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Episodes
Weekly sermons and Bible studies led by a retired pastor of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod
Episodes
Monday Sep 14, 2020
Monday Sep 14, 2020
Our study begins with a review of Colossians 3:12-13, where we heard of qualities our Lord wants to help us to have in a stronger way in our lives - qualities that build relationships with others. Those of you at St. James heard Sunday’s Epistle lesson, too, from Galatians 5:16-24, which is very similar to Colossians 3:5-14. The good qualities are called in Galatians “the fruit of the Spirit,” which the Holy Spirit also helps to grow in us.
We also talked about “bearing with” one another, putting up with one another in hard times, and being willing to forgive, even as the Lord has been willing to forgive us, again and again. We looked at Ephesians 4:1-3 and 30-32, as parallels to Colossians 3:13. This is very different from the current “Cancel Culture” that we see in our own country, where some people self-righteously want to point out the faults of others and only condemn them and cancel their existence out, without even the thought or possibility of forgiveness for them. If God treated us this way, we would all be wiped out, because we are all struggling, sinful people. How wonderful that John 3:17 tells us that “God did not send His Son into the world to to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him.”
In Colossians 3:14, Paul then talks about the importance of love, sacrificial love for others, which binds us together in the most perfect and complete way. See Romans 13:8-10 and 1 Corinthians 13, especially. This whole chapter reminds that we may be able to do many things, but they are “nothing” without the motivation of love for others. Paul describes what love is and is not and that its primary focus is not on erotic or emotional feelings or self-centeredness, but on genuine care for others, as God has first loved and cared and sacrificed for us, in Christ. Only Jesus has lived up to this standard of love. But we pray for more of such love in our hearts toward others, as Colossians 3:14 says.
Such love and others spiritual qualities, “fruit of the Spirit,” come only through God’s work in us now in the new life that is ours in Jesus. Paul calls upon us then to let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts. That spiritual health and wholeness and soundness come only through the saving, reconciling work of Jesus for us. See Romans 5:1-2 and Philippians 4:7. As we have peace with God, through Jesus, we pray that God’s peace would rule and be a kind of “umpire“ in our lives. Peace does not mean an absence of conflict or trouble, but strength to carry on in God’s power, whatever our troubles. We do not use the world’s flawed standards, which could easily “disqualify” us (Colossians 2:18), but the “Word of Christ” which now lives and works in us and can both instruct and admonish us (Colossians 3:16). See John 14:23-27, as the Word of Christ and the peace of Christ work together for us.
That is precisely why we are listening to the Word of God and studying it together today as people “called into one body” of believers in Jesus (Colossians 3:15). See Romans 12:4-5 and 1 Corinthians 12:12-13 and 12:27, and all the verses in between. We need each other and can encourage and pray for one another, too. What Paul did (see Colossians 1:28-29), we can do in our own small ways, as “imitators” of him and of God’s love. See Ephesians 5:1, 1 Corinthians 4:16-17, and Philippians 3:17, for example. We will hear more about all of this next week and the value of worship and singing and the Word of Christ in our churches and in everyday life.
Sunday Sep 13, 2020
Sunday Sep 13, 2020
Sermon for the Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost, based on:
Sermon originally delivered September 11, 2011
Monday Sep 07, 2020
Monday Sep 07, 2020
We begin this study with a reminder, again, of who we are as believers in Christ. Colossians 3:12 says that we are God’s chosen people, counted as holy, as saints, in the eyes of God, and dearly loved by God - and all of this comes to us through Jesus Christ, Who is all and in all of us (v.11).
