Lured by the promise of fertile farmland and a chance to start anew, several hundred thousand men, women and children set out along the Oregon Trail between the 1840s and the 1880s. They rolled west in groups of oxen-pulled prairie schooners through grass prairies, arid deserts, and over snowy mountain passes, bound for California and Oregon.

For 19th-century settlers traveling west across America by wagon train, every mile tested body and spirit. Blistered feet, choking dust, and swarming insects were just a few of the many physical challenges along the 2,000-mile, months-long journey. Settlers also had to contend with unpredictable weather in the wide-open West -- dust storms, rain squalls or blizzards.

Perhaps the worst physical challenge the settlers faced was severe water shortages, often forcing them to rely on contaminated, alkaline, or meager water sources that caused disease and death. While wagon trains followed rivers like the Platte and Carson for survival, they often struggled to find enough water for animals. Many settlers took shortcuts to get to California, such as the Hastings Cutoff in Utah, which promised a faster route but led directly into harsh deserts. Or settlers would come from the last good water of the Platte 20 miles back when they arrived at Clayton's Slough here in Natrona County. The contaminated water poisoned livestock and humans. Cholera, caused by contaminated water, was the leading cause of death, followed by diseases like dysentery.

These settlers were hearty souls, looking for a better land and a better life out West. They needed some water to drink along the way.

The Israelites had just escaped from being slaves in Egypt. They had witnessed God's miracles with the ten plagues, the Angel of the Lord appearing as a pillar of cloud and pillar of fire to separate them from the angry Egyptian army, and Moses using his staff to part the waters of the Red Sea. About a month earlier, they complained about being hungry, so God miraculously provided them with manna from heaven and quails that landed in their camp.

After receiving this miraculous food in the desert, the Israelites have been traveling for several more days. The hills are getting higher in the Horeb mountain range. The valleys are narrower and full of huge rocks. There are no springs of water to be found anywhere in this mountainous desert.

This time the Israelites not only complain. They "quarrel" with Moses. "The entire Israelite community set out on their journey from the Wilderness of Sin as the Lord had commanded. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. So the people quarreled with Moses and said, 'Give us water to drink'" (Exodus 17:1-2).

They even threaten to stone Moses! "Moses said to them, 'Why are you quarreling with me? Why are you testing the Lord?' But the people were thirsty for water there, so they grumbled against Moses. They said, 'Why did you ever bring us up out of Egypt to let us, our children, and our livestock die of thirst?' Moses cried out to the Lord, 'What shall I do with these people? They are almost ready to stone me'" (Exodus 17:3-4)!

These people are ungrateful to the Lord for rescuing them. They are thankless to Moses for his leadership. Moses is in the same mountain range where he had previously tended sheep for his father-in-law Jethro. Who would have blamed him if he had traded in his leadership staff for a shepherd's staff and gone back to tending sheep! At least they would have been pleasant to be around!

The Lord had earlier directed Moses' staff and used water in his miracles by changing the Nile River into blood and then back into water again, and parting the waters of the Red Sea and then having those walls of water come crashing down on Pharaoh and his army. Now the Lord patiently deals with the quarreling children of Israel as a father deals with his crabby kids. He directs Moses to use his staff to strike a rock. As Moses obeys, water comes out of the rock for the people to drink.

"The Lord said to Moses, 'Go in front of the people, and take the elders of Israel with you. Also take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. Watch me. I will stand there in front of you on the rock in Horeb. You are to strike the rock. Water will come out of it, and the people will drink.' Moses did that in the sight of the elders of Israel. He named the place Massah and Meribah, because the Israelites quarreled, and because they tested the Lord by saying, 'Is the Lord among us or not'" (Exodus 17:5-7)?

It's no wonder that Moses called that place "Massah," which in Hebrew means "testing," and "Meribah," which in Hebrew means "quarreling." Through their quarreling the Israelites were testing the Lord, demanding proof that he was still among them. In his mercy the Lord again gave evidence of his providential love to these undeserving people.

We need to understand that we are very similar to these quarreling Israelites kids. God has blessed many of our family members with long lives, but we question God when he takes a loved one away through death. God has blessed us with health, but we grumble when we get really ill. God has blessed us with a home, so we don't have be camping in the desert, but we grumble when we have to do home repairs. God has blessed us with manna and quail ... and a whole lot of other foods in our fridge, freezer, and pantry. Yet we complain that we can't find anything to eat. We have indoor plumbing with water in the bathroom, washroom, and kitchen, yet we still find a way to whine about the water pressure or the temperature or the taste.

God calls us today to repent of our self-centeredness, confess our quarreling; admit whining, grumbling, and complaining. We must admit that we fall into the sin of the Israelites when they became so thirsty that they questioned God's love for them asking, "Is the Lord among us or not?" When things go against us, we, too, fall into the Devil's trap of believing that God doesn't care about us.

We repent and then believe. Believe that the Lord knows what's best for you. Believe that you learn more through suffering and want than through ease and comfort. That's what St. Paul is teaching in our Epistle lesson, "We rejoice confidently in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces patient endurance, and patient endurance produces tested character, and tested character produces hope" (Romans 5:3-4). Trust that whether in plenty or in scarcity, whether in suffering or in pleasure, God gives you exactly what you need. As Martin Luther said it so well, "I believe that God has made me and all creatures ... given me clothing, shoes, food and drink... [and] he richly and daily provides me with all that I need to support this body and life."

Have you ever been really thirsty but had nothing to drink? The books I've been reading have thirst as a major theme in them. The Christian Crusaders leaving Europe and heading to Jerusalem. Magellan and Columbus sailing across the ocean but having no fresh water to drink. Polar explorers surrounded by ice and snow, but again, having no fresh water to drink. Soldiers fighting in the Civil War, World Wars, or wars in the Middle East. They all battled thirst.

We, too, battle thirst. But not a physical thirst. A spiritual thirst. St. Paul uses the thirst of the Israelites in the desert and the water from the rock as an application for spiritual meaning to their physical actions. "For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud and all passed through the sea, and they were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. They all ate the same spiritual food and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them―and that rock was Christ! Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them. He had them die in the wilderness. Now these things took place as examples to warn us not to desire evil things the way they did" (1 Corinthians 10:1-6).

The term spiritual food refers to the manna. The spiritual drink refers to the water that came out of the rock. The food and drink are called spiritual because they were miraculously provided. But the real source of their food and drink, the one who really did accompany and save them, was the promised Savior, the Messiah.

God, in his love, quenches thirst. When our physical needs are met, when we have cozy homes, and nourished bodies, when our physical thirst is quenched, it can be easy to stop there and think, "What more could I need." So many in our world are lost in a desert of sin and unbelief and dying of spiritual thirst -- thirst for answers, for acceptance, for purpose. The problem is when we look in the wrong places to have that spiritual thirst quenched -- we become spiritually dehydrated. The danger of spiritual dehydration is eternal death.

Jesus Christ is the Rock of our salvation. God called Moses to strike the rock to quench the people's physical thirst. Jesus took the guilt of our sin upon himself so that by his death and resurrection, through faith, God would quench our need for forgiveness. We receive Christ as we read about him as the Rock of our salvation in the Bible. We receive Christ in Holy Baptism as the water and the Word works to create faith, washes away sins, and grants everlasting life.

Jesus answered the Samaritan woman at Jacob's well, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I will give him will never be thirsty ever again. Rather, the water I will give him will become in him a spring of water, bubbling up to eternal life" (John 4:13-14).

What is "living water"? Living water is the gospel message about Jesus. We end each of our Thirsty podcasts with the phrase, "You are thirsty, my friends, so drink deeply from the Water of Life." We become physically dehydrated because we don't drink enough water during the day. We become spiritually dehydrated because we don't drink enough of God's living water during the day and week.

Drink deeply from Christ's living water by being in Bible study -- we offer a lot of them. Drink deeply by listening to various Lutheran podcasts. Drink deeply by coming regularly to worship -- we have Sunday morning and Wednesday evening, plus Holy Week is coming soon. Drink deeply by receiving the Sacrament often -- you'll be able to receive the Lord's Supper five times during Holy Week with Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday, Good Friday, the Easter Vigil, and Easter Sunday. Drink deeply by reading and meditating on God's Word on your own or with your family. Every morning, speak the words of the invocation, make the sign of the cross, recite the Apostles' Creed, Luther's Morning Prayer, and the Lord's Prayer. Then read a portion of Scripture, meditate on it, and pray about it. Then do the same thing in the evening, except using Luther's Evening Prayer.

When we drink of Christ and his Word, we have all that we need. The Holy Spirit enables us to produce the fruits of faith, which "gush" forth from our lives. The living water that Jesus offers, quenches thirst forever, because it springs up like a well inside of people, resulting in eternal life. This is the ongoing effect of Christ and his Word, that satisfies any spiritual thirst forever.

The Israelites quarreled with Moses when they said, "Give us water to drink." Let us say those same words to the Lord. But may they instead be a prayer for the Lord to quench our physical and spiritual thirst. "Lord, give us water to drink." Amen.

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/give-us-water-to-drink/

If you've ever attempted to read the Bible from cover to cover, chances are you made it through Genesis and maybe Exodus. Somewhere in Leviticus, I'm guessing, your head began to spin. You became bogged down with the deluge of details about sacrifices.

In the liturgy of Israel, sacrifice was the divinely ordered Means of Grace by which God gave blessings to his people. The Israelites sacrificed cows, sheep, goats, turtledoves, pigeons, wheats and grains. They offered burnt sacrifices, sin sacrifices, guilt sacrifices, peace sacrifices, and meal sacrifices.

Throughout the Old Testament times, God's people brought animals to the Lord's altar. The priest would ceremonially kill these animals and formally present them to the Lord. The sacrifices then symbolically became the Lord's property.

I'm guessing that you did not bring a goat or lamb with you to church tonight for the evening sacrifice. That's OK. God doesn't want any more sacrifices of animals. That's because he's already received a better sacrifice.

Long before Jesus came into the world, God's laws taught his people that sacrifices were necessary. Something had to be done about all the ways that people didn't measure up to God's demands. And so, he commanded priests to offer sacrifices -- lambs, bulls, and goats -- day-after-day, year-after-year. There was no end to it.

God commanded those animal sacrifices in the Old Testament to send a very clear message -- sin is serious. So serious, in fact, that it requires a life as its payment. St. Paul later wrote to the Romans that "the wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23). Every time God's people in the Old Testament brought an animal to be sacrificed, they realized, "Sin is serious. My sin is serious. A life must be given as its payment because 'the wages of sin is death.' But in his grace, God has allowed me to offer the life of this animal as payment for my sin instead of my own life." The sinner was then able to walk away from the altar upon which that sacrifice was offered, forgiven and alive. Oh, what a beautiful message the sacrificial system proclaimed!

But the people knew that the blood of these animals didn't really remove their sins. They were merely a shadow, a picture, of something greater and better that was coming. The author to the Hebrews explains, "In fact, the law is only a shadow of the good things to come, not the actual realization of those things. It will never be able to make perfect those who continually offer the same sacrifices year after year. If it could do this, wouldn't they have stopped bringing sacrifices, because the worshippers, once they were cleansed, would no longer have a bad conscience about sins? Instead, these sacrifices reminded them of their sins year after year. The fact is that the blood of bulls and goats cannot take away sins" (Hebrews 10:1-3). These continual and constant sacrifices reminded the people of their sins year after year. God was teaching his people that no animal sacrifice or anything a sinful human could offer was enough to make up for those sins or take them away.

So, why did God require all those animal sacrifices in the Old Testament if "he did not desire" them, "nor [was he] pleased with them" as the author to the Hebrews states?

The author finds a beautiful answer to that question as he records a divine conversation between Jesus Christ and his heavenly Father.

"Therefore when he entered the world, Christ said: Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but you prepared a body for me. You were not pleased with burnt offerings and sin offerings. Then I said, "Here I am. I have come to do your will, God. In the scroll of the book it is written about me." First he said: Sacrifices and offerings that were offered according to the law, both burnt offerings and sin offerings, you did not desire, and you were not pleased with them. Then he said: Here I am. I have come to do your will. He does away with the first in order to establish the second. By this will, we have been sanctified once and for all, through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ" (Hebrews 10:5-10).

Why was God "not pleased" with those sacrifices? He wasn't pleased with them because those animal sacrifices had no actual power to pay for sin. They were just animals. If sin was truly going to be paid for, a better sacrifice was needed. It needed to be a one time for all time sacrifice. The author explains, "Unlike the other high priests, he [Christ] does not need to offer sacrifices on a daily basis, first for his own sins and then for the sins of the people. In fact, he sacrificed for sins once and for all when he offered himself" (Hebrews 7:27). Jesus Christ, the innocent, perfect Lamb of God, was the fulfillment of the shadow from those animal sacrifices.

Jesus Christ is the one better sacrifice. He is the one perfect sacrifice offered by himself as the better perfect high priest. He offered the sacrifice that only he could give. He gave himself. He didn't do it for himself. He didn't need to. He gave that sacrifice for you, dear sinner. Knowing that you could not earn God's favor, knowing the best you could offer could never cover a single slip-up, he offered his own life on a cross. Because Jesus was the Son of God, his innocent life was infinitely valuable. His sacrifice was perfectly pleasing to God. It never has to be repeated. It was a once-and-for-all sacrifice for all people.

Through that sacrifice offered on a spring Friday afternoon twenty centuries ago, your relationship with God is perfectly restored. Once and for all. No strings attached, no wonder we call this Friday good!

When we recognize that our own lives are completely stained with sin, this is the sacrifice to which we also look. We look to the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who gave up his own life as a payment for our sins. "The wages of sin is death." But when we look to the sacrifice of Christ, who paid for our sins through his death, we can walk away from his cross, forgiven and alive. Oh, what a beautiful message the sacrifice of Christ proclaims!

This is the better sacrifice of which the Son of God proclaimed himself through the psalmist in Psalm 22 which we read earlier in the service. "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? My groaning does nothing to save me. My God, I call out by day, but you do not answer. I call out by night, but there is no relief for me. ... I am a worm and not a man, scorned by men and despised by the people. All who see me mock me. They sneer. They shake their heads. They say, 'Trust in the Lord.' 'Let the Lord deliver him. Let him rescue him, if he delights in him'" (Psalm 22:1-2, 6-8).

We don't have to bring these animals sacrifices anymore because the greatest sacrifice of all died on God's altar of the cross. Jesus was the perfect sacrifice. He is the fulfillment of all those Old Testament sacrifices. He is the culmination of all the guilt, sin, and peace sacrifices. He gave his life for our lives. Now, we give our lives to him in return. He died in service to us. Now, we live in service to him.

Now, we don't bring lambs or goats to church to sacrifice to God. Jesus is our better sacrifice. Instead, we bring ourselves to church and then bring church to our families, workplaces, schools, and community as our continual, living sacrifice to God.

Our motivation for serving God is not because we have to. It isn't to gain God's mercy ... rather, it is in response to receiving God's mercy found in the better sacrifice of Jesus Christ. When hearing about the love God has for us in sending his Son as our sacrifice, why would we not want to live sacrificial lives in return?

We speak because we have been spoken to by God. We serve as we have been served by God. We teach as we have been taught by God. We encourage as we have been encouraged by God. We contribute to the needs of others because God has taken care of our needs. We give generously because God has given his Son and salvation generously to us. We lead because our Good Shepherd is leading us to heaven. We show mercy because God has poured out his mercies on us.

We offer our bodies and lives as living sacrifices for Jesus Christ who is our once-and-for-all better sacrifice. Amen.

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/a-better-sacrifice/

Frodo, the Hobbit, was tasked with destroying the ring of power in the fiery lava of Mount Doom. Frodo and his faithful friend, Sam, traveled approximately 1800 miles from Bag End in the Shire to Mount Doom in Mordor. They traveled through forests, caves, swamps, and mountains. This is the equivalent of walking from New York City to San Antonio, Texas. Their journey took exactly 6 months and 2 days.

This was a journey of faith. Frodo and Sam had to believe the words of Elrond of the Elves and the council of Gandalf the Grey that they would survive to destroy the ring on Mount Doom.

Abram, the son of Terah, was called by God to leave his homeland in Ur and move with his family to Haran. Moses writes, "Terah took his son Abram, his grandson Lot, who was the son of Haran, and his daughter-in-law Sarai, who was the wife of his son Abram, and they set out from Ur of the Chaldeans to go into the land of Canaan. They came to Haran and lived there" (Genesis 11:31). The distance from Ur to Haran was approximately 600 miles. This journey likely took several months.

Later, Abram left his father in Haran and traveled to Canaan. The distance from Haran to Shechem in Canaan was about 450 miles. This would have taken several weeks to travel. Remember, Abram was a spry 75 years old when he left Haran. Abram traveled approximately 1050 miles. That's like traveling to Dallas or Chicago from Casper. This was a journey of faith for Abram.

Each of you is on a journey of faith. It's always interesting to learn the reason you moved to Casper. For some, it was family or education or the energy industry or other employment opportunities. You know from experience how difficult life can be in Casper. There are booms and busts with the energy industry. One of the major exports from Casper is its youth. I've been told it gets cold and snowy here. I've experienced the wind.

When we moved here, Shelley and I didn't know anything about Casper or Wyoming. We had only driven through a portion of Wyoming once. Driving to Casper, we saw the windsock and high wind warning signs on 258. The first thing Shelley said to me when we arrived at the parsonage was, "Where did you move me to?!"

All of us, at one time or another, moved out here on a journey of faith.

It isn't only a journey of faith with our physical location, but it's also a spiritual journey of faith from the baptismal font to the grave.

It took a lot of faith for Frodo to leave the safety, peace, and quiet of the Shire. Especially because he would encounter Nazgul, orcs, Urak-hai, a cave troll, Belrog, Gollum, and Shelob the spider. Frodo is stabbed by the Witch-king, choked by Gollum, and injected with spider-poison from Shelob. All while being watched by the giant flaming eye of Sauron.

Moses writes, "Now the Lord said to Abram, 'Get out of your country and away from your relatives and from your father's house and go to the land that I will show you'" (Genesis 12:1). It took a lot of faith for Abram to leave the safety, peace, and quiet of living near his father, Terah, in Ur. We're used to moving out of our parents' home at 18. Then possibly moving hundreds of miles away. That didn't happen back then. You stayed in communal life with your family.

Plus, when Abram moves from Haran, he doesn't know where he's going. God hasn't told him the destination yet. The Lord said to Abram, "Go to the land that I will show you." Wherever it was going to be, Abram hadn't been there yet.

The key to faith isn't the person believing. The key to faith is the object in which the person believes. Abram believed in God's rock-solid promises. What were those promises?

The Lord said, "I will make you a great nation" (Genesis 12:2). Remember, Abram is 75, Sarai is 65, and Sarai is barren when God's makes this promise. Abram would have many descendants -- physical and spiritual. Abram has lots of physical descendants as children of Isaac -- the Jews -- and Ishmael -- the Arabs. (They don't seem to be getting along right now.) Though, we Christians are not physically descended from Abram, it's more important that we are his spiritual descendants. St. Paul explained, "For this reason, the promise is by faith, so that it may be according to grace and may be guaranteed to all of Abraham's descendants -- not only to the one who is a descendant by law, but also to the one who has the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all. As it is written: 'I have made you a father of many nations'" (Romans 4:16-17).

The Lord said, "I will bless you" (Genesis 12:2). God would be with Abram and his descendants. When God blesses us, there's nothing else we need. We don't need luck or chance or fate. Which is good, since none of those things exist. Only God's divine will and providence exist.

The Lord said, I will make your name great" (Genesis 12:2). Several generations earlier, the people at Babel built the city and tower for the purpose of, "let's make a name for ourselves" (Genesis 11:4). God humbled and scattered them. God takes a humble man like Abram and makes his name so great that we still remember and thank God for him roughly 4100 years later.

The Lord said, "You will be a blessing" (Genesis 12:2). This blessing comes through Abram's greatest descendant -- Jesus. The Savior blesses the whole world with forgiveness and peace.

The Lord said, "I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse anyone who dishonors you" (Genesis 12:3). As we heard last Sunday, Satan's offspring will continue to be hostile to Eve's believing offspring. But God is always on the side of his people.

The Lord said, "All of the families of the earth will be blessed in you" (Genesis 12:3). Again, this is a promise of blessing through Abram's great descendant, Jesus Christ.

Moses writes, "So Abram went, as the Lord had told him. Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran. Abram took Sarai his wife, Lot his brother's son, and all the possessions they had accumulated and the people that they had acquired in Haran, and they set out to travel to the land of Canaan. Eventually they arrived in the land of Canaan. Abram passed through the land until he came to the Oak of Moreh at the place called Shechem. The Canaanites were in the land at that time" (Genesis 12:4-6). Abram is going to be living among heathens and pagans. His descendants would eventually have to dispossess the Canaanites of their land.

"The Lord appeared to Abram and said, 'I will give this land to your descendants.' Abram built an altar there to the Lord, who had appeared to him. He moved on from there to the hill country east of Bethel and pitched his tent there, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. There he built an altar to the Lord and proclaimed the name of the Lord" (Genesis 12:7-8). At this critical moment for Abram, the Lord appeared to him to reaffirm and clarify his promise and to bolster Abram's faith. He made it clear that Abram was not to try to take immediate possession of the land. It was only for Abram's descendants that the land of Canaan would become a new homeland. Each new promise of God nourished and exercised Abram's faith.

In land of unbelievers, Abram built an altar. Wherever he went, Abram seemed to build an altar to the Lord. This altar was something the unbelievers would see when they passed by it. Abram built a second altar 25 miles away in Bethel. There he "proclaimed the name of the Lord." He was not ashamed to be light in a land of spiritual darkness of false religion and pagan gods. Abram's worship announced the true God into the culture of the heathen Canaanites.

It takes a lot of faith to live out West. You're probably a long distance from much of your family. The work and weather out here can be difficult. Like Abram, you may feel alone in your Lutheran faith. There aren't a lot of Lutherans in Wyoming ... especially WELS Lutherans. Abram was surrounded by unbelievers in Canaan. When you're at work or school or your neighborhood, you may be surrounded by unbelievers. And they act like it!

What do you do when the culture and community put pressure on your faith? You can be tempted to question and doubt God. To cower and remain quiet about your Lutheran Christian faith. To imagine that you're alone so far away from your fellow WELS Lutherans.

When those temptations come along, go back to the promises God made to Abram. Because most of them are promises also involve you. Our spiritual lineage goes all the way back to Abram! Pause and reflect on that for a moment. A few select people on this earth may be able to trace their lineage back through a dozen generations. We can trace our spiritual lineage through an unbroken line all the way back to Abram! How many generations is that? We'll likely never know, but far more than a dozen.

Far more comforting than the unbroken line is the providence of our God, who saw to it that the spiritual line remained unbroken so that you -- you, specifically -- would hear the gospel and be brought to faith. You needed to hear the gospel, so God arranged history so that you would! He made sure that the gospel message could travel an unbroken path from Abram to you!

The key to faith isn't the person believing. The key to faith is the object in which the person believes. By God's grace, the Holy Spirit began your journey of faith when your parents brought you to the baptismal font as an infant. Or that journey of faith began when you were older and the Holy Spirit converted your heart through hearing and believing God's promises. That journey of faith has led you to worship here at Lord of Lords. A Lutheran church built by your spiritual parents -- some who are still here. Abram built an altar to proclaim the name of the Lord among the heathen people of Canaan. This altar, the church, and the three crosses outside all proclaim the Lord's name to the people who drive by or stop in. You are light in spiritual darkness.

This altar is a reminder that when life takes an unfamiliar or uncomfortable direction, remember Abram's wise response. Call on the name of the Lord. Worship him for loving you. In all things God's providence works for the good of those who love him, whom he has called for his purpose. Wherever God leads, call on his name and worship him there.

Sam and Frodo made a journey of faith to destroy the ring of power on Mount Doom. Abram and Sarai made a journey of faith by leaving their family and traveling to an unknown destination. That journey of faith included believing they would be parents of a great nation ... when they didn't have any children yet; believing in a Savior from sin ... when he hadn't been born yet; and building an altar to the Lord God ... among people who believed in a myriad of false gods.

You are on a journey of faith. You won't have any orcs, cave trolls or giant spiders after you. At least, I hope not! But you will have the Devil and his demons tempting you. You'll have your sinful nature questioning and doubting God's promises. You'll have pagans and heathens attacking your Christian faith.

When these things happen ... and they will, trust God's promises made to you and Abram. Trust that Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of those promises. He is Abram's descendant and your Savior. He forgives your doubts. He answers your questions. His Holy Spirit brings you repeatedly before the Lord's altar. Here you are reminded of your Baptism, when God made your name great by putting his Triune name on you. Here you hear his Word to encourage, comfort, and sanctify you. Here you receive the Sacrament for courage in the face of the Devil and his offspring. Here you join with your Lutheran Christians to proclaim the name of the Lord in prayer, creed, song, and activity.

This all takes place along your journey of faith. Amen.

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/a-journey-of-faith/

You can often tell how serious something is by how people react to it. A student might think his misbehavior in school isn't a big deal. But when the principal marches into the classroom to pull the kid into his office, he realizes he made a big mistake. When the authorities put down the gates to shut down Hwy 25, you know there are high winds and snow along that stretch of road. When Adam and Eve sinned, God demonstrated its seriousness by cursing all creation and kicking his children out of paradise. Sin is serious!

Sin remains serious. That's why we offer special midweek worship services during Lent. The mood is solemn. The hymns are somber. The color is purple. There are repeated calls for repentance. There are continual cries of "Lord, have mercy!" Sin is serious.

It's so serious that it needs a serious solution. Sin can't be fixed with nice intentions or good works or lots of guilt. The solution to sin requires death. Only death can fix the seriousness of sin. But not a normal human death. The psalmist wrote in Psalm 2, [The Lord] said to me: "You are my Son. Today I have begotten you" (Psalm 2:7). The Lord requires the death of his only-begotten Son. Sin requires a Better Savior than we can provide. These Wednesdays in Lent we contemplate our sin and then turn to our better Savior by meditating on descriptions of him from the book of Hebrews.

The book of Hebrews was written because there were Jewish Christians in the first generation after Christ who were starting to slip back into Judaism. They were abandoning their new Christian faith because they wanted to go back to the old ceremonies and laws. The author of this letter -- we don't know who it was --wrote to show how Jesus is the fulfillment of the Old Testament laws and ceremonies. Tonight, we examine how Jesus is better than the Old Testament high priests.

The position of high priest in the time before Jesus lived was an important one. The high priest was the one who went to God on behalf of the Jewish people. He was the go-between. The author explains, "To be sure, every high priest is chosen from the people and is appointed to represent the people in the things pertaining to God, so that he may offer gifts, as well as sacrifices, for sins" (Hebrews 5:1). The offering of gifts and sacrifices happened especially once a year on Yom Kippur -- the Great Day of Atonement. This feast was the heart of the Old Testament law. This was the only day anyone was allowed in the Most Holy Place where God was present above the ark of the covenant. Only the high priest could enter, and only on this day.

On the Great Day of Atonement, the high priest would first put on plain-looking robes and sprinkle the blood of sacrifices throughout the sanctuary of the tabernacle to cleanse the place of worship and the people who served at worship. The high priest then ceremonially carried the sins of all the people and transferred them to a goat -- the scapegoat -- by confessing those sins over it. The goat was then released into the desert -- so far away that it could never return. It would die in the desert. Symbolically this meant the sins of the people would never return. Finally, the high priest would change into the elaborate high priestly robes to offer a second goat on the altar outside the tabernacle to atone for the sins of the nation.

The sprinkling of blood, the scapegoat, the goat as sacrifice -- all these actions underscored the seriousness of sin. This was the Great Day of Atonement. The high priest performed all these actions as the intercessor, the mediator, the go-between for the sinful people and their holy God. The sprinkled blood purified the people and the place of worship. The scapegoat was sent into the desert so the people could remain in communion with the Lord. The blood of the second goat was shed to atone for sin, so the blood of the people would be spared. The high priest is the one who did these things for the people.

Things have definitely changed. We don't bring goats to church with us. We don't release a goat into the desert to die. PETA would be pretty upset with us. We don't burn the other goat as a sacrifice. The wind might put out the fire. We're not sprinkling blood on the altar or the people. That would be gross.

The reason we don't do any of this is because your pastor isn't a high priest. He doesn't have to be. We have a much better High Priest.

The seriousness of sin hasn't changed. Even if the world's view of sin has changed. The world tends to minimize sin. The world thinks it's doing people a favor by normalizing every kind of deviant behavior. First, the behavior is tolerated, then accepted, then promoted, and finally opponents of the behavior are persecuted. We're told to "follow your heart." Martin Luther said that our heart is an idol factory. The prophet Jeremiah wrote, "The heart is more deceitful than anything. It is beyond cure. Who can understand it" (Jeremiah 17:9)? Jesus taught, "Out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, sexual sins, thefts, false testimonies, and blasphemies" (Matthew 15:19).

Sin begins in the heart. But it doesn't stay there. It leaks into our minds. It spills out of our mouth. It flows out in our actions. It wrecks relationships. It ruins careers. It destroys lives. It condemns souls. Sin is just as serious as it was in the Garden of Eden when the Lord killed the innocent animals to create clothing for his naked children. Sin is just as serious as it was on the Great Day of Atonement when the Lord's high priest killed the innocent goats to atone for his sinful children.

Despite how we and our culture treat sin, God treats sin seriously. He condemns sinners to eternal damnation in the fires of hell. But God is equally serious about providing a solution for sin. That solution is found in Jesus Christ, a better high priest.

On the Day of Atonement, the Old Testament high priest put on plain clothes to show he was representing the people to God. Later, he changed into the elaborate high priestly robes to show that he was representing God to the people. Our better High Priest didn't just put on clothes; the only-begotten Son of God put on human flesh and blood. As our High Priest, Jesus serves as our mediator, taking our place under God's law and God's judgment. The Old Testament high priest offered up earthly gifts and sacrifices. Jesus, our Great High Priest, offered up divine prayers and intercessions for us, and then offered up himself as the ultimate sacrifice.

The Old Testament high priest took blood and sprinkled it upon the Most Holy Place to purify it from sin and sanctify it for the Lord. As our Great High Priest, Jesus has sprinkled his blood upon us to purify us from sin and sanctify us for the Lord's good purposes.

The Old Testament priest symbolically placed the sins of the people upon the scapegoat. The scapegoat would die in the desert, symbolizing that sin was gone forever. Jesus is the Great High Priest who is also the perfect Scapegoat. He takes our sins away, so they never return, for they are removed as far as the east is from the west.

The Old Testament priest sacrificed the second goat for the sins of the people. Jesus Christ is the Great High Priest who is also the perfect Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. We'll examine Jesus as the Better Sacrifice next week.

While Aaron, the first high priest, needed to be replaced by one of his sons, and he by one of his sons, and on down the line, our Great High Priest serves for us in that position forever. Forever and ever, Jesus holds before his Father his all-sufficient sacrifice for our salvation. Forever and ever, the Father accepts the sacrifice and is pleased with his priestly Son. The Father is then pleased with us when we accept the Son's sacrifice. This is how Jesus serves as our intercessor as High Priest.

The author of Hebrews quotes Psalm 110, "You are a priest forever, like Melchizedek" (Hebrews 5:6). Jesus is better than Aaron the high priest. He's more like Melchizedek the priest. Melchizedek is a mysterious figure in the Bible. He lived during the time of Abram. In Genesis 14 we hear how Abram's nephew Lot was caught in the middle of a war and carried off by a conquering king. Abram gathered 318 of his men, defeated that army, and rescued Lot.

On his way back home, with no introduction, out of the blue we read, "Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was a priest of God Most High. He blessed Abram and said, "Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand." Abram gave him a tenth of everything (Genesis 14:18-20). That's it. That's all the Holy Spirit thought we needed to know about this mysterious king and priest. No background. No more explanation. He shows up, blesses Abram, and receives a tenth of the spoils of war. Then he's gone. The only other time Melchizedek is mentioned in the Old Testament is when the Holy Spirit inspires David to compare the Messiah to Melchizedek in Psalm 110.

The inspired author of this letter to the Hebrews pulls it all together for us in chapter 7. He really wants his readers to know that Jesus is better than Aaron and all the other high priests. He writes, "First, Melchizedek means "king of righteousness," and then "king of Salem," which is "king of peace. He is without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, and resembling the Son of God, he remains a priest forever" (Hebrews 7:2-3).

It's as if Melchizedek is eternal. At least, he appears that way in the pages of Scripture. He was so great that Abram gives him a tithe of his spoils of war -- just like the Jews would give a tithe of their possessions to the Lord. Yet our High Priest is even better than Melchizedek. Jesus, our Great High Priest, doesn't just appear eternal. He is eternal. He doesn't just have a name that means king of righteousness and king of peace. He is our King who gives us his righteousness and a peace that we will find nowhere else.

Jesus is God's serious solution to our serious sin. He gives us a Greater High Priest, who cleanses your heart from the sin that infects you. He washes your mouth. He purifies your mind. He changes your actions.

You can tell how serious our sin is because how God reacted to it. Jesus became our Great High Priest who offered himself as the serious solution and the serious sacrifice for that serious sin. You know how serious this is by how you react to it. Amen.

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/a-better-high-priest/

Vispera and Adan were two young kids playing together in the park. It was a beautiful park with trails, lush grass, verdant trees, and plenty of wildlife. Vispera and Adan's father let them wander off on their own to explore.

While they were by themselves, a stranger approached Vispera and Adan. He was very sharp looking and spoke eloquently, except for a slight lisp. He was very pleasant. He introduced himself as Mr. Vibora. He told the kids he worked for a candy company. He was going through the park giving free samples of chocolate covered fruit candies to all the kids. They were the first ones he had seen in the park.

Vispera and Adan whispered together. They knew they shouldn't be talking to a stranger. And they especially shouldn't be accepting candy from him. But it was too enticing. They accepted the chocolate candy and quickly shoved it into their mouths.

They were still chewing when their father called out to them, trying to find them in the park. But they hid from him. The candy was delicious. But their guilt was devastating.

When their father found them, he could see the guilt written on their faces. Having chocolate lips made it easy, too. He could see they were uncomfortable. They were holding their bellies. They began complaining about stomach cramps. He felt their foreheads. They each had a fever. He felt their hands. They were clammy.

He calmly asked them, "What did you do?" But he was a parent. He knew what they had done. They told him everything about Mr. Vibora and the chocolate candies. The dad figured out that the stranger had laced the candies with some kind of poison.

The father quickly hunted down Mr. Vibora, and like a good, protective father, he grabbed him by his suitcoat, lifted him off the ground, and pinned him to a tree. You could see the fear flicker in Mr. Vibora's eyes.

The father's voice boomed with righteous anger, "I know what you did to my children. I'm a physician. I'll save their lives. But your life is forfeit. I promise you that! I'm not going to do anything to you now. I'm going to take my children out of the park to counteract the poison you gave them."

"But when my oldest son, their older brother gets home from his military service overseas, he'll be coming for you. I guarantee that. When he gets home, he'll find you. I have no qualms telling you confidently, he will crush your head."

That's my modern retelling of Adam, Eve, and Satan, or in Spanish, Adan, Vispera, and Vibora for viper.

The story begins in a park, in a garden -- the Garden of Eden. The Father of creation, God Almighty discovers what the lisping serpent had done to his children. So, he breaks into the world and announces the very first gospel promise. Without this promise there would be no Lent and no Easter. There would only be death and damnation. But the seeds of our salvation were first planted in the Garden of Eden. The Father makes the promise that his older, only-begotten Son will come one day to crush the serpent's head. Those seeds of salvation begin to blossom in the arid desert. Those seeds bloom on the rocky hill of Golgotha. They bear fruit as the sun rises upon the dark grave on Easter Sunday.

This promise completely reverses what had just taken place. Satan had tainted his words with the poison of unbelief by tempting Adam and Eve to sin. The unbelief is within his words, "Did God really say" (Genesis 3:1)? The children no longer believed their heavenly Father's words. They ate the forbidden fruit. The poison of the forbidden fruit didn't just infect Adam and Eve. It affected their billions of children throughout the ages.

That's what St. Paul means when he writes to the Romans, "Just as sin entered the world through one man and death through sin, so also death spread to all people because all sinned" (Romans 5:12). All of humanity is born in Adam's sin. That's why we call our sinful nature our "Old Adam." Because of Adam's sin, all people are sinners. They have inherited their first father's sin. Because of Adam's sin, all will receive God's temporal and eternal judgment upon sin. All people became liable to physical death, as well as eternal death.

The poison was effective. The children didn't turn to God for mercy. They didn't look to him for a second chance. They ran for cover and tried to hide from God.

The Devil's food produced hostility within them. In other words, the opposite of peace. The man said, "The woman you gave to be with me -- she gave me fruit from the tree, and I ate it." The woman said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate" (Genesis 3:12-13). They shook their fists at each other. They shook their fists at Satan. They even shook their fists at God. They were quick to blame God for their circumstances. They were willing to throw others under the bus if it would save their own skin. This ended up costing the skin of innocent animals to cover their nakedness. "The Lord God made clothing of animal skins for Adam and for his wife and clothed them" (Genesis 3:21).

What had seemed like such an inviting friendliness from Satan was now unmasked as a malicious trick to destroy them. In great irony they had become unwitting allies of this serpent who hated them and wanted them doomed like himself. Inside and out, they now felt the permeating, damning hatred that a holy God has for what they had become.

Can being enemies ever be a good thing? Normally my answer would be "No." We teach our children it's not good to not fight with other people. We tell our kids, "Say you're sorry," and, "Be nice and make up with each other."

But in the case of humanity and the Devil, being enemies isn't a bad thing ... it's a good thing, a God thing, a gift.

God announced a reversal of who was whose enemies. Speaking to the Devil, God said, "I will put hostility between you and the woman" (Genesis 3:15). God would change things. The woman would not be an ally to the Devil anymore. God would create hostility between her and the Devil. Instead of being allies with the Devil and being hostile toward God, the Father took action to claim Adam and Eve back as his children.

This action of God meant that humanity and God would have to be reconciled to each other. God would have to reestablish peace between sinful humans and a holy God. He would make his sinful children his holy friends again. You see, being an enemy of Satan means being a friend of God. This announcement of friendship was not offered to the woman only, but also to her husband and to all their descendants -- that means you and me. God says to the snake, "I will put hostility between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed" (Genesis 3:15).

God does not urge her to do anything to affect the change in relationships. God will do it. He says, "I will put hostility between you and the woman." God administers the antidote of forgiveness to save the life of man and woman and the lives of every man and woman who follow them. The antidote God administers is forgiveness in the promised Savior.

But who would this promised Savior be? We know him as Jesus -- whose very name means, "One who saves" (Luke 1:21). Jesus, the promised Savior, would be the offspring of Eve to overcome all the offspring of the Evil One. Jesus, the eldest Son of the Father and the older brother of Adam and Eve, would take on human flesh in defense of humanity, the people he chose to save as his own.

God says to the serpent, "He will crush your head, and you will crush his heel." Satan who appears so lively upon the tree in the Garden of Eden would be crushed and almost lifeless under the heel of Christ on Golgotha's hill. The only One in the universe powerful enough to do that is God himself. So, the promised Savior would also have to be God. But since God is spirit, he would need a human foot to be struck, and also a human foot for the crushing. God needed feet ... so in his incarnation, the Son of God took on the flesh and bones, the hands, head, and feet of a Man. True man and true God. The promised Savior would be both.

There is no question that Jesus would be able to crush Satan. God's Son is always more powerful than a created angel.

In the process of crushing the serpent and saving humanity, the promised Savior would have to suffer. The serpent would strike his heel. As true man, Jesus would step into our shoes. He would be our substitute. He would take on himself the blame for all sin from the very beginning in that first garden to this very day. He would let the poison of sin infect him from the serpent's fangs sinking deep into his perfect heel. As true God, Jesus is too large and too powerfully innocent for death to keep its hold on him. Through the poison of sin, with the wrath of God the Father, and the willing obedience of the Son, Jesus breathed his last on the cross.

All seemed dark and hopeless. The Ancient Serpent had struck. It seemed as if all was lost.

Until the Son of God breathed again on Sunday morning. Three days of Sabbath rest in the grave was all that was needed to defeat sin, death, and the Devil -- the unholy Trinity. Jesus had crushed the serpent's head. He had defeated death. He had paid for sin. He had won.

Now Jesus' victory over death is our victory over death. St. Paul explains, "Just as one trespass led to a verdict of condemnation for all people, so also one righteous verdict led to life-giving justification for all people. For just as through the disobedience of one man the many became sinners, so also through the obedience of one man the many will become righteous" (Romans 5:18-19). Jesus is the second Adam who undoes everything the first Adam did.

Just as we are credited with Adam's sin, we are also credited with the second Adam's righteousness. These two verses from Romans 5 are a beautiful summary of God's plan of salvation. Adam's sin of eating the forbidden fruit plunged all of creation -- mankind, the animal kingdom, and even nature -- into sin and death. Jesus' act of righteousness of suffering and dying for the sins of Adam's children has brought salvation to mankind. One action by one man (Adam) was countered by one action by one man (Jesus), which had results for all people, who number in the billions.

Jesus broke death's grip not just as God but also as a man. Now, since he is a man like us, he shares his victory from death -- his success in coming back to life -- with you and me and makes it our success. Jesus once said, "Because I live, you also will live" (John 14:19). Death has no more of a grip on people who trust in Jesus than death has on Jesus himself.

God says, "I will put hostility between you and the woman." With these words, Adam and Eve were forgiven by God, reconciled to him, and made God's eternal friends and at the same time Satan's everlasting enemies. God intervened and repaired what was broken. He counteracted the poison from the serpent with the fruit from the Tree of Life, which is Christ's cross. So great is God's love for humanity. So great is his love for you. Jesus fulfilled his Father's promise to send his Son to crush the serpent's head. Amen.

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/he-will-crush-the-serpents-head/

Captain Pete "Maverick" Mitchell is a legendary test pilot who is ordered back to the Top Gun naval academy. Maverick is chosen to train an elite group of graduates for a near-impossible mission -- destroying an unsanctioned uranium enrichment plant protected by advanced weaponry.

That's the premise of the movie "Maverick" which takes place thirty years after the "Top Gun" movie. In thirty years, Maverick is still a captain because, although he's a great pilot, he hasn't proven himself to be a good leader. That changes during the movie. Maverick not only trains the pilots, but he also ends up leading the near-impossible mission.

Moses was chosen by God to be the leader he used to free his people from their four hundred years of slavery in Egypt. In the beginning, Moses was kind of a "Maverick" character when he went off on his own to kill an Egyptian guard for beating a Jewish slave. Moses ran into the desert where he lived for forty years as a shepherd in the Sinai Peninsula. Then God called Moses from a burning bush to be his leader.

Moses led the nation of Israel out of Egypt after ten devastating plagues, through a parted Red Sea, and around the Sinai desert for forty years. Moses finally led Israel through that near-impossible mission to the edge of the Promised Land of Canaan.

It was very difficult for a Jew to think of anyone greater than Moses. Even the New Testament testifies to Moses' greatness, mentioning him some eighty times, more than any other Old Testament figure. As great as Moses was, Jesus was far greater.

For our midweek Lenten services, we are examining the theme of "A Better Savior." Throughout the book of Hebrews, the author uses the word "better" as he portrays Christianity as the one true religion, and Jesus Christ as the one true Savior from sin. The author uses comparative words like "better," "greater," and "superior" to demonstrate the supremacy of Christ to anything in the Old Testament.

In the beginning of chapter 3, the author of the letter to the Hebrews encourages his readers to take their attention off Moses. They remembered Moses fondly for some of the great events in the life of a Jew like the Great Day of Atonement and the Passover. Instead, they are to focus their attention on Jesus. The author writes, "Focus your attention on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess" (Hebrews 3:1). Jesus is an "apostle". This is the only time this title is used for Jesus in the New Testament. An apostle is one who is "sent out" to do something. God sent Moses on a mission to free the nation of Israel. God the Father sent Jesus on a mission to redeem all of humanity. Jesus told his apostles on Easter evening, "Just as the Father has sent me, I am also sending you" (John 20:21).

Jesus is also the high priest. This title refers to the sacrificial nature of Christ's mission. We'll be examining Jesus' mission as the better high priest and better sacrifice over the next two weeks.

The author writes, "He [Jesus] was faithful to the one who appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in God's whole house" (Hebrews 3:2). The point of comparison between Moses and Jesus was not one of faithfulness, but of position. Moses was faithful in leading God's people for forty years. He even once offered to have his name blotted out of God's Book of Life in exchange for the Jews. Jesus was faithful as he prayed on Holy Thursday, "I have glorified you on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do" (John 17:4). Jesus did exchange his life for all of humanity.

The people to whom the letter to the Hebrews was written were tempted to turn away from Jesus and go back to the laws of Moses to avoid persecution. The author urges them to hold firmly to Jesus, since Jesus is God, he is therefore greater than Moses. As God's Son, Jesus ruled over God's house of believers while Moses was only a servant in that house.

The author explains, "In fact, Jesus is worthy of greater glory than Moses, in the same way that the builder of a house has more honor than the house. For every house is built by someone, and God is the one who built everything. Moses was faithful as a servant within God's whole house by testifying to the things that would be spoken. But Christ is faithful as a Son over God's house. We are his house, if we hold on firmly to our confidence and the hope about which we boast until the end" (Hebrews 3:3-6).

Though Moses was certainly important as a leader, he was only a part of the house of Israel. As God, Jesus was the builder of that house, just as he is the "builder of everything." As a creature, Moses occupied a high position in Israel and was worthy of honor. As the Creator of all -- including Moses and Israel -- Jesus was worthy of highest honor.

There were many leaders that God put in place throughout the Old Testament -- Joshua, Samuel, Gideon, Deborah, Samson, or David. But none of them were like Moses. God himself sent Moses to the Israelites. God made Moses their leader, and he was their deliverer. Moses led God's people out of slavery in Egypt. He performed miracles and wonders. God spoke face-to-face with Moses, giving him the laws that governed the Israelites for thousands of years.

As great as Moses was, God raised up a greater leader: Jesus.

The law was given through Moses, but the Israelites could not fulfill it. Grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. We cannot fulfill the law of Moses. That's means we all deserve to die. Satan should be leading us into the pits of hell. Jesus came to fulfill the law in our place. Jesus is the fulfillment of all the laws that God gave Moses. That's one way Jesus is greater than Moses.

We should all die eternally because of our sins. Jesus was chosen and sent by God to live perfectly in our place. He graciously died in our place. He victoriously rose from the dead in our place. This was an impossible mission. No one else could do it. Except for the Creator and Builder of all things. He is the One who conceived of this impossible plan in eternity in consultation with the Father and the Spirit. Only the Son could make this impossible plan possible. Now, through his substitutionary life, atoning death, and vicarious resurrection from the dead, Jesus has opened the way to eternal life in the Promised Land of heaven. Jesus is the way for all who follow him in faith. We are to follow him as our Leader.

The Jews looked up to Moses as a great leader. Moses certainly was a great, righteous leader. We often look up to leaders like a President, Governor, or Supreme Court Justice -- thinking that with the right person or people in charge then things will get fixed in our nation. We look up to athletes, actors, and musicians for their creativity and athleticism. We listen to media and podcast personalities for the hot takes on the news of the day. Some of these people are righteous Christian leaders. Most are not.

The best a politician might be able to do is give us some justice and peace. The best an athlete, actor, or musician might do is provide some entertainment for a few hours. The best a media personality can do is give us some clarity. The best any of them can do is provide some things for this lifetime. Don't follow these people only to avoid persecution or to enjoy a more relaxed life.

Don't trust any of these people for true, righteous, lasting leadership. Follow Jesus' lead. He provides righteous judgment and peace beyond understanding. He provides you with blessings instead of temporary pleasures. He provides you with wisdom and clarity through his Word.

Jesus leads you through this dark valley of the shadow of death to the green pastures and quiet waters of the Promised Land of heaven. He leads you to see that your house here is only temporary. Jesus is the Builder of your eternal home in the new heaven and new earth. He leads you through the darkness, deviancy, and decadence that fills this world. He leads you through the darkness with his Light that once led Moses and the Israelites as the Glory of the Lord shown in a pillar of cloud and fire. He leads you through the deviancy by giving you his Ten Commandments which the Lord first gave to Moses on Mt. Sinai. He leads you through the decadence as he used Moses to correct the decadence of the Israelites when they worshiped the golden calf.

Fix your eyes on Jesus. Be faithful to the One who was faithful for you. Give glory to the One who is greater than Moses. Follow him. He is a better Leader than Moses or anyone else. Hold firmly to this confidence and hope so you can boast at the end. Amen.

Let me hear about your mercy in the morning, for I have put my trust in you. Teach me the way that I should go, for I lift up my soul to you (Psalm 143:8). Amen.

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/a-better-leader/

To the average person, the ice skating, bobsledding, and downhill skiing in the Winter Olympics looks the same. You might be able to notice an athlete going a little faster or performing a little better. But there really isn't much difference in what you're seeing.

If you witnessed the Opening Ceremony for the Winter Olympics, you noticed something quite different. Even if you didn't understand the symbolism, you knew and felt that something was off.

The two athletes used the torch to light the cauldron. The cauldron lit up with a pentagram. The star is an ancient symbol of Christianity - like the star of David or the star the Magi followed. The inverted or upside-down star is a pentagram. This is an equally ancient symbol of paganism and the occult. The Devil always takes what is good and godly and inverts it, twists it, and perverts it for his evil purposes.

There is always a lot of symbolism in the opening ceremonies of the Olympics. What we witnessed was not accidental. The organizers knew what they were portraying. Remember, the Olympics were originally created as games to celebrate their pagan Greek gods. The first ancient games were held in 776 BC as part of a religious festival dedicated to Zeus, the king of the Greek gods. So, it isn't surprising that people today will use ancient pagan and occult symbolism to celebrate their false gods while at the same time mocking the one true God. Remember, nothing in this world is neutral. It is either a celebration of the true God and Creator or it's a celebration of false gods - demons - and creation.

While humanity will consistently attempt to remove glory from the true God, St. Peter writes about the glory of God he personally witnessed on the Mount of Transfiguration. Peter declares that he, James, and John were eyewitnesses of Christ's majesty.

Peter writes, "To be sure, we were not following cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the powerful appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty" (2 Peter 1:16). Peter is referring to Christ's transfiguration Matthew that wrote about in our Gospel. Apparently, some people thought Peter, James, and John made this story up.

I recently learned that it's been 25 years since the first of "The Lord of the Rings" movies were released in theaters. I'm rewatching the extended versions of the movies, listening to the books, and watching the extras on the DVDs. Peter Jackson, the director of "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy mentioned in the extras that J.R.R. Tolkien had so much information in his books that it seemed like this really happened, that it was really part of England's history - and not a made-up story.

You know something can be fake when a person is keeping the details vague and blurry. I'm confident Peter could give sharp, specific details of everything that happened that day on the mountain. This was no make-believe story. The glory of the Lord must have been burned into his retinas and memory.

This mountain-top experience led Peter to realize that Jesus was who he said he was - the glorious Son of God humbly wrapped in human skin. Peter witnessed Jesus' face shining like the sun and his clothing becoming as white as light (Matthew 17:21). Peter also heard the divine voice of God the Father calling from the bright cloud that enveloped them. Peter writes, "For he received honor and glory from God the Father, when the voice came to him from within the Majestic Glory, saying, 'This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.' We heard this voice, which came out of heaven when we were with him on the holy mountain" (2 Peter 1:17-18).

Everything came full circle. At the beginning of his ministry, the Father says at his Son's Baptism, "This is my Son, whom I love. I am well pleased with him" (Matthew 3:17). Now at the end of Jesus' earthly ministry, the Father gives the same heavenly testimony. This is what Peter's persecuted readers needed to hear. They worshiped the genuine article.

Jesus, Peter, James, and John, Moses and Elijah were enveloped by a bright cloud (Matthew 17:5). This reminds us of the Glory of the Lord - a combination of fire and smoke - which appears throughout the Old Testament. God appeared as the Glory of the Lord in the burning bush when the Angel of the Lord first spoke to Moses (Exodus 3:2). God appeared as a pillar of cloud and fire that led the Israelites through their wilderness wandering (Exodus 14:19). Moses wrote in our Old Testament lesson, "Moses went up onto the mountain, and the cloud covered the mountain. The Glory of the Lord settled on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered the mountain for six days. On the seventh day the Lord called to Moses out of the middle of the cloud. The appearance of the Glory of the Lord looked like a devouring fire on the top of the mountain in the sight of the people of Israel" (Exodus 24:15-17).

The enemies of Christ always oppose this Glory of the Lord. That's why you'll see ceremonies like in the Olympics, rioters disrupting Christian church services, or Christians arrested while praying outside of abortion clinics. People would never mock Buddhism with their ceremonies or bust into a Jewish synagogue or arrest Muslims while their praying. That's because all these pagan religions are different forces within the same spiritual army. They are all soldiers of Satan. Their gods - Buddha, Allah, Jehovah without Jesus - are all demonic. They may not get along ... I can't imagine demons like each other. But they all unite in opposing Christ and Christ's followers. They give glory to their pagan gods. We give glory to the Triune God - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Those pagan religions have their own "scriptures" - their "holy" writings. We are blessed as Christians to have God's Scriptures - his holy writings, the Bible, a completely reliable prophetic word (2 Peter 1:19).

Peter states that the origin of the Bible is not "the will of man [man's ideas], but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit" (2 Peter 1:21). God is the source of Scripture. The Bible is God's Word.

God's prophets, evangelists, and apostles were divinely inspired by the Spirit so that the thoughts and words they wrote were the exact words and thoughts that God wanted them to record. The Holy Spirit also used each man's unique style, experiences, and audience to shape the words they wrote. The men did not choose what to write on their own, but the Holy Spirit guided their words, so they were God's words.

Divine inspiration is extremely important for us as Christians. If human writers wrote the Bible, then there will be mistakes, arguments, and contentions. The world is always changing and becoming more confusing. We live in a culture that can't define what a woman is; has little concept of borders; questions laws; mistrusts the media; mistrusts politicians even more; and wants to figure out how to artificially have babies in space while killing babies here on earth.

We need something constant and unchanging and clear. That's the Bible. It is the divinely inspired, inerrant words of the almighty God. It tells us that God made man and woman. It defines how to treat citizens and foreigners. It reminds us that laws, leaders, and governments come and go. It celebrates children and gives us the command to be fruitful and multiply after marriage. The eternal Word of God is the only constant we have in an ever-changing world.

For a brief moment on the Mount of Transfiguration, Jesus gave a glimpse of his glory. For a short time, we witness Jesus' heavenly glory in earthly time. For an instant, we see Jesus' glory in the midst of his humiliation of God becoming man. Jesus revealed the glory that was always his as the Son of God. But in his state of humiliation, he did not make full and constant use of his divine glory and power.

How did this transfiguration strengthen Jesus' disciples? The disciples remembered this event later and knew they were in the presence of God. How did the transfiguration strengthen Jesus? Jesus, who was in the middle of his humiliation and would soon suffer and die, saw the glory that was his and that would be given him after he completed his Father's will. The author to the Hebrews tells us what to do with our eyes that have witnessed Jesus' glory. "Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, who is the author of our faith and the one who brings it to its goal. In view of the joy set before him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of God's throne" (Hebrews 12:2). Jesus and his disciples also heard the Father put his divine stamp of approval on his Son's work.

The disciples would need to remember this vision of Jesus' full glory because shortly after they walked down the mountain, they would be walking into Jerusalem. They would be eyewitnesses of Jesus' deep humiliation. They would see their Master arrested, tried, beaten, spat upon, mocked, scourged, crucified, and dead. The disciples would be told that the corpse of their Messiah was laid in the dark tomb. In this time of their Messiah's humiliation, it would be the responsibility of Peter, James, and John to remind the rest of the disciples about the shining glory they witnessed upon the mountain top.

We will continue to see the world worship their false gods and denigrate the true God. That's nothing new. It's been happening since the Fall into sin. The Devil will continue to invert, twist, and pervert what is good and godly. What should you do? Return repeatedly to the Scriptures. St. Peter advises, "You do well to pay attention to [the Scriptures], as to a lamp shining in a dark place" (2 Peter 1:19) What does that light do? It guides us through the darkness of life. It cheers us up when the darkness threatens to envelop us. It illumines our hearts by enabling us to understand God's forgiving love. It makes sense of an inverted, twisted, and perverted world.

The Transfiguration indicates that, although Jesus was a man, he was also far more than a man. In him dwells the fullness of the deity in bodily form (Colossians 2:9). He is the only begotten Son of the Father from eternity. Jesus is both God and man in one person (Romans 9:5).

The Transfiguration was a reminder of the full glory that awaited Jesus after his suffering and death. It was as if Jesus lifted the veil and gave humanity a peek of who he truly is. He does this to encourage us when we need it most, for he would go on to face the cross and tomb. He does this to encourage us, for we are called upon to take up our cross and follow Christ unto death.

On this last Sunday in the season of Epiphany, Christ gives us one more epiphany of who he really is. Jesus is the God who makes his humble majesty visible in lowliness and servitude. He is the God who is so poor that he must borrow a donkey to ride into Jerusalem. He is the God who slaves away at washing his disciples' dirty feet. He is the God who gives his cheek to the betraying lips of Judas, to the slapping hand of the high priest, and to the spit of the Sanhedrin. He is the God who gives his head to the thorns, his feet to the spikes, and his side to the spear. He is the Christ whose Majestic Glory is hidden upon the bloody cross and buried deep within the tomb. He is the glorious Lord who revealed his glory once again on the third day as he rose from the dead and then forty days later ascended to his rightful place at God's the Father's glorious right hand.

On that Mount of Transfiguration, the disciples were eyewitnesses of Jesus' glory. They needed this vision of glory to make sense of Christ's humiliation they would witness in a few weeks. They also needed to be eyewitnesses of this majesty during their years of persecution.

We are heading into Lent in a few days with our Ash Wednesday service. Here, our worship will be muted, somber, and repentant. Out there, we will continue to endure persecution and mockery for our Christian faith. This may come publicly for all the world to see. This may also come privately that very few will see. As we enter Lent and endure mockery, humiliation, and persecution, it's important to remember Jesus' humiliation in the manger, in the desert, and on the cross. But we also remember his glory revealed on the mountain, out of the grave, and upon his heavenly throne. For we are eyewitnesses of his majesty. Amen.

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/eyewitnesses-of-his-majesty/

Several weeks ago, I found a trailer for my side-by-side on Facebook Marketplace. Matt graciously went with me to look at the trailer. Who could have guessed? Matt knew the owner! We'll call him "Jake".

We entered Jake's shop. I eventually texted Shelley, "I brought the right guy along. Matt knows Jake. They've been talking about race cars for the past 15 minutes." Jake had two race cars in his shop. Then we started moving outside to the trailer. Before we got there, we passed by Jake's very expensive snowmobile. I texted Shelley, "Now they've spent 5 minutes talking about snowmobiles."

The whole time, Jake is filling each sentence with four-letter words. And not the good kind. While we were by the snowmobile, Matt introduced me as his pastor. Do you know what Jake did? Matt and I discussed it later. It seemed like Jake's language got even worse! It was like he was showing off his extensive foul language repertoire in front of the Lutheran pastor!

Matt and I discussed the encounter later in my vehicle after I purchased the trailer. First, I had to stop my ears from bleeding after the assault with all those cuss words! We discussed how as Christians we try not to cuss, gossip, engage in course talk or crude jokes, and so on. We are called to be fine Christian salt in a world filled with course salty language. We are called to be Christian lights reflecting the light of Christ's purity in a world darkened by decadence and death.

In his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught, "You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its flavor, how will it become salty again? Then it is no good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled on by people. You are the light of the world. A city located on a hill cannot be hidden. People do not light a lamp and put it under a basket. No, they put it on a stand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. In the same way let your light shine in people's presence, so that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven."

Salt in Jesus' time was precious. Salt was used to preserve food since there was no refrigeration. Salt was used to disinfect wounds and was rubbed on the skin of newborn babies to protect them from various diseases. Sacrifices were sprinkled with salt to purify them before they were offered to the Lord. Salt was seen as killing the sinful decay and preserving life.

Salt is useful stuff. A little salt can be sprinkled on a dish to tickle the tastebuds. Salt is useful to remove the ice on your sidewalk and driveway ... if it ever gets cold enough to have snow and ice this winter.

Light shines and brightens dark places. It can be a small candle or a simple oil lamp bringing light to a dark room in Jesus' day. It can be the sun shining and chasing away the darkness of the night every morning. It can be children walking through the house and turning on lights in every room. Then dad is doing his fatherly duty of walking through the house and turning off all the lights.

Jesus says, "You are the salt of the earth. You are the light of the world." Notice that Jesus doesn't say, "You need to work on your saltiness" or "You need to become light." No, Jesus says that through your Baptism, through your conversion to Christianity, through your faith in him who is the true salt and bright light, now this is what you are. So be salt and light.

This world is rotten and corrupt and needs to be salted. The world is shrouded in the darkness of sin and death and needs to be lighted.

Where do you encounter this rot and feel this darkness in our culture? As salt and light Christians, we notice this rot and darkness as we are living and raising our children in an amoral culture. It used to be that we were living in a moral culture - one where people did wrong things, but they knew the difference between right and wrong. Today we are living in an amoral culture where people no longer believe in or care about right or wrong. They just do whatever comes naturally to them and feels good to them. And what is natural is evil and what feels good is sin.

We are living in a culture that relishes the rot and delights in the darkness. They don't know any better. They've tasted this world's tainted garbage so long that what is good, right, and healthy is a shock to their system. They've lived in the shadows so long the light hurts their eyes. Now they want us as Christians to not only tolerate their amoral behavior, but we must also accept it and promote it. They want to drag us into their decay and darkness. Then we are to join them in persecuting anyone who refuses to tolerate, accept, and promote their wickedness.

We fall victim to these scare tactics by Satan and his devilish followers. We're afraid of being called names, canceled, persecuted, prosecuted, classified as "unloving," "bigoted," or "hypocritical." We are tempted to fill up our shakers with sugar. We are in danger of losing our saltiness. We are tempted to cover our light under a bowl. We are in danger of letting our light go out.

The problem is that we don't like friction. We don't want people to think of us as offensive. We believe in the make-believe 11th commandment of "thou shalt be nice!" As Lutherans, we like to stay in the middle of the road. But on this issue, the world is on one side and Jesus is on the other side. We get hit by semis in the middle of the road. There are times when we need to be all the way to one side of the road - because that's where Jesus is.

We don't want to scare anyone off or offend anyone or cause any problems. It's much easier to mind our own business, keep quiet, and keep to ourselves. It's much more convenient to compromise God's truth than to shake out Christ's salty judgment upon a corrupt world. We are more willing to offend God than offend our neighbor. It's more pleasant to hide in the shadows than to shine Christ's light into the darkness. It's a whole lot easier to go with the flow than to stand against the tide, standing on the solid rock of the cross of Christ.

When we do that, we are not being what Christ has made us to be - salt upon the earth and lights upon the world.

Jesus often told people difficult things - like he was the fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy, or he told the rich man to sell everything to follow him, or that he was the Bread of Life. In every instance, people rejected that message and turned away from Jesus. He didn't worry about offending people or appearing as "not nice." Jesus told the truth. The people rejected that truth. Jesus told his disciples elsewhere that when people rejected the truth, to shake the dust off their feet and move on. We would do well to follow Jesus' example and words.

This means not everyone will like you. Jesus calls us to be salt. Not the sugar on top.

Jesus is the salt that preserves your soul by pointing out your sins against him. He is the salt that purifies you with his perfection. He is the salt that never loses its saltiness. He is the salt that heals your wounds - physical, mental, and spiritual. He is the salt that prepares your body for death and life beyond death. He seasons your speech with salt (Colossians 4:6).

At creation, God did not leave the earth wrapped in darkness. He said, "Let there be light," and there was light that pushed against the darkness (Genesis 1:3). Nor did God abandon his children to sin's darkness, either. Since the darkness is not disappearing, our Savior Jesus stepped into the darkness. "[God] has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins" (Colossians 1:13,14). Now that we have been rescued from this darkness and brought into the Light of Christ, we need to keep following the Light. Jesus teaches, "I am the Light of the World. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life" (John 8:12).

Jesus calls you salt because you are precious. You serve a purpose. You are baptized to be the salt of the earth. You are baptized to be the light of the world. Jesus calls you salt not because of how much you can do, but because of how much he has done. He loves you. He declares you forgiven of your sin. He has spared you from hell. He chases the devil away from you. He has rescued you from death. He has made you his own. He sets you apart from the rest of the world for his purpose.

That purpose is to simply tell others what Jesus has done for you. Your privilege is to talk about all the wonderful things Jesus did out of love. This is your purpose as the salt of the earth. This is your purpose as his lights in the world. As Jesus has confronted your sins, now you are to confront the sins of those around you. As Jesus has shined the light of his grace upon your life, now you are to shine the light of Jesus' grace upon others. As Jesus has forgiven your sins, now you are given the opportunity to forgive the sins of the repentant around you.

Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary Professor August Pieper makes it very clear: "[T]here is no excuse for those who think it unnecessary to tell unbelievers about their sins right to their face and to condemn their ways with the written law, since the gospel alone is God's power for salvation, and so it is enough to make these tidings known to the world. This opinion is not based on Scripture, but on their own wisdom. It is born of their fear of men and of the curse of the cross... Wanting to be silent about sin and win the impenitent only with the sweetness of the gospel amounts to denying God's zeal and holiness and suppressing his threats. It amounts to hypocrisy, practicing spiritual quackery. It means leading the poor people to fleshly security instead of to faith and casting pearls before the swine. Under all circumstances the impenitent need the law, and only next, afterwards, the gospel." (August Pieper, Wauwatosa Theology, Vol 2, pg. 60)

We take on the difficult task of being salt in an unsalty world. Even if people don't listen, we have done our duty. Then we have honored what God has made us to be. However, if we do not do our duty, then we will stand before the Lord on Judgment Day and we will observe those on Jesus' left pointing at us and accusing: "They never told me!" Then we will hear Jesus' sentence of judgment: "It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men."

As Christian parents, Christian citizens, and members of the Christian Church, we are called to be a part of a counterculture which works hard to shine the light of Christ into the shadowy corners of the world and the dark recesses of people's souls. You are light, shining the light of Christ. You are the moon, reflecting the greater light of the Son.

The Bible says, "You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, the people who are God's own possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light" (1 Peter 2:9). You have been called out, set apart, chosen for a purpose. Wherever God has shaken you out - in your home, your school, your work, your community - there you are salt, seasoning your little corner of the world. Wherever God places you in the shadows, there you are light, shining the light of Christ into the darkness that threatens to envelop those you love.

This is your identity. This is your calling. No one else has this calling - only children of God in Christ Jesus. May we be such salts and lights that when others experience our saltiness and witness our shining lights, that they may praise our Father in heaven. We pray that we are what Christ has made us to be - salt and light. Amen.

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/be-salt-and-light/

Nothing's been going right. There is still political unrest in Minneapolis. Gas prices have increased because of political upheaval in Iran. Casper and parts of Wyoming are very low in snowfall which means we could be in danger of fires this summer. Nothing's been going right. Yet you're told, "You should be happy!" But are you feeling it?

You've had a rough day. Your grocery bill is way too high ... again. You've been called in to fix problems at work ... again. Your classmates have left you out ... again. Your football team isn't in the Super Bowl ... again. Plus, no one is rooting for either the Patriots or the Seahawks. You're only looking forward to the party at the parsonage. You've had a rough day. You're greeted with, "You're so blessed!" But do you believe it?

God reminds us repeatedly in his Word that we should be joyful because we are so blessed. But our sinful nature takes our minds off God's sure Word and focuses only on life's ups and downs. We think only about how our life stinks right now.

That's why it's so important to hear Jesus preach the Beatitudes in his Sermon on the Mount. God will bless his believers even if their lives are difficult in this sin-ruined world. Sometimes we have the mistaken belief that if we're going through rough times, then God is removing his blessing from us. Or if things are going nice and easy, then God must really like us and is blessing us. As Christians, God is blessing us - whether we see and feel those physical blessings or not.

These Beatitudes are not what people should do to become blessed. Rather, these blessings are what God gives us as his sanctified saints. Nine times Jesus says, "Blessed are ..." (Matthew 5:3-11). Christians are blessed. This is not an uncertain wish or dreamy desire. It's a reality. Jesus doesn't demand his followers to be something they aren't. He tells them what they already are by the grace of God. The Lord's declaration that they are blessed encourages them to persevere. None of what Jesus says makes any sense ... unless you're a Christian. It only makes sanctified sense to Christ's followers. In his Beatitudes - Jesus' statements of blessing - Jesus teaches about God's kind of happiness.

When the crowds came to Jesus, he understood that all these people were looking for the same thing in life. They all wanted happiness. We're just like them, aren't we? Isn't that what we want for ourselves? Isn't that what we ultimately want for our children? Happiness?

