Proper 14A Sermon: Drinking from a Fire Hose

Preached on Job 38:4–18
The Tenth Sunday after Pentecost
9 August AD 2020

Video: Click to view the YouTube video of Drinking from a Fire Hose.

Audio: Alternatively, choose Drinking from a Fire Hose to hear the MP3.

Summary: Job wanted a few swallows of understanding from God’s well of wisdom as to why he faced his troubles. The Lord instead turned on the fire hose of His might and glory, never answering the particulars of Job’s questions.

However, Job finally learned that God knows best and is in control of all that befell him. So with us: We may never know why evils enter our lives. However, we do know that we’ll never face the ultimate evil of life now and forevermore without God as long as we believe in Christ crucified for our sins and raised for our justification.

Text: [The Lord answered Job,] “Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? Dress for action like a man; I will question you, and you make it known to me.

“Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements — surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? On what were its bases sunk, or who laid its cornerstone, when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

“Or who shut in the sea with doors when it burst out from the womb, when I made clouds its garment and thick darkness its swaddling band, and prescribed limits for it and set bars and doors, and said, ‘Thus far shall you come, and no farther, and here shall your proud waves be stayed’?

“Have you commanded the morning since your days began, and caused the dawn to know its place, that it might take hold of the skirts of the earth, and the wicked be shaken out of it? It is changed like clay under the seal, and its features stand out like a garment. From the wicked their light is withheld, and their uplifted arm is broken.

“Have you entered into the springs of the sea, or walked in the recesses of the deep? Have the gates of death been revealed to you, or have you seen the gates of deep darkness? Have you comprehended the expanse of the earth? Declare, if you know all this.” Job 38:4–18

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.

Video: Click to view the YouTube video of Drinking from a Fire Hose.

Audio: Click Drinking from a Fire Hose to listen to the MP3.

Other Readings: Psalm 18:1–16; Romans 10:5–17; Matthew 14:22–33

Easter 3A Sermon: Necessary Evil

Preached on Luke 24:13–35
The Third Sunday of Easter (Series A)
Responsive Prayer 2 (LSB 285)
26 April AD 2020

Video: Click to view the YouTube video of Necessary Evil. Responsive Prayer 2 from the Lutheran Service Book begins with the Opening Versicles (LSB 285), Psalm 116:1–14, and the Readings. The sermon starts at the 7:45 mark. The service concludes with the Kyrie (LSB 285), Lord’s Prayer (LSB 285), Apostles’ Creed (LSB 286), Versicles (286), Collect of the Day, Collect During an Epidemic, Morning Prayer (LSB 287), Benedicamus (LSB 287), and Benediction (LSB 287).

Audio: Alternatively, choose Necessary Evil, MP3 audio of the sermon only.

Summary: When we talk about “necessary evils,” we normally mean something harsh or painful that we must endure in order to reach a satisfactory and pleasing conclusion. At times, we even use “necessary evil” as another way of saying, “The ends justify the means” — in other words, an excuse to take short-cuts or to sin in some way in order to achieve our goal.

Jesus enlightened the disciples on the Emmaus Road by showing them from the Scriptures that He endured the necessary evil of suffering before achieving His goal and entering glory. Because He endured the necessary, prophesied evils of betrayal, abandonment, torture, and death, the Lord destroyed the power of sin and death and won for us everlasting life.

Text: That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were kept from recognizing him.

And he said to them, “What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?”

And they stood still, looking sad. Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?”

And he said to them, “What things?”

And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened.

“Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning, and when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.”

And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.

So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther, but they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” So he went in to stay with them.

When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?”

And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread. Luke 24:13–35

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.

Video: Click to view the YouTube video of Necessary Evil. Sermon begins at the 7:45 mark.

Audio: Click Necessary Evil for MP3 audio of just the sermon.

Other Readings: Psalm 116:1–14; Acts 2:14a, 36–41; 1 Peter 1:17–25

Good Friday Sermon: Sympathy with Our Weakness

Preached on Hebrews 4:14–16; 5:7–9
Good Friday
Scriptures, Prayers, and Sermon
10 April AD 2020

Video: Click to view the YouTube video of Sympathy with Our Weakness.

Sermon starts at the 12:55 mark, following appointed Scriptures and collects for the day. Service concludes with the Bidding Prayer and the Lord’s Prayer.

Apology: I’m sorry for video quality. A camera setting was changed and I didn’t notice until the filming was complete.

Summary: How many times have you heard or said, “I know how you feel”? Usually intended as words of comfort and support, they usually ring hollow because no one truly and completely knows how another feels. We may guess well, come close, or share identical or near-identical trials but each of us still experiences our pains personally and individually.

So how can the writer of Hebrews tell us that our High Priest Jesus sympathizes totally with every one of us? Your pains and struggles are so very different from mine — yet Jesus not only sympathizes with each of us but also feels each of our individual pains so deeply that it defies our comprehension.

Jesus faced the pains and pleasures that confront us and so often lead us astray. However, none of these could bully, scare, persuade, or entice Him from the path that He walked toward His death and our redemption. He knows what we fear and what we crave. His resistance to the temptations that accompany threats of pain or promises of pleasure paid for our failure to overcome.

When the Holy Spirit creates faith and ignites Christ’s love in us, He leads us to believe in and embrace our cross-won forgiveness. He also increases our ability and our desire to love others and helps us to power through temptations that would otherwise trip us up. The deeper we know Jesus’ sympathy for us, the better equipped we are to truly sympathize with others.

