Congregational Anniversary Sermon: Will God Dwell on Earth?
Preached on 1 Kings 8:22–30
The 65th Anniversary of Peace Lutheran, Slater, Missouri
27 November AD 2019
Title: Click to hear the MP3 of Will God Dwell on Earth?
Summary: Sixty-five years ago, a group gathered to hold the first Lutheran service in the town of Slater, Missouri on Thanksgiving Eve. Tonight, in conjunction with their annual Thanksgiving celebration, the congregation chose to celebrate and offer special thanks for God’s blessings in and through Peace Lutheran Church.
The sermon text is a portion of Solomon’s dedication of the temple in Jerusalem. In it, the king marveled that a transcendent God could dwell immanently and intimately among His people on earth.
Solomon asked, “Will God indeed dwell on the earth?” Should we pose the same question, our answer is already evident: Jesus dwelt with us on earth. He continues dwelling among us in Word and Sacrament. Finally, He will lead us to dwell with God in eternity.
Text: Then Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in the presence of all the assembly of Israel and spread out his hands toward heaven, and said, “O Lord, God of Israel, there is no God like you, in heaven above or on earth beneath, keeping covenant and showing steadfast love to your servants who walk before you with all their heart; you have kept with your servant David my father what you declared to him. You spoke with your mouth, and with your hand have fulfilled it this day.
“Now therefore, O Lord, God of Israel, keep for your servant David my father what you have promised him, saying, ‘You shall not lack a man to sit before me on the throne of Israel, if only your sons pay close attention to their way, to walk before me as you have walked before me.’ Now therefore, O God of Israel, let your word be confirmed, which you have spoken to your servant David my father.
“But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you; how much less this house that I have built!
“Yet have regard to the prayer of your servant and to his plea, O Lord my God, listening to the cry and to the prayer that your servant prays before you this day, that your eyes may be open night and day toward this house, the place of which you have said, ‘My name shall be there,’ that you may listen to the prayer that your servant offers toward this place.
“And listen to the plea of your servant and of your people Israel, when they pray toward this place. And listen in heaven your dwelling place, and when you hear, forgive.” 1 Kings 8:22-30
Scripture quoted from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Audio: Click to hear the MP3 of Will God Dwell on Earth?
NB: For some reason, a few people have had problems trying to play the inline audio if Windows Media is their default MP3 player. If this occurs, you can either change to QuickTime or another default browser player, copy and paste the link directly into a selected player, or download it to your computer, where it seems to work regardless of which player. Several folks have suggested VLC Player from VideoLAN.
Other Readings: Psalm 84; Revelation 21:1-5; Luke 24:44-53
The 65th Anniversary of Peace Lutheran, Slater, Missouri
27 November AD 2019
Title: Click to hear the MP3 of Will God Dwell on Earth?
Summary: Sixty-five years ago, a group gathered to hold the first Lutheran service in the town of Slater, Missouri on Thanksgiving Eve. Tonight, in conjunction with their annual Thanksgiving celebration, the congregation chose to celebrate and offer special thanks for God’s blessings in and through Peace Lutheran Church.The sermon text is a portion of Solomon’s dedication of the temple in Jerusalem. In it, the king marveled that a transcendent God could dwell immanently and intimately among His people on earth.
Solomon asked, “Will God indeed dwell on the earth?” Should we pose the same question, our answer is already evident: Jesus dwelt with us on earth. He continues dwelling among us in Word and Sacrament. Finally, He will lead us to dwell with God in eternity.
Text: Then Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in the presence of all the assembly of Israel and spread out his hands toward heaven, and said, “O Lord, God of Israel, there is no God like you, in heaven above or on earth beneath, keeping covenant and showing steadfast love to your servants who walk before you with all their heart; you have kept with your servant David my father what you declared to him. You spoke with your mouth, and with your hand have fulfilled it this day.
“Now therefore, O Lord, God of Israel, keep for your servant David my father what you have promised him, saying, ‘You shall not lack a man to sit before me on the throne of Israel, if only your sons pay close attention to their way, to walk before me as you have walked before me.’ Now therefore, O God of Israel, let your word be confirmed, which you have spoken to your servant David my father.
“But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you; how much less this house that I have built!
“Yet have regard to the prayer of your servant and to his plea, O Lord my God, listening to the cry and to the prayer that your servant prays before you this day, that your eyes may be open night and day toward this house, the place of which you have said, ‘My name shall be there,’ that you may listen to the prayer that your servant offers toward this place.
“And listen to the plea of your servant and of your people Israel, when they pray toward this place. And listen in heaven your dwelling place, and when you hear, forgive.” 1 Kings 8:22-30
Scripture quoted from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Audio: Click to hear the MP3 of Will God Dwell on Earth?
NB: For some reason, a few people have had problems trying to play the inline audio if Windows Media is their default MP3 player. If this occurs, you can either change to QuickTime or another default browser player, copy and paste the link directly into a selected player, or download it to your computer, where it seems to work regardless of which player. Several folks have suggested VLC Player from VideoLAN.
Other Readings: Psalm 84; Revelation 21:1-5; Luke 24:44-53
Labels: 1 Kings 8, church anniversary, Communion, immanence, incarnation, old testament, Peace Lutheran, Slater, Solomon, temple, thanksgiving day, transcendence
posted by Xrysostom | 20:00
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