The problem is that we really don't understand what makes up God's kind of happiness. That's why true happiness often eludes us. So, Jesus begins teaching, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, because theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, because they will be comforted. Blessed are the gentle, because they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, because they will be filled" (Matthew 5:3-6).

To help us understand what Jesus is saying here, perhaps you can think about what it's like to raise children. They are poor, with lots of faults. They don't have a lot of life experience, so when they mourn the loss of a grandparent or a pet, they really mourn. They are often gentle. Even more so, they are always hungry!

We are like children. Children are needy - weak, poor, unable to take care of themselves. That's why they cling so strongly to adults. They know they need help, and they're not ashamed to admit it. As God's children, we recognize our spiritual poverty - we are in total need of God's help. We are poor in spirit when we confess that not only are we born in a sinful condition, but we have our "pet sins" - those sins that we commit repeatedly. As Christians, we are never truly happy when we commit these sins. Our sinful nature may enjoy these sins of the flesh and mind, but we always end up feeling guilty afterwards. This guilt drags us down to despair and depression.

Jesus teaches you are blessed and happy when you get rid of these sins. Feel sorrow over your sins. Repent and receive Christ's forgiveness. Then you will receive the kingdom of heaven. You will receive the gift of faith, forgiveness, and eternal life in Christ.

"Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted." We're going to mourn when a loved one dies. All we have left are memories that cut like shards of glass. People might say, "Time heals all wounds." Time might help a bit. But not enough ... never enough. The ache is still there. Yet, as God's sanctified saints, we mourn knowing that our Christian loved ones are now God's glorified saints in heaven. Even as we mourn, we are blessed because we do not mourn like those who have no hope, for God us given us hope of the resurrection through Jesus Christ.

"Blessed are the gentle, because they will inherit the earth." A Christian man once asked God, "Why has my brother been blessed with wealth and I with nothing? All my life I've never missed a single day without saying morning and evening prayers. My church attendance has been perfect. I've always loved my neighbor and given my money. Yet now, as I am near the end of my life, I can hardly afford to pay my rent. My brother, though, drinks and gambles and plays all the time. He has more money than he can count. I don't ask you to punish him, but tell me, why has he been given so much and I have been given nothing?" "Because," God replied, "you're such a self-righteous pain in the neck."

The gentle are believers who are humble, meek, patient, and lowly. We endure mistreatment without retaliation. We aren't noisy, demanding, "self-righteous pains in the neck." Then we'll inherit the earth. We're blessed for God works all things work together for good. We'll inherit the new heavens and the new earth (2 Peter 3:13). It may seem like we have nothing now, but we'll have everything for eternity. God will bless us with the things we need in life, not because we deserve them, but because God wishes to give them to us.

Like hungry and thirsty children, we are hungering and thirsting for the righteousness we receive in Christ's Bread of Life and Water of Life. Make the Word of God a part of your daily life. Assemble regularly with your fellow Christians hearing God's Word in worship and Bible study. Receive the Lord's Supper often. Live in daily appreciation of the blessings of your Baptism. Then you are filled with all the blessings of salvation God has granted you through Jesus Christ.

God's kind of happiness also comes from imitating Jesus. "Blessed are the merciful, because they will receive mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, because they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, because they will be called sons of God" (Matthew 5:7-9). The next three beatitudes speak of living as Christians, so others identify us as Christ's followers.

Christian talk without Christian action to back it up just makes the talk sound like religious gas. If people think you're a hypocrite, it doesn't matter how true your words might be. St. James tells us bluntly, "Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by actions, is dead" (James 2:17).

People are starved for real Christianity. They aren't necessarily impressed by traditions, rituals, labels, or beautiful buildings. They do notice acts of compassion, generosity, and kindness. Young people especially are desiring real, authentic, and genuine.

Real, authentic and genuine describe the life of Christ. We are merciful to others because Jesus was merciful to humanity. Jesus was merciful by dying and saving us, even though we didn't deserve it. He forgives us, even though he knows we will keep on asking for more forgiveness.

Imitating Jesus means having a pure heart. But having a pure heart doesn't come naturally to us. Just like cholesterol can clog the arteries around the heart, so our daily sins ruin us spiritually. Every day we need to pray, "Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me" (Psalm 51:10) When we have this pure heart, we will be able to stand before God on the Day of Judgment knowing we will dwell in his presence for all eternity.

The peace of Jesus flows into us so that this peace flows out from us to others. Then we are called peacemakers. Jesus doesn't call us to be "peacekeepers" - those who passively sit back and refrain from starting trouble. We are called to be "peacemakers" - those who actively strive to make peace where there are hostilities and quarrels. Jesus actively put himself into the war to reconcile us as enemies to our heavenly Father so we could be called God's sons and daughters. Now we are to actively put ourselves into uncomfortable situations to establish peace through the Prince of Peace.

God's kind of happiness also comes from suffering for Jesus' sake. Jesus must have raised a few eyebrows when he said, "Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, because theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven. In fact, that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you" (Matthew 5:10-12).

Face it, people are going to hate you because you're a Christian. They won't understand you because you're a Lutheran. They'll call you "strict" and "close-minded" because you're WELS. Even though you may work to make peace with others, some will hate you enough to make your life miserable. What should you do? Should you lose all hope? Should you give up and throw in the towel? No! Jesus said, "Rejoice and be glad."

This is again where Jesus' message turns our world upside down. Jesus wants you to rejoice when someone insults you for standing up for what is right. He wants you to be glad when they do things that try to ruin your life. He wants you to throw a party when people tell lies about you and drag your name through the mud. Well, maybe not a party, but you are to rejoice and be glad.

Jesus says we are in good company when we're persecuted for our faith. We are suffering like Isaiah and Jeremiah, Moses and Daniel. We're enduring pain like Paul, Peter, and Stephen. We're abused and shamed just as Christ was abused and shamed. We're enduring it all for him. We endure this suffering because he endured it first for us. When we suffer for Jesus' sake, we aren't doing anything extraordinary. Jesus endured mockery and shame, betrayal and beatings. He endured the cross and separation from his heavenly Father. He endured all of it for us.

When we suffer for Jesus' sake, we're really saying, "Thank you, Jesus. Thank you for what you went through for me. Please let me show you my gratitude by standing up for you." We rejoice in our persecution because we are being counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the name of Jesus (Acts 5:41). It may sound strange, but there really is a joyous and satisfying feeling that comes from suffering in the name of Jesus. That is God's kind of happiness.

The message of our world is all about happiness in this world. Jesus promises to reward us greatly in heaven. In the Beatitudes, our Savior turns the world upside down. He calls blessed people this world never would. He calls blessed people that the world would use as doormats. The world praises the brash and the strong. Jesus calls blessed what others see as foolishness. To live this kind of blessedness requires a deep trust in the Lord's strength and a long-term view of life. Jesus calls us blessed even in circumstances like mourning and persecution, because he's looking beyond the troubles of this world to the reward that is waiting for the people of God. Like reading the last chapter of a book, Jesus takes the mystery out of a life filled with sorrow by showing us the end. What is that end? We're blessed!

People are searching for happiness. Where can it be found? On a hill along the shores of the Sea of Galilee. Upon the bloody Roman cross standing outside the walls of Jerusalem. In the open and empty borrowed tomb. Happiness is found in Word, water, bread, and wine. Happiness is found in God. Amen.

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/gods-kind-of-happiness/

This is disturbing and sad. Joshua Link, a 24-year-old man on transgender hormones from Belleville, Illinois, reportedly took his own life. Joshua supposedly "transitioned" five years ago.

Joshua's parents are blaming their son's death on the church that employed Joshua as a custodian. The church is St. John's Lutheran Church - an LC-MS church - in Granite City. The parents blame the church because the pastor did not permit their son to wear a French maid outfit and cat ears while working.

Joshua is dead. Not because the church held to God's truths. But because he believed the Devil's lies. He was trapped in physical, emotional, and spiritual darkness.

There is a spiritual darkness that has fallen like a shadow over our nation. The recent political unrest is the result of long-term spiritual unrest that has been allowed to settle over America for decades. People celebrate the dismemberment of unborn children and call it a "woman's choice." They use hormones and surgery to mutilate and castrate children, and they call it "gender affirming care." They encourage an unwell, elderly person to end their God-given life and call it "dying with dignity." They burst into a worship service and liken it to Jesus overturning tables in the temple courtyard.

This darkness is nothing new. A spiritual, emotional, and physical darkness had fallen upon the land of Zebulon and Naphtali in northern Galilee for centuries. This area was an invasion corridor often used by armies throughout Israel's history. Assyria and Babylon invaded from the north trampling this area. It was often humbled by the struggle of nations.

Isaiah prophesies what will happen in this area. "There will be no more gloom for the land that was in anguish. In former times, he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he will cause it to be glorious, along the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, in Galilee of the Gentiles" (Isaiah 9:1).

The same territory where the feet of invading soldiers trampled every hope and left nothing but gloom and distress would be the scene of a bright future. God had chosen this area for a special honor. Matthew writes about the fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy. "[Jesus] left Nazareth and went to live in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali. He did this to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, along the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles, the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and on those dwelling in the region and the shadow of death a light has dawned" (Matthew 4:13-16).

An oppressive pall of unbelief had settled upon the people in this northern territory. It was filled with Gentiles who did not believe in the true God of Israel. It was far away from the worship in the temple in Jerusalem. True believers would travel great distances - between 70-90 miles - to bring their lambs for sacrifice on Jerusalem's altar.

Yet, this dark, gloomy land of unbelief and Gentiles was blessed because this is where Jesus chose to do the bulk of his ministry. Jesus' message was simple and direct. "Repent, because the kingdom of heaven is near" (Matthew 4:17). Jesus proclaimed to Galileans that they could be free from the idolatry, work righteousness, and materialism that completely captivated them.

Galileans were the first to see the light of God's day dawning over the world. The Lamb of God came not to the altar in Jerusalem but to the people in faraway Galilee. Jesus began shining his light into the shadowed nooks and crannies of the world. From fishing boats to synagogues, from workmen to lame men, Christ cast a beacon of light into the darkened world around him with his three-fold ministry of teaching, preaching, and healing. God called his children to follow the light and live in the light.

Jesus is the Light of the world. His Word is the Light that confronts, converts, and consoles in present-day darkness, too. He is the Truth that confronts the Devil's lies. He is the only Way of salvation in a polytheistic world. He is the Life in a culture of death. He is the Wisdom of God in a world ruled by toxic empathy, half-truths, and illogical thought. Jesus and his Word are the solution to every issue in our world today.

I've heard for years that pastors and Christians should not talk about politics. "Politics" is Greek for "the affairs of the city or citizen." I counter that politics is nothing more than Christian sanctification in the public square. What happens when pastors and Christians don't apply God's Word to the issues of the day - "politics"? Satan fills the void. When we Christians are silent on the issues of the day, men will listen to non-Christian men for leadership. Women will be filled with toxic empathy.

Notice what Satan has done. He's taken religious issues on marriage, sex, children, beginning of life, end of life, rule of law, and so on, and made them political. Then many in the Church won't talk about them because they are deemed political. We do ourselves, our neighbors, and our nation a disservice when we cede these issues only to the government. But they are first moral and theological issues that Christians should be discussing, debating, and deciding based on the doctrines of the Bible.

I believe we should not be silent about the cultural, social, political, or theological issues of the day. Instead, we should be sharing God's Word and wisdom on all these issues. We should preach Jesus and his doctrines to every facet of life. We preach Jesus' message, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near." Satan is the Prince of this world. But this world also belongs to Jesus Christ. All things are under his feet (Ephesians 1:22). We shine the light of God's Word into the darkness of this culture. When the Church is silent on issues that the culture is screaming about, then a whole generation only hears one worldview - an un-Christian worldview. The Church must speak up, pray up, disciple up, and train up generations to navigate through cultural issues with the truth of God's Word.

The more we talk about issues as pastors and Christians, the less "political" they become. Soren Kierkegaard was correct when he wrote, "What looks like politics, and imagines itself to be political, will one day unmask itself as a religious movement."

A darkness has moved like a shadow to cover our nation because people have replaced God's truths with the Devil's lies. They celebrate death and call it good. They praise butchery of the body and call it "health care." They admire those who are confused by their mental illness and call it brave. We need to start calling these atrocities by their proper names. When someone talks about "abortion," correct them by calling it "murder of the unborn." "Gender affirming care," we call "butchery of the body." "Transgenderism," we call "dysphoria" and "confusion." People have bought into these lies because they have placed emotions and feelings over logic and God's truths.

Satan's strategy is simple - make sin look normal and make righteousness look weird. The closer you get to God, the weirder you look to people. Don't fall for it.

These issues of believing the Devil's lies aren't just "out there" in the world. They are also within our own hearts. We have bought into these lies that the Devil tells and the world promotes because we don't know God's truths well enough; because we aren't bold in our preaching and teaching; and because we just want to be liked. We, too, are susceptible to these lies because our sinful nature is hostile to God and his truths. We are also naturally inclined to the Devil's untruths because they are scratching our itching ears. As Christ's modern-day disciples, we are often drawn away from God's truths and his Christian Church. We want to belong. We don't want to be left out. We don't want to be considered weird. Standing up for God's truths is hard. Sitting quietly on the sideline while other Christians are fighting is much easier and safer.

We cannot become angry at those who oppose us and God's truths. St. John makes that clear. "The one who says he is in the light and yet hates his brother is still in the darkness. The one who loves his brother remains in the light, and nothing causes him to stumble." (1 John 2:9-10). We love them with the love of Christ who first loved us.

Unbelievers are trapped by the Devil. They have been tricked into believing his lies. They are enslaved by the passions of their bodies. They are where we once were. By God's grace, Jesus has saved us from our sins of believing the Devil's lies and not standing up for God's truths.

We show love to those who are trapped in the Devil's lies by ourselves first resisting the Devil and his lies. We submit ourselves to God, his will, and his truths. Then we share God's will and truths with others. We work to free our friends and family from their imprisonment by telling them about a Savior and Conqueror who has come to set them free. We keep speaking the truth in love. We unleash the Holy Spirit through God's Word. He's the only one who can convert them. He can replace their spiritual darkness with the light of faith in Christ Jesus.

What happens when you share the Light of Christ in the darkness of this world? Isaiah gives us a glimpse. "The people walking in darkness have seen a great light. For those living in the land of the shadow of death, the light has dawned. You have multiplied the nation. You have increased its joy. They rejoice before you like the joy at harvest time, like the celebration when people divide the plunder. For you have shattered the yoke that burdened them. You have broken the bar on their shoulders and the rod of their oppressor, as you did in the day of Midian" (Isaiah 9:2-4).

Jesus dawns in people's dark lives. Through his Word and the Holy Spirit, he converts sinners into saints. He changes their eternal destination from hell to heaven. He then sanctifies their lives, so they desire to escape Satan's chaos and rejoice in God's calm. He rescues them from their sexual sins to enjoy married life of a man and a woman that is blessed with lots of children. He calms their minds, so they become comfortable with who and what God made them to be. He makes them lovers of life - protectors for the men and nurturers for the women - from the unborn to the elderly. He allows them to resist and protest when they feel there is government overreach. But now that Jesus' kingdom is in their hearts, they follow St. John's words, "This is how we know that we have known [Jesus Christ]: if we keep his commands" (1 John 2:3). That means they'll resist and protest while keeping God's commandments.

Jesus coming into people's lives is painful at first. His Light can hurt when our eyes are not used to his glory and our sins show up in painfully obvious ways. But it's so worth it. Like the people of Galilee, we rejoice. When Jesus enters a person's life, it is like a Wyoming sunrise. It's a brand-new day. All the hurts, pain, and anguish of the day before can be forgotten. It's a new day of Christ shining in you and you living in Christ.

When Jesus enters a person's life, it's like the harvest of grain. He has converted the unbelieving weeds into believing wheat. The weeds are burned up like chaff. But the wheat is gathered by his angels into the storehouses of heaven. Like a rancher rejoices that his hard work has paid off and his grain is harvested, so Jesus rejoices that his hard work of justification and sanctification has paid off and his harvest of souls is safe in heaven.

When Jesus enters a person's life and they hear and believe his message of repentance and faith, it's like a dreadful battle. The sinful nature, spurred on by Satan and the world fights. But the Holy Spirit has almighty strength. When the precious soul is baptized, converted, and crucified with Christ, the battle is won. Jesus has destroyed all the enemies that frightened his people. Nothing is left but to rejoice and divide the spoil.

There is great darkness that has cast a shadow over our nation. Don't ever back down from sharing the Light of Jesus Christ. Keep speaking God's truths against the Devil's lies. Keep knocking down political arguments and point people to Jesus Christ as the way to believe and live. Keep injecting God's eternal wisdom into a world that seems to have lost common sense. Through his life, death, and resurrection, Jesus has become the Light that makes our lives worth living. We are his, and he is ours. Now that we have his Light, let us walk as children of the Light. Amen.

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/the-light-has-dawned/

Just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to walk in him (Colossians 2:6). Amen.

Two weeks ago, I was on a mission trip in Gilbert, Arizona. I was learning how to evangelize to Mormons – members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

On Tuesday, we went to visit an LDS temple. Our mission team was Pastor Parsons – who is the Executive Director for Truth In Love Ministries – his wife, Molly, Pastor Nitz from Cheyenne, and his wife, Katie, and me. The mission team also had a dozen students from Martin Luther College and Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary.

Pastor Parsons organized an hour conversation that our mission team was able to have with Mormon missionaries, who are all 18 to 20 years old. Caleb, who is a second-year student at our Seminary was paired with me. He introduced me to Elder Young, a young missionary we would be speaking with. Caleb pointed to me and said, "Elder Young, this is my grandfather." Elder Young replied, "Really? That's cool. Pleased to meet you."

I replied, "No. Not really, you young whippersnappers!"

The LDS missionaries can never be alone. They must always have a partner. Elder Young's partner was the President of the Temple.

During our conversation, I said to the President and Elder Young, "Let's say a member of my church named Joe, comes into my study. He admits he has an addiction to alcohol. He knows it's wrong and harmful to him and his relationships. He's been battling this addiction for years, but he can't overcome it. So, I lead Joe to the cross of Christ and to his open tomb. We open our hymnal and go through the order of Private Confession and Absolution."

For your knowledge, that confession goes like this. The penitent confesses: Almighty God, merciful Father, I, a troubled and repentant sinner, confess that I have sinned against you in my thoughts, my words, and my actions. I have not loved you with my whole heart; I have not loved others as I should. I am distressed by the sins that trouble me and am deeply sorry for them.

The minister says: Jesus says to his people: "If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven." His death paid for the guilt of your sins and the sins of the whole world. Do you believe this?

The penitent replies: Yes, I believe.

The minister says: Because of the promise of our Savior Jesus, I forgive you all your sins. Be assured that you are a dear child of God and an heir of eternal life. Go in peace. The Lord be with you.

I continued with the President and Elder Young. I said, "I then use a Bible verse you quoted on your screen earlier, Jesus said, 'Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven' (Matthew 16:19). It's like the chains on Marley's ghost in Charles Dickens' novel, 'A Christmas Carol.'"

The President replied, "I've read 'A Christmas Carol'."

I said, "Great! Do you know what those chains represent?"

"I do," the President answered. "They represent Marley's sins."

"Exactly!" I said. "Those sins were bound to Marley for all eternity because he didn't accept Jesus' forgiveness for them. In my study, I absolved Joe of his sins. By Jesus' perfect life, atoning sacrifice, and glorious resurrection, I could announce to Joe that his sins were absolved. They were paid for. He was released from his chains. That forgiveness would be the power to combat his addiction."

Then I asked the President, "If one of your LDS members came to your bishop to discuss his addiction, what he say?"

The President admitted, "We don't have absolution like you do. The man would speak to the bishop. The bishop would give him a list of things to do to combat his addiction. He would try harder. Because he's trying, Heavenly Father would accept him."

We'll be doing a Bible study at this time next year on evangelizing to Mormons. Pastor Uhlhorn will be taking over the position of executive director for TILM from Pastor Parsons. Pastor Uhlhorn is already scheduled to do a workshop on outreach to Mormons for us in spring of 2027.

Did you catch one big difference between the Christian Church and the LDS church? It's Jesus! In the LDS church, there is no absolution – no forgiveness through Jesus Christ as Savior. In the Christian Church, you and I are given the authority to loose and bind people's sins based on their repentance or unrepentance. The difference is absolution through the blood of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

John the evangelist writes that the day after Jesus was baptized, John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look! The Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world" (John 1:29)!

"Look" is an epiphany word. "Epiphany" means "reveal," "appear," "look here, I want to show you something." John had already received an epiphany from God the previous day. That's when John baptized Jesus in the Jordan River, the heavens opened, the Father spoke, and the Spirit descended like a dove. Now John is proclaiming this epiphany in the water to his disciples and audience.

"Look, the Lamb!" Throughout the Old Testament, animals were used for sacrifice. Bulls, goats, and birds, but especially lambs. These sacrifices were plentiful – morning and evening sacrifices, purifications, sin offerings, guilt offerings, burnt offerings, and so on. Then there were special festival sacrifices – the Feast of Tabernacles, Pentecost, Passover, and the Great Day of Atonement. The blood of lambs was continually flowing from Jerusalem's altar. When John calls Jesus "the Lamb" all these images come to mind.

All devout Jews knew that they were the ones who should be allowed to die, not all these lambs. The blood flowing from the lambs only emphasized how sinful they really were. Hebrews reminds us, "Those sacrifices were an annual reminder of sins, because it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats (and sheep) to take away sins" (Hebrews 10:3). The people knew they had earned God's eternal wrath with their sins. Just as they knew that sheep are amazingly clueless animals regarding the things of this world; they also knew that they themselves were amazingly clueless regarding the things of God. This image was so strong that God often referred to the people as his sheep with himself as their Shepherd. They understood that the sacrificial lamb was taking their place. Now John was pointing to this Man who was the Shepherd who had become a Lamb to lead by becoming a sacrifice. Like we just sang, "You, Lord, are both Lamb and Shepherd."

"Look, the Lamb of God." I've learned that in the LDS church, their god – Heavenly Father – appears to me as being remote, aloof, and distant. Do you ever feel that way about the true God? That your Heavenly Father is remote, aloof, and distant? That he's out of touch? Unknowing? Uncaring? That he sees the unrest in our nation, but isn't doing anything to quell the violence? That he sees your hurt, but isn't doing anything to give you peace? That he sees your illnesses and injuries, but allows you to keep suffering?

If you feel this way, then join John the Baptist on the shores of the Jordan River. Look at where he's pointing. "Look! The Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" St. Paul explains the importance – and complexity – of the incarnation when he writes, "For all the fullness of God's being dwells bodily in Christ" (Colossians 2:9). In his incarnation of the divinity taking on human flesh, Jesus proves that our God is not remote, aloof, or distant. He is Immanuel. He is God right here with us. As we'll confess today in the Nicene Creed, Jesus is God from God and Light from Light. He is the Son from eternity who entered time by taking on human flesh to become a bridge between sinful humanity and a holy God. The Son of God also became the Son of Man so we could be adopted as sons and daughters of God. He became the sacrificial Lamb of God to lead us to God as our Savior Shepherd.

"Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away sin!" The words "take away" in the Greek mean to "lift up and carry to another place." This means the Lamb takes the load, the curse, the damnation of the total massive amount of sin upon himself. He lifts the awful burden from us and carries it to the cross. There our sin is crucified with Christ. Blood flows. The Lamb is slaughtered. The Savior is sacrificed. The Substitute takes our place and takes our sin away.

Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! Sin which has plagued and plundered creation since the Fall of Man is removed. Jesus takes away sin, not just of the Jews who sacrificed lambs on Jerusalem's altars. Isaiah says of Christ, "The Lord said: It is too small a thing that you should just be my servant to raise up only the tribes of Jacob and to restore the ones I have preserved in Israel, so I will appoint you to be a light for the nations, so that my salvation will be known to the end of the earth" (Isaiah 49:6). Salvation is not restricted by race, place, culture, wealth, or age. There is no sin anywhere by anyone that this Lamb of God does not take away.

"Lamb" speaks of sacrifice. That's what lambs were good for. Their throats were slit, their blood poured upon the altar, sprinkled on the ark of the covenant or painted on doorframes. Their bodies roasted in the fire, sometimes consumed entirely, sometimes shared in communion for the fellowship offering. The lamb was their substitute, their vicarious victim. They owed everything to the lamb.

Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! We respond to John's declaration in the Divine Service. As John baptized Jesus in the Jordan one day and the next day pointed to him as the Lamb who would ultimately lay upon the altar of the cross, so too our Baptism now leads us to the altar, to eat the body and drink the blood of the crucified Lamb of God. We sing John's song as we approach the altar, "Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world, have mercy on us." The life we are given through water and Word is fed and strengthened and sustained through the forgiveness and life of this eating and drinking. If Baptism washes us from the outside in, here is the food that changes us from the inside out. If Baptism puts us into Christ, then here Christ is put into us.

We owe everything to the Lamb.

I've learned that the LDS church is all about what they must do for Heavenly Father. That's why LDS members won't smoke or drink alcohol or drink caffeine. That's why they have good paying jobs and lots of children. They must keep doing good works to gain their god's favor. When one of their members admits he is struggling with sin, he is told to do more, try harder, and be better. They are taught the Devil's lie.

By God's grace, you have been brought into the Christian Church. You are taught God's truth. You can't ever do enough to earn God's favor. Doing more, trying harder, and being better doesn't work. The only thing that works to remove your burdens, release your guilt, and forgive your sins is Jesus Christ. He did the good work of living perfectly in your place. The good work of overcoming the Devil's temptations in the desert. The good works of paying for your sins with his sacrificial death, crushing Satan's power under his bloody foot, sacrificing himself on the altar of the cross, and rising from the dead to defeat Death once and for all. Jesus dies as the Lamb of God to rise to be your Good Shepherd. As the Lamb of God, he absolves your sins in private confession, in public worship, and in your daily lives as spouses, family, and friends. He then releases you from the chains of your sins to shepherd you to the green pastures and quiet waters of paradise.

Look! The Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise (Revelation 5:12)! Amen.

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/look-the-lamb-of-god/

The Lord speaks of his Anointed One: Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight. I am placing my Spirit on him (Isaiah 42:1). Amen.

Raising four daughters, we had plenty of stuffed animals, ponies, dolls, and Barbies in our home. But we also had - and still have - Batman. Our youngest daughter, Belle, especially loved Batman. We watched all the shows. She knew all the characters. She even had the pajamas. When she was three, I took Belle with me to Target just before Christmas to show her the Fisher Price Batcave. It was big. It was awesome. And she really wanted it!

Shortly after seeing her dream toy, Belle was on the phone with Shelley's mom and was telling her all about the Batcave. Again, Belle was only 3 and she didn't always speak very clearly. Over the phone she excitedly said, "Grandma, I want the Batcave. It has Batman and Robin and Joker and Penguin and Mr. Freeze and I really want it!" But Grandma Stolzman said, "Belle, I don't understand. What are you saying? I don't think I can get it for you." An exasperated Belle replied with a deep sigh and said, "Grandma, just give me the money. I buy it myself!"

You can imagine the look on Belle's face on Christmas Day as the last present to be opened was ... the Batcave! And she didn't have to buy it.

The delight on a young child's face as she opens her big Christmas present. The joy on the face of a young woman as her boyfriend gets down on one knee and opens the ring box. The stunned look on the man's face as he walks into his surprise 40th birthday party. The relief on the couple's faces when the locksmith opens their car door after the keys had been locked inside and they had been standing in 10-degree weather. Expressions of delight, joy, surprise and relief - just from opening something.

Today we find these same expressions on our faces at the opening of something else. It is the opening of heaven.

Over the past few weeks, we have knelt with the shepherds to worship the Infant in the manger. We've traveled with the Persian astrologers who followed the star to worship the King of the Jews. Today we take a huge leap - 30 years later. We are on the banks of the Jordan River with John the Baptist. On this first Sunday after the Festival of the Epiphany, we celebrate the Baptism of our Lord.

We are in the season of Epiphany. Epiphany means "reveal." During the season of Epiphany, we see the Christ Child revealed to the Magi with the miraculous star. We see the Christ revealed in the waters of the Jordan River as God's Son. We see the Messiah revealed as the miracle worker when he changes water into wine at a wedding. Jesus' Epiphany in the water is his inauguration, the official beginning of his ministry, and his anointing with the Holy Spirit and power.

Until his baptism, Jesus was recognized and worshiped only by a handful of people. Shepherds at his birth. Simeon and Anna in the temple when he was 40 days old. Magi from the East when he was a toddler. The neighbors in Nazareth probably didn't have a clue. To them, Jesus was the carpenter's son, working in his father's shop.

Then one day when he was 30 years old, Jesus stood in the Jordan River, shoulder to shoulder with the people he came to save. What a day this is! At Christmas we celebrate heaven opening so the Son of God may be born to live with us. At Jesus' Baptism we celebrate heaven opening so we may be reborn to live with God.

We need Jesus coming to us and God opening heaven to us. On our own, we are not coming to Jesus. We are not entering heaven. That's because we are dirty with sin. We have separated ourselves from God. We have strayed from his way and rejected his will. As Isaiah said, we are like broken reeds and snuffed out wicks (Isaiah 42:3). We are filled with anger, venom, and spite. We are covered with pride, prejudice, and profanity. We are consumed with apathy, indifference, and stinginess.

Heaven is closed to people like us. Hell is reserved for people like us. Adam and Eve were created by the Trinity to be holy and righteous children of God. They lost God's image with their fall into sin. As children of Adam, we are now born slaves of Satan. Sin is our master. Hell is our dungeon. Like our first parents, we hide from God and don't want to be in his presence.

Jesus comes to us so he can bring us to God. As Jesus is standing in the water, God's Son is standing in solidarity with sinners. Jesus is fulfilling all righteousness in this water, so we might be made righteous ones through that same water. Jesus is baptized in our sewer, to put our sins upon him, so that with that same water, we might be cleansed. He takes the filth, stench, and sewage upon himself so we might be purified, rinsed, and restored. That's a graphic picture. But it's also an accurate picture. Our sin is the cesspool we are living and wallowing in. And without hesitation, Jesus steps in.

John objects. Don't step in this water, Jesus! It's filthy! It's full of sins! But Jesus steps right on in. It's where he wants to be. It's where he needs to be!

Jesus isn't washing away any one specific sin. He is washing away all our many and varied sins. He washes away our inherent, inborn, natural sins. He cleanses us from sins we commit knowingly and purposefully - the one drink too many, the angry word, the vengeful thought, the lustful glance, the covetous desire, the stress-filled impatience, the doubt-filled worry, the gossip-laden text, and the profane post. He wipes away all the sins we try to defend as righteous anger or filling loneliness or "that's the way I was born" or "everybody else is doing it" or "God wants me to be happy." He even bathes us from all the sins we have forgotten or didn't realize we were committing - our apathy toward lost souls, our uncaring for the hurting, our indifference for the less fortunate, our stinginess with our money, or our lack of prayers for God's ministry.

The Spotless One was washed in Jordan's baptismal water so you might be spotless in your baptismal water. Jesus' work at the Jordan was not in power, but in weakness. Not by force but in love. Not by separating himself, but by joining us in our cesspool.

God the Father is delighted with his Son's work. He opens heaven just to speak to his Son and announces, "This is my Son, whom I love. I am well pleased with him" (Matthew 3:17). Just as Old Testament prophets, priests, and kings were anointed with oil, so the Father sends the Holy Spirit to anoint the Son for his offices as Prophet, Priest, and King. Certainly, the Father could communicate with his only-begotten Son without parting the clouds. So, there's something else happening here. Something more than the Father needing to speak to his Son and opening the heavens like you might open the car door window to speak to the drive-thru attendant.

Matthew writes, "Suddenly, the heavens were opened for him" (Matthew 3:16)! Such a small sentence. Easy to miss. But don't take this phrase lightly. When this happened before "when the floodgates of the heavens were opened," (Genesis 7:11) God sent a flood to destroy sinful humanity with whom he was displeased. He sent down judgment. He ordered his wrath upon the world. He deluged the world with the waters of absolute annihilation. But now he opens the gates of heaven to bring washed humanity to himself. He sends down the Holy Spirit with power and peace. He brings a deluge upon the world with the waters of pure grace. Heaven is opened so that the angels and archangels and all the company of heaven may see this wonder in the making.

All three persons of the triune Godhead were present at Jesus' Baptism. Just as all three persons of the Trinity were involved at the beginning of the universe, now all three are involved at the beginning of Jesus' public ministry. At creation, the Father was speaking, the Son was the Word being spoken, and the Holy Spirit was hovering over the waters - blessing creation. At Jesus' baptism, the Father was speaking, the Son made flesh was standing in the waters, and the Holy Spirit was hovering over the waters like a dove, blessing the event. In the same way, the Holy Trinity was present at our baptisms, as we are baptized "in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" (Matthew 28:19).

The Father announced, "This is my Son, whom I love. I am well pleased with him." These words comfort us because Jesus was fulfilling his purpose as God's only-begotten Son. Now, through faith in the only-begotten Son, we are made God's adopted sons and daughters. We become members of his holy family through Baptism.

Because Jesus stood in the water for you, the Father has opened heaven to you. Like a child opening her special present with joy on her face, so we look with joy that heaven is opened to us. Like the young woman with delight on her face at seeing the man she loves open the ring box, so we are delighted that the God-Man has opened heaven to us and made us his eternal bride. Like the couple who have relief on their faces that their vehicle doors have been unlocked and opened so they don't have to suffer the frigid cold any longer, so we have relief on our faces that God has opened heaven and closed the gates of hell and the suffering of fire to us. Like the man with a look of shock on his face at his surprise 40th birthday party, so we are shocked and surprised that God would ever open heaven to sinners like us.

Baptism is not a one-time event that happened years ago for us. It is a life-changing occurrence every day of our lives. In our Baptism, we are freed, claimed, cleansed, forgiven, born again, clothed in Christ, sealed by the Spirit, and marked with the sign of the cross. Whew! The Paschal Candle beside the font is lit today. That candle is lit only for baptisms, funerals, and the season of Easter. The Paschal Candle displays that we have died to sin, been buried with Christ, and raised to a new life in him. That's why we'll end our worship today singing, "There is nothing worth comparing To this lifelong comfort sure! Open-eyed my grave is staring: Even there I'll sleep secure. Though my flesh awaits its raising, Still my soul continues praising: I am baptized into Christ; I'm a child of paradise!" (CW: 737 v 5).

Martin Luther asked in his Small Catechism, "How can water do such great things?" If it's plain water, it can't. It can only wash your body, but it cannot touch your soul. But if Jesus is in the water, it can do great, divine things. When Jesus stepped into that water, the water didn't change Jesus, Jesus changed the water. "He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit" (Titus 3:5). The Holy Spirit who leads you to Christ also joins you to Christ.

Remember your Baptism daily. Your sin torments you. Satan plagues you. The world tempts you. Death is near you. You become weary of the fight. You appear weak, helpless, hopeless - as if there's no reason to go on. Fellow baptized saints, travel daily to the font. Your Baptism releases a forgiving flood. Your Baptism washes a guilty conscience. Your Baptism gives you strength divine. Your Baptism ends Satan's ugly accusation. Your Baptism ends Death's gladness. You no longer live a life that will end in death, but you will die a death that will end in life.

When we moved to Casper, we moved all the Batman characters and vehicles. We even moved three Batcaves! Belle doesn't play with them anymore. Hopefully our grandchildren will. And hopefully, they'll love them as much as Belle did. All we have to do is open the closet door.

In Jesus' baptismal river and your baptismal font, with water and Word, heaven has been opened to you ... and it shall never be closed again. Amen.

This is what the true God says, the Lord who creates the heavens and stretches them out, who spreads out the earth and everything that it produces, who gives breath to the people on it and life to those who walk on it (Isaiah 42:7). Amen.

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/heaven-is-opened/

A few weeks ago, we heard the Christmas story from Joseph's point of view through Matthew. On Christmas Eve we heard the Christmas story from Mary's point of view through Luke. Today we hear the Christmas story from eternity's point of view through John.

When we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, we usually think about the story of the first Christmas passed down to us by Matthew and Luke. We listen in as the angel Gabriel tells the lowly Virgin Mary that God has chosen her to be the mother of his eternal Son. We watch Joseph the carpenter wrestle over the question to divorce his betrothed wife who is pregnant with a child he knows is not his, until an angel in a dream tells him to take Mary as his wife for the Child is God's own Son. We follow the couple to Bethlehem, and see the newborn Jesus wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger because there is no room in the inn.

We hear the angel proclaiming the "Good News of great joy" to shepherds keeping watch over their flocks by night. We listen as the mighty angel chorus offers its praise and glory to God in the highest, expressing the peace God's Son has come to bring. We join the shepherds as they visit the Christ Child, and we journey with the wise men as they follow the star and bring their gifts to "the one who has been born King of the Jews."

But the Gospel of John shows us Christ's birth from a different point of view. John takes us to the beginning of time and introduces us to the Word, the mighty Son of God who created all things. The Gospel of John begins: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God" (John 1:1). For the next 12 verses, John describes the Child of Christmas according to his divine nature, as the Son of God. He is the mighty Word of God, the eternal Son. Everything in heaven and earth was created through him. He is the light of men. Now, as John reaches the pivotal moment in all human history, he tells us in verse 14, "The Word became flesh."

In that great, unfathomable mystery, Jesus takes our human nature into his divinity: he is conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit in the womb of the Virgin Mary.

That is the mystery of Christmas—the majesty of God's gracious plan. To save us from our sin, God's Son became human just like us. As a human he could place himself under God's Law and earn our place in heaven by his perfect life. As a human he could take our place under God's wrath, suffering and dying for our sins and disobedience. Being God, his shed blood was able to pay for the sins of the whole world. Being God, he could — and did — defeat Satan, sin and hell for all of us.

Being both the Son of God and the Son of Man, through faith in the God/Man, we are adopted as God's sons and daughters (Ephesians 2:5).

John continues in his Gospel: "And the Word … made his dwelling among us." Jesus birth in Bethlehem was not the first time he dwelt among us in our world. He appears for the first time in the Old Testament as the Angel of the Lord ministering to Hagar in her distress. He makes the unseen God known by loving the unloved, caring for the abandoned, and helping the helpless. He appears to Moses in the burning bush to give him direction in his life as the chosen leader of God's chosen people. He is at the edge of the Israelite camp, guiding and protecting them for 40 years of wandering as a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night.

But now this will be how Jesus appears for all eternity. As both God and Man, he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. As God and Man, he will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead (Nicene Creed).

Verse 14 continues: "We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth."

How would you like to lift up your eyes any time of day or night and look upon the glory of God? The Israelites who left Egypt enjoyed that privilege for 40 years. The Lord revealed his glory in the pillar that led them across the wilderness to the Promised Land. By day it was a pillar of cloud, by night a pillar of fire. After Israel settled into the Promised Land the pillar disappeared. God was still present in their midst, but their eyes could no longer perceive his glory.

On that first Christmas, God's glory shone briefly around the shepherds in the fields outside Bethlehem. But when they ran into the little town they saw nothing special, just an ordinary-looking baby who was "wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger." No halo shone around his head. The fullness of the deity was concealed within the dwelling of Jesus' infant body.

His glory as the Son of God would not be revealed until his Baptism at age 30. Only then did he begin revealing his divine glory through the epiphany of his words and miracles, demonstrating his power over disease, accidents, nature, demons … even death.

Today his glory is hidden in common, ordinary things like the words of the Bible, the water of Baptism and the bread and wine of Holy Communion. But it is through these common, ordinary things that we will one day gaze upon the glory of the One and Only.

John then sets the record straight that John the Baptist was not the promised Messiah. Though he stirred up a lot of excitement, his job was always and only to point people to the true Messiah. That's why he cried out, "This was he of whom I said, "He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.'"

The Baptist's words line up perfectly with what the apostle John has been writing all along. Jesus of Nazareth is no mere human. He is the only begotten Son of God who has existed from eternity. Now he dwells among us in human flesh.

"From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another." The fact that God became human and lived here among us is the mystery and wonder of Christmas. But how often do we lose sight of that mystery after we celebrate Christmas, put away the decorations, and go back to our normal day-to-day lives? It's almost as if Christmas never came, and everything goes on the same.

If Christmas is merely recalling God's Son becoming human and being born in Bethlehem, we are missing something truly significant. The important thing is to remember why he came and what he accomplished in those brief 33 years he dwelt among us.

Unless we look in the right place, it looks as though his life really hasn't changed much of anything. There is still suffering, sickness and death. There is still misunderstanding, fear and hate. There is still crime, violence and war. And much of that is within our own homes.

All these evils flow from our first parents' sinful disobedience when Adam and Eve ate the fruit God had forbidden and continue today through all our sins.

Jesus came to deal with that sin, and the wrath of God it stirs. Jesus came to take our place, carry our guilt and sins to the cross, and suffer God's wrath that we deserve, paying the debt we can never repay. He did it all out of pure, undeserved love and mercy. And he is always here to give us the fullness of his love and grace.

When you read John chapter 1, it is interesting that though John is writing about Jesus, he waits until verse 17 to name him. The Word, the Son of God has remained unnamed. But finally, the Word emerges from the shadows and is revealed in the spotlight: "For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ."

John points out that Jesus came to replace the Old Testament Law given to Moses on Mt. Sinai. Knowing that neither the Israelites of old nor we in the new year of 2026 can keep God's laws perfectly, God sent his Son as the fulfillment of his Laws.

As great as Moses was, he was merely the instrument through which God gave his people the knowledge of his laws. Jesus, the Babe of Bethlehem was different. He was the Son of God himself, and he came into our world bringing grace and truth. He fulfilled the laws of Moses, and completed the salvation first promised to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. From the cross his truth and grace pours out like an unending fountain for all time.

"No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father's side, has made him known." Is John correct that no human has ever seen God? Scripture describes Moses as the friend of God (Exodus 33:11), still, Moses could only gaze upon God's "back" and not God's "face." The gracious God was protecting his servant Moses when he told him, "You cannot see My face, for man shall not see me and live." Like staring into the sun, the sinner Moses could not tolerate looking upon the full expression of God's holiness and glory, only a portion of it. So, John is correct, no sinful human ever sat gazing upon the fullness of God's glory.

But Christmas marks the birth of a new Man, One who is holy and spotless – the Word who has spent all eternity looking upon the beauty of God's glorious face. For the first time in his Gospel, John names the first person of the Trinity: he calls him the "Father." The Word has come to make his Father known to us.

None of us has ever seen God. Left to our own experience and imagination none of us even comes close to knowing what God is really like. The struggles and difficulties of life distort his true image. He comes off looking angry and vindictive on one hand, or unknowing and uncaring on the other.

But Jesus came at Christmas to make God known to us. He revealed him as our merciful, gracious, loving Heavenly Father – the God who so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son.

This, too, is the Christmas story. Not from Joseph or Mary's point of view, but from eternity's point of view. For the Christ Child is God in the flesh, the Word dwelling with us, the fullness of God's grace, making the Father known to us. Amen.

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/christmas-from-eternitys-point-of-view/

The Magi saw the miraculous star in the east announcing the birth of the King of the Jews. They followed the star to the Jewish capital city. It made sense that the King of the Jews would be born in the palace in Jerusalem.

The Magi asked King Herod, "Where is he who has been born King of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him" (Matthew 2:2). King Herod was alarmed because he had a paranoid fear of rivals. The citizens of Jerusalem were alarmed because they knew the violent actions Herod was capable of (Matthew 2:3).

The Magi's expensive gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh were welcome gifts for the poor family. They would help fund their flight to Egypt. The Magi were warned in a dream not to return to Jerusalem because of Herod.

"After the Wise Men were gone, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared to Joseph in a dream. He said, 'Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, because Herod will search for the child to kill him.' Joseph got up, took the child and his mother during the night, and left for Egypt. He stayed there until the death of Herod" (Matthew 2:13-15).

"When Herod realized he had been outwitted by the Wise Men, he was furious. He issued orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and in all the surrounding countryside, from two years old and under" (Matthew 2:16).

We have celebrated the joy of Christmas birth. That joy is shattered with the slaughter of the baby boys in Bethlehem ages two and under. December 28 is an annual reminder designated as the Feast of the Holy Innocents. The gleeful violence of a tyrannical king smashes the idyllic nativity scenes we have in our homes. The "Silent Night" we sang about a few nights ago is broken by the sound of soldiers' marching boots. The wailing of mothers for their children replaces the heralding of the angels.

We shouldn't be surprised by this evil. We shouldn't be shocked by this violence. This is the way Satan always operates. In Revelation 12, St. John writes about how Satan is pictured as a red seven-headed dragon. The dragon pursues the woman and her child. The woman is the Christian Church. God removes her to safety. The dragon then pursues the child, who is Jesus. But he ascends to heaven. So, the dragon turns his attention to the woman's children – Christians/us. "The dragon was angry about what had happened to the woman, and he went away to make war against the rest of her children—those who keep the commandments of God and who hold on to the testimony about Jesus" (Revelation 12:17).

Satan continues to make war against Christians. This is the way it has always been. Christians captured and threatened to blaspheme Christ and then forced to convert to a pagan religion. If they don't convert, the men are beheaded, the women are raped, and the children are taken as slaves. That's brutal – especially with children here. Trust me, that's the sanitized version.

Satan will always find willing allies. Herod had killed one of his wives, along with her grandfather, her mother-in-law, a brother-in-law, plus three of his own sons. Herod was willing to kill a lot of people to protect his throne. Slaughtering a dozen or two infant boys fits with his evil character.

Satan continues to find willing allies in Muslims around the world. Today we start the adding of a petition in the Prayer of the Church for our Christian siblings being persecuted by Islamic groups, governments, and family members. We begin with Afghanistan and will go through Yemen.

In the beginning of November, 315 school children were kidnapped by gunmen from a Catholic school in Nigeria. By God's grace, 230 of those children were recently rescued from terror and death. Many those kidnapped remain in captivity. On Thursday, the U.S. government, with approval from the Nigerian government, conducted several military strikes on Islamic State terrorists for their violence against Christians.

I don't know how you feel about President Trump. At least, he's one U.S. President who cares about protecting Christians around the globe. Personally, I appreciate his use of the sword of vengeance granted him by God. The government is meant to bring terror on terrorists. "[The government] is God's servant for your benefit. But if you do wrong, be afraid, because he does not carry the sword without reason. He is God's servant, a punisher to bring wrath on the wrongdoer" (Romans 13:4). I even appreciate President Trump's sarcasm, because it reminds me of the divine sarcasm of God and his Old Testament prophets. Trump wrote in a Truth Social post, "Merry Christmas to all, including the dead Terrorists, of which there will be many more if their slaughter of Christians continues."

Satan has always worked this way. The dragon seeks to devour Christ and his Church. From Eden to Bethlehem to Nigeria to America. His footsteps through history are filled with blood. As soon as light comes into the world, he tries to snuff it out. As soon as life enters the world, he tries to end it. If he can't get to Christ, he will come after those who look like Christ … even if that means little baby boys.

The Babylon Bee, which is a Christian satire site, published an article this week entitled, "10 Clear Signs of Christian Persecution to Look For this Christmas." Here are my top 3 from the article:

1. Someone responded "Happy Holidays" after you told them "Merry Christmas": Protect your children's ears from this horrible slur.
2. The house across the street put up an inflatable Santa Claus instead of an inflatable Baby Jesus: An obvious display of anti-Christian bigotry.
3. Your sister-in-law only brought gluten-free desserts to Christmas dinner: Has she no fear of the Lord?!

That article was sponsored by Christian Freedom International. They wrote at the bottom of the article: "Not Satire: Every day, courageous believers face unimaginable persecution for their faith. The massive numbers of persecuted Christians can be overwhelming. Begin the new year by committing to pray for persecuted Christians. A church celebrating Christmas despite death threats. Teens gathering in a destroyed church to study the Bible. Survivors of massacres gaining confidence through job training. They aren't statistics. They are individual Christians experiencing God's faithfulness in dark places. And your prayers and support sustain them."

One example of real persecution here in America happened last week in San Francisco. Anastasia Rogers is an organizer for Survivors of the Abortion Holocaust. She's a former atheist who became a Christian in 2023. She's passionate about fighting for the unborn. Anastasia was handcuffed and taken into custody by the San Francisco police for distributing pregnancy resource pamphlets outside a Planned Parenthood facility. She was not obstructing access, making threats, or violating the law. The arrest was based on a false allegation from an on-duty Planned Parenthood security guard.

Satan allies himself with media and Hollywood. You don't hear these stories of persecution of Christians in America or around the world in the legacy media. Why not? Because they have a secular or even a satanic worldview. Hollywood recently cast a lesbian black woman to play the Jewish Son of God in a play. Hollywood doesn't do that with Islam, Buddhism, or any other world religion. Why not? Because they are friends with these pagan, demonic religions. They are terrified of Christianity. They must mock and destroy Christ. They realize he's the one true Son of God. Since they can't get to him, they'll mock and try to destroy Christianity. The allies of Satan desire the extermination of Christians. It's similar to the slaughter of the Holy Innocents in Bethlehem two millennia ago.

It might seem unfair that these Holy Innocents in Bethlehem died. It may appear that the baby boys of Bethlehem died to save Jesus – that they gave their blood that he might escape. It was really the other way around. Jesus grew up to give his life and blood for them … and for all humanity. He didn't give up his life to Herod in the Bethlehem house. He was waiting to give up his life to Pilate on the Jerusalem cross. Though believing children who have died may no longer be cradled in the arms of their mothers, they are cradled in the arms of God. Though baptized infants may die, yet now they really live! Though martyrs continue to die for their connection to Christ, Christ rewards them with an eternal connection with him in heaven. All these saints receive a life greater than the one they lost.

This Christmas it isn't important what kind of sweaters, socks, video games or jewelry we had wrapped for us under the tree. Instead, we find our riches in the divinity of God wrapped in human flesh. Our riches are found in the Son of God becoming the adopted Son of Joseph so we might become the adopted sons and daughters of God. This adoption took place when we were marked with the cross as redeemed children of God in the holy waters of our Baptism. On that day we died to sin and were raised to a new life – a new life as a child of God, a Holy Innocent, in the forgiveness of our sins. A new life where each day is Christmas Day, as Christ is born in us and we in him. A new life that however, whenever, and wherever our life ends, we will be cradled in the arms of our Father in heaven.

There is joy amidst this tragedy of slaughter and persecution. God kept the Holy Family safe from Satan and his allies. Jesus was kept safe until the time was right for him to die – not to keep King Herod on his throne but to die so that all of us with faith in our Savior might receive a place around King Jesus' throne. We find our joy, not in presents under the Christmas tree, but in God's present of the Son of God hanging upon the tree of the cross. We find our pleasure, not in open gifts, but in the open grave. We find our peace, not in family feasts, but in the feasts and festivals of the Christian Church, like the Feast of the Holy Innocents.

The story of the Holy Innocents doesn't spoil the spirit of Christmas. Rather, it teaches us something about Christmas. Though these children did not sing like the angels or bring gifts like the Magi or worship like the shepherds – nevertheless, it is perhaps in them that we can most see ourselves in this story. We learn from them to fix our eyes on the Holy Innocent One – who will lay down his life and shed his blood that we might live. We see the heel now wrapped in swaddling clothes will come down upon the serpent's head, to set us free. We see a Savior kept safe for a time so that he might keep us safe for all time. The Holy Innocent One transforms us into his Holy Innocent ones, willing to lay down our lives for him, for he has laid down his life for us.

We learn a few things on this Feast of the Holy Innocents. Pray for the persecuted. Support ministry and financial aid for those who are hurting and being hurt because of their connection to Christ. Stop listening to and supporting institutions that hate you – phone companies, banks, stores, media, entertainment, video game manufacturers, social media companies, and so on. Find companies and media who are Christian and support Christian causes.

Stand up for your faith. Speak up. Be bold. Be prepared to be threatened, fired, doxed, canceled, and arrested for your Christian stance against pagan propaganda. Satan and his allies are afraid of you. They know they can't get to Christ. So, they are coming after you. They won't admit it, but deep down, they are afraid when you stand up because they are ultimately afraid of who stands beside you. They know all this. The Baby in the manger is also the King on his throne. The Lamb crucified on the cross is the victorious lion of Judah. The Jesus they mock and taunt as a humble preacher will come again with divine vengeance and eternal wrath.

They are like King Herod. They are paranoid of rivals. Jesus Christ is the rival to the pagan gods they worship. That's why they war and rage, taunt and terrorize. But they can't do anything to you. Not really. You gladly carry your cross for Christ. You welcome persecution in Christ's name. You rejoice in suffering for Christ's sake. You accept death. For then you will be named as a martyr with the Holy Innocents. Amen.

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/the-slaughter-of-the-holy-innocents/

How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of a herald, who proclaims peace and preaches good news, who proclaims salvation, who says to Zion, "Your God is king!" (Isaiah 52:7). Amen.

Merriam-Webster recently tried correcting the wording of a classic Christmas hymn. But the self-proclaimed "America's Most Trusted Dictionary" ended up with eggnog on its face. In a now-deleted post to social media platform X, Merriam-Webster tried to edit the Christmas hymn "What Child Is This?" by posting "Which* Child Is This?"

As an author and public speaker, I'm very interested in proper words and correct English. But the online dictionary is just wrong. The dictionary presented themselves as smug, but even more biblically incorrect. The hymn isn't asking, "Which of these Jewish children born in Bethlehem is this?" That's a question of location. The hymn is asking, "What kind of child is this?" That's a question of theology.

"What Child is This?" was written in 1865 by William Chatterton Dix and was later paired with the ancient tune of "Greensleeves," which dates to the 16th century. In the first verse, the hymn answers the question of "What child is this?" with this statement, "This is Christ the King, whom shepherds guard and angels sing."

St. John also answers the question of "What Child is this?" by stating, "The Word became flesh and dwelled among us. We have seen his glory, the glory he has as the only-begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth" (John 1:14).

Verse 1: What child is this who, laid to rest, On Mary's lap is sleeping? Whom angels greet With anthems sweet While shepherds watch are keeping? This, this is Christ the King, Whom shepherds guard and angels sing. Haste, haste to bring him laud, The babe, the Son of Mary!

What child is this who is sleeping on Mary's lap? This is no ordinary baby. It is a Child that the angels fill the night sky to sing about. It is a Child that shepherds leave their flocks to run and see. Why? Because this is no ordinary baby. This is Christ the King. He is the baby, the Son of Mary ... but so much more.

St. John writes about this baby. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him everything was made, and without him not one thing was made that has been made" (John 1:1-3).

This baby is no ordinary baby. He is also the God who formed a human body out of the dust of the ground. He is the God who was formed as a baby in the womb of the Virgin Mary. God breathed into the man's nostrils the breath of life and his heart started beating. He is the God whose very human baby heart started beating in the sixth week after his conception by the Holy Spirit within the womb of Mary. About 7 ½ months later, the Virgin gave birth to the Christ Child, and he took his first breaths of the air he had created.

The One who created life was alive in the womb for 9 months, then was born on Christmas Day.

The Word through whom everything was called into existence was now the Word made flesh.

The One who had walked among the stars and would one day walk on water, would have to learn how walk with shaky, little toddler steps.

The One who made the thunders clap would enjoy clapping his chubby, little baby hands in joy.

The One who had set up a marvelous system where animals from antelope to zebras would be fed, would have to be fed with milk from his mother's breast.

The One who would be like every child everywhere who has rolled mud in his hands to make a snake, would one day be pierced by the ancient snake of the Devil.

Verse 2: Why lies he in such mean estate Where oxen now are feeding? Good Christians, fear; For sinners here The silent Word is pleading. Nails, spear shall pierce him through; The cross he'll bear for me, for you. Hail, hail the Word made flesh, The babe, the Son of Mary!

If this Child is more than just the Son of Mary, why does he lie in such mean estate? Why is this baby lying in such lowly conditions, where the oxen are feeding? The Son of God came low to be among his lowly people. We are made poor and lowly by our sins. We are born in sin. We are dead in our sins. All we can do is evil – in our thoughts, in our words, and in our actions. We sin in what we do. We sin in what we fail to do. All that sin causes us to die. Dying with sin, wickedness, and unbelief, we are destined to an eternal death in hell.

What Child is this? A Child that was born to save us from sin, death, and hell.

The One who breathed life into the first man was now a man who needed to breathe to live.

The One who started Adam's heart beating was the second Adam whose heart was beating.

All that was reversed on Good Friday. The very people the Son of God came to save crucified him. St. John explains this. "The real light that shines on everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not recognize him. He came to what was his own, yet his own people did not accept him" (John 1:9-11). The creatures God created did not recognize or accept the Creator living among them. So, they pierced the divinely human flesh. The rough wood of the manger foreshadowed the rougher wood of the cross.

On the cross, the Word made flesh had his perfect flesh pierced with nails and thorns. The sun was darkened and the earth trembled as Jesus cried out, "It is finished." Then he closed his eyes, breathed his last, and his heart stopped beating. To make sure the Son of God was dead, his heart and lungs were pierced with a spear.

For three days, the corpse of the Creator of Life lay cold and dead in a borrowed tomb. Then as the first rays of sunlight began dawning on Easter morning, the darkness and death of Friday afternoon were shattered. Everything had been quiet and still in the darkness of the tomb. One moment the tomb was filled with darkness and death. The next moment the grave was filled with life and light! Darkness cannot extinguish the Light. St. John explains, "In him was life, and the life was the light of mankind. The light is shining in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it" (John 1:4-5).

He who was born, wrapped in strips of cloth, and laid in a manger arose from the slab of the tomb clothed in glory, the firstborn from the dead.

Jesus took one breath and put death to death. With his first heartbeat, he defeated the Devil who imagined he had killed God's only-begotten Son.

The Creator of Life died. He rose. He lives. He will never die again.

When you believe in the Son of God as your Savior, you will still die because of your sins. But Jesus has removed your sins. He has endured your death. He has defeated your enemy of the Devil. Though you will die, you will live again. And you will never die again.

The Lord of Light will awaken you from the darkness of death. He will open your grave on the Last Day. You will live in the light of heavenly glory. For this Child is the life and light of mankind.

Verse 3: So bring him incense, gold, and myrrh; Come, peasant, king, to own him. The King of kings Salvation brings; Let loving hearts enthrone him. Raise, raise the song on high; The virgin sings her lullaby. Joy, joy, for Christ is born, The babe, the Son of Mary!

How do you respond to the question, "What Child is this?" In faith, you respond by bringing him your treasures – incense, gold, and myrrh. You bring him your treasures – money, vocation, prayers, works, and worship. Praise him with hearts filled with love. Praise him with mouths filled with song. Praise him with hands and feet filled with action and motivation. As the Virgin Mary gently sings her lullaby, so we gently sing our praises to the Christ Child on this Christmas Morn.

What Child is this? This Child is the One who had his birth announced to Bethlehem shepherds by angels in the sky and announced to Babylonian Magi with a miraculous star in space. This Child comes for the salvation of everyone from shepherds to Wise Men, from peasants to kings. He is the King of kings who comes into our world so we can be made heirs of his heavenly kingdom. He is the Lord of lords who enters our presence to welcome lowly sinners into his presence. He is the Word made flesh so that he can be a baby lying in a manger, then the God-Man shedding his divinely human blood as he lies on a cross, and then the resurrected Christ whose corpse is raised from the dead.

Jesus – the Son of God and Mary's Son – is now flesh and divinity for all eternity. Through faith in the divine Son of God and the humble Son of Man, our Savior with flesh, we will be standing before his throne as resurrected flesh and holy soul.

One commentator on Merriam-Webster's criticism of the hymn title, posted his own criticism of the online dictionary. He wrote, "I regret to inform you our modern dictionary is illiterate." The online dictionary wanted to "correct" the hymn but ended up being corrected themselves. Whoever wrote that post does not seem to understand Christianity.

By the grace of God and through faith in the Child in the manger, you and I are among those who do understand Christianity. We have received Christ and been born again through water and the Word. St. John writes, "But to all who did receive him, to those who believe in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. They were born, not of blood, or of the desire of the flesh, or of a husband's will, but born of God" (John 1:12-13).

The 160-year-old hymn is correct. That's why we're singing it on this Christmas Day. "What (not which) Child is this?" Amen.

The Lord lays bare his holy arm before the eyes of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth will see the salvation from our God. (Isaiah 52:10). Amen.

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/what-not-which-child-is-this/

To all those loved by God who are in Rome (and Casper), called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 1:7). Amen.

Ahaz is a wicked, unbelieving king. He is a descendant of King David, but he is unlike David who cherished his children and led the nation of Israel in their worship of the true God. Ahaz sacrificed his own son in the fire as he led the nation of Israel in the worship of pagan gods.

Earlier in chapter 7, Isaiah records how King Ahaz of Judah is being threatened by Pekah, the king of Israel, who has allied himself with Rezin, the king of Aram, to destroy Judah. The prophet Isaiah calls King Ahaz to trust in the Lord for protection from this alliance. Ahaz refuses. His solution to this threat is to make is own alliance with the nation of Assyria, north of Aram (2 Kings 16:1-9).

Isaiah tells Ahaz that he doesn't need this alliance with the wicked nation of Assyria. The Lord will protect Judah from its enemies. To prove this, Isaiah tells Ahaz to pick a sign – any sign – as proof of his protection. The Lord spoke to Ahaz again. He said, "Ask for a sign from the Lord your God. Ask for it either in the depths below or in the heights above" (Isaiah 7:10-11).

Ahaz could have asked for anything. He could have gone simple and asked for a shooting star across the sky that night. He could have gone big and asked for an asteroid to come crashing down on his enemies. He could have asked for any sign he wanted.

But King Ahaz doesn't trust in God. Instead, he trusts the alliance he had made with Assyria. Because he doesn't trust God, there was no sign that would have convinced him of God's power to save his throne or country. In false humility, Ahaz refuses to "test" the Lord. Ahaz responded, "I will not ask. I will not test the Lord" (Isaiah 7:12).

To prove to Ahaz and to the world that his promises can be trusted, God decides on his own sign. He is not going to allow an unbelieving king to stand in the way of the physical deliverance of Judah and the eternal deliverance of all who believe the sign. God chooses a sign that is an embarrassment to Ahaz because it is so simple, yet so miraculous. It is also a sign that would take 700 years to fulfill. So, Isaiah said, "Listen now, you house of David. Is it not enough for you to test the patience of men? Will you test the patience of my God as well? Therefore the Lord himself will give a sign for all of you. Look! The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son and name him Immanuel" (Isaiah 7:13-14).

God promises the virgin's Son and his Son will be named Immanuel – God with us... and God for us.

What does it mean that Jesus, the Son of God, is "God with us"? To help understand the relationship of God to humans, imagine the relationship of humans to ants. Young Hudson volunteered to be our resident "ant-lover" for this story.

Imagine that Hudson's dad, Ty, is going to be resurfacing their driveway. But Hudson notices that there's a large anthill at the edge of the driveway. He becomes worried that when the hot asphalt is poured onto the driveway, the asphalt will also fill the anthill – killing the countless ants inside.

Hudson, being the ant-lover that he is, goes outside to start talking to the ants. He tells them about his dad, the driveway, the asphalt, and their anthill. He tells them the entire story.

What do the ants do? ... Nothing. They ignore Hudson, even though he's trying to help them. So, Hudson gets down on their level. He puts his face right above the anthill and shouts warnings for them to pack up and leave. The ants just run away.

What can Hudson do? He loves the ants. He wants to rescue the ants. But he's too superior to them. They're too puny. He's like a "god" to them.

Hudson decides that the only way they'll listen to him is if he becomes one of them. So, that's what he does. He goes to his closet and put on his Ant-Man suit from Halloween. (Ant-Man is one of the Avengers.)

Hudson, in his Ant-Man suit, pushes a button and shrinks down to become the size of an ant. (This is a very high-tech Halloween costume!) In this form, he's able to communicate with the ants and save those who believe his message.

It sounds like a silly story, doesn't it? It will seem even more silly when Hudson wears his Ant-Man suit to church one day.

It seems ridiculous that a person would become an ant to save the ants. But that's no more ridiculous than God becoming a human to save the humans.

Think of the world the Son of God left. Our classiest mansion would be an anthill to him. Earth's finest cuisine would be crumbs on heaven's table. The idea of becoming an ant with a segmented body and antennae? That's nothing compared to God becoming an embryo and entering the womb of Mary.

But that's what the Son of God did. The God of the universe was born into the poverty of a peasant and spent his first night in the cow's feed trough. The God of the universe left the glory of heaven and moved into our neighborhood. The God of the universe left his eternal seat on his golden throne, surrounded by saints and angels to be born in time and laid in a manger surrounded by Saint Mary and Saint Joseph. Who could have imagined God would do such a thing?

Why would Jesus come? He comes to be Immanuel. He comes to be God with us.

But I want you to understand that God being with us is not necessarily good news. He has every right to be God with us in righteous anger over our sins. He can be God with us in justified judgment over how we act and live. He can be God with us in deserving punishment over our continual crimes against God and humanity.

A king coming to be with his people is not good news if he's there to raise their taxes. A judge coming to be with the people in the courtroom is not good news if he's there to sentence them to prison. A human coming to be with the ants is not good news if he's there to step on their anthill. And God coming to be with his creation is not good news if he's coming to bring the hellish punishment they rightly deserve.

It is significant that when the angel appears to Joseph in a dream he says, "Joseph, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins" (Matthew 1:20-21). The God who is coming is not coming to destroy his people because of their sins. Rather, he's coming to save his people from their sins. In other words, the God who is with you is the God who comes for you.

We call this the incarnation. Divinity combined with humanity. God's gift of his Son wrapped in cute, little baby skin. We confess our belief in the incarnation in our three Christian universal creeds.

The Apostles' Creed: "I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary..."

The Nicene Creed: "For us and for our salvation, he came down from heaven, was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary, and became fully human."

The Athanasian Creed: "He is God, eternally begotten from the nature of the Father, and he is man, born in time from the nature of his mother, fully God, fully man, with rational soul and human flesh, equal to the Father as to his deity, less than the Father as to his humanity..."

This is what the incarnation of God taking on human flesh reveals: Jesus is the King coming to free his people from the tyranny of the Devil. He is the Judge coming to release the prisoners from the prison of hell. He is the God-Man coming to proclaim rescue to those who will listen and believe. He is the God who could come to us to wipe us out and shed our blood. However, instead he is the God who comes to wipe out our sins with his blood.

God with us is only good news if God is for us. The good news is in changing the preposition. "For" means that Jesus is on our side, out to get our enemies. We are the "apple of his eye" (Psalm 17:8). He comes to live the perfect life for us, in our place. He comes to suffer for us, in our place. He comes to die for us, in our place. He comes to be the fulfillment of his names. He is Jesus because he saves us from our sins. He is Immanuel because he is God with us since he came for us.

Again, why would Jesus come? Because he loves to be with the ones he loves.

Dr. Maxwell Maltz tells a remarkable story of a love like this. A man attempted to save his parents from a burning house. He couldn't get to them. They perished. He was burned and disfigured in the fire. The man mistakenly interpreted his pain as God's punishment. He would not let anyone see him — not even his wife.

The wife went to Dr. Maltz, a plastic surgeon, for help. He told her not to worry. He said, "I can restore his face." The wife was unenthused. Her husband had repeatedly refused any help. She knew he would refuse again.

Then why her visit? She told the doctor, "I want you to disfigure my face so I can be like him. If I can share his pain, maybe he'll let me back in his life."

Dr. Maltz was shocked. He denied her request but was so moved by her love that he went to speak with her husband. Knocking on the man's bedroom door, he called loudly. "Sir, my name is Dr. Maltz. I'm a plastic surgeon, and I can restore your face." No response. "Please come out." Again, there was no answer.

Still speaking through the door, Dr. Maltz told the man of his wife's proposal. He said, "She wants me to disfigure her face, to make her face like yours in the hope that you let her back into your life. That's how much she loves you." There was a moment of silence, and then, ever so slowly, the doorknob began to turn.

The way the woman felt for her husband is a small picture of the way God feels about us. But he did more than make the offer. He took on our face, our disfigurement. He became like us. Just look at the places he was willing to go to reach people – feed troughs, carpentry shops, deserts, and cemeteries. He visited mountain tops and temple courtyards. He went into the homes of friends, Pharisees, tax collectors, centurions, and dead little girls. The places Jesus went to reach us show how far he goes to fulfill his name, "He saves."

Getting back to the story of King Ahaz... Israel and Aram failed in their plan against Judah. Both Israel and Aram were defeated by the Assyrians, with the northern kingdom of Israel falling to Assyria in 722 B.C.

But then, look out, Ahaz! Assyria was not going to stop with knocking off Israel and Aram. Assyria would then turn its attention to Judah. After the promise of the virgin birth, Isaiah told King Ahaz, "The Lord will bring on you, on your people, and on your father's house, days worse than any since the day that Ephraim broke away from Judah. The Lord will bring the king of Assyria" (Isaiah 7:17).

God fulfilled that promise, too. Assyria threatened Jerusalem 21 years later. At that time, Isaiah had to counsel the next king of Judah, Hezekiah, to trust in the Lord and not in political or military alliances. King Hezekiah listened to the counsel of Isaiah, and that threat again was lifted.