Knowing God’s love for us then brings us to seek to put on in our lives qualities that help us live in love also with one another. This process is described in 1 John 4:13-21. We see and are brought to believe in Christ’s sacrificial love for us, coming from God, Who is love. As Jesus lives and works in us, our thoughts turn from fear to gratitude for what God has already done for us. We love because He first loved us; and we can show our love for God by loving our neighbor, too. (If you want more detail on this 1 John passage, I preached a sermon on it on June 14, which you can listen to here: https://lutheransermons.podbean.com/e/sermon-for-the-first-sunday-after-trinity-june-14-2020/
Jesus summarizes the 10 Commandments as love first for God (Commandments 1-3) and then love for our neighbor (Commandments 4-10). See Mark 12:28-34, for example. In his explanation of the Commandments, in the Catechism, Luther speaks not only of what we are forbidden to do, but also of what we can do in a positive way to love and care for our neighbor.
Notice the sharp contrast, then, in Colossians 3, between what we are to get rid of and put to death, in verses 5ff., and what we are to put on, in verses 12ff., to help us in showing love to others around us. The qualities of compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience are qualities that can build relationships with others. I use a quotation from R.C.H. Lenski to describe how Greek/Roman culture despised these qualities as qualities of weakness, where we will only be run over and taken advantage of by others. As Christians, though, we know our own sins and weaknesses. We cannot act toward others with superiority over them, but only, as Luther said, as fellow “beggars” who all need the mercy of God.
I then go into a description of what each of these qualities means and why there are variations in the translation of some of them. For example, see why the King James Version of the first has “bowels of mercy” where the ESV has “compassionate hearts." The KJV is actually more literal and accurate, but the ESV may make clearer sense for us today. I also use a quotation from Martin Franzmann about “meekness” or “gentleness." It really is trusting not in ourselves and our power, but in God and His care for us, even in very difficult situations in life. We do not have to be “macho” people, pushing others around. We trust God to take care of us, as Jesus did, when He went humbly to the cross, as a suffering servant, to save us. See Psalm 37 as an example of such meekness and Scriptures like Philippians 2:1-4, Matthew 11:29, Galatians 6:1, 2 TImothy 2:24-26, and Titus 3:2.
In Colossians 3:13, we are called to “bear with," to endure and put up with one another in troubled times, and to be ready to forgive, as the Lord first has forgiven us. No relationship can survive without repentance and forgiveness, as we are all such imperfect people. Christ’s willingness to forgive us is our example, always. See how Jesus answers Peter’s question in Matthew 18:21-22, and following. See also Matthew 6:12, Ephesians 4:32, and 2 Corinthians 2:3-11, etc. I also make some comments on how all this applies to relationships in the church and in families and marriage and in our current situation in our country.
None of this is easy. Only Jesus perfectly lived out these verses. Next week, we will see how Paul points out gifts of God, love and the peace of Christ and the Word of Christ, and God’s own continuing forgiveness for us, to help us.
Tuesday Sep 01, 2020
Tuesday Sep 01, 2020
Our study of Colossians 3:11-12 begins with a quick summary of previous verses, in Colossians 3:8-10. These verses begin the transition from the “qualities” of the old life, apart from Christ, qualities which we are to seek to battle and put to death in our lives, with God’s help and grace. Then Paul focuses on the new self, the new person we now are, in Christ, as we have been brought to faith in Jesus through the Word of God and our baptism. We are now being continually renewed in this new life, as our Lord seeks to bring us a little closer to the perfect “image of God” that was lost by the fall into sin. We receive more “knowledge” through the Word of God of what God wishes for our new life and strength from our Lord to try to follow that new life.
In verse 11, then, Paul reminds us that Christ is the key for our new life. Many old barriers and distinctions are broken down, in connection with Christ. Our national origin and culture and background do not matter. The Greek culture and language were predominant in Paul’s time because of the influence of Alexander the Great and his conquests. That is why the New Testament was written in Greek, even though the Roman empire was now in control. Anyone who could not speak Greek could be called a barbarian. The most savage barbarians were from Scythia, in what is today a part of Russia. There were still the divisions over circumcision, as we have heard, and slavery was widespread, too. (Paul will deal with some of these issues, which were real, later in Colossians 3, and what they still mean for us.) But as far as eternal life and the promises of God are concerned, God wished for everyone to hear of and come to faith in Christ Jesus, no matter who they were. See what Paul says about his mission in Romans 1:11-15 and his desire to reach as many people as possible with the Good News of Jesus.
