Proper 8A Sermon: Not Worthy ... Worthy

Preached on Matthew 10:34–42
The Fourth Sunday after Pentecost
28 June AD 2020

Video: Click to view the YouTube video of Not Worthy ... Worthy.

Audio: Alternatively, choose Not Worthy ... Worthy to hear the MP3.

Summary: No matter how worthy we or others think we are, by nature we have no true worth in God’s eyes. Our value comes not from building ourselves up but rather by admitting that we are nothing and can do nothing without Christ.

When we believe in salvation through Jesus and begin to know His love for us, His Spirit works love for Christ in our hearts. And as we grow in love toward Christ, the Spirit also moves us to truly love others. Our Savior counts us worthy not because of who we are but whose we are — for we are His.

Text: So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.

“Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household.

“Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

“Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me. The one who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and the one who receives a righteous person because he is a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.” Matthew 10:34–42

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 Not Worthy ... Worthy.

Audio: Click Not Worthy ... Worthy to listen to the MP3.

Other Readings: Psalm 119:153–160; Jeremiah 28:5–9; Romans 7:1–13

Pentecost 13 Sermon: Knowing the Signs

Preached on Luke 12:49-56
The Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost — Proper 15C
14 August AD 2016

Title: Knowing the Signs (MP3 Audio)

Summary: Full and free forgiveness for the sake of Jesus Christ isn’t a popular message. Some think they have no need to be saved while others believe that they can save themselves — or at least participate in their salvation. The discord stirred up by Jesus’ ministry has only increased through the years.

Yet for those who believe in Him, the very Word that divides sinful mankind unites sinners with their loving Father, giving them peace with God and the only possibility of true harmony with other people. But if we don’t recognize the sign of our own sinfulness, we are unable to see the need for forgiveness. And if we don’t know the sign of Christ crucified, we miss the only means by which we have true peace and eternal life.

While some of the specific trials and afflictions noted may belong especially to the nursing home residents to whom I was preaching, they generally pertain to all humanity, particularly when age, accident, illness, or isolation become part of everyday life.

Text: [Jesus said,] “I came to cast fire on the earth, and would that it were already kindled! I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how great is my distress until it is accomplished! Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. For from now on in one house there will be five divided, 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 mother-in-law.”

He also said to the crowds, “When you see a cloud rising in the west, you say at once, ‘A shower is coming.’ And so it happens. And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, ‘There will be scorching heat,’ and it happens. You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?” Luke 12:49-56

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 Knowing the Signs

Illustration: Line drawing from Art of the Church Year by Ed Riojas, available through Higher Things Store.

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 119:81-88; Jeremiah 23:16-29; Hebrews 11:17-12:3