God fulfilled his promise to wicked King Ahaz in sending a virgin's Son to be named Immanuel. This is why every Advent we sing, "Oh, come, oh, come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel." Jesus is Immanuel – God with us by being God for us. He loves to be with the ones he loves. Amen.

This gospel is about his Son, who in the flesh was born a descendant of David, who in the spirit of holiness was declared to be God's powerful Son by his resurrection from the dead—Jesus Christ, our Lord (Romans 1:3-4). Amen.

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/god-with-us-and-god-for-us/

My heart is steadfast, O God. My heart is steadfast. I will sing and I will make music (Psalm 57:7). Amen.

It was a quiet, idyllic evening outside of Bethlehem. Shepherds were gently caring for their sheep. The bright stars were twinkling in the dark sky.

Ugh. I don't think so. That's the way our Christmas cards portray the scene. But let's set aside our western sentimentality and romanticism to paint the real scene for first century shepherds in Palestine.

Shepherds were among the lowest of the social classes. They didn't own the flocks. The owners were asleep in their comfortable Bethlehem beds. Shepherds were minimum wage earners. Their work kept them continually dirty and smelly. That's because they were continually in contact with dirty and smelly sheep. They had to deal with wounds, injuries, insects, predators, and manure. Their work made shepherds perpetually ceremonially unclean. So, they were treated as outsiders.

Shepherds were also considered dishonest. There was the ongoing temptation for shepherds to make a little more money on the side. For the shepherds to tell the owners that a sheep had been lost, stolen or eaten. Then to sell the wool or the sheep. So, it was forbidden to buy wool, milk or a lamb from a shepherd on the assumption that this was stolen property. Shepherds had a reputation – either deserved or undeserved – of being dishonest. They were on the lowest rung of society – along with tax collectors and prostitutes.

The birth announcement of the Son of God doesn't come to kings or queens, emperors or high priests. The proclamation of the Savior of the world doesn't come to the religious, political or social elite. This announcement comes to lowly shepherds out in their fields at night. This is a proclamation that is given to the lowest of society. It's meant for people like us!

The announcement of the arrival of the Good Shepherd is first given to shepherds. The proclamation of the Lamb of God is heard first by literal little lambs. The King of all creation comes among the lowliest of all creation – shepherds and sheep.

This was no ordinary birth, because this was no ordinary baby. He was certainly a very real baby – a crying, hungry baby that wanted his mother's milk and later needed his diaper changed. This was no ordinary baby because he was at the same time Mary's Son and God's Son. He was God incarnate – divinity wrapped in humanity. He is God in the flesh, the Savior, Christ the Lord, who was born to live perfectly, die innocently, and rise gloriously to remove sin from everyone – from Bethlehem shepherds to Roman emperors.

From the millions of the angelic host, one angel is given the unique privilege in history to make an announcement to humanity. "Do not be afraid. For behold, I bring you good news of great joy, which will be for all people: Today in the town of David, a Savior was born for you. He is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger" (Luke 2:10-12).

This angel had every right to say, "Listen up, you bums! If only you had been better and done better, God wouldn't have had to do such a drastic thing. He has given his only begotten Son to you, gift-wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a feeding trough for cattle. You'd better appreciate it!" The angel had every right to say that … but he didn't.

Instead, he announced the gospel – the good news – of the long-awaited Savior first promised to Adam and Eve, then to Abraham and Sarah, then to King David and later to King Ahaz. The fulfillment of that promise was here. This is a message of joy – not happiness. There's a difference. Happiness is based on inner feelings and our response to outward actions. Happiness is a temporary, external feeling. Joy is a deeper, lasting state of contentment that is unaffected by feelings or circumstances.

This good news is meant for all people. We know from experience how vicious middle school, high school, college, and the military can be. Girls can be mean, spiteful, and exclusive. Guys can be combative and hurtful when they're attempting to be humorous. It's hard to fit in. It can feel like nobody wants you in their little friend group. It can be lonely when you're excluded from the cool kids' table.

The message of the Savior is for all people – the rich and powerful, the lowly and poor, the cool kids and jocks, the nerds and geeks, the extroverts, introverts, and outcasts.

The angel gives directions to the shepherds on how to find this newborn Christ and Lord. This baby will be found in Bethlehem, the town of David. He'll be lying in a manger, because there was no room for the holy family in the Bethlehem inn. He'll be wrapped in swaddling cloths, kept warm and snuggly.

"Suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude from the heavenly army, praising God" (Luke 2:13). After thousands of years of waiting, "suddenly" the wait for the Messiah is over. After the angel Gabriel announced to Mary and then to Joseph about the birth of the Christ, suddenly he's here. After announcing that the shepherds didn't need to be afraid of this lone angel, suddenly the sky above the Bethlehem pastures explodes with glory from a multitude of God's heavenly army. God had chosen his best angelic messenger to appear to the shepherds. Then he chose his best singers to be in the angelic choir. They belted out, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward mankind" (Luke 2:14).

This song in Latin is Gloria in Excelsis, meaning "Glory in the highest." We sing this song on Sunday mornings after the confession and absolution. We confess our sins to God, then we hear the pastor announce that our sins have been forgiven by the atoning sacrifice of Jesus the Christ. This announcement of Jesus' forgiveness establishes peace in our hearts, that then produces praise on our lips.

We join with those in the worship service, as well as the heavenly choir of saints and angels, to praise our Triune God. Just as the angels praised Jesus at his birth, so we praise Jesus as the Son of God, the Good Shepherd who laid down his life for his sheep, and the Lamb of God who shed his blood on the altar of the cross. Martin Luther said of the Gloria in Excelsis that we sing in worship, "It did not grow, nor was it made, but it came from heaven."

Gloria in Excelsis. Glory to God in the highest. Glory to the God who is on high, exalted above the world, the ruler over all that exists. Glory to the God who gives his greatest gift of his Son to an undeserving world. Glory to the God who places himself under his own law to save his lawless children. Glory to the God who will one day endure his own wrath to rescue his rebellious children from God's righteous wrath. Glory to the God whom the universe cannot contain, yet he had contained himself within the womb of Mary for nine months. Glory to the God who left his eternal seat on his golden throne, surrounded by saints and angels to born in time and laid in a manger surrounded by Saint Mary and Saint Joseph.

"On earth peace, good will toward mankind." This is a world in desperate need of peace. The past few days are evidence of this. Islamic terrorists killed 15 people at a Hanukkah Festival in Australia. Two people were murdered and nine more injured at a mass shooting at Brown University. Princess Bride director, Rob Reiner and his wife were stabbed to death in their home, apparently by their son.

Jesus comes to bring peace. It is a peace that the world cannot bring. His peace stops this kind of violence when hearts are converted by the Holy Spirit. This is a peace of sins forgiven, heaven won, and reconciliation with the glorious Triune God. Peace enjoyed in this world wherever the Spirit teaches hearts to trust the Father's goodwill revealed in the person of Mary's Son.

Is it any wonder such a large delegation of heaven's army would join this Christmas choir? Is it any wonder as Christmas 2025 dawns – with all this year's perplexing problems – that this message of glory to God and peace on earth still needs to be sounded to comfort our own hearts? It is any wonder that the rest of this weary world needs to hear and sing the Gloria in Excelsis? God's goodwill through this infant is an invitation that was first given to shepherds. That means this announcement is meant for everyone.

Remember, this was a one-time performance by the angelic choir. The angel army has no second concert planned.

Instead, God has called his baptized saints to be his new heralds. We Lutherans are especially called to sing. We'll be singing nine hymns on Christmas Eve and five more hymns on Christmas Day. We sing the Gloria in Excelsis in our Sunday morning liturgies. We saintly singers are privileged to repeat the refrain again and again, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward mankind." Amen.

Be exalted above the heavens, O God. Let your glory be over all the earth (Psalm 57:11)

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/gloria-in-excelsis-the-song-of-the-angels/

Praise the Lord, O my soul. I will praise the Lord as long as I live (Psalm 146:1-2). Amen.

Racine – in southeastern Wisconsin, where we recently moved from – has already received 13 inches of snow, causing travel issues, school closures, and buried cars. Then Racine warmed up and had rain. Now they're experiencing single digit, and even negative, temperatures to freeze all that rain and melted snow to create even more dangerous conditions.

That's way east of us. How about north and south of us? Up to 2 feet of snow is expected in Yellowstone National Park this week. The Snowy Range has already received 75 inches of snow in 40 hours!

Yet here we are in Casper, enjoying 50-degree weather for several days in a row. We've also had several days of 50 plus mph winds. Because everything is a contest, I may have rubbed it in to my friends back in Racine about our wonderful weather. I did admit that it was a tad breezy, though.

Wyoming meteorologist, Don Day commented on this week's wind, "If it's windy, it's not going to be terribly cold. It's rare to have 50-degree days and no wind in winter. When it gets really cold, it doesn't get really windy. It's when we're in between cold snaps and warmups, that we have the worst winds." Day calls these "50-50 days." "When it's 50 degrees, you'll have 50 mph winds," he said. "If you don't like the wind, you better like the cold. That's just what it is to live in Wyoming." I don't know if you agree with him or not. He's the Wyoming meteorologist. You're the ones who've been living in Wyoming.

Either way, you must admit this is pretty great weather for winter in the desert.

The Sahara Desert is an "absolute desert" where almost no rain falls. Isaiah's original audience lived in a "tame desert" like here in Casper. In Israel, the rain is confined to the spring – March, April, and May. It's similar here, plus the snow in the winter. The Israelites lived in a physical desert.

The Israelites also lived in a spiritual desert. The ten northern tribes of Israel were on the brink of destruction. The Assyrian army was about to overrun them. The people in the northern tribes would be carried into captivity to disappear from history.

The two remaining southern tribes in Judah would be spared … but not for long. In a few generations, the Babylonians would move south to carry them into captivity in Babylon.

Things looked bleak for Isaiah's audience. Things looked hopeless. Things looked desperate in the desert. The cities would be ghost towns. Their fields would be wastelands. Their people would be gone.

God sent Isaiah as Israel's prophet because he wanted his people to understand why this was happening. It wasn't because God didn't love them. He did. He refused to watch them wallow in the filth of their sin any longer. He needed to show them how much they needed him. They needed a taste of his earthly discipline to repent and return. If they continued down their own way, they would experience God's eternal wrath.

Do you feel like you're living in the desert? Not the physical desert of Casper or Wyoming. But the spiritual desert where your life appears bleak, dry, and dreary? Where it feels like God doesn't love you? If that's how you feel, I ask you, are you living in unrepentant sin? Are you confessing some sins while holding onto other sins? Are you going through the motions of Christianity while being passionate about other pursuits? Are you confessing one thing on Sunday morning but living out other things the rest of the week?

Could your bleak, dry, and dreary life be brought on by yourself? God does not bless sin. He doesn't bless anything that pulls you away from his presence. Or could your spiritual desert be a result of God disciplining you like he did with Isaiah's audience?

Like a good father, the Lord disciplines his children for their good. Jesus said, "I rebuke and discipline those whom I love. So take this seriously and repent" (Revelation 3:19). God uses discipline to lead us back to him. He lets us feel the pain of past mistakes. He permits us to stand in place surrounded by our shattered dreams and broken relationships. He lets us feel the misery of our own making. God does this to gain our attention. When we're lost in the desert, there's only one road that leads us to safety.

Isaiah speaks of this road. "A highway will be there, a road that will be called the holy way. The impure will not walk there. It will be reserved for those who walk in that holy way. Wicked fools will not wander onto it. No lion will be there, nor will any ferocious animal go up on it. They will not be found there, but only the redeemed will walk there. Then those ransomed by the Lord will return. They will enter Zion with a joyful shout, and everlasting joy will crown their heads. Happiness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away" (Isaiah 35:8-10).

Earlier this week, Austin Dirks was out hiking by himself in Arches National Park when he broke through what appeared to be solid ground. He got stuck at a 45-degree angle in quicksand. Thankfully, because Dirk is an experienced desert hiker, he had his satellite phone handy. He was rescued in the desert after 2 hours.

Those in Isaiah's audience – and we in this audience – are stuck in something far worse than quicksand in the desert. We are stuck in a spiritual wasteland. Jesus our coming Messiah arrives to rescue us. He comes on the holy way that leads to Zion – the New Jerusalem – of the Christian Church. Our Messiah comes to us in Word and Sacraments to rescue, redeem, and lead us out of trouble into the safety of his Christian Church.

Christ's way is a safe highway in the desert. There aren't any ferocious beasts on his highway. No lions in Israel. No coyotes, bears or mountain lions here. There won't be any wicked people or foolish people on this road. Unlike the semi drivers blown over on I-80 in 105 mph winds, clogging up traffic and putting everyone in danger. Everyone on Christ's highway knows where they're going. This road is reserved only for those who "walk in that holy way."

This highway is only for the redeemed and ransomed. Those who were stuck and have been rescued. Those who were lost and have been found. Those who were trapped by the Devil and have been redeemed. Our Messiah traveled from the paradise of heaven into the desert of this world to rescue us. He brings us back on his highway.

Brings us back to where? Christ rescues us from a bleak, dry, dreary desert to bring us into another desert. This is a very different desert. This is a desert that will be glad.

"The wilderness and the desert will be glad. The wasteland of the Arabah will rejoice and blossom like a crocus. It will bloom lavishly, and there will be great joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon will be given to it. It will be excellent like Carmel and Sharon. They will see the glory of the Lord, the majesty of our God. … Then the eyes of the blind will be opened, and the ears of the deaf will be unplugged. The crippled will leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute will sing for joy. Waters will flow in the wilderness, and streams in the wasteland. The burning sand will become a pool, and in the thirsty ground there will be springs of water. There will be grass, reeds, and rushes where the haunts of jackals once lay" (Isaiah 35:1-2, 5-7).

Christ's ministry as the Messiah is prophesied in these verses. What a dramatic reversal this will be! The wilderness will be watered. The wasteland will blossom. The desert will be a lush green place. The blind, deaf, lame, and mute within the desert will also be changed. The blind will see. The deaf will hear. The mute will speak. The lame will leap. I believe even the color blind will see colors. Like Jesus told John's disciples, these are the signs that point to him as the Messiah (Matthew 11:2-6).

But this isn't just a physical transformation that will take place. Jesus doesn't promise your surgically repaired knees, old bones, sore muscles, hearing-aided ears, and glasses-improved eyes will be returned to new right now. Isaiah is prophesying an even more miraculous transformation that will take place within the heart of every traveler on his holy desert highway.

With your eyes, you look upon your Savior on the altar. With your ears you hear the voice of Jesus calling you in Scripture, sermons, and Bible studies. With your tongue you pray, praise, and give thanks. With your arms and legs, you fulfill your vocations as Christian parents and children, citizens and students.

Isaiah encourages, "Strengthen the weak hands, and make the shaky knees steady. Tell those who have a fearful heart: Be strong. Do not be afraid. Look! Your God will come with vengeance. With God's own retribution, he will come and save you" (Isaiah 35:3-4).

The author of Hebrews quotes these verses, "Therefore strengthen your weak hands and feeble knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated but rather healed" (Heb 12:12-13). The author's readers were being tempted to give up their faith because of persecution. He quotes Isaiah because there's an important message for those who are afraid of the Church's enemies.

That important message is that our Messiah has come to rescue us. Jesus is no weak God or soft Man. He is the divine God-Man who flipped over tables and created enemies wherever he went. This is the Christ who comes with vengeance and divine retribution. Because we are followers of Christ, his enemies are our enemies. God wants us to stand strong in front of these enemies because these enemies won't be able to stand in front of him. God may use us as the arm of his vengeance. Get lean and in shape to be God's retribution. Strengthen your hands and knees so you are prepared to be God's vengeance when he calls you into battle. When we are strong in our hands and knees, we say with our Messiah, "They surrounded me, yes they surrounded me, but in the name of the Lord I cut them off" (Psalm 118:11).

God's vengeance is the just punishment for sin. When God brings his judgment upon his enemies, that will also mean salvation for God's people. St. Paul writes, "Certainly, it is right for God to repay trouble to those who trouble you, and to give relief to you, who are troubled along with us. When the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his powerful angels, he will exercise vengeance in flaming fire on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. Such people will receive a just penalty: eternal destruction away from the presence of the Lord and from his glorious strength, on that day when he comes to be glorified among his saints, and to be marveled at among all those who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed" (2 Thessalonians 1:6-10).

All this will happen in the desert. The landscape parched with idolatry and paganism will become well-watered and green with the worldwide preaching of Christ's gospel. All this happens with the imminent arrival of the Messiah.

Fellow desert inhabitants, our situation in life may not change. After all, we are still living in the desert. Thank God that – at least for now – our desert weather is better than everyone else's weather. Our physical desert of Casper and Wyoming is beautiful. By the grace of God, with the arrival of Christ our Messiah, he makes our spiritual desert beautiful, too. It's a desert that will be glad. Amen.

The Lord reigns forever. Your God, O Zion, rules for all generations. Praise the Lord (Psalm 146:10). Amen.

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/the-desert-will-be-glad/

Lord, your mercy reaches to the heavens. Your faithfulness to the skies. Your righteousness is as high as the mountains of God. Your justice is as deep as the ocean. You save both man and animal, O Lord (Psalm 36:5-6). Amen.

Zechariah is a priest burning incense in the temple of the Lord in Jerusalem. Suddenly, the angel Gabriel appears to him. "Whoa! This is different!" Zechariah thinks. People in the Bible are usually terrified when a holy angels appears to a sinful mortal. Gabriel says, "Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear a son for you, and you are to name him John. … He will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb. He will turn many of the sons of Israel back to the Lord their God" (Luke 1:13, 15-16).

That's a special assignment for a baby! Zechariah and his wife are old and Elizabeth is barren. Zechariah doubts the angel's words. He replies, "How can I be sure of this, because I am an old man, and my wife is well along in years" (Luke 1:18)? Gabriel doesn't like God's promise being doubted, so he answers, "I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God and was sent to speak to you to tell you this good news. Now listen, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day when these things happen, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled at the proper time" (Luke 1:19-20).

Zechariah is made mute during the entirety of Elizabeth's pregnancy.

Fast forward nine months. The baby is born. The neighbors and relatives in the hill country of their small Judean town fill their humble home for the baby's circumcision. It's also been eight days. It's time this baby boy is given a proper name. The neighbors want to call him "Zach Jr." Elizabeth tells the crowd, "No. He will be called John" (Luke 1:60). The friends don't believe her because no one else in the family has that name. So, they appeal to Zechariah. He does what he's had to do to communicate for the past nine months. He pulls out his trusty writing tablet. He writes in his old man handwriting, "His name is John" (John 1:63).

Immediately Zechariah's mouth is opened, his tongue is loosed, and he begins to speak, praising God (Luke 1:64).

Now that he has his voice back, Zechariah immediately breaks into song. He praises God with the canticle we call, "The Benedictus Dominus" which is Latin for "Blessed Lord." Zechariah has been silent for nine months, but now he's got a mouthful to say. He's filled with the Holy Spirit, so he starts praising God.

"Blessed is the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has visited us and prepared redemption for his people" (Luke 1:68). Perhaps you feel lonely – especially this time of the year. You don't have family nearby to celebrate the holidays with. Or there are strained relationships within your family, so even if they were nearby, you wouldn't enjoy getting together. Or you do get along with your loved ones, but death has removed them from you.

Zechariah sings that Christ has visited us. The Son of God doesn't leave us alone and floundering. He has entered our lives as Immanuel – God with us.

Christ has visited to redeem us. Some of you know what it's like to struggle. You've needed help with groceries and bills. Some of you know what it's like to be in a financial position to help others with a few dollars or some canned goods. Jesus visited us, not to drop a dollar or two or a few cans of creamed corn to help the needy. Jesus dropped his precious blood from the cross to redeem us. He paid the price to purchase us back from the Devil. He sets us free from sin.

Notice, Zechariah uses the past tense with both of these verbs – "visited" and "redeemed." Even though the infant Jesus won't be born for a few months, and he won't be on the cross for thirty-three years, it's as good as accomplished. Though it will happen in the future – to God's people – it's already a done deal.

"He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David, just as he said long ago through the mouth of his holy prophets" (Luke 1:69-70). A horn is a scriptural symbol of strength, like a ram's horn. Zechariah says that the Lord has raised up such a horn now "in the house of his servant David." The house of David was the royal line of that old king, the line from which Israel's kings were to come, as prophesied so long ago. That royal line had been dormant for centuries now. It was like a stump (Isaiah 11:1). No Davidic king had actively reigned in Israel for hundreds of years. But the genealogical line was still producing descendants from the house of David – plenty of descendants, just no kings coming up. Zechariah, inspired by the Holy Spirit, says that has now changed.

"He raised up salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us" (Luke 1:71). Zechariah and the Jews were surrounded by enemies who hated them. In Old Testament times, they were surrounded and attacked by Ammonites, Amalekites, and Philistines. Later they were surrounded and taken captive by Assyrians, Babylonians, and Persians. Currently, they were surrounded and ruled over by the Roman Empire. We Christians are surrounded by enemies who continually attack us and may seem to rule over us. Enemies like atheists and agnostics, doubters and deniers, the Devil and his demons, militant pagans and antagonistic opponents of the cross. They surround you attempting to get you to question and doubt. They cancel you, shout at you, belittle you, and persecute you. They can do their worst. Jesus Christ has done his best. He has rescued you from your enemies. He saves you from your opponents. He has turned them into nothing more than a minor irritation.

"In order to show mercy to our fathers by remembering his holy covenant, the oath which he swore to Abraham our father" (Luke 1:72-73). It's hard to trust people. They have their own agendas. They get busy. They forget. They fail. They break their promises to you. Not so with our Lord. He made a promise to Abraham that he would have a Son that would be a blessing to all people. That Son who would bless all nations was presently residing within the womb of Mary. God is always faithful to his promises. What he says he'll do, he does.

Mercy is not getting the judgment we deserve. God promises you mercy through his Son. He is faithful to his promises. You receive that mercy now. You'll receive that mercy through eternity.

"To grant deliverance to us from the hand of our enemies, so that we are able to serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him all our days" (Luke 1:74-75). If God promises you deliverance from our enemies, you'll receive that deliverance. When your enemies are removed – or at least quieted – then you can serve God in freedom without fear. You can fulfill your vocations as Christian parents and children, citizens and students. You serve the Lord faithfully and everyone notices – especially God.

You can serve in holiness and righteousness. Your past bothers you. Your guilt burdens you. Your sin weighs you down. But Jesus has already declared you holy, righteous, and without sin. He made this declaration in the manger, on the cross, and out of the tomb. Since you are released from your sins, you are free to serve God all your days.

In the first half of the Benedictus, Zecheriah sings about the big picture of what God is doing – starting with the birth of John but going on to bigger things. Now in the second half of the Benedictus, father Zechariah turns to his infant son and has some words specifically directed to him. He says, "And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High, because you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to give his people the knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of their sins, because of God's tender mercies, by which the Rising Sun from on high will visit us, to shine on those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace" (Luke 1:76-79).

Though John is in the New Testament, he is the last of the Old Testament prophets. John would be God's mouthpiece to usher in the kingdom of God, to give the knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of sins. We learn more about John's ministry during the second and third Sundays in Advent.

By inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Zechariah saw the big picture of God's activity in human history, culminating in what God was about to do for his people in Christ. As he sings, Zechariah ties the old covenant together with the new covenant fulfilled in the Christ Child. He recognizes God's deliverance in the past and rejoices in his work of redemption for all eternity. Through Christ's visitation and redemption, we can serve the Lord forever in holiness and righteousness.

Last week we studied and sang The Magnificat – the Song of Mary. Tonight, we study and sing The Benedictus – the Song of Zachariah. Next week we study and sing The Gloria in Excelsis – the Song of the Christmas angels. These are the songs of the Christian Church. In these songs, we sing about promises made and promises kept; God's wrath on his enemies and God's mercy to his people; the past, the present, and the future.

Listen to Zechariah's song. Stop doubting and believe. Be filled with the Holy Spirit. Loosen your tongue. Deepen your faith. Praise God for sending his Son to visit us in the manger and redeem us on the cross. Join your voice with the saints sitting around you, the saints gathered around Christ's throne, and the voices of those who first sang these ancient canticles – the virgin Mary, the muted Zechariah, and the heavenly host. Amen.

How precious is your mercy, O God! So all people find refuge in the shadow of your wings (Psalm 36:7). Amen.

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/the-benedictus-the-song-of-zechariah/

Kevin and Sarah Root were awakened when they heard an intruder break into their southwest Denver home. It was 3:30 am on Friday, November 7. Sarah immediately called 911. Kevin went to quickly check the hallway. Their four children were asleep in their rooms further down the hall. Kevin shouted several times for the man to leave, but the intruder kept walking up the stairs toward the rooms where their boys were sleeping.

When the intruder stopped at the top of the stairs, Keven threw open their bedroom door, jumped out, and pushed the man hard down the stairs. Police arrived minutes later to take the suspect into custody.

A few days later, a judge set the bond at $5000. The suspect paid $500 cash bond and was released. He is now free to terrorize more Denver families.

This madness happens all too often! New York University student Amelia Lewis was randomly attacked on the streets of Lower Manhattan. The thug who attacked her has 16 prior arrests.

A Chicago serial "woman puncher" was arrested again after years of terrorizing women. This thug has a long rap sheet of punching women in random attacks on Chicago sidewalks. After he attacked a woman in June, he was released. Then he attacked Kathleen Miles in August.

These stories are sadly and maddeningly common within our American judicial system. Police arrest the bad guys. Judges become plagued with empathy, social justice, and racial equity. They release the bad guys to terrorize more victims. The judges have empathy for the criminals. They do not have empathy for the victims … or future victims.

That's not the way it will work with the Judge Isaiah prophecies is coming. "The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him: the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. He will be delighted with the fear of the Lord. He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, nor will he render decisions based on what he hears with his ears, but with righteousness he will judge the poor, and he will render fair decisions in favor of the oppressed on the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath from his lips he will put the wicked to death. Righteousness will be the belt around his waist, and faithfulness the belt around his hips" (Isaiah 11:2-5).

Isaiah gives the credentials of Judge Jesus. The Spirit of the Lord is on him. We want our local, federal, and Supreme Court judges to be impartial, knowledgeable, and wise. You can decide if that's true of our current crop of judges. The Holy Spirit rested on Jesus at his Baptism. Judge Jesus has wisdom and understanding to know what decisions are correct. He has the Spirit's counsel and might to be able to carry out his decisions. He has the Spirit's eternal knowledge. He has the fear and respect of his heavenly Father.

Judge Jesus is a great contrast from the ancient kings of Israel and Judah. These kings had become a stump (Isaiah 11:1). Isaiah had written in the previous chapter how the Jewish kings made widows and orphans their prey. "Woe to those who prescribe unjust decrees, and to those who issue oppressive rulings, to deprive the needy of justice, and to rob the poor among my people of their rights, to plunder widows, and to make the fatherless their prey" (Isaiah 10:1-2)! Isaiah prophecies a future King and Judge who will come to the aid of the needy and poor. The coming Judge will be impartial.

Impartiality is essential for a judge to carry out his work properly. When deciding a case, a judge cannot allow himself to be swayed by the wealth, power, or status that he sees in one party. A judge cannot allow herself to be swayed by empathy, equity, or social justice. Judges must base their decisions solely on an honest weighing of the evidence. This is why justice often is portrayed as a blindfolded woman holding scales and a sword.

It's tragic when an innocent person is convicted, or a guilty person is acquitted in a courtroom. Or when a violent criminal is released back into society. Thankfully, injustice is impossible in God's courtroom. Judge Jesus judges all things with righteousness. Like Lady Justice, Jesus is portrayed as not being swayed by appearances. "He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes." Nor will he be swayed by people's subjective testimony, which may or may not be true. He will not "decide by what he hears with his ears." Instead, he will render his judgments based solely on what is true and just. "With righteousness he will judge the poor, and he will render fair decisions in favor of the oppressed on the earth."

Isaiah describes Judge Jesus wearing righteousness and faithfulness like a belt. He is right in his rulings. He is reliable in his decisions. He doesn't change his mind. The Judge consistently pursues the policy he has determined. He is faithful to all he says.

Jesus is a terrifying Judge for those who are guilty! All those who spout violence from their mouths with gossip, venom, and lies are guilty! All those who remain silent and cowering while others are verbally attacked are guilty! All those who take the life of the unborn, infirm, and elderly are guilty! All those who are apathetic to the plight of the unborn, infirm, and elderly are guilty! All those who are corrupt and steal from hardworking American citizens are guilty! All those who permit this poor stewardship of our tax dollars are guilty! All those who worship pagan gods are guilty! All those who refuse or refrain from worshiping the true God are guilty!

Wow! That's a lot of guilty people! Those guilty people include us!

What will Judge Jesus do with the guilty? "He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath from his lips he will put the wicked to death" (Isaiah 11:4). Jesus is fulfilling the prophecy of Psalm 2. "You will smash them with an iron rod. You will break them to pieces like pottery" (Psalm 2:9). He is implementing St. John's vision of Judgment Day. "Look, he is coming with clouds, and every eye will see him, including those who pierced him. And all the nations of the earth will mourn because of him" (Revelation 1:7). St. John describes the way the guilty will react when Judge Jesus arrives with his divine judgment. "The kings of the earth, the nobles, the military leaders, the rich, the powerful, and everyone―slave or free―hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains. And they kept saying to the mountains and the rocks, 'Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb, for the great day of their wrath has come. Who is able to stand'" (Revelation 6:15-17)?

Jesus will come in the future and does come in the present with wrath. This appears to conflict with the meaning of Jesus' name – "He saves." Jesus judges righteously and perfectly. He will bring God's wrath upon those who oppose him. He will strike down his enemies. He will put the wicked to death. That's terrifying if we're among the wicked!

Listen to John the Baptist's message, "Repent for the kingdom of heaven is near" (Matthew 3:2)! Repent means to turn around. Confess your wickedness. Turn away from your evil. Replace your apathy with the fire of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 3:11). Turn toward God whose arms are open wide to receive you. Accept Judge Jesus' verdict of "not guilty." Jesus has removed your guilty verdict and placed it on himself. Now through faith in Jesus as your Savior, Judge Jesus gives you the verdict of innocence.

For those who remain Christ's enemies, Jesus will bring his righteous wrath upon them – either temporally now or eternally in hell – or both. God's verdict of wrath on our enemies protects the innocent.

John the Baptist preached that the kingdom of heaven is near (Matthew 3:2). We pray in the second petition of the Lord's Prayer, "your kingdom come." Martin Luther wrote in his Large Catechism that we are praying two things in this petition. "We pray that his name may be praised through God's holy Word and a Christian life that we who have accepted it may abide and daily grow in it, and that it may gain approval and acceptance among other people. … And we pray that the devil's kingdom be put down, so that he have no right or power over us until at last his power may be utterly destroyed."

All who trust in Jesus for forgiveness have nothing to fear from Jesus' judgment. All those who are members of Christ's kingdom are safe. Jesus is a Judge who judges righteously. Nothing will sway him from rendering the verdict that he knows is right. For all those who trust in him, there will be only one verdict – you are not guilty. You are acquitted.

Jesus is far more than a justice of the peace. He is the Judge who establishes peace. "The wolf will dwell with the lamb, and the leopard will lie down with the young goat, the calf, the young lion, and the fattened calf together, and a little child will lead them. The cow and the bear will graze together, and their young ones will lie down together. The lion will eat straw like the cattle. The nursing child will play near a cobra's hole, and the weaned child will put his hand into a viper's den. They will not hurt or destroy anywhere on my holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea" (Isaiah 11:6-9).

Earlier this week, a troubled 19-year-old young man who desired to work with animals crawled over the 20-foot fence into a lioness habitat in a Brazilian zoo. He found out the hard way that you shouldn't base your knowledge of animals on Disney movies. He did not survive the encounter. Humans and lions are not meant to live together. Isaiah says that the same goes for wolves and lambs. Wolves eat lambs. A child playing near venomous snakes is a parent's nightmare. Yet, under the rule of Jesus our Judge, these things occur naturally. Jesus brings peace to natural enemies. David's greater Son, the Branch from the stump of Jesse, will rule over a renewed earth and heaven. Jesus says of himself, "I am making everything new" (Revelation 21:5)!

This is a picture of the greatest peace that Jesus brings – peace between God and sinners. Apart from Jesus, there is no peace between God and us. There is only rebellion. Enemies from birth. Wickedness from humanity. Wrath from God. Sinful humans don't want peace with God. But God wants peace with us. That's why he sent his Son Jesus to establish peace with between a holy God and rebellious humanity. Jesus, by his perfect life, innocent death, and glorious resurrection removed the cause of hostility between God and us. He removed our sin. He endured God's wrath. He received the guilty verdict so we might be set free with an acquittal. Jesus established peace – not just between animals, but between God and humanity.

Now we, who once were at war with God, are at peace with him through Judge Jesus who brings peace. Continue trusting in Jesus, and you will enjoy his peace forever.

All too often it seems like there are stories about violence in our nation. That violence is perpetrated by a small percentage of repeat offenders. Permissive judges are allowing this violence upon the innocent. We should all be prepared to protect ourselves in our nation, on our streets, and within our own homes.

If our elected and appointed judges won't keep us safe, as parents, and especially as men, we are called to protect those God has placed within our care. Also know that Judge Jesus has been appointed by God to Father to keep us safe. He doesn't judge with his eyes or ears, with empathy or revenge. He judges with wrath for the wicked. He judges with a verdict of innocence for those who repent and receive his forgiveness. Jesus judges with righteousness and faithfulness.

No wonder Isaiah says that all people will rally to Jesus! "This is what will take place on that day. The peoples will seek the Root of Jesse, who will be standing like a banner for the peoples, and his resting place will be glorious" (Isaiah 11:10). How can we not rally around such a righteous Judge?! Amen.

Now may the God of hope fill you with complete joy and peace as you continue to believe, so that you overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit (Romans 15:13). Amen.

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/he-will-judge-with-righteousness/

It is a meeting of the moms. Two expectant mothers – one old, one young. One is six months along; the other, newly pregnant. The fact that either of them is expecting is totally unexpected! Both are pregnant when neither one of them should be under normal circumstances. But these circumstances are anything but normal. Zechariah and Elizabeth are expecting a miracle child in their old age. Joseph and Mary are expecting a miracle child while Mary is a virgin.

This is also the first meeting of the two baby boys the moms are carrying inside them. The great Son of David – from Joseph and Mary - is in the house of Aaron's son – from Zechariah. Hidden within the wombs of the two women are the Christ and the forerunner of the Christ. These are two miraculous babies. John born to a woman well beyond childbearing. Jesus born to a virgin. Elizabeth is bearing the prophet to prepare the way for the Most High God. Mary is bearing the Most High God sent to redeem the world.

While she is there visiting her older cousin, Elizabeth, Mary breaks into song. It is a joyful canticle we call the "The Magnificat." This Advent, we'll be looking at three Bible songs of Christmas – The Magnificat, The Benedictus, and The Gloria in Excelsis. Their Latin titles show their long history of usage within the Christian Church.

Mary begins, "My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord" (Luke 1:46). In Latin its, "Magnificat anima mea Dominum." The first word – "Magnificat" – is where we get the title for this canticle. Canticles are sacred songs drawn from biblical texts. To "magnify" is to "make great." Think of a magnifying lens. It's not that a magnifying lens makes the thing you're looking at any larger than it actually is. When you magnify something, it occupies more of your vision. It's all you can see.

Mary sings that her soul magnifies the Lord. She couldn't make the Lord any greater than he already is. God's greatness occupies her vision. Mary serves as a good example for us. God's greatness should occupy our vision, not just during these winter holidays, but all the time. But we do have special Advent and Christmas services specifically so we can pause, meditate, and magnify what God has done for us in sending his Son in the flesh as the Son of Mary. Then we join with Mary in singing her song of praise.

"And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior, because he has looked with favor on the humble state of his servant" (Luke 1:47-48). Mary is not without sin, like the Roman Catholic Church teaches. She's a sinner who calls her Son her "Savior." We also are not without sin. We rejoice that God our Savior came as the Seed of Eve and the Son of Mary.

"Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed, because the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name" (Luke 1:48-49). Mary is newly pregnant, yet she realized that God had already done great things for her … and in her. Elizabeth had just said of her much younger cousin, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb" (Luke 1:42). All generations would call Mary blessed for she was granted the great privilege and the awesome honor of being the mother to the Son of God. Mary has rightly been called "Theotokos" – "Mother of God." At the same time, God was doing great things for everybody else who would benefit from the birth of this Child. That's us!

"His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation" (Luke 1:50). Mercy is God not giving us what we deserve. From generation to generation, sinful people deserve destruction, death, and damnation. Instead, God's mercies are new every morning from generation to generation, century after century (Lamentations 3:23). Even though we deserve hurt and harm, God instead helps us in our distress. Though we should be punished for our misdeeds, God grants us forgiveness. Though we should have God's eternal wrath poured out on us, we are daily bathed in the mercy of God. God provided the ultimate answer to all our woes in this little Child in Mary's womb. That's why Mary is singing. She sees this Child as the great fulfillment of God's mercy toward humanity.

"He has shown strength with his arm. He has scattered those who were proud in the thoughts of their hearts. He has brought down rulers from their thrones. He has lifted up the lowly." (Luke 1:51-52). Mary is singing how God acts toward humanity with a twofold action. God brings down the proud and he lifts up the humble. God works through his Law and Gospel. To those who are proud in themselves – like the Pharisee boasting in the temple – God will scatter them to the winds. To those who feel like they are in control – rulers of their own destiny – God will cast them down from their thrones. To those who are rich in the pleasures of this life – like the rich man who ignored poor Lazarus – God will send them away empty. This is how God deals with all those who are secure in themselves, who feel they are good enough people, so they have no use for a Savior. God preaches the Law to them. They refuse to listen. So, he will bring those arrogant souls down.

The proud and the rich – these are the enemies of God. He will bring them low. The proud and rich – I hope that's not us. But at times, it certainly is.

"He has filled the hungry with good things, but the rich he has sent away empty" (Luke 1:53). The humble and hungry – these are the friends of God. I pray that this is us all the time. We have a lot to be humble about. The knowledge of our sinfulness should humble us. We have nothing to brag about before God. We know how full of sin we are. We know how often we accidentally stumble into sin. We also know how often we purposefully run headlong into sin.

But when we humble ourselves with God's Law, then God lifts us up as the lowly. God's mighty arm lifts up those who are too weak to save themselves – that's us.

We are also the hungry. We hunger for God's righteousness served on a platter. We can't make this meal on our own. God must prepare it for us. That's what Christmas is all about. God fills the hungry with good things. Those good things come in the form of this baby, God incarnate, the Lord in the flesh. He is God's gift of righteousness. Christ's righteousness covers over our sinfulness. His perfection replaces our imperfection. His holiness envelops our unholiness. We are filled up and satisfied with God's great Christmas present – the Lord almighty wrapped in cute little baby skin.

What Mary is singing about here is what is sometimes called the "Great Reversal." It is the great change in position that God will accomplish in the sending of his Son. The high and mighty will be brought low. The poor and lowly will be lifted up. Just the opposite of the way the world sees things. God brings this reversal in Mary's Son – the Christ Child.

Jesus Christ came in his own Great Reversal. God's Son came from the heights of heaven to be born the lowly child of Mary. He laid aside his glory. He humbled himself and became obedient to death, even death on a cross. God's Son came in the flesh so he could be brought low and then be lifted up on the cross. Forty days after his glorious resurrection, God's Son was lifted up to his rightful place at God the Father's right hand upon his heavenly throne.

This is how Jesus Christ strikes down our high and mighty enemies – sin, death, and the devil. These proud rulers are brought low, scattered, and sent away empty – as empty as the tomb from which Christ arose. Now Christ reigns from his glorious throne with all his enemies under his feet. This is a promise of the Great Reversal for all of us who suffer from this unholy trinity of our enemies. Mary sings that this has already been accomplished by the Savior residing within her womb.

Mary concludes her Magnificat, "He has come to the aid of his servant Israel, remembering his mercy, as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and his offspring forever" (Luke 1:54-55). Mary praises the Lord for being faithful to his promises, faithful to his covenant, faithful to his Word. God had promised Abraham, "In your seed all the nations of the earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice" (Genesis 22:18). God continued his promise of the Seed from Eve, through Abraham, through and David, and now within Mary. Jesus Christ is the fulfilment of the promised Seed of the Woman.

By faith in the Word made flesh in her womb, Mary was able to grasp the inconceivable, the invisible, and the eternal things of the Lord. As we join with Mary in singing her Magnificat, may we also grasp the inconceivable, the invisible, and the eternal things of the Lord. In this Christ Child, the lowly are lifted up. In this Christ Child, God's mercy extends from generation to generation. In this Christ Child, God has come to the aid of his people. So let us sing, "My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior." Amen.

Let the name of the Lord be blessed, from now to eternity. From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the Lord is to be praised (Psalm 103:2-3). Amen.

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/the-magnificat-the-song-of-mary/

As we were driving home the other day with Casper Mountain on our left, Shelley commented, "I hope I never get tired of that view." I've been on Casper Mountain numerous times for mountain biking, hiking, and trail running. I've taken my side-by-side up on Casper and Muddy Mountains. People keep telling me how bad the winters are here … so, if winter ever arrives and we get snow, I plan to learn how to cross country ski. I'll also be taking out my fat tire bike on Casper Mountain.

All of you are invited to hike, bike, run, or ski Casper Mountain with me at any time. Let's go up to the mountain.

Isaiah writes, "This is the message that Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. This will take place in the latter days: The mountain of the Lord's house will be established as the chief of the mountains. It will be raised above the hills, and all nations will stream to it like a river. Many peoples will come and say, 'Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob'" (Isaiah 2:1-3).

The city of Jerusalem is located in the middle of several mountains. We would call them hills compared to the Smokies or Rockies. They're not particularly tall. Especially when I've seen signs about Wyoming being proud of its lack of population and height of its mountains. The signs read, "You know you're living in the right place when the elevation of your city is greater than its population."

Casper Mountain is around 8130 feet above sea level. The Mount of Olives is 2710 feet. Mount Moriah is 2428 feet. Israel is clearly not flat land, but it seems like a stretch to say, "The mountain of the Lord's house will be established as the chief of the mountains" (Isaiah 2:2). It seems even odder to say people of the world will stream up to that mountain, since we know that streams flow downhill.

Mount Moriah was the site where Abraham attempted to sacrifice his son, Isaac. Mount Moriah is also the place where King Solomon had built the Lord's temple. It stood for four centuries as the gleaming gathering place for God's people. It was where the Israelites went to hear God's Word, sing God's praises, and bring God sacrifices. God was mysteriously and majestically present in the Most Holy Place in the temple on the Lord's mountain.

Isaiah is speaking symbolically. This mountain will be established as God's chief mountain and people from every nation will stream to this mountain for the same reason – Jesus! Jesus was crucified near Mount Moriah. This is where the Father did sacrifice his Son. Now Jerusalem is honored above all cities because this is where Jesus taught, suffered, died, was buried, and rose from the dead. I'm reading books on the Crusades. Because all these events happened in Jerusalem, Christian Crusaders traveled long distances to fight and free God's holy city from Muslim rule. Then Christian pilgrims could travel safely to worship on God's holy mountain.

Jesus prophesied that people would stream to him. "Now is the judgment of this world. Now the ruler of this world will be thrown out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself" (John 12:31-32). St. John explains that Jesus said this "to indicate what kind of death he was going to die" (John 12:33).

Jesus' prophecy was fulfilled. He was lifted up from the earth upon Calvary's cross. Israel's God willingly chose to suffer and die for his people – not only the people of Israel, but for all the people of the world. By his death and resurrection, Jesus brings divine judgment upon the world. He drives out the Devil, who has claimed the position of prince of this world. He brings blessing in the name of the Lord (Matthew 21:9).

Jesus' prophecy continues to be fulfilled in Christian churches where the crucified and resurrected Christ is preached and his Sacraments are administered. These churches are the Lord's temple here on earth. There is the mountain of the Lord. There people will be streaming to the Lord's mountain. Jesus promises, "Where two or three have gathered together in my name, there I am among them" (Matthew 18:20).

People are streaming to the Lord's Mountain from nations where Christians are being persecuted by Muslims. Nations like Nigeria, Somalia, Iran, and Afghanistan.

Even though America has become lazy and apathetic toward Christianity, still more young people are going to conservative, smells and bells churches in our nation. Christian music is on the top of the charts. Young people are buying physical Bibles.

We've experienced our own little stream here at Lord of Lords. We've had more people attending worship services, Bible studies, and fellowship events. Like Garden Creek Falls, it's a small, but steady stream. God's promise is being fulfilled. God's Word is being preached. His Word is being taught. His Word will work. "Then he will instruct us about his ways, and we will walk in his paths" (Isaiah 2:3). God's Good News will draw people to his mountain. In the midst of this world's war and chaos, the message of the Prince of Peace will cause people to stream from far and wide.

Success, not failure, is the mark of God's Church. Although we are the Church Militant, we must not be the Church Pessimistic! The battle is tough, but the victory has already been won. Recognizing the lateness of the hour gives the church purpose. God's Word is the message. That Word produces faith. That faith enjoys and expresses itself in peace.

"He will judge between the nations, and he will mediate for many peoples. Then they will beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not lift up sword against nation, nor will they learn war anymore. O house of Jacob, come, and let us walk in the light of the Lord" (Isaiah 2:4-5). Jesus prophesied that in these last days, "nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom" (Matthew 24:7). Yet Isaiah prophecies the effect that God's Word will have on the inhabitants of these nations and the peoples of these kingdoms. God's Word judges between these nations and settles disputes for these peoples. His Word alone is the standard of right belief and moral behavior. God's Word will bring peace. First, peace in people's hearts. Then peace in people's homes. Then peace in the nations.

Jesus promises that only he can bring this peace: "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives" (John 14:27). Christ's peace is beyond our limited understanding. "And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:7).

God brought peace to the hearts of people when he kept his promise to send his one and only Son. Jesus came as an infant in Bethlehem to bring peace. The multitude of the heavenly army sang in the Bethlehem sky, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward mankind" (Luke 2:13-14). Jesus came to bring peace to the earth by living and suffering and dying for a world full of sinners. Because of Jesus' perfect life and innocent death and glorious resurrection, we have peace. We have the peace of knowing that there's nothing we can do to save ourselves because Jesus has done everything. We have the peace of knowing that we don't need to satisfy God's wrath against our sins because Jesus has washed them away. We have peace because Jesus has set us free – free from sin; free from death; free from the devil.

That peace is yours in Jesus! That peace is what moves you to travel to the mountain of the Lord for worship. That peace is what moves you to walk in the light of the Lord.

Do you want this lasting peace? Do you want a peace that quiets your guilty conscience? Then climb Mount Calvary by faith and find refuge under the cross. Do you want a peace that no diagnosis, disaster, or death can dissolve? Then walk in the light of the Lord, and he will direct your eyes to the day when he will craft the weapons of death into instruments of life.

God's people are characterized by peace within and without. Non-Christians don't understand this peace. They don't get how you can have physical pain and still be at spiritual peace. They don't understand that with all the wars and rumors of wars, you are at peace because you know Jesus predicted these as signs of the End Times. They don't understand how while you mourn, you can still be at peace knowing your Christian loved one is at home with the Lord. They don't understand how you are called to live in peace and turn the other cheek, but at the same time be a ready Crusader to protect your loved ones and be a maker of peace (Matthew 5:9). Keeping peace is defensive. Making peace is offensive. We make peace with demonstrations of strength, power, and violence. Who is stronger and has more power than Jesus Christ, our King, our Lord, and the Commander of the Lord's heavenly army?

With the people of Isaiah's time, we look forward to the final Advent of our Lord when we won't need any offensive or defensive weapons. When the Lord Jesus comes with his final Advent, it will be greater and more glorious than when he entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. On that Day, swords will be replaced with plows and spears will have their blades bent for pruning trees. We long for the Day when there will be no more of our nation's soldiers training for battle. It will also be the day when Christ's soldiers can put down their weapons. There will be no more spiritual wars, persecution or Christian crusades. There will be no more need for any of these things because there will be nothing to fight about. The Lord will step in to settle every dispute. He will bring his people into his temple on the mountain of the Lord.

If you go up to Casper Mountain with me, you probably won't find peace. More than likely, you'll find pain. Ask anyone whose hiked or biked with me. The pain of sore muscles, tired legs, and if you fall, maybe a bruised bottom. But you'll also know that you have accomplished something difficult.

Jesus promises peace. This isn't a peace that police or politicians or protesters can bring. It's only a peace that comes through the love of Jesus Christ. It's a peace that the world cannot bring. But Jesus can. So, let's go up to the mountain. Amen.

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/let-s-go-up-to-the-mountain/

Every good act of giving and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the lights, who does not change or shift like a shadow (James 1:17). Amen.

A local fitness center was offering $1,000 to anyone who could show they were stronger than the owner of the gym. Here's how it worked: The muscle-bound owner would squeeze a lemon into a glass until all the juice was gone. Then he would hand the lemon to the challenger. Anyone who could squeeze just one more drop of juice from the lemon would win the money.

Over time many people tried to best the owner – other weightlifters, construction workers, even professional wrestlers – but nobody could.

Then one day, a small, skinny man in a suit came in. He had come for other business, but when he heard about the challenge, he said he wanted to give it a try. When the laughter finally died down, the owner grabbed a lemon and squeezed away. Then he handed the wrinkled remains to the little man.

The crowd's laughter soon turned into silence as six drops slowly fell from the lemon. The crowd cheered. As the owner paid out the prize money, he asked the little man what he did for a living. "Are you a lumberjack or weightlifter or what?" he asked.

The man in the suit replied, "I work for the IRS."

The IRS has ways of squeezing every last drop. As Christians we understand that paying taxes is what we do as citizens, that doesn't mean we like it. In our day, someone who collects taxes isn't very popular.

In Jesus' day, it was even worse. The Romans who ruled over Israel would pick people from every region to collect their taxes for them. If you agreed to be a tax collector, right from the beginning people would hate you. You were a traitor to Israel and to the true God. You were collecting money for the hated Romans and their pagan emperor.

The Romans collected their taxes by having the tax collector collect a certain amount from each person to give to the government. Anything the tax collector could get above and beyond that, he could keep. He would also have Roman soldiers standing behind him as he collected.

You can see how tax collectors could become extremely wealthy. Most were corrupt. They were cheaters. They were traitors. Tax collectors in Jesus' day were viewed as the scum of society. Everybody hated them.

Understanding that will help you understand the Gospel lesson. It's the week before Holy Week. Jesus is walking with the thousands of pilgrims who are headed up to Jerusalem from Galilee for the Passover Feast. The last big city they travel through before arriving in Jerusalem is Jericho, the City of Palms – a lush valley with towering trees.

The custom in those days was as the pilgrims went through a town on their way to Jerusalem, the citizens gather along the streets to cheer on their brothers and sisters. The citizens of Jericho heard that Jesus, the great prophet from Nazareth, was among the pilgrims. The citizens flood the streets. Curious onlookers come to see the man who some claim is the Messiah. It's like a parade. Women sitting on the ground. Men with their young children up on their shoulders. Everyone hoping to catch a glimpse of the Messiah. Can you imagine the chatter? "Will he do a miracle?" "Will he stop in Jericho or keep going to Jerusalem?" "If he stays here, whose house will he stay in? Will it be one of the chief priests or the elders of the city?"

That's when Luke introduces us to Zacchaeus. The name Zacchaeus in Hebrew means "just" or "pure." Zacchaeus, however, is anything but just or pure. He's the chief tax collector of the district – the top of a corrupt pyramid scheme. If he's like most tax collectors, he's a crook.

Like most people, Zacchaeus has heard of Jesus. He wants to see Jesus, but he has a problem. Zacchaeus is vertically challenged. I'm guessing way shorter than 5'6". He's short. He can't see over the taller dads with their kids on their shoulders.

Since Jericho is the City of Palms, streets lined with different kinds of trees, Zacchaeus climbs a sycamore tree so he can see. When Jesus comes to Zacchaeus' tree, he stops, looks up, and says, "Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today" (Luke 19:5). Jesus is going to spend the night in Jericho, but at the house of the chief tax collector! The people go nuts! They can't believe it! "When the people saw it, they were all grumbling because he went to be a guest of a sinful man" (Luke 19:7). The citizens stick up their noses as their eyes look down on Zacchaeus.

Luke doesn't tell us about the conversation between Jesus and Zacchaeus in his house. Perhaps we can assume Jesus talked about sin and forgiveness and how he had come to save sinners. Those are things Jesus regularly talked about.

We can assume Jesus talked about saving sinners because Zacchaeus stands up to announce, "Look, Lord, I am going to give half of my possessions to the poor. And if I have cheated anyone out of anything, I will pay back four times as much" (Luke 19:8). Zacchaeus is so grateful for Jesus' forgiveness that it generates generosity within him. He promises to give half of his wealth to the poor. If he had cheated anyone in the past, he'll pay them back four times what he had cheated them in the future. Gratitude generates generosity.

Jesus responds to Zacchaeus' statement of generosity, "Today, salvation has come to this house, because he too is a son of Abraham" (Luke 19:9). Jesus' declaration must have shocked the people! Imagine their thoughts, "Wait a minute! This guy is a traitor to Israel and the true God! A thief! A vassal of the Roman imperialists! How can Zacchaeus be a son of Abraham?! That's us!"

Here's how Zacchaeus can be a son of Abraham, one of God's true believers. Jesus explains, "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost" (Luke 19:10).

These words echo even more loudly when we remember that only seven days later this same Jesus, the Son of Man, will be in Jerusalem to rescue the world by bringing salvation on the cross. He will be beaten and bloodied, nailed to two intersecting pieces of wood, and forsaken by his heavenly Father on Golgotha's hill. There Jesus will bring lost sinners into his family. They will go from being outcasts to being Abraham's children, part of the family of God. Jesus promises Zacchaeus salvation at the cross.

The Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost. The people of Jericho struggled to accept that truth. The Pharisees were endlessly horrified because Jesus was always speaking with, dining with, and now rooming with tax collectors, prostitutes, and other assorted sinners. If Jesus was so holy, if he really was from God, if he was a child of Abraham himself, how could he wallow with the filth of society? They lifted up their noses and looked down their eyes on those whom they considered unworthy of God's love.

Sadly, each of us has a little Pharisee in our hearts. Our noses go up so easily and our eyes look down so quickly as we see sinners out there in the world. You know the ones. They're on the opposite side of the political aisle from us. The men who think they're women. The women who think they're men. The men sleeping with men. The women sleeping with women. The women who don't want their unborn child. The men who won't support their unborn or born children. The people addicted to drugs or alcohol. The teens who are just plain mean and won't accept others into their group. The other teens who are just plain weird and separate from all groups. Our little Pharisee inside of us looks down on all these people … and so many more. Tax collectors, prostitutes, sinners – all of them!

We'll say in polite conversation that we don't think we're any better than they are, but deep down in the recesses of our hearts, each of our little Pharisees announces, "I'm so glad I'm not like them. I'm above their low-life living. I haven't done what they've done."

What we so often forget, what we so often fail to see, is that the Son of Man came to seek and to save each one of us. We need to keep praying, "Lord, have mercy." Every time we pray, "Lord, have mercy," we're really praying, "Lord, I'm lost." In our personal prayers at home or in our congregational prayers in church, we need to continually be praying, "Lord, I am the worst of sinners. I'm no better than a prostitute or a tax collector. That's me sitting in that tree. I'm sitting there surrounded by strangers, but friendly with my pride, anger, lust, and laziness. I'm no better than those I look down on. I, too, am lost. In my lostness, I deserve an eternity in hell."

Jesus came to seek and to save you – a lost one. He came to your house when you were an infant to claim you as his own through the waters of Baptism. Or he came to your house when you were older to find you in your lostness, to rescue you, to convert you, and make you his own.

Jesus did this by fulfilling the meaning of Zaccheaus' name. Jesus was always practicing justice and purity. He never cheated or stole. He never stuck up his nose or looked down with his eyes on people. He never gave in to unrighteous anger, lust, or laziness. He endured God's righteous wrath that we deserve as the scum of society. Jesus finds the lost. He forgives the sinner. He redeems the worst.

Jesus comes into our lives, looks up, and instructs us to come down from our tree. He's here for us. He stays with us – in our home, in our church, in our community, in our school, and in our workplace. Jesus enters our home with forgiveness so one day we will enter his home in heaven with faith.

When we understand how lousy and lost we were; when we appreciate how loving and forgiving Jesus is; when we become grateful for what Jesus has done for us; then we'll react as Zacchaeus did. Zacchaeus couldn't contain himself. He had finally found what money couldn't buy. He had found peace and hope. That's because Jesus had found him with his forgiveness and salvation. So, Zacchaeus gave away a large amount of his money. Gratitude generates generosity.

The secret to gratitude is opening your eyes to all the amazing things God has done for you. The secret to gratitude is understanding that you don't deserve any of it. The secret to gratitude is recognizing how lost you were before Jesus found and saved you from your lostness.

God has been generous with you. Consider how much spiritually Jesus gave you by bringing his forgiving love that changed you from being lost to being found. He moved you from being a citizen of hell to a citizen of heaven. He converted you from a sinner into a saint. He baptized you as an heir of Satan and claimed you as an heir of the Lord.

Consider how much physically Jesus gives you as he treats you as family. Look around at your home and vehicles, your family and friends. Look at the food you eat and the air you breathe. Look at your church family, the freedom you have to worship God and learn from him. Like Zacchaeus, you haven't earned any of it. You don't deserve it. You're not better than anyone else. Yet God is generous with you.

Lord willing, God's generosity generates gratitude. Respond like Zacchaeus and give generously. As you give from a generous heart, God promises to bless you. Be generous with your family and friends. Be generous here at church. Be generous with complete strangers. Give as God has given to you. Learn from poor, vertically challenged Zacchaeus. God's generosity generates gratitude. Amen.

The Lord promises: "While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease" (Genesis 8:22). Amen.

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/gratitude-generates-generosity/

God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever (1 Timothy 6:15-16). Amen.

Lieutenant Lewis "Chesty" Puller was assigned to the Nicaraguan National Guard in December 1928. A few months later, Puller was leading his platoon of Marines through a dangerous mountain pass in the dense Nicaraguan jungles when rebels suddenly ambushed the Marines. The rebels attacked from all sides with machine guns and mortars. Four of Puller's men went down in the initial attack.

Puller is quoted as telling his men, "All right, they're on our left, they're on our right, they're in front of us, they're behind us. They can't get away this time."

Puller got his men to cover, directed their fire at the rebels, and led his Marines in a flanking maneuver that completely destroyed the rebels.

Puller was surrounded by the enemy. But he wasn't afraid. He had the enemy right where he wanted them. He said at another time when his Marines were surrounded, "They've got us right where we want 'em. We can shoot in every direction now."

Jesus on the cross is surrounded by his enemies. This is how King David described King Jesus being surrounded on the cross. Remember, David is accurately describing this event one thousand years before Jesus was crucified!

"I am a worm and not a man, scorned by men and despised by the people. All who see me mock me. They sneer. They shake their heads. They say, 'Trust in the Lord.' 'Let the Lord deliver him. Let him rescue him, if he delights in him.' … Many bulls surround me. Strong bulls from Bashan encircle me. Enemies open their mouths wide against me, like a lion that tears its prey and roars. Like water I am poured out. All my bones are pulled apart. My heart has become like wax. It has melted in the middle of my chest. My strength is dried up like broken pottery, and my tongue is stuck to the roof of my mouth. You lay me in the dust of death. For dogs have surrounded me. A band of evil men has encircled me. They have pierced my hands and my feet" (Psalm 22:6-8, 12-16).

Jesus is surrounded by everyday citizens who traveled to Golgotha's hill for a good show. Many of these are the same ones who shouted, "Crucify him! Crucify him!" earlier that morning. He's surrounded by the respected members of society – the clergymen and religious teachers. They taunt him, "He saved others. Let him save himself, if this is the Christ of God, the Chosen One" (Luke 23:35)! He's surrounded by Roman soldiers doing their jobs of killing criminals. They taunt him, "If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself" (Luke 23:37)! Governor Pilate is back in his palace. But he lets everyone know his feelings about Jesus with the sign at the top of his cross that reads, "This is the King of the Jews" (Luke 23:38).

Jesus is surround by bulls, dogs, and evil men. He is surrounded by his enemies while his best friends – his disciples – have fled and are in hiding. Jesus has been spat upon, slapped, beaten, scourged, mocked, taunted, and abused in inhumane ways. Worst of all, he's crucified – the most torturous death the Romans could devise. Within the spiritual realm, he is also surrounded by his enemies of the Devil and his demons. They're all on hand to witness the death of the Son of God. Jesus is despised and rejected on every side. He looks more like a criminal than the King of kings and Lord of lords.

Jesus was a King who perfectly fit God's own description of the Savior who was coming! Marvel at how precisely the prophet Isaiah describes Jesus on Golgotha's cross 700 years before it happened! "There were many who were appalled at him – his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any man and his form marred beyond human likeness" (Isaiah 52:14). "He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not" (Isaiah 53:2-3).

What kind of king doesn't have the support of his adoring public? Instead, they are mocking and ridiculing him. What kind of king has no royal vestments of his own? Jesus has no scepter except for the staff given him by jeering soldiers. He has no royal gown except for the scarlet robe draped around him by those who feigned respect. He has no crown except for the crown of thorns brutally shoved upon his head by those who made sport of him. He has no subjects unless you want to count the soldiers who spit on him, struck him with his scepter, and called out, "Hail, king of the Jews!"

Jesus is surrounded by his enemies. We're there, too. It was our sins that put Jesus on the cross. We mock Jesus when we reject his words for the words of the world. We slap Jesus in the face with every deliberate sin. We beat him with our prideful thoughts, scourge him with our sharp tongues, and abuse him with our hurtful actions. We taunt Jesus every time we choose to do something other than give him the worship he deserves as our Savior and King. Lord, have mercy!

Take the time to bow your head and confess your sins of putting King Jesus on the cross.

Private confession.

Citizens of Christ's kingdom, Jesus Christ is your King. He is the King, gracious and giving, who stayed upon the cross, though the world considered him an idiot and a failure for doing so. He stayed there. He paid there. He died there. And he won there! Jesus was surrounded. He had his enemies right where he wanted them!

The enemy of sin was there on Golgotha's hill. Jesus was surrounded by sinners. These were rebelling against God's will. Mocking their Savior and crucifying the very Son of God. What did Jesus do with all that sin? He forgave it! He cried out on the cross, "Father, forgive them for they do not know what they're doing" (Luke 23:34).

Jesus had sin right where he wanted. He removed it. He defeated it. Because he forgave it.

The enemy of Satan was there on Golgotha's hill. Jesus was surrounded by the Devil and his demonic forces. Satan was working behind the scenes to move government leaders, religious rulers, and citizens to put the Son of God to death. This was always Satan's goal from the Garden of Eden. He knew he would one day crush the Savior's heel. He and his demons were excited to finally defeat God's Son. They couldn't defeat him with temptations in the Judean desert. Now, they imagine they can defeat him with crucifixion outside Jerusalem's walls.

Even in apparent defeat, Jesus still has power over the physical and spiritual realms. St. Paul explains, [Christ] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation, for in him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, things seen and unseen, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him" (Colossians 1:15-16). These thrones, dominions, rulers, and authorities are the various ranks of angels and demons. Jesus defeats the highest-ranking demon of all when he crushes the Devil's head. On the cross, Jesus' heel is crushed by the Ancient Serpent. At the same time, Jesus crushes the head of the Ancient Serpent. The Lord promised the serpent in the Garden, "He will crush your head, and you will crush his heel" (Genesis 3:15).

The enemy of death is there on Golgotha's hill. Jesus is surrounded by death. Within a short time, Jesus will die and his corpse placed into a borrowed tomb. There he rests the slumber of death for three days. Then at Easter Dawn, Jesus gloriously and victoriously rises from the grave. He has defeated death once and for all. St. Paul explains, "He is also the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that in all things he might have the highest rank" (Colossians 1:18).

Jesus has his enemies right where he wants them. They can't get away this time. He wins the victory over them. Then he grants that victory immediately to the repentant thief. This was the thief who had grown silent at some point. He no longer joined in the taunts. Instead, when this thief could stand the rejection no longer, he rebuked his partner in crime, "Don't you fear God, since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong" (Luke 23:40-41).

This thief on the cross knew his sinfulness. He knew he didn't deserve any kind words from Jesus. But that didn't stop him from making a remarkable prayer of faith. His words show repentance and humility. He pleaded, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." He prayed in the name of Jesus – the One who will save his people from their sins. He prayed in the name of the Man who did "nothing wrong" – the One who is perfect and holy and who carried all wrongs, shortcomings, miscalculations, poor judgments, and alternate lifestyles – all sins on his shoulders on that cross.

The thief came to Jesus, not making demands, but counting on grace. He asked only that Jesus would "remember" him, nothing more. He didn't ask for any favors. He wasn't so bold as to request a place in heaven. Only "remember." He left it solely up to Jesus to answer his prayer.

Jesus answered him with those beautifully comforting words, "Amen I tell you: Today you will be with me in paradise" (Luke 23:43). Are these the words of a convicted criminal? No. These are the words of a victorious, all-powerful King. These words contain no ifs, no ands, no buts, and certainly no maybes. The King nailed to the cross, the One who looked so helpless and hopeless – this is the King who showed that even in the hour of his greatest agony, he was a King who came to give. He came to give eternal life. He came to win a home for people in paradise. He came to give forgiveness for sins. He came to reconcile humanity to God. St. Paul writes, "For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile all things to himself (whether things on earth or in heaven) by establishing peace through the blood of his cross" (Colossians 1:19-20).

"Today you will be with me in paradise." Not a single person on Golgotha's hill deserved to hear such a promise. They had all been his enemies. But the Savior made that promise anyway. He promised that through faith in him as their King and Savior, he would turn them from enemies into heirs. Not a single person here deserves to hear Jesus tell us, "You will be with me in paradise." We had all been his enemies. But the Savior makes that promise anyway. He promises that through faith in him as your King and Savior, he has turned you from enemies into heirs of his paradise. He gives you this promise at the baptismal font, at the communion rail, in our Sunday School classrooms, from our pulpit, and on our deathbed. This is the promise of the King who looked so foolish on Golgotha's hill. The King who looked so weak and helpless. The King despised and rejected. The King surrounded by his enemies.

In December 1950, now Lieutenant Colonel Puller was in the Battle of Chosin Reservoir during the Korean War. Puller's 1st Marine Regiment was outnumbered and trapped by Chinese forces in freezing conditions. When a subordinate reported they were surrounded, Puller replied, "We've been looking for the enemy for several days now. We've finally found them. We're surrounded. That simplifies our problem."

Jesus' problem was simplified as he had all his enemies in one place at one time. There Jesus forgave sin, crushed Satan, and defeated death. He couldn't miss.

Jesus gives these victories over your enemies to you now and with the promise of paradise to come. We sing of these victories today and throughout eternity in paradise. "Crown Him with Many Crowns" (CW: 341). "All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name (CW: 370). And "The King of Glory Comes" (CW: 363). Amen.

The Father rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins (Colossians 1:13-14). Amen.

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/surrounded/

"For you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness will rise, and there will be healing in its wings. You will go out and jump around like calves from the stall" (Malachi 4:2). Amen.

Last Sunday afternoon, Matt and I took young Trapper to Casper Mountain to ride our side-by-sides. I'm blessed to have Bluetooth speakers in my side-by-side. So, I had him listening to my eclectic choice of music – Swing, Celtic, Home Free, Tophouse, Bodeans, and so on. One of the first songs that came on was "Sweet Caroline" by Neil Diamond. We both sang loudly to the song, especially the "ba ba ba" and "so good so good" parts. Later, Trapper asked, "Did we just listen to AC/DC followed by Johnny Cash?"

"Yes. Yes, we did."

One of the last songs that Johnny Cash released was a song that reflected his Christianity and his reverence for God's Word. The title of the song is, "When the Man Comes Around." It's a song about Jesus' return on Judgment Day. It is filled with biblical references and pictures that Jesus will return, time is short, and the moment for serious reflection is right now. Here are some of the lyrics:

Whoever is unjust, let him be unjust still. Whoever is righteous, let him be righteous still. Whoever is filthy, let him be filthy still. Listen to the words long-written down, When the man comes around. Hear the trumpets, hear the pipers. One hundred million angels singin'. Multitudes are marchin' to the big kettle drum. Voices callin', voices cryin'. Some are born and some are dyin'. It's Alpha and Omega's Kingdom come.

Jesus is returning. St. Paul encourages the Christians in Thessalonica with this news. Paul had only been able to stay in Thessalonica for about three weeks before he was chased out of the city by the extreme persecution to the gospel of Christ. The Thessalonian citizens stayed and endured this persecution. Paul encourages them that their faith is growing more and more (2 Thessalonians 1:3), despite – and perhaps because of – this persecution. He writes, "This is evidence of God's righteous verdict that resulted in your being counted worthy of God's kingdom, for which you also suffer" (2 Thessalonians 1:5). How was their persecution evidence of God's righteous verdict?

