Let Us Walk in the Footsteps of St. Paul!

 

Philippians 3:17-21 When a congregation is organized, one of the first things that the founding members do is choose a name for their congregation.  This may be one of the first real challenges too because, as you can well imagine, there will be all kinds of good ideas for their church’s name.There are names that capture their prominence in the community—like First Baptist.  There are names that capture some part of our of Lord’s life like Epiphany Episcopal.  There are names that indicate a location like Weber Road Church of Christ.  All of these are perfectly fine names for churches.

One hundred years ago the Lutherans who founded this congregation chose St. Paul for the name of this congregation as so many Lutheran churches do.  Why St. Paul?  Was it just to honor a faithful man of God who lived two thousand years ago or was there something more?

The Lutherans who founded this congregation chose St. Paul as the name because it was their hope that the clear teaching about the way of salvation that is so beautifully taught in Paul’s epistles would also be clearly taught in their midst and in this community—that they and their children and all who followed them in this place would always hold to the biblical way of salvation:  that we are justified by God’s grace, apart from the deeds of the Law, on account of Jesus’ atoning death on the cross.

This was the clear, unwavering teaching of Paul and the Lutherans who founded this congregation wanted it to be so and remain so in their midst and in this community and so when they named this congregation it was in hope that they and all who followed them would walk in the footsteps of Paul and trust nothing but the cross of Christ for their salvation.  St. Paul writes:

Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us.   Several years ago I saw an advertisement for a trip to the Holy Land along with Greece and Turkey and the trip was named:  “In the Footsteps of Paul” because the travelers would go to all the places that Paul went on his apostolic journeys.  That is one way to walk in the footsteps of Paul- and I’m sure there is value in that- but there is a more important way and that is to follow his lead when it comes to the things of God.

And so as we walk along with Paul by faith, guided by the words of the Bible, what do we see?  We see a young man who was zealous for Judaism—whose background and training and temperament had equipped him to be a great defender of salvation by works of the law—eating the right foods and worshiping the right way and going through the right rituals and being scrupulous about the details of the law so that he could make his own way to God. 

By virtue of who he was and what he did Paul had every reason to have confidence in his flesh—that is in his own works—so that he persecuted the early Christians who taught that salvation was not by works but by faith in Jesus.

Paul’s persecution of Christ and his people continued right up until the moment that Jesus met him on the Road to Damascus and changed his heart forever.  He learned that as zealous as he was for religious rules and as confident as he was of his own holiness--he was completely wrong about his life with God. 

He may have been going to Damascus but he was headed to hell and the One who he was persecuting was the only one who could save him—not by something that Paul would do-- but by something that someone else had already done and that was Jesus’ death on the cross.

Jesus taught him that salvation and a life with God did not come because of what Paul did but because of what Jesus had already done and desired to give him as a gift. 

When Paul learned that and believed it he was a man reborn.  He went from being a persecutor of Christ to a preacher of Christ and his own life was a living, breathing witness that what God really wants for us is to simply receive the forgiveness Jesus won for us on the cross.

He could look back upon his life and know that he had failed miserably—that he was the chief of sinners-- but because of what Christ had done for him and the difference it made in his life-- he could also call upon every Christian to follow him in receiving Christ’s forgiveness and trusting in Christ’s cross. 

Paul wasn’t alone in this message and he wasn’t the only example of the height and breadth and depth of God’s redeeming grace.  Every apostle could recount and remember their own failures to be all that God wanted them to be and yet rejoice that there was full and free forgiveness that flowed from Jesus ’cross. 

That was the message of the apostles and the message of Luther and the message of the faithful Christians who founded this congregation.  But almost from the beginning there was opposition to the Good News of Jesus.  Paul writes:

For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ.  Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things.

For every time the Good News of full and free forgiveness in Christ was proclaimed by Paul or one of the other apostles—there was someone else saying “yes, but”. 

