are commonplace for some people. A family I know has children who excel in sports and academics. They have rooms filled with trophies, plaques, and blue ribbons. Most of us are not so accomplished. We would be proud to have one blue ribbon. It would be impossible to list all the blue ribbons that Jesus would have achieved, but scripture boasts of at least one, our text explains; 5 So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you”; 6 as he says also in another place, “You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.” 7 In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. 8 Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. 9 And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, 10 being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek. (Hebrews 5:5-10) There could be no loftier award. Melchizedek was the most highly regarded priest of the Old Testament. He came long before Aaron and the Levitical priesthood. Melchizedek was both priest and king of Salem, which was later named Jerusalem. He met Abraham with bread and wine following Abraham’s rescue of Lot from the four kings.(Genesis 14:18-24) Psalm 110 affirms that Melchizedek was the most honorable priest known and that David’s heir would be ordained by God to an eternal priesthood akin to Melchizedek. This blue ribbon of priesthood is the most distinctive kind, ancient and honorable, like the formal blue sash nobles wear to signify a high honor. Yet for us today, some of this distinctiveness is lost by time. We cannot see how being compared to Melchizedek has importance. Therefore, it is essential to look behind the words that we read to study their ancient origin. These words are critical, their imagery unparalleled, and their truth unexcelled. The writer to the Hebrews tells his readers that Jesus is not to be ignored as just another prophet because He is truly a high priest of the loftiest kind. Chapter 7 tells us that Melchizedek was a king of peace who was without father or mother or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God he continues a priest forever. His priestly authority is therefore timeless, and therefore Jesus’ authority is likewise timeless. Not only did Abraham acknowledge Melchizedek as priest and king but paid him a tithe, which recognized his superiority as well. The Aaronic priesthood was ultimately set aside, but the priesthood of Melchizedek was established forever by his heir. That heir is Jesus. Jesus’ priesthood is like a blue ribbon because Jesus is second to none. The book of Hebrews describes Jesus as both priest and sacrifice. But Jesus is not exclusively a priest, even a blue-ribbon one like Melchizedek. He is a prophet, king and Messiah. However, these titles should not limit us in our understanding of Jesus because he is far more. Yet these roles enable us to see beyond the complexity of the Savior’s personality, to see clearly the evidence that He is Lord of lords and King of kings, that He is more than another great teacher or another important philosopher. Jesus is God in His redemptive role as healer and guide. That understanding, however, must stretch beyond the academic to reach the personal. While knowing Jesus as a blue-ribbon priest like Melchizedek is vital knowledge, it is knowing Him personally, knowing His sacrifice, which makes Him a loving friend rather than a distant celestial being. Jesus is our priest, who ministers to us with His sacrifice, as well as His Sacraments. He ministers as a priest should, to heal the body as well as the soul. According to one Bible dictionary, in addition to teaching and offering sacrifices, priests diagnosed diseases that made worshippers ceremonially unclean and performed ritual purifications. These were their primary roles. They are still the roles of Jesus, the priest, who wears the blue-ribbon honor of the ‘order of Melchizedek’. Jesus is our ‘great Physician’ who heals us as did the priests of old. Repeatedly, the Gospel writers tell us that countless people, infected with horrid diseases, were brought to Jesus, who healed them. Not only the sick but also the dead were brought to Him. The blind saw, the mute talked, and lepers were cleansed. The bedridden walked. The hemorrhaging woman was cured. The mentally deranged were made sane. But Jesus did not come to earth only to cure the sick; He came to bring the ultimate cure for our sin-sickness. As a priest of the order of Melchizedek, Jesus could not ignore the affliction in His people any more than He could ignore sin. The fact is this; disease is the result of sin. It may or may not be personal sin that causes the disorder, but sin nevertheless. Jesus came for wholeness. He is not satisfied with shattered lives. He wants them to be complete. He preached not only to minds and hearts, but to the whole person. His touch healed. His word cured. His ointments of saliva and dust were a prescription for wholeness. In this age, we think of Jesus as Savior, but we forget that role is intended also to save us from sickness, which is the result of sin. Thus let Jesus be your Melchizedek to bring you bread and wine as the original one did for Abraham, to forgive your sin so that you may experience healing of the body as well as healing of the soul. Holy Communion is a healing gift that Christ, our great High priest, has given to us. Do not fail to celebrate it, not for the ceremony, the sip of wine and taste of bread, but for the assured forgiveness Jesus shares with His body and blood communicated in that gift. It is His way of making us whole with Him. It is said that the British royal family was cruising in their yacht named Britannia one night when the captain saw a bright, bluish light ahead in the mist. He sent an urgent Message: “Please alter course!” The response was terse, “You alter course!” Angered by the arrogant response, he immediately responded, “This is John Jones, captain of the royal yacht. The Prince and Princess are on board. By the authority of the Queen, you change course!” The answer was instantaneous. “This is Fred Smith, keeper of this lighthouse for twenty-two years. I can’t change course!” Many of us want Jesus to sail different waters or to take another route in order to get out of our way. Then we discover that He is the lighthouse, “a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek”, by whose light we must sail to be well forever, to be cured of our diseases, to be redeemed from our sin. We must change course and let Him guide us to safe harbor. Amen.