Paul assured the Thessalonians that God loved them, had forgiven them, and would continue to be with them. That was how God judged them. If they had caved in and not gone through the trials and persecutions they were called on to endure, God could not judge them worthy of eternal life. But because they had endured, God's judgment was right, and his judgment would be made public on the Last Day.

How about you? Are you being persecuted for your faith in Jesus Christ? At work, at home, at school, in public, on social media? Are you bold and unapologetic about your faith? Do you wear your faith symbolically on your sleeve or physically on your T-shirt? Do people know you're a Christian with every move you make and every word you speak? When you face persecution – which you should because the world hates us because they hate Christ – that is evidence that you, too, are being counted worthy of God's kingdom, for which you suffer.

Paul says that God makes a "righteous verdict". There are two things that God will do on Judgment Day because he is just and his verdict is righteous. First, God will judge us as worthy of eternal life because we held to Christ by faith. This verdict is ours, not because of anything we have done, but only because the Holy Spirit brought us to faith and kept us in the one, true faith. The only thing we "did" was not say "no" to this gift of faith. Second, God will punish the enemies of the gospel for all they've done to his chosen people throughout the history of the world. God will undo all the pain that sin inflicts on us, including the pain of persecution.

St. Paul then goes on to explain how God's justice will come upon those who oppose his Son and the followers of his Son. "Certainly, it is right for God to repay trouble to those who trouble you, and to give relief to you, who are troubled along with us. When the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his powerful angels, he will exercise vengeance in flaming fire on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. Such people will receive a just penalty: eternal destruction away from the presence of the Lord and from his glorious strength" (2 Thessalonians 1:6-9).

Paul says clearly that God will repay trouble to those who trouble you for your Christian faith. Why is God's justice important for Christians to remember as we suffer at the hands of tyrannical governments, demonic despots, unbelievers, pagans, social media bullies, and so on? As individual Christians, we don't take revenge. We follow Paul's advice to the Christians in Rome who were also being persecuted, "Do not take revenge, dear friends, but leave room for God's wrath. For it is written, 'vengeance is mine; I will repay,' says the Lord" (Romans 12:19-20).

The Lord Jesus will bring his righteous wrath upon those who persecuted his people. We leave room for God's vengeance. Until then, we turn the other cheek (Matthew 5:39); forgive 70 times 7 (Matthew 18:22); pray for those who persecute us (Matthew 5:44); live as Christian salt to season a decaying world; and live as light in the pagan darkness (Matthew 5:13-16). God will bring trouble on those who trouble us. But we cannot be weak Christians, either. We put on the gospel armor, and we take the fight to the devil and his followers. Every day, I am sharing images on social media reminding Christians that we are in a war. Christ has called us to be his warriors, Christian soldiers, marching off to war, with the blood of Jesus going on before. This is a war Christ has already won for us. But it's one where we'll get hurt and bloodied in. We're going to be in trouble!

What kind of trouble will those who trouble us receive? "Vengeance in flaming fire." Malachi describes this vengeance in a similar way: "The day is coming, burning like a blast furnace. All the arrogant and every evildoer will be stubble. The day that is coming will set them on fire, says the Lord of Armies, a day that will not leave behind a root or branch for them" (Malachi 4:1). "Eternal destruction." That seems like a contradiction, for how can destruction be everlasting? But there's no other way to describe the endless pain and torment there. "Away from the presence of the Lord." The worst part about God's justice is that unbelievers will be removed from God's presence. They will be outside, unwanted, and uncomforted.

American culture has attempted to neuter God by taking away his justice. They imagine he's a divine grandfather sitting in heaven handing out candy and sweets to those on earth. He looks the other way when people sin. He tolerates all kinds of false religions. Society has attempted to emasculate God by emptying him of his authority. They have mutilated the God of the Bible by removing his wrath and only emphasizing his mercy.

When the wrath of God is removed, then the central act in all human history has been emptied of its power and meaning. If God is not all that angry with sinners, then Christianity is nothing more than feeble moralism where we urge people to be a little nicer to each other. If Christ's death did not pay the terrible price for a world of human sin, then his death was nothing but a pathetic and weak act that can do nothing to change our lives. If Christ did not bear in his sacred body the wrath and punishment we deserve, then we are still in our sins and will endure God's wrath and punishment on the Last Day.

The Bible balances the wrath of God with the mercy of God. If people accept God's mercy through Christ Jesus, they escape his wrath. However, if people refuse to receive the mercy of God for Christ's sake, then they will receive the wrath of God coming from the Lord Jesus in blazing fire.

Take the time to bow your head and confess to God your sin of taking God's wrath upon your sin lightly.

Private confession.

Are you a Christian? Have you received and believe in Christ's mercy? Has God counted you worthy of his kingdom because of your faith in his Son?

If you answered "yes" to those questions, then Judgment Day has already taken place for you. It took place when the ever-living Son of God hung dead on the cross. It took place when the guilty verdict was placed on him. When God the Father poured out his wrath on his Son. When God declared his righteous verdict of guilty upon Jesus. When the Father forsook, turned his back on, and abandoned his only begotten Son. When the punishment for humanity's rebellion was placed upon the thorn-crowned head, the scourged back, and the nailed hands and feet of Jesus Christ.

All the judgment of God against humanity's sin took place on that one day, in that one place, on that One Man. On the cross. In the tomb. Under God's wrath. Your Servant took your place. Your King took your place. Your God took your place – as your Substitute – to set you free. And you are free. It is finished! God's judgment has been endured by Jesus so that you as Christians might receive God's pardon and forgiveness. God's wrath was poured out in history's past instead of being poured out in our eternal future.

This verdict of freedom and this pronouncement of forgiveness is what you need to hear in church every week. For every week, as we gather in church, we have a small dress rehearsal for Judgment Day. Every week in worship is like a little Judgment Day as the King comes to us and tells us his judgment. He announces in the absolution, "I have forgiven your sins by my sacrifice." He reveals, "You are mine," every time we see the pastor make the sign of the cross reminding us of the cross that was placed over our hearts and heads at our baptism – the date when we became God's. In the Scripture lessons, sermons, and hymns Jesus declares, "I will either be your unrelenting Judge or your all-merciful Savior." When we taste his body and drink his blood in the Lord's Supper he proclaims, "I am giving myself to you."

You will suffer for believing all this. The theme from the Scripture readings today is don't despair. God declares over and over again that there will come a time when those who have rebelled against him and brought trouble to his people will themselves have trouble, and God's believers will have relief. God will carry out his justice. We Christians may suffer temporally here on earth at the hands of unbelievers for our faith, but the unbelievers will suffer eternally in hell at the hands of a just God for their lack of faith. "Such people will receive a just penalty: eternal destruction away from the presence of the Lord and from his glorious strength, on that day when he comes to be glorified among his saints, and to be marveled at among all those who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed" (2 Thessalonians 1:9-10).

Because of God's wrath there will be justice. And relief. What is the relief that all Christians are looking forward to? Eternal life in heaven where we'll be marveling at our Christ.

Failing to recognize God's wrath can effectively trivialize God's power. Singing about God's wrath upon sinners serves as a direct reminder of God's mercy to forgiven sinners. That's why we sang of God's wrath and relief that comes on Judgment Day. Songs like "Great God, What Do I See and Hear," "The Day is Surely Drawing Near," and "Day of Wrath, Oh, Day of Mourning." Or even country songs like, "When the Man Comes Around."

Last Sunday evening, I texted Ashley, Trapper's mom. I asked if Trapper enjoyed the ride. She said he did. I then wrote, "Great! I don't fault him if he said, 'I'll go with Pastor again. Just don't let him sing anymore!" She assured me he didn't say anything like that.

When you suffer for your Christian faith, you might wonder, "Where is God's justice?" Just wait. It's coming. Maybe not now. Maybe not soon. But eventually. Eternally. The final justice will be on the Great Day of Judgment. God's justice will be our relief. Then God will repay trouble on those who trouble you. Amen.

"You will trample the wicked. They will surely be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day when I take action, says the Lord of Armies" (Malachi 4:3). Amen.

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/god-will-repay-trouble-to-those-who-trouble-you/

(Listen to the hymn "Jerusalem the Golden" here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7SLjwzKfCw)

Watch this! I am about to create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered. They will not come to mind (Isaiah 65:17). Amen.

Bernard of Cluny was a Benedictine monk in the 12th century. The verses of "Jerusalem the Golden" are a minute portion of a three-thousand-line poem written in meter form. Bernard of Cluny's poem was a bitter satire on the fearful corruptions he saw in the year 1145. He contrasted those corruptions with the magnificent glories of what heaven will be like for God's saints. This hymn gives the opposite of what we see and experience.

What are we seeing and experiencing? The National Guard has been deployed to multiple violent cities like Washington, D.C., Portland, and Memphis. The United States government has been shut down for several weeks. Food pantries are being flooded with requests. Aggressive protests have been in various places.

Over 7,000 Nigerian Christians have been killed by Muslims the past few weeks. Slaughters like this upon Christians have been going on for a long time. President Trump is the only president in my lifetime who has called attention to this slaughter. More than that, he's willing to put American military might behind his statement to put an end to this massacre.

Here are some stories you may not have heard of. Last week, several infected monkeys escaped in Mississippi. A mom shot one to protect her kids. An American father and teen son were stung to death by Asian hornets while ziplining in Laos. A logger in Malaysia was trampled by a herd of elephants that attacked their camp. He survived with two broken legs. But while he was recovering in the hospital tent, the bull elephant returned and trampled the logger to death.

All of this serves to remind us that we are no longer in the perfection of Eden anymore. Sin infects our hearts and affects our lives continually. We daily feel God's curse upon humanity and nature because of Adam and Eve's fall in the Garden.

That's why we Christians are more comfortable and confident in the future than we are in the present. The present is filled with uncertainty in our elected officials. There is doubt about our safety with the violence in our streets. We cry out at the deaths of so many Christians. We know that the end of time must be near as evidenced this last Sunday when the Packers lost to the Panthers and the Vikings beat the Lions.

"Jerusalem the Golden" proclaims this confidence in the future. Please open to this hymn in your Supplement so you can follow along. You'll be spared. I'll be reading the verses … not singing them.

"Jerusalem the golden, with milk and honey blest." This is a beautiful picture of what the Israelites would find when they entered the Promised Land of Canaan. Our Promised Land is heaven.

"The sight of it refreshes the weary and oppressed." We have been living in the desolation and desert of this sinful, barren wilderness. We are worn out and weary. We are oppressed by a culture that hinders the vocal expression of our faith. But we are excited and refreshed to come home to heaven.

Here in church we receive a foretaste of our heavenly home. This is where heaven meets earth. The pillars of Jerusalem the Golden are based within the Christian churches of earth. Here in worship is the place where we can feel at home. We are refreshed in the words of absolution as our sins are forgiven. We are washed clean once again in the baptismal waters of our youth. It is at the font where we have God's Triune name placed on our foreheads (Revelation 22:4). We hear the voice of Jesus and behold his face in the Scripture readings. We physically dine with our fellow earthly saints as we eat Christ's sacramental meal. We spiritually dine with our fellow heavenly saints around Christ's banquet table as we come to the Lord's sacramental feast. We receive the peace of God's threefold benediction.

"I know not, oh, I know not what joys await us there, what radiancy of glory, what bliss beyond compare." This is not a neutral place that Christ has won for us. It is full of bliss and glory. We cannot know what joys await us there. We cannot even begin to imagine what heaven is like – perfection, holiness, without sin. We have tastes of it in absolution and Communion. But we cannot fully understand or appreciate it until we arrive in the new heaven and new earth. There in the New Jerusalem, "the wolf and the lamb will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox" (Isaiah 65:25)

"To sing the hymn unending with all the martyr throng, amidst the halls of Zion resounding full with song." The halls of Zion are Jerusalem. Jerusalem was the holy city. It was where God was. God was in the temple. God's temple on earth is the Christian Church. We gather together here in church as the halls of Zion. Christ in us and us in Christ – a mystical union. Our house is not our home. Our church is our real home on earth. This is where we feel most at peace and at rest. For we are with the saints at Lord of Lords. Even more than that, our voices are joining with the martyr throng of saints that have already gone home to heaven. Our combined voices shake the halls of Zion.

"Oh, sweet and blessed country, the home of God's elect! Oh, sweet and blessed country That eager hearts expect." As patriotic Americans, we love this country. But we are citizens of a sweeter and more blessed country. We are God's elect - chosen in eternity to be with God for eternity.

Revelation 22 is the fitting conclusion for the events of Genesis 3. Because of the Fall, humanity was driven out of the Garden and the Tree of Life was barred by the angel with the flaming sword. But God promised to send the seed of the woman to destroy the serpent and to bring the blessing of life once more to dead and dying humanity, to remove the curse brought by sin. That promise was kept when the woman's Son came into the world to destroy the power of the Ancient Serpent.

We see that promise fulfilled in Jerusalem the Golden. As St. John writes, "Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him" (Revelation 22:1-3).

In the Garden of Eden, a river went out to water the garden. In the New Jerusalem, John sees a river watering the inhabitants of the city. The river of life flowing out from the throne reminds us that the source of our salvation is not to be found in anything we have done or merited. The sole source of our salvation is God, not just any god, but that God who has prepared his salvation for us through the Lamb, who now sits with him on the throne.

The Tree of Life is transplanted on either side of the river. The tree is no longer in a garden but in a city. Because of sin, Adam and Eve never got to eat from the Tree of Life. Now, because of what Jesus accomplished on the barren tree of the cross, we will be able to eat from the Tree of Life for all eternity. Its fruit bestows immortality. Its leaves serve to heal the nations. "No longer will there be any curse" (Revelation 22:4). Cancer, broken hips, torn up knees – Jesus provides healing. The appearance of the tree and river help show that the end will be like the beginning … only better.

"Where they who with their leader have conquered in the fight forever and forever are clad in robes of white." The pierced Lamb sitting on his throne is holding his captain's flag. This is an apocalyptic war. Here on earth, we are part of the Saints Militant – we are saints at war – at war with our sinful nature, at war with Satan and his demonic horde, at war with the enemies of the gospel. But in heaven we will become a part of the Saints Triumphant – our sinful nature will be gone, Satan will have been hurled down into the abyss once and for all, and the enemies of Christ will be locked up in their hellish prison. The curse of sin that we feel in this world will be gone once and for all (Revelation 12:3).

The saints are clad in robes of white. We will wear our white baptismal gowns for eternity. We are pure. We are sacred. We are holy. The only reason why we will be able to stand before a holy God and see his face (Revelation 22:4) is because Christ has made us holy in baptismal waters.

"Jesus in mercy bring us to that dear land of rest where sings the host of heaven your glorious name to bless." Jesus should bring us to the hellish land in his justice. Instead, he brings us to his dear land of rest in his mercy. It is because of this mercy that we will join in singing to the Lamb for eternity. We often think that we are silenced upon our death. Not so. We will join with the martyr throng. As Christ's martyrs, sometimes our voices are louder and remembered longer after our death. But that means we need to be speaking loudly and boldly as pastors, parents, and grandparents to the next generations.

"The Christ is ever with them; the daylight is serene. the pastures of the blessed are ever rich and green." Jesus died outside of Jerusalem. He was the sacrifice. He died in the darkness so that there is no more darkness. He is the light of the world so there is no need for the sun in heaven. "There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light" (Revelation 22:5). The pastures are ever rich and green. The tree of life produces twelve crops of fruit, one crop each month. We will be well fed and refreshed.

"There is the throne of David; and there from care released, the shout of them that triumph, the song of them that feast." The King is coronated on the throne of David. Jesus is crowned with thorns. The cross is Christ's glory. In suffering we see God's true glory. Jesus was hanging naked on the tree so that he is now robed in glory for eternity. It is because of Christ's suffering, wounds, and death, that we can inherit this New Jerusalem. It is ours already right now. But it is only when we finally arrive in Jerusalem the Golden will we be released from all cares – free from sickness, sin, death, the devil.

That's why we have shouts of triumph. We are with our Leader. There at the throne of David, our Leader is coronated as the King over all creation. The one who reigns and his feet are resting upon the earth.

"To God enthroned in glory the Church's voices blend, the Lamb forever blessed, the Light that knows no end." The Church's voices blend – all saints of all places and all times. Not a church confined to Casper. But the Christian Church that combines heaven and earth. We join with the saints in singing praises to the Lamb upon his throne. It is one long continuous liturgy – it is the work of the people in praising God; it is the work of God in being present among his people.

This morning, instead of private confession, take the time for private praise. Bow your head and praise God for inviting you into Jerusalem the Golden.

Private praise.

"Jerusalem the Golden" is an ancient hymn that has found new life in our churches. There are two versions of this hymn in the new hymnal. We'll sing another version next Sunday. We'll use this hymn for festival services and Christian funerals. It is a hymn that comforts and consoles, while at the same time proclaiming and professing our faith.

It is a faith that announces that we Christians are more comfortable and confident in the future than we are in the present. Isaiah, Revelation, and "Jerusalem the Golden" all together proclaim our confidence in the future. Because our future is with the Lamb on his throne gathered with the saints triumphant in Jerusalem the Golden. Amen.

Rejoice and celebrate forever, because of what I am creating. Watch this! I am about to create Jerusalem to be a source of gladness, and her people will be a source of joy (Isaiah 65:18). Amen.

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/jerusalem-the-golden/

Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:57). Amen.

Last week, Conner Smith took his son, Charlie, to a new candy store in Riverside, California. They found the store was closed but had been left unlocked. Uptown Candy Shop had only been open for about a week. Since the store is in a shopping mall in the greater LA area, there was a real risk of it being looted.

So, Conner and his son stood guard in front of the unlocked door. They found the phone number for the security company at the mall. Then they waited in front of the candy shop until a guard arrived to lock up. The grateful candy shop owner shared the security footage of the dad using this situation as a teaching moment for his young son. The video went viral. The store owner told CBS LA, "We wanted to properly thank them, so we posted it on TikTok to get the word out there. We figured TikTok finds the bad guys really fast, so let's see how long it takes them to find the good guy."

The author of the letter to the Hebrews is giving encouragement to Christians who are being persecuted. He lists great heroes of faith. He finds the good guys. He's using this as a teachable moment. "And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets,who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. Women received back their dead, raised to life again" (Hebrews 11:32-34).

Gideon defeated the mighty Midianites, even though his army was outnumbered 135,000 to 300. Deborah and Barak defeated the army of Sisera because God sent a flood that wiped out the enemy army. Samson killed 1,000 Philistines using the jawbone of a donkey. Jephthah slaughtered the Ammonite army. David slayed the mighty giant Goliath with a sling and a stone. Samuel was a prophet and a judge. Daniel survived the lions' den. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego survived the fiery furnace. The widow of Zarephath and the woman of Shunem both received their sons back from the dead.

These are known and named good guys and gals. But the author goes on to list unnamed, but still remembered, good guys and gals. "Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection.Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison.They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword – they went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated" (Hebrews 11:35-37).

The Devil hates these good guys and gals! That's why he sends his bad guys to hunt, hurt, harass, and commit homicide on God's good guys and gals. The ways of the Devil are always violent and destructive. While John the Baptist was in prison, the people were asking Jesus about John. Jesus responded, "From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force" (Matthew 11:12). Early Christians suffered violence for being citizens of the kingdom of heaven. Throughout the history of the Christian Church, Christians have been held captive as prisoners, had bounties on their heads, been bludgeoned, beheaded, burned at the stake, fed to the lions, crucified, and any of numerous creatively macabre ways to be killed. In every age, the kingdom of heaven is threatened by the allies of hell. We should expect nothing else.

The ways of the Devil remain violent and destructive. The Christian Church, with her proclamation of a crucified Christ, continues to appear weak and wimpy in comparison. We are living in the Church Militant – the Church at war.

Christ and his apostles tell us to expect this violence against us. The bad guys will always be coming after Christ's good guys and gals. Jesus promised, "Then they will hand you over to be persecuted, and they will put you to death. You will be hated by all nations because of my name" (Matthew 24:9). St. Paul wrote to the Thessalonian Christians to let them know that Timothy was sent to them to prepare them for suffering, "We sent him to strengthen and encourage you in your faith, so that no one will be shaken by these trials, for you know well that we are destined for this. In fact, even when we were with you, we told you ahead of time that we were going to suffer" (1 Thessalonians 3:2-4). St. Paul told the Philippians that by God's grace they were given both the gift of faith in Christ and also the gift of suffering in Christ's name: "For it has been graciously granted to you on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him" (Philippians 1:29).

This violence against Christians and the Christian Church will continue to come. Satan is described in Scripture as a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. That's an apt description provided by the Holy Spirit's inspiration. Lions will come in force. They may also come one at a time. They feint and fake and then attack from a different direction. Lions will pick off the weak, the young, the elderly. Then they'll come for the strong and healthy.

What do you see Satan doing? He's coming after our children through media, music, public schools, inattentive parents, and more. He's coming after our elderly through disinformation and misinformation. His attacks are sometimes sneaky and sometimes bold. He really only has two temptations. They are the same ones he first used as the serpent in the Garden of Eden. He'll ask, "Did God really say?" And, "Does God really love you?" They're simple, strategic, and effective. Once Satan picks off the weak, young, and elderly, he turns his attention to the older, wiser, and stronger.

The baptized saints of God are not being sent into a fairy tale world where everything is rainbows and unicorns. The bad guys are always attacking God's good guys and gals. That's the way it's always been. That's the way it will always be. But the violence will not prevail. The Devil and his demonic horde have already gone down in defeat. But like a lion caught in a trap, the roaring lion of the Devil is unwilling to surrender. He continues to thrash, claw, and maul. Satan and his allies will do whatever they can as they "wage war against the saints to overcome them" (Revelation 13:7).

In the face of threats of violence, we proclaim the eternal gospel to every nation, tribe, language, and people (Revelation 14:6). We stand upon the solid rock of Jesus Christ. We will not simply endure; we will prevail against the forces of Satan. In the end, the good guys and good gals always win! That's the singular point of the whole book of Revelation.

God's baptized saints are equipped as soldiers of the cross. Whether you were in the 1st century hearing the letter to the Hebrews for the first time or you're here in the 21st century hearing this letter to the Hebrews another time, do not fear anything you suffer. You have received and believed Christ's promise that when you are faithful unto death, he will give you the crown of life" (Revelation 2:10).

Fellow soldiers of the cross, we are in a war! That's what it means to be in the Church Militant. But the way for us to win the war for our children's souls and the hearts of people is by using the same weapons we've always been given – God's Word and Sacraments. These weapons seem like weakness in the face of the enemies' onslaught. Yet the Lord promises, "He is the one who gives strength to the weak, and he increases the strength of those who lack power" (Isaiah 40:29). We join with St. Paul as we rejoice in our weaknesses so that we can rely on the strengths of our Almighty God: "I will be glad to boast all the more in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may shelter me. That is why I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties, for the sake of Christ. For whenever I am weak, then am I strong" (2 Corinthians 12:9-10).

We listen to God's Word so that we can then share that Word with those who have closed their ears and hearts to the Lord. We are called to share God's truths with those who have been trapped by the Devil's lies. We fight against the bad guys so by God's will and through his Word, the Holy Spirit might win the bad guys over to his side! He can turn the bad guys into the good guys – just like he once did with us! We remember that we have been made heirs of heaven through our Baptism so we can invite those claimed by the Devil to be baptized and dispossessed of the Devil. We rejoice in the forgiveness of our sins so we can encourage others to find acceptance in Christ instead of searching for acceptance in the world. We celebrate our unity when we commune together at the Lord's Table as we invite others to set aside their petty differences about skin color, political party affiliation, or anything else the Devil uses to divide us into little tribes. With these humble means of Word and Sacrament, we are advancing forcefully into the Devil's domain.

Take the time right now to bow your head to confess your fear of fighting the Devil and his band of bad guys.

Silent confession.

Fellow saints, Jesus Christ has paid for your fear. He gives you forgiveness that he boldly won for you on the cross and out of the grave. He calls you to trust his promise that violence will come upon us as his Christian soldiers. His promise doesn't end there. He also promises to rescue you from this current violence, just like he rescued his chosen people out of Egypt. He will deliver you from spiritual oppression and destruction. He will enable the citizens of his kingdom to conquer all things, and – yes – to endure all things for the sake of his name. The ultimate promise is that he will one day transfer your membership from the Church Militant to the Church Triumphant in heaven.

The Uptown Candy Store invited Conner and his family to their chocolate factory for a tour and sweet treats. Many on social media said the family deserved the Golden Ticket. It's great when the good guys get recognition.

The author of Hebrews gives the saints in his list recognition by saying that the world was not worthy of such good guys and gals. "The world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground.These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised.God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect" (Hebrews 11:38-40). The world thinks that people who are suffering and sacrificing like this are unworthy of honor. Yet, God thinks the world is not worthy of having these men and women of faith living among them.

As you undergo persecution for your faith from the bad guys, take comfort in this great verse. You are judged by God's divine standards, not the world's flawed standards. The world's rejection of you reflects its own fallen nature. It does not reflect your inferiority. The world is not equipped to value saints of profound faith. So, the way it handles you is with mockery and derision. Your worth is not measured by worldly success like power or popularity. Your worth is in the way God's Son came, bled, died, and rose for you. Your worth is in your faithfulness and obedience to God's calling, even in the face of suffering.

Why doesn't God prevent all persecution? He is planning something better. Together with us, those persecuted saints will be made perfect in heaven. That's way better than a Golden Ticket! Together, we have been made God's glorious saints. Those who have died already shine in that glory of God. We who remain on the earth struggle. But when you struggle, remember the glory God has in store for you one day!

Through God's Word, through the washing waters of Baptism, and through his holy Supper, you are made one of God's saints. You are among the list of unnamed heroes of faith. By God's grace, you are one of the good guys and gals. Amen.

Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain (1 Corinthians 15:58). Amen.

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/the-good-guys-and-gals/

Jesus said, "If you remain in my word, you are really my disciples. You will also know the truth, and the truth will set you free" (John 8:31-32). Amen.

It is the climactic scene of the movie "Braveheart". The mighty and numerous English army is lined up for battle on one side of the field. On the other side is the ragtag group of Scottish peasants. William Wallace, who has been leading Scots in guerilla warfare against the English, rides his horse back and forth in front of the Scottish army. He addresses the men shouting, "Sons of Scotland, I am William Wallace … and I see a whole army of my countrymen, here, in defiance of Tyranny. You've come to fight as free men, and free men you are. What will you do without freedom? Will you fight?" There are murmurs and denials from the soldiers.

One soldier admits, "Fight? Against that? No!" Soldiers yell in agreement. "We will run! And we will live."

Wallace challenges, "Aye. Fight and you may die. Run, and you'll live ... at least a while. And dying in your beds, many years from now, would you be willing to trade all the days, from this day to that, for one chance – just one chance – to come back here and tell our enemies that they may take our lives - but they'll never take our freedom!"

We love freedom! Especially here in America where colonialists fought the Revolutionary War for freedom from England, and the greatest generations fought in two World Wars to allow freedom to reign around the world. We love our freedom. So, we will blink back tears when we see brave soldiers returning home to the love and hugs of their families. These soldiers go to war to fight for our freedom of . But what are those freedoms? Patriotic Americans will clear their throats, square their soldiers, and speak confidently the words from the Declaration of Independence, "Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."

In our text, Jesus clears his throat, squares his shoulders, and speaks confidently to the Jews who believed in him, "If you remain in my word, you are really my disciples. You will also know the truth, and the truth will set you free" (John 8:31-32). The Jews countered with an untruth, "We are Abraham's descendants, and we have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say, 'You will be set free'" (John 8:33)? Their Jewish ancestors had been slaves in Egypt, Babylon, and Persia. These Jews standing before Jesus were presently under Roman rule.

These Jews were looking for a Messiah who would come to overthrow the tyranny of Rome and win their freedom from their oppressive lives. But the coming Messiah was already standing right in front of them. He was there to give them a different kind of freedom. It was a freedom from slavery to Satan and the shackles of sin that ensnared them. Jesus answered, "Amen, Amen, I tell you: Everyone who keeps committing sin is a slave to sin. But a slave does not remain in the family forever. A son does remain forever. So if the Son sets you free, you really will be free" (John 8:34-36).

In the sermon today, I'm going to tell you several stories of freedom. After hearing these stories, I want you to do two things. Think and pray about your own story of freedom through Jesus. Then consider how you can use any of these stories, in addition to your own story in witnessing to someone you love who has been enslaved by Satan and shackled by their sin. Let them know that Jesus has come as their Messiah to win their freedom!

Mary Magdalene had been possessed by seven demons (Luke 8:2). We aren't told what had happened to her or by her to allow these demons to take possession of her body and mind. We only know that she must have been tormented by these demons.

Yet the Son of God has authority over these fallen angels who torment his beloved people. Somewhere, Jesus interacted with Mary, and with the power of his words, he dispossessed her of those seven demons. In response, Mary became one of Jesus' most devoted followers. Along with other women, Mary helped financially support Jesus and his disciples. Because he had freed her from the demons' possession, she possessed a strong faith and love for her Freedom Fighter. She was among the group of ladies who gathered at Jesus' tomb on Easter Sunday. Before Jesus appeared to his disciples, his mother, or anyone else, he blessed Mary Magdalene by appearing to her first after his resurrection from the grave.

Martin Luther had been oppressed by the devil. Luther struggled mightily with his sin. As a young monk in the monastery, Luther would often flog himself as a form of penance to atone for his sins. He would often wake up at 3 am, fast to an extreme, and enumerate his sins to his father confessor.

Luther's self-punishment stemmed from a deep-seated obsession with his own sinfulness and a desperate desire to atone for it. This was because at this time in his life, Martin Luther saw Jesus not as a gracious Savior from sin, but as an angry Judge over sin.

Legend has it that the great Reformer once threw an inkwell at the Devil who had been incessantly accusing him. Whether or not this is true, Luther certainly had remarkable fits and fights with the old, evil foe who now means deadly woe.

Luther hated the justice of God where he punishes sinners. But by the grace of God, that all changed one night in 1519 in Luther's "tower experience." I'll let him tell you his story in his own words: "But I, blameless monk that I was, felt that before God I was a sinner with an extremely troubled conscience. I couldn't be sure that God was appeased by my satisfaction. I did not love, no, rather I hated the just God who punishes sinners. In silence, if I did not blaspheme, then certainly I grumbled vehemently and got angry at God. I said, 'Isn't it enough that we miserable sinners, lost for all eternity because of original sin, are oppressed by every kind of calamity through the Ten Commandments? Why does God heap sorrow upon sorrow through the Gospel and through the Gospel threaten us with his justice and his wrath?' This was how I was raging with wild and disturbed conscience. I constantly badgered St. Paul about that spot in Romans 1 and anxiously wanted to know what he meant.

"I meditated night and day on those words until at last, by the mercy of God, I paid attention to their context: 'The justice of God is revealed in it, as it is written: 'The just person lives by faith.' I began to understand that in this verse the justice of God is that by which the just person lives by a gift of God, that is by faith. I began to understand that this verse means that the justice of God is revealed through the Gospel, but it is a passive justice, i.e. that by which the merciful God justifies us by faith, as it is written: 'The just person lives by faith.' All at once I felt that I had been born again and entered into paradise itself through open gates. … I exalted this sweetest word of mine, 'the justice of God,' with as much love as before I had hated it with hate. This phrase of Paul was for me the very gate of paradise." Luther had been set free!

By God's grace, our Wisconsin Synod was established 175 years ago as German Lutherans came to America for religious freedom. Through all these years, Christ has been with us in established congregations, home mission churches, and foreign mission fields.

Several years ago in an established congregation, I counseled a wife who was having marital issues with her husband. We'll call her "May." In the middle of our counseling, she confessed, "I cheated on my husband 10 years ago. Every time I come into church, I ask God to forgive me for my affair." Her guilt was her penance. This was one of the saddest things I have ever heard. I told her, "Sweetheart, the first time you asked for forgiveness, you were forgiven. 'Satan' means 'Accuser.' He is accusing you day and night of your sin. Your guilt can't make up for your sin. But know that Jesus bled for your sin. He paid for your affair on the cross. His faithfulness to you is more powerful than your unfaithfulness to your husband. He's even removed your guilt. You're free!"

These last two stories are from friends of mine who served in the WELS foreign mission field. Rachel tells the story, "Kelly came to the capital to study to be a tour guide back in her hometown. A friend of hers invited her to our Christmas party. They came together. Kelly came not knowing what to expect. She was then invited to an 'English study' at our apartment. She heard God's Great Exchange and began crying because she felt such a huge weight had been lifted off her shoulders.

"Kelly said, 'Why didn't anyone ever tell me this before? I never knew this!' She then studied with us regularly before returning to her hometown. She was so happy to have learned about the Savior. She was hungry for the words of Scripture. It was awesome to see and so encouraging to all of us too!" Kelly had been set free!

Josh, who does one of the podcasts with me, tells this story, "In China, I was speaking to Sam, a college student who was interested in Christianity. I explained the whole story – creation, the fall, redemption, and salvation. Then he spit the whole thing back at me! He said, 'Is this all true?' 'Yes,' I said. Sam replied, 'Then please tell me, is there any reason I should not kill myself tonight? I want to go [to heaven] now!'"

Josh explained that purpose was not found in any pursuit outside of Christ, but that also means that here on earth Christ has a purpose for our existence. It also meant not only embracing Jesus as Savior, but also submitting to his will as Lord. It also means that all murder is wrong – even self-murder.

Josh continues with his story, "Sam continued Bible study for the rest of the year. He taught me how to properly cook rice … I was doing it wrong. And we spent time together rock climbing the University of Beijing. I baptized him a few weeks before I returned home. This is an experience I count amount the greatest privileges of my life." Sam had been set free!

Like Mary, Martin, May, Kelly, and Sam, you are slaves to your sinful nature. You will often feel oppressed by demons. Satan will keep accusing you by first telling you the sin isn't so bad and then after the sin telling you that God can't love a sinner like you. You'll attempt to do penance by overwhelming yourself with guilt. When you look at the evil in our world, you are convinced there are people out there possessed by demons. I don't disagree.

Bow your head and admit to God how acutely you feel this slavery and oppression.

Silent confession.

Brothers and sisters of Jesus, the Messiah of the new covenant has come and he has set you free. The Son of God left his throne in heaven to be nailed upon a wooden cross. He left the right hand of his heavenly Father so he could be forsaken by his heavenly Father. On the cross, Jesus put himself in our dark dungeon and released us into the light. He removed not only your sin, but also the guilt for your sin. Jesus didn't just talk about freedom to the Jews, he won freedom for all people - Mary, Martin, May, Kelly, Sam, and you.

You are fully and eternally free from all punishment for your sins. Jesus signed your pardon papers with his blood. He placed his seal on the papers when he broke the seal on his grave. He broke you free from the shackles of your sins. He released you from the guilt that imprisoned you. He gives you hope as you face the very real terror of your inevitable death. You have been set free from all the fear, sin, guilt, and death because Jesus crushed the power of sin, death, and Satan once had over you. You are no longer a prisoner, but a perfect, and perfectly free, child of God.

These are stories of freedom. Even more powerful than the story of freedom won by William Wallace against the English. These are stories we are blessed as Lutherans to believe and blessed through the ministry and mission of the WELS to share. Listen and believe these stories of freedom. Apply them to your life. But don't stop there. Share these stories with your loved ones who remain trapped by the devil's lies. Tell them the story of Jesus winning them freedom. Tell them the stories of Mary, Martin, May, Kelly, and Sam. Listen to their story. Respond with your story. Remind them, "If the Son sets you free, you really will be free" (John 8:36). Amen.

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not allow anyone to put the yoke of slavery on you again (Galatians 5:1). Amen.

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/freedom/

All these things are from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:18). Amen.

The Wisconsin Synod began in 1850 with three pastors. By 1862, the new synod president, John Bading, recognized that for the Wisconsin Synod to continue growing and remaining faithful to the Scriptures, it would need to develop its own source of pastors in the United States. The mission societies in Germany had been sending money and pastors to the New World. They were appreciated. But President Bading noticed issues for this new, fledgling church body. The monies and numbers of men were inconsistent. Also, the mission societies intentionally wanted men who were trained to serve both Lutheran and Reformed congregations. Confessional Lutheranism was not something that interested those sending the men.

President Bading's plea to the 1862 convention was insistent: "Old synodical congregations have been standing orphaned for many months. … Requests for preachers coming from new congregations who had not as yet joined the synod could not be granted even a hearing. … We cannot and dare not rely on Germany. … We must dig a well in our country, in our Synod, that will supply the workers. If we expect to wait with the institution until we are well-fixed financially, it will never materialize (Christ Through Us, p. 31).

The Wisconsin Synod established its own seminary in 1863. This was the same summer the Battle of Gettysburg was fought on the campus of one of the oldest Lutheran seminaries in the United States. Classes began in September of 1863 in a house in Watertown, Wisconsin with one student. By November, another student arrived. Within a year several more students were taking classes. The seminary was off and running.

The synod purchased 5 acres of land and broke ground on their first building in 1864. By September 1865, the synod had a seminary, a college, and a preparatory high school all on the same campus. "For now, a well had been dug in the Wisconsin Synod. With God's blessing, the new institutions would produce well-trained pastors to proclaim Christ in and through the synod." (Christ Through Us).

Already at the first convention in 1850, it had been resolved that pastors should engage themselves in the education of the youth, conducting day schools in addition to Sunday School. Usually, the local pastor was the teacher of the school. Not every one of these was an all-day, Monday through Friday institution. Classes were held as the pastor's time allowed, and farming work kept many children home from school. By 1860 nearly half of the synod's congregations had a weekday school. Some of the larger congregations in Milwaukee and elsewhere soon called teachers to free up the pastors from these school duties. Since there was a desire for better trained teachers and a steadier supply of them, a teacher training course was added to the Watertown college in the mid-1870s.

Our church body was founded to continue preaching and teaching God's salvation in churches, classrooms, and living rooms. It was founded to put into practice the words of Moses in Deuteronomy 6: "Listen, O Israel, and be conscientious about doing those things, so it may go well for you and so you may increase greatly in a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the Lord, the God of your fathers, promised you. Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God. The Lord is one! Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. These words that I am commanding you today are to be on your heart. 7Teach them diligently to your children, and speak about them when you sit in your house and when you walk on the road, when you lie down and when you get up" (Deuteronomy 6:3-7).

Did you notice how intense Moses is here? He describes a way of life that is totally saturated with God's Word inside and out. Perhaps many today would consider Moses' intensity to be overkill.

God's Word should be so well known that it becomes internal – "on your heart" – on the hearts of you and your children. God's Word is to be an ever-present reality on the hearts, minds, and lips of God's people. It isn't something we just hear and read, pray and sing on Sunday mornings. God's Word should capture our conversations – "speak about them." It should absorb our actions – "when you sit and when you walk." They should thread through our thoughts – "when you lie down and when you get up."

How do you start your day? Do you grab your phone to start scrolling social media? That doesn't set a good precedence for the day. How do you end your day? Do you watch videos on your phone while lying in bed? That doesn't allow you to get a good night's sleep. These are also a waste of the precious, limited amount of time God has given you.

What might be a better use of your time? In his Small Catechism, Martin Luther suggests making the sign of the cross, repeating the Apostles' Creed and the Lord's Prayer, and then praying his morning prayer. "Then go to your work with joy, singing a hymn, like one of the Ten Commandments or what your devotion may suggest" (The Small Catechism).

Gather your children together for prayer and a family devotion. Take 5 to 15 minutes a day in prayer, confession, and meditation on God's Word. Use online or written devotions from the WELS, read a portion of the Bible, and listen to podcasts of sermons, Bible studies, and discussions. (I think your pastor has a few podcasts you can listen to.)

Luther has similar advice for the evening. He again suggests making the sign of the cross to remind you of your Baptism, then reciting the Creed, the Lord's Prayer, and his evening prayer. "Then go to sleep immediately and cheerfully."

Gather your children together for prayer in the evening. Read a portion of Scripture or a family devotion. Pray a written prayer and add your own prayers from the heart. Turn off the lights. "Then go to sleep immediately and cheerfully."

The Israelites were to obey God's laws. "Now this is the body of commands, and these are the statutes and the ordinances that the Lord your God commanded me to teach you, so you may carry them out in the land to which you are crossing over to receive as a possession, so that you may fear the Lord your God by keeping all his statutes and his commandments, which I am commanding to you, as well as to your children and grandchildren, all the days of your life, and so that your days may be long" (Deuteronomy 6:1-2). Not only were they to listen to them, but they were to take them to heart. They were to put them into practice.

What is one of the best ways to learn how to do something? By teaching it to somebody else. Who better to teach than our children and grandchildren? But what do we do? Probably not that.

Take the time right now to bow your head. Confess to God how you fill up your heart with nonsense and the unimportant, instead of filling up your heart with what is important, essential, and eternal.

Silence for private confession.

Children of the heavenly Father, Jesus Christ has forgiven you. St. Paul writes, "God made him, who did not know sin, to become sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God in him" (2 Corinthians 5:21). Jesus made a Great Exchange. Because you fail to love God with your whole being, Jesus loved God above all things. Because you don't set aside Sunday as your Sabbath rest in the Lord, the Son of God worshiped the Triune God in the synagogue on the Sabbath. Because you fail to meditate on God's Word, Jesus is the Word made flesh to reconcile you to God. Because you fail to pray, Jesus went off to pray on his own, and taught his disciples to pray the Lord's Prayer.

The Pew Research Center released a study two years ago that found that only 35% of parents said that it was either "extremely" or "very" important to them that their children have beliefs similar to their own. 22% said it was "somewhat" important. While a shocking 43% said it was "not at all" or "not too" important that their children share religious beliefs similar to their own. They consider Moses' intensity to be overkill.

Another study found that 23% of Christian parents are worried their little ones might be rejected by their classmates if their faith becomes a public thing. God has laid out a plan in Deuteronomy 6 to pass the faith to the next generations. But sadly, there are many parents and grandparents who have devised their own plan – if kids don't know anything about their faith, they won't say anything about their faith; and if they don't say anything about their faith, no one will pick on them. Their logic is flawless … if the greatest duty of parents is to make sure their offspring have playmates. On the other hand, if you are concerned about seeing your children and grandchildren in heaven, then you will be sharing Jesus' salvation story when you are sitting at home, walking on the sidewalk, getting ready for bed, and getting ready for the day.

Parents and grandparents, there is no substitute for you. We are blessed at Lord of Lords to have active Sunday School teachers to train our little ones. We will be starting a youth group soon for regular Teen Bible studies and activities. Lord willing, we'll be making a trip next summer to the WELS International Youth Rally.

We are blessed to have 362 early childhood ministries, 284 Lutheran elementary schools, 29 area Lutheran high schools, 2 Preparatory schools, Martin Luther College, and Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary in the WELS. You support this Christian education in our church and church body with your offerings, prayers, efforts, and encouragement.

But the primary responsibility for the spiritual education and edification of children continues to reside with parents and grandparents. Not putting God's Word into the hearts, souls, and minds of your children is like sending your kids to school with no shoes, no lunch, and no lunch money. They are unprepared for the world.

Your children and grandchildren are little lambs in Christ's flock. Christ is the Great Shepherd of the sheep (Hebrews 11:20). He has assigned you to be his under-shepherds in the pasture of your home. The Devil is a roaring lion roaming around, seeking to devour your little lambs (1 Peter 5:18). He is the Enemy who seeks to rip faith from your child's soul.

Swing the sword of the Spirit against the lion's neck. Strike the lion against the cheek with your Catechism. Save the lambs from the lion's mouth by reminding them of their Baptism. Call upon God's angelic warriors for protection with your prayers.

As you read God's Word together, have spiritual discussions of how to put God's Word into practice. Discuss school events, political events, and current events with a Christian worldview.

Talk about your faith regularly and how it influences the decisions in your life. This allows them to know Christianity is not confined to one day a week. It influences every activity whether walking or talking, in the morning, afternoon, or evening.

Model your faith. Demonstrate repentance. Accept Christ's forgiveness. Joyfully serve the Lord in all you do. Your kids and grandkids will notice. Then they'll want to emulate you.

In the words of President Bading, a well has been dug in our synod. Now it's up to you to saturate yourself and your family in God's Word – inside and out. We thank the Lord of the Church for digging this well of the Water of Life with our Seminary, colleges, high schools, prep schools, elementary schools, and Sunday Schools. But you parents and grandparents are on the front lines. Research confirms you are the most significant influence on your young people's spiritual development. What you do now will influence the rest of their lives. This is Christ working through you. "Teach them diligently to your children, and speak about them when you sit in your house and when you walk on the road, when you lie down and when you get up" (Deuteronomy 6:7). Amen.

God has entrusted to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, inasmuch as God is making an appeal through us (2 Corinthians 5:20-21). Amen.

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/christ-through-us/

He came to what was his own, yet his own people did not accept him. But to all who did receive him, to those who believe in his name, he gave the right to become children of God (John 1:11-12). Amen.

"On the 300th anniversary of the Reformation (1817), one of the most powerful rulers in Germany attempted to unify both Lutheran and Reformed churches into one Evangelical church. The government mandated a common confession that blended Lutheran and Reformed beliefs. Those who opposed the policy had two choices: establish a free church, deprived of government financial support, or leave Germany. Some of them left and sought religious freedom in the United States. They were known as the Old Lutherans, or Strict Lutherans, and wanted to be free to practice their Lutheran faith" (Christ Through Us, p. 4).

"When they came to the American West, they carried their German Bibles, hymnbooks, and copies of devotion books from the old country and gathered in homes for worship, hymn singing, and Bible reading. Often there were no pastors to teach them or conduct services. Someone would be chosen to lead the singing and perhaps also to read. With so few pastors on the frontier, differences in doctrine were ignored. The German Christians, Reformed and Lutheran, simply agreed to disagree. The Lutheran Confessions remained silent protests to set aside for the sake of unity and convenience When the people established congregations, sometimes they were gatherings of both Lutheran and Reformed protestants" (Christ Through Us, p. 5).

"In reality, opposing doctrines often stood side by side in silent opposition and tension. The sound of axes and the struggle to create families, homes, and productive farms were more important" (Christ Through Us, p. 5).

Three pastors - John Muehlhaeuser, John Weinmann, and William Wrede – founded a new synod called the "German Evangelical Lutheran Ministerium of Wisconsin," which later became the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod. The official founding of the synod was on May 26, 1850, at Salem Lutheran Church in Granville, which is now part of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Though Strict Lutherans had fled Germany because of religious persecution, these three pastors did not care for the restrictive views of the Strict Lutherans. They preferred a Mild Lutheran synod that would allow them to also minister to the Reformed in their communities. The founding of our church body was not with strong, doctrinal, confessional Lutheran convictions. The beginning of the WELS was indeed small, even weak. We will discover over these three sermons and our ten-week Bible study on the history of the WELS, that this young Wisconsin Synod did something almost unheard of among Christian church bodies. By God's grace, it grew more biblically sound over it's 175 years.

Today we examine the blessing of Christ for us. It's a rare blessing from the Lord that any church body teaches the gospel with remarkable clarity, much less for 175 years. We haven't done anything to deserve this blessing. Instead, Christ has done everything for us. He died for us, he rose for us, he saved us, and he reconciled us to God the Father. St. Paul lays all this out for us in Romans 5.

Paul writes, "God shows his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). Paul explained earlier that what makes us sinners is that we are "ungodly" (Romans 5:6). Being godly means doing the will of God. But we do the opposite of God's will. We don't put God first in our lives. We take his holy name in vain. We don't worship God. We don't honor God's representatives in the home or government. We allow our temper to get the better of us. We lust, steal, covet, and gossip. All this makes us ungodly sinners.

And yet, while we were ungodly, Christ, the perfect God-Man, died for us. In our place. As our Substitute. Look at Jesus hanging dead on the cross and then think of all the biblical stand-ins – the ram that spared Isaac (Genesis 22:13); the Passover lamb (Exodus 12:21); the scapegoat of Yom Kippur (Leviticus 16:21), the Suffering Servant of Isaiah: "But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed" (Isaiah 53:5). Christ is the stand-in for sinners. Christ is the vicarious Victim.

Paul explains that being ungodly sinners, we are God's natural-born enemies. "Therefore, since we have now been justified by his blood, it is even more certain that we will be saved from God's wrath through him. For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, it is even more certain that, since we have been reconciled, we will be saved by his life" (Romans 5:9,10)

You may consider yourself a good, decent, hard-working, church-going, right-decision-making Christian. Still, even you are an ungodly, sinful, enemy of God. Yet, this is how God shows his love for us – while we were still sinners and God's enemies, Jesus Christ died for us. He took the place of his enemies. Not his family. Not his buddies. He died for those who wanted him dead. For those who wanted nothing to do with him. That's you and me.

One life in exchange for another. He becomes the sinner in place of every sinner; and we in him become the saint – holy and righteous before God. That's what Paul means when he says, "Since we have now been justified by his blood, it is even more certain that we will be saved from God's wrath through him." By saving us from God's righteous wrath, Jesus changed our eternal destination from hell to heaven. When God looks at you, he doesn't see your sin any more, but he sees the blood of his Son covering your sinfulness. He sees only little Jesuses. Even though your sins are many and great, Jesus' divine blood is greater. He became your sin in his death, and you received his life.

St. Paul continues, "For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, it is even more certain that, since we have been reconciled, we will be saved by his life. And not only is this so, but we also go on rejoicing confidently in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received this reconciliation" (Romans 5:10-11).

"Reconcile" means to win enemies over to friendliness. When I was playing soccer in college, there were players on a certain team that were taking me out. I was slide tackling them, too. It was rough! The ref had to get involved. But after the season was over, the players on that team invited me to their college to play indoor soccer on their intramural team. We had been sworn enemies. But we were reconciled.

Most of the time, when there is reconciliation between bitter opponents, warring nations, fighting spouses, or arguing neighbors, each party has to give a little to get a little. That's not the way it worked with our reconciliation with God. We were God's bitter enemies. While we remained enemies, Christ made peace with us. We weren't doing the work that was assigned to us. We cheated on God. We were unfaithful followers and disloyal children. Still, Jesus entered our world to restore peace between us and God. We didn't give up anything ... except our sins. Christ is the One who gave up everything – he gave up heaven to suffer hell on the cross; he gave his perfection to us; he who cannot die as God, became Man so that he could die.

On Good Friday, in the darkness of Jesus' death, God said to the world, "I am at peace with you." In your Baptism, when water was poured on you in the Name of the Triune God, the Father said, "I am at peace with you." In the Supper, with Jesus' own Body and Blood as his gift to you, God says again, "I am at peace with you."

Brothers and sisters, take the time right now to bow your head and repent of your being God's natural-born enemy – an enemy that killed the Son of God with your sins.

Silence for private confession.

Reconciled children of our Heavenly Father, you are forgiven. Your name is written in the wounds of Jesus. Christ has dipped his pen in the crimson ink of his divinely human veins and written your name in the Lamb's Book of Life. Jesus promises, "I certainly will not erase his name from the Book of Life, and I will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels" (Revelation 3:5). Jesus has engraved your name on the palms of his hands. God promises, "Look, I have inscribed you on the palms of my hands" (Isaiah 49:16). Jesus has now set up his divine kingdom within your heart. That means he rules over your soul, mind, and body. Jesus says, "The kingdom of God is within you" (Luke 17:21).

You were once at war with your heavenly Father. Like Adam and Eve, you ran away and tried hiding from God. But Jesus came as the Seed of the Woman and the Serpent-Crusher (Genesis 3:15). You are the flesh that will return to dust. But the Son of God is the Word who became flesh and dwelled among us (John 1:14). Jesus did all this to reconcile you to your heavenly Father. He has forgiven you. You are now God's friend. God's saint. God's child.

You did nothing to bring about this reconciliation. God did it all through Jesus Christ. In Baptism, you didn't commit yourself to Christ; he committed himself to you. In those waters he crucified you with himself, laid your body with his in the tomb, and he carried you forward into the light of eternal life. Jesus promises, "He who believes and is baptized shall be saved" (Mark 16:16). That faith is not a conviction you created but a gift you received. By the Holy Spirit you confess, "Jesus is Lord" (1 Corinthians 12:3).

Reconciled. Do you realize the implications? It isn't a matter of you "getting right with God" but of you believing that Christ has made you right with God. You weren't reconciled and made a Christian because you were so great a person, or had a heart that was so pure, or because you were so awesome that God just had to have you. Nope. It was because you were so unrighteous that Christ covered you with the clothing of his righteousness. It was because you were living for yourself that Christ lived for you, and then died for you, and then lives for you again. It wasn't because you asked Jesus to be your Savior that you were saved. It was because while you were still a sinner, Christ died for you, chose you, called you, and washed you clean in his own divine blood.

You might have heard people say, "God loves you just the way you are." That sounds nice and loving. But when people say that they are often using those words to excuse someone's sinful lifestyle and harmful choices.

A better way to speak is to say, "God loves you just the way you are. ... But he also loves you too much to let you stay that way."

God loved you while you were still a sinner and his enemy. But he didn't let you remain in your sin or continue as his enemy. You were an enemy that Jesus saw needed changing. He didn't leave you the way you were. What would be the point in that?

If you were going to stay the same, then what would have been the purpose of Jesus living and dying for you. No, while you were still an enemy of God, Jesus reconciled you to himself. He chose you while you were his enemy so he could make you a child of God. He chose you when you were a sinner so he could remake you into a saint. He chose you while you were still friends with the devil so he could remake you into a brother or sister of Christ.

By God's grace, this is the message of Christ for you that generations of Lutherans in the Wisconsin Synod have been blessed to hear for the past 175 years from pulpits in our churches, learn in the classrooms of our grade schools and high schools, receive from the water in the baptismal fonts, and accept in the Body and Blood at the Lord's Table. By that same grace of God, this is the message of Christ for you that has been proclaimed here at Lord of Lords for the past 45 years.

In this small church body we call the Wisconsin Synod, God has done something that is almost unheard of among Christian church bodies. "While most other church bodies have merged into larger bodies and lost their bodies and lost their distinctiveness or simply folded and disappeared into the mists of history as the decades have passed. But not the Wisconsin Synod" (Christ Through Us, viii). Our little Wisconsin Synod has grown more biblically sound over the past 175 years. That has only happened because we, always by God's grace, continue to proclaim a message of reconciliation – of Christ for us. Amen.

The Word became flesh and dwelled among us. We have seen his glory, the glory he has as the only-begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth (John 1:14). Amen.

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/christ-for-us/

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ (2 Thessalonians 1:2). Amen.

"My husband, Charlie, he wanted to save young men, just like the one who took his life. On the cross, our Savior said, 'Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.' That young man, I forgive him." Those are the words spoken two weeks ago by Erika Kirk at the funeral of her husband, Charlie Kirk.

It doesn't matter your political views. These were the heartfelt and heart-rending words of a widow to a man who had left her without a husband and their two young children without a father. Yet, she was able to extend Christ's forgiveness from the cross to her husband's murderer.

What about you? Are you able to forgive someone who has hurt you? Damaged you? Taken something valuable from you?

The widow of a slain Sheridan police officer made a powerful victim impact statement in court this week, saying she will "forever live with the agony" of what happened to her husband. She also said that she often finds it difficult to quell the "rage and bitterness" that remain with her since her husband's death. You can understand and appreciate her words, can't you?

Can you forgive your parents who were verbally abusive and physically unloving to you while growing up? Can you forgive the grown child who has forsaken your family and destroyed all relationships within the family? Can you forgive your former spouse for his harshness or her vindictiveness? Can you forgive the supervisor and coworkers for the toxic work environment you were exposed to? Can you forgive the pastor or teacher who failed you? Can you forgive the neighbor whose dogs and loud pick-up truck have no concept of time or noise?

Those are great questions. Perhaps all of them can be summed up with this question: "Do I have the faith to forgive?"

Jesus gives us a hard task when he teaches us about rebuking and forgiving. He says, "If your brother sins, rebuke him. If he repents, forgive him. Even if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times returns to you and says, 'I repent,' forgive him" (Luke 17:3-4). Both of these commands to rebuke and forgive are extremely difficult to put into practice. It's challenging to lovingly rebuke a fellow believer. Rebuke means to offer a strong correction of sinful behavior or to reprimand disordered actions. Rebuking is challenging. We'll be tempted to remain silent to keep the peace. Or be silent for fear of retribution. Or be silent for worry of being called a "hypocrite" or "self-righteous." Rebuking is also difficult because when we do speak up, we'll be tempted to be too harsh or too personal with our criticism. Or we speak up and we open old wounds or create new ones. So, we can harm people with no rebuke or damage them with too strong of a rebuke.

We are called by Jesus to rebuke with the purpose of leading the person to repentance, restoration, and Christ's forgiveness. Rebuking serves to redirect someone who has gone astray, leading them to return to the path of Jesus Christ.

Equally challenging is to forgive the person who has hurt you. We may think we are letting them off the hook if we forgive quickly. Or we are giving them a license to keep on sinning against us if we forgive too often. Or we may question the sincerity of their sorrow when they start doing the same thing over and over. Or we may want them to show us proper contrition with tears, guilt, and some form of penance. We want them to "earn" our forgiveness with their actions.

It's more natural to ignore an offense or to allow it to fester within our heart than to lovingly rebuke. It's more natural for us to seek revenge or to hold a grudge than to forgive.

You know from experience how difficult it is to forgive. And then others make it even more difficult! Your coworker apologizes for some minor offense by saying, "I'm sorry." You reply, "I forgive you." Then your coworker takes offense. She feels that what she didn't wasn't so awful that she needed forgiveness!

You also know from experience that when Jesus encourages you to turn the other cheek, people will then line up to swat you on the other cheek. When Jesus invites you to forgive seventy-seven times, people will sin against you another seventy-six times.

There were plenty of people on social media who criticized Erika Kirk for her forgiveness. On a side note – social media can be fun, informative, and a unique way to share the gospel. It is also a cesspool of evil. Reading and responding to social media comments on my podcasts are a level of hell that I don't like dipping my toe into!

Some were saying on social media that it was weak for Erika to forgive her husband's killer. They don't understand the divine strength it takes to forgive in Christ's name. Apparently, those critics believe we're only supposed to forgive people once they give a perfectly worded apology. One comment read, "God only forgives those that ask for it. Forgiving someone when they haven't asked for forgiveness is not godly, its virtue signaling."

Jesus doesn't present forgiveness as an encouragement or a suggestion. It's a command. Jesus says multiple times in our Gospel, "Forgive him." We pray in the Lord's Prayer that if we withhold forgiveness, we should not expect forgiveness from our Father in heaven. "Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us." St. Paul echoes this, calling believers to forgive, "just as God in Christ has forgiven us" (Ephesians 4:32).

Forgiveness is not about excusing sin or excusing justice. It's about personally reflecting God's mercy. Remember, Jesus asked his Father to forgive us on the cross, even while we remained unrepentant, "Father, forgive them for they don't know what they're doing." St. Paul puts it this way, "While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8).

Others mocked Erika that she could smile and laugh at her husband's funeral. Some of the biggest smiles and loudest laughs I've ever heard have been at Christian funerals. Like St. Paul says, we Christians do not mourn as those who have no hope (1 Thessalonians 4:13). Our smiles, memories, and peace in the face of heartbreaking tragedies are not signs of denial or weakness. They are rooted in Christ's resurrection from the grave. One comment summarized this well, "If you can't fathom how Erika Kirk could dare smile today, maybe it's because you need to meet her God."

The apostles had met their God. He was standing right in front of them in the person of Jesus Christ! They realized how hard it was to forgive … and keep on forgiving. They responded, "Increase our faith" (Luke 17:5). The apostles recognized how humanly impossible it is to forgive. The sinful nature within every human refuses to rebuke, delays forgiveness, and harbors grudges. Cognizant of their own weakness and inability to carry out Jesus' command, they cried out to Jesus, "Increase our faith!"

What a beautifully simplistic prayer for us to bring to the Lord each day. Just as we are to daily pray for forgiveness, so we are to daily pray for an increase of faith so we can forgive. Include praying the Lord's Prayer to increase your faith to forgive. Pray the Lord's Prayer on your own. When you are upset with someone, pray with them. Then, pray the Lord's Prayer with them. It's hard to stay mad at someone when you're praying with them.

Jesus responds to their prayer for increased faith by saying, "If you had faith like a mustard seed, you could tell this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it would obey you" (Luke 17:6). Jesus knows how impossible it is for us to keep forgiving someone over and over again for the same sins. Still, he commands us to forgive. What Jesus commands us to do, he empowers us to do. So, when we ask, "Do I have the faith to forgive," Jesus answers with a definitive "Yes!" He gives you the ability to forgive through the power of the Holy Spirit through faith in him as your Savior. This is a faith that was instilled in you through Baptism or conversion. A faith that grows through constant use of Word and Sacraments.

Jesus was not teaching us to fling trees into oceans. That's good! Because where we live, we have very few trees and even fewer oceans.

Even a faith as small as a mustard seed can enable us to forgive and then do everything else we need to do as God's kingdom servants. If you trust in Jesus, you have enough faith to forgive even as you have been forgiven. You have the faith to do impossible things for Christ's kingdom.

We're going to do something right now that I haven't done before in a sermon. But I think this will be helpful today and going forward in future sermons. Please bow your head. Speak to God as you privately confess your sins of failing to forgive someone for their sins against you.

Silence for private confession.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, Jesus has forgiven you for your lack of forgiveness. He does not withhold forgiveness from you. Instead of drowning you in the depths of the sea with a millstone necklace, he has drowned your sins in the deep waters of the baptismal font. Instead of demanding that you toss around mulberry trees, Jesus was crucified upon the tree of the cross. Jesus did not wait for you to be repentant before he forgave you. He prayed on the cross, "Father, forgive them – these unrepentant sinners – for they have no clue what they're doing." You are forgiven. Go in peace.

Jesus teaches, "Which one of you who has a servant plowing or taking care of sheep will say to him when he comes in from the field, 'Come at once and recline at the table'? Won't the master tell him instead, 'Prepare my supper, and after you are properly dressed, serve me while I eat and drink. After that you may eat and drink'? He does not thank the servant because he did what he was commanded to do, does he? So also you, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, 'We are unworthy servants. We have only done what we were supposed to do'" (Luke 17:7-10).

The Lord who calls you to repeatedly forgive has not grown weary of forgiving your daily trespasses. The Lord who calls for humble plowing, shepherding, and table-waiting within his kingdom, also wrapped a towel around his waist to wash his disciples' feet. Now he wraps a towel around his waist to wash away your sins with his baptismal waters. He doesn't expect you to prepare a table for him. Instead, he invites you today to his holy table. The Lord, to whom we owe eternal service, chooses to serve you through his means of Word and Sacraments. The Lord, in whom you put your faith, promises to be the power behind even your tiny, mustard seed faith.

With an increase of faith in our gracious and powerful Savior, we can defy the laws of nature and science. With our Master serving us, we simply do what we are commanded to do as his grateful and unworthy servants. We can forgive unconditionally. We can serve faithfully.

Tim Allen, the star of shows like Home Improvement and Last Man Standing, expressed how much of an impact Erika's speech had on him. Allen's father died in 1964 after a drunk driver's vehicle collided with his vehicle. Allen was 11 years old at the time of his father's death. Tim Allen posted on X, "When Erika Kirk spoke the words on the man who killed her husband: 'That man … that young man … I forgive him.' That moment deeply affected me. I have struggled for over 60 years to forgive the man who killed my Dad. I will say those words now as I type: 'I forgive the man who killed my father.' Peace be with you all."

We can rightly ask like Jesus' apostles, "Do I have the faith to forgive?" Yes, you do. Because Jesus' forgiveness gives you both the faith and the ability to forgive. Jesus' words forgive you. Your words forgive others. And your words of forgiveness releases others to forgive. Believe these words. Live these words. Pronounce these words. These words that you are blessed to hear in worship: "God, our heavenly Father, has forgiven all your sins. By the perfect life and innocent death of our Lord Jesus Christ, he has removed your guilt forever. You are his own dear child. May God give you strength to live according to his will." Amen.

We are always praying for you, that our God will make you worthy of your calling and use his power to fulfill every good desire and work of your faith, so that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you and you in him (2 Thessalonians 1:11, 12). Amen.

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/do-i-have-the-faith-to-forgive/

Sermon Overview: There is a war going on. There is a spiritual fight for souls that is being fought. As Christians, we are squarely in the middle, caught between heaven and hell here on earth. But that's why this festival of St. Michael and All Angels is so important. It reminds us that Satan and his minions have been conquered – not with gold or silver, or moneybags or knapsacks, not with guns or tanks or even flaming swords. "[The angels] overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony." Satan has fallen. He has been struck down by a lamb on a stick – Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God on a cross. Dragons should easily defeat lambs, but not when the Lamb is the Son of God! The wounds of the Lamb mortally wounded the dragon.

Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ (Revelation 12:10). Amen.

He was a Christian apologist – a defender of the Christian faith through discourse and debate. He hadn't always been a strong proponent of Christ. But then he encountered a Christian who challenged his philosophies and encouraged him to the deeper calling of the higher religious authority of Jesus Christ. This became this young man's turning point.

That interaction ignited a new passion within him. He dedicated his life to teaching and defending the Christian faith in the public square. He welcomed debates. He debated life issues and the sexual deviancy of the culture by always pointing to Jesus Christ – his morals, virtues, and salvation. For this debate, his voice was silenced. He met his death with a blow to the neck by his enemies.

This was the life and death of Justin Martyr, an early Christian apologist, who was martyred for his faith by being beheaded in the second century AD.

God's people have been murdered for their faith almost from the beginning. Abel was killed by his brother because of Cain's jealousy. The infant boys in Jerusalem were slaughtered by King Herod's soldiers because of their proximity to the Christ child. Stephen was stoned to death and became the first martyr of the Christian Church because he boldly and bluntly preached Jesus to Christ's enemies.

It has been said that the blood of martyrs is the seed of the Christian Church. When Christians are persecuted, the Church propagates. When Christians suffer, the Church spreads. When Christians are imprisoned, the Church becomes impassioned. When Christians are martyred, the Church matures and multiplies. The blood of Christians is shed because we Christians are in a war.

This is a war that has been raging since the beginning of time. It's a war that continues to this day. It's a war that will continue until Judgment Day. You feel the wounds. You bear the scars.

The war began in heaven. St. John writes: "There was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. The great dragon was hurled down-- that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him" (Revelation 12:7-9).

The Lord kicked Satan out of heaven. God called upon St. Michael and his fellow angels to be his enforcers. The devil became a trespasser on God's property, and the holy angels were the military force who made sure he left. Satan is pictured as a huge, red, seven-headed dragon, the ancient serpent from the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:1). The dragon and his angelic allies did not want to go quietly. It became necessary to boot them out by force. So, there was war in heaven, a titanic struggle between the hosts of heaven and the hosts of hell. Jesus witnessed their ultimate demise with his crucifixion and resurrection, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven" (Luke 10:18).

The great news for us is that St. Michael and his angelic army are more powerful than Satan and his angelic allies. The bad news for us is that this spiritual war in the heavenly realms has been brought to earth. "He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him. ...Woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has gone down to you! He is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short" (Revelation 12:9, 12).

There is an ongoing war in our society. It is a culture war for the hearts and minds – and souls – of our young people. We are in a war against those who want to destroy the Christian faith, those who are acting in allegiance with the Father of Lies.

Satan is filled with furious rage against God. He knows he has a limited time before Judgment Day ends all his wicked activity forever. So, he is busy, attacking ferociously like a dragon. One goal of Satan is to silence Christians, Christian churches, and Christian pastors. How does he do this?

You've probably been told that churches and pastors should not engage in discussing anything political. So, what does Satan do? Everything that used to be moral is now political. Everything that used to be spiritual is now social. Everything that used to be theological is now cultural. Transgenderism, gay marriage, abortion, justice, race, male and female relations, etc. Today, those are all political issues. But they are cultural issues, first. Before that, they are moral issues. And moral issues mean they are ultimately theological issues. Therefore, we need to speak to them to apply God's powerful and eternal Word to solving these issues.

People – especially young people – are looking for answers. Specifically answers on social, cultural, and political issues. What happens if pastors and churches are not giving them the biblical answers to their cultural questions? They'll seek their answers elsewhere. From another church. From another pastor. From secular society – which is where Satan reigns as the Prince of this World.

We – pastors, churches, people – need to be willing to discuss social, cultural, and even political issues. This is how we bring Jesus and his Word into the discussion. This is how we introduce and engage people with our Lord and Savior. We can tell them he is the One who lived perfectly in their place to exchange his righteousness for their unrighteous living with sexual sins, mistreatment of the opposite sex, having an abortion, and so on. We can tell them that Jesus rose from the dead, ascended into heaven, and is seated on his glorious throne ruling all things for the good of his people. He is in control amid injustice, racism, political upheaval, mass shootings, and assassinations. We preach that Christ is the glorious King of Kings who always defeats the lowly Prince of this World.