You are forgiven and set free from the guilt and shame of the past—yes, but you still have to be circumcised.  Your sins are washed away forever by the blood of Christ—yes, but you have to make sure that you obey God from now on.  There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus—yes, but you must never forget the past.

What does Paul say about those who attach a “yes, but” to the finished work of Jesus?  He says that they are enemies of the cross of Christ.  Enemies of the cross of Christ!  Can there be a more terrible judgment than this?!  Why are they enemies of the cross? 

Because they dare—in their spiritual pride and self-righteousness--to substitute their own voices and opinions about what happened there at the cross in place of the words of Jesus which were:  “Father, forgive them”—and—“It is finished”.  Sins forgiven and salvation finished.  That is life with God!  That is our hope and peace!  That is the content of our faith and the faith of the founders of this congregation and the faith of Paul! 

Now, I will tell you that the “yes, but” appeals to our flesh.  Until the day that we die we will struggle to believe that God’s grace can be so great- and Christ’s forgiveness so complete -that we do not need to add even the slightest thing to it. 

That is why we hear these strong words from Paul that those who add some condition to God’s forgiveness and demand some work besides that of Jesus are enemies of the cross.  Their self-chosen obedience and holiness and conditions do not give God the glory for his work of salvation-- but themselves.  And believing this they go to their eternal destruction because they are not serving God but themselves.

But for those who simply put their faith and trust in Jesus Christ—who know that their salvation is a gift that has been given to them at the cost of Christ’s blood—these folks can be confident that they are right with God, forgiven of their sins, and are going to heaven. 

Paul writes:  Our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.

Our citizenship in heaven is not just one of these days—our citizenship is heaven right now-- because we are God’s children and he has redeemed us to live with him while we wait for Christ’s return in glory and the renewal of all things.

These are some incredibly comforting words!  Last week we elected a new president and while half the country is glad the other half is heartbroken.  Whether we are glad or sad about the election, there is a reality that is true about us that is greater than our political party and greater even than our national identity-- and that truth is that we ultimately are part of God’s kingdom and no matter what happens in our country we can be confident that we have a perfect heavenly home because of Jesus’s power over death and the grave.

No matter which man was elected, they were going to struggle to make right everything that is wrong with our nation.  But Jesus Christ has the power to subject all things to himself—in other words, he has the power to make right everything that is wrong-- not just in our nation and economy-- but everything that is wrong in our world.

Our national and world wide problems are much deeper than what can be fixed with some political solution or the right leadership—our problems cut right to the heart of a world that has been turned off its course by sin.

But the death of Jesus Christ on the cross and his resurrection has moved the world back in the right direction.  Once more we can have a life with God.  Once more we can look forward to the future without fear because we know that God is in control.  Once more we can count on a life with God that even death cannot end and a world that will be made new on the last day.

Paul looked out upon a world where the greatest empire that ever existed was his enemy.  He faced death time and time again until he was martyred for his faith.  He experienced division and discord in the church. 

But he knew that Jesus Christ was greater than all of it and would raise him from the dead and restore the goodness of the world and so he faced the future with a confident faith.  As a congregation that is called by his name, let us walk in his footsteps and know the same.  Amen.

Salvation Belongs to Our God and to the Lamb

Revelation 7:9-17 All of us have experienced saying goodbye to a loved one:  a child going off to college—a family member returning home after the holidays—a friend moving to a new city.  We watch them drive down the street until we can’t see them anymore.  Then they’re gone.  Not gone forever—just separated from us for a time.

We realize that just because we can’t see them, it doesn’t mean that they have ceased to exist.  Their life goes on and ours does too and we look forward to that day when we will see them again.