“Christ is all and in all,” Paul says (Colossians 3:11). Everything centers in Him, for Christians. See how similar the passages in Galatians 3:26-29 and Ephesians 1:20-23 are, no matter what the original divisions among people were. See also 1 Corinthians 15:28. The fact that God is all in all, and so is Christ, is an indication that Jesus is God, equal with the Father (and with the Holy Spirit), though we cannot understand all the mysteries of the One, true, Triune God. How good it is to know that Jesus came for us all, no matter who we are or have been.
In verse 12, then, Paul reminds us again of who we are as Christians with the new life we have in Christ. We are “God’s chosen ones, holy (saints) and beloved (dearly loved by Him).” This is what we in fact are. See passages like 1 Peter 2:9-10, Ephesians 1:4-10, John 15:16, and Ephesians 5:1, which affirm exactly what we are and Whose we are, in Christ. False teachers at Colossae, false teachers still today, and Satan himself try to point out our weaknesses and that we cannot be Christians, because we are not doing what they say we need to do. We do not meet their standards or the human opinions and standards of so many. We certainly do not even meet God’s standards on our own. But in Christ, we are forgiven. We are now God’s chosen ones, counted holy and loved by God by the perfect work of Jesus, already done for us. It is work in the past, but with ongoing results for us, in Christ.
Starting next week, we will look at what being chosen, holy, and beloved by God means for us also in our relationships with fellow believers and with others around us now in our new life in Christ. We will also see the qualities God enables us to “put on” as we live in Christ and for God and others. How different this list is compared with the lists from our old life apart from God! But above all, keep remembering what God already says and promises about you, in Christ, because of His saving action on your behalf and your being connected to Him by the gift of faith.
Tuesday Sep 01, 2020
Tuesday Sep 01, 2020
Sermon for the Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost, based on:
Sermon originally delivered August 28, 2011
Tuesday Aug 25, 2020
Tuesday Aug 25, 2020
The following is a devotion I wrote in 1977 that was published in The Lutheran Layman magazine, February 1978. I had forgotten I had written it; but it was used again as a Lutheran Hour ministries devotion on July 10, 2020 and a friend saw it and called it to my attention. You can read the devotion or listen to my recorded reading of the sermon below. You can view more LHM devotions at: lhm.org/dailydevotions.
Copyright owned by International Lutheran Laymen's League, used with permission of Lutheran Hour Ministries. All rights reserved.
Steady Love Through Life's Tremors
Lamentations 3:22-23 - The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.
Many people live quietly in desperation—unhappy with their lives, fearful of the future, and yet certain there has to be more to life than what they're experiencing. Even more people have occasional periods of deep depression, where life seems to lose its savor, and it's hard to do even daily tasks.
These periods of depression are not uncommon even for Christians, and they do not automatically signal the loss of one's faith. Some people think Christianity is supposed to quickly solve all our problems. To admit, then, to being downcast or fearful or troubled would be showing great weakness or sin, or so some would think.
This is not so, however. Even mighty figures in Scripture battled depression and despair. Read about Elijah in 1 Kings 19 when he wanted to sit down and die because of loneliness and dismay with his ministry. Listen to the writers of Psalms 6, 38, 88, 102, and elsewhere. They were terribly downcast and speak of their questionings, even to God. Think, too, of the apostle Paul who admits his weaknesses and distresses in 2 Corinthians 11.
We are saints through Jesus Christ, but we are also sinners in a sinful world. The way out of depression and doubt opens up for us only when we admit our weakness and despair—as the biblical writers did. We'll never conquer life's depressions by denying that we have them.