Satan desires for Christians to be silent on cultural, moral, and political issues. Then the only ones talking are him and his minions. Christ desires for Christians to speak on cultural, moral, and political issues. Then we unleash the power of the Holy Spirit in the words that come from our mouths into the ears and hearts of those who are trapped by the lies of the Father of Lies.

The so-called "Christian" culture of the past fifty years was a delusion of Satan to create a merely superficial, Sunday morning faith. That faith won't hold up in the Last Judgment, nor will it hold up in our modern culture. Christianity cannot be something we engage only on Sunday mornings. Our Christian faith must permeate everything we think, say, and do at home, work, school, athletic field, political rhetoric, etc. Christianity is not a club we belong to or a job we go to. Christ living in our hearts and reigning in our lives is our very core as Christians.

Christians are often on the defensive in this cultural and spiritual war. Look at who we are going against! A dragon! A demonic horde! Enemies who want us canceled, imprisoned, and killed. Of course, we're afraid and on the defensive!

Yet, what does Jesus promise? He says that the gates of hell cannot stand against his Church (Matthew 16:18). This is a clear statement of fact, a declaration of spiritual reality. It is a call for Christians to be confident in the clear Word of God, and to apply this Word in our lives even as we declare its truth to a culture that purposely ignores it. We often see that those who hate Christ are more outspoken than those who love Christ. We have fought this spiritual war poorly. We've been lackadaisical, indifferent, apathetic – even pathetic – in this war. We've laid down our weapons, silenced our mouths, and shut our Bibles.

Fellow soldiers of the cross, we need to go on the offensive again. Not with the physical weapons of modern warfare, but with the ancient and time-tested weapons of the gospel. St. Paul gives us our marching orders: "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can stand against the schemes of the Devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. For this reason, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to take a stand on the evil day and, after you have done everything, to stand. Stand, then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness fastened in place, and with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace tied to your feet like sandals. At all times hold up the shield of faith, with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the Evil One. Also take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God" (Ephesians 6:10-17).

Christians are called to speak up in the public square and on social media platforms about good and godly things. We received this directive from St. Paul: "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if anything is excellent, and if anything is praiseworthy, think about these things. The things that you learned, received, heard, and saw in me: Keep doing these things" (Philippians 4:8,9). We think about these things to protect them – and speak about these things to project them.

The Devil is the Ruler of this World (John 12:31). But we must go on the offensive to break Satan's stranglehold on our culture. Jesus wants to use his Word to bring freedom for those enslaved in sin, and hope for those deluded by temptation. It is not our goal to change the culture, but to preach Jesus Christ and him crucified into the culture.

The devil hates order. That's why Satan attacks marriage, family, and life. He fosters confusion. That's why he makes people imagine there are dozens of genders. He loves chaos. That's why he creates violence in our cities. He champions death. That's why his sacrament is the murder of the unborn. The devil's goal is to hate, kill, and destroy.

Speaking the truth in love is a form of spiritual warfare. All lies come from the Father of Lies. All truth comes from Jesus Christ who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6). Preaching truth isn't about siding with a political party. It's about proclaiming God's design, God's justice, and God's grace into every area of life. When we do this boldly, but with love, the gospel shines brighter. We remind people that Christ is not only Savior of their souls, but also the Lord over all creation. Satan wants silence, but Jesus commands proclamation. That means speaking truth, with grace, into every sphere – personal, cultural, and yes, even political, so that hearts are transformed and God is glorified.

We have been equipped and sent by the Lord. We don't rejoice that we can trample on snakes or scorpions. We rejoice that Christ has already won the eternal victory. He saw Satan fall like lightening from the sky. He has granted us his victory by writing our names in the Book of Life through our Baptism and conversion.

Now, as his baptized and equipped soldiers, we don't wait. We don't sit still. We don't remain silent. We fight. Not with fists, but on our knees. We pray for Jesus' kingdom to come and Satan's kingdom to be defeated. We pray for God's will to be done and Satan's will to be broken. We pray for God to deliver us from the Evil One. Demonic shrieks, screams, and shouts cannot drown out our prayers. "The Lord is far away from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous" (Proverbs 15:29).

God has promised that St. Michael and his angelic army are fighting for us in the spiritual realms. All the plans of the Evil One will ultimately fail. We may be canceled, but more importantly, Christ has canceled our sins. We may be imprisoned, but more importantly, we have found freedom in Christ's forgiveness. We may be martyred, but more importantly, we will have gained our ultimate victory of being with Christ Jesus. The Word of Christ still drives out demons, and his Church will prevail against the gates of hell. The blood of martyrs is the seed of the Christian Church. Amen.

They conquered him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony (Revelation 12:11). Amen.

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/heavens-war-brought-to-earth/

Sermon Overview: There are more than 2,300 Bible passages that speak about money. Why? Money is a master Satan frequently tempts us to serve. In fact, out of all the masters competing for our service besides God, money is probably at the top of the list. Money provides us with a false comfort and sense of security. Money serves as a source of pride. This week, Jesus’ sharp words identify the impossibility of serving more than one master. More, Jesus teaches that if we dedicate our lives in service to money, money will always let us down. In contrast, God has proven that he is a master worth serving. When we serve God, money is put in its proper place. Instead of it being a master to serve, it becomes a tool in our service of our true Master.

But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we certainly cannot take anything out (1 Timothy 6:6-7). Amen.

You've been dreading this day. Your dad passed away a decade ago. Last week you moved your mom and a few of her things into assisted living. Now you have to go into your parents' house to clean it out and get it ready for sale. Your parents raised you and your siblings in that house. They've owned it for the past fifty years. ... And there's fifty years of accumulated stuff in that house.

Your dad's clothes are still there. It was difficult for your mom to go through them. Your high school athletic trophies, your sister's Barbie's and Cabbage Patch dolls, and your brother's grade school artwork are all there. The kitchen cupboards are full of Tupperware. The bathroom cabinet still has Avon bottles. The living room shelves have Hummel figurines collecting dust. The garage is filled with old tools, jars of nails and screws, and half-finished projects.

You know what I'm talking about. Your parents' houses are filled because they never threw anything away. Their generation horded because they lived through depressions and recessions.

You know what I'm talking about. Your house is filled because you keep buying stuff on Amazon or at Wal-Mart or Menards'. Your house is full. Your garage is full. You may even have a storage shed that's full. Our generation throws things away so we can buy more things. Our generation is hoarders, too.

We all hoard to one extent or another. We are guilty of taking something beneficial and twisting it into something that wastes time, consumes our focus, or crowds out what is godly. We may hoard our favorite hobby, our kids' athletic schedules, our binge-watching of videos, or the constant scrolling on our phone. We can hoard money, food, clothing, entertainment, activities, family time, work time, and so on.

King Solomon in Ecclesiastes 5 warns that anything in the world – even the good and godly gifts of God – can become temptations to hoard. This hoarding will harm us. The hoarding can harm us physically when the piles fall and crush us. More likely, the hoarding will harm us spiritually because these piles of stuff create a barrier between us and the God who gives us all the stuff.

Solomon writes, "Anyone who loves money is never satisfied with money, and anyone who loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is vanishing vapor" (Ecclesiastes 5:10). The homeless person desires a better shopping cart or park bench. We desire a bigger raise, a better neighborhood, or a newer truck. If we live according to what our sinful flesh wants, whatever we have will never be enough. No amount of money can satisfy a person's deepest longings. We will just keep hoarding.

"When goods increase, so do those who eat them. What profit, then, does the owner get, except to see these things with his eyes" (Ecclesiastes 5:11)? Maybe you have a house, garage, yard, and shed – all filled with stuff collecting dust. Does hoarding all that stuff make you happier? We can only use so much. Everything else sits there for us to look at.

"The worker's sleep is sweet, whether he eats little or much, but a rich person's abundant possessions allow him no sleep" (Ecclesiastes 5:12). The homeless person will worry about losing his tent to the police. The middle-class person will worry about losing his RV to the Wyoming winds. The wealthy person will worry about losing his yacht to the economy. Wealth causes us to worry.

"I have seen a sickening evil under the sun―wealth hoarded by its owner to his own harm, or wealth that is lost in a bad investment. Or a man fathers a son, but he has nothing left in his hand to give him" (Ecclesiastes 5:13-14). We can hoard wealth in bank accounts, the stock market, and 401Ks, so we are able to retire comfortably and leave an inheritance to our family. But Solomon reminds us that our futures and fortunes can be lost through a moment of misfortune – a long illness, a stock market crash, a natural disaster, an expensive nursing home – and the nest egg is wiped out. We are left with as little at the end of our life that we had at the beginning of our life. "As he came out from his mother's womb, so he will go again, naked as he came" (Ecclesiastes 5:15).

Solomon ends with this dark expectation. "Just as he came, so he will go. So what does he gain, he who works for the wind? Besides this, during all his days he eats in darkness, with great frustration, sickness, and anger" (Ecclesiastes 5:16-17). If we are attempting to find safety, security, and satisfaction in our wealth, or peace and contentment in our possessions, or happiness and joy in our stuff, it's all futile. It's like trying to catch the wind.

Jesus does not abandon us to our sinful hoarding impulses. Instead, he pursues us, calls us to repentance, and embraces us with his gospel. Jesus understands how much we are tempted to hoard all of God's blessings and turn them into curses. That's why there are over 2300 Bible verses that speak about money. Money is a master that Satan wants us to serve. Jesus knows this. That's why he told the parable about the rich man and the wicked manager. Jesus summarizes the parable saying, "No servant can serve two masters. Indeed, either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and mammon" (Luke 16:13).

We need to repent of our hoarding. We want to replace the hoarding with hard work. Hard work is good and godly. But we can hijack and hoard hard work, just like anything else. So, before we can focus on our hard work, we must first appreciate and accept Jesus' hard work.

Jesus Christ did the hard work of leaving his throne room in heaven to be born in a manger. He did the hard work of being baptized for our sins and going into the desert to defeat the devil's temptations. He did the hard work of refusing to hoard anything, but instead lived without house, garage, or shed. He had to borrow places to sleep, a donkey to ride, and even a grave to lay in. He did the hard work of suffering for humanity's sins, being forsaken by his Father, and giving up his life as a ransom for many. He even did the hard work of rising from the dead on the third day.

Jesus found great joy in all that hard work. His reward is seeing us believe in him as Savior so he can transfer that hard work to us. He found great joy and reward in redeeming our body and soul for the life to come.

We also rightly believe – but perhaps forget to emphasize – that Jesus redeems our body and soul for this life here and now. Jesus loved God above all things so you can love God above all things. Jesus loved his neighbor so you can love your neighbor. In everything Jesus ever did he glorified God. It is through faith in Jesus, the Holy Spirit gives you the occasion, motivation, and sanctification so "whether you eat or drink, or do anything else, you do everything to the glory of God" (1 Corinthians 10:31).

The only way St. Paul's words to Pastor Timothy make any sense is if you have faith in Jesus redeeming your body and soul, work and possessions. "But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we certainly cannot take anything out. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be satisfied" (1 Timothy 6:6-8). Jesus being present with you provides joy in your home, satisfaction with your work, and fulfillment with your education. You are content whether you are blessed with a lot or a little.

We find satisfaction first in Jesus' hard work in saving us. That is our motivation to do any hard work in his name. We talked about this today in Bible class. It is the doctrine of vocation.

There is a difference between a job and a vocation. A job is something you go to, do, get paid for, and leave. A vocation is something you do first for God, then family, and then neighbor. It is putting your faith into practice. You may or may not get paid for it. The reimbursement is not important. Your motivation is what's important. A vocation is something you do ... and you can't help doing it.

You find satisfaction in your vocation as you do the work God has given you to do. You are glad to do it – and you don't need a lot of money as payment for continuing to do it. The reward is not in all the stuff you get from your job. The reward is serving God in whatever you choose to do within your vocation.

Instead of hoarding, Solomon encourages us to hard work. "So then, here is what I have seen to be good: It is beautiful to eat, to drink, and to look for good in all a person's hard work which he has done under the sun, during the few days of his life that God has given him, for that is his reward. Likewise, for everyone to whom God has given wealth and riches, if God has also given him ability to eat from it, to enjoy his reward, and to rejoice in the results of his hard work―this is a gift of God, for the man seldom reflects on the days of his life, since God keeps him busy with the joy in his heart" (Ecclesiastes 5:18-20).

You find reward as you realize all your hard work, callouses, sore muscles, and exhausted mind, are gifts of God for a job well done. You can end each day with reflection and prayer – on your own, with your spouse, with your family – thanking God that he kept you busy with Christ's joy in your heart.

The parents find joy in the struggles with their children to sit still and stay quiet during church because they are teaching their children the way they should go so they do not depart from their Christian faith.

The wife finds satisfaction in being a stay-at-home mom – even though it will be difficult living on one income – because she knows no one will love, care for, and nurture her children better than her.

The husband finds contentment passing on a promotion, so he has evenings free with his wife and weekends free to take his kids fishing.

The members find fulfillment with their offerings, their efforts, and the tithes in their wills for the ministry of their church because they have just prayed in the Prayer of the Day, "Move our hearts to seek you and your kingdom, that all good things may be given to us as well."

The couple finds reward in having an elderly parent move in with them because they know no one will love, care for, and nurture their parent better than them.

The elderly lady finds peace that though she has lost her independence, she is allowing her children or her care workers to show their love for her and glorify God in all they do for her.

The Christian apologist finds satisfaction in going into the lions' dean of college campuses to challenge the demonic doctrines of the day.

Without faith in Jesus, our lives are like vapor. With faith in Jesus, our lives find value. Without the focus on God's Kingdom, our work is just hard. With the focus on glorifying God in all we do, our hard work is a reward. Without Christian love motivating everything we do, we are just busy. But when we emphasize loving God and loving our neighbor above all things, we find joy in our busyness.

Because Jesus worked hard for us, now we work hard for him. Our life is not in what we can hoard. Our life – both this life and the next life – is in Christ and what he's given us to do with the hard work within our vocations. Amen.

Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and willing to share. In this way they are storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life (1 Timothy 6:18-19). Amen.

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/hard-work-or-hoarding/

To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his own blood and made us a kingdom and priests to God his Father—to him be the glory and the power forever (Revelation 1:5–7). Amen.

A few weeks back, a Kentucky nurse rescued the life of a baby raccoon by performing CPR on it. Misty Combs, a 21-year nursing veteran was at work at her health center, which is located next to the Kentucky Mist Moonshine distillery. Combs and her coworkers noticed a panicked raccoon darting through the parking lot. Then, they heard a commotion from a nearby dumpster. Combs realized the mother raccoon was frantic to find her babies which were lost in the dumpster next to the distillery.

The two baby raccoons had gotten stuck in the dumpster. Combs grabbed a shovel and scooped out the first raccoon, who ran to be with its mom. The second raccoon, however, was face down in the bottom of the dumpster, which was filled with water and peaches soaked in moonshine.

The raccoon was drunk as a skunk ... or maybe it was a tipsy trash panda.

She grabbed the raccoon by the tail and pulled him to safety. But she realized that he had drowned in the moonshine. So, she began performing CPR on the little guy. After a while, the raccoon was revived and later returned to its mother.

How far would you go to save a baby raccoon? Would you perform CPR on it? How far would you travel to find a lost sheep? How long would you look to find a lost coin? Would you be able to welcome back a wife who had become a prostitute, like God was calling the prophet Hosea to do with his harlot wife? Would you be able to welcome back into your church a young man who had repented of an incestuous relationship with his stepmother, like St. Paul was encouraging the Corinthian congregation to do?

Or, with the events of this week, how far would you go in forgiving someone who celebrated the assassination of another citizen?

How far would you go in looking for the lost? And then rejoicing when they are found?

Today we see how far Jesus goes in looking for us when we become lost. We also discover how much rejoicing God and his angels do in heaven when we are found.

Most of us, at one time or another, have felt wasted like the raccoon, or gotten into trouble like a dumb sheep, or disordered our lives and the lives of others because of our sexual choices, or said and done extremely cruel things on social media or in person. As a result, we have felt unloved, unwanted, unappreciated. Alone, apart, abandoned. We're pretty sure that if we became lost, nobody would notice.

If that's the way you've felt or feel, I've got some good news for you. God notices and God most definitely cares. So that you will never be alone, so that you will never be completely unappreciated, so that you might be forgiven and saved – Jesus comes and searches for you. Some people might not like us all that much, but Jesus loves us that much!

God searches for every lost sheep, every lost coin, every lost soul. He never resigns himself to accepting the loss and moving on. He never thinks 9 out of 10 or 99 out of 100 is good enough. He doesn't believe in "acceptable losses." There is no price too high for Jesus to pay to save us from our brokenness. There is no suffering too painful that Jesus won't endure to restore us through his forgiveness. There is no length of time too great that Jesus won't wait for us to be found.

There were some in Jesus' day who recognized this and came "flocking" to him. The tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to Jesus and he was delighted. These were the outcasts, the downcast, the dregs of society. Yet, Jesus would accept them just as they were, without one plea. He would look at such people and see that they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd (Matthew 9:36). He had come to help them. Not by approving of their sin, but by taking it away. Not by ignoring that they were trapped by their addictive behavior, but by setting them free from their bondage to sin. Not by confirming their alternate lifestyle, but by giving them a new life to live. A life of hope. A life of faith. A life of being different than they once were. All by being their Good Shepherd.

But many of the religious leaders in Jesus' day did not understand this kind of grace. Sadly, many Christians in our day do not truly understand the grace of their Good Shepherd. They look down their noses at the unwed mother, think poorly of the divorced dad, are afraid of the convict, disown the addicted son, or abandon the child trapped by sexual sins. These Christians behave like the hypocrites so many in society believe we are.

These hypocritical Christians want a God who acts more like they act! They want a God who is always watching and waiting, with judgment on his lips and lightning bolts in hands. A God who is willing to promote those who appear righteous and who is ready to punish the imperfect.

Does that describe how you feel at times? A little self-righteous? And a lot hypocritical?

But that's not the kind of God Jesus describes, is it? This is a God who is like a man scrambling around in the arid Judean wilderness, desperately searching for one lost sheep. This is a God who is like a pitiful woman on her hands and knees, scraping the dirt floor of her home, grubbing around for a coin worth a day's wage. Isn't that beneath God? Isn't God acting rather desperately, irrationally, shamefully?

That's why the scribes and Pharisees criticized Jesus when they saw him acting like that – "welcoming sinners and eating with them" (Luke 15:2). They must have been thinking, "He may claim to be God or a prophet from God, but if he really was, he wouldn't be associating with tax collectors and prostitutes!" That's like the President joining the grass cutting crew in front of the White House, with cargo shorts and black socks with his sneakers! Or like the Pope sweeping St. Peter's Square after Easter services. It's just not done. Oh, maybe for a "photo op," but not really. That's beneath them. Associating with lost souls is beneath God and his holiness, too, isn't it?

Well, apparently not! For God came into our world literally on his hands and knees, as a baby, crawling to find you. He came to love the children of Israel who kept committing idolatry and adultery with foreign gods. They were prostituting themselves, just like Hosea's wife. Yet, God welcomed them back as a husband welcomes back his unfaithful wife (Hosea 3:1-5). He came for those "overwhelmed by excessive sorrow," like the repentant Corinthian church member who had been in an incestuous relationship with his stepmother (2 Corinthians 5:7). He came for the chief of sinners and shed his blood for me" (CW: 385).

We need Jesus to come looking for us. For we are dying – dying of hostility as much we are of cancer. We are dying of despair as much as by disease. We are dying of the stubborn, self-righteous pride that threatens us as much as any murderer's bullets or terrorist's bombs.

Think about who we really are. We are worse – far worse – than a coin that becomes lost through no fault of its own. We are ones who have left our Savior willingly, following the sinful desires of our hearts and delighting in our sin. We are worse, far worse than a dumb sheep who has wandered off, seductively lured away by the promise of a greener pasture. We are ones who have deliberately turned our back on the Good Shepherd; trespassing where we know we should not go; transgressing to do what we know we should not do; gossiping to speak what we know we should not speak; craving to desire what we know we should not desire. We are the worst of sinners – the chief of sinners.

God sees us worshiping false gods of money and success. He sees us bowing down to golden calves fashioned out of premarital sex and alcoholic binges. He sees us glorifying the idols of Sunday sporting events and kids' athletics. He sees all this and he has every right to say, "Now leave me alone so that my anger may burn against them and that I may destroy them" (Exodus 32:10).

We could not blame God for being angry with us. Angry at us ungrateful, sin-worshiping people. Angry sitting on his heavenly throne with judgment on his lips and lightning bolts in hands. And yet where is our God? He is here, calling us back to himself. He is here, in his Word and Sacraments, surrounded by sinners. Sinners in the community, sinners in the pews, and the sinner in this pulpit. He is not here in judgment, but with mercy on his lips. He is not here with lightning bolts, but blood on his hands. Not here with anger, but with grace.

God invites you to come near to him each worship service, so he may draw near to you. He washes you in his baptismal water of new life. He feeds and strengthens you with his body and blood on the Lord's altar. He restores you with his forgiveness, binds up your wounds, and heals you with his words of absolution. Like God did for King David, he does for you. He hides his face from your sins and blots out your iniquity (Psalm 51:9). He finds you, holds you, and blesses you with his nail-scarred hands.

There is nothing that your Shepherd would rather be doing, and no place he'd rather be, than here for you. Not because you're good, but because he is good. Not because you're lovable, but because he is love.

It is a mercy – undeserved love – that we beg for, crave, and sing about. In our confession we pray, "Merciful Father in heaven ...". In our communion liturgy we sing, "Lamb of God, have mercy on us." In our psalm we chant, "Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned." For without God's mercy, we are nothing. Without his mercy, we will be destroyed. "Lord, have mercy" is the prayer of the lost, repentant sinner; a prayer of the found who is grateful to God for looking for him or her.

There are some things we would like to hear, but we probably never will. From our car mechanic we'd like to hear him say, "The quote I gave you is way too high; I was able to do the job for $200 less than I thought." From a policeman we'd like to hear, "You know, I'll bet my radar gun is probably off. I don't think you were speeding after all." From the store clerk we'd like to hear, "Don't worry about the ‘next lane, please' sign. I'll take my break right after I finish ringing up your purchase."

Nope, no matter how much we wish for it, we probably won't ever hear anybody say those things.

In contrast to the things people will never say to us, God continues to surprise us with the wonderful things he tells us. When you feel unloved, God tells you he cares. When you feel alone, he reminds you he is by your side. When you are feeling too weak to go on, he gives you strength. When you are blind, he makes you see. When you are reminded of your sinfulness, he assures you he has made you into his saint. He tells us we are found and forgiven, found and free to serve, found and empowered to tell others of Jesus who says what we need to hear.

We may find it difficult to perform CPR on a drunk raccoon. Or hiking great distances for a lost pet. Or deep cleaning the house to find a missing coin. Or forgiving a cheating spouse. Or being friends with someone in an icky incestuous relationship. Or demonstrating love to those trapped by the evil of the devil. But our God does all of that for us. He finds and forgives us. He throws a party with his heavenly angels when we are found. ... And now he wants you to go out looking for the lost. Inviting them into your church. Sitting down to have a meal with them. Throwing a party in their honor. You are following the example of your Savior and Shepherd. You are looking for the lost. Amen.

May the LORD our God be with us, just as he was with our fathers. May he never leave us or abandon us. May he turn our hearts to him, to walk in all his ways (1 Kings 8:57-58). Amen.

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/looking-for-the-lost/

Sermon Overview: This week Jesus' sharp words expose our desire to pursue comfort and avoid pain at all costs. Jesus explains that following him will be hard. Jesus' disciples will be called to let go of things they love and embrace things we naturally loathe. Jesus promises that discipleship comes with crosses—a unique type of pain. So, Jesus tells us that we must count the cost of following him. He wants us to do that now, ahead of time, rather than waiting until we are in the heat of the moment and emotions are running high. However, our calculations must not only consider what we might give up for Jesus. They also entail calculating what we get through him! When we perceive the infinite blessings we find in Christ, the decisions we just make, while difficult, will be clear. Whatever is lost as we follow Jesus pales in comparison to what we gain.

Love the Lord your God, walk in his ways, and keep his commandments, his statutes, and his ordinances. (Deuteronomy 30:16) Amen.

George Armstrong Custer had not lost a battle he had fought in during the American Civil War or in the American Indian Wars. Until … the Battle of the Little Bighorn. There Custer met a combined force of Lakota Sioux, Northern Cheyenne, and Arapaho tribes led by Crazy Horse and Chief Gall.

The U.S. 7th Calvary, a force of 700 men went up against a force of between 1500 to 2500 Indian warriors. Even though they were outnumbered more than 2 to 1, the Army troops had guns and bullets versus the arrows and spears of the Indians.

Custer made several mistakes that led to his only and lasting defeat. He didn't send advanced scouts because he was afraid of giving away his position. Without proper reconnaissance, Custer didn't know the exact size or location of the Indian village or the number of Indian warriors. (I don't know if you've ever noticed this, but the West can have some pretty wide-open spaces.)

Custer could go for days without food or sleep. His soldiers and their horses could not. Custer had force-marched his troops through the mountains to reach the village quickly. His men and horses were exhausted and not in peak fighting condition for battle.

Perhaps the biggest mistake Custer made was dividing his 700 men into three battalions. He sent Major Marcus Reno to attack the southern end of the village with three companies of 140 men. Custer sent Captain Frederick Benteen to scout and prevent the escape of the Indians to the south with three companies of 125 men. Custer led five companies with 210 men.

At the Battle of the Little Bighorn, Lt. Col. Custer was killed, along with 268 soldiers, with another 55 severely wounded.

At the Battle of the Little Bighorn, Lt. Col. Custer lost his life and the lives of so many soldiers because he did not count the cost – the cost of sending out scouts, of taking a day to rest, and especially keeping his forces together.

Today Jesus tells you to count the cost of following him. He says, "For which of you, if he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost to see if he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, everyone who sees it will begin to ridicule him, saying, 'This fellow began to build, but was not able to finish.' Or what king, as he goes out to confront another king in war, will not first sit down and consider if he is able with ten thousand to oppose the one who comes against him with twenty thousand? And if he is not able, he sends out a delegation and asks for terms of peace while his opponent is still far away" (Luke 14:28-32). Jesus gives two rhetorical parables about counting the cost of following him. Who builds a tower without making sure he has enough money to finish the project? What king goes to war without calculating whether his force can defeat the opposing king's forces? Jesus summarizes his point in these parables saying, "So then, any one of you who does not say farewell to all his own possessions cannot be my disciple" (Luke 14:33).

Either you are willing to give it all up for Jesus – family, friends, possessions, freedom, even life – or you cannot be his disciple.

Jesus gives us a good reminder that following him comes at a cost. Having a close relationship with Jesus will cost us time, money, promotions, family, freedom, and much more. It could cost a relationship with a future spouse because you disagree on Jesus, his Word, and his Sacraments. It could cost you a relationship with your child when you called him to repentance for moving in with his girlfriend. It could cost you a relationship with your daughter when you remind her of the importance of baptizing your grandbabies. It could cost you a relationship with your extended family because you won't celebrate your niece's abortion, but instead counseled her to give the baby up for adoption. It could cost you a relationship with your parents when you try to honor them by telling them it's time to move into an assisted living place, but they think you're being disrespectful because they're stubborn and ornery.

It could cost you your job when you refuse to put your preferred pronouns in your email signature. It could cost you your education because you refuse to keep your hand down and mouth shut when your college professor spouts Woke nonsense. It could cost you friendships because your Christian beliefs influence your political beliefs, and you aren't shy about sharing either one.

Jesus tells us that we must count the cost of losing relationships with those we love so we make sure to hold onto the relationship with the God who loves us more. "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not carry his own cross and follow me cannot be my disciple" (Luke 14:26-27).

When Jesus says to "hate" your family members, the Greek word doesn't carry the emotion of our English word "hate." A close parallel would be "renounce." We must be willing to renounce any relationships that might interfere with our relationship with Jesus.

But that's hard, isn't it? We don't like hard. We prefer easy, manageable, and convenient. We'll hike as long as it's fairly flat. We'll bike, as long as it's not with Pastor Zarling. We'll travel some distance for God, but not as far as Abram did in the Old Testament. We'll carry a cross for Jesus, as long as it doesn't hurt too badly. We'll work together in the church, until someone disagrees with our ideas. We'll worship, as long as the service is under an hour. We'll support the ministry of the church, as long as we have enough for our personal expenses and entertainment. We like the pastor's sermons to be relevant, as long they don't hit too close to home. We are committed to God, as long as it all fits into our packed schedule.

We've counted the cost, haven't we? If following Jesus doesn't cost too much money, too much effort, too much time, too much commitment, or too many relationships, then we're fine. But it gets iffy when following Jesus costs too much.

We like our Christianity to be easy, manageable, and convenient. We are content with a Christianity with no accountability or requirements. We like our Christianity to be confined to one day a week. We like Christianity that allows us to keep quiet in our culture, keep our head down at work and school, and keep looking the other way as our society promotes the doctrine of demons with so-called "gender-affirming" surgeries, critical theory, and abortion on demand.

None of that is true Christianity, though. None of that is what Jesus wants from us.

Jesus wants us to put our faith into practice. Like the Lord challenging the Israelites to calculate between life and death. Like St. Paul encouraging his friend, Philemon, to give up the cost of a slave and accept Onesimus as a free man and a brother in Christ. Like Jesus' disciples who had left their boats, their businesses, and their families to follow Jesus. Like two thousand years of martyrs who gave up their lives for Jesus. Like the countless believers through the millennia who were exiled from their community, family, and freedom because they loved Jesus more than their possessions. All because they desired to be Jesus' followers.

If you've ever gone hiking with someone more experienced, you will hear them say, "It isn't very far." "It's not too steep." "It's just over the next incline." You realize quickly your "friend" is either lying to you or doesn't know what he's talking about. Jesus is truthful. He's open and honest. He knows what he's talking about when he relates the kind of pain that will accompany following him. Jesus told his disciples of all ages and eras that they are going to suffer in his name. He used the expression, "carry his cross." This cross-carrying entails humiliation, extreme pain, and death. It also implies being treated as a criminal.

Why would Jesus' disciples ever want to do that? It's because Jesus has made us disciples into different people. We were once on the road to hell, but now we have the sure promise of eternal life in heaven. We used to live in guilt, but now we live in forgiveness. Being a disciple of Jesus is worth all the suffering. There is glory that will be revealed in us.

We are afraid. We are quiet. We want it easy. Let's just admit it … we cannot be the kind of disciples Jesus desires.

Except what Jesus desires he also does. Jesus desires us to be his cross-carrying disciples so he makes us his cross-carrying disciples. Not by us volunteering for a cross. But by Jesus placing a cross on our backs. Jesus creates faithful disciples. He changes us into committed Christians.

Jesus is speaking to the crowds as he is headed to the cross in Jerusalem. Already from eternity, the Son of God counted the cost. He ran the numbers in collaboration with the Father and the Holy Spirit. He is willing to have his own Father forsake him on the cross. He lays the foundation for the Christian Church upon his death and resurrection. He is the King of Kings who goes into battle against the Prince of this world. It is a battle of the Lion of Judah against the seven-headed red dragon. Jesus is alone – not against 10,000 or 20,000 soldiers, but against a mighty demonic horde from the depths of hell.

While the crowds were coming to Jesus to bug him for miracles and divine favors, Jesus wins God's divine favor with the miracle of the Lord of life dying a very human death. While Jesus knows you and I will bug him to make our earthly lives a little more convenient and a lot less stressful, Jesus gives up his life to grant us heavenly lives that will be eternally easy and without stress. Jesus knows how hard it is to renounce our family, friends, or freedom. Yet Jesus renounced it all – family, friends, freedom, glory, power, and his own life. He did this to save humanity. To save you. Jesus counted the cost of your salvation and considered you worth the price of his divine blood.

Jesus concludes with, "Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its flavor, how will it become salty again? It is not fit for the soil or for the manure pile. It is thrown away" (Luke 14:34). The American Indians in this area of Wyoming used to get salt form the white alkali on the rims and floors of lakes in the vicinity of Independence Rock. The Indians did not use the salt for preserving meat. Instead, they relied on smoking or drying the meat to make jerky. The Indians would instead use salt for purification rituals, healing, seasoning their food, and for trading. Whether it was in Jesus' time or the time of the American Indians in Central Wyoming, or today, if salt loses its saltiness, then it's useless.

With his reference to salt, Jesus is teaching us to persevere and preserve in our faith. If our faith loses its faithfulness, what good is it? If our Christianity is without a cost, how useful is it? If you're looking for easy, Jesus says not to bother following him. Either give it all up or you give up being his disciple. You're either in or you're out. You're either a salty, cross-carrying disciple following Jesus or you're an unsalty, couch potato headed for the manure pile. Our faith functions like salt. It preserves us from corruption and decay. Then we can face each day with fresh confidence.

Jesus counted the cost of your salvation and considered you worth the price of his divine life. Now it's on you. Count the cost of faithfully following Jesus. You may lose your relationship with your family, but you retain your relationship with your Savior. You may lose your income or your freedom, but you gain the treasures of heaven and the freedom of forgiveness. You may lose your life, but you have been granted eternal life with Jesus. In these ways, you count the cost and realize you have won everything even as you have lost everything. Amen.

Choose life so that you and your descendants may live by loving the Lord your God, by listening to his voice, and by clinging to him. (Deuteronomy 30:19, 20) Amen.

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/count-the-cost/

Sermon Overview: Everyone knows that humility is a positive trait and pride is a negative one. So, why bother talking about what we already know? Because in spite of that knowledge, we still helplessly fall into the trap of pride. We all desire acclaim, recognition, and praise. Jesus’ sharp words this week teach us that seeking exaltation in futile and fleeing ways will only result in receiving the opposite. Those who attempt to exalt themselves will eventually be humbled by God. In contrast, Jesus promises that those who leave their exaltation to God will receive honor and glory far greater than any that can be awarded in this life. Our exaltation does not need to be our responsibility, because Jesus has already made it his.

You set a table for me in the presence of my foes. You drench my head with oil. My cup is overflowing. Surely goodness and mercy will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever (Psalm 23:5-6). Amen.

We all have our favorite seats – midfield for sporting events; the middle of the movie theater; front row for our grandchild's graduation; aisle seats for our cousin's wedding; near the stage for a concert; front seats for a roller coaster. We even have our favorite seats in church.

No church has assigned seating. I'm still new, so I'm not sure where all of you like to sit – if you have your favorite seats every Sunday or if you prefer to move around from week to week.

In my previous congregation, Janice had her favorite seat in church. It was on the left side, the back pew. Janice had a hard time hearing, so it always seemed strange that she sat as far away from the pulpit and speaker as possible. Her children explained the reasoning for that seating choice. Her husband, Lyle, had hurt his back as a Racine firefighter. He liked that particular back pew because it's a little shorter lengthwise than the other pews. That way, if his back started to bother him, he could stretch out his legs into the aisle. And if his back felt really bad, he could walk out of church without disturbing many of the worshipers.

But Lyle and Janice weren't the only ones who preferred that pew. We had another family who liked the back pew, also. This was before my time at the church, but the story was recounted to me by the children. Bob was the first service head usher. He liked that pew so he could count worshipers and get up easily for ushering duties. So, one Sunday, Bob and Bev were sitting in the back pew. So, the next Sunday, Lyle and Janice would arrive a few minutes earlier to get the back pew. Then, the next Sunday, Bob and Bev would arrive a few minutes earlier to get the back pew.

Their children came to learn that there was a price to pay for that seat in church. The price was arriving 30 minutes early for worship. Every Sunday. They were vying for the best seat.

St. Luke tells that one Sabbath Jesus was invited to eat in the house of a prominent Pharisee (Luke 14:1). That sounds nice. Polite. Kind. But then we read, "Jesus was being carefully watched." His enemies had arranged this banquet and attempted to orchestrate this situation hoping that Jesus would say or do something they could pounce on and shout, "See! He's not the Messiah!" Interestingly, while they were watching him, Jesus was observing them.

Jesus noticed how the Pharisees – the religious leaders among the Jews – scrambled for the best seats at the banquet. I don't know if they were arriving 30 minutes early, but these guests were playing a game of choosing chairs of honor for themselves. Jesus stopped the game of musical chairs to teach them a lesson that not only applied to dinner parties, but also to the kingdom of God.

St. Luke writes, "When [Jesus] noticed how they were selecting the places of honor, he told the invited guests a parable. 'When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, do not recline in the place of honor, or perhaps someone more distinguished than you may have been invited by him. The one who invited both of you may come and tell you, 'Give this man your place.' Then you will begin, with shame, to take the lowest place'" (Luke 14:7-9).

Jesus isn't only speaking to the Pharisees in the seats of his time. He's also speaking to us in these seats in our time. We must admit that we aren't all that different from those glory-seeking seat-grabbers. We like to choose seats of honor at a party, brag about our accomplishments, and show favoritism to the popular and wealthy.

All three Scripture readings today speak about humility. That's good, because humility is a hard concept for us to grasp in our culture. Politicians try to get you to vote for them by puffing up their accomplishments and downgrading their opponent. Parents yell from the sideline for their child to be the star on the athletic team. We push for a promotion by putting ourselves up on a pedestal for all to see.

We want praise. We crave recognition. We desire people to tell us how good we are. We puff ourselves up with pride. But pride can quickly turn into false security, making us feel invincible. We start to believe our own press releases, which puffs us up even more. But then we are shamed when someone comes along to move us to a lower place. We get knocked off our pedestal when we don't get the promotion … or worse, we're let go. Our child isn't the star; he doesn't even get off the bench. Our preferred politician is proven to be a liar, or our political stance is an abject failure. We're denied, dishonored, and deflated. We are shamed as someone else is given our seat at the table.

Jesus continues with his parable, "But when you are invited, go and recline in the lowest place, so that when the one who invited you comes, he will tell you, 'Friend, move up to a higher place.' Then you will have honor in the presence of all who are reclining at the table with you. Yes, everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted" (Luke 14:10-11). Jesus is placing into his parable the wisdom of Solomon in our Old Testament lesson, "Do not honor yourself in a kings presence. Do not stand in a place reserved for great people, because it is better to be told, 'Come up here,' than for you to be humiliated before a ruler whom your eyes have seen" (Proverbs 25:6-7a).

Mary, in her Magnificat, says of God, "He has scattered those who were proud in the thoughts of their hearts. He has brought down rulers from their thrones. He has lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, but the rich he has sent away empty" (Luke 1:51-53). Both James and Peter, in their epistles, quote the same verse from Proverbs when they write: "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble" (James 4:6; 1 Peter 5:5).

Jesus' parable can apply to proper etiquette at dinner parties or neighborhood barbecues or in the workplace environment or the athletic field or lots of other places in real life. But Jesus' real point is teaching us a principle that will hold true in the kingdom of God.

There is a temptation to think God should be impressed by the things we've done. That he'll look at our worship attendance record, or our offering totals, or how well our kids have turned out. And while we may try to boast about what we've done for the Lord, we need to remember that it is the Lord who sets the standard. We may do some very good things, yet none of them achieve perfection. St. James reminds us, "For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it" (James 2:10). James teaches that our favoritism is the same as murder. Robbing others of the glory they deserve is the same as theft. Building ourselves up while putting others down is the same as gossip and slander.

When we compare our deeds with God's desire for perfection, we can only hang our heads in shame. It's impossible for us to attain God's standard of perfection. Jesus promises, "Those who exalt themselves will be humbled" (Luke 14:11). Better to humble yourself than to have Jesus humble you. Get down on your knees in repentance, so Jesus may lift you up with his forgiveness. Stand with your head bowed in shame so Jesus may lift your head to see the glories of heaven. Admit that you are a sinful wretch so that Jesus may call you his blood-bought saint. Instead of running to the best seat, allow Jesus to invite you to his seat of honor.

Jesus teaches, "When you make a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed" (Luke 14:13-14). We are the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind – the sinners. And yet, King Jesus puts his own words into action as he invites people like us to his wedding banquet.

And so, we come into Christ's kingdom, not with braggadocio saying, "Hey, look at me!" Rather, we approach God's presence in lowliness, with repentance, in confession, and with humility, begging, "Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner."

We don't come into God's kingdom exalting ourselves. Rather, we exalt Jesus. Jesus put his own words into practice by humbling himself. He had the best seat in the house – in God's house. Jesus sat at God the Father's right hand in the heavenly realms. Jesus gave up that seat upon his golden throne so he could lay first in his mother Mary's womb, then lay in a feeding trough. As the Son of a carpenter, Jesus may have learned how to make chairs and benches for people. But Jesus himself owned no home, table, or chairs of his own.

Jesus humbled himself as he sat upon the Roman cross for six hours. Then his corpse sat upon the cool stone of Joseph of Arimathea's tomb for three days. But Jesus did not stay dead! He rose from the grave and forty days later he ascended to heaven. Now he is once again seated in the best seat upon his golden throne at God's right hand.

We are not to come, finding the best seat for ourselves. Jesus comes to find us. He then seats us at the best seat at the wedding feast of the Lamb in the kingdom of God.

The four people I mentioned earlier who were vying for the best seat in church, aren't vying for that seat anymore. That's because they are all sainted and in heaven. Bob and Bev, Lyle and Janice, are all enjoying different seats. They are seated around the throne of the Lamb in heaven. St. John saw a great multitude around the throne of the Lamb in his vision of heaven, "After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb" (Revelation 7:9).

Bob and Bev, Lyle and Janice, were all very humble people. By faith and with humility, they gladly accepted the best seats at Jesus' wedding banquet. These are seats that Jesus offers to each of you. He invites you to the best seats in his house. When you come to him with humility – confessing your sin, admitting your guilt, acknowledging your hurts, and disclosing your messes – then Jesus forgives your sin, removes your guilt, absolves your hurts, and forgets about your messes.

Jesus offers you these best seats. They are free to you. But they came at a great price. Jesus paid for these seats with his holy precious blood, and with his innocent suffering and death. He has slammed shut the gates of hell and opened wide the gates of heaven so his saints who believe in the Master of the Banquet can sit in his seats.

With this parable, Jesus is not teaching us about manners, but God's mercy. As James writes, "Mercy triumphs over judgment" (James 2:13). God's mercy allows us to sit – not where we imagine we deserve – but in faith where he places us based precisely upon what we don't deserve. It is God's grace that exalts the humble. You can sit wherever you want in the church … although I think the front row have the best seats in God's house. But the beauty of this parable is that through God's kindness, he allows you to sit in the front row at his wedding feast, next to the King, the Host, our Lord. Amen.

To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and thanks and honor and glory for ever and ever (Revelation 5:13). Amen.

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/the-best-seat/

Sermon Overview: When it comes to the uncomfortable topic of who goes to heaven and who goes to hell, it is natural to want to avoid the issue. One way we do that is to direct our attention to more theoretical questions. “What is heaven like?” “How old will we be there?” Today someone asks, “Lord, are only a few going to be saved?” Jesus brushes all such questions aside. Instead, he answers the question we should be asking. “How might I be saved?” Jesus explains there is only one way—entering through a very narrow door. Jesus’ words cut deep! For he teaches that it is very easy to develop a false sense of security about our standing before God based on some superficial familiarity we have with him. Jesus warns that many who think they are on the path to heaven will end up shut out. These wounding words of Jesus provide healing, pushing us toward that narrow door: faith in him.

The Lord says, "The time is coming for me to gather people from all nations and all languages. They will come, and they will see my glory" (Isaiah 66:18). Amen.

You've heard that there's no such thing as dumb questions. Except, you and I have been asked plenty of dumb questions over the years. We want people to ask us questions, but they're not always the right questions, appropriate questions, or well-worded questions.

When I was at the Seminary, I'm sure my classmates and I asked plenty of silly, inappropriate, or poorly worded questions. One of our professors at the Seminary, Professor Panning, was always able to take our dumb questions, twist and turn and turn them, so that with his answer it sounded like we had asked very intelligent questions.

As Jesus is making his way to Jerusalem for his Passion, he passes through Judean towns and villages (Luke 13:22). Someone asked Jesus, "Lord, are only a few going to be saved" (Luke 13:23)? Jesus is even more skilled than Professor Panning. He responds to the question that should have been asked. With his answer, Jesus is urging people not to speculate on how many people will be saved, but instead to strive to be among the people who will be in heaven. The better question to ask is, "Am I going to be saved?" Followed by, "Will my loved ones be saved?"

"Lord, are only a few going to be saved?" That's a nice abstract question, isn't it? Let's ask the religious teacher a question about religion. But in a hypothetical way. Not too personal. Talk about people out there. Keep the discussion at arm's length.

But Jesus is never content to do just that. He makes his answer personal. Not at arm's length. But he hits at the heart. He wants to be in your heart. Jesus answers the question that should have been asked. "Strive to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able" (Luke 13:24).

Jesus describes salvation in terms of doors. Specifically, narrow and wide doors. He says, "Make every effort to enter through the narrow door." "Make every effort" is really one word in the Greek. It is the word "agonizomai." You can hear our English word, "agonize" in there. "Agonizomai" means to strive, to struggle, to exert enormous effort like in an Olympic wrestling match. Wrestlers will "agonizomai" to win the contest and prevail in the end. That's how the word is used here when Jesus says, "Agonize to enter through the narrow door."

This agonizing doesn't come from worrying about our salvation - if we are really on the guest list or not. This agonizing doesn't come from working hard for our salvation by limiting our sins and doing plenty of good works. This agonizing doesn't come from being part of the right faith heritage - Abraham's, Luther's, or otherwise.

Rather, salvation is already yours. You are already on the guest list. The narrow door to heaven is already open to you. So where does the agonizing come in?

Right here. Right now. In this lifetime.

You know this agony. You feel this agony. There are three behemoth wrestlers on the other side of the mat ready to tag-team against little old you.

You strive to come to church, but your sinful flesh wants you to work hard during the week, party harder during the weekend, and rest on Sunday morning. It feels like agony to get out of bed and sit in the sanctuary for an hour.

You make every effort to live the Christian life at work and at home, but you are so tired, your kids are so aggravating, and your boss is so irritating. You know what temptations are alluring; which lust is addicting; which sin is habit-forming. It is hard to bite your tongue, to overcome temptation, to live the Christian life. It feels like agony as the devil turns his onslaught against you.

Flesh, then the world, then the devil - each tagging in, one right after the other. Each taking a turn to see if they can defeat you and pin you to the mat. All these forces are trying to keep you from entering through the narrow door.

So, you see what we're up against. It is indeed an effort - an agonizing struggle - to live as a Christian and to keep the faith. It's like St. Paul explains: "We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God" (Acts 14:22). Being a Christian is not easy. It calls for a continuous effort. That's why Jesus says here, "Strive - make every effort - to enter through the narrow door."

What does Jesus mean by "the narrow door"? The door into heaven is "narrow" because there is only one way into heaven, not many ways. Jesus said, "No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6). Apart from trusting in Jesus as your Savior, you will not be saved. Jesus taught, "Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned" (Mark 16:16). St. Peter proclaimed, "There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to people by which we must be saved." (Acts 4:12.)

But the door to heaven is also wide open to all people because Jesus paid for the sins of all people. The Lord spoke through Isaiah, "The time is coming for me to gather people from all nations and all languages. They will come, and they will see my glory" (Isaiah 66:18). St. John wrote, "He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the whole world." (1 John 2:2) Because of his sacrifice, God has declared all people "not guilty" in his courtroom. St. Paul writes, "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus" (Romans 3:23-24).

The door is narrow. That doesn't mean that you have to squeeze to fit in. It means that there is only one way to enter. But the door is wide open for you. Jesus has opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers. Trust in him - only him - and you will be saved.

That's why Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. There on a scarred hill outside Jerusalem, Jesus' arms were extended far and wide upon the cross. Those divinely human arms bore the full weight of the world's sins upon them. Those perfectly scourged arms opened wide the doorway to heaven so that all who believe in him might be saved. Those crucified and resurrected arms are waiting in heaven to embrace you into his heavenly kingdom. The door is open. Enter in.

Yes, it's agonizing to struggle and strive and wrestle against the unholy trinity. It's hard work keeping the faith, sharing the faith, spreading the faith. But Jesus already did the ultimate agonizing work for your salvation. He agonized in the Garden of Gethsemane, telling his disciples, "My soul is overwhelmed to the point of death." Then he agonized as he prayed to heaven, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup [of agony] be taken from me" (Matthew 26:38-39). The next morning, Jesus struggled under the weight of the cross and needed Simon of Cyrene to carry it to Golgotha's hill (Luke 23:26). The next afternoon, Jesus cried out from the cross in agony with a timely question, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me" (Matthew 26:46)?

Jesus struggled, and strove, and agonized to open the door of salvation to all who believe in him as their crucified and resurrected Savior.

Only those who trust in Jesus for salvation receive the benefit of his sacrifice. Those who do not enter into glory cannot blame God. The fault will be entirely their own.

There will be people who are surprised they didn't make it into heaven. There will also be those who are surprised they made it into heaven. "Once the master of the house gets up and shuts the door, you will begin to stand outside and knock on the door, saying, 'Lord, open for us!' He will tell you in reply, 'I don't know you or where you come from.' Then you will begin to say, 'We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.' And he will say, 'I don't know where you come from. Depart from me, all you evildoers.' There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves thrown outside" (Luke 13:25-28).

Jesus warns that those who had only an outward attachment to him - but do not have faith in him - are left without forgiveness. So, they are left without salvation.

We need to make your relationship with Jesus personal. So, here's a good question. Do you only have an arms-length connection to Jesus? You call yourself a Christian, but you don't make Christ your number one priority. You claim to be a member of the church, but you infrequently walk through the church doors. You assert faith in Christ, but you take the easy way out whenever your faith in Christ is challenged. God desires for you to enjoy his fellowship meal with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and the rest of his saints, but you aren't hungry.

You aren't striving. You aren't repenting. You aren't struggling, wrestling, and agonizing.

Here's another good question. What does your life look like with Jesus close to your heart and in your heart? Because Jesus made you his priority, you make Jesus a priority in your prayers and praises, in your words and actions, in your decisions and calendars. Because Jesus invites you to walk through the narrow door to his salvation, you faithfully walk through the doors of your church for worship, Bible study, and fellowship. Because Jesus agonized upon the cross as he was striving to win your salvation, you agonize as you carry your cross in Jesus' name, striving to struggle against the unholy trinity of Satan, the world, and your sinful flesh. Because Jesus invites you to his banquet feast in heaven with the patriarchs of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, you come often to enjoy the banquet feast of salvation in the Lords' Supper.

I don't know how you feel about President Trump. I don't really care. But I do want you to care about his eternal soul. This week President Trump said on Fox News, "If I can save 7,000 people a week from being killed … I want to try to get to heaven if possible. I hear I'm not doing well. I hear I'm really at the bottom of the totem pole. But if I can get to heaven, this will be one of the reasons."

What do you think about his statement? He's humble. He says he's at the bottom of the totem pole. He recognizes he lost. He recognizes he's last. He's striving to enter the narrow door. But President Trump is typical of many American Christians. They think they can work their way into heaven. They believe God will take their good lives to balance out their bad sins.

How do we respond to our president and other people we know who are asking the wrong questions about how they're saved? Because they're asking the wrong questions, they're coming to the wrong conclusions.

We need to be like Jesus and have good answers. We say, "That's not how it works. Give me or my pastor a call."

"All you have to do is believe in Jesus as your Savior."

"We do good works not to get into heaven through ourselves, but to show we're going to heaven through Jesus."

We quote St. Paul, "It is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast" (Ephesians 2:8).

The real question we need to be asking is, "Am I going to be saved?" Followed by, "Will my loved ones, my Casper neighbors, even my president be saved?"

The answer to those questions is, "If you aren't striving to enter the narrow door through faith in Jesus, then Jesus will say to you, 'Depart from me.' If you are striving to enter the narrow door through faith in Jesus alone, then Jesus will say to you, 'Come and recline at my table in the kingdom of God.'" Amen.

They will bring all your brothers from all the nations as an offering to the Lord. They will bring them on horses and chariots and wagons and mules and dromedaries to my holy mountain Jerusalem, says the Lord (Isaiah 66:20). Amen.

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/asking-the-real-question/

Sermon Overview: The Lord Jesus himself warns us that, as his children, we will experience severe trials. Jesus teaches, “Do you think that I came to bring peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division” (Luke 12:51) Our faith might even be tested to the point of having to choose between submitting to the false beliefs of those who are near and dear to us or following the true way of Christ. We will not give up the faith. There is too much to lose: our dear Savior, forgiveness, and everlasting life. Our gracious God, who sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for sin, gives us all that we need for our body and soul.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us get rid of every burden and the sin that so easily ensnares us, and let us run with patient endurance the race that is laid out for us (Hebrews 12:1). Amen.

Harold fell in love with his next-door-neighbor when she was a teenager. As their relationship progressed, he told her that he wouldn't marry her unless she converted to being a Lutheran. That didn't sit very well with her very Catholic parents. It caused a division within the family.

Maggie came to the U.S. as a foreign exchange student to attend classes at an area Lutheran high school. As part of the curriculum, she had to take "Introduction to Christianity" and "Introduction to Lutheranism." Her host family were also insistent that she attend worship with them every Sunday morning and also take their pastor's adult confirmation classes. Maggie was eventually baptized and confirmed in her new Lutheran Christian faith. Her atheist family back in China were not pleased. They had sent her to the U.S. for an education, not a conversion.

Kim was a quiet young woman, raised in an "unchurched" family. When her friend invited her to visit his church, she accepted. She got hooked on the message that God loved her despite all the wrong things she had done. But then the trouble started. Kim began attending worship every Sunday to learn more about God's love. Her parents felt left out. They felt God was taking their daughter away from them. Every Sunday morning when Kim left for church, her father called out after her, "See you later, hypocrite!" Her mother scheduled family picnics and events on Sunday mornings. When Kim chose to go to church instead, she heard from her mom, "You love these strangers more than your own family!"

Harold, Maggie, and Kim sound harsh, don't they? They're dividing families. They're displeasing parents. They're causing rifts and separation where there had once been peace and calm.

What happened in the families of these three people are exactly what Jesus said would happen when he's involved. "Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division." Then Jesus goes on to describe that division: "From now on there will be five divided in one household: three against two, and two against three. They will be divided: father against son, and son against father; mother against daughter, and daughter against mother; mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law, and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law" (Luke 12:52-53).

Jesus sounds like a homewrecker and a Fourth Commandment breaker, doesn't he?!

Just when you think Christians are supposed to be focused on the family, Jesus comes along and says you have to hate your family in to follow him. This is one of those Bible verses that atheist types love to parade around to show how crazy Christianity can be. On the one hand, you're supposed to love your enemies. Then on the other hand, you're supposed to hate your family. On the one hand, you are commanded in the Fourth Commandment to honor your father and mother. Then on the other hand, you're told you must hate your father and mother, along with the rest of your family.

"Fire on the earth ... baptism to undergo ... division". What is Jesus talking about here? Jesus' baptism was the fire of the cross and hell he suffered for us. Our lives, as blessed as they are, will be filled with the fire of battling temptation and rejection for the sake of the cross. Jesus is saying that people will become divided over him and his teachings.

You've experienced what Jesus is talking about. You've had discussions with your family and friends. Discussions that turned into disagreements. Disagreements that turned into divisions.

The hard thing to do is to speak out. But that's what Jesus wants you to do! Even if it causes division. You forsake earthly peace for the hope of eternal peace. The easy thing to do is to look the other way and keep silent. That's what the devil wants you to do. Because that way you keep peace in the family. An earthly peace that he hopes will lead to eternal torment.

There is a very real temptation to be close-mouthed and open-minded. To shirk from confronting sin or shivering from challenging false doctrine. To practice outward unity when there is no spiritual unity. This is a very real temptation in our lives, our church, and in our Lutheran church body.

You tried calling your sister to repentance after she moved in with her boyfriend. You told your son how disappointed you are that he left his confirmation vows to join a different Christian denomination. You've had the discussions at work about infant baptism and closed communion. You've debated in your family the struggle of attending your cousin's gay wedding. You want to demonstrate love for your family, but you don't want to appear like you're approving of your family's sinful choices.

When you've spoken out you've been called "rude," "unloving," "hateful," "close-minded," and a whole host of other unpleasant adjectives.

Didn't the Christmas angels announce that Jesus was born to bring "peace on earth" (Luke 2:14)? Yes, they did! Isaiah prophecies that Jesus will be the Prince of Peace. "There will be no limit to his authority and no end to the peace he brings" (Isaiah 9:6-7). Yes, he is! Jesus is the Prince of Peace, and he did come to bring peace – but not worldly peace. Instead, Jesus came to bring peace between sinful human beings and his holy, heavenly Father. "Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." (Romans 5:1)

Jesus is the Prince of Peace – by his standards, not the world's. Human nature loves to unite around what promotes outward peace especially at the cost of the heavenly peace that Jesus brings. The world teaches that if you get rid of religion, there will be freedom of expression. But Christianity is the only religion that allows humanity to have real, lasting freedom from sin, Satan, and eternal death. The peace and freedom that the world promises are only a façade. To all such facades of peace, Jesus is a bull in the world's China shop.

In a world filled with false ideas about "relative truth" or "my truth," Jesus and his teachings are divisive since he proclaims absolute truth. Jesus said of himself, "I am the Way and the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father, except through me" (John 14:6) We are either for Jesus or we are against him. Jesus says, "The one who is not with me is against me. The one who does not gather with me scatters." (Luke 11:23) There is no room for neutrality where Jesus and his work are concerned. Either Jesus is our Lord, or he is not. There's no middle ground when it comes to Jesus. You either stand up for Jesus on one side or you stand against him on the other side.

The Prince of Peace calls us to war. It's a war of words – his words over the world's words. It's a war of gods – the true God of heaven and earth versus the gods of ego and money. It's a war of teachings – teachings that rebuke, correct, and forgive against teachings that permit decadence, debauchery, and death.

You've felt the fire. You've experienced the hate. You've lived this division. You've been in the trenches of this war. … And none of it is pleasant!

The fire you've felt is only a small taste of the fire Jesus felt for you. He teaches, "I came to throw fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already ignited. But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is finished" (Luke 12:49-50)!

John the Baptist promised that Jesus would "baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire" (Luke 3:16). James and John were ready to call down the fire of judgment on the Samaritan village that would not welcome Jesus (9:54). The rebuke they received makes it plain that the time for fiery judgment had not yet come. But the day of fire will come. The Master will return. The wish that Jesus expresses that the fire "were already ignited" suggests that he would like to get it over with since it is so dreadful to contemplate.

Before Jesus brings a baptism of fiery judgment upon the earth, he must first undergo his own baptism as he receives God's judgment upon sin on the cross. This baptism is God's judgment for our sins. Jesus receives an infinity of fiery judgment during his finite time upon the cross. He was divided from his heavenly Father for a time so that we who believe in him can spend an eternity united with our heavenly Father.

As Jesus makes his way to Jerusalem to undergo this baptism of fire, he makes it clear that others are not ready to accept his message of salvation. The Christmas angels sang of the peace that the Messiah would bring upon the earth. But when people reject that peace, then they will receive judgment in its place. Families were divided by Jesus two thousand years ago. That division of families continues to this day. What Simeon foretold, Jesus sees happening: "This child is destined to cause the rising and falling of many in Israel" (Luke 2:34).

Are you ready to endure this fiery division Jesus brings? Even when it gets personal? Even when it shows itself not just on our TVs or phones but within our homes and families?

The questions come quickly: Who do you love more – Jesus or your family? What do you cherish more – God's teachings or peace in the family? What is your ultimate goal in life – to see your family and friends in heaven – or to keep the religious arguments to a minimum?

Harold was adamant that his future wife becomes Lutheran. She did. Those are my parents. Because my dad would not compromise, I'm here as your pastor.

Maggie is the Chinese foster daughter of a retired pastor who served with me in Racine. I was blessed to baptize and confirm Maggie as a high school senior. My daughters teased me that I didn't tear up at their baptisms, but I did at Maggie's. I told them that I knew they were going to be raised in a Christian home. When Maggie went home to China, she didn't have that at all. No support from her pagan family. No Lutheran church in the area of her pagan country.

Kim's abuse continued for months. Why would anyone – especially a meek young woman – put up with this? Why not skip worship to appease her parents? What could be worth the hurtful comments and long guilt trips?

God's love for her! For the first time in Kim's life, she had experienced a Father's perfect love. Her heavenly Father knew her darkest secrets. She could hide nothing from him. As God said through Jeremiah, he is a God who is both near and far away. No one can hide from him. He fills the heavens and earth (Jeremiah 23:23-24). God knew Kim … yet he still loved her. He had been willing to sacrifice his Son to make her his daughter. No matter what she did, he would never stop loving her.

This amazing, unselfish, sacrificial love changed Kim's heart and life. She could endure the division in her family on earth. It didn't make her happy. She wished her parents understood. She tried to explain it to them. Whether they understood or not, Kim wasn't going to lose her heavenly family. She knew the love of the Father, who created her, the Brother who died for her, and the Spirit who gave her peace despite the insults and guilt trips.

Her new family was worth the trouble with the old family. Kim only hoped that one day, her old family could be part of her new family, too.

Brothers and sisters, do you have the same willingness to join with our Brother in Christ and be divided from your physical brother and sister? Are you willing to be separated from your earthly parents all because you will not be separated from your heavenly Father?

These are very real questions because the Prince of Peace calls us to war. But during this war, the Prince of Peace gives his followers a peace that is beyond all understanding. A peace only he can provide. Amen.

Hebrews gives us this encouragement about Jesus enduring the fire of the cross: Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, who is the author of our faith and the one who brings it to its goal. In view of the joy set before him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of God's throne (Hebrews 12:2). Amen.

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/the-prince-of-peace-calls-us-to-war/

Faith is being sure about what we hope for, being convinced about things we do not see (Hebrews 11:1). Amen.

Have you earned a degree from the University of Anxiety? You may go to sleep worried that you won't wake up. You may wake up worried that you didn't get enough sleep. We may worry that the experts will discover that lettuce was fattening all along. We worry that someone's mom used us as a bad example for her kids.

Today we are discussing worry. Maybe you're like me. I'm blessed that I'm not a big worrier. Yet, I always get an uncomfortable feeling in the pit of my stomach before we leave for a big vacation or when I'm sending my teenage daughter home on a plane by herself ... or anytime I take my kayaks somewhere (that's a story for another time).

Maybe you're like my lovely wife. She's getting better with her fear of heights, but she was still closing her eyes and white-knuckling the door handle as we drove up Old Fall River Road in Rocky Mountain National Park this week.

What do you worry about? Moms worry about their teens out late on a date. Dads worry about providing for their families in this economy. Teens worry about fitting in and being popular. Young adults worry about paying off loans, getting a job, and finding a spouse. Senior citizens worry about retirement, health, and their grown children.

Whew! That's a lot to worry about! And I'm only scratching the surface.

Jesus knows how much we worry. He knows how worry consumes our minds. It ruins our mental health. It wrecks our physical health.

Jesus knows that worry comes from a weak faith or a minimal faith. He says, worry is "of little faith" (Luke 12:28). Worry is essentially a lack of trust in God. Last week we heard Jesus teaching about greed. This week Jesus teaches about worry. Greed and worry go together. Greed can't get enough. Worry is the fear we won't have enough.

Jesus knows what damage worry does – to our faith in God, our relationships with others, and our outlook on life. That's why he commands, "Stop worrying!" It's not a suggestion. It isn't a simple statement. It's a command, "Stop doing this!" "Stop worrying about your life," he says (Luke 12:23).

Wouldn't you love to just slam on the brakes and stop worrying? Just like that. Worry today. No worrying tomorrow. You worry about the physical and emotional weather that pelts you here in Wyoming. Could you use a strong shelter from the pelting of life's harsh elements? God offers you that. The possibility of a worry-free life. Not just less worry ... but no worry.

Let's be realistic. We can't stop worrying just because we're told to stop worrying. Jesus knows that, too. So he gives us reasons why we can stop worrying. "I tell you, stop worrying about your life, about what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear" (Luke 12:23).

Jesus says don't be anxious about food or clothing. Most of the world is anxious about having food or clothing for each day. We're blessed in America that we have lots of food and even more clothes. So, we worry about having better stuff. Good food, healthy food, food that delights the senses ... and we become gluttons without realizing it. We have clothes, but we want the items that adorn our bodies to be comfortable and noticeable – jewelry, tattoos, boots, hats, bikes, trucks, homes, income, investments, etc.

Jesus gently lifts our eyes from the things of this world to look up to the things of the world to come. Instead of focusing on things we put in or on our bodies, we look to the body of the Son of God. The Son of God who adorned his human body with humility, dust, and bloody wounds.

The first way to stop worrying is to lift your eyes from the food that goes in your body and the clothes that go on your body. Fix your eyes on the divinely human body of your Savior, Jesus Christ. If God loves you enough to take care of your eternal soul by sending his Son to be the Living Bread from heaven, he loves you enough to take care of your earthly needs with daily bread (John 6:51).

Jesus continues, "Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap; they have no warehouse or barn; and yet God feeds them. How much more valuable are you than birds" (Luke 12:24)! You are not the result of some random occurrence of events that took billions and millions of years to get to you. You are the result of God forming and fashioning you in the womb of your mother, begotten of your father. You have been wondrously and wonderfully knit together in your mother's womb. God spoke at creation and called everything into existence – the ravens, the wildflowers, and the grass of the field. Yet, God got his hands dirty forming Adam out of the dust. He performed surgery making Eve out of Adam's rib. He molds your parents' DNA to uniquely create you. That's something that can't be claimed by the birds of the air or the lilies of the field. Another reason not to worry is that you are quite literally the handiwork of God.

Jesus continues, "And who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his lifespan? Since you are not able to do this little thing, why do you worry about the rest? Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. But I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory was dressed like one of these. If this is how God clothes the grass in the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, how much more will he clothe you, you of little faith" (Luke 12:25-28)? We can accomplish nothing through worry. Why worry about the things you can fix? If you can fix them, then work on that and move on. Why worry about the things you can't fix? If you can't fix them, then give them over to the Lord and move on.

Even without worry, the ravens are fed, the wildflowers grow, and the grass is alive – even in the high desert. So, why worry whether the same thing will happen to us? Even with all our worry, we cannot add a single hour to our lives. In fact, worry seems to subtract hours from our lives.

Jesus continues, "Do not constantly chase after what you will eat or what you will drink. Do not be worried about it. To be sure, the nations of the world chase after all of these things, but your Father knows that you need them. Instead, continue to seek the kingdom of God, and all these things will be added to you. Do not be afraid, little flock, because your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom" (Luke 12:29-32). Our God knows how our hearts must cling to something for certainty, security, sustenance, and salvation. We have been created this way.

As sinners, we can be like Abraham who was anxious about having an heir, so he slept with his maidservant, Hagar, who gave birth to Ishmael, or he thought he would need to make his manservant, Eliezer, his heir. As saints, we can be like Abraham who had the faith to believe God's promises for that heir of Jesus Christ. We hear in our Epistle lesson, "By faith Abraham also received the ability to conceive children, even though Sarah herself was barren and he was past the normal age, because he considered him faithful who made the promise. And so from one man, and he as good as dead, descendants were born as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand along the seashore" (Hebrews 11:11-12).

Abraham was seeking after the kingdom of God. God then added other things to him as well. God wants you to seek after his kingdom. His kingdom treasures will help you stop worrying about this world's pleasures.

The kingdom of God is found and claimed by you here at Lord of Lords in Word and Sacrament. Here is the Water of Life, poured out on you and your children from this font.

Here is his ordained servant, washing sinners clean with the words of absolution as they go out to live in an unclean culture.

Here is the Sacrament of the Altar to nourish your soul to strengthen you for holy living in an unholy society.

Here eyes are lifted from circumstances and situations to the bloody cross, the empty tomb, and the heavenly throne of our Savior.

Here weak knees are made strong to bear the burdens of our vocations.

Here the broken are made whole by the God who calls planets into existence and who knits our bodies together in the womb.

Here immoral souls are claimed and changed with immortality.

Here the timid receive power from on high. Not to conquer the world, but to have faith in what we hope for and confidence in what we do not see (Hebrews 11:1). Faith that Jesus has conquered sin with his redemptive sacrifice, has crushed the Ancient Serpent under his bloody heel, and defeated death with his glorious resurrection. It all happens here. It's proclaimed here. It's given to you freely here. Here is where God gives you his kingdom. When you seek after these spiritual kingdom blessings, God will add to you other physical earthly blessings, as well.

Jesus concludes, "Do not be afraid, little flock, because your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the needy. Provide money bags for yourselves that do not become old, a treasure in the heavens that will not fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (Luke 12:32-34). This is not a command to sell everything and live like a monk, nun, or beggar. Jesus is teaching that as Christians we are not to be engrossed with the things of this world. We can live as minimalists as we maximize the treasures that Jesus has won for us, given us, and promised will never be taken from us.

We stop worrying when we allow faith to overcome our fears, the Almighty to crush our anxieties, and worship to replace our worries.

She seemed to lose everything. Her husband left her for another woman. She was left to raise her three children on her own. It was difficult to afford basic things like food and clothes. Carting kids to school and after-school activities was difficult. Then there were the unexpected medical costs. Life was tough.