So it is when we say goodbye to a loved one who dies in Christ.  We are parted from them for a time—but they have not left us forever.  We can’t see them anymore but that doesn’t mean that their life does not continue on.  As we observe All Saints Day, God pulls back the curtain that hides our departed loved ones from our sight and lets us view their life in heaven—and our life to come.  St. John writes:

I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”

            When we say goodbye to a child who goes off to college or a loved one who returns home after a holiday or a friend who moves to a new town, we may be lonely—but they are not all alone.  There is a hole in our life, but they have more friends. 

So it is when our loved ones die.  They are not all alone—they are with fellow believers.  They are welcomed into heaven by a great multitude of people who have shared the same faith and worshiped the same God and gone through the same earthly difficulties and trials.

While we are sad to see them go—they are filled with joy as they add their voices to that great hymn of praise to their Savior God. 

When we say our final goodbye to a loved one, our thoughts are often turned to them—we look back at the life we had with them—we are lonely for them and mourn for them—but the focus of their lives is not what is past, but the Lamb who shed his blood for them and brought them safely home just- as- he- promised.

When sin and death entered into the world, God promised that he would restore what man had destroyed—that he would send a Savior who would conquer the devil and death.  Over salvation history, God renewed this promise again and again.  He told the patriarchs that their descendants would be so great that no one could number them.

God kept his promise.  He sent his Son as a sacrificial Lamb whose blood set us free from sin and death and as St. John looked upon that great multitude of saved sinners he could not count them all.  But because they cannot be counted-- that does not mean that they cannot be recognized. 

In that great multitude are your loved ones who trusted in Jesus and now stand in his presence giving him thanks and praise for their salvation.  And not only do they give him their thanks and praise, they are joined in that song of praise by the whole company of heaven.  St. John writes that:

All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.” 

            The sad story of mankind’s fall into sin and death is not just the story of Adam and Eve’s disobedience—it is also the story of an angelic rebellion—a war in heaven.  The Bible does not go into great detail about this rebellion but what we know is that before the creation of man, God created the angels and some of those angels rebelled against him and made the destruction of man their goal so that Satan tempted Adam and Eve to sin against God and evil entered into the world.

Though the devil won that battle, God promised that Satan would not win the war—but that God would send the Seed of the Woman, Mary’s Son Jesus, to destroy the devil and have the final victory.

From that moment on in salvation history we see the heavenly angels doing their part to bring about God’s saving purpose.  They visited God’s people to comfort them.  They waged war against God’s enemies.  They served as God’s messengers to announce his salvation. 

That salvation was accomplished when Jesus rose up from the dead and the angels were right there to tell the world that God had kept his promise and destroyed the power of death and the devil.

We have to be careful not to go beyond the Bible but I think it is fair to say that it must have been crushing to the good angels to know that some of their fellow angels had destroyed all the good God had created.  They must have yearned for Christ’s victory!

What we can say with certainty. is that all of the heavenly host—angels and archangels, seraphim and cherubim, the elders and the four living creatures have joined with all of God’s redeemed people around the throne of the Lamb to thank and praise God for his mighty work of salvation.

Can you just imagine the joy of our loved ones in heaven being in the presence of these heavenly beings, who though unseen, were beside them each step of the way on life’s journey, fighting on their behalf, so that they would reach their heavenly home paid for by the blood of the Lamb?  St. John writes that:

One of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?” I said to him, “Sir, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation.”

            In our sermon hymn we sang these words about our departed loved ones who stand around the throne of the Lamb:  Despised and scorned they sojourned here-but now how glorious they appear.  Despised and scorned.

The fall into sin has made life on this earth a hardship that God never intended.  Earthly toil is a hardship rather than a joy.  Bringing forth new life involves suffering.  There is conflict with those closest to us.  And finally there is death.  We go through life with trials and tribulation.  It seems that sin and defeat are the last word about us.

But our departed loved ones in heaven are depicted with palm branches in their hands and are clothed in white robes.  Waving palm branches was an ancient custom to welcome a conquering king and the white robes a sign of holiness and purity.  And so…

How do our loved ones come to possess this sign of righteousness and what victorious King do they praise?  St. John tells us:  They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.  That is one of the most powerful images in the Bible and it is meant to be because it portrays the greatest truth of the Bible! 