Remember the God you have and the beautiful promises He makes to you. The whole Bible trumpets the fact that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. God reached down into this damaged world for the very purpose of lifting up broken and downcast people. Christ died for our sins and rose from the dead for our future benefit in heaven; He also did it so we might have hope now in this world.
Consider passages like 1 Peter 1:3-5 which speak of the living hope that God has for your future and mine in union with Christ. If God is so confident about us, can we not also press on in faith, no matter how desperate life seems at the moment?
It was this remembering of the love and mighty deeds of God that helped David in his worst times (see Psalms 13:5-6; 25:15-21). Meditating and resting on the promises of God in Christ can be another step out of depression and anguish.
Also remember that you don't have to deal with your problems alone. Jesus promises, "Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28), and He is faithful to His promises.
This is our greatest hope—to entrust our lives to the One who gave His for us, so that we may live in victory over this world. In this, Jeremiah (another biblical figure who endured great hardship) reminds us that God is near—especially in times of trouble: "I called on Your Name, O LORD ... You came near when I called on You; You said, 'Do not fear!'" (Lamentations 3:55a, 57).
THE PRAYER: Heavenly Father, help us when we're full of worries and slipping in our faith to call on You. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
From The Lutheran Layman, February 1978 issue, "Depression: A Prescription for You" by Rev. Jim Barton
Reflection Questions:
1. Do you battle bouts of depression and low feelings?
2. How can it be said that God's mercies are new every morning?
3. Have you ever helped someone who was greatly depressed work through their problems?
Today's Bible Readings:
Tuesday Aug 25, 2020
Tuesday Aug 25, 2020
We begin our study of Colossians 3:7-10 with a quick review of verses 5-6. We have victory and new life in Christ, but there is still a struggle in battling sin and temptations to slip back into the old way of life apart from Jesus. Paul calls upon us to seek to put to death sexual immorality and desires and feelings that could lead us to sinful behaviors. We are also to watch out for covetousness, greediness that could make what we want into a sort of idol that is more important than our Lord. Moving away from Christ could lead us back under the wrath of God for our sins. We all started our life apart from God, as Ephesians 2:1-3 and Colossians 3:7 remind us, before our new life we have in Jesus.
In verse 8, Paul also gives us another sinful pattern into which we could slip in our lives with others. Anger can lead to rage, where we act with ill-will and malice, with slanderous (literally, blasphemous words of ill-will) or obscene (abusive, ugly, shameful) talk coming out of our mouths, which can be very hurtful to others. (See what James says in James 1:19-21 and in a long discussion of the tongue as a kind of fire, in James 3:1-12.) Likewise, in verse 9, telling lies is dangerous. We would be acting as if the devil was our father, instead of our Heavenly Father. See John 8:42-44.
As we came to faith in Christ and were baptized, we stripped off our old self (literally the old man,) with its evil actions, and dressed ourselves with new clothes, a new way of life. Actually, God did this changing for us, as we read in Old Testament passages like Isaiah 61:10 and Zechariah 3:1-5. Many other Scriptures speak of this contrast between our old life of sin (Ephesians 4:17-18,22, for example) and, as verse 10 says, “the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its Creator.“ Note that it is God’s doing, as we are being “renewed” by Him; and yet we grow in knowledge ourselves of God’s will for us. (See Scriptures like 1 Corinthians 8:2-3, 1 Corinthians 13:12, and Galatians 4:9, where as we are known by God, we know more ourselves, through Him and His Word.)
The idea of “renewal” is a strong concept, too, in our new life in Christ. God as Creator made the first people in His “image," sinless and in fellowship with God; but all that was lost in the fall into sin. We all start off life now in sin, with a sinful nature; in Christ, though, we have a new life and are counted as forgiven and sinless and acceptable to God. Our Lord would now like to renew us to be more like Him, with an image more like what Adam and Eve had in the Garden before the fall. See Scriptures like Romans 12:1-2, 2 Corinthians 4:16 and 5:17-21, Ephesians 2:10 and 4:24, and Titus 3: 3-8.