Maybe you've been in her position. Maybe, even with far more, you worry. You worry about the rising cost of food, clothes, housing, and utilities. You worry about paying your bills and preserving your savings.

She used to worry like that, but now she sees things differently. She was blessed to speak with her pastor. Her pastor reminded her of what she already knew. But it's easy to forget God's promises in the middle of Satan's poundings. Her pastor reminded her that Jesus left heaven to live in her place, to walk in her shoes, to fight against the temptation to worry and every other temptation she faced, and to overcome. She was reminded that even Jesus' closest friends and his heavenly Father abandoned him when he needed them most. For her, for you, and for me, he died, giving up everything to give us everything. Then he came back to life to assure her that her worry, lack of trust in God, fears and failures were all forgiven. He came back to life to promise that this life is not the end. Those who trust in him will live with him forever in heaven, where there is nothing to fear and no temptation to worry.

That news changed her life. She still works hard to meet the challenges she faces every day. But now she knows that she has an eternal home waiting for her. She has a loving God caring for her. She doesn't need to worry. Whether things are tough or life is good, she has learned to focus on God's Word, God's promises, and the treasure God won for her in heaven. Her focus on heavenly treasure drives out worry.

You can learn from this unnamed woman, you can learn from named Abraham, and you can learn from the teachings of Jesus. Stop worrying. Amen.

We can also learn from the Old Testament saints. The writer to the Hebrews says of them, "They were longing for a better land—a heavenly one. For that reason, God is not ashamed to be called their God, because he prepared a city for them (Hebrews 11:6). Amen.

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/stop-worrying/

Because you were raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God (Colossians 3:1). Amen.

There were issues at home. Their dad died leaving his property to his sons in doubt. The younger of the two sons was among the thousands in the crowd listening to Jesus that day (Luke 12:1). When Jesus paused in his teaching, one son took the opportunity to call out, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me" (Luke 12:13). According to Jewish law, the older son received two-thirds of the inheritance and the younger son the remaining one-third. Evidently, there was a problem in settling the amount of the inheritance between the two brothers.

But Jesus refused to judge the case. He had not come to judge in earthly matters, but to be the Judge of heaven and earth. Jesus was busy teaching about eternal inheritance. He wasn't interested in delving into earthly inheritance. He replied, "Man, who appointed me to be a judge or an arbitrator over you" (Luke 12:14).

Jesus then uses this as a teachable moment. He calls out to the crowd, "Watch out and be on guard against all greed, because a man's life is not measured by how many possessions he has" (Luke 12:15).

We can so easily become possessed by our possessions. Our lives can be driven by what we have and the selfish desire to keep it from the government and anyone else who wants to take it from us. Whether we have little or we have much, we are all prone to greed. Both the rich and poor can be fools about money. The rich can become slaves to the money and possessions they already have. The poor can become slaves to the money and possessions they want. People in all social and economic classes can see money and possessions as salvation from their problems.

In our Old Testament lesson and throughout the book of Ecclesiastes, King Solomon carefully documents his own personal experiments with every lifestyle possible. He tried wine, women, and song. He tried hard work. He tried hard play. He tried travel. He tried false gods. In the end, he concluded that if this life is all there is, then everything is meaningless, utterly meaningless. Everything is vanity and a chasing after the wind (Ecclesiastes 1:14). Without God, there is no meaning to life.

It's not that wealth is bad. It's not wrong to enjoy life in the here and now. It's when that all gets out of perspective, when we lose sight of our life in relation to God – that is the problem. Your life does not consist in the abundance of your stuff. It's not about possessing possessions. The life of the Christian is about being possessed by Christ.

But how often don't we find ourselves as fools with misplaced priorities? We chase after money and make it the idol to which we bow down. We covet possessions so we place overtime ahead of time with God. We desire more things so we worship God less. We want to have it made – no worries, no problems, no bothers – forgetting that we already have it made in Jesus.

Someone once asked John D. Rockefeller, who at one point was one of the richest Americans of his time: "How much wealth does it take to satisfy a person?" He reportedly replied, "Just a little bit more." The Romans had a proverb: "Money is like sea water; the more you drink, the thirstier you become."

Jesus said, "Watch out and be on guard." With those strong and urgent words, Jesus is addressing a sin we are tempted to consider trivial and harmless. He's talking about greed. We may consider the sin of greed to be trivial, but God doesn't. That's why he has three commandments – 7th, 9th, and 10th, designated to show the mirror of his law against stealing and coveting that resides within our hearts.

Coveting doesn't get a lot of airtime when talking about the commandments – like murder or adultery – but it should. We covet admiration and we become indignant when we feel slighted by those who don't notice us. We covet possessions and then we are stingy when it comes to supporting God's ministry work with offerings. If you've paid attention this week, you've noticed people becoming upset about a young lady wearing blue jeans. We covet attention and then we get angry when others are getting the attention we think we deserve.

Jesus knows what a danger the sin of coveting is. That's why he tells the parable of the rich fool. A rich man harvested a bumper crop from his fields. The farmer appears respectable on the exterior, but on the interior lurks the heart of an idolater. He has a lot of wealth. But inwardly he is very poor. Though his physical body has much, his spiritual soul is starving to death.

The problem was not that the man was rich, but that the man was a rich fool. Wealth is not the problem. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, David, and Solomon were all extremely wealthy. Jesus had disciples who had made lots of money. The Magi who worshiped the toddler Jesus had the means to offer him gold, frankincense, and myrrh as gifts. Joseph of Arimathea was wealthy enough to lend his tomb to Jesus for three days. Lydia, the first convert in Europe and Mary, the mother of Mark the Gospel writer, were wealthy patrons of the church. Wealth is not the problem. The problem is letting wealth become a substitute for God. It's making wealth the source of our security and comfort. It's forgetting that wealth, like everything else, is a gift from God and not its own god. The sin is not money or having money or working hard for more money. The sin is in the attitude toward money.

The rich man had a sinful attitude toward his money. He wanted to "eat, drink and be merry." Take life easy. Live a life devoted to indulging all his physical appetites. Though the man thought himself to be rich and wise, God called him a fool – one who is ignorant of what the real situation is. He thought that his wealth would assure him a life of ease for years to come. However, that was not to be. "This very night," on which he had laid all his plans for the future, God declared his life would end. All the preparations he had made were useless. All his wealth and crops and barns were now meaningless. Even worse, now he would be standing before God as a beggar. He faced the final judgment with no spiritual resources. He was indeed a fool!

And so is everyone who sets their hearts upon earthly riches more than the treasures God grants through Jesus Christ. Our Lord knows how attracted we are to the circumstances of the rich man in this parable. He knows how easy it is for us to fall into the trap of greed. Listen to our Savior's warning. Our life is not in what we own … but in who owns us.

As a Christian, being rich is not something you have to pursue or even work towards. The riches of God are something you already have. You are wildly wealthy. For Jesus Christ "became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich" (2 Corinthians 8:9). Jesus has an economy all his own. Although he is the Creator and Owner of all things, he lived among us as a poor person. Although he has all authority in heaven and on earth, he lived under the authority of Roman and Jewish law. Although he has all power and glory, he made himself helpless and submitted to the punishment we deserved. Although forgiveness, life, and salvation are worth more than we could ever pay, Jesus offers them to us as a free gift. Although Jesus deserves our unending service, it is his desire that he serve us. It is Jesus who makes us rich toward God.

When Jesus did all this, he gave you the biggest treasure you could have – forgiveness from your greed, the breath of eternal life to replace chasing after the breath in this life, and the spiritual wealth contained in the waters of Baptism, the spoken, read, and sung Words of Scripture, and the body and blood of Christ in his Sacrament. Now the grave has no more power over you. Now you have what it takes to pass the test on that night when your soul is required of you. You may lose the barns of this world, but through Christ you have already gained the mansions of the world to come.

How do we become rich toward God? Through Christ. Christ alone. St. Paul writes in his letter to the Colossians: "Because you were raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory (Colossians 3:1-4).

Christ is your life, your true life, the only life that lasts. If you don't have Christ, you're dead already. You're sunk, you're lost, you have no hope and no future. Your sins will drag you down to the grave. What good will all your stuff do you? Your soul will be required of you. A life apart from God, a life apart from Christ, a life apart from the Spirit, will not last. It will be a "vapor, nothing but chasing wind" (Ecclesiastes 2:26).

This changes our perspective on things, doesn't it? It frees us up. No matter our crummy circumstances, we have a joy that cannot be taken from us. We know where our true life is found, and it isn't in our stuff. When we have things in the proper perspective, then we can go ahead and enjoy the blessings of this life. And that's what Ecclesiastes ultimately is telling us: "There is nothing better for a man than to eat and to drink and to find joy in his work. This too, I saw, is from God's hand. For who can eat or enjoy himself apart from him" (Ecclesiastes 2:24-25).

The picture on the sanctuary screen is a picture of my family farm on fire. Somehow this week, the huge hay barn caught on fire. The fire spread to the other outbuildings. Thankfully no one was living there anymore, so there were no people or animals injured. Also, we are grateful that my parents sold the farm last month. Those buildings were going to come down anyhow. They just came down much more quickly and violently than the new owner had planned.

I'm showing you this picture because it's a reminder of how quickly and violently what we've worked so hard for can be destroyed. It can be a fire, an accident, cancer, disease, a heart attack, a stroke, old age … really anything. Everything we worked so long for can be gone in an instant. A puff of smoke. Vapor. Then it can all seem meaningless.

That's why we find our meaning in Jesus Christ. The second son in the Gospel wanted his portion of the inheritance, but Jesus Christ has already given you an inheritance in heaven. Your inheritance is that he has made you royalty – sons and daughters of the King.

My royal brothers and sisters, use and enjoy the things of this world that you have been given. But don't put your trust in them or covet them. You don't have to eat, drink, and be merry now, for in Christ you will be eating, drinking, and joyful for eternity.

As Christians we remember that life does not consist in the material, but in the spiritual; not in the temporal, but in the eternal; not in worldly goods, but in heavenly blessings; not in what we can do for ourselves, but in what God gives us in Christ. In Christ Jesus, we are rich in this life and rich for the life to come. Only a fool thinks otherwise. Don't be a fool. Be a son or daughter of the King. In this way, you are rich toward God. Amen.

Set your mind on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory (Colossians 3:2-4). Amen.

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/rich-toward-god/

For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time (1 Timothy 1:5-6). Amen.

The Lord had come to visit Abraham and Sarah to give them the great news that by this time next year they would give birth to their long-awaited son (Genesis 18:1-15). The Lord, with two of his angels, visited Abraham in human form.

As his dinner guests get up to leave, Abraham politely walks and talks with them. The Lord allows Abraham to purposely overhear his plans for the wicked cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. Abraham was in a special relationship with God where God considered Abraham his "friend" (Isaiah 41:8). So, the Lord said, "Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very flagrant, I will go down now and see if what they have done is as bad as the outcry that has come to me. If not, I will know" (Genesis 18:20-21).

The two angels leave the Lord and head southwest toward Sodom, forty miles away. When the Lord says he will go down to see about the outcry he has heard about Sodom, he is ascribing human actions to himself to allow Abraham and others to better understand his divine actions. God wants everyone to understand that he passes no judgment without possessing the facts of the case. He does not act arbitrarily.

The outcry to the Lord could have been from the intense plea of travelers who had made the mistake of passing through Sodom and Gomorrah. It could have been the stench of sin that had risen to the highest heaven from these godless cesspools of immorality. Our family visited the hot springs of Thermopolis this week. There is a distinctive odor in the hot springs due to hydrogen sulfide gas. The stench of wickedness of Sodom was as repulsive on earth as it was offensive to heaven.

Abraham knows the reputation of the cities in the valley since he and his herdsmen moved their flocks and herds all over the area. Abraham's nephew, Lot, had also unwisely settled along the plains of the lower Jordan River, and eventually moved into the city of Sodom.

Abraham is concerned about his family in Sodom. So he prays for Lot by praying for all the righteous believers in Sodom. Abraham approached [the Lord] and said, "Will you really sweep away the righteous along with the wicked? What if there are fifty righteous people in the city? Will you really sweep them away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous who are in it? You would never do such a thing, killing the righteous along with the wicked, treating the righteous the same as the wicked. You would never do such a thing. The Judge of all the earth should do right, shouldn't he?" The Lord said, "If I find fifty righteous people within the city of Sodom, then I will spare the entire place for their sake" (Genesis 18:23-26).

Abraham respectfully argues God down – first with fifty righteous, then forty-five, thirty, twenty – until God agrees on the final amount of ten. Abraham sounds like a used camel dealer. [The Lord] said, "I will not destroy it for the sake of the ten" (Genesis 18:32).

Abraham is relieved. As wicked as the city is, surely there are at least ten believers within Sodom. Ten. That's the number of people on the population sign for Hiland between Casper and Thermopolis. But there weren't ten believers within Sodom. So, God destroys the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, while having his two human-looking angels pull Lot and his family out of the city before its destroyed.

Look more at Abraham's bargaining. He prays six times for the same result. Each time lowering the number of believers that needed to be found to spare Sodom. He feels comfortable telling God exactly what he thinks. He has courage and audacity to speak to the Creator and Judge of heaven and earth. Abraham is bold because he is made in the image of God. He is a child of his heavenly Father through circumcision. He is a son talking to his Dad.

Abraham is humble. He admits he is nothing but dust and ashes. He knows Adam was made from the dust of the earth. He knows that when he dies, he will return to the dust of the earth. He is humble, knowing that he has no right to expect the Creator and Judge of heaven and earth to lower himself to take his prayers into consideration. Yet, he asked anyway because he knew that God is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, and abounding in love and mercy (Psalm 145:8-9).

How about you? How do you pray? If you are like most Christians, you probably don't pray often enough. You are not availing yourself of the power and promises of your almighty God. You probably aren't coming to God in the morning, afternoon, and evening with your prayers, petitions, intercessions, and thanksgiving, like St. Paul encourages in the Epistle lesson (1 Timothy 2:1).

When you pray, are you weak with your prayers? Are you asking only for little things? Are you coming to God's throne only after everything else you've tried has failed.

Are you proud in your prayers? Are you expecting God to answer only according to your plans? Are you forgetting your limited human knowledge compared to God's divine omniscient (all-knowing) knowledge?

Do you give up too easily with your prayers? Do you not like God's answers of "no" or "wait," so you stop praying? Have you forgotten all the instances where Scripture speaks of being persistent with your prayers? Do you recall how annoying it was when your kids kept begging and nagging you for something? And you don't want to become annoying by begging and nagging your God?

How can Abraham talk like this to God? Abraham is a child of his heavenly Father. He can say things to his Dad that strangers cannot say. And God welcomes it.

God wants you to talk to him like this, too. He isn't looking for distant worshipers, people who are afraid to say "boo" to him. He's looking for people who will trust him as a child trusts a good father.

On your own, you are a stranger before God. Your inborn and active sins have estranged you from your Maker and Creator. But Jesus Christ came into our world to reconcile you to God, to make you God's child in Holy Baptism, to redeem you to make God your Father. Jesus has come to be our Mediator, to restore the broken relationship between sinful children and their holy heavenly Father. "For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time" (1 Timothy 1:5-6).

Jesus mediates for us. He perfects our imperfect prayers. He humbles our prideful prayers where we are only asking for ourselves. He emboldens our weak prayers where we come too shyly before God. This is why we consistently end our prayers by praying "in Jesus' name."

Jesus motivates us to pray early, late, often, regularly, and persistently. God does not see repeated prayers as nagging or begging. Jesus taught his disciples the parable of the persistent widow and the unjust judge. St. Luke writes, "Jesus told them a parable about the need to always pray and not lose heart … ‘Will not God give justice to his chosen ones, who are crying out to him day and night? Will he put off helping them'" (Luke 18:1, 7)?

Jesus challenges in our Gospel, "Keep asking, and it will be given to you. Keep seeking, and you will find. Keep knocking, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives. The one who seeks finds. And to the one who knocks, it will be opened" (Luke 11:9-10).

Through the redemption and reconciliation accomplished by Jesus on the cross; through the mediation and intercession of Jesus as our Great High Priest, we can now approach God's throne of glory with our prayers. Just like you should not be afraid to ask your dad for anything, you should not be afraid to ask your God for anything. Jesus teaches, "What father among you, if your son asks for bread, would give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, would give him a snake instead of a fish? Or if he asks for an egg, would give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?" Luke 11:11-13)

Like Abraham, we are nothing but dust and ashes. We approach God with proper humility, fully understanding that as sinners we have no right to be heard by a holy and just God. We certainly have no right to expect him to answer and grant what we have asked for. This is why we end our prayers with humility, praying like Jesus, "Not my will, but yours be done" (Luke 22:42).

Like Abraham, we are the blood-bought children of God. We approach God boldly like a child approaches his or her dad. The waters of Baptism have washed us clean and made us holy and righteous believers in his sight. Now we are confident that we can bring our repeated prayers and persistent petitions to God for any request – big or small.

One of the first shut-in members that I visited when I became the pastor at Epiphany in Racine was Rose Wirt. When I visited Rose twenty-one years ago, she would call me "Kiddo." She meant no disrespect. I looked a lot younger than. I was a lot younger then – twenty-one years younger to be exact. Rose told me I was the age of her grandchildren.

One day when I visited Rose in the nursing home, she told me she had to repent. She felt guilty because she had told God in her prayers what she wanted him to do. She said, "Kiddo, I told God that I'm tired of living and I want to go home to heaven. I shouldn't tell God what to do."

I told her, "Rose, God wants you to be bold in your prayers. It's OK if you tell him that you're tire or lonely or miss your husband, so you want to go home to be with Jesus. It's a beautiful prayer when you tell God what you think, as long as you pray with humility, ‘Not my will, but yours be done, Lord.'"

In that way, Rose, you, me, and other Christians can be like Abraham praying with bold humility.

It's good to have a relationship with your physical father, your spiritual father, and your heavenly Father where you feel comfortable to say what's on your heart, to tease, to be open, to be honest. Hopefully, your children can speak to you as fathers knowing that you love them. Your children can take the conversation into uncomfortable directions because they know you won't take offense. They feel safe with you as their father. Abraham, felt safe with God. He trusted God to take his asking the right way—and to show mercy to him and his nephew.

What about us? We, too, are in a close relationship with God. We are his children by adoption through Jesus our Savior. And so, when we need to, we can come boldly into God's presence, asking for what we need. You are not a stranger in God's presence anymore. Through your faith in Christ, you are now family. You belong in God's presence. Act like you belong there. Be bold when you pray. Claim your blood-bought identity. You are not irritating God with your boldness. You are honoring his invitation and promise.

Fellow sons and daughters of our heavenly Father, what are you praying for right now? Ask! Seek! Knock! Approach God's throne. Pray with bold humility. Amen.

"I tell you, keep asking, and it will be given to you. Keep seeking, and you will find. Keep knocking, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives. The one who seeks finds. And to the one who knocks, it will be opened" (Luke 11:9-10). Amen.

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/pray-with-bold-humility/

To the holy and faithful in Christ: Grace to you and peace from God our Father. (Colossians 1:2).

Martha is busy. Jesus, the Messiah, the great Healer and Teacher everyone is talking about is coming for a visit. Plus, he’s bringing twelve of his closest friends with him. So, Martha is busy. She has to roast the lamb, cook the vegetables, bake the bread, and make a special pie for dessert.

Her sister Mary is busy helping her in the kitchen. Then there’s a knock on the door. Jesus has arrived at their Bethany home. Martha and Mary put down their knives and bowls, brush off their hands on their aprons, and rush to the front door. They give Jesus a big hug and show him and his disciples into the living room.

Martha excuses herself to go back into the kitchen. After a few minutes she notices that Mary isn’t in the kitchen with her. She peaks into the living room and becomes upset because Mary is just sitting there at Jesus’ feet, listening to him tell stories.

Martha goes back into the kitchen. Now there’s a little more oomph in her cutting and chopping. She’s ticked! And she’s become more ticked as the minutes tick by!

Martha jabs the fork into the lamb, jams the spoon into the vegetables, and bangs the cupboards closed. The temperature in the kitchen is rising … and so is Martha’s temper! She finally snaps. She slams her spoon down on the counter and storms out of the kitchen. And who does she lash out at? Not her sister! No. Her guest! The reason for all her preparations. She lashes out at Jesus!

“Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her to help me” (Luke 10:40). “Lord, don’t you care that I’m in the kitchen slaving away over a steaming stove while she sits here all doe-eyed at your feet doing nothing? How about cutting the chit chat and telling her to get her lazy rear end in the kitchen to help me?!”

Martha has gotten her priorities all mixed up. She wants to serve Jesus. But Jesus has come to Martha’s house to serve her. It was good that she stressed family and friends and a clean house and good food. But stressing all those good things only made her stressed out. But Jesus has come to her home to give her rest. It was good that she wanted to labor for her Lord, but it would have been better if she had first joined Mary in listening to her Lord.

Jesus calmly replies to Martha’s temper tantrum, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but one thing is needed. In fact, Mary has chosen that better part, which will not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:41-42). I hear Jesus paraphrasing the knight in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, “You have chosen poorly.”

Strong words. Stinging words. But words that reveal much about Martha’s – and our relationship – with the Savior.

It’s easy for us to get our priorities out of order, isn’t it? We place the urgent over the important. We put the fun over the mundane. We do the easy over the difficult. That happens at home, in the workplace, in school. It especially happens within the church.

We become hyper-focused on our vocations as parents, employees, citizens, retirees, students, athletes, etc. Those are good and godly pursuits. God wants us to focus on those things. Those are Second Table of the Law commands from God. Those are labors of love that we give to God and to those whom God has placed into our lives. They become issues, though, when those labors for the Lord come before or in the place of listening to our Lord. They become problems when the Second Table of the Law of loving our neighbor consumes more time and energy than the First Table of the Law of loving the Lord.

Martha chose a good thing in wanting to labor for her Lord. Mary chose the better thing of first listening to her Lord. This isn’t an issue of be Mary and don’t be Martha. It’s more an issue of first be Mary so you have the spiritual strength to be Martha. It’s all about priorities.

Martha’s problem was not her service, but her lack of priorities. She wanted to please Jesus. She wanted to impress him with her house and a nice dinner. She wanted to serve him with her very best. And yet, it all failed. She wound up yelling at Jesus and being angry at her sister. She was occupied with many things, when one thing was needful. She was busy preparing a seven-course dinner, but Jesus would have been content with grilled goat cheese and tomato soup.

It was not Martha’s labor that Jesus wanted. It was Martha. Jesus came not to be served but to serve. He came to give, not to get. He came to be where two or three are gathered in his name – even if those two are two sisters. He came not to be the guest, but to be the Host, to lay down his life as a sacrifice for sinful humanity, to offer himself up for the life of the world, to be the Bread of Life and wine from heaven to bring refreshment, forgiveness, life, and salvation to all. As far as Jesus was concerned, Martha’s house could have been a wreck, she could have laid out cold cuts and sandwich bread, she could have simply offered a loaf of bread and a dried fish. What mattered most to Jesus was that she make him and his words her priority.

Jesus desires our service. He calls us to labor for the Lord. The Holy Spirit through his Gospel writer Luke places the story of Mary and Martha right after the story of the Good Samaritan. That parable of the Good Samaritan was all about serving the Lord by serving our neighbor. So, the Holy Spirit is teaching us that service and labor to our Lord and his people is certainly important. But that labor for the Lord must follow listening to the Lord.

We want to obey God’s first three commandments of loving the Lord above all things, keeping his name holy by worshiping and praying to him, and then spending time in God’s house on the Sabbath Day. When we are loving the Lord with those first three commandments, then we are prepared to love our neighbor with the last seven commandments. After we listen to the Lord, we are prepared to labor for our Lord.

Jesus doesn’t criticize Martha for serving. He does not discipline her for failing to sit beside Mary at his feet. In fact, he doesn’t scold Martha at all. When Jesus responds to her complaint, he states the obvious - she was anxious and worried about a lot of things. His only word to her is about the goodness of what Mary is doing. He seems to be saying to Martha that, while her serving is good, Mary is doing something even better.

The better option is listening to Jesus. If we back up just a little farther in Luke’s Gospel, we see the importance of Jesus’ words. After the seventy-two returned from their successful mission, Jesus “rejoiced in the Holy Spirit” (Luke 10:21) and then described the gracious will of the Father. God wills that no one knows him “except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wants to reveal him” (Luke 10:22). In listening to Jesus, Mary was getting to know the Father through the Son. Such things the prophets and kings of old longed to see and hear. In the end, the first great commandment must be the starting point for the second great commandment.

But the second flows from the first, which is why Martha should be commended. She welcomed Jesus into her home (Luke 10:38). She followed the example of Jesus as loving service to her neighbor. She got a little cranky at Mary, which is where things started to go slightly awry, but not enough to get her in trouble. Mary’s portion, listening to Jesus, was not better than something bad, but better than something good. And because it is better, it will not be taken away from Mary.

The good news for you is that the better will not be taken away from you, either. As good as it is to labor for our Lord, it isn’t even better to listen to the Lord first. For in the words of Jesus we hear the gracious promises of the Father. These promises of forgiveness, life, and salvation enliven us, transform us, and empower our good works of loving service.

Priorities: Focus on God’s business. Then focus on your busyness.

Study the Bible. Then serve your neighbor.

Worship the Lord. Then work for the Lord.

Come to Jesus’ Table. Then invite others to your table.

Fill up with the one thing needful. Then fill your time with the other necessities.

Let God fulfill his promises to you. Then fulfill your godly vocations in the world.

Priorities: Sit at Jesus’ feet like Mary. Come to worship every week to have a conversation with God. Stand in our Lutheran worship as you talk to God in your confession of sins, your prayers, your songs of praises, and in your confessions of faith. Sit as you listen to God speak to you in his Scripture lessons from the Old Testament, Psalm, Epistle, and Gospel. Then have these Scriptures explained and applied to your life in the children’s devotion, hymn of the day, and sermon.

Attend the Sunday morning Bible study. I’m so impressed and excited to have so many of you here early on a Sunday to dig deeply into God’s teachings. I plan to start another weekly Bible study in the fall.

Make use of the devotional materials in the church entryway - Grace Moments, Meditations, and Forward in Christ. Listen to our Thirsty podcasts and other Lutheran podcasts. Read your Bible and have personal and family devotions daily. When I email you the written and recorded sermon this week, I’ll also send along several devotions and podcasts you might find edifying. I’ll also send you a daily Bible reading plan. In these ways you are sitting at the feet of Jesus. Then you are Mary – receiving the forgiveness of sins, strengthening your faith, and being comforted. You are finding rest from your work, and comfort from your anxiousness. You are coming to worship and Bible study where Jesus promises to be where two or three or fifty or sixty are gathered.

There is nothing more needful in this life than the words and promises of Jesus. Nothing! Listen to the Lord. Surrender to his voice. Find peace in his presence. Through Jesus’ Word and Sacraments – here in God’s house and in your house, the Lord change our hearts. He rebukes so we repent. He warns so we slow down. He chastises so we cherish the rest we find only in him.

Learn a lesson from Mary. But also learn a lesson from Martha. After you have listened to the Lord, then labor for the Lord. One of the reasons I accepted your call was when talking to you and the pastors who were serving you during the vacancy, I learned you were ready to get to work. We’ll have open forums soon to talk about some of that work like outreach, fellowship, and worship.

After worship today, some of us will be meeting to discuss outreach to the students at Casper College. I would love to invite them to fellowship events at Lord of Lords. All of us will be talking together soon about some things we might want to do to enjoy each other’s company. I’d love to hear your ideas. We’ll think of things that might appeal to children, teens, college students and young adults, as well as more seasoned adults. Perhaps showing a Wyoming football game or showing the Packers beating the Vikings. Perhaps an outdoor worship service or a picnic at the park. Perhaps an egg hunt or Bingo – everyone loves Bingo!

Whatever we decide to do, we’ll have fun laboring together for our Lord. That labor follows the fun of listening to our Lord. Because those are our priorities. Amen.

The Father rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins” (Colossians 1:11, 12).

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/priorities-listening-then-labor/

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not allow anyone to put the yoke of slavery on you again. (Galatians 5:1) Amen.

To teach a lesson to a religious expert, Jesus tells a story about a man traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho who falls into the hands of robbers. He says, “They stripped him, beat him, and went away leaving him half dead.” Beaten, bruised, and bloodied this mess of a man lies there waiting for someone who might be able to help.

Thankfully a priest approaches. Certainly, a deeply religious man like a priest will lend aid. Nope! He sees the beaten and bruised man in the ditch and passes by on the other side.

Then a Levite approaches. Surely a man who works in the temple will stop to help. Nope! He leaves the bloodied mess of a man lying there and continues on.

We can hear the excuses running through the heads of the priest and Levite as they avoided the man in need. We’ve probably used the excuses ourselves. “It’s his own fault this happened.” “If I stop to help, I might put myself in danger.” “He needs more help than I’m able to provide.” We can always create excuses to avoid serving our neighbors.

The priest and Levite were people the religious expert would consider his friends and neighbors - the buddies he wants to hang out with. But they weren’t very friendly. They weren’t very neighborly.

So, Jesus adds some intrigue by making the hero of the story a neighborly Samaritan man, someone a good pious Jew would consider neither a neighbor nor a friend.

Jesus continues: “A Samaritan, as he traveled, came to where the man was. When he saw him, he felt sorry for the man. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them. He put him on his own animal, took him to an inn, and took care of him. The next day, when he left, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, ‘Take care of him. Whatever extra you spend, I will repay you when I return.’ Which of these three do you think acted like a neighbor to the man who fell among robbers?” “The one who showed mercy to him,” he replied. Then Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

The behavior of the Samaritan could not have been more different than the Jewish men. He had less reason to stop. He had much farther to travel. The more details Jesus adds about what the Samaritan did, the less sense his behavior makes. Unlike the religious expert, he wasn’t looking to avoid as many neighbors as he could. He willingly became the neighbor of the man in need.

I’m sure there have been plenty of sermons over the years that teach, “Don’t be like the bad priest or Levite. Instead, be like the Good Samaritan.”

There is certainly room for pastors in the pulpit or teachers in the classroom to talk about helping the hurting, mending the marred, or curing the casualties. But there is so much more to Jesus’ story than “don’t do this but do this instead.”

The religious expert is asking about what he should do. Listen to his question that prompts Jesus’ story. “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Did you hear the crux of the question? “What must I do …?”

This guy is all about doing, activity, good deeds. It’s all about what he can achieve. He sees himself as the one in control. He’s not looking at what he needs. He doesn’t think he requires God’s grace. This guy is an expert in the law. He knows the Scriptures well. He knows the Jewish priest and the Jewish Levite are good, pious people. He knows the Samaritans are half-bloods and heretics. So, when Jesus has the priest and Levite leave the wounded man in the ditch, the expert doesn’t want to be like either of those guys. But then Jesus includes the Samaritan in the story. The expert would rather be a hypocritical priest than a heretical Samaritan. The lawyer would rather be a phony Levite than an apostate Samaritan. A pure-blood Jewish descendent of Abraham could never imagine himself being like a half-breed from Samaria.

The expert doesn’t want to see himself in the priest or the Levite. He certainly doesn’t want to see himself in the Samaritan. Then who is left in the story? Jesus wants the expert to see himself as the one who was left by the robbers in the ditch.

Jesus wants the expert to realize he doesn’t have it all together. He’s not in control. He’s not the priest or the Levite. He’s not even the Samaritan. Jesus wants the expert to realize he’s the bruised, beaten, and bloodied half-dead man lying by the side of the road. He’s in need of mercy. He’s in need of care. He’s in need of a Good Samaritan.

The Holy Spirit includes this story in Scripture for us to learn from. We can be like the expert and look around at what others are doing or look down on others for who they are. We consider ourselves to be good people, the ones in control, the ones who don’t really need any help.

But that’s not reality. Not even close. That’s why we need this parable.

We are the poor soul lying in the ditch. We have been beaten up by our sin, bruised by our culture, and bloodied by the devil. We are left for dead along the side of the road, for Scripture says, “The soul who sins is the one who will die” (Ezekiel 18:20).

There are certainly plenty of people in our world who will rob us of our wealth and health. Plenty of demons in the spiritual realm who will rob us of our innocence. But the worst part is that we inflict many of our wounds upon ourselves with our sins, making the situation even worse.

We are the beaten, the bruised, and the bloodied.

We’ve been beaten by robbers who steal our joy and replace it with suffering. We’ve been bruised by our failures to obey God. We’ve been bloodied by our interactions in the workplace and our homes. We’ve been left half-dead by a culture who demands righteousness from us – but only if it fits their current Woke righteousness.

Face it. No one in our world cares. No one is coming to your aid. No one is coming to rescue you. That’s because they are all in the same situation as you. Beaten, bruised, and bloodied. Lying by the side of the road. Left in the ditch to despair and die.

Until a Good Samaritan comes along. Well, not merely a Good Samaritan. … A Great One! The nameless Good Samaritan is someone whose name we know very well – Jesus!

Jesus doesn’t come for the healthy. He comes for you, the sick. He doesn’t come for the strong. He comes for you, the weak. He doesn’t come for those who think they have it all under control, who boast of their achievements, and who are trying to do enough good to enter eternal life. Jesus comes for you because you’ve admitted you’ve lost control of your life – you who are lonely, afraid, smelly, down, and destitute. He comes for you when you finally admit you are dead in your sin and unbelief. “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds” (Psalm 147:3).

The Good Samaritan in the parable couldn’t leave the injured man lying by the side of the road. He took the injured man to an inn, poured oil and wine on his wounds, bandaged them up, and then provided for any additional expense.

Jesus couldn’t just leave us at the mercy of the robbers of the devil, his demons, and this world. Instead, the Good Samaritan showed mercy to us. With his incarnation, he got down into the ditch with us. He couldn’t leave us lying there dying in our sins. He was lifted up on the cross so he could lift us up to life again. He cared for our wounds by being wounded on the cross.

But he continues to do so much more. He continues to provide the necessary spiritual medical attention we need. He provides the oil and wine of his baptismal waters on us every time we hear his words of forgiveness and see the sign of the cross. He lifts us up and carries us with his Word to the inn of his Christian Church. He puts us in the care of his innkeepers – his pastors. He provides us with food in his Sacramental meal at the Lord’s Table.

Our Good Samaritan covers all the expenses – not with gold or silver, but with his holy, precious blood and his innocent suffering and death (1 Peter 1:18). He sees our misery and mess and rescues us.

I want you to see the expert in the ditch. Then see yourself lying right next to him. You look down the ditch and you see all of us lying there. Our Good Samaritan of Jesus comes along to rescue all of us – one by one.

After you see Jesus as the Good Samaritan who rescues you, then as a sanctified Christian, you will desire to be a Good Samaritan who rescues others. You love because Jesus first loved you. Because Jesus left his home in heaven to be your neighbor here on earth, you can be a neighbor to those around you here on earth. Because Jesus has freed you from your prejudices, hesitancy, and excuses, you can help those who are different from you.

Lucas and Skyler, both 18-year-old cousins, were on an inflatable raft on Beck Lake in Cody on the afternoon of July 4. A thunderstorm suddenly swept over Cody, churning up the calm waters. The guys were in the middle of the lake when the inflatable raft capsized, sending Lucas and Sklyer into the water. They weren’t wearing life vests. Even though both guys were very good swimmers, because of the heavy swells and current, they weren’t able to swim to the side of the lake. So, they started calling for help.

A man who was at the dock with his canoe, heard and saw them. He grabbed two life vests from his canoe and swam out to the guys. They grabbed onto the life vests, and he swam them back to shore. After checking that the two teens were OK, the man left, without giving his name to them.

That stranger was a Good Samaritan. I pray that any of us would be willing to help whenever the need arises. Not because we have to. Not because we’d feel guilty if we didn’t help. Not because we are trying to inherit eternal life. We act like Good Samaritans because we already have eternal life. Because we are sanctified and want to put our faith into action. Because we get to follow the example of Jesus, our Good Samaritan.

You are the beaten, bruised, and bloodied half-dead messes in the ditch. Jesus comes along to be your Good Samaritan. He washes you up, bandages your wounds, brings you to the inn, feeds you, and pays for your continued care. Now when you find others in the ditch who are just as beaten, bruised, and bloodied as you were, bring them to the inn of our church. Together let’s wash them with baptismal waters, feed them with Christ’s sacramental meal, bandage their wounds with God’s forgiveness, and assure them their continued care has been paid for by Jesus’ redemptive sacrifice on the cross.

Then you will be a Good Samaritan, too. Amen.

Serve one another through love. In fact, the whole law is summed up in this one statement: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Galatians 5:13, 14). Amen.

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/beaten-bruised-and-bloodied/

Who is in charge here? You might have asked somebody that question when you were not being served well in a store or restaurant. Who is in charge here? Who is in charge? Is ISIS in charge in Afghanistan now ? Who is in charge of the affairs of our world? Are the terrorists in charge?

The verses before us today indicate that there is somebody in charge. This somebody is called {5} the ruler of the kings of the earth. If we are honest, we have to admit that it often doesn't seem as if there is anybody in charge. This nation does exactly what it wants. That group of people go off and does its own things. Nobody seems connected. Nothing seems coordinated. Who is in charge here? Is there anybody in charge here?

In the first paragraph Jesus is described in three different ways. {5} The firstborn from the dead. We are used to having Jesus called the one risen from the dead. The resurrection was a huge event. Without it we would not be forgiven. We would not have eternal life. Firstborn reminds us of that. In the Old Testament the firstborn was given to the Lord, trusting that the Lord would provide more. Jesus is the firstborn from the dead. More will follow him. We will follow Him. We will rise from the dead because He did.

Jesus is also described as {5} the faithful witness. John loves to call Jesus things like that. It was John who called Jesus the Word at the beginning of His Gospel. Jesus is the Word because He was a perfect communicator of the truth from God. He acknowledged that in the Gospel lesson for today when He told Pilate: "I am the King of Truth." Jesus is the Faithful Witness. He knows the truth about God because He is God. When He tells us what He knows as a firsthand witness, it is the truth. While He was on this earth, He said that He told us what the Father had given Him to tell us.

Jesus is also described as the ruler of the kings of the earth. We don't talk about Him much like that nor do we even think about Him much like that. But remember that is what He is now. He has finished being our Suffering Savior. He has finished being a lowly servant. He is now in charge of all things, and that includes all people and that includes Putin, Biden, and Xi.

John greets us with these words: {4} Grace and peace to you. In other words, "I want you to have grace and peace in your life." And then he tells us where that comes from. {4} From him who is and who was, and who is to come. The only one who could love sinners who don't deserve to be loved, and the only one who could declare peace with sinners who rebel against Him is the Lord who has always been that way and will always be that way. Circumstances and people don't change Him

Grace and peace also come from {4} the seven spirits. Because of an O T reference to seven aspects of the Holy Spirit, we take this to mean the Holy Spirit. God loves us. God wants us to have peace. God the Holy Spirit delivers God's love and the resultant peace into our lives. He does that by bringing those blessings into our lives through God's word and the sacrament.

Grace and peace also come {4} from Jesus Christ. He after all is the firstborn from the dead who exercised God's love toward us and accomplished peace for us by dying on the cross to wipe away our sins and then by rising from the dead victorious over all spiritual enemies. He after all is the faithful witness who has informed us of this grace and peace. And He after all is the ruler of the kings of the earth, who controls the affairs in this world so that grace and peace get dispensed to us. Jesus the Messiah is the Ruler of the Kings of the earth. What a blessing that is for us.

Because Jesus is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth, John writes: {6} "to him be glory and power for ever and ever!" To him be power. It almost sounds as if we are saying, "Because Jesus is like this, He deserves to be given power." But we know He has almighty power already, since He is true God. So, John must just be saying, "May He never lose that power for ever and ever, the power which is rightfully His as the Son of God."

Because Jesus is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth, John writes: "To him be glory for ever and ever!" Jesus deserves our praise forever and ever. We ought to give Him our praise forever and ever.

John then gives us additional reasons to praise Jesus. {5} He has freed us from our sins by his blood. Jesus took our sins on himself. That has freed us from our guilt. He suffered death which we deserved because of our sins because He was wearing our sins. That freed us from death as punishment for sins. He suffered separation from God which we deserve because of our sins. That freed us from the threat of hell as punishment for sins. He destroyed the devil's ability to control us by crushing Satan's head when he died on the cross. That frees us from the control of sin in our lives. Freedom - that's a reason to praise Jesus for ever and ever.

Another reason. {5} "He loves us." What is amazing about this is the object of his love. We are sinful human beings. We don't do what God asks us to do. We do what God asks us not to do. We plan to do the opposite of what God says is good for us. Obviously the Lord Jesus would not feel good about us since we are like that. But yet He loves us. He wants to benefit us. He wants to give us what we need. Even more, He did what was necessary so that we have what we need and are benefited in accordance with our deficiencies. God's love which we don't deserve. A reason for praising Jesus for ever and ever.

Another reason. {6} "He made us to be a kingdom." Since we live in a democracy, we might not relate to being a kingdom, so let's use citizens as our focal point. What is ours because we are citizens of our country? We get the protection of our army and our police force. We get provided for after we retire or if we are unable to provide for ourselves. We have access to educational opportunities. We could go on with the list. What blessings are ours because Jesus made us into a kingdom? The same things. God says He protects our relationship with Him and our earthly existence. He gives our souls the food and water of His word something we couldn't provide for ourselves and food and water for our physical existence as well. He educates us so we know how to live our lives in a way that is best for our souls and our bodies & best for the people around us. "He made us to be a kingdom." Just a reminder. Jesus made us to be a kingdom. Jesus is our King. Another reason to praise Jesus forever and ever.

The last reason John gives. {6} "He made us priests to serve his God and Father." Priests served God in the Old Testament by sacrificing animals to God as reminders of the sacrifice that would be given by the Messiah to pay for our sins and as thank offerings to the Lord. They also served as mediators, going back and forth between the Lord and His people, taking the sins of the people to God and bringing God's blessings back to the people. Jesus is our Mediator, so we don't serve as mediators for each other. Jesus sacrificed Himself to pay for our sins so we don't nor could we act as priests in that capacity. But we can offer ourselves as thank offerings to the Lord for all that He has done for us. All of our daily thoughts, words and actions we offer to God as our attempt to say "thank you" to Him. That is our purpose in life. That gives meaning to our existence. Another reason to praise Jesus forever and ever.

This Jesus who is the firstborn from the dead, the faithful witness, the ruler of the kings of the earth, who loves us and freed us from our sins by his blood and made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve God, John says, {7} is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him. How do people respond to comments about Jesus' coming back again? To use a mild description - skeptically. "Christians have been saying for two thousand years that Jesus is coming back again. It hasn't happened yet. Nothing appears to be different from what it has been for the past two thousand years. There is absolutely no reason to think He will come back."

"Jesus is coming back." There is another group which reacts negatively to this kind of comment. {7} Those who pierced Him. They insist that Jesus is not coming back because they don't want him to come back. Those who pierced Him. We probably think first of those who actually put Jesus to death, or those who call out that He be crucified. But let's remember why Jesus was put on the cross. It was because of our sins. Humans beings - all of us - pierced Jesus. Human beings - sinners all of us - don't want Jesus to return to call us to account for our sins, unless we have been led to believe that our sins are gone and we are acceptable to God, covered with Jesus' righteousness. Non-believing human beings try to tell themselves that Jesus is not coming because they don't want Jesus to be coming. And when He does, all these unbelievers will mourn because of Him.

He is coming. Most people are skeptics. But that doesn't change the fact that He is coming. John says, {7} "so shall it be." We are just as confident. Why? Because Jesus said He was coming back. "I am going to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you I will come back to take you to be with me." That's Jesus talking. "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with Him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before him." That's Jesus talking. Jesus said it. So shall it be.

Right after John expresses confidence that Jesus will return as promised, the Lord breaks in and says: {8} "I am the Alpha and the Omega, who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty." Alpha and Omega are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. They are used in the same way that beginning and end are used. God is steadfast, He doesn't change. He repeats that with the phrase {8} "who is, and who was, and who is to come." God's personal Old Testament Hebrew name was "I am." That is the same as who was and is and is to come. He just exists. What He says is as good as done. His promises are as good as kept. And then he says he is the almighty. "I have the capacity to do all I have said and to keep all I have promised." Forget your doubts about His coming. Look who said He was coming.

When we look at the world around us, it sure doesn't look as if Jesus is the King. Most people are ruling their own lives, Jesus isn't. Actions of nations and groupings of people seem totally out of control, and that often seems to include God's control. Natural disasters and other natural phenomena seem to indicate that nobody is in control.

And yet, the Scripture is very clear. We are His kingdom over which He is the King. And He is the Ruler over the kings of the earth. And He is coming again as judge and then will begin His perfect kingdom which will last forever. And at that point all the skeptics will have to acknowledge that He is king. All the people who pierced him will mourn because He is king. And even we who are believers will get rid of all our doubts that He really is in control. Why? {7} Because then every eye will see Him.

In the Old Testament Lesson for today we read, "There will be a time of distress such as has not happened We don't know for sure that these words are applying to right now, but it sure feels that way sometimes. God's laws totally disregarded. Basic freedoms being taken away. Economic malaise. Islam taking over in one nation after the next. How do we overcome the distress that comes into our lives from all these causes?

Jude has some advice: "{20} build yourselves up in your most holy faith." Our faith in Jesus as our Savior, our trust that His death washes away our sins, that His perfect life covers us with holiness, and that His resurrection guarantees that we will live forever, is a gift of God. We don't produce it in ourselves. The Holy Spirit gives us that faith and keeps it alive. So, technically we don't build ourselves up in our most holy faith. The Holy Spirit does.

He uses tools to do that. He keeps us trusting that Jesus lived and died and rose for us and increases our trust in Jesus by working in our lives through the Bible and through the Word of God as it is attached to the bread and wine of the Lord's Supper. So, when Jude wrote build yourselves up in your most holy faith, he is telling us to immerse ourselves in the Bible and regularly participate in the Lord's Supper so our faith might be built up. Then we can triumph over the distress in our lives.

More advice from Jude: {20} pray in the Holy Spirit. We might have expected him to write, "pray for the Spirit." Since the Holy Spirit is the One who keeps our faith strong, we would pray that He would continue to do that through Word and Supper. Praying in the Spirit adds two thoughts. Since the Holy Spirit is the One who has given us faith, praying in the Spirit is praying under His influence, that is, from our position as believers in Jesus. Not praying on the basis of thinking we are right with God on our own. Praying in the Spirit would also mean praying under His direction, asking His help to ask for the right things and to take the right direction so that our most holy faith gets built up. Asking His help in triumphing over the distress in our lives.

Sometimes we get really impatient with our present situation with all its distresses. We want Jesus to come back today. Jude reminds us that it is God's mercy which determines when Jesus will return. "{21} You wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life." Jesus loves us. He wants to benefit us. He has compassion on us. He understands the difficulty of our present distress. His mercy will bring us to Himself through death or Judgment Day at the time that is just right for our souls. Believing that makes us able to be triumphant over our present distress.

Since the timing of Jesus' removing us from the present distress is up to Jesus and dependent on His mercy, we just have to wait. While we are waiting, Jude's advice is: {21} Keep yourselves in God's love. We don't deserve God's love. We can't bribe Him to give us His love. We can't do something to earn His love. The only thing we can do to surround ourselves with His love is to keep subjecting ourselves to His Word which keeps reminding us that He loves us and gives us forgiveness, holiness and eternal life. That's why we worship each week, come to Bible study each week, and use the Bible daily. So God can keep reminding us that He loves us. So God can keep His love surrounding us. When that happens, we are able to be triumphant over our present distresses.

You are not the only one who is going to be subject to the present distresses. Everybody else in the world will be subject to the same distresses because they are living in the same world dominated by the same consequences of sin. How are they going to get through it? By doing the same things for themselves which we just discussed: immersing themselves in the Word and by participating in the Supper. How are they going to get through it? Jude reminds us that we can help others get through it.

"{22} Be merciful to those who doubt." Who are the people who doubt? We are. When distress happens, we doubt that we can handle it. We doubt that God is with us, otherwise it wouldn't have happened. We doubt that God loves us, otherwise He wouldn't have let it happen. When someone expresses those thoughts to us, how do we respond? Do we say, "How can you doubt? How can you think like that? You sound like an unbeliever."

Jude's directive is: "{22} Be merciful to those who doubt." Why? Because when we doubt, we need help. We need somebody to listen to us and have a conversation with us. We need somebody who is willing to say, "You know, I have the same doubts. But my faith doesn't make God's truth true and my doubts don't make God's truth false. God's Word is true. God says in His Word, "Jesus is with us always. God loves us. God can give you the strength that you need in your present distress." Be merciful to the doubter. That will help the doubter triumph over the distress.

What are we to do to help others get through the present distress? Jude wrote: "{23} Snatch others from the fire and save them." This group is getting burned with sin. We are to snatch them away from sin and rescue them from the consequences of sin. Again, it is true that the Holy Spirit is the One who leads a person to repent of sin. But He uses people to bring His message of Law and Gospel to other people who are being burned in sin. One group of people God uses is our congregation. Your individual participation in our congregational ministry is used by the Holy Spirit to bring the Law and Gospel to each other and to others. Together through these ministries we apply the Law, trusting that the Holy Spirit will use it to lead the person in the fire of sin to acknowledge his sin. We apply the Gospel, trusting that the Holy Spirit will use it to lead the person in the fire of sin to grasp the forgiveness which Jesus won when He died on the cross. Thus, snatching others from the fire and saving them. We just helped others become triumphant over sin, a cause of distress.

Instead of snatching people from the fire, we have tendency to ignore the fire. "It's none of my business that the student next to me has all the spelling words written on his hand." Instead of snatching people from the fire, we have a tendency to redefine the fire. "Shredding our friends verbally is just the way people interact these days. Nobody really gets hurt." Think of the consequences of not snatching people from the fire. They keep sinning. They don't repent. They divorce themselves from God's family.

What are we to do to help others get through the present distress? {23} to others show mercy, mixed with fear-hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh. This is the comparison. We hate, we have an aversion to clothing stained by bodily discharges, especially if the discharges were caused by disease. It is a good aversion. We don't want to become contaminated by the bacteria or the disease. However, we do show mercy and love to the people who have the sickness or whose body produced the discharge.

We show mercy to people. We direct them to Jesus. We want them to repent of their sins and grab a hold of the forgiveness, holiness and eternal life which Jesus won for them. We want that for them because we know we are by nature sinners just as they are. And we know the joy of being triumphant over the control of sin in our lives. But we do it with healthy fear. We fear too much or too close contact with people whose lives are contaminated with sin, because we don't want to get contaminated by getting trapped in their sins.

More advice from Jude: "{25} To the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore." We ought to regularly say, "God has been, is, and always will be(before all ages, now and forevermore) great and good (giving Him glory) by acknowledging His majesty (He is on a whole different level from us), His power (He made everything and can do anything), and authority (He is in charge of everything."

We also ought to regularly say, "God has been, is, and always will be (before all ages, now and forevermore) great and good (giving Him glory) because He is our Savior. He saved us from the guilt of our sins by removing it from us. He saved us from the punishment of death and hell that we deserve because of our sins. He saved us from our lack of qualifications for being in His family by giving us holiness. He saved us to an eternal existence with Him.

Why can God be our Savior? through Jesus Christ our Lord. If Jesus hadn't taken our guilt on Himself, God wouldn't be able to save us from the guilt. If Jesus hadn't suffered death and hell as our Substitute, God wouldn't be able to save us from that punishment. If Jesus hadn't lived a holy life in our place, God wouldn't be able to save us from our lack of holiness. If Jesus hadn't risen from the dead, God wouldn't be able to save us into eternity. We are triumphant because of Jesus.

Jude reminds us of two other things as we give God glory. "{24} To him who is able to keep you from falling." God is the only One who through His Word because of Jesus is able to keep us from falling away from Him and giving in to doubt. God is the only One who through His Word because of Jesus is able to snatch us from the fires of sin. God is the only One who through His Word because of Jesus is able to give us the courage to keep on showing mercy, while at the same time able to give us the wisdom to not become contaminated by sin. Keep your focus on Him who is able to make it possible for you to be triumphant over the causes of distress. We are triumphant because of Jesus.

"{24} To him who is able to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy." God is the only One through His Word who can build up our trust that Jesus lived and died and rose to give us forgiveness, holiness and eternal life. God is the only One who through His Word can keep us knowing that He loves us. So, He is the only One who can present us to Himself with all of our faults gone because of Jesus. He is the only One who can produce in us the great joy of knowing that we are His, now and forever because of Jesus. Keep your focus on Him who is able to make it possible for you to be triumphant over the present distress by reminding you that you are acceptable to Him because of Jesus. We are triumphant because of Jesus.

Prayer: "{24} To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy -- {25} to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore. Amen."

Sermon Overview: What do you think of when you hear "the day is coming"? When the Lord says through Malachi, "the day is coming," He wants everyone to think of the day of final judgment.

Malachi lived 400 years before Jesus was born, when some of the Jews had come back to live in Judah after their captivity in Babylonia. They rebuilt their lives, their country, the temple & outwardly lined up their lives with some of the laws of Moses.

They had been taken into captivity because they had abandoned the Lord. Had they learned their lesson? In the first three chapters Malachi says people didn't bother to sacrifice to the Lord, they worshiped other gods, and they didn't follow most of God's laws.

Because according to verse 1, they were arrogant. They said, "We are members of God's special nation Israel. We gave up a comfortable life in Babylon to come back here to this deserted land. We deserve everything God could give us. He hasn't blessed us up to the level of what we had before the exile. He has to be satisfied with the level of obedience we are giving Him."

Why didn't they bother to keep the Lord primary? According to verse 1, they were evildoers. They said, "God doesn't seem concerned with the lives of humans. We are no better off than those who are not part of God's special people. Why should we bother to attempt to carry out His will if it doesn't get us anything?

Anybody like that around today? Does anybody today say, "We use our brain and skills to take care of ourselves. We have the good life because we work hard. We get along with others by living the golden rule. We are self - sufficient. We don't need god"? That is the attitude of the arrogant.

Does anybody say, " We know what we want and where we want to go. We will do whatever it takes to get what we want and where we want to go. We don't need an outside source to set a standard of what is proper or improper for us. If something is enjoyable, adds to my comfort, and makes me feel good, there can't be anything wrong with it. If god doesn't agree with that, then god isn't an issue."? That is the attitude of the evildoer.

So Malachi had a message for the people of his day. And, he had a message for the arrogant and ungodly of today. Does he have anything to say to us today? Are we arrogant? We are members of God's family. We give up a lot to be a part of the family. We give up 10% of our income. We give up huge amounts of our time. We expend a lot of effort to be moral people. We deserve any blessings God happens to throw our way. Oops. Maybe Malachi does have something to say to us today.

Are we evildoers? How about when nobody is watching? When you are all by yourself and something goes wrong, do you talk to God or do you call on Him to punish everything and everybody you can think of? When you are all by yourself and there is no family around, do you still have devotions, or do you leave God out of your life when there is no one to teach and be an example for? What do you say about your elected officials when they are not around to hear you? Do you always make use of opportunities to help somebody who is in trouble? What kind of books and magazines and TV shows do you watch when you are all alone? What do you do with the company property when nobody is there to watch over you? What do you say about the person who is not there to defend himself? Does an intense desire to get things overwhelm you? Oops. Maybe Malachi does have something to say to us today.

We are not just surrounded by the arrogant and the evildoers, arrogance and evil is constantly trying to take over in our hearts. If God needed to bring His message through Malachi in 400 BC, and if God needs to bring His message to the arrogant and evildoers today, we must acknowledge that he needs to bring his message to each of us today.

What was the content of the message? {1} "Surely the day is coming; it will burn like a furnace. All the arrogant and every evildoer will be stubble, and that day that is coming will set them on fire," says the Lord Almighty. "Not a root or a branch will be left to them." That sure sounds like Judgment Day, doesn't it? John the Baptist used the same picture when he said: "Jesus' winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering the wheat into his barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire."

What was the content of the message? The second part of the message is: {2} "But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings." For those who worship the Lord, who believe that He is the source of forgiveness and eternal life, the message that the day is coming is good news and a message filled with blessings. For those who worship the Lord, the day will bring the sun who lights up the way so that we see our way to heaven. The sun who gives the healing of a renewed relationship with God. The sun who gives life by overcoming the darkness of death.

For those who worship the Lord the day will bring the sun of righteousness. The sun who not only is completely and perfectly holy and righteous, but who provided righteousness to people. A righteousness which makes people acceptable to God. A righteousness which provides a healing between us and our God. What do wings have to do with a sun? Wings either refer to the rays coming from the sun, or wings just picks up the picture from rise, rise up like a bird which has wings.

What gets healed when the sun of righteousness arises in one's life? Forgiveness and holiness heal our relationship with God. Forgiveness heals a shredded conscience. Reflected forgiveness and holiness heal relationships with other sinful human beings.

Who is the sun of righteousness which rises with healing in His wings? Jesus of Nazareth. He lights up the way to heaven by showing us that we have been forgiven because He died on the cross. He lights up the way to heaven because He suffered the death & hell which we deserve in order to rescue us from it. He provides us with the holiness which He lived as our Substitute so we can have a relationship with God. With these blessings of forgiveness and righteousness He heals our souls, heals our relationships God, and with others people.

What message does God have for us today? The same message He brought through Malachi. Threats of burning like a furnace, setting on fire the evildoers and the arrogant so that they burn like stubble. Threats of not allowing a root or a branch to be left to them. These are terrifying threats. Does God mean to scare people? Yes. God's threatened punishment against sin is intended to make man afraid of being punished. Terror of conscience, fear of God is the intended product of God's threats.

Sometimes we belittle this part of God's message. We make fun of those early new England Puritan sermons which focused on the terrors of God's wrath. We chuckle about the fire and brimstone preachers. But the threats of God's anger are valid parts of His message. Verse 1 of the text is not intended to make the arrogant and the evildoer feel comfortable.

Have we taken God's threats to heart? Can you say: "I deserve to be burned up in a furnace and set on fire. I deserve to not have anything left to me."? As a sinful human being am I scared of God? Do I transmit God's threats in all their severity? When I am discussing man's status with God do I clearly indicate that humans on their own deserve the furnace and the fire?

What message does God have for us today? The same message He brought through Malachi. A message which says God provides us with light and warmth and righteousness and healing through Jesus Christ. These are unbelievable blessings. Does God mean to be so free with these gifts? Yes. God's offered gifts are intended to attract humans to Himself.

Sometimes we belittle this part of God's message. It sounds impossible. It isn't fair. It takes away from us our own self-importance. The offer of God's blessings is not intended to fit our logic. It just gives blessings.

Have we taken God's blessings to heart? Can you say: "I can see my way to heaven. I have a restored relationship with the Lord. My conscience is healed. My sins are forgiven. I am holy in God's eyes. I am wearing Jesus' holiness. And when the day comes I am going to start experiencing the fullness of holiness and a completely restored relationship with the Lord."?

The day is coming.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, please use that threat to curb our sinfulness and use that comfort for our souls.

As Jesus was getting toward the end of His ministry, He seemed to talk more about end times and Judgment Day. That makes sense. That's what His disciples would be preparing for once He was gone - His return. The disciples wanted all the help they could get in understanding end times and judgment, so they asked Jesus what kind of things they might be looking for to help them be ready for His second coming.

Jesus answer is the verses before us today. Wars, rumors of wars. Nation rising against nation. Kingdom against kingdom. That's what is going on all around us now. People of every generation would say the same thing when they hear this message from Jesus. That is exactly what Jesus wants people to conclude. If these things are happening, then Jesus could return at any time. The world isn't stable. The nations aren't eternal. Jesus is eternal and He will return. Earthquakes and famines in various places. Same thing. Going on now. Going on in every generation. Jesus could return today. Exactly what Jesus wanted us to conclude.

We want to look at the first sign today. "Watch out that no one deceives you. {6} Many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am he,' and will deceive many." Spiritual deception. People claiming to be from God and not being from God. False teaching. That's what was going on in the middle ages. The Roman church taught that you had to add to what Jesus did in order to be saved. Confessing your sins to a priest had become an action that deserved or merited a blessing. Mary had been turned into somebody from whom you could get something in order to make yourself right with God. The papacy didn't claim "I am He, I am God." However, it did claim that its pronouncements were the same as if God Himself were talking.

Then God raised up a Roman priest and an Augustinian monk named Martin Luther. He challenged the teachings of the Christian church. He claimed that many of the teachings were false. He stated that any teaching that diverted people from Christ was antichrist. What was His solution? Scripture alone. Sola Scriptura. If the Bible teaches it, that's what the church ought to teach. If the Bible doesn't teach it, then the church ought not to teach it.

Things haven't changed. People are still coming in the name of Jesus and deceiving many. Many Christian churches have made public doctrinal statements which sound as if . human sexuality is defined and practiced according to the whims of society: homosexuality is OK, same sex marriages are good, and gender fluidity is real. The Bible says homosexuality is a sin, just like theft, lying, and murder are sins, marriage is to be between a male and a female and there are two static genders.

Things haven't changed. People are still coming in the name of Jesus and deceiving many. Did Jesus perform miracles? Some today coming to us in the name of Jesus, individuals in Christian churches, teachers in Lutheran churches try to teach us that Jesus never did any miracles. They teach the apostles embellished the events in Jesus' life so that people would want to follow Him. Jesus is somebody to follow. So, the apostles accomplished a good thing, even though Jesus never really did any miracles. The Bible says Jesus did miracles.

Things haven't changed. People are still coming in the name of Jesus and deceiving many. What did Jesus accomplish with His death? Some today coming to us in the name of Jesus, individuals in Christian churches, teachers in Lutheran churches try to tell us that anyone who teaches that God let punishment fall on Jesus and that Jesus' death rescues us from punishment is wrongly maintaining a focus on a vindictive, judgmental God. The whole idea of Jesus' death on the cross should be abandoned. The Bible says Jesus died to take away my sins, suffered God's punishment so that I wouldn't have to.

Things haven't changed. People are still coming in the name of Jesus and deceiving many. Is the true God Father, Son & Holy Spirit? Some today coming to us in the name of Jesus, individuals in Christian churches, teachers in Lutheran churches try to tell us that this limits God too much. We should be gender inclusive and call God: Creator, Redeemer and Sanctifier. That's what is used in some Lutheran baptismal rites. The Bible says God is Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Sola Scriptura. If the Bible teaches it, that's what the church ought to teach. If the Bible doesn't teach it, then the church ought not to teach it. Martin Luther died in 1546. Today he would have to deal with the same thing inside the church that bears his name as he had to deal with inside the church of which he was a part in 1517. People coming in the name of Jesus and deceiving many. Luther isn't here to do battle. We must continue the battle. The line in the sand still says Sola Scriptura.

Jesus continued. {9} "You must be on your guard. You will be handed over to the local councils and flogged in the synagogues." This wasn't unexpected. The disciples had seen what Jesus had to undergo. The national religious leaders were all in a turmoil because of Jesus. Those in charge of the temple were in direct conflict with Him. It would make sense that anyone who promoted Jesus as the Messiah, the fulfillment of OT prophecy would receive the same conflict and opposition. The apostles did. They were considered heretics from Judaism, were attacked by their own people and were not allowed to function in the synagogues as they went around the Mediterranean world with the message of Jesus.

The new concept here is that they would also undergo opposition from the government. Up to this point Jesus had not. That would come later when the Sanhedrin would turn Jesus over to Pontius Pilate. {9} "On account of me you will stand before governors and kings as witnesses to them." The Roman authorities were made aware that Christianity was not an approved religion in the empire. Most of the apostles and thousands of others were put on trial. Many lost their lives because they were open about believing that Jesus was the promised Messiah.

Some things don't change. The opposition to Martin Luther's insistence on Scriptural truth came from the same two sources. The main reaction of the religious leaders to Luther was - we have to shut him up. The reaction was not - let's look at what he has written, compare it with the Scriptures and make a conclusion. Their reaction was - Luther is not teaching what the church teaches. Therefore, we must silence him. He was debated by church theologians. He was counseled by cardinals. He was threatened by the Pope. Finally he was thrown out of the church by the Pope. Opposition to the truth came from inside the church.

Then the government got involved. The government needed the Papacy. So, it did what the papacy wanted. The Holy Roman Empire was facing military threats from Islam. A united Europe was needed to defend itself from the invasion by Islam. The government didn't need somebody like Luther causing religious dissension, This would probably limit the number of fighting men, supplies and arsenals available to the Holy Roman Empire. So, the government called Luther to account and told him he had to stop his preaching, teaching and writing. Opposition to the truth came from the world power of the day.

Some things don't change. Where does opposition to the truth come from today? Same two sources. Religious leaders. If you listen to or read the pronouncements of the leaders of world Christianity, you would think Christianity is about providing people with a decent standard of living, making sure people are not discriminated against, and making sure everybody feels good about themselves no matter what they believe. If confessional Christians insist that Jesus is the only way to be right with God, if Bible believing Christians insist that Jesus died to wash away our sins, lived in our place to cover us with His righteousness, and rose from the dead so that we might have eternal life, the religious leadership of the Christian world is highly embarrassed and apologizes publicly for the lack of tolerance displayed by some Christians. Opposition to the truth comes from inside the church.

Some things don't change. Christianity is illegal in many countries. Islamic governments kill Christians all over the world all the time today. Interesting we are not told about that much. Stating Christian truth has become illegal in many countries. Lutheran pastors in the state churches in Europe are removed from their offices by the government if they insist on Biblical truths. Christian pastors in Canada are subject to fine and imprisonment if they say anything that violates the toleration laws in that country. Based on the way anti-discrimination policy in our country in going, we are next. Just as Jesus said. Opposition to the truth coming from government.

Don't skip over Jesus' promise. {11} Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit." Jesus kept His promise. The apostles gave powerful testimony about Jesus. Jesus kept His promise. Luther said: "Unless I am convinced by the Word of God, that what I am teaching is wrong. I will not take it back. Here I stand. God help me."

The Lord Jesus will give us the right words too. He will help us say: "God loved us humans so much that he had God the Son take on Himself our humanity. Jesus loved us so much that He lived and never sinned so he could cover us with His righteousness, died to wash away our sins, and rose so He could give us eternal life. It is because of God's grace that we have eternal life." Luther had another two word Latin phrase for that. Sola Gratia.

Why can we be so confident that the Lord will keep His promises. Because God has given us another gift. We lean on Jesus for forgiveness. We lean on Jesus for holiness. We lean on Jesus for eternal life. We lean on Jesus for supplying us with everything else in life. We grab a hold of our salvation by faith. We live our lives trusting in the Lord's presence and promises - by faith. We are saved by faith alone. We live by faith alone. As the world continues to oppose God's truth, by faith alone we will speak the right words because we know our God keeps His promises. Luther had another two word Latin phrase for that. Sola Fide.

Some things don't change. False teachers continue to deceive. The world continues to oppose. Some other things don't change either. Sola Scriptura. Sola Gratia. Sola fide. One more thing doesn't change. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.

Jesus was headed toward Jerusalem for the last time. Coming shortly: Palm Sunday, Passover, the upper room and Good Friday. He knew he was about to die for the sins of the world.

On his way he came into contact with a blind man outside Jericho. This blind man was doing what all blind people did back then. He was begging so that he could eat. In order to get the most bang for his buck he was stationed at a busy part of a well-traveled road, so that he would come into contact with as many people as possible.

Because of his contact with many people, this blind man was up on all the news and events which were taking place in his vicinity and country. In addition to hearing all the trivial news, however, he had for the last three years heard reports about Jesus of Nazareth. He had been told that this Jesus of Nazareth healed the sick, threw out devils, made the deaf hear, the mute speak and the blind see. He was even able to raise the dead. Bartimaeus knew all this.

This knowledge had convinced him of something else. As a Jew who knew his Old Testament, he knew that only God or one of God's prophets could do these things. He also knew that the prophets of the Old Testament had said that the promised Savior would be able to do these things as proof that He was God. From all that Bartimaeus had heard about this Jesus of Nazareth, he was firmly convinced that this was the promised Savior. This became evident when he addressed Jesus with the technical term reserved for the Messiah, {47} "Jesus, Son of David."

Bartimaeus knowledge that Jesus was the promised Savior, and thus God, was not without effect on him. He trusted that Jesus would and could do something for him. His words, {47} "Have mercy on me," certainly aren't conditional. He was throwing himself completely on the loving kindness and compassion of Christ, trusting that He would react.

As people living in a sinful world, we also have needs. They might not be as serious as the need of Bartimaeus. Then again, they might be. Think about your prayers to the LORD each day. Many of them are probably requesting help with physical needs: "Give us this day our daily bread," or spiritual needs, "Your kingdom come."

But we have knowledge about Jesus as Bartimaeus did. In fact, we have more knowledge. He just knew what he heard from people. We have the written record of eyewitnesses whom the Holy Spirit led to write an account of Jesus' life which is without mistakes. From these written records we learn of Jesus' power as did Bartimaeus.