Those who are delivered from earthly tribulation into the joys of heaven—those who can stand unashamed before the throne of the true and living God—those who can celebrate their King’s victory—are those who have washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb. 

In other words, it is those who have put their faith and trust in Christ’s death on the cross for their salvation, who are there in heaven with God.

St. John tells us about that heavenly life that our departed loved ones are enjoying right now-- and the life that we too will live in heaven.

“They are before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence.  They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat.  For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

            When we say goodbye to a loved one, whether it is a loved one moving to a new place or when we say our last goodbyes, there are tears that we shed.  There is no shame in that and neither is it a sign of a lack of faith.  Jesus wept at the graveside of Lazarus and the Bible says that we grieve—but not as though who have no hope—because the tears that we shed, ARE NOT shed, by our departed loved ones.

When they depart from us they enter into the joys of heaven and God wipes away their tears and they never experience hardship or sorrow again.  Life for them is the way that God meant it to be—a life in his presence where there is only peace and plenty.

That is so important for us to remember!  Often times our last moments with a loved one are painful—illness or an accident or just the frailty of old age has done its ugly work and that thought burdens us and stays with us. 

But God pulls back the curtain to heaven on this All Saints Sunday because he wants us to lift up our eyes from that sorrowful scene and feast our eyes on what is really true for those we love who have gone home to heaven:  no more sorrow—no more suffering—no more trial or tribulation of any kind-- for they are safely home.

Unless the Lord comes first, all of us will one day say goodbye to this earthly life and goodbye to our loved ones we leave behind.  But that is not the last word for us and it is nothing to fear because salvation belongs to our God and to the Lamb and he has given it to us as a free gift of his grace so that we would live with him in heaven forever.  

All Saints Prayer (adapted from TLH agenda)

We thank You, Lord God, heavenly Father, that in Your goodness you have not only preserved our earthly life, but have also called us, through the Gospel of your Son, into life eternal.

On this observance of All Saints Day, when we remember all of those who have departed this life in faith, let us not sorrow as those who have no hope, but trust in the words of Your Son that whoever believers in him shall never die.

Remind us that here on earth we have no eternal home and so lead us to make the right use of our time and teach us to yearn for our eternal home with You. 

Empower us by your Spirit to follow in the steps of those men and women, who through patience and faith, have inherited the eternal joys of heaven.  Help us amid the trials and temptations of this world to work out our salvation with fear and trembling. 

When the days of our brief journey on earth are done and we pass through the valley of the shadow of death, abide with us, and comfort us with the innocent death and all sufficient merit of our Redeemer so that we may fall asleep in Jesus and awaken in the glory of Your presence.

Keep our graves under the shadow of Your wings that they may be peaceful resting places until You raise up our mortal bodies and clothe them with immortality. 

We give You thanks that your mercy and kindness extends not only to our eternal future but to our earthly lives in this moment.  And so we pray that You would bless our nation and guide our fellow citizens as we choose new leaders—that You would help all of those affected by Hurricane Sandy—that You would grant healing to those who are ill, especially Kathleen and Barbara—and that You would give Bailey every good gift of body and soul as he celebrates a birthday.

May we today, and at all times, take Your Word to heart so that when we join the redeemed that have gone before us, we may begin eternity with joy and add our voice to the whole company of heaven in giving all blessing and honor and glory to You and the Lamb, forever and ever.  Amen

This Week at Mt. Olive

Good evening, fellow redeemed!

Jesus answered them, Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever.  So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

With these words from John, our Lord Jesus tells us of His all sufficient work at the cross.

The Jews who questioned Jesus didn't understand their slavery to sin and their need for freedom.  Their claim of the freedom through the line of Abraham actually revealed their idolatry in which they held to their own favorite subject:  themselves.