Sermon: 2nd Sunday in Advent (12/04/11)
	Author: Pastor Schultz Text: Isaiah 40:1-2, 10-11 Title: Comforting Words
Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God our Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. The sermon text for this morning is Isaiah chapter 40, verse 1-2, 10-11; 1 Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. 2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, 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. 10 Behold, the Lord God comes with might, and his arm rules for him; behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him. 11 He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young. Have you ever thought about the many things that bring you comfort? The following is a short list that I came up with: a favorite chair, a warm blanket, a good book, a fire in the fireplace, a pet, a letter from a friend, money in the bank, the touch of a hand, a hug. I’m sure that there are many others that you could add to the list. Comfort is woven into our social fabric. We hear of things like creature comforts, comfort foods, and positions of comfort in the workplace. Many of us sleep with comforters on our beds. As Americans, we simply seek out the comforts of life. In our text for today, God speaks words of comfort through the prophet Isaiah. The first 39 chapters of Isaiah have been termed as the “law” section of the book since in general its message is one of rebuke. Isaiah begins his prophesy with these words; 2 Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth; for the Lord has spoken: “Children have I reared and brought up, but they have rebelled against me. 3 The ox knows its owner, and the donkey its master’s crib, but Israel does not know, my people do not understand.” 4 Ah, sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, offspring of evildoers, children who deal corruptly! They have forsaken the Lord, they have despised the Holy One of Israel, they are utterly estranged. Chapter 39 ends this section with the gloomy prophesy that King Hezekiah’s prideful display of wealth would hasten the time when Babylonian invaders would strip the temple and take Jerusalem’s people into exile. Chapter 40 abruptly announces the good news that God intended to bring back the exiles. What an amazing contrast! In the first 39 chapters God shows His wrath in that Isaiah prophesies about the utter and complete destruction of Judah and Israel and all the nations. God’s anger burned against the people of the earth because they did not follow His ways and this included His chosen people, the Children of Israel. Yet, in our text, God shows His mercy, His steadfast love, His faithfulness to His creation. Listen to verses 1 and 2 of our text again; 1 Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. 2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, 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. Did you notice the repetition of the word ‘comfort’? The Lord begins this section of grace with a single, repeated command, Comfort, comfort. This command flows from the mind of God, and God Himself directed it towards His messengers. Isaiah is certainly included but so are all who will announce the Good News of God’s grace. God intends this comfort for all His people, His people Israel, His New Testament people, for you and for me. He claims them all and us too when He says “my people”. After all the unfaithfulness, all the rebellion, all the sin, they and we are still His people. God remains the God of His people; faithful, gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. In the second verse of our text the Lord again gives a command, Speak. And what is the message that is to be spoken? The three clauses that begin with ‘that’ identify the message. That her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins. Before we look more carefully at these clauses, it is important to point out that the message is spoken with past tense verbs. The events that God wants proclaimed were so certain that God speaks as if they had already been completed. The people of Israel looked forward to their completion and we look back into history to see that God completed what He proclaimed through the prophet Isaiah. The first clause speaks of warfare but may also refer to difficulty or trials. On one hand, it means that the Babylonian captivity has reached its end. On the other hand, sin and death forge chains of bondage for every sinner. Every sinner longs for the announcement that he or she is free from such bondage. The second clause announces the forgiveness of sins. The debt caused by every twisted and perverted deed committed by God’s people and all of humanity has been paid off. In chapter 53, Isaiah clearly describes that this will happen by the vicarious suffering and death of the Servant of the Lord. The Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. The third clause really underscores the grace of God. Here God offers a double portion. This is not a quantity measured in two portions but rather ample or abundant blessings. The sins of God’s people have deserved punishment, but God offers ample forgiveness and the abundance of eternal life. Yet God’s words of comfort don’t end with these three clauses; listen to the last two verses of our text: 10 Behold, the Lord God comes with might, and his arm rules for him; behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him. 11 He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young. Because of His work, God has claimed us as His own, and by grace and the power of the Holy Spirit, we surround this glorious and powerful Lord as sheep surround a shepherd. As God’s people, we are familiar with the picture of the shepherd tenderly caring for his flock. Jesus made use of the image in John chapter 10 when He said; I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. King David used this image in Psalm 23; The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. The powerful and almighty Lord cares for His people. This powerful Lord places the lambs in the folds of His garment close to His heart; He carries you and me safely in His bosom. What comfort this brings knowing that our God cares for each and every one of us in such a special way. The creature comforts of this world are fleeting; they only bring comfort for a short period of time. True comfort comes from the heart of God. God’s words of comfort have been proclaimed. He has freed you from bondage to sin and death. God forgives the guilt of your sins and offers ample grace and the abundance of eternal life. God carries us safely in His bosom. The word of our God will stand forever. Amen.