That last passage, Titus 3:5, speaks of our baptism, “the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit.” If you have a catechism, look at the words of Martin Luther about Baptism, in Part 4 of his discussion about Baptism. He encourages us to remember our baptism daily, by sorrow and repentance for our sins of the day and “drowning” the old sinful life, and asking the Lord to help us start a new, fresh life of faith and action in Christ each day. God actually does the renewing, but He provides us with gifts and blessings by which that can happen, as we will hear more about next week. We are never alone in this battle against sin and the old sinful nature. The Father, Son and Holy Spirit are always with us, forgiving us when we stumble and enabling us to continue the good fight of faith (1 Timothy 6:12).
Sunday Aug 23, 2020
Sunday Aug 23, 2020
Sermon for the Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost, based on:
Sermon originally delivered August 21, 2011
Monday Aug 17, 2020
Monday Aug 17, 2020
This portion of our Colossians study focuses on the battle we are in, in living our new life in Christ. Victory has already been won for us by Christ. As we heard last week in Colossians 3:1-4, we have been raised with Christ to a new life with Him. Our minds are now on things above, on Jesus and His love and His will for us and not on sinful things of this sinful world. We looked briefly at Romans 6:6,11,13-14. We are no longer slaves to sin, and sin does not have to control us and reign in us and have dominion over us. It is still a struggle, but we are to consider ourselves dead to sin and alive in Christ.
Many Scriptures speak of this struggle, and the contrast between the old life and the new, in Christ. You can look at some in these in Romans 7:15-25, 8:12-13, Ephesians 4:17-19, Ephesians 5:1-12, Galatians 5:16-21, and Romans 13:12-14.
Many people in the ancient Greek/Roman world had very low morality and few moral standards. What we call child abuse was readily accepted. Homosexuality and breaking of marriage vows was common. The highest levels of society and the leaders were very wicked. Those who came from this culture into Christianity had struggles with following Christ in His high standards and morals. There were still the temptations from the devil, a very sinful world, and one’s own sinful nature, all still trying to pull people back to their old life.
There is hope and blessing in the new life with the Lord and His great strength for us; and Paul is encouraging people to stay in the struggle. Paul says in Colossians 3:5: Put to death what is earthly in you, part of the old sinful life. He gives lists of some things to battle against, with the Lord’s help. The first list focuses mostly on sexual immorality (a general term for any kind of sexual behavior that goes against the will of God) and the impure thoughts and evil desires that can lead one to immorality. Paul also mentions covetousness, a desire for things that are not ours, which can get out of control and become a kind of idolatry. Other passages referred to in our discussion include 1 Thessalonians 4:2-8, and especially verse 5; 1 Corinthians 10:14; 1 Peter 4:2-3.
Paul also gives a warning about the wrath, the anger and judgment of God, coming for “sons of disobedience” and of unbelief. See also passages like Romans 1:18, John 3:17,18,36, and Ephesians 5:6. Next week, we will look at more things to battle and try to get rid of from our life, and positive qualities that God can give us to help with our lives.
Remember that Christ has already won the ultimate victory for us, as we stay close to Him. We can ask Him for help with anything that is especially a weakness for us and a temptation to sin. We can try to avoid situations where we might be weak and more easily tempted. We can ask for forgiveness when we fail, as we sometimes will, as imperfect people. And we will find that trying to follow Him and His will is always better for us and for the people around us. These passages also help us to identify evil things that we need to watch out for even today, as we move into what some call a post-Christian culture and morality, very similar to much of pre-Christian culture we have been hearing about. The Lord’s blessings and strength to all.
Monday Aug 17, 2020
Monday Aug 17, 2020
Sermon for the Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost, based on:
Sermon originally delivered August 14, 2011