Only Jesus brings us into the house of the Father.  This great work He does at the cross, shedding His innocent blood to redeem lost and condemned creatures like you and me.  Only through Jesus, as we cling to Him by faith, are we freed from the power of sin, death, and the devil, and brought into the household of God.

Prayer Concerns:

Jan Wilson and her family, at the death of her brother-in-law, Roy

Pat Walker and her family at the death of her father

Jackie Steele, Sue Catherman

Those who serve in our armed forces and their families:  Rob Vadney (Ft. Campbell, KY)

Ruby Rieder, Ann Cleveland, Burt and Doris Nelson, Ellie Reiners, Walter and Pearly Theiss

The whole Church, both in heaven and on earth, as she rejoices and confesses Jesus Christ and Him crucified

This Week at Mt. Olive:

Things return to a bit of normalcy this week.

Trunk - Treat returns to Mt. Olive on Wednesday evening.  Bring your candy, decorations, and join us in having a bit of fun and sharing with the community around us.  Trunk-Treat begins at 6:30 p.m.

This Week at Mt. Olive:

Monday, October 29

6 p.m.

Zumb-ahhh Aerobics (Fellowship Hall)

Tuesday, October 30

4:30 p.m.

Adult Information

6 p.m.

Jr. Confirmation Instruction (Commandments 7-10)

Wednesday, October 31

A Blessed Reformationtide to all!

8:30 a.m.

School Chapel - 8th Commandment

9:30 a.m.

Bible Class - Job

6:30 p.m.

Trunk - Treat in the Parking Lot!

Thursday, November 1

A blessed All Saints Day!

6 p.m.

Zumb-ahhh aerobics (Fellowship Hall)

God bless!

PKJ

Rev. Franke's Theme Thoughts

All Saints’ Day                                                                                                                                                    November 1

                                                               

Lessons for ALL SAINTS

       

Revelation 7:(2-8) 9-17 ~ John saw the multitude of saints in glory serving the Lamb at His throne.

Psalm 31:1-5 (antiphon Rev. 7:14)

1 John 3:1-3 ~ God loves us so much that He called us to be His children, and made us His for eternity!

        Matthew 5:1-12 ~ Jesus revealed the true nature of blessings in the Kingdom of God.

GATHERING THE TEXTS:  From Death to Life

"Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine!"  (Isaiah 43:1)  With these words, God reminds us that we and those believers who have gone before us are saints (that is "holy ones") because of His action.  No other truth brings as much comfort.  If sainthood were up to us by good works, our hope would be uncertain at best and futile at worst.  We would be lost for sure and there would be no celebration today.  Thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord, Jesus Christ.  (1 Cor. 15:57)

PRAYER BEFORE THE SERVICE:  Gracious and eternal God, be with me in suffering and in death to strengthen and comfort me by your Holy Spirit.  Keep me in the true faith and give me peace and joy in the assurance of the resurrection of the dead and the glory of life everlasting through Jesus Christ, your Son, my risen Lord.  Amen.

STEWARDSHIP THOUGHT:  Because we know that our citizenship is in heaven where we have an everlasting inheritance, we are free to be generous with the earthly goods God places in our care.  Our use of these blessings should bring eternal blessing to the lives of the poor, the meek, the mournful, and those who seek justice.

OFFERING PRAYER:      Blessings abound in the power of Your Word;

                                                Blessed are we in Christ Jesus, our Lord.

                                                Grant that these offerings we bring may secure

                                                Blessings eternal for meek and for poor.

CONVICTION AND COMFORT:  We do not recognize the saints of God because we see things from earth’s perspective and our point of view, where joy and wealth and power and fame are the blessings we seek.  Surely the Lord knows who His saints are because He has clothed them with the robe of Christ’s righteousness.  When we are known by Him, we are called children of God – and called to be His children.  Then opportunities to serve become blessings, and even persecution becomes a sign of our identity as a saint of God’s grace

Rev. Franke's Theme Thoughts

Twenty-third Sunday after Pentecost                                                                                            November 4, 2012

                                                               

Lessons for Proper 26     

Deuteronomy 6:1–9 ~ God’s commands guide our thoughts and our actions at home and away.