But we don't have to draw the conclusion that Jesus is the Savior from his miracles. We also observe through the eyes of the apostles the completion of God's plan for our salvation. We can watch Jesus as he suffered and died to wipe way the sins of the world. We can watch as he rose from the dead to prove that God had accepted his sacrifice for our sins. We can watch as He ascended into heaven to rule over all things for us.

So, our attitude can be the same as that of Bartimaeus.

Prayer: LORD Jesus, I am throwing myself completely at You, trusting that You can and will respond to my needs.

Since Bartimaeus had knowledge of what Jesus could do, and since he also was convinced that this was the promised Savior, his method of approach to the Savior's protective power deserves mention. He did not quietly ask someone to please go to Jesus to ask him to come over to see him. Nor did he decide that he was too unimportant an individual for this Jesus of Nazareth to be concerned about. No. When he heard that it was Jesus, he began shouting and yelling at the top of his lungs to call Jesus' attention to his need. What boldness this man used!

But then he ran into some difficulties. Some of the many people in the group which was traveling to Jerusalem to the Passover along with Jesus told Bartimaeus to be quiet. Maybe they thought that Jesus was too important to be bothered by a beggar. Or, maybe that Jesus was too busy heading for Jerusalem and the Passover to be stopped at this time. In any case, they provided a definite obstacle for Bartimaeus and his desire to get into personal contact with Jesus. Notice what effect it had on him. {48} "he shouted all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" His actions said, "I don't care what you people say. I want to speak with Jesus. I don't care what is getting in the way of this wonderful opportunity. I am not going to let any hindrances stop me."

Next, notice that Bartimaeus was not afraid to become very specific. {51} "What do you want me to do for you?" Jesus asked him. Bartimaeus didn't fumble around, muttering, "Well, Lord, I needed Your help, so I thought I might see what You might do. Or, "Lord, You can see what I need without my explaining." No. {51} The blind man said, "Rabbi, I want to see."

Our approach to Jesus and his protective power can be exactly the same. When we have a physical or spiritual need, we can use the same boldness. Really? How can a sinner like me, who deserves to go to hell because of my sins, approach a holy God with boldness? Because Jesus has washed away my sins and covered me with the holiness which he lived as my substitute. Quoting Paul (Ephesians 3:12) In Christ and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. Because of Jesus "we can with all boldness and confidence ask him for things as dear children ask their dear Father," to quote Martin Luther.

We might run into obstacles as Bartimaeus did. His were external. Ours are internal.

Obstacle 1: Indifference. Just do it! Or as James (4:2) wrote in his letter: You do not have because you do not ask God.

Obstacle 2: "I am too insignificant." Jesus' answer (Matthew 6) is: {26} Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? {28} See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. {29} Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. {30} If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you.

Obstacle 3: Unbelief. James' (1) comment: {6} But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts {7} should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.

We can be as specific as Bartimaeus was. When a particular sin is bothering us, be specific. "Jesus, You died to forgive this particular sin of mine. You have to help me fight against it and win." When doubts arise, be specific: "Jesus, You lived to cover me with Your holiness. You rose from the dead so that I will live forever. Keep reminding me of those things." If you are having a difficult pregnancy, be specific. "Jesus, I need You to keep me and my baby healthy." If you just had an operation, be specific. "Jesus, I need You to help my body recuperate." When you lose your job, be specific: "Jesus, give me direction on where to look for a new one."

Prayer: LORD Jesus, please help me to confidently overcome all obstacles as I bring my specific needs to You.

What was the response to Bartimaeus' attitude and approach? {49} Jesus stopped and said, "Call him." Jesus wasn't too important for this. He also wasn't too busy.

The blind man said, "Rabbi, I want to see." {52} "Go," said Jesus, "your faith has healed you." Immediately he received his sight. Obviously Jesus has the power to handle our needs.

There was another response to this incident: {52} Immediately Bartimaeus followed Jesus along the road. We don't know this for sure. However, it sounds as if he became a disciple of Jesus. Maybe he followed Jesus to Jerusalem. Maybe he observed Jesus finish his work for us by dying on the cross and rising again.

Jesus' response to our attitude and approach are the same. He hears and responds. We have his Word on it.

• Matthew 7:7: "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." John 15:16: "Whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you."
• 1 John 5:14: "This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us."
• Psalm 50:15: "Call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me."

Those are nice promises. But sometimes God doesn't give us what we ask for. True. But St. Paul reminds us that sometimes God says "No," because he wants to give us something else. Instead of rescue for which he asked, Paul got strength and God got the praise. Sometimes "No" is better for us than "Yes."

Our response to Jesus should mimic Bartimaeus. Knowing Jesus has the power to fill our needs, and knowing that his love motivates him to respond to our needs, leads us to follow Jesus. We follow Jesus when we trust that he will handle our needs, are bold in presenting them, are willing to overcome obstacles to our approach to him, and are specific when we approach him.

Prayer: LORD Jesus, thank You for allowing us not to be blind like Bartimaeus. Thank You also for teaching us from Bartimaeus' blindness to trust Your protective power and to approach You with all our needs.

James and John asked Jesus, {35} "We want you to do for us whatever we ask." Typical human selfish request. As a sinful selfish human being I am only interested in myself. I want things because I believe they will satisfy my desires. That's what James and John were asking for here.

Their request was, {37} "We want to be #2 and #3 in your glory." They probably meant they wanted to be #2 and #3 when Jesus started to fully display His power in an earthly kingdom. They probably didn't mean they wanted to be #2 and #3 after Judgment Day. But either meaning comes to the same thing: it was a selfish request which concerned only their own interests.

Jesus answer was, {42} "You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them." Jesus was saying, "I know where your request is coming from. You are used to observing people act this way and make requests like this. That is the way of the world."

The rest of Jesus' answer was, {43} "Not so with you. Instead whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all." God's primary command to us is "Love." Love is doing things to benefit others. Jesus is saying the same thing here. The way to be a disciple is to love by benefiting. The only way you benefit somebody else is to serve that person, to take care of that person's needs.

Then Jesus pointed to Himself as the best example of serving. He said, {45} "for even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve." Jesus served. He served by teaching us the truth about ourselves & about God. He served us by teaching us that we are sinful and in need of forgiveness and eternal life. He served us by teaching us that the Lord is gracious, loving and gives eternal life. He served some people by performing miracles to take away their physical maladies.

Jesus said, {45} "The Son of Man came to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many;." He served us by suffering the physical death and separation from God which we deserve because of our sin, so we don't have to be threatened by that punishment. He served us by living the holy life God demanded from us, so He could cover us with His holiness and make us acceptable to God. He served us by rising from the dead to give us eternal life with the Lord, a life not subject to death or decay.

Do we want to be #2 & #3 in Jesus' kingdom? Jesus says to us the same thing He said to James & John. "If you want to be great, be a slave." We have four basic areas in which we are given the chance to practice our slavery. Home. Congregation. Work. With friends. What makes you feel most like a slave at home? Repetitive tasks. Things you have to do over and over again. Make meals. You just get done. You have to do it again. Keep the car running. You do this. Then you have to do that. Then another thing. You become a slave to it. Why are you willing to be such a slave? Because your family is being served with food and with a method of transportation. Jesus is our example. How repetitive it must have seemed to Him to keep teaching the disciples the same thing over and over again when they didn't seem to catch on. Our actions point to Jesus.

What makes you feel like a slave in our congregation? Taking your turn cleaning the church, washing other people's toilets. Yuk. Why are you willing to be such a slave? Because we want to provide a clean place to which we can bring people to introduce them to Jesus or to keep them in touch with Jesus. Jesus is our example. He was willing to crawl around on the floor and wash His disciples' dirty feet. Yuk. Our actions point to Jesus.

What makes you feel like a slave in your professional life? Doing all the things that aren't really part of your job description but which others seem to love to dump on you. Why do you tolerate that to a certain extent? Because you want to help people to recognize that love means being willing to have yourself taken advantage of if it helps somebody else. Jesus is our example. Our actions point to Jesus.

What makes you feel like a slave in our contacts with your friends? Being used by them without getting anything back. They know you are a computer expert, so they are taking huge amounts of time, getting help from you and picking your brain. They know you are good at fixing things, so whenever something gets broken, they bring it over. It gets a bit much. Why do you keep doing most of those things? Because you want them to know that love has no strings attached. Jesus is our example. He loved us even though we don't deserve it. Our actions point to Jesus.

Jesus tried to point out to James and John that their request involved more than what they probably had thought of. {38} "You don't know what you are asking. Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?" Here the symbolism is: the cup is filled with beating, torture, ridicule, sufferings, crucifixion and death. That is the cup Jesus was going to drink. That is the baptism Jesus was going to be baptized with.

Jesus was trying to tell them if they were going to be #2 and #3 in his kingdom, they would have to go through the same things He had to go through. Were they willing to be abused in the same way that Jesus was about to be abused? {39} "We can," they answered.

Jesus told them, "You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with." It happened. James was martyred. John was exiled. So, they would receive the same treatment which Jesus received.

They had wanted to be #2 & #3. Were they still wanting that now that they knew what it meant? Did they still want it even though it meant they would be the recipients of abuse? Did they still want it now that they knew it didn't mean being in a lofty position of leadership and power? If you want to be great, Jesus was telling them, you must be aware that it will mean you will receive abuse.

Do we want to be great? If so, are we willing to be put into a position in which you will receive abuse? Let's go back to the examples which I cited before. How does the meal maker become the subject of abuse? Well, what if there is no meal for the family? Who takes the abuse? The one who always serves the rest of the family by providing the meals. Is that right? No. Somebody else could just as well have made the meal when it became obvious that the person who usually does it wasn't able to do it. But instead the one who serves is made to verbally suffer. Who gets the grief if no car is available for the transportation of the family? The one who serves by seeing to it that the car is running? Is that right? No. Somebody else could just as well have taken care of the upkeep of the car when it became obvious that the person who usually does it wasn't available. But instead the one who serves is made to verbally suffer. Why do we do that? Jesus is our example. He suffered tremendous abuse as He was accomplishing our salvation. Our actions point to Jesus.

How does the church cleaner become the object of abuse? Did you ever notice that everybody is a critic? Somebody is going to find something that you missed. And they might point it out. Is that right? No. The critic could just as easily have brushed down the cobweb instead of pointing it out. The critic could have taken the broom and swept the outside mat instead of complaining about it. Why are we willing to suffer abuse? Jesus is our example. He suffered tremendous abuse as He accomplished our salvation. Our actions point to Jesus.

How does the willing worker suffer abuse at work? When all the things that have been dumped on you make it impossible to get everything finished on time, who gets attacked? You do. "What happened to you? You always used to get your work done. Getting old? Not as swift as you used to be?" What happens when you say "No" to someone because you know that you are overloaded? You get attacked. "What do you mean you can't do this. You did something similar for somebody else a little while ago." Why do we allow ourselves to be subject to such abuse? Jesus is our example. "Come down from the cross they yelled at Him. You used to be able to do miracles. What happened now?" Our actions point to Jesus.

How does the friend suffer abuse? Did you ever try to tell the one picking your brain that it was time for you to interact with your family? Did you ever not get to what somebody gave you to fix? Who gets attacked? You. Why do we subject ourselves to such abuse by serving others? Because Jesus is our example. Our actions point to Jesus.

If people don't catch on that you are willing to receive abuse and willing to serve because you are following Jesus' example, and they ask you why you are doing that, then tell them. You are doing it to thank Jesus for giving you forgiveness and righteousness and eternal life. You are serving because you have been served.

Sermon Overview: The young man asked: "What must I do?" The disciples asked: "Who can be saved?" Jesus answered: "All things are possible."

There are several commendable things about the man in the verses which are before us today. Tell me one. He wanted to have eternal life. He was concerned about his relationship with God. Many people in his day as well as in ours have no concern about their relationship with God and eternity. He did.

Second. He went to Jesus to seek an answer to his question. {17} "Good teacher," he asked. {18} Jesus' answer: "Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone," means this man did not believe Jesus was God. In spite of that it was a positive step for him to go to Jesus.

Since the man had asked what he must do to inherit eternal life, Jesus quoted from the law of God, the commandments which this man knew very well. If you want to do something to earn eternal life, you have to do what God demands. And God demands that we do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, do not defraud. He also demands that we honor our fathers and mothers. "Keep the commandments," Jesus said, " and you will gain eternal life."

The man's superficial view of the demands of God's law comes out in his answer to Jesus. {20} "Teacher," he declared, "all these I have kept since I was a boy." He honestly could say looking back at his life that he hadn't ever taken anybody else's life, hadn't ever had a sexual relationship with somebody to whom he was not married, hadn't taken anything which didn't belong to him, hadn't lied in a courtroom under oath, hadn't earned his money with deceptive business practices, and hadn't publicly dishonored his parents. If that was all God demanded to inherit eternal life, he had done it all.

There are two ways in which we would want to follow this man. What is one? We need to have the same concern about our relationship with God and about eternity which this man had. Is that easy? That is not such an easy thing to maintain today when the society in which we live is so totally wrapped up in itself that spiritual matters, like a relationship with God and eternity, are hardly considered at all. We must constantly ask the Lord to keep us tuned in to Him and eternity, otherwise we will surely be swallowed up by the "Live life for today" attitude that is so prevalent around us.

We would also do very well to follow this man as he went to the right source to answer his questions about spiritual matters. Jesus is a good teacher. He does have the right answers. In fact we know He is more than a good teacher. He is goodness personified. As true God, He can transmit to us the precisely correct answers to all our questions. Is that easy? It is not easy to continue to go to Him for spiritual answers when the society in which we live is founded on the concept that we ought to be able to come up with our own answers for everything. We must constantly ask the Lord to keep us going to Jesus for answers, otherwise we will surely be swallowed up by the "We can take care of ourselves" attitude that is so prevalent around us.

What shouldn't we use this man as a good example about? The man's superficial view of God's law is an attitude which we should not follow. It is very hard not to follow that attitude. The typical religious person of our day takes exactly that attitude. "If I don't hurt anybody, God should be satisfied." In fact that is the religion that is in each of our hearts by nature. "If I don't commit any gross, public actions to harm anybody, I should be able to earn eternal life." Lord, don't let us get taken in by the "I am a pretty nice person based on my outward actions" attitude.

It was Jesus' task in this situation to correct this man's view of the Law, to get him to understand that God considers why a person does something as important as, and sometimes even more important than, the action itself.

{21} "Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come and follow me," Jesus told this man. This man had just declared that he had kept all the laws of God. God says: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul and with all your mind. Love your neighbor as yourself. Love is the fulfilling of the law, the Bible says. So, Jesus was trying to get this man who felt that he had kept all of God's laws to ask himself, "Have I been loving God and the people around me with my actions?"

Jesus could look into this man's heart. He knew whether there was love there or not. But in order to get the man to make a choice between loving or being selfish, Jesus told him, "Sell everything and give to the poor."

Jesus knew the man was not using the wealth to love. So, Jesus knew exactly which command He should give this man to help this man determine whether he had actually kept the law or not. The man went away sad. His action admitted that holding onto his wealth and its advantages was more important to him than loving other people.

Jesus lesson from the incident – {22} "How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!" {25} It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." Entering the kingdom of God means coming to faith in Jesus the Savior from sin, trusting in Him for forgiveness and eternal life, and thus grasping all the blessings He wants us to have. Why would it be difficult for the rich to enter the kingdom of God? Because a person who enters the kingdom of God must be led by the Holy Spirit to admit that he is completely dependent on the Lord for salvation.

The wealthy person is usually a successful person who has come to trust in himself. He trusts his intelligence to figure out what needs to be done next because in the past he was always smart enough to get him to his present wealthy position. He trusts in his own actions to do what is right because he has been able over the years to react correctly which has also brought him to his present standing. He can trust that he has enough reserve because of past successes so that he can make up for any deviations or mistakes in the present. He has every reason to be self-sufficient. It would be very difficult for that kind of a person to lead himself to trust in God for salvation, to admit his total dependence on Jesus.

Just so that we understand that Jesus isn't totally singling out the rich, look at the sentence between the two about the rich. {24} "How hard it is to enter the kingdom of God." Everybody likes to trust in himself as the rich young man did. The disciples for a change were in tune with Jesus. On the basis of what Jesus said, the disciples asked, {26} "Who then can be saved?" "Jesus, if what you are saying is true, then nobody can on his own do enough to inherit the kingdom. Nobody can on his own do enough to inherit eternal life."

"Who then can be saved?" That is exactly the right question. That is exactly the right conclusion each of us needs to come to. Lord, on the basis of the Law who can be saved? Certainly not me. The purpose of God's law is to show us our sin and to convince us that we need help and rescue.

You'll notice that Jesus agreed with the disciples' evaluation of the whole situation. {28} "With man it is impossible to enter the kingdom of God on his own. With man it is impossible to be saved on his own." Why? Because man on his own knows only one person to trust in - himself. On his own man thinks he is a good person to trust in.

With man it is impossible to be saved on his own. With man it is impossible to enter the kingdom of God on his own. Why? Because on his own man doesn't keep God's commandments. On his own man doesn't perfectly love God and love his fellowman. On his own man may outwardly keep some commands, but his attitude just doesn't make it.

BUT. That is probably the most important linking word in this text. {28} BUT this is not impossible with God. Because all things are possible with God, God can bring it about that a person trusts in someone besides himself. God can bring it about that a person knows somebody else in whom he can properly put his trust. God can bring it about that a person can love God and his fellowmen. God can turn people's attitudes around, because God can do anything.

"I cannot by my own thinking or choosing believe in Jesus Christ my Lord nor come to him. But the Holy Ghost has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, and sanctified me." Do these words sound familiar? Luther in the explanation to the third article of the Apostles' Creed is just paraphrasing Jesus: "With man coming into the kingdom of God is impossible, but not with God. All things are possible with God."

With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible. It is possible for Almighty God to transfer the huge guilt of our sins onto a Substitute, Jesus of Nazareth, if He chooses to do so, and He did. It is possible for Almighty God to punish that Substitute with death and hell in our place, if He empowers that Substitute to do so, and He did.

It is possible for Almighty God to transfer the holiness which this Substitute lived for us to us, if He so chooses, and He does. It is possible for God to declare us holy on the basis of the actions of this Substitute, and He did. It is possible for Almighty God to look at us as holy people, people who keep His law, because we are wearing the holiness of our Substitute Jesus, and He does.

It is possible for Almighty God to get us to realize that there is somebody in whom we can trust besides ourselves. And He has. It is possible for Almighty God to convince us that Jesus is a good person to trust in. And He has. It is possible for Almighty God to lead us to trust in Jesus instead of ourselves. And He has.

Prayer: Lord God Holy Spirit, lead us to three proper views of Your law. Lead us to ask: What must I do?" Then on the basis of the demands of the Law lead us to ask :"Who then can be saved?" And then on the basis of Jesus' words to realize "All things are possible with God."

What do members of the family do for the family?

This letter was written about thirty years after Jesus ascended into heaven to Christians who could trace their human ancestry back to Abraham. These Hebrew Christians were seriously considering going back to Judaism. They were being persecuted by their fellow Jews for being heretics. They were being persecuted by the Roman empire because Christianity was not a tolerated religion. Judaism was.

The theme of the letter is: Christianity is better. Don't give up Jesus the Savior. He is better than Judaism. Jesus is better than Moses. Rest for your souls is better than Sabbath rest. Jesus is a better high priest than the human ones in Judaism. Jesus' sacrifice of Himself is better than animal sacrifices.

In chapter one the theme is Jesus is better than the angels. The writer of the letter gives proof. God calls Jesus, not the angels, Son. God specifically commanded the angels to worship Jesus, the Son.

The writer reminds us that angels are very important servants of God. They serve us who inherit salvation. Knowing that the angels serve us gives us lots of comfort. Jesus, however, has been set in a position over the angels. He never changes. He is ruling over everything, including the angels.

It is right in the middle of this emphasis that Jesus is more important than and better than the angels that the writer of this letter brings to our attention the shocking act that Jesus was made lower than the angels. Angels are much like God. They are spiritual, not physical beings. They have many of the attributes of God although not in their completeness and perfection. Angels are as much like God as anything else in existence.

Human beings, although we are wonderful creatures of God, are not as high on the hierarchy of existence as angels, nor are we as close to being like God as the angels are. We have a spiritual side, but we are physical beings, not spiritual beings like God or the angels. We have slight reflections of many of God's capacities, but not anywhere near the perfection and capabilities of the Lord or the angels.

What did the Son of God add to Himself when He came into the world? He did not add angelic qualities. He added humanity. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He grew from newborn to baby to child to young adult to adult in the same way all humans do. Most of the time on this earth He limited Himself to the capacities which human beings have. The writer says in the words before us today "he became a human" with these words {9} made lower than the angels.

Why did He do that? The text says {9} "so he might taste death." God is eternal. He doesn't die. The angels are spiritual beings who had a beginning but don't die. Human beings die. If the Son of God was going to be able to die, He had to be a human being. If He was going to be able to die, He had to humble Himself, lower Himself, to be a real human being.

Why did He want to die? Because God loved human beings so much that He wanted God the Son to experience death as the Substitute for everyone. Human beings, we deserve to die because of our sins. God's love moved Him to make it possible for a Substitute to suffer the death that we deserve because of our sins. God the Son was the designated Substitute. The quote is: {9} "so that by God's grace he might taste death for everyone." He became human, was made lower than the angels, so He could carry out God's plan so we wouldn't have to experience the wages of sin, death as punishment for sin.

What kind of things does a family man do? The same things that Jesus was willing to do for the members of His family. The family man is willing to do anything, including giving up his life for the benefit of his family. Listen to St Paul. (Ephesians 5:25) "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her."

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for being a perfect family man for me, giving up Your life to pay for my sins. Help me to strive to be a perfect family man by giving my life for the benefit of my family.

Jesus was made lower than the angels. He became fully human. What is being human like? How does this sound? Being human is pretty tough. It involves quite a bit of suffering and misery. There are millions of starving people who are suffering. There are millions of sick people who are suffering. There are millions of victims of wars and accidents who are suffering.

Why is being human like that? Because we are living in a world which is suffering the consequences of sin. God created a world in which there was no suffering, no starvation, no sickness, no wars and no accidents. When humans rebelled against God's will and decided they wanted to go their own way, the perfection was lost. Human life is filled with suffering because of sin.

What is being human like? How does this sound? Being human is pretty tough. There is a lot of destruction. Humans destroy each other if they think it is in their own best interest. Humans destroy the world around us if they think it is in their own best interest. Humans destroy themselves if they think it is in their own best interest.

The problem with humans' willingness to destroy is - it breaks God's law. It makes us deserve God's punishment. When we destroy others, things and ourselves, we deserve physical death and eternal separation from God. That is not something to look forward to. We need to be rescued from that.

God knows that better than we do. Our gracious Father-Son-Holy Spirit God, therefore, authored a plan. His plan was to have the God the Son come into our world, take our guilt, suffer our punishment, conquer death and the devil, and make forgiveness, holiness and eternal life available to humans.

In order to carry out that plan, God the Son, who was superior to the angels, lowered Himself, became a human being in order to suffer the punishment that we deserve because of our sins. Jesus of Nazareth did that. He took our guilt. He suffered physical death. He suffered hell. He lived as our Substitute and never sinned. He rose from the dead. On the basis of Jesus' work God's plan for rescuing us from sin and its punishment was complete.

The words before us today put it this way: {10} Certainly it was fitting for God (the one for whom and through whom everything exists), in leading many sons to glory, to bring the author of their salvation to his goal through sufferings. God the Son came into the world to accomplish salvation for the human race by living and dying. So, He reached His goal through suffering. He reached His goal when He carried out God's plan for our salvation.

As a result of Jesus' work, we are {11} "sanctified" = "Made holy in God's sight." Our sins are gone. Jesus took them. We are covered with holiness. Jesus lived it. That satisfied God's demands that we be holy. That means we are acceptable to God, part of His family.

As a result of Jesus' work, we are {10} "led to glory." All of us have memorized a passage about glory. "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Because we are sinners, we don't deserve praise from God. We fall short of it. But, Jesus our Savior because of His work makes us holy, brings us into God's family. Thus God looks at us in Christ and gives us glory, gives us praise. "Come, you who are blessed," He says to us.

We are brought to glory. Jesus says to us: "You are my brothers and sisters." {11} "So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers." People living in miserable circumstances, suffering the consequences of sin - Jesus is not ashamed to call us brothers. He is a perfect family man. Are we? Family members are not ashamed to acknowledge each other. Jesus is not ashamed to call us brothers and sisters. Are we ashamed to call Jesus our brother if the wrong people are listening?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for being a perfect family man for me, not being ashamed to call a sinner like me Your brother. Help me to have the courage to strive to be a perfect family man by being willing to call You my brother in every circumstance of my life.

Why do these verses sound so familiar? Because in the Common Service liturgy we sing them "Create in me..." We sing that right after the sermon. After we have heard God talk to us through His Word, we respond by saying, "LORD, I want to thank You for all that You have done for me. Here is my life as a thank-You offering. I want you to have it. I want to serve You with it." Anybody remember what the "Create in me..." was called in the 1941 hymnal? The offertory.

But we have a problem. Although our sins have been removed from God's ledger book, washed away in the blood of Christ, our sinfulness still clings to us. We continue to break God's laws. Although Jesus' holiness covers us and makes us acceptable to God, we don't perfectly put that holiness into practice in our lives. So, here we are. We want to give our lives to the LORD, but we aren't capable of doing it on our own. We need the LORD's help to do it.

So, we pray: "{11} LORD, do not cast me from Your presence. Don't cut me off from You. I know that's what I deserve when I break Your law. So, I need Your help to give my life to You, to live it Your way. I wouldn't be able to do that if You cut me off from Your presence."

And then we ask the LORD for the help we need. "{10} LORD, create in me a pure heart." Why do we ask for that first if we are looking for help to give our lives back to the LORD? Everything comes from our hearts. Unless our hearts want what the LORD wants, even if our actions outwardly are doing what God wants, we won't really be giving our lives to the LORD, even though it might look like it.

Jesus internalized every commandment. Having no other gods means loving God. Setting time aside for worship means eagerly studying the Word. Obeying parents means wanting to honor them. Anger is murder. Wanting to have sex with somebody other than your marriage partner is adultery. Greed is stealing. Revenge is the same as hurting someone. Coveting is taking.

How are we going to avoid temptation so that we can give our lives back to the LORD? We aren't. The devil, the society around us, and our own selfishness are constantly trying to get us to abandon God, fail to study the Word, disobey authority, commit sexual immorality, take what isn't ours, and verbally abuse others.

How are we going to conquer temptation so that we can give our lives back to the LORD? Only when our desires match up with His. Only when we want what God wants. And the only way that is going to happen is if the LORD makes our hearts pure. So, we pray, "LORD, I want to give myself to You. Help me do that. Make my heart pure."

"LORD, I want to thank You for all that You have done for me. Here is my life as a thank-You offering. I want you to have it. I want to serve You with it." Why do we say that? Because Jesus took our guilt on Himself and rescued us from a "Guilty" verdict from the LORD our Judge. Because Jesus suffered the death and hell we deserve because of our sins to rescue us from it. Because Jesus covered us with His holiness so we can be part of God's family.

"LORD, I want to thank You for all that You have done for me. Here is my life as a thank-You offering. I want you to have it." Why do we say that? Because the Holy Spirit has led us to trust in Jesus our Savior & lives in our hearts so that we lean on Jesus for everything we need.

But we have a problem. Other reasons for doing what we are doing in life arise. We do things to make us look good & to make others look bad. We do what we want to do because we have a limited amount of time. We would rather look out for ourselves, gratify ourselves, lavish resources on ourselves instead of loving others and giving glory to God.

How are we going to avoid the temptation to focus on ourselves? We aren't. The devil and the people around us are constantly trying to reinforce the rightness of our own selfishness.

How are we going to conquer the temptation to focus on ourselves? Only when the Holy Spirit focuses our attention on what God has done for us. Only when the Holy Spirit focuses our attention on the forgiveness, righteousness and eternal life that God has given us because of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus will we have real joy in our lives. So, we pray with David, {11} "Do not take Your Holy Spirit from me . {12} Restore to me the joy of Your salvation. Then I will be able to offer myself to You, O LORD."

How does the Holy Spirit come into our lives and work in them? Through the Word and the Lord's Supper. That means that the Holy Spirit will only be able to bring us the ongoing joy of our salvation as we use the Bible and the Supper. So, when we say, "Lord, don't take Your Holy Spirit from me," we are saying, "LORD, I promise to use Your Word and Your Supper," so that the Holy Spirit won't be taken away from me." "LORD, I want to give myself to You. Help me do that. Don't take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation."

"LORD, I want to thank You for all that You have done for me. Here is my life as a thank-You offering. I want you to have it. I want to serve You with it." We say that after we have listened to God talk to us and remind us of all the blessings which He has given us. We are all fired up to serve the LORD.

There is another problem. Serving the LORD is long term. Doing something long term wears us down or wears us out. I'm tired of fighting off the desire to do what I want instead of what the LORD wants. Enough already. I just talked to God recently. I don't feel like talking to Him again. I just read the Bible recently. I don't need to hear the Word preached again. I have always respected my teacher, but he deserves ridicule for this one. I have helped my neighbor out of messes too often. Enough already. It's really easy to take my marriage partner for granted after 22 years. I gave the LORD 10% of my income for 10 years. Enough already.

How are we going to avoid the temptation to be short term instead of long term? We aren't. The longer the LORD allows us to live in a sinful world, the more strength we need to continue.

How are we going to conquer the temptation to be short term instead of long term? The LORD is the only One who can give us a steadfast spirit to hang in there. The LORD alone is the One who can give us a willing spirit. The LORD is the only One who can sustain us. So, we pray with David, "Lord, I want to give myself to You. Help me do that. {10} Renew a steadfast within me. {12} Grant me a willing spirit to sustain me."

Prayer: "LORD, I want to thank You for all that You have done for me. Here is my life as a thank-You offering. I want You to have it. I want to serve You with it. Please create in me a pure heart. Don't cast me from Your presence. Don't take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation. Renew a steadfast spirit within me. Grant me a willing spirit to sustain me."

Jesus' healing of a boy after His transfiguration had attracted a large crowd. So {30} "they left that place." Why?

"Jesus did not want anyone to know where they were, because he was teaching his disciples." Jesus was spending time with them individually and privately to explain to them what they had observed up to this time in His life. But He was especially focusing on what they were going to observe shortly so that they might be ready for it. What was that? This is the second time he specifically told them, {31} "The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise."

The disciples had two reactions. What was the first? {32} "They did not understand what He meant." They understood the facts. They, however, didn't understand why he had to go through this. "We don't understand" really means what? We don't agree with what the person said because we can't figure out why he would be saying it.

The second reaction was: {32} "They were afraid to ask him about it." The last time they had this same discussion Jesus had called Peter Satan for telling Him not to go ahead with this. So, why afraid? I don't know about you, but I would be afraid to discuss these things with Jesus and risk being called Satan. Secondly, Jesus had indicated that He was going to be betrayed by one of them. Why afraid? The disciples didn't want to have to deal with that. They were afraid to ask Him about it.

Who is humble in this lesson? Jesus is. He was going to undergo the humiliation of being handed over to His enemies by one of His friends. He was going to undergo the terrible treatment previous to and including His crucifixion. He was doing all of this because He had been assigned that function by the heavenly Father. He was doing all of this even though He was true God and could have stopped all of it or overcome all of it. That is humility. Willingness to place oneself, no matter what one's position is, underneath the will of somebody else.

Who is humble in this lesson? The disciples were not. They had heard the facts about the upcoming death of Jesus. They didn't understand why God had chosen to have things done in this way. They didn't like it. They had indicated their disagreement before. They still didn't understand. They didn't want to be told they should submit to God's will. So, they just didn't bring it up anymore. Unwillingness to submit to the plan of God for their own salvation.

Are we humble? Are we willing to submit to the Lord's will in our lives? God's will is that we be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth. For that to happen we need to be in agreement with God's evaluation of us. God says I am a sinful human being. Do I submit to that evaluation? Do I acknowledge that it is the truth? God says that I cannot make myself right with Him on my own. Do I submit to that evaluation? Do I acknowledge that it is the truth? God says I am totally dependent on Him for forgiveness, righteousness, and eternal life? Do I submit to God's will for my salvation? Do I acknowledge it is the truth?

Are we humble? Do we insist as did the disciples that God's way isn't the best way? Maybe we don't agree with the way He evaluates us. We aren't really sinners like those bad people in the world out there, are we? Maybe we don't agree with the way He has planned salvation for humans. We should be able to do something that makes us feel good about our relationship with Him, shouldn't we? Maybe we don't agree with what he allows to happen in our lives. Why should we have to suffer? Why should Jesus have had to suffer? The questions become intertwined and convoluted.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, lead us to be humble like You: willing to submit to the Father's will in our lives.

After completing the trip to Capernaum, what did Jesus ask His disciples? {33} "What were you arguing about on the road?" Jesus did not ask them for His own information. He asked them to get them to think about what they had been doing.

{34} "But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest." Why didn't they answer? Because they were embarrassed about the content of their conversation. They knew it was not pleasing to Jesus. Jesus had always taught them that they were to be humble and willing to serve. Arguing about who would be greatest didn't fit that very well.

{35} Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, "If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all." His lesson to them was: Your view of what constitutes greatness needs to be changed. If you want to be first, you shouldn't be looking down on people or looking back at people. If you want to be first, you should be behind and underneath people, supporting them, helping them, benefiting them, serving them.

Why did Jesus teach this lesson so often? Because it is needed all the time. Focusing our attention on ourselves comes naturally because I am the closest person to me. Striving after what is beneficial for me comes naturally because I am the logical person to watch out for myself. Promoting myself and congratulating myself comes naturally as a defense mechanism so I can get along in a world which tends to tear people down and apart. God commands that we love Him with all our heart, and soul and mind and that we love our neighbor as ourselves. That means focusing only on ourselves, living to benefit only ourselves and glorifying ourselves is sin. We need to hear what Jesus has to say. "If anyone wants to be first, he must be the servant of all."

Can I be a servant? "I have a responsible position. I have people under me. I have to make important decisions. I have to give people orders, sometimes to do things they don't want to do. I am supposed to be a dynamic leader, not a servant. Bosses are not servants. They are bosses." Jesus doesn't exempt certain segments of His people from his statement, "If you want to be first, you must be a servant of all." Yes. The boss is a leader. But the boss can still be a servant. On what basis do I make my important decisions? Should I make the decision that I know will make my stock option package more lucrative and my bonus at the end of the year bigger? Or should I make the decision that I know will make the company more financially secure for all the employees for the future. I can give people orders and still get behind them, and under them, and serve them when they need help with a family crisis or health problem, or most especially a spiritual need. Can I be a servant? You bet I can be, even though I am a boss.

Can I be a servant? "I have a responsible position. I have people under me. I have to make important decisions. I give people orders, sometimes to do things they don't want to do. I am supposed to be a leader, not a servant. Parents are not servants. We are bosses." Jesus doesn't exempt certain segments of His people from His statement, "If you want to be first, you must be a servant of all." Yes. A parent is a leader. But parents can still be servants. On what basis do I make my important decisions. Should I make the decision that insures that I have the time for recreation for myself? Or should I make the decision that I know will leave me more time with my family? I can give children order and still get behind them when they need encouragement, under them when they need support, help them with problems they can't handle on their own, and most especially point them to Jesus on a regular basis. Can I be a servant? You bet I can be, even though I am a parent.

OK. Jesus wants me to be a servant. What kind of people do I tend to serve? People who are pretty similar to me. Why? Because I am most comfortable with people who are pretty much like me. Why? Because I can assume that they think pretty much like me. Which means I can sort of by intuition know their needs, know when they are struggling, and do for them what I know I would need in the circumstance.

What kind of people do I tend to serve? People who are pretty similar to me. Why? Because they think pretty much like me. Which means they can sort of by intuition know what is going on in my life. They know when I have a need, they know when I am struggling, and they can do something for me when I am in circumstances that demand attention.

After discussing with His disciples the fact that greatness comes from serving, {36} Jesus took a little child and had him stand among them. Taking him in his arms, he said to them: "Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me." Why pick a child as an illustration of what He was trying to get across? Because a child is different from us. A child doesn't think as I do. I can't by intuition know exactly how I should serve them. And they are incapable of returning the favor when I have needs.

Jesus uses children as a good illustration because it is a good picture of how God deals with us. God serves us even though He isn't like us at all. He is perfect. We are sinners. He is almighty. We are weak. And we could go on with the list. God isn't ever going to have needs so that we can repay him. God serves us because He is a God of grace. He loves us even though we are sinners. He forgives us because of Jesus' death on the cross not because we deserve it. He covers us with Jesus' holiness because he loves us not because we did a partially good job of being righteous. He gives us eternal life because of Jesus' resurrection, not because we did a decent job of trying to live our lives on this earth to him.

Notice how closely Jesus links himself to this process of loving children. He says we are to {37a} welcome people in his name. That means we are to treat others with the same consideration and love which Jesus himself would have used. We are to be taking Jesus' place in the situation since he isn't there himself to physically do what is needed. Notice also he says that when we welcome such folks we are {37b} welcoming him and the heavenly Father. We are used to Jesus' speaking in these terms. Whenever we do anything or say anything in our lives we are doing or saying something to Jesus.

What does all of this have them to do with humility? Let's get practical. There are certain people we just wouldn't welcome into our lives. Why not? Because their life style is different. So, we can't figure out how to serve them. And their life style makes it impossible for them to serve us. Jesus said, "Whoever welcomes one of these people who are different from us and can't repay us, welcomes me."

Who do we welcome into our congregation? You know the right answer. Everybody. We want to serve everybody with the Gospel. That means the people who are much different from us. That means the people who have no capacity to give us anything back. Humility. The willingness to serve anybody A willingness that has to be nondiscriminatory.

You are very important people. So important that God had His Son live and die and rise for you. And in spite of that You can be very humble people, submitting to God's will and willing to serve without discrimination.

Prayer: LORD Jesus, thanks for considering me to be important. Please make me humble.

An Ear

Every Christian needs to have "an ear to listen like one being taught." {4} This is an attitude. An attitude which says, "If God is talking to me in the Bible, and if He is somebody worth listening to, and if He is more intelligent than I am, then I want to become more familiar with what He says to me because I am always going to learn something when I listen to Him."

There is an interesting phenomenon when it comes to learning. The more one learns, the more one realizes he still doesn't know. The more one learns, the more one realizes the need to learn more. If that is our attitude, we are in excellent company. Rabbinic Old Testament commentators and Biblical commentaries after Jesus was here all agree that in this section the Messiah is speaking. Jesus, truly a human being, subjected to the temptation to rebel against God's instructions, instead was willing and eager to listen to and do what the heavenly Father wanted.

Every Christian needs to have our ears "wakened to listen like one being taught." Why? Because by nature we are spiritually blind, dead, enemies of God and we could add "deaf." On our own we don't like to or want to hear what God has to say to us.

We need to have the LORD open our ears "morning by morning" to listen like one being taught. Dairy cows show up twice a day in exactly the same stanchion at exactly the same time for a definite purpose. Christians are to daily go to the same place, the Bible, for the purpose of feeding their souls. Why do we need to have our ears "wakened to listen like one being taught?" Because Satan is always telling us to be lazy. "Listening to God speak to you on Sunday through your pastor and through your Bible study leader is enough. You have too many other things in your busy life that need your attention. You don't have time to listen morning by morning."

Prayer: LORD Jesus, help us not to rebel at the thought of listening to You. Don't let us draw back from our relationship with you. Don't let us ever take the attitude that says," I know it all," when it comes to our faith and godliness." Waken my ear morning by morning to listen like one being taught.

A Tongue

Every Christian needs to have "an instructed tongue." {4} We communicate with our tongues. We are to transmit the message of our God to others with our tongues. Let's take one further step. Could we say the Lord has given us the ability to speak in order to be transmitters of His truth?. Maybe some of our more enjoyable hours are those spent alone with Jesus our LORD. But He has given us tongues for a reason.

Our tongues need to be "instructed." We can't be a hindrance to the truth of God. We need to know it well enough to be able to apply to properly and well. Where do we get that instruction from? Other Christians. Books on how to speak about Jesus. Where does the instruction come from according to these words before us today? From the Sovereign LORD. While other people are helpful, we must always realize that it is the LORD Himself through His Word who gives us an instructed tongue.

For what purpose does the LORD give us "an instructed tongue?" "To know the Word that sustains the weary." We are constantly running into people who are weary. Some are sick and tired of not being able to overcome a sin. Some are sick and tired of fighting against sin. Some are sick and tired because people are ridiculing them. Some are sick and tired of their problems in life. Some are sick and tired of seeing no results of their sharing Jesus with others.

I would venture to say that it is probably the most difficult thing in your life as a Christian to say the right word at the right time to sustain the weary. Sometimes after it is over, we figure out that we should have spoken the Gospel instead of the Law. Or sometimes the Law instead of the Gospel. Sometimes we realize we said the right thing at the wrong time. Sometimes we realize we said the right thing in the wrong way. Sometimes it was the right time to say something and we said it in the right way, but it turned out to be the wrong thing.

Prayer: LORD Jesus, please help me always to remind the weary that You died to wash away their sins. Please help me to always tell them that You lived and never sinned to cover them with Your holiness. Please help me always point them to an eternity with You because of Your resurrection. And then if I mess up trying to apply Your Word to their situations, they will have heard the most important things anyway. Thank You for dying on the cross to wash all the times I mess up trying to sustain the weary.

A Judge

Every Christian is constantly being judged. Some critiques are helpful. We welcome constructive criticism which helps us carry out our purpose as Christians. Critiques based on God's Word are also helpful and necessary. When a brother or sister in the faith points out a sin, it is because they love us and want us to stay connected with Jesus.

But how do we handle judgment that is wrong? Look at how Jesus handled it. On Good Friday Jesus accepted the negative judgment of those who insisted that He was a consort of the devil and blasphemer. Verse 6: I offered my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard; I did not hide my face from the mocking and spitting. Because the Sovereign LORD helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore have I set my face like flint, and I know I will not be put to shame."

But there is another aspect to how Jesus handled the negative judgment. {8} "He who vindicates me is near. Who then will bring charges against me? Let us face each other! Who is my accuser? Let him confront me! {9} It is the Sovereign LORD who helps me. Who is he that will condemn me? They will all wear out like a garment; the moths will eat them up." Jesus knew that the condemnation of Him was wrong. He knew that God's judgment of Him was the only important one. God's judgment of Him was "This is my Son in whom I am well pleased."

We all need to "set our face like flint." Negative judgment is going to be a part of our lives as long as we live in a sinful world. So, we might as well get used to it and decide to go ahead with the LORD's work in our lives anyway.

We also always need to remember that {8} "He who vindicates me is near." Whose judgment is most important in our lives? God's. When God the Judge looks at us, He sees no sins. They have all been washed away in the blood of Christ. When God the Judge looks at us, He sees holy people, covered with the holiness Jesus lived in our place. We need to remember that His judgment is permanent as He is, but the sources of non-Biblical negative judgment {9} "will wear out like a garment; the moths will eat them up."

And then we read verse 10: "Who among you fears the LORD and obeys the word of his servant? Let him who walks in the dark, who has no light, trust in the name of the LORD and rely on his God." When life is dark, filled with negative judgments, and we see no light at the end of the tunnel, trust in the LORD and rely on God who has promised to give you the strength you need to keep on living your Christianity and sharing Jesus until He calls you to Himself.

Prayer: LORD Jesus, give me a face like flint so I keep on living my godliness and sharing You with others in spite of heavy negative judgments. Remind me continually that You judge me to be acceptable to You because of Your life, death and resurrection. Keep me trusting that You will keep Your promise to keep me strong. Then in your time get me out of here to Yourself.

"Say to those with fearful hearts," {4} says the first line of the text. Who has fearful hearts when it comes to spiritual things? Everyone. On my own I am afraid of God. My conscience tells me I am a sinner. My conscience leads me to be afraid of God's anger over my sins.

Who has fearful hearts when it comes to other things? Everybody. What do we fear? Sickness, accident, loss of income, attacks on our ideas, failure in school or on the job, lack of acceptance by people. The list is endless.

{4} Say to those with fearful hearts, "Be strong, do not fear; your God will come." God's presence is the solution to fear. Why? He loves us. He is in control of all things. He has the best interest of our souls in mind. He gives us the strength to overcome the fears. He gives us the strength to overcome the sources of fear.

{4} Say to those with fearful hearts, "Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution." God is a just judge. His justice makes it necessary that He carry out His punishment against sin. He punishes sinners with physical death and eternal separation from him. How does the presence of God who comes with vengeance and retribution take away our fear?

The last line of vs 4 answers that question. {4} "He will come to save you." God has already carried out His vengeance against our sins by having Jesus suffer and die in our place. Since He carried out divine retribution against Jesus for us, His justice doesn't allow Him to punish us again. When He comes into our lives, or when He will come on the last day, He comes and will come to give us eternal life - rescue from the vengeance and divine retribution we deserve. That is the message God has spoken to our fearful hearts. That is the message we are to say to those with fearful hearts.

Are you passing along the good and perfect gift of salvation which removes fear? How do we do that? We do that when we come together here at worship and proclaim to everyone who is here that God gives the good and perfect gift of eternal life to people because of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. We do that by giving our money to support pastors and teachers and professors and missionaries who teach people about Jesus.

But, I didn't ask, "Are we as a congregation passing along the good and perfect gift of salvation which removes fear?" I asked how you are doing that? When somebody tells you that he is afraid to die, do you tell him that Jesus died and rose again so that he can die and rise again and not be punished by God? When somebody tells you that he is afraid to get sick, do you tell him that Jesus is alive and wants to give him the strength that he needs to handle every circumstance in life? When somebody is afraid of losing friends if he doesn't go along with the group's sinful behavior, do you tell him that Jesus is with him and he will never be alone?

How are you doing passing along the good and perfect gift of salvation? When somebody watches you as you grieve over the death of a Christian loved one, can they see that you are experiencing grief but not fear? When you are sick and facing possible death, can they see that you are experiencing a huge burden, but not fear? Is it obvious that because of Jesus' life, death and resurrection you are strong and do not fear? Are you passing along the spiritual gift of salvation - eternal life - the most important good and perfect gift?

{5} Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. {6} Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy. The Old Testament Bible interpreters believed that this referred to the coming of the Messiah, the time He would display His power as God by solving people's physical problems.

Why was this Old Testament lesson picked for this Sunday? Because it fit in so well with the Gospel lesson, the record of Jesus making the deaf able to hear and the mute able to talk. The record in the Gospel fulfills the promise in the Old Testament lesson.

Why did Jesus do miracles? Jesus claimed to be the Messiah, the Son of God who took upon Himself our humanity so he might be the Savior from sin. His miracles were proof for His claims.

Why did Jesus do miracles? Because He loved people. He wanted to help them. Just because He was primarily interested in their souls doesn't mean He didn't care about their physical lives, their bodies and health.

Medical miracles. That is what Jesus did. Have you meditated lately about the medical miracles that are happening all around? Just the evaluative procedures are miraculous. A person can have a scope pushed up through a vein in his leg to up behind his eye so that the medical people can see if the bulge there is an aneurysm. Miraculous that the Lord let us figure out how to do that. Surgeons can shave off a bulge from a person's disc and sent her home walking two days later. Miraculous that the Lord let us figure out how to do that. Another of God's good and perfect gifts

How are you doing at sharing God's good and perfect gifts for people's physical health? You might say, "I am not a surgeon. I don't." Probably true. Did you know earlier in our country there was often a direct relationship between physical healing and Christianity? Christian people were the ones who started the hospitals. We have the remnants of that left. There are a few Lutheran hospitals in our country. There are many Baptist and Roman Catholic hospitals. These hospitals existed because Christian people wanted to pass along the good and perfect gift of the Lord called health.

Well, that hasn't got much to do with us does it? How are you doing at sharing God's good and perfect gifts for people's physical health? Some of you give money to our Central Africa Medical mission. Yes, we are primarily interested in getting these people to believe that Jesus is the Savior from sin. But that doesn't mean we can't show love and concern for the physical health of these people. Some of you support other agencies which help people with their physical health needs. You are doing that because you love others and want to share with them every good and perfect gift which comes from the Father.

How are you doing at sharing God's good and perfect gifts for people's physical health? How about something less miraculous? How about lining up a health agency to provide flu vaccines to the members of our community? Yes, this is an evangelism activity. But let's face reality. Most of the people who might come from the community know Jesus, or we hope they do. Most of them will have their own congregations. So what will be accomplished by this event? People will be served. We serve people because God says that is how we can love them.

We love people by passing along every good and perfect gift which God gives us.

How are you doing at sharing God's good and perfect gifts for people's physical health? How about providing food for people who can't very easily take care of themselves? How about sharing two plates full of food with somebody who is home-bound in your neighborhood? That is not a miracle. But it is an attempt to pass along one of God's good and perfect gifts.

Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert. {7} The burning sand will become a pool, the thirsty ground bubbling springs. In the haunts where jackals once lay, grass and reeds and papyrus will grow. Did the climate change when Jesus was here? No. Did Jesus miraculously change the desert to a place with abundant water? No.

But He did change some spiritual desert conditions. People without the Lord had no spiritual water to quench their spiritual thirst. They were just as dry as the desert around them.

Jesus called Himself the water of life. When we drink Jesus in, when we trust in Him as our Savior from sin, we have forgiveness of sins, holiness which makes us acceptable to God and eternal life. All our spiritual needs are filled. Spiritual thirst is quenched.

Jesus did do some miracles for people which provided them with earthly resources. He gave some food. He gave some drink. These actions showed He was Messiah. But He did these things because He loved humans and wanted to take care of their earthly needs.

As Christians our primary concern is for people's souls. We want to quench people's spiritual thirst. We want them to trust in Jesus for forgiveness, righteousness and eternal life. We want them to trust in the Lord to take care of their entire lives on this earth. But we can also show love and concern by providing them with the earthly resources they need to live.

There is an interesting change in the attitudes of people who become Christians. We take a unique view of our earthly circumstances. We appreciate all the earthly things which the Lord places at our disposal. We understand that it is our responsibility to manage these blessings from the Lord. How are we doing at managing all the earthly blessings God has given us? How are we doing at research and development which responsibly places at our disposal all of the blessings God wants to give us. How are we doing at protecting and preserving the plants, animals and natural resources God has given us? How are we doing at passing along to the next generation God's good and perfect gift of a functioning and productive earth?

I once heard a presentation by a WELS member who worked for Save the Children. He was sent by Save the Children to teach the people in the sub-Saharan famine belt in Africa how to manage their land as a resource instead of using it up and abandoning it. He insisted that the land could be reclaimed from the desert by proper management techniques and if maintained properly could be given to future generations as a gift capable of maintaining life.

When I view the earth as a gift of God, it will produce a changed lifestyle, which will produce a changed environment which will produce a changed circumstance of life. What changes hearts? God the Holy Spirit working through the Word of the Lord. While we are primarily interested in getting people the Water of life, our message produces the byproduct of getting people to manage their earthly circumstances so that water gushes in the wilderness and streams in the desert. The burning sand becomes a pool. The thirsty ground becomes bubbling springs. Are we passing along the good and perfect gift of a well-managed and functioning earth?

Prayer: LORD Jesus, please help us to pass along every good and perfect gift which the heavenly Father gives us.

Not Human Traditions

The Pharisees and some of the teachers of the law were the best neighbors you could ever want. Why? They were law-abiding people. They were law-abiding people because they thought by attempting to keep God’s Law they could make themselves right with God. That’s why they got so upset when Jesus called them sinners.

In order to enhance their law abiding standing they developed laws in addition to those which God gave Moses on Mt. Sinai. After all, if the law was going to get you to heaven, you might as well have as much of it as possible. More chances to keep it, right?

The OT law had indicated that certain foods and animals were unclean. People, objects and places could become unclean by having contact with any of these unclean things. This uncleanness meant the person couldn’t worship in the temple without going through a cleansing ceremony. But the OT said nothing about a person becoming unclean by eating with unwashed hands. The rabbis had developed laws which said that was true, how much water had to be used to wash your hands, and how the water had to be applied, and on and on.

In addition the Pharisees and teachers of the law placed these traditions on the same level as the written OT laws of Moses. So, they wondered why Jesus’ disciples were not living according to the tradition of the elders. And they emphasized these traditions so much that they didn’t bother with God’s moral laws. {8} You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to the traditions of men." Jesus said.

Are we Pharisees? That depends on how we use the Law. Has the Holy Spirit led us to look into God’s Law as a mirror and see that we are sinners? Then we are not Pharisees. Has the Holy Spirit led us to admit on the basis of God’s Law that we don’t perfectly live our lives for the benefit of God’s kingdom? Then we are not Pharisees. Has the Holy Spirit led us to admit on the basis of God’s Law that we don’t perfectly live our lives for the benefit of the people around us? Then we are not Pharisees.

Are we Pharisees? That depends on our attitude toward Jesus. Has the Holy Spirit led us to trust that our sins are washed away in the blood which Jesus shed on the cross? Then we are not Pharisees. Has the Holy Spirit led us to trust that we are covered with the holiness which Jesus lived in our place so that we are holy in God’s sight? Then we are not Pharisees. Has the Holy Spirit led us to trust that we are going to live forever because of the resurrection of Jesus? Then we are not Pharisees.

Are we Pharisees? That depends on what we use to shape our lives? Has the Holy Spirit led us to use God’s Law exclusively to determine how we ought to live our lives to thank Jesus for the forgiveness, holiness and eternal life which God has given us? Then we are not Pharisees. Has the Holy Spirit led us to reject the consensus of the people(in the text called “tradition of the elders”) around us as the basis of determining how we ought to live our lives? Then we are not Pharisees.

There are two ways that human beings allow the consensus of the people around us to determine how we ought to live our lives. First. People add to God’s Law as the rabbis did. That sounds like this: It’s a sin to use alcohol for Lord’s Supper. It’s a sin to play cards. It’s a sin to play baseball on Sundays. And so on.

The much more common way that humans allow the tradition of people (what people think) to determine how we ought to live our lives is to subtract from God’s Law. That sounds like this. Everybody says, “Oh my god,” all the time. Most of my friends don’t go to church but we are still Christians. Nobody travels speed limit. Everybody uses something to get a little high once in a while. Every unmarried person I know is sexually active. Life is about how many toys you have. Everybody trash talks.

Prayer: Lord, please continue to send the Holy Spirit into my life so that I am not a Pharisee. Lord, please continue to send the Holy Spirit into my life so that I live your Word and not human traditions.

Don’t Just Fake It

The Pharisees wanted to be highly respected by others. So they were very concerned about outward appearances. They did two things. They tried to make their outward actions irreproachable. They tried to do their godliness very publicly. They fasted, prayed and even tithed so that everybody could see it.

According to Jesus there was a problem. They legally took advantage of others to get the money from which they tithed. They worshiped god regularly but rejected the Messiah sent by God, Jesus. They fasted in public and indulged themselves in private. If you want a good example of the problem: They refused to go into the palace of Pilate so they wouldn’t become unclean while they were trying to get Jesus crucified.

So, Jesus in the text says: {6} "Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written: "'These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.” Hypocrite is a Greek word that means an actor playing a part on the stage. The Pharisees were acting. They were faking. So, Jesus also says: {7} They worship me in vain.” Their worship is empty and worthless.

The Pharisees had things backwards. How you wash your hands doesn’t make you clean or unclean. What is going on in your heart makes you clean or unclean. Jesus put it this way: {15} Nothing outside a man can make him 'unclean' by going into him. Rather, it is what comes out of a man that makes him 'unclean.'" Then Jesus gives us a list of the things that come out of us which make us unclean. (21) For from within, out of men's hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, {22} greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. {23} All these evils come from inside and make a man 'unclean.'"

Are we Pharisees? That depends on our attitude toward outward appearances. Are we concerned that our outward actions are irreproachable? Then we are outwardly like the Pharisees. That’s a good thing. Do we want to be respected as people who live their lives to the Lord? Then we are outwardly like the Pharisees. That’s a good thing. Do we worship God so that everybody sees what we are doing? Then we are outwardly like the Pharisees. That’s a good thing.

Are we Pharisees? That depends on what is going on in private. Does the Holy Spirit lead us to reject easy ways to take advantage of others? Then we are not Pharisees. Does the Holy Spirit lead us personally talk to Jesus and listen to Jesus talk to us through His Word? Then we are not Pharisees. Does the Holy Spirit lead us try to use our resources and our bodies as thank offerings to the Lord. Then we are not Pharisees.

Are we Pharisees? That depends on what is going on in our hearts. Does the Holy Spirit lead us to repent when our thoughts line up with what’s on Jesus’ list in the text: getting revenge, having sex with the attractive lady next door, taking that baseball glove that got left at the park by that person from the other team, hating that person at work for what he did to us, wanting something so badly that you can taste it, twisting the facts so that we get the advantage, partying out of control, hating who I am, badmouthing others, or looking down on others? Then we don’t have things backwards. Then the Holy Spirit has led us to realize that we are unclean by nature, sinful because of what is in our hearts and what comes out of our hearts. Then the Holy Spirit has led us to realize that what we produce on the outside doesn’t make us right with God. Only Jesus can get rid of the guilt of our heart produced sin. Only the Holy Spirit can give us the strength to repent of our heart produced sins. And only the Holy Spirit can give us the strength to refuse to put into practice our heart desired sins.

Prayer: Lord, please continue to send the Holy Spirit into my life so that I am not a Pharisee. Lord, please continue to send the Holy Spirit into my life so that I live your Word and don’t just fake it.

Sermon Topics:

1. But how do we know that we have faith?
2. But how do we know that we love God's children?
3. But how do we know we have overcome the world?

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/by-our-god-given-faith-we-are-united-and-are-sent-out-into-the-world/

Sermon Topics:

1. He is the living shepherd
2. He is the shepherd of (eternal) life
3. He is not a shepherd for worldly gain
4. He is the shepherd with a powerful voice

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/jesus-is-the-good-shepherd/

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/christs-resurrection-gives-you-peace-2024/
• Watch this sermon directly on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9an8rPnr42E

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/how-could-you-miss-this/
• Watch this sermon directly on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2A7BWRQmsE

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/what-kind-of-martyr-are-you/
• Watch this sermon directly on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQFRw31cSEg

Sermon Topics:

1. As with Christ we think in selfless accord and look out for each other
2. Christ being true God chose the glory of His grace
3. He set aside His Godly glory to serve man by becoming man
4. He served us by living perfectly and dying on the cross

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/see-the-depths-of-the-god-mans-service/
• Watch this sermon directly on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lH-4r-5vdt8

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/how-could-you-do-this-to-your-family/
• Watch this sermon directly on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4sAvkeNESc8

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/why-are-you-naked-and-exposed/
• Watch this sermon directly on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBl4EIVYb8A

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/what-kind-of-king-is-this/
• Watch this sermon directly on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yo1jrEe9pc8

Sermon Topics:

1. God's Word gives eternal life and mature wisdom
2. Our new person wants to glorify God and uses God's Word as a guide

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/gods-glory-is-revealed-in-his-word-and-demonstrated-in-your-life/

Sermon Overview: Herod (before he was king) once stood before the Sanhedrin and secured a not guilty verdict by a show of force and by having the right connections. Why didn't Jesus use his Godly power and authority to overcome those corrupt leaders and avoid being crucified, especially since he was innocent?

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/if-you-are-so-great-then-why-are-they-questioning-you/
• Watch this sermon directly on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5l-aH2gzAo

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/the-lord-is-always-with-you-even-when-it-seems-the-opposite/

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/how-could-you-do-this-to-your-friends/
• Watch this sermon directly on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3hkA9t0AFQ

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/how-could-you-let-a-friend-betray-you/
• Watch this sermon directly on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MH-F1Tcmeos

Sermon Overview: Jesus took Peter, James, and John up a mountain, where they saw Elijah and Moses, and then God the Father spoke to them. Afterwards, Jesus told them not to tell anyone until after he had risen. This encounter may seem strange to us, and probably raises some questions, but in this sermon Pastor Schurman explains the context and points out that, while it may not be the glory we want, the glory we need is Christ on the cross.

Sermon Topics:

1. Why only three disciples?
2. Jesus usually hides his Godly glory
3. Moses and Elijah's glory was dim in comparison
4. We glorify Christ when we listen to His Word

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/is-this-the-glory-we-want-or-the-glory-we-need/

Sermon Topics:

1. Jesus spoke God's Will, not human speculations or opinions
2. Jesus Spoke with God's authority
3. Jesus was not teaching something new
4. Whoever is correctly teaching and applying the Word of God has this authority

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/the-word-of-the-lord-has-all-authority/

Sermon Overview: Jonah begrudgingly preached a message of warning to the people Nineveh at God's direction, but he did so without compassion and instead wanted God to punish them. Despite Jonah's intent, the people Nineveh took the message to heart and truly repented of their evil ways. God saw this and spared them from the disaster he had warned them about. In today's sermon we examine the difference between true repentance and simply wanting to avoid consequences.

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/what-does-true-repentance-look-like/

Sermon Overview: Our sinful nature often prevents us from having a servant's attitude towards God and His Word, but through Jesus our new man eagerly listens and joyfully serves. In this sermon we see ways in which Samuel was called by God, and how those situations apply to us today, including warning our children (young and old), and even our friends' and neighbors' children, when they stray from God.

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/do-we-really-say-speak-o-lord-for-your-servant-is-listening/

Sermon Overview: Mary asked the angel "How will this be?" after being told she would give birth to the savior, even though she was a virgin. Pastor Schurman examines how Mary's question was different than Zechariah's similar question to the angel ("How can I be sure of this?"), and we look at other miracles that show nothing is impossible for God.

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/how-will-this-be/
• Watch this sermon directly on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aU02fabh5dI

Sermon Overview: Zechariah asked the angel "How can I be sure of this?" after being told he and his wife would be the parents of John, who would announce the coming of the savior to the world. Through the faith given to us by the Holy Spirit, we can be sure of everything the Bible tells us. This Christmas season we should also remember to spread the message of salvation to others.

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/how-can-i-be-sure-of-this/
• Watch this sermon directly on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_jASf2XMD0

Sermon Overview: God's timing is perfect. We confidently expect the savior to return, but according to God's plan. In the meantime, we remain strong by hearing and reading His Word, and we spread the gospel message to others.

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/why-so-long/
• Watch this sermon directly on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mU5nqQrSJbA

Sermon Topics:

1. He reigns in all His glory
2. He reigns with all believers
3. He reigns for all believers
4. He reigns in providence for all creation
5. He reigns worthy of all adoration

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/christ-is-ruling-as-king-over-all-creation/
• Watch this sermon directly on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UH0hoBD4oH4

Sermon Topics:

1. They needed the true and faithful witness
2. Their inability to distinguish themselves as Christians was disgusting to God
3. A lack of crosses may divert our eyes from Christ
4. Christ can make us hot or cold in union with Him
5. Those who are hot or cold conquer by using the Word of God

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/are-we-lukewarm/

Sermon Overview: Christians delight in the good news of free salvation in Jesus Christ, but unbelievers resent that message and those who deliver it. That should not stop us from sharing the message with others, though, just as Martin Luther did not stop when he was faced with persecution during the Reformation.

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/the-powerful-news-of-salvation-in-christ-is-sweet-and-sour/

Sermon Topics:

1. Christ is the true and holy keeper of the keys
2. Faithfulness to the Word has nothing to do with a congregation's size or resources
3. Their open door was conversion of Gentiles and many Jews who had persecuted them
4. Our open door is evangelism through faithfulness to the Word
5. Faithfulness to the Word gives God's protection
6. The door remains open as we remain faithful to the Word

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/what-door-is-the-lord-opening-for-us/

Sermon Topics:

1. Christ sends His Holy Spirit to give life
2. The Holy Spirit works through the Word to give and maintain life
3. Persistently ignoring the Word leads to death and judgment
4. Those who are alive conquer by hearing and using God's Word

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/do-we-look-alive-despite-being-dead-on-the-inside/

Sermon Topics:

1. Christ's omniscience and omnipotence are the attributes needed to prevent and cure
2. The Word will grow the fruits of faith in union with Christ
3. Ignoring the problem will not make it go away
4. God will not ignore the sin
5. Stay in the Word of God, do not even dabble in the things of Satan
6. Holding tightly to God's Word means we will conquer by hearing and using it
7. Holding tightly to God's Word assures us of His promises

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/do-we-allow-jezebels-teachings-by-ignoring-the-problem/

Sermon Topics:

1. Holding tightly to God's Word is the only prevention and cure
2. Using the forgiveness Christ has won for us as an excuse to sin is to deny Christ
3. Holding tightly to God's Word means we will repent and admonish those who do not
4. Holding tightly to God's Word means we will conquer by hearing and using His Word

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/are-we-holding-tightly-to-the-teaching-of-balaam/

Sermon Topics:

1. When we are faithful we will gather together around God's Word
2. When we are faithful we will cling to Jesus as the Eternal God, who suffered death, and defeated it with His resurrection
3. When we are faithful we will cling to God's Word even if it causes earthly affliction, poverty, and slander
4. When we are faithful we will not fear any suffering that comes from adhering to God's Word
5. When we are faithful we will conquer by hearing and using God's Word

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/are-we-faithful-to-the-point-of-death/

Sermon Topics:

1. When we love God we will gather together around His Word
2. When we love God we will trust in His protection
3. When we love God we will work, labor, and persevere for the good news of salvation in Christ
4. When we love God we will not put up with anything that does not do good (i.e. does not glorify God)
5. When we love God we will test those claiming to be sent by Him using His Word
6. When we love God we will bear His name
7. When we love God we will always remember the grace we have, live in repentance, and do His work
8. When we love God we will hate what he hates (false teaching)
9. When we love God we will conquer by hearing and using His Word

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/have-we-abandoned-our-first-love/

Sermon Overview: Jesus is ruling over this world for the Christian church, past and present, regardless of how much the Devil and this world persecute believers.

Sermon Topics:

1. He is comforting John and the churches that are facing persecution
   1. Persecution, separation, the sea, and the land are all common themes in this revelation
   2. John is bearing the cross, and he is writing to churches that have born, are bearing, and will bear the cross
2. He is ruling for the church, even when persecution makes it seem like He isn't
3. John's description of Jesus shows many of the ways He rules over this world
4. Find comfort: He is also ruling for you

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/why-is-jesus-christ-among-the-seven-gold-lampstands/

Sermon Overview: When God told King Solomon to ask for anything and God would grant it, Solomon asked for wisdom to judge the people of his kingdom justly. However, it seems that God had already gifted Solomon with such wisdom. Using God's answer to King Solomon, we can evaluate ourselves to see if we have (and use) Christian wisdom.

Sermon Topics:

1. Do you look at the lord’s loving mercy in the past?
2. Do you see how ignorant and inexperienced you are?
3. Do you hear the Word and your neighbor’s cry for help?
4. Do you discern between Good and evil?

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/do-you-have-christian-wisdom/

Sermon Topics:

1. Is your heart a hardened path?
2. Is your heart shallow soil?
3. Are the thorns of this world choking you?
4. Has the Word made your heart fertile soil?

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/how-receptive-are-you-being-toward-gods-word/

Sermon Overview: In our scripture text Jesus said, "Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest," but then immediately after that he said, "Take my yoke upon you." Did he contradict himself? After all, how can taking up a yoke—which is used for pulling something very heavy—possibly be considered rest?

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/how-can-a-yoke-be-easy/

Sermon Topics:

1. We are to view them as under-servants and household administrators of God's mysteries
2. We must help them, but not scrutinize their gifts
3. We want to have a humble gratitude for the workers God gives us

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/how-are-we-to-view-the-workers-in-gods-harvest/
• Watch this sermon directly on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7b9bWD4wc8Q

Sermon Overview: God called Moses to be the leader of the Israelites, but Moses was hesitant at first, asking God questions that make it seem like he was looking for excuses. We too can be guilty of giving excuses when God is calling us to serve, but God's answers to Moses apply to us today just the same.

Sermon Topics:

1. We tend to give pious sounding excuses
2. We sinfully go about it our own way
3. Recognize who we are working for
   1. God's plan for Moses
   2. God's plan for us
4. Our authority is the Word of God

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/who-am-i-that-i-should-do-the-lords-work/
• Watch this sermon directly on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zD8gGTd98I

Sermon Topics:

1. How can it be so reliable?
   1. It is the inspired Word of God, not mere opinions or memories
2. How can we keep from being deceived away from it by "false prophets"?
   1. They teach "opinions" and make them equal to Scripture
   2. Their teachings deny the work of Christ (to some extent)
   3. Their teachings deny portions of the Law or the Gospel (or both)
   4. They teach for their own benefit instead of the glory of God

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/scripture-is-the-sole-inerrant-authority-for-our-faith-and-our-works/
• Watch this sermon directly on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0TufOpdYIU

Sermon Overview: Today is Pentecost, which celebrates the day the descended on the followers of Jesus. However, our scripture passage for today ends with the sentence: "For the Holy Spirit had not yet come, because Jesus had not yet been glorified." What does that mean?

How Was the Holy Spirit Present?