Jesus learned our pain as He passed through life and death before He reentered bliss as He ascended through the heavens to His Father, in whose presence He intercedes on our behalf. He leads us to follow Him, that we might live here in faith toward God and fervent love toward others. He promises that we then will also enter eternal joy in the presence of His Father.

Text: Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him. Hebrews 4:14–16; 5:7–9

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.

Video: Click to view the YouTube video of Sympathy with Our Weakness. Sermon begins at the 11:20 mark.

Other Readings: Psalm 22; Isaiah 52:13–53:12; John 19:17-30

Pentecost 6 Sermon: Dead Set

Preached on Luke 9:51-62
The Sixth Sunday after Pentecost — Proper 8C
26 June AD 2016

Title: Dead Set (MP3 Audio)

Summary: Plowing, driving, even walking — in each of these endeavors, we find ourselves going quickly off-track if we don’t remain focused on where we’re going. When Jesus spoke to those who would be His disciples, He demanded that they drop all they had, ignore temptations to look away, and follow Him wherever He led.

Yet not one of His followers remained completely faithful. None of the Twelve remained with Him when he was captured in the garden. Similarly, we may gasp the plow handles of discipleship but we find it impossible to stay the course.

Yet we fear not because we know that Jesus remained on-task and on-target. Because He was dead set upon reaching Jerusalem in order to suffer and die for all mankind, He earned forgiveness for all whose faith wavers or whose walk wanders away. He was fixed on the Holy City because He was fixed on us. He never lost sight of those sinners He’d come to save.

Now, through Word and Sacrament, the Holy Spirit continually works to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus (see Hebrews 12:2) in order that we might remain with the Savior who remains with us. He keeps us focuses on Christ that we might always receive forgiveness, life, and salvation.

Jesus never looked back or turned away. He plowed straight toward His death that we might follow Him to life everlasting.

Text: When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. And he sent messengers ahead of him, who went and entered a village of the Samaritans, to make preparations for him. But the people did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem.

And when his disciples James and John saw it, they said, “Lord, do you want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and consume them?”

But he turned and rebuked them. And they went on to another village.

As they were going along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.”

And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.”

To another he said, “Follow me.”

But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.”

And Jesus said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”

Yet another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.”

Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” Luke 9:51-62

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 Dead Set.

NB: A few people have had problems trying to play the inline audio with Windows Media 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 16; 1 Kings 19:9b-21; Galatians 5:1, 13-25

Easter Day Sermon: I Know

Preached on Job 19:23-27
The Resurrection of Our Lord
27 March AD 2016

Title: I Know (MP3 Audio)

Summary: “I know that my Redeemer lives!”

Job is convinced that even in the midst of crushing loss and excruciating pain, He rests secure in God’s hands. Furthermore, he is certain of his own resurrection, no longer how long or how completely his body decays.

The agony of this righteous man foreshadows the greater agony of the completely righteous Man who would bear Job’s sorrows and sins — along with those of all mankind. Job’s confidence is ours. Jesus suffered every one of our pains, knew all of our losses, bore all of our infirmities, and carried all of our sins. Christ’s loss is our restoration, His pain our pleasure, His death our forgiveness, and His resurrection our life everlasting.

Text: “Oh that my words were written! Oh that they were inscribed in a book! Oh that with an iron pen and lead they were engraved in the rock forever!

“For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another.

“My heart faints within me!” Job 19:23-27

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 I Know.

NB: A few people have had problems trying to play the inline audio with Windows Media 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 118:15-29; 1 Corinthians 5:6-8 or 1 Corinthians 15:51-57; Mark 16:1-8

Transfiguration Sermon: Exodus

Preached on Luke 9:28-36
The Last Sunday after the Epiphany, Series C
7 February AD 2016

Title: Exodus (MP3 Audio)

Summary: In earlier days, the Lord revealed His glory to Moses — and later to Elijah — on Mount Sinai. In the fulness of time, Jesus revealed His glory to Peter, James, and John as He conversed with His prophets on the Mount of Transfiguration.

He spoke with His forerunners about His impending departure — His exodus (v. 31). Unlike Moses, who led Israel from death at the hands of Pharaoh, or Elijah, who fled death at the hands of Ahab and Jezebel, Jesus was preparing to offer Himself up into death’s hands.

On the mountaintop, Christ manifested Himself as the Completion of the work of Moses and Elijah, the Fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets, and the final and greatest Redeemer. He would soon transfigure His own exodus from life into humanity’s exodus from death.

We often join with Moses and Elijah, with Peter, James, and John in confusing or abusing God’s commands and promises. Jesus, however, stayed true to His path. He kept the commands, bestowed the promises, and now credits us with His righteousness.

We participate in Christ’s exodus through Baptism. In it, we pass through watery death and are given new life in Him (see Romans 6:3-4). By water and the Word, we receive new citizenship, not in a land flowing with milk and honey but in the Lord’s eternal kingdom — the new heavens and new earth that will be ours in the Resurrection (see Philippians 3:20).

Text: Now about eight days after these sayings he took with him Peter and John and James and went up on the mountain to pray.

And as he was praying, the appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became dazzling white. And behold, two men were talking with him, Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.

Now Peter and those who were with him were heavy with sleep, but when they became fully awake they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him.

And as the men were parting from him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah” — not knowing what he said.

As he was saying these things, a cloud came and overshadowed them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him!”

And when the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and told no one in those days anything of what they had seen. Luke 9:28-36

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 Exodus.

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 99; Deuteronomy 34 or Exodus 34:29-35; Hebrews 3:1-6

Illustrations: The painting Exodus by Marc Chagall was begun in 1952 and completed in 1966. Line drawing from Art of the Church Year by Ed Riojas, available through Higher Things Store.