Psalm 119:1–8 (antiphon: v. 5)

Hebrews 9:11–14 (15–22) ~ Jesus won an eternal inheritance for us, cleansing us from our sin by His blood.

        Mark 12:28–37 ~ When Jesus judged a scribe who evaluated His teaching, everyone was silenced.

GATHERING THE TEXTS: God’s Covenant and Inheritance of Grace

God has placed us into families where His commands may be passed on through our children to guide our living together.  They also pass judgment on our lives where we fail to live in His love and with love toward each other.  To free us from that condemnation, God has sent the Christ, David’s son and David’s Lord, Who has made us inheritors of God’s grace in the family of His love by establishing a new covenant with us through the shedding of His blood.

PRAYER BEFORE THE SERVICE:  Loving Father, You have guaranteed an inheritance of grace to me by the blood of Your Son.   As You have included me in Your eternal family, so may I be guided in word and deed, as I come and go through all my doings in this world, until I receive the blessing You have prepared for all Your children in the world to come.  Amen.

STEWARDSHIP THOUGHT: God has blessed us with resources in a land of plenty.  How we use them is a measure of our love for God and neighbor.

OFFERING PRAYER:      You call us, Lord, to live by Your commands;

                                                You bless us with the bounty from our lands.

                                                        Provide us with Your love that we may be

                                                        Channels of Your grace for all to see.

CONVICTION AND COMFORT:  We know God’s commandments of love and readily use them to evaluate the lives of others, but we only come close to the Kingdom of God because we fail to keep His will in our own living.   Thanks be to God,  He has drawn us into the holy place of His love and made us heirs of His grace through the new covenant established by the sacrificed blood of the Christ. He is the One who has defeated all His enemies and is seated on the throne of God’s mercy.

Rev. Franke's Theme Thoughts

Reformation Day                                                                                                           October 31, 2012

                                               

Lessons for Reformation Day       

Revelation 14:6-7 ~ God sent a messenger to proclaim the eternal gospel.

        Psalm 46  (Antiphon: Psalm 46:1)

Romans 3:19-28 ~ God’s law uncovers our sin; His grace proclaims our justification.

        John 8:31-36 ~ God’s Son sets us free indeed!

GATHERING THE TEXTS:  The Gift of God's Grace

God's grace is our refuge and fortress.  We are not able to do anything to get into God's good graces; he has brought us there!  In Jesus, God has given us a new way to be brought to justice.  Our sentence is carried out through the blood of God's own Son, and we are set free from condemnation.  In the new covenant of Jesus' blood, God forgets our sins and promises us eternal life as heirs of his kingdom!

PRAYER BEFORE THE SERVICE:  Gracious God in heaven above, through Christ you came to me in love; help me always know your grace and in it see your loving face.  Amen.

STEWARDSHIP THOUGHT: God showers us with His richest blessings for this life and for eternity, even though we have done nothing to earn or deserve them.  He has put them into our care so that we may share them with others who need to know God’s great mercy in life and His love in Christ.

OFFERING PRAYER:      Our life, our love, and wealth, O Lord,

                                                We dedicate to You.

                                                Sanctify us for Your work

                                                In all we say and do.

CONVICTION AND COMFORT:  We want life to be fair, but we have a way of interpreting life’s circumstances  so that we do not see our own failings and even deny our slavery to sin.  The law of God holds us to account for all our sins.  Suddenly we realize it is not justice that we need, but mercy.  God, by His grace, has meted out justice on our sin and at the same time, has given us His own righteousness!  Thanks be to God, through Jesus Christ His Son!