1. He certainly existed as a person of the Trinity
2. He certainly created faith and gave spiritual gift to Old Testament believers
3. He was certainly present with Jesus Christ
4. He certainly had created faith (the new Man) in the believers' hearts

How Wasn't the Holy Spirit Present?

1. He had not yet brought the gifts that glorified Christ

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/how-wasnt-the-holy-spirit-present/

Sermon Overview: Jesus's first appearance after his resurrection was to 2 disciples who were walking to Emmaus. While his exact words are not recorded, we know that Jesus explained to those disciples how all of the Scriptures (which we know as the Old Testament today) were about him. In this sermon Pastor Schurman explains the dangers of being distracted by "church things" instead of focusing on hearing and spreading the good news of free salvation in Christ Jesus.

Sermon Topics:

1. How foolishly we detract from what they have spoken
2. How wisely we cling to what they have spoken

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/the-scriptures-are-all-about-christ/

Sermon Overview: This is the final sermon from the 2023 Lent series "Why Must the Servant of the LORD Suffer?" Pastor Schurman concludes the series by explaining what Jesus' victory over sin, death, and the devil did for us using the last verses from Isaiah's prophecy about the suffering servant.

Sermon Topics:

1. To make us righteous
2. To make us His reward

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/why-must-the-servant-of-the-lord-suffer-finale/
• Watch this sermon directly on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NhueVXWDP6Q

Sermon Overview: This is the eighth sermon from the 2023 Lent series "Why Must the Servant of the LORD Suffer?" Pastor Schurman explains that even though it seems like Jesus was murdered at the hands of men, his death and resurrection were in fact God's plan to earn salvation for everyone and to spread the news of that free salvation across the world.

Sermon Topics:

1. His suffering is God's plan for our salvation
2. Salvation prospers in His hand

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/why-must-the-servant-of-the-lord-suffer-8/
• Watch this sermon directly on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOhtVBT4D4Y

Sermon Overview: This is the seventh sermon from the 2023 Lent series "Why Must the Servant of the LORD Suffer?" Pastor Schurman explains that Jesus died a painful death intended for criminals, suffering the punishment we deserve for our sins, so that we can have eternal life through faith in him.

Sermon Topics:

1. To die, the innocent in place of the guilty.
2. To receive a grave befitting His glory.

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/why-must-the-servant-of-the-lord-suffer-7/
• Watch this sermon directly on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u02mmBPf7lQ

Sermon Overview: When Jesus entered Jerusalem a few days before he would be crucified, the crowd laid down their cloaks and palm branches to welcome him and glorify him as their king. However, many of them mistakenly thought he would be their Earthly king. Pastor Schurman helps us learn, using that crowd as an example, the ways in which we can properly glorify Jesus.

Sermon Topics:

1. Believe Him
2. Confess Him
3. Pray to Him
4. Submit to His will
5. Serve Him with what He has given to us

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/how-do-we-glorify-christ-as-the-king-of-kings/

Sermon Overview: This is the sixth sermon from the 2023 Lent series "Why Must the Servant of the LORD Suffer?" Pastor Schurman explains that Jesus was arrested and brought to court through oppression, and his crucifixion was a result of injustice in the Sanhedrin and the Roman government. However, God used this to put our sins -- including our own oppression, injustice, and rebellion -- on Christ so that we are saved.

Sermon Topics:

1. Because of oppression of justice
2. Because of our rebellion

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/why-must-the-servant-of-the-lord-suffer-6/
• Watch this sermon directly on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eHpm5jD1c3k

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/how-does-the-lord-give-life-to-what-has-been-dead-a-long-time/

Sermon Overview: This is the fifth sermon from the 2023 Lent series "Why Must the Servant of the LORD Suffer?" Pastor Schurman explains that we all continually wander off the path God intended for us, but Jesus willingly sacrificed himself to atone for our sins and make us His children.

Sermon Topics:

1. Because we are wandering sheep
2. So He became the atoning lamb

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/why-must-the-servant-of-the-lord-suffer-5/
• Watch this sermon directly on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bO5fzJM-3Lw

Sermon Overview: This is the fourth sermon from the 2023 Lent series "Why Must the Servant of the LORD Suffer?" Pastor Schurman explains that Jesus understands the burdens we face in our lives because Jesus endured physical, spiritual, and emotional torment, and he did it so we would be made God's children.

Sermon Topics:

1. To take up our sicknesses and the sorrows that they cause
2. To heal us in his wounds

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/why-must-the-servant-of-the-lord-suffer-4/
• Watch this sermon directly on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMlPUu35Gcw

Sermon Overview: This is the third sermon from the 2023 Lent series "Why Must the Servant of the LORD Suffer?" Pastor Schurman uses 3 more verses from Isaiah's prophecy to explain that Jesus lacked any worldly glory or tricks, so that we are not drawn to him by our sinful nature, but instead by the faith that God gives to us.

Sermon Topics:

1. To lack any worldly glory to draw us to him
   1. It must be by faith from God that we are drawn to him
2. To suffer the rejection of God that we naturally have in our hearts

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/why-must-the-servant-of-the-lord-suffer-3/
• Watch this sermon directly on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=35CtRWQetDE

Sermon Overview: God told Abraham to leave behind almost everything he had, including his relatives and his land, and travel to a strange land. If we put ourselves in Abraham's shoes, would we fully trust God, or would our sinful nature make us stop and ask "What's in it for me?" Thankfully, through God's blessings to (and from) Abraham, we see there's actually a lot in it for us!

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/whats-in-it-for-me/

Sermon Overview: This is the second sermon from the 2023 Lent series "Why Must the Servant of the LORD Suffer?" Using the next two verses of Isaiah's prophecy about the LORD's servant, Pastor Schurman explains how Jesus suffered all forms of suffering in order to save mankind and so that the good news of free salvation through him would be spread across the world.

Sermon Topics:

1. To be humbled beneath what is human
2. To be glorified in the mouths of men

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/why-must-the-servant-of-the-lord-suffer-2/
• Watch this sermon directly on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_gmWR754xs

Sermon Overview: This is the first sermon from the 2023 Lent series "Why Must the Servant of the LORD Suffer?" Using just one verse of Isaiah's prophecy about the LORD's servant, Pastor Schurman provides an overview of Jesus' life, suffering, death, and resurrection, and how it was all for us.

Sermon Topics:

1. To lift you up
2. To give you eternal life
3. To sprinkle you with His blood
4. To make His resurrection your resurrection
5. To be glorified through your witness
6. To rule over creation for your eternal benefit

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/why-must-the-servant-of-the-lord-suffer/
• Watch this sermon directly on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUwnnS8wAmc

Sermon Overview: Ash Wednesday begins the season of Lent, which traditionally reminds us of our sins, but it also should remind us that Jesus paid the debt for those sins. Therefore Ash Wednesday does indeed begin a solemn journey, but it does not end on Good Friday, as tradition may have it. Rather, that journey actually culminates on Easter morning.

Sermon Topics:

1. Remember why God tells us in Advance
2. Keep a proper view of the point of Christ’s cross

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/as-we-begin-christs-solemn-journey-to-the-cross/

Sermon Topics:

1. The apostles were eyewitnesses of it.
2. We have the inspired Word of God.

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/how-can-we-be-sure-of-jesus-godly-glory/

Sermon Topics:

1. Never settle for “good enough,” while sticking with what you have been taught.
2. Show God’s purity while living in an impure world.
3. Love your neighbor with godly accountability.
4. Let God’s will be done.
5. Keep on overflowing with God’s love for one another.

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/how-are-we-to-live-our-new-lives-in-a-way-that-pleases-god/

Sermon Overview: Actions often speak louder than words, and God is glorified when the fruits of our faith are seen in action. However, we can find ourselves focusing on the wrong actions, or the wrong reasons for those actions. Additionally, sometimes our actions can be misinterpreted by others, or our good-intended actions might not actually reveal God's message.

Sermon Topics:

1. It is not when our focus is on worldly wisdom, but revealing the mystery of the Gospel.
2. It is not when our focus is on worldly things that distract from Christ having been crucified.
3. It is not bravado, self-righteousness, or being so timid we keep quiet about sin and grace.
4. It is God’s power at work.

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/how-can-our-preaching-and-teaching-glorify-god/

Sermon Topics:

1. He took on human flesh to fulfill this mission
2. He is God's ultimate spokesman, whose words kill and give life
3. He is the true servant that glorifies God
4. His labor is not in vain
5. He redeems His people, Jew and Gentile alike

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/the-lords-servant-describes-his-mission/
• Watch this sermon directly on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSMCPS_usJg

Sermon Topics:

1. Understand what baptism does for sinners
2. Jesus has no sin
3. "Let it be so now, because it is proper for us to fulfill all righteousness."

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/how-does-jesus-baptism-fulfill-all-righteousness/

Sermon Overview: Looking back at 2022 we remember many things were difficult while many other things were great. We also recognize that 2023 will likely be full of both good and bad things. Most importantly, though, we have the goods news of free salvation through our savior Jesus Christ, and we continue to spread it to those around us.

Sermon Topics:

1. He has done many things for you
2. He has made you His people
3. He is your Savior

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/as-we-look-to-the-new-year-do-not-forget-the-lords-grace/

Sermon Topics:

1. Jesus has astonishing parentage
2. Joseph and Mary had an astonishing acceptance of God's will
3. Joseph and Mary were astonishingly faithful parents

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/he-comes-in-astonishing-ways/
• Watch this sermon directly on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVAUSQsdaes

Sermon Topics:

1. The LORD chose different things than the world would choose
2. David was very young when he was anointed
3. The LORD created the circumstances that would train David
4. David patiently waited for the LORD's plan to unfold
5. God saves sinners

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/we-must-be-patient-while-awaiting-his-fulfillment/
• Watch this sermon directly on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CmuJCnw-Edg

Sermon Topics:

1. He uses natural catastrophes
2. He uses the pain of death
3. He uses economic hardship
4. He uses our brothers and sisters in Christ
5. He enables us to see His blessings

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/he-comes-through-hardship/
• Watch this sermon directly on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGJbnOndYUA

Sermon Topics:

1. God shined His Light on Rahab with His Word
2. Rahab is held up for her faith
3. The Light grows fruits of faith

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/he-comes-to-those-living-in-darkness/
• Watch this sermon directly on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SlVlsguRO8w

Sermon Topics:

1. Our indifference
2. Our sinfulness
3. Our selfishness
4. Our deception

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/he-comes-because-of-our-selfishness-and-sinfulness/
• Watch this sermon directly on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHdbOz6Spps

Sermon Topics:

1. Abraham's plan of adoption
2. Sarah's plan for a surrogate mother
3. God's perfect timing and miracle

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/he-comes-in-his-timing-and-planning-not-our-own/
• Watch this sermon directly on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nQcPgjKNpk

Sermon Topics:

1. Look at your whole life's journey and how the LORD has led you.
2. Look at how He has provided for your physical needs.
3. Look at how He provides for your spiritual needs.

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/give-thanks-for-every-word-that-comes-from-the-lord/
• Watch this sermon directly on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xygYnNifYcg

Sermon Topics:

1. A new heavens and earth.
2. The true church is full of joy and gladness.
3. Death is swallowed up in Christ's victory.
4. Your labor is not in vain.
5. Before you pray the LORD has answered.
6. There is peace and safety.

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/see-the-victory-that-the-lord-has-given-to-you/
• Watch this sermon directly on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=efAVYeUq_vk

Sermon Overview: Jesus tells the parable of the ten minas to tell the people about his kingdom and explain how it grows. However, this parable can be confusing and misunderstood, so in this sermon Pastor Schurman walks us through all of the details and shows us how it applies to us and the world around us today.

Sermon Topics:

1. The noble man is clearly Christ, whose departure is his death, resurrection, and ascension. His return is Judgment Day.
2. The subjects who hated him are unbelievers.
3. The servants in God’s kingdom are believers.
4. The minas are God's Word and Sacraments, especially the Gospel.
5. Different servants are placed in different circumstance, which is why the minas produce different amounts.
6. One servant hides the mina in worldly things because he doesn't agree with the nobleman.
7. You do not earn the mina nor what it produces. It is a gift from God that you have the mina.

Note: The mina was a unit of currency, not to be confused with the talent (used in a similar parable), which was used to signify a gift or skill.

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/what-are-the-minas-and-who-are-the-people/

Sermon Topics:

1. Strength and courage comes from God's Word
2. Lead God's people by standing on and faithfully proclaiming God's Word
3. Going to the left or to the right will always impact your confidence of forgiveness and salvation
4. Insight to lead God's people comes from being in God's Word
5. True servants of God's Word lead by studying and proclaiming it faithfully

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/do-not-turn-from-gods-word-to-the-right-or-to-the-left/

Sermon Overview: When the disciples asked Jesus to increase their faith, he responded, “If you had faith like a mustard seed, you could tell this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you." Does that mean your faith is weak if you aren't able to do this literally?

Sermon Topics:

1. God built faith into you when He created the "New Person" in you, and He designed that New Person to cling to Christ and show His glory.
2. Through faith you know you are forgiven, and your faith empowers and encourages you to forgive others.
3. God has entrusted you with the power to show and remove sin through the Binding and Loosing Keys.
4. If you think your faith is weak, you should strive to hear God's Word, as Romans 10 shows that is where faith comes from.

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/is-your-faith-too-weak/

Sermon Overview: When Jesus told of the rich man and poor Lazarus, he didn't state exactly why the rich man went to Hell, leading some people to make incorrect assumptions and guesses about it. However, the reason is very clearly implied in Jesus' words, and we can learn from it and apply it to our own lives and circumstances.

Sermon Topics:

1. It wasn’t because he was rich.
2. It wasn’t because he wasn’t Jewish, or did not observe the customs, or didn't go to the temple or the Synagogue.
3. It wasn’t because salvation depends on good works.
4. It was clearly a lack of love for our gracious LORD, His Word, and hence our fellow man.

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/why-did-the-rich-man-go-to-hell/

Sermon Topics:

1. He has given you faith
2. He has blessed you and your family
3. You are blessed to pray to the LORD
4. You are blessed to share the Word
5. You are blessed with Christian family and friends

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/you-are-extremely-blessed-in-christ/

Sermon Topics:

1. The hard earned coin that was lost
2. The lost sheep which have wandered off

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/the-good-shepherd-seeks-the-utterly-lost/

Sermon Topics:

1. It is the result of faith in the Triune God as your Savior
2. It loves correction and edification especially in the Word
3. It has both temporal and eternal benefits

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/what-is-true-wisdom/

Sermon Overview: Do you ever find yourself focusing on the negative things in your day or life, even if things are mostly going well for you in general? Psalm 103 is a great antidote for that negative mentality; it explains, often through wonderful imagery, all of the blessings the LORD gives to us. But the opening verse says "Bless the LORD, O my soul," so how do we bless the LORD?

Sermon Topics:

1. For the blessings He gives to you
2. For the blessings He gives to His people
3. For the eternal blessings He gives
4. For His ruling activity

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/praise-the-lord-for-the-greatness-of-his-mercy/

Sermon Overview: The apostle John records in the book of Revelation that many angels were saying in a loud voice: "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing." Why were the angels saying this about the resurrected LORD?

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/worthy-is-the-lamb/
• Watch this sermon directly on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wOk-zeZfp4

Sermon Topics:

1. Highly individual, as seen in Thomas
2. Highly communal, as seen in the disciples

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/salvation-in-christ-is-highly-individual-and-highly-communal/

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/christ-overcomes-death-for-us-overcoming-its-sting-with-his-victory/
• Watch this sermon directly on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6sQT_ge9GxM

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/christ-overcomes-death-for-us-by-taking-its-blow-for-us/
• Watch this sermon directly on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uoFQMskSgyQ

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/christ-overcomes-death-for-us-overcoming-its-isolation-and-starvation/
• Watch this sermon directly on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYKT8rWW4Ck

Sermon Overview: Judas scolded Mary about using expensive perfume on Jesus instead of selling it and giving the money to the poor. The Bible tells us he said this because he was a thief and probably wanted to steal some of that money. However, even though Judas' motives were wrong, wasn't the principle behind it right?

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/wouldnt-it-have-been-better-stewardship-if-the-perfume-was-sold/

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/christ-overcomes-death-for-us-overcoming-its-paralyzing-fear/
• Watch this sermon directly on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TcYPzoUtuHE

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/christ-overcomes-death-for-us-overcoming-its-betrayal/
• Watch this sermon directly on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6n6TVaRJhFQ

Sermon Overview: We might be tempted to argue with people who claim Christians are hypocritical, judgmental, self-righteous, arrogant, unforgiving, and disrespectful, claiming those associations are not fair. Instead we should remember that if God's grace were truly fair, everyone would end up in Hell. So we thank God for His amazing grace, and we spread that good news to everyone.

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/gods-grace-is-not-fair/

Sermon Topics:

1. Christ overcomes death's hatred for God
2. Christ overcomes death's hatred for us, children of God

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/christ-overcomes-death-for-us-overcoming-its-baseless-hatred/
• Watch this sermon directly on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edp4OZTQ5kI

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/christ-overcomes-death-for-us-overcoming-its-lies-and-indifference/
• Watch this sermon directly on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CdM2GCbDMLo

Sermon Topics:

1. Christ has prepared your eternal destination
2. Christ is the only road

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/christ-overcomes-death-for-us-removing-its-roadblocks/
• Watch this sermon directly on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GdNcK3MMZmM

Sermon Topics:

1. The filth that separates us from God
2. The filth that by faith is bathed away
3. The filth that is daily washed away

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/christ-overcomes-death-for-us-washing-away-its-filth/
• Watch this sermon directly on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETeIxm0ZBsQ

Sermon Topics:

1. The glory of either one is often not felt, and we often don't see it in ourselves
2. The glory of the Law is terrifying, but the glory of the Gospel is soothing
3. The glory of the Law can only be viewed momentarily
4. The glory of the Gospel is hidden, but when it is revealed, it gives eternal life

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/dont-give-more-glory-to-the-law-than-to-the-gospel/
• Watch this sermon directly on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QC-VmqncuI

Sermon Overview: Despite everything Joseph had been through between the time he had been sold into slavery by his own brothers and when he met with them again many years later, Joseph was not angry or vengeful toward them. Instead, through faith he recognized that God had sent him on that path for their benefit and his own. So, like Joseph, we too should trust in God's plan for us and for those around us, even when it seems we may have been wronged by them.

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/how-can-i-be-kind-merciful-loving-and-forgiving/
• Watch this sermon directly on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-yACkLL5NqE

Sermon Overview: In this sermon we learn what God has promised to those who put their trust in mankind instead of him, and we see that God promises to bless those who trust in him, even if they are sometimes insulted, excluded, hated, and rejected in this world because of their faith.

Sermon Topics:

1. Men will fail you
2. A heart set on other things will die
3. It is a blessing to trust in the LORD
4. Even in hard times you will be safe

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/how-can-you-call-this-blessed/
• Watch this sermon directly on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2VOOjc2TI0

Sermon Topics:

1. He shows us our unholiness
2. He cleanses us
3. He presents the opportunities

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/how-does-god-prepare-us-to-serve/
• Watch this sermon directly on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xuwRU3QGBY

Sermon Topics:

1. Gather to hear the Word
2. Take it into your homes
3. Bring your problems to God
4. Serving in God's kingdom
5. Test the message you hear
6. Embrace it, but don't hinder it
7. Hear the Word where it is preached

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/when-the-kingdom-of-god-comes-to-you-how-do-you-avoid-rejecting-it/
• Watch this sermon directly on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPp2y_l6xDQ

Sermon Overview: God has given spiritual gifts to all members of the invisible church of all believers according to what the visible churches need for their congregations and communities, so we should remember thank God for our gifts and use them to praise and glorify Him.

Sermon Topics:

1. Let the light of your faith shine
2. Give all glory to the Trinity
3. Faithfully use the gifts God has given to you

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/shine-with-the-radiance-of-christs-glory/
• Watch this sermon directly on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MeGhbWm3ptA

Sermon Overview: As we get into the season of Epiphany, we look at the baptism of our LORD and savior Jesus and see the many ways in which his baptism by John the Baptist was the same as, and different than, our own baptism.

Sermon Topics:

1. The same in that He received the Sacrament
2. Different in that He was not a sinner
3. The same in that He was baptized by a sinful human being
4. Different in that He would redeem us and He sends us the Holy Spirit
5. The same as an anointing into ministry
6. Different as an anointing into His public ministry

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/jesus-baptism-was-the-same-as-yours-but-different/
• Watch this sermon directly on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KEtdSk4tpaY

Sermon Topics:

1. He protects you so that you rejoice in Him
2. He blesses you so that you are shielded by His Favor

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/the-lord-will-be-your-refuge-throughout-the-new-year/

Sermon Topics:

1. It shows God's approval
2. He tented among us to make us His temple
3. It guides His people

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/the-glory-of-the-lord-is-revealed-in-his-tabernacle/
• Watch this sermon directly on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0uwtjj-sj4

Sermon Topics:

1. The glory of the LORD devours all that is not holy
2. The glory of the LORD mediated a covenant
3. The glory of the LORD did not devour Moses, nor does it devour us

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/the-glory-of-the-lord-is-revealed-like-a-devouring-fire/
• Watch this sermon directly on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awLcK-QvT_I

Sermon Topics:

1. By praying for each other
2. By working together in the good news of salvation
3. By keeping each other in our hearts and minds
4. By growing together in knowledge and discernment
5. By growing the fruits of righteousness together

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/advent-means-preparing-the-way-for-the-lord-together/

Sermon Topics:

1. God provides what is scientifically impossible
2. God appeared in humility when He came to save us

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/the-glory-of-the-lord-is-revealed-in-spite-of-our-grumbling/
• Watch this sermon directly on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rXfW08D8A0k

Sermon Overview: This Thanksgiving we are reminded that God created the Earth and everything in it for us, but everything we have belongs to him. On our own we are unholy and without Christ's blood cleansing us, we would be destroyed when we stand before God. So it is out of thanks that we make offerings of the time, talents, and treasures that God has given to us.

Sermon Topics:

1. He made you and He made the Earth to bless you
2. He cleansed you from sin by the blood of Christ
3. You are privileged to exercise stewardship over creation to glorify Him

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/give-thanks-to-the-lord-of-all-creation/
• Watch this sermon directly on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3E2sKDIMHU

Sermon Topics:

1. He is, has been, and always will be
2. He bought your citizenship into His kingdom
   • What your citizenship looks like
3. His reign will not be denied

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/christ-is-the-king-of-all-creation-revelation/
• Watch this sermon directly on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qI2Aw5rbeUk

Sermon Topics:

1. An eternity of wrath for unbelievers
2. An eternity of joy and freedom for believers
3. Evil will no longer bother believers

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/everything-culminates-in-judgment-day/
• Watch this sermon directly on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLUrfwQQ6fY

Sermon Topics:

1. It creates the love because it gives and strengthens faith
2. It gives true wisdom, insight, and discernment
3. It gives a life of sanctification
4. It makes the truth taste sweet

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/blessings-flow-from-loving-to-study-gods-word/
• Watch this sermon directly on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQ2CXdpNobU

Sermon Overview: We look at the account of King Uzziah’s sinful pride and death to learn that even when people have good intentions, if they act against God's instructions and the true teaching of the Bible, God will warn and discipline them.

Sermon Topics:

1. Do not forget that you are a steward of what God provides behind the scenes
2. Do not ignore the people whom God sends to warn you
   • God's warnings either crush our pride our invoke our wrath
3. Remember that God's discipline may be immediate or slow in coming
4. Know that God may allow the discipline to remain to keep us in His Word and warn others
5. Keep Christ before your eyes of faith

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/when-a-well-meaning-believer-thinks-they-know-better-than-god/
• Watch this sermon directly on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9dvEazH7bI

Sermon Topics:

1. Faithfully using the tools God uses to dispense His grace.
2. Faithfully embracing God's justice and righteousness.
3. Embracing God's truth even when it points out our sin.
4. Casting our suffering upon Him and letting Him take care of it.
5. Hating evil and growing the fruits that God says are good.

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/what-does-seeking-the-lord-and-having-life-look-like/
• Watch this sermon directly on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQGpWNSksW4

Sermon Topics:

1. Find out what the Bible really says
2. Find the context of what the Bible says
3. Find what the Bible says on the whole subject
4. Ask for further clarification
5. Remember that sin complicates everything
6. Understand the Law and the Gospel contradict and oppose each other
7. Trust what God's Word has to say

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/what-should-you-do-when-someone-asks-a-question-that-uses-the-bible-against/
• Watch this sermon directly on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTB7rJG4x3w

Sermon Overview: It is easy to see the world right now as tumultuous, given the many problems people are facing locally, nationally, and even globally. However, as Christians we know that Jesus promised we would bear crosses in our lives, and those crosses are often tests to show us where our faith is strong and where our faith is weak.

Sermon Topics:

1. Are you submitting to God?
2. Are you using the tools that dispense God's grace?
3. Are you repenting?
4. Are you showing your neighbor Christ's love?

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/are-you-being-christian-during-these-tumultuous-times/
• Watch this sermon directly on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6kQnrDtQrvo

Sermon Topics:

1. It is not the wisdom of this world
2. It comes from God
3. It is sown in you and produced through you

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/what-is-biblical-wisdom/
• Watch this sermon directly on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7WKcAzQB60

Sermon Overview: Pastor Schurman applies the "law of freedom" and the fact that "mercy triumphs over judgment" to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and how we as Christians should deal with it in our congregations and communities.

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/does-mercy-or-our-own-selfish-desire-triumph-among-us-as-we-deal-with-covid/
• Watch this sermon directly on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wixd1X0vQak

Sermon Topics:

1. He comes with his own comeuppance
2. He comes to heal from the ravages of sin
3. He comes with his life-giving water

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/jesus-christ-has-come-to-save-us/
• Watch this sermon directly on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7fTYGmE9rCs

Sermon Topics:

1. Do not take God's instructions (His Word) out of its context
2. Ways in which we add and subtract that mess with our salvation
3. We show Godly wisdom and understanding when we observe God's instructions

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/do-not-add-or-subtract-from-gods-instruction/
• Watch this sermon directly on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jUAShSfuajg

Sermon Overview: Without God's intervention we would most certainly serve false gods and idols. This is because our sinful nature causes us to not fear and love God above all things. However, when we struggle against our sinful nature and trust in Jesus for forgiveness and salvation, we are serving God.

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/how-do-we-serve-the-lord-without-blemish/
• Watch this sermon directly on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GuGDkVRRVMU

Sermon Overview: Jesus referred to himself as "the living bread which came down from heaven" and that whoever "eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life." (John 6:51a,54a). However, we are not to confuse this with Holy Communion, also known as the Lord's Supper. Rather, Jesus is telling us that he is the living Word of God, which we need to nourish our faith so that we may live forever in Heaven.

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/how-do-we-eat-this-genuine-bread-and-drink-this-genuine-drink/
• Watch this sermon directly on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4boNF0PADJM

Sermon Overview: Even when trying to do God's work, like sharing the Gospel with our friends and neighbors, we can find ourselves wondering why God did not cause it to work out the way we thought was right. We look at the prophet Elijah's experience when he became frustrated after his efforts in Israel appeared to be failing for guidance with our own endeavors.

Sermon Topics:

1. Remember that the Law does not convert
2. Head to the LORD by coming to His means of grace
3. Take it to the LORD in prayer
4. Patiently let the LORD provide

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/what-should-we-do-when-god-does-not-do-what-we-think-he-should-do/
• Watch this sermon directly on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NaR_MDkMeF8

Sermon Overview: We have a unity (a strong relationship) both with God and with our fellow believers because we are called through the good news of salvation in Christ. We should conduct our lives out of thankfulness for the holiness God credits to us by serving others with the gifts God has given to us.

Sermon Topics:

1. It is a unity proper to your calling
2. It is produced by our Triune God
3. It is served by a diversity of gifts

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/make-every-effort-to-keep-your-unity/
• Watch this sermon directly on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPJ7nSUPx2c

Sermon Overview: Jesus had compassion on the crowds of people who followed him and his disciples when they were trying to rest. Even though the people were primarily Jewish and considered themselves to be God's "chosen people," they were like sheep without a shepherd, and Jesus had compassion on them.

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/how-could-gods-chosen-people-be-like-sheep-without-a-shepherd/
• Watch this sermon directly on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbugflgKnRY

Sermon Overview: The instructions Jesus gave to the twelve disciples when he sent them out into the world provide us with great comfort when we do our own evangelism, especially for those times when what we are telling them could require a drastic change in their mindset regarding salvation.

Sermon Topics:

1. You are not alone
2. You have authority
3. You will be supported
4. Do not be selfish
5. You are to proclaim law and gospel
6. It usually takes patience and time

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/how-can-we-proclaim-a-complete-change-in-the-way-a-person-thinks/
• Watch this sermon directly on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xsE9QnhU8fw

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/why-do-christians-reject-so-much-about-christ/
• Watch this sermon directly on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AhKa6KChYQ0

Sermon Overview: In the United States of America we celebrate our many freedoms, especially today on July 4. But as grateful as we are for those freedoms, we often see corruption in our government and leaders. This corruption and concern is nothing new, as we find out from Psalm 82, which tells us that God still holds them accountable and reminds us that He is working through our government and leaders for our eternal benefit.

Sermon Topics:

1. They are accountable to God
2. God expects them to deliver justice
3. God expects them to know right from wrong
4. God expects them to represent him

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/how-can-god-be-working-through-such-corrupt-leaders/
• Watch this sermon directly on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgWgzDZ8V90

Sermon Overview: Like the disciples on the boat during the storm, we can often wonder if Jesus cares about the problems in our lives, with our friends, and even in our communities and countries. The truth is he cares so much that he lived and died for us, and as true God he is all knowing and all powerful, ruling over everything for our good.

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/lord-doesnt-it-bother-you-that-we-are-perishing/
• Watch this sermon directly on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7dngKFQvbqU

Sermon Overview: Jesus used parables of scattering seeds, plants growing, and harvesting crops to describe the kingdom of God. From those parables we understand that Christ's kingdom, which is God's rule in our hearts, and the invisible church, which is made up of all believers, grow through people proclaiming the Word of God. When everyone has come to faith according to God's plan, Christ will return to "harvest" the souls of all believers. We also see that the entire world, including unbelievers, benefit from the works of the invisible church.

Sermon Topics:

1. Misunderstandings about the soil and crop
2. It grows by the spread of the Word
3. Knowing how it grows, what can we compare it to?

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/how-does-christs-kingdom-grow/
• Watch this sermon directly on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDSiLy2bdXc

Sermon Overview: When reading through the Bible, it may seem like God is sometimes playing favorites with those who are saved and those who are not, especially those people who at times worked against Christ. However, through several parables Jesus explains the key differences between those people, and we see how it applies to us today.

Sermon Topics:

1. Some slander the name and work of the Holy Spirit, driving him away.
2. Others sin out of ignorance, but their new man is still (or will later be) present, so they do not drive the Holy Spirit away.
3. You are Christ's family through faith from the Holy Spirit.

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/why-were-some-of-those-working-against-christ-saved-and-others-damned/
• Watch this sermon directly on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykUhyLOcwPM

Sermon Topics:

1. Know the Word of God
2. Know the Law and its intent
3. Know the Gospel and its intent
4. Know who is LORD (it's not you)
5. When in doubt apply the Gospel
6. Find rest in the Word of God

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/rejecting-the-gospel-vs-rejecting-the-law/
• Watch this sermon directly on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18ry73aD9jQ

Sermon Overview: The Athanasian Creed, which was prepared to assist the Church in combating heresies in the church, declares that whoever rejects the doctrine of the Trinity and the doctrine of Christ is without the saving faith. But how do we know if we have that saving faith?

Sermon Topics:

1. You remain in the Father's love
2. You remain in the Son's salvation
3. You remain in the Holy Spirit's faith

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/you-remain-in-the-work-of-the-one-and-only-triune-god/
• Watch this sermon directly on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qdyEFUtekg

Sermon Topics:

1. To teach you God's Word
2. To remind you of God's Word
3. To give you God's peace

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/the-holy-spirit-has-been-called-to-stand-beside-you/
• Watch this sermon directly on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ky-3QYTjR54

Sermon Overview: Living the life of a Christian is not always joyous. In fact for some, like most of the disciples, there are times when it can be miserable. Yet in his "High Priestly Prayer" before his arrest, Jesus prayed for God the Father to give us his joy.

Sermon Topics:

1. You are are a citizen of Christ's kingdom
2. God keeps you in His name
3. You have God's Word
4. You have been set apart for God's work

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/how-do-you-have-christs-joy/
• Watch this sermon directly on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6IJkWEwnUL0

Sermon Topics:

1. Jesus changed your status and assures you with the information you need
2. Jesus chose you and gave you a purpose
3. You show your friendship by remaining in him and showing his love
4. Jesus empowers you
5. Jesus fills you with joy

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/how-is-jesus-your-friend-and-how-are-you-his-friend/
• Watch this sermon directly on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bds63-fIPM8

Sermon Overview: We are connected to Christ Jesus like branches are connected to the vine. Through that connection God blesses us and rules for our good. We not only praise him and hold him in reverent awe, but we even reflect his glory in our daily lives.

Sermon Topics:

1. God blesses you
2. You reflect his glory
3. He gives you reasons to praise him
4. God blesses you so you hold him in reverence

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/connected-to-christ-you-praise-god/
• Watch this sermon directly on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEPbTjIczXc

Sermon Overview: We may not like to admit it, but we are powerless to save ourselves from an eternity in Hell. So we rejoice knowing that Jesus is the Good Shepherd who protects us from the Devil, like a shepherd protects his sheep from wolves.

Sermon Topics:

1. He is the Good Shepherd
2. He knows you like no other
3. You know him and hear his voice
4. He has authority and power to shepherd you

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/you-are-jesus-little-lamb/
• Watch this sermon directly on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LoJeXwJ7ubw

Sermon Topics:

1. He has delivered you
2. He is your power
3. He is your life
4. He is your righteousness

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/praise-the-lord-for-he-is-good/
• Watch this sermon directly on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_pQPm9SZJWc

Sermon Overview: Jesus gave the binding and loosing keys to the church after his resurrection when he appeared to the disciples and other believers. We use the binding key (the Law) when someone is embracing a sin to show them they are damned to Hell and need a savior, and we use the loosing key (the Gospel) when they repent to forgive them of that sin and tell them Jesus is their savior.

Sermon Topics:

1. He has empowered you with His peace to help you if you face persecution
2. He has equipped you with the Holy Spirit, the Word of God, and the Sacraments
3. He has defined the work (Law & Gospel) so you know when and how to use each key

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/christ-has-commissioned-you-with-his-keys/
• Watch this sermon directly on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2J_aRBGI_uM

Sermon Overview: This Easter we look not just at Jesus' resurrection, but also the resurrection of many believers who were already entombed when he gave up his spirit on the cross. These resurrections are proof of the victory Christ won over sin and death, and they show us that, for believers, death is merely a sleep for the body.

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/seen-when-the-tombs-were-opened-and-many-were-raised-to-life/
• Watch this sermon directly on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ff-bRHrkzhI

Sermon Overview: We see yet another glimpse of Jesus' divine glory in his death on the cross and the conversion of the centurion. Sinners are converted to believe they are not righteous -- but Christ is, and he is the true son of God -- ultimately leading them to confess their faith.

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/seen-when-christs-death-converts-sinners/
• Watch this sermon directly on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q09i7irYEK4

Sermon Overview: We see a glimpse of Jesus' divine glory when he institutes the Lord's Supper (also known as Holy Communion). It is a miracle that only God can bring about, given purely as a blessing for those that truly believe it, and because it is God's word, we hold tightly to it.

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/seen-when-he-institutes-his-last-will-and-testament/
• Watch this sermon directly on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5UquGIUEaQ

Sermon Topics:

1. Save us from our unrighteousness
2. Save us from false foundations
3. Save us from our grumblings
4. Save us from holding anything above God

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/we-pray-hosanna-o-lord-please-save-us/
• Watch this sermon directly on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aRTWBzDnlAc

Sermon Overview: When Jesus died on the cross, the temple curtain, which was the barrier to the most sacred part of the temple, was torn apart. Through the tearing of the curtain we see that Jesus is the High Priest and we are priests, so we have direct access to God and Christ is our intercessor. Jesus' death also got rid of the Old Covenant and brought us into the New Covenant.

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/seen-when-the-barrier-to-the-holiest-of-holies-was-torn-in-two/
• Watch this sermon directly on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bTlKXvENyw4

Sermon Overview: The old covenant, which was given to the people of Israel in the Old Testament, was never meant to save anyone, so God gave us the new covenant. While the new covenant can be summarized as the good news of salvation in Christ, it is important to note that God has done all of the work for our salvation.

Sermon Topics:

1. It gives blessings so that we follow it
2. It makes us faithful (like in a marriage)
3. It creates an internal change in us
4. It turns us into spiritually mature people
5. It is God's purity forgiving our sins

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/what-is-the-new-covenant/
• Watch this sermon directly on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWPiNXr7IyQ

Sermon Overview: For three hours while Jesus hung dying on the cross, there was a supernatural darkness that covered all the land. This miraculous event is tremendous proof of Jesus' deity, as it shows the impending death of the one who spoke "Let there be light" during creation, and it shows God the father judging his innocent son in place of all mankind.

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/seen-in-the-darkness-before-christs-death/
• Watch this sermon directly on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WR8P4AOMBa8

Sermon Overview: Jesus used the object lesson of Moses and the bronze serpent to teach Nicodemus that faith is obedience to God. Three years later after Jesus' death on the cross, Nicodemus clung in faith to Jesus as his savior.

Sermon Topics:

1. Obedience to look at the serpent and be healed
2. Obedience to look to Christ for forgiveness and salvation
3. Obedience to confess our sins and know they are forgiven
4. Obedience to see God's fruit in ourselves

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/faith-is-obedience-to-god/
• Watch this sermon directly on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGIw35BKpdM

Sermon Overview: While hanging a cross beside Jesus, a dying criminal makes a true confession of faith. Jesus then promised and assured the criminal that he was going to Heaven when he died. It is through that confession and promise we get another glimpse of Jesus' full glory and deity.

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/seen-by-the-penitent-criminal/
• Watch this sermon directly on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xuLfe3q6_XM

Sermon Overview: Jesus' words and actions from when he first cleansed the temple are often misunderstood. It may seem like he was being excessive, or that he was being elusive when answering those who questioned him. However, we should use this account to remind ourselves that God is serious about sin and will not have the church distracted from his saving purpose. We should also remember that the true temple is the invisible church of all believers.

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/why-the-commotion-and-the-seemingly-elusive-answer/
• Watch this sermon directly on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFPT91_-6s4

Sermon Overview: During Jesus' trial at the Sanhedrin, Pilate's wife is given a prophetic dream, which causes her suffering and leads her to warn her husband to leave Jesus alone. Her warning reveals Christ's true righteousness and makes it clear that he is the standard by which God measures all people. We also recognize God has given us an invitation to trust in Jesus as our savior, since we don't measure up to that standard on our own.

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/seen-through-pilates-wife/
• Watch this sermon directly on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EW3dLvE8MTQ

Sermon Overview: Jesus explained that he would die on the cross and then rise again, but Peter did not understand and initially rejected what Jesus said. Jesus rebuked Peter and then told his followers to take up their crosses and follow him. That message applies to us today, but if, like Peter, we don't understand the crosses in our lives, we may reject them.

Sermon Topics:

1. Jesus' cross was for your salvation
2. Your crosses are for your sinful nature

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/crosses-are-for-torturing-to-death/
• Watch this sermon directly on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZFbDppcXKc

Sermon Overview: After Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, the chief priests made their decision to kill Jesus. After they captured him, they brought him into the Sanhedrin and questioned him, looking for reasons to have him put to death. Jesus' answers serve as both a declaration of his deity and as a prophecy of his eternal rule in Heaven.

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/seen-by-christs-declaration-and-by-prophecy/
• Watch this sermon directly on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YG11_aS3qVk

Sermon Overview: When God told Abraham to sacrifice his son, Isaac, it was not for God's knowledge or benefit, but for Abraham's. While the tests and hardships we encounter may not be as intense as Abraham's, we know that God uses them for our good to strengthen our faith and demonstrate to us just how strong our faith is.

Sermon Topics:

1. When it seems like he is contradicting his blessings, it is so that we trust there is no contradiction in him.
2. When we are confronted with difficulty, it is so that we trust he will see to it.
3. God even sees to it that we can return thanks.
4. God sees to it that his Word reaffirms our faith.

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/god-tests-us-to-strengthen-our-faith/
• Watch this sermon directly on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPSZ946I4Fk

Sermon Overview: Jesus repelled his captors in the garden with just the words "I am he," giving us a glimpse of his divine power and glory. In this sermon we learn the importance of this act and how it applies to us and Christians everywhere.

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/seen-in-christs-act-of-repelling-his-captors/
• Watch this sermon directly on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGO5ye40eQc

Sermon Topics:

1. The Law is a ministry that brings death. The Gospel is a ministry that brings the Spirit.
2. The Law is a ministry that brings condemnation. The Gospel is a ministry that brings righteousness.
3. The Law is a fading glory. The Gospel is an everlasting glory.

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/which-is-more-glorious/
• Watch this sermon directly on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWwE-G1ACFc

Sermon Overview: God often puts hardship in our lives, and, just like Job, we often can't help but wonder why. As Christians we must remember that God works all things for our good. One such way he does this is by using hardships to help us remember that our lives in this sinful world are temporary, and that we will spend eternity with God in Heaven.

Sermon Topics:

1. So that you do not get attached to this decaying world
2. So that you understand how short life is
3. So that your soul is restless until it finds rest in God

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/the-hidden-god-uses-hardship-to-change-your-perspective-on-life/
• Watch this sermon directly on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mx2NKYWaPbE

Sermon Overview: When Jesus was teaching in the synagogue, the people there were amazed because he taught with authority. Unlike the so-called experts of the law, or false prophets that have come and gone, Jesus spoke the true Word of God, as only God could do. We see Jesus is the one true prophet of God and examine how he serves as a mediator for us.

Sermon Topics:

1. He is the mediator between God and man
2. He mediates the new Covenant

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/jesus-is-the-prophet-of-god/
• Watch this sermon directly on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DO1aUhVb3M4

Sermon Overview: When we spread the good news of free salvation in Jesus Christ to our friends, family, neighbors, and coworkers, we are fishers of men and women. However, just like with regular fishing, we must understand there is an investment required, and we must understand how to use the tools we have been given.

Sermon Topics:

1. Know the investment
2. Know the tools

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/jesus-makes-you-a-fisher-of-men/
• Watch this sermon directly on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uy_5nuP0uxw

Sermon Overview: We have the great news of salvation through Jesus Christ, but sometimes we find ourselves struggling to share it with others. Even when talking with friends, we can upset them just by telling them they need a savior. We can look at the apostle Philip's evangelism to Nathanael for help and comfort when we do our own evangelism.

Sermon Topics:

1. Invite them to God's Word
2. Know that you are not alone
3. Let God's Word do the work

Related Links:

• WELS This We Believe
• The Complete People's Bible Set

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/how-do-you-evangelize-your-friends/
• Watch this sermon directly on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKKMRFH-HMc

Sermon Overview: Jesus' baptism, which is when he was visibly anointed, serves many purposes for our benefit. Most importantly, it makes it abundantly clear that he is the king of all creation, and he is true God who became true man to save us.

Sermon Topics:

1. To make known that he is the Savior and the king of all creation
2. To make known to his enemies who will destroy them
3. To tell you who rules for you
4. To tell governments who they represent and serve
5. To tell us who to turn to for refuge

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/why-was-jesus-baptized/
• Watch this sermon directly on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJweqIVxBGY

Sermon Overview: When people see Jesus as just a child in the manger, or just a man dying on a cross, or just a wise man with teachings of kindness, they deny his deity. Other people deny him as their savior outright, including Christians whose beliefs fall into legalism or antinomianism.

Sermon Topics:

1. Some miss the deity
2. Some deny him outright

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/jesus-reveals-the-thoughts-of-our-hearts/

Sermon Overview: Like Simeon when he held the baby Jesus, we can boast about our Savior and the salvation he brought. We do this by reading and hearing God's Word, by living our lives as Christians, and by sharing the good news of our LORD's incarnation with our friends, family, neighbors, and coworkers.

Sermon Topics:

1. It is a miraculous work
2. It is a work of grace and compassion
3. It is revealed in his Word

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/boast-in-the-incarnation-of-our-lord/

Sermon Topics:

1. He brings light
2. He brings joy
3. He brings freedom
4. He brings peace
5. He brings an everlasting kingdom

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/christ-the-savior-is-born/

Sermon Overview: The fourth candle on the Advent wreath which we light is the Angel candle. God sent angels to deliver the messages of Jesus' birth, and they will take part in delivering the message of Jesus' return. We know their messages are from God because angels appearing in all their glory is a miracle in and of itself.

Sermon Topics:

1. They provided the special announcement that the LORD was incarnate
2. They will be part of the special announcement that the LORD has returned
3. Yet, God still sends sinners like you and I to proclaim the good news of our Savior

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/the-angel-candle/

Sermon Overview: The third candle on the Advent wreath which we light is the Shepherds' candle because God first gave the good news of our savior's birth to shepherds. We see the significance in that because Jesus is the shepherd of all Christians, and because the shepherds were average people who would effectively spread the good news to others.

Sermon Topics:

1. Shepherds because the Good Shepherd has been born
2. Shepherds because they would call out to God's sheep
3. Shepherds because they would return to their work

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/the-shepherds-candle/

Sermon Overview: Using the prophet Isaiah God tells us how great the new of our savior's coming is. Just like the Israelite facing the persecution from and slavery to the Babylonians, we can face our struggles and afflictions in peace because we have that good news of our salvation through Jesus. We also see how this news still applies today even in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sermon Topics:

1. Great news for those enslaved by sin
2. Great news that he turns our mourning into joy
3. Great news that he has dressed us in his righteousness
4. Great news that his righteousness sprouts forth in front of all nations

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/the-messiah-has-been-anointed-to-bring-good-news/

Sermon Overview: The second candle on the Advent wreath which we light reminds us that God, through the prophets of the Old Testament, even revealed where the savior would be born. We continue to see how God preserved the lineage for Jesus to be born according to the prophecies. His humble birth in Bethlehem reminds us that he came to save all mankind, and even though he is king of all creation, his true throne is in our hearts.

Sermon Topics:

1. Prophecy fulfilled
2. The birthplace of a king, but not his capital city

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/the-bethlehem-candle/

Sermon Overview: Through the prophet Isaiah God explained his plan to bring salvation to the world, and we find comfort in knowing that prophecy was fulfilled in Christ Jesus. Furthermore, we should spread this comfort to both our fellow Christians and the rest of the world by sharing the good news of forgiveness and salvation.

Sermon Topics:

1. Our crosses have an end
2. The LORD has prepared for us to see His glory
3. God's Word stands forever
4. God is your Good Shepherd

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/you-have-great-news-of-wonderful-comfort/

Sermon Overview: The first candle on the Advent wreath which we light was originally called the Prophecy Candle. We follow the prophecy of God becoming true man and the prophecy of how his life and death would save us, as they are recorded throughout the Old Testament and the Gospel Books of the New Testament.

Sermon Topics:

1. Prophecy that true God would become true man to save us
2. Prophecy that explains how God would save us

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/the-prophecy-candle/

Sermon Overview: Jesus told us that no one knows when he will come again, but still he instructed us to keep watch and be ready for his return. Unfortunately, today many people, even who profess to be believers in Christ, do not. But we can keep watch by being aware of what we cannot know, by hearing and reading God's Word, by using our spiritual gifts for God's glory, and by using the binding and loosing keys when reaching out to others.

Sermon Topics:

1. Know what you cannot know
2. Hear His Word
3. Use your gifts
4. Use the binding and losing keys

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/how-do-you-keep-watch-for-the-return-of-the-king/

Sermon Overview: Even though we are still facing the COVID-19 pandemic and all of the hardships it has brought, we can always give thanks to the LORD our God because he is our refuge, our strength, and our help in distress.

Sermon Topics:

1. O give thanks to the LORD because he is our refuge
2. O give thanks to the LORD because he is our strength
3. O give thanks to the LORD because he is our help in distress

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/o-give-thanks-to-the-lord/

Sermon Overview: Before he was crucified, Jesus was mocked and ridiculed, and even today people around the world mock and ridicule both him and his teachings. Because of all of that, it may be hard to see him as a king, let alone the king of all creation. Through the first epistle to the Corinthians, however, we see how and where he is ruling today, and we know how and where he will rule on the Last Day.

Sermon Topics:

1. For now he rules in his kingdom of grace.
2. For now he rules in his kingdom of power.
3. On the Last Day he will always rule in his kingdom of glory.

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/how-does-christ-rule-as-king/

Sermon Overview: Christians today are often persecuted or ridiculed, and it may seem like God is not paying attention. However, God is still in control, and he still keeps his enemies in line and uses them for our benefit. We look to God's use of the prophet Isaiah and the Babylonians before, during, and after they conquered Jerusalem to see this in action.

Sermon Topics:

1. God delivers his people from his enemies
2. God uses his enemies for his people
3. There is no good reason for being God’s enemy
4. God keeps ruling for his people

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/how-does-god-still-say-to-his-enemies-just-who-do-you-think-you-are/

Sermon Overview: Throughout history there have been many governments, leaders, and judges, all of which were flawed and did not always provide true justice. However, our final judgment will be performed by God, and his judgment is perfect. While that is terrifying for non-believers, it is very comforting for believers.

Sermon Topics:

1. A judge who gets the last word
2. A judge who is not "wet behind the ears"
3. A judge who is righteous
4. A judge who is all knowing, all present, and all powerful
5. A judge who removes sin
6. A judge who uses the evidence

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/what-kind-of-judge-will-judge-you/

Sermon Overview: Jesus instructed the disciples to be as "shrewd as snakes and innocent as doves" when he was sending them into the world, and still today this applies to Christians everywhere. We look at Martin Luther during the Reformation and the apostles for guidance and examples to help us be on guard and witness to others.

Sermon Topics:

1. By knowing what being sharp-witted is and where it is from
2. By knowing what purity is and where it is from
3. Examples of being sharp-witted and pure among the wolves

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/how-can-we-be-as-sharp-witted-as-snakes-and-as-pure-as-doves/

Sermon Overview: Jesus told the Parable of the Wicked Tenants to the chief priests and the Pharisees and ended it by telling them "the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that produces its fruit." However, we can apply this parable to ourselves, since, as members of the priesthood of all believers, we are the ones that produce the fruits of faith.

Sermon Topics:

1. Do you see that God has provided all that is needed for the fruit he desires?
2. Do you know that unreasonable sin receives unreasonable grace?
3. Do you know that his grace has its limits?
4. Is Christ the cornerstone for you?

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/what-kind-of-tenant-farmer-are-you/

Sermon Overview: Everyone begins "stuck to the couch" and unwilling to do God's work due to our sinful nature. However, through faith we eventually "get off the couch" and go to work spreading the good news of salvation to the world.

Sermon Topics:

1. All refuse to get off the couch.
2. Repentance and faith respect Christ’s authority.

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/which-type-of-couch-potato-are-you/

Sermon Overview: The apostle Paul encourages us to conduct ourselves in a way that is worthy of the gospel of Christ, but what does that mean, and how do we do it? It means that we should exercise our heavenly citizenship, and in order to that we must know what the gospel of Christ is, which requires us to be anchored in the Word of God.

Sermon Topics:

1. It is exercising your heavenly citizenship
2. By knowing what is the gospel of Christ
3. Through being anchored in the Word of God

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/how-do-you-conduct-yourself-in-a-way-that-is-worthy-of-the-gospel-of-christ/

Sermon Overview: There are many things in our lives that are neither commanded nor forbidden by Scripture; we call these "adiaphoron," meaning middle or indifferent things. Yet it is often in and around these things that we sin against our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Sermon Topics:

1. Do not judge our thanks to God
2. Whether living or dying we belong to the LORD

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/watch-out-for-each-other-in-indifferent-matters/

Sermon Overview: As members of the priesthood of all believers, we are not necessarily called to be prophets like Ezekiel. However, we are called to be on the watch for our friends, family members, and neighbors and to warn them when they are in spiritual danger.

Sermon Topics:

1. You listen to His Word.
2. You are held accountable.
3. You warn against perversions, rebellions, and sins against God's will.
4. You rejoice in the turning from death to life.

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/you-are-gods-watchman/

Sermon Overview: We know from scriptures that the sacrifices given in the times of the Old Testament did not live; the animals were killed either just before or during the sacrifice. So how can we offer our bodies and our lives as sacrifices to God and still remain alive?

Sermon Topics:

1. We do it through God's undeserved gifts of faith and salvation
2. We do it through the means of grace (baptism, Holy Communion, reading the Bible)
3. We do it by knowing our part in God's body (the invisible church of all believers)
4. We do it by using our God-given gifts to serve others the same way He serves us

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/how-do-you-offer-your-bodies-as-a-living-sacrifice/

Sermon Overview: We look at the Psalm that David wrote about his deliverance (by God) after fleeing for his life, and through it we see the many reasons why we magnify (praise) God's name and how we go about doing it.

Sermon Topics:

1. Why do you magnify Gods Name?
2. How do you magnify Gods Name?

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/why-and-how-do-you-magnify-gods-name/

Sermon Overview: When a Canaanite woman begged Jesus to help her (by removing the demon that was tormenting her daughter), it seems like Jesus ignored and insulted her. However, he was actually strengthening her faith and preparing her for future hardships through this encounter. Our faith enables us to cling to his promise and know that he isn't ignoring us; rather, he answers our pleas and cares for us according to what is best for us.

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/why-does-the-gracious-lord-ignore-our-plea/

Sermon Overview: Have you ever experienced burnout or frustration when serving the LORD's Church? Even the prophet Elijah struggled with this after confronting and removing the prophets of the false god Baal. But we must remember that our work in the LORD is never in vain.

Sermon Topics:

1. Do not confuse the work of the Law with the Gospel.
2. God leaves no sin unpunished.
3. The effects of the gospel cannot always be seen.

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/our-work-in-the-lord-is-not-in-vain/

Sermon Overview: Many people have likely heard the saying "there's no such thing as a free meal," but the salvation that Jesus won for us actually is a free meal, and it is truly the only one that matters.

Sermon Topics:

1. It is eternally nourishing
2. It is the bread of life from Heaven

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/the-one-free-lunch-is-the-only-meal-that-matters/

Sermon Overview: As we look to the End of Times, we do not need to be afraid. We have already been judged righteous because of our faith, so we know God is taking us to Heaven upon our death or on the Last Day.

Sermon Topics:

1. God's court
2. God's harvest
3. God's creation
4. God's fortress

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/do-not-be-afraid-the-battle-is-not-yours-it-is-gods/

Sermon Topics:

1. The Word in conversion
2. The Word after conversion
3. The Word into eternity

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/gods-word-always-has-an-effect/

Sermon Overview: When Martin Luther wrote his explanation for the Third Commandment ("Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy") he explained: "We should fear and love God so that we do not despise preaching nor His Word, but gladly hear, learn, and obey it."

Sermon Topics:

1. It's about worship
2. The LORD gives you rest

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/how-does-this-commandment-apply-to-us-today/

Sermon Overview: How can you deal with a false teacher, especially when you wish their false teachings were actually true? We can look to the words of the prophet Jeremiah as he rebuked the false prophet Hananiah.

Sermon Topics:

1. Confess when you wish it were so
2. Line it up with the Scriptures
3. Be patient and God will reveal it
4. Publicly rebuke false teachings made publicly

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/how-can-you-tell-a-false-teacher-when-you-wish-it-were-so/

Sermon Overview: Even today we may face opposition or persecution when proclaiming your faith in Jesus, but we should not let that stop us because God is control; He is working to both keep us in His salvation and to help us spread His message.

Sermon Topics:

1. God is in control
   • He uses persecution to show He is your LORD and teacher
   • He has made salvation simple and public
   • You are precious to Him
2. He will confess you

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/how-can-you-boldly-confess-christ/

Sermon Topics:

1. God does the carrying
2. We must listen carefully to His Word
3. God makes us a treasured people
4. God makes us priests
5. God makes us a holy nation

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/how-did-the-old-covenant-foreshadow-the-new/

Sermon Overview: Just like Hosea loved his unfaithful wife, we see how God loves us even through our unfaithfulness to Him, and we thank Him for both the discipline He gives us and the mercy He shows us.

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/didnt-god-order-sacrifice/

Sermon Overview: God's blessings come from keeping his Word in your heart, soul, work, and mind.

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/what-blessings-come-from-keeping-gods-word/

Sermon Topics:

1. Those who believe it are saved
2. Three unified persons, but only one God
3. One eternal and infinite God
4. One Almighty God and LORD
5. One coequal and co-eternal God

The Athanasian Creed (Part A):

Whoever wishes to be saved must, above all else, hold to the true Christian faith. Whoever does not keep this faith pure in all points will certainly perish forever.

Now this is the true Christian faith:

We worship one God in three persons and three persons in one God, without mixing the persons or dividing the divine being.

For each person—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit—is distinct, but the deity of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is one, equal in glory and co-eternal in majesty.

What the Father is, so is the Son, and so is the Holy Spirit.

The Father is uncreated, the Son uncreated, the Holy Spirit uncreated; the Father is infinite, the Son infinite, the Holy Spirit infinite; the Father is eternal, the Son eternal, the Holy Spirit eternal; yet they are not three who are eternal, but there is one who is eternal, just as they are not three who are uncreated, nor three who are infinite, but there is one who is uncreated and one who is infinite.

In the same way the Father is almighty, the Son is almighty, the Holy Spirit is almighty; yet they are not three who are almighty, but there is one who is almighty.

So the Father is God, the Son is God, the Holy Spirit is God; yet they are not three Gods, but one God.

So the Father is Lord, the Son is Lord, the Holy Spirit is Lord; yet they are not three Lords, but one Lord.

For just as Christian truth compels us to confess each person individually to be God and Lord, so the true Christian faith forbids us to speak of three Gods or three Lords.

The Father is neither made nor created nor begotten of anyone.

The Son is neither made nor created, but is begotten of the Father alone.

The Holy Spirit is neither made nor created nor begotten, but proceeds from the Father and the Son.

So there is one Father, not three Fathers; one Son, not three Sons; one Holy Spirit, not three Holy Spirits.

And within this Trinity none comes before or after; none is greater or inferior, but all three persons are coequal and co-eternal, so that in every way, as stated before, all three persons are to be worshiped as one God and one God worshiped as three persons.

Whoever wishes to be saved must have this conviction of the Trinity.

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/we-confess-the-trinity-in-the-athanasian-creed/

Sermon Overview: The Holy Spirit stands at your side and helps you by convincing (believers) and convicting (unbelievers) the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment.

Sermon Topics:

1. The Holy Spirit convinces and convicts the world of sin.
2. The Holy Spirit convinces and convicts the world of righteousness.
3. The Holy Spirit convinces and convicts the world of judgment.

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/the-holy-spirit-stands-at-your-side-and-helps-you/

Sermon Overview: Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer teaches us how we glorify God: know that Jesus is true God who became true man in order to save us.

Sermon Topics:

1. Know what eternal life is
2. Know God's Word
3. Know the world

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/how-do-you-glorify-god/

Sermon Overview: We apply Psalm 66 (entitled "How Awesome Are Your Deeds!") to the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic in order to remind ourselves that God is in control, working all things for our benefit.

Sermon Topics:

1. It is subject to Him
2. He makes it serve His people
3. He allows it to refine His people
4. So return thanks to God
5. Know He answers your prayers and gives you mercy

Visit our Coronavirus (COVID-19) page for additional sermons and prayers.

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/praise-the-lord-for-the-coronavirus/

Sermon Overview: Jesus is the cornerstone (the core piece of a building's foundation) upon which the Christian church -- composed of all believers -- is built. All believers within the Christian church are also priests, proclaiming the good news of salvation and doing good works (including making sacrifices and serving others) out of thanks.

Sermon Topics:

1. You are living stones on the Living Stone
2. You are priest through the High Priest

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/god-has-made-you-into-his-temple-and-priesthood/

Sermon Overview: The Apostle Peter's message to slaves, encouraging them to submit to their masters, teaches us how and why we are to bear the injustices that come into our lives.

Sermon Topics:

1. Empowered by God's Grace
2. Empowered by the Good Shepherd

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/how-can-you-bear-injustice/

Sermon Overview: Until Christ returns we are to live in reverence of him, knowing we are redeemed by him, and we are to put our hope in him.

Note: Full Revelation refers to the final revelation, the Last Day when Christ will no longer be hidden at all.

1. Live being turned right-side up
2. Live as redeemed children of God
3. Live with your faith and hope in God

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/how-shall-we-live-while-waiting-for-the-full-revelation-of-christ/

Sermon Overview: When we face pain and trials in our lives, like with the current COVID-19 pandemic, we can be thankful that scripture does not end with the uncertainty of Thomas; instead, we have been given assurances of heaven, and we know that God uses the pain and trials for our benefit.

Sermon Topics:

1. You would not know about your heavenly birth and treasure.
2. You would not have great joy even in painful trials.

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/what-if-scripture-ended-with-the-uncertainty-of-thomas/

Sermon Overview: Jesus rose from the dead, just as he said he would, and his empty tomb shows us one of the Ironies of the Passion.

Sermon Topics:

1. Ironic unbelief from such grateful hearts
2. Ironic display of power
3. Ironic terror for some and comfort for others
4. Ironic messengers

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/an-empty-tomb-receives-visitors/

Sermon Overview: The chief priests and Pharisees efforts to "guard" Jesus' tomb shows us one of the Ironies of the Passion.

Sermon Topics:

1. Irony in who is the real deceiver.
2. Irony that their security became God’s proof.

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/he-said-i-will-rise-again/

Sermon Overview: Paul's letter to the Corinthians shows us ironies in how people treat the Lord's Supper (a.k.a. Holy Communion).

Sermon Topics:

1. Irony that it is a last will and testament, yet people change the words and break the covenant.
2. Irony that it is for Godly hunger, but people turn it into a worldly hunger.
3. Irony that it gives Godly Wisdom, yet it is twisted by worldly wisdom.

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/ironies-in-the-lords-supper/

Sermon Overview: Jesus humbling himself as a servant to save mankind, which the Apostle Paul explains in his letter to the Philippians, shows us one of the Ironies of the Passion.

Sermon Topics:

1. Irony that he is greeted as a king but comes as a servant
2. Irony that his service wins his Majesty

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/our-savior-rides-gloriously-into-jerusalem/

Sermon Overview: The Holy Spirit uses the mockery and insults directed at Jesus to convert one of the criminals being hung with Jesus, showing us one of the Ironies of the Passion.

Sermon Topics:

1. Irony that the gospel came from the mouth of mockers.
2. Irony that one sinner admonishes another.

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/dont-you-fear-god/

Sermon Overview: Be confident that the LORD hears your prayers because He loves you and made (and already kept) a promise to save you. Embrace God's Word and share the good news with others out of love and thankfulness.

Sermon Topics:

1. Call on the name of the LORD
2. Be at Peace for God is good to you
3. Return thanks for all God’s goodness

Pastor Schurman's translation of Psalm 116:3 from the original Hebrew: The cords of death entangled me, and the straits (tight squeeze) of the grave found me, and I keep on finding grief.

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/be-at-peace-the-lord-hears-your-prayers/

Sermon Overview: The manipulative claims of the chief priests, which led Pilate to hand Jesus over to be crucified, show us one of the Ironies of the Passion: corrupt churches and corrupt governments submit to each other.

Sermon Topics:

1. A corrupt church ironically submits to a corrupt government.
2. A corrupt government ironically submits to a corrupt church.

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/we-have-no-king-but-caesar/

Sermon Overview: Jesus explains to the disciples that he came to serve, not to be served. His death and resurrection set us free from our sinful nature. Because we have been set free, we serve others our of love and thankfulness, and we share with them the joy of salvation.

Sermon Topics:

1. Know the cup Christ drank; it set you free.
2. Know the cup Christ gives you to drink; he calls you to share his love.

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/how-can-you-drink-of-the-cup-of-servitude/

Sermon Overview: Herod's expectations for finally meeting Jesus, and his subsequent actions, show us one of the Ironies of the Passion.

Sermon Topics:

1. He hoped to see a miracle but saw the hidden God.
2. He was shown the Savior but choose entertainment.
3. He became a strange bedfellow with Pilate.

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/he-had-been-wanting-to-see-jesus/

Sermon Overview: We learn from Jesus giving sight to the blind man why God allows negative things to come into our lives (like the current Coronavirus Disease COVID-19 pandemic) and how He uses them for our good and for the good of others.

Sermon Topics:

1. So that we can see God's glory
2. So that we can see that "seeing" is not believing
3. So that we can see that Jesus is the Son of God and Son of Man, and therefor he is our savior

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/jesus-gives-sight-to-the-blind/

Sermon Overview: The chief priests and elders planned to arrest and kill Jesus, but they wanted to avoid doing it during the festival of the Passover, showing us one of the Ironies of the Passion.

Sermon Topics:

1. A festival of deliverance from tyranny
2. A festival about the Lamb of God

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/not-during-the-festival/

Sermon Overview: Jesus evangelizes to the Samaritan woman at Jacob's well, showing the need for a savior and then revealing that he is the savior.

Note: Jesus is the Living Water

1. He creates a thirst by showing us sinners that we need a savior.
2. He bubbles up into eternal life, causing us to overflow with jor and share the good news of salvation.

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/the-living-water-flows-to-the-unclean/

Sermon Overview: The words of Caiaphas and the Pharisees in the Sanhedrin, which lead to their plotting of Jesus' murder, show us one of the Ironies of the Passion.

Sermon Topics:

1. Irony in thinking their sin would serve God.
2. Irony that God made their sin serve His grace.

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/it-is-better-that-one-man-die-for-the-people/

Sermon Overview: We examine the temptation of Eve and Adam in the Garden of Eden, and compare it to the temptation of Jesus in the desert, so that we can learn the Devil's lies and be prepared for them.

Do You Know the Devil’s Lies?

1. He lies by adding or subtracting just one word.
2. He lies by calling God a liar.
3. He lies by claiming God is withholding from you.

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/did-god-really-say/

Sermon Overview: The parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector shows us one of the Ironies of the Passion.

Sermon Topics:

1. The man who "deserved" it did not receive it.
2. The man who did not deserve it did receive it.

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/this-man-went-home-justified/

Sermon Overview: Not only do the Heavenly Hosts praise the LORD, but so does all of creation. We praise the LORD because He is our savior.

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/as-we-say-farewell-to-alleluia-boastfully-praise-the-lord/

Sermon Overview: Just as the people of Israel were given a choice -- allow God to deliver them into the promised land or perish in the desert -- we also have a choice: true life, which is eternal life in the salvation of God, or true death, which is a sinful life in this world.

Sermon Topics:

1. Know your options
2. Beware of the dangers
3. Know how to keep your choice

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/which-are-you-choosing/

Sermon Overview: You let your light shine by knowing your righteousness, which is Christ's righteousness that has been given to you. You show people they are unrighteous but have been offered free salvation from Jesus Christ. You know your good works and know you don't do them to save yourself but because you love God the Father and they bring glory to Him.

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/how-do-you-let-your-light-shine/

Sermon Topics:

1. He chooses the foolish to shame the wise
2. He is our wisdom and salvation

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/boast-in-to-and-for-the-glory-of-god/

Note: Christ is the Light that exposes the lies, mistakes, and sins that obscure our salvation, and then removes them.

1. Unity in confession, mindset, and decision
2. Unity in proclaiming the indivisible Light

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/you-are-called-into-unity-with-the-light/

Sermon Overview: Through fellowship with the Lamb of God you have holiness, giftedness, and eternalness.

You have been called into holiness (verses 1-3) because His blood makes you clean, and He has set you apart to be one of His priests who share the good news of salvation through Christ.

You have been called into giftedness (verses 4-7); each one of us has different and unique gifts -- both natural and spiritual, and God pulls us into a congregation so that together you can share that good news of salvation through Christ.

You have been called into eternalness (verses 8-9) through fellowship with the Lamb of God, so you are guaranteed a place before the throne of God for all eternity.

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/you-have-been-called-into-fellowship-with-the-lamb/

Sermon Topics:

1. See the kingly glory of the groom
2. See the glory He has given to His bride
3. See the glory He has given to His children

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/as-we-celebrate-the-anointing-of-our-lord/

Sermon Topics:

1. Praise the LORD for electing you to His grace.
2. Pray for a spirit of wisdom and revelation.

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/as-our-christmas-celebration-winds-down/

Sermon Topics:

1. Pray that God remains our permanent home.
2. Pray that we be guided each day by God's wisdom.
3. Pray that we see the work of God's gracious hand.

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/a-prayer-for-the-years-to-come/

Sermon Topics:

1. Enlightenment about what is sin.
2. Enlightenment about what is a blessing.
3. Enlightenment about what is miraculous.
4. Enlightenment about what fulfills the Word of God.

• View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/jesus-comes-with-enlightenment-to-those-who-do-not-understand/

Sermon Topics: