Worship for Easter 5, 2013

Friday after the Fourth Sunday of the Resurrection of Our Lord

April 26, 2013

He is Risen!

This coming Sunday is the Fifth Sunday of the Resurrection of Our Lord (Easter 5), April 28.  We will be using the third setting of the morning service (Divine Service 3) for our liturgy, which begins on page 184 of the hymnal. This is a communion service. As always, reviewing what Luther’s Small Catechism has to say about this sacrament is an excellent way to prepare.

We are, as noted above, still in the Easter Season. Our hymns, therefore, will continue to accent this central event of history. Four of our six hymns will come from the Easter section of the hymnal. They are our opening hymn (“Alleluia! Jesus Is Risen” LSB 474), two of our distribution hymns (“Alleluia, Alleluia! Hearts to Heaven” LSB 477; “The Day of Resurrection” LSB 478) and our Closing Hymn (“He’s Risen, He’s Risen” LSB 480). The other Distribution Hymn is from the Communion section of the hymnal (“Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence” LSB 621). The Sermon Hymn reflects the sermon’s theme (“In Christ There Is No East or West” LSB 653). The video below is the “Lutheran Warbler” playing and singing “Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence.”

The first lesson for Sunday is Acts 11:1-18. The second lesson is from Revelation 21:1-7. We are given an option for the Gospel lesson, either John 16:12-22 or John 13:31-35. I have selected the second option, from which I have drawn the text for the sermon (John 13:35). The sermon is titled “A Misunderstood Love.”

In our prayers we will continue to remember those trapped in slavery today, those who have been misled by our cultures advocacy of abortion and sexual immorality, the Lutheran Malaria Initiative, and our sister congregations in the SED (this Sunday: Our Redeemer, Wilson, NC [the congregation Pastor served before coming to Lamb of God]; St. John’s & St. Mark, Winston-Salem, NC; Bethany, Alexandria, VA; Good Shepherd, Greenville, SC). We also continue to remember believers around the world. This Sunday we remember the Portuguese Evangelical Lutheran Church and their President, Rev. Jonas Roberto Flor, the persecuted believers in Kuwait, and the African Immigrant Mission of North America.

For the second week we will remember Matt and Kim Myers, our missionaries to Macau. Macau is one of the two “special administrative regions” of Mainland China. Once a Portuguese colony, since 1999 it has been a semi-automatous part of China. The Myers write, “Please pray for our strength to teach well, encourage our team, and to share the Gospel. Pray that the Lord of the harvest will open the hearts and minds of the people in Macau—that they might follow and trust Him. Please pray for our relationship with our national co-workers, that they will be encouraged by our presence and that we will successfully work together to further God's kingdom.  Please also prayerfully consider how you might be involved, through visits, service, and financial support of our work.”

Preview of Lessons

Acts 11:1-18

Like us, the people of the first century were sinners. The impact of the Gospel had to break through walls of self-centered sin. This is part of a story where some of the walls came tumbling down. First Christ has to break them down in Peter’s life, then in the lives of others. In this particular case, the wall was ethnic prejudice. The Christians come to realize that Gentiles can become Christians, even if they don’t become Jews first. A key verse is the last one, “When they heard these things they fell silent. And they glorified God, saying, ‘Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life.’” Notice that repentance and faith are featured elements. Salvation is not open to those who do not repent and come to faith. Some might use this passage to argue for including all in the church, no matter what. The Christian Faith is a specific faith. A Christian life is a specific life. There is much in our world that is contrary to the will of God. We are not called to compromise the Word of God simply to avoid persecution or build numbers in our organization. On the other hand, ANYONE who repents and believes is welcome; even if they continue to struggle with sin (actually struggling with sin describes us all). If one reads the rest of the book of Acts and Paul’s letters, it becomes clear that the “Gentle” question continued to trouble the church but that didn’t break them apart.

Revelation 21:1-7

This is a description of post-Second Coming time for the saved. As always, with Revelation, we must remember Revelation 1:1, where we are told that the book is given in symbols (even though most English translations obscure this point). Therefore, in the post-Second Coming reality, we don’t actually expect to find a spring of water from which we drink to receive eternal life, and if someone doesn’t get to it quickly enough they might die, or that people will actually be shedding tears of sorrow that God will be zipping around wiping off people’s cheeks. The point here is that we will be living with God in a state of joy for all eternity. “The one who conquers” is the one who dies in the Christian Faith. Being God’s “son” means one who inherits, not a gender change for women, no more than being adorned as a bride means there is a gender change for men.

John 16:12-22

This is the Gospel lesson we will not be using. Normally I would not comment on it, but verses 12-14 have been used so often throughout the centuries by false teachers that I want to say something. This passage does not support “continuing revelation.” Instead, it supports the letters of the Apostles as being the Word of God, of equal importance as the rest of the Bible (in their case, the Old Testament). If someone should have a new revelation it is compared to these sure standards. If they drift, even in one point, then they are deceivers and nothing they say can be trusted. Sure, false prophets can speak something very much like the truth (Acts 16:16-18), but we are not to trust them. In the end, they will draw anyone they can away from Jesus! The test here is Trinitarian. We find God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. The Spirit brings people to Jesus. Jesus brings people to the Father. The Father points back to Jesus, who gives believers the Spirit. The joy spoken of is not the type we have when someone tells a good joke, but an abiding joy found even in the midst of trials as one knows they are in God’s hands.

John 13:31-35

In this reading we again see the relationship between the Father and the Son expounded on. The Father is glorified in the Son. Those who bypass the Son, bypass the Father. Jesus says, “now” is the Son of Man glorified. That “now” is indeed the life of Jesus, specifically His crucifixion. To fallen human reason the cross of Christ does not seem like the moment of God’s great glory. However, if we view if from God’s perspective, and realize that at that moment Jesus is winning our victory over sin, death, and the devil, it becomes easier to see it as the moment of glory that God knows it is. Christ promises those who believe an eternal life with Him. Christ gives us a command to love one another, but as this is the focus of the sermon I’ll say nothing about it here.

Jesus Turns Sorrow into Joy (Summary from LC-MS)

On earth “you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy” (John 16:20). Already the Spirit grants you peace and joy through the forgiveness of your sins. For by the cross of Christ, “God has granted repentance that leads to life” (Acts 11:18). His Gospel is “a message by which you will be saved, you and all your household” (Acts 11:14). He gives freely “from the spring of the water of life” (Rev. 21:6), “and death shall be no more” (Rev. 21:4). He dwells with His people, adorning His Church as a bride for her husband, “making all things new” (Rev. 21:5). Therefore, as the Son of Man is glorified by His cross, “and God is glorified in Him” (John 13:31), so He is glorified in us by our “love for one another” (John 13:35), which His Spirit works in us by His grace.

Tidbits

• God willing, the May newsletter will be posted soon (Kitty is in Texas, so things might be slower this month).

• This coming week I will be leading the circuit 18/19 pastor’s “Lake House” retreat at Lake Keowee. That means I will be out of town Monday-Wednesday. I will be back in town for Catechism class, Wednesday evening.

Well, I pray we will see you Sunday.

Blessings in Christ,

Pastor John Rickert

Worship for Easter 4 - 2013

Friday after the Third Sunday of the Resurrection of Our Lord

April 19, 2013

He is Risen!

This coming Sunday is the Fourth Sunday of the Resurrection of Our Lord (Easter 4), April 21.  It is also the Commemoration of Anselm of Canterbury, Theologian. We will be using the Service of Prayer and Preaching for our liturgy, which begins on page 260 of the hymnal. This is a non-communion service. There will be three hymns: “Christ is Arisen,” LSB 459; “I Walk in Danger All the Way,” LSB 716; and “O Sons and Daughters of the King,” LSB 470. Our appointed lessons are: Acts 20:17-35; Revelation 7:9-17; and John 10:23-30. The appointed Psalm is Psalm 23.

In our prayers we will continue to remember those trapped in slavery today, those who have been misled by our cultures advocacy of abortion and sexual immorality, the Lutheran Malaria Initiative, and our sister congregations in the SED (this Sunday: Trinity, Tryon, NC; Hope, Wake Forest, NC; St. Paul, West End, NC; Messiah, Wilimington, NC; Island, Hilton Head Island, SC). We also continue to remember believers around the world. This Sunday we remember the Consistory of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Lithuania and their bishop, Rev. Mindaugas Sabutis, the persecuted believers in Jordan, and the African Immigrant Mission of North America.

For the next month we will be remembering Matt and Kim Myers, our missionaries to Macau. Macau is one of the two “special administrative regions” of Mainland China. Once a Portuguese colony, since 1999 it has been a semi-automatous part of China. The Myers wright, “Please pray for our strength to teach well, encourage our team, and to share the Gospel. Pray that the Lord of the harvest will open the hearts and minds of the people in Macau—that they might follow and trust Him. Please pray for our relationship with our national co-workers, that they will be encouraged by our presence and that we will successfully work together to further God's kingdom.  Please also prayerfully consider how you might be involved, through visits, service, and financial support of our work.”

Because Sunday is the Commemoration of Anselm of Canterbury, Theologian, in our prayers we will thank the Lord for his witness. While his contributions will not be accented beyond that prayer in the service, you may wish to follow this link to a post I put up last year about him: Anselm of Canterbury.

Below is a video of the congregation at Martin Luther Chapel singing our sermon hymn, “I Walk in Danger All the Way.” I expect we will sing it at a faster pace. (God bless Karen.) However this congregation is blessed with a beautiful pipe organ.  

Preview of Lessons

Acts 20:17-35

Paul is traveling to Jerusalem where he knows, thanks to the Holy Spirit, that he will be arrested. (As this is still very early in the life of the Church, Rome still had no official position concerning Christians. Therefore Paul had reason to be hopeful about the outcome of any trial before Roman officials.) While he was docked in Miletus, the pastors from Ephesus came to him. Paul describes the content of his message as “profitable,” about “repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ,” and about “the gospel of the grace of God.” This message is the message of the “kingdom,” indeed it establishes and maintains God’s kingdom. So Paul preached a Law and Gospel message. He then warns the pastors gathered that there will be dangers ahead for them and their congregations. Once Paul is removed false messages will be foist upon them from both within and without. Therefore these pastors are to remain alert to the danger. They are called to protect the content of what Paul has preached, and through that, protect the flock.

Revelation 7:9-17

John sees a vision of heaven in which all the residents are praising the Father and the Son for our salvation. Then one of “the elders” asks John a question, asking John to identify those wearing white robes. John is unable to answer. The elder tells him that they are the believers who have died in the faith. Some take the phrase “coming out of the great tribulation” to mean that at some point in time (typically still to come or the persecutions of the Roman Empire) where Christians will face the “great tribulation.” That is to say, the “great tribulation” is a certain discreet period of time between Jesus’ first and second comings. This is a misunderstanding of the text. First, John is seeing the current state of heaven, so this “great tribulation” must have already begun. Indeed John was in exile because of persecution of the Church. However, second, the words “coming out” are, in the Greek, an ongoing process. That is to say, this “coming out” had already begun and would continue. To put this another way, the “great tribulation” had already begun in the days of John and they will continue until Christ returns. Those who are “coming out” are those who have died in the Faith and gone to be with the saints in glory. In this reading one should also note that Jesus receives the same honor and glory as the Father. Washing ones robes in the blood of the Lamb is another way of saying having faith in Jesus and his atoning death.

John 10:23-30

Jesus has a confrontation with “the Jews” in this lesson. In John’s Gospel “the Jews” are the Jewish leadership, not the average man on the street. This is one of those places where Jesus teaches that he is God in the flesh but, of course, the Jewish leadership does not believe him. However the Lord’s sheep hear him and follow him. Christ keeps them safe. By “safe” I mean they do not lose their faith no matter what and receive eternal life. All who “hear” Jesus are kept safe by his word, for it is through that word that Christ “calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies” all believers.

The Good Shepherd Cares for His Sheep (Summary from LC-MS)

Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came from the Father and became flesh among us in order to rescue us, His sheep. He laid down His life for us and took it up again in order to give us eternal life. By the preaching of His Gospel, He calls His sheep to Himself and keeps them with Him forever. As they hear His voice and follow Him, “they will never perish” (John 10:28), for “no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand” (John 10:29). In the same way, faithful pastors (literally, “shepherds”) “care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood” (Acts 20:28), “testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 20:21). Therefore, with all the company of heaven, the Good Shepherd gathers his flock in worship, as they cry: “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” (Rev. 7:10).

Tidbits

• The funeral for Fran Hall will be graveside tomorrow, at Greenlawn. The time will be 3:30. Visitation begins at 1:00 at the Greenlawn Chapel.

• The Church Council will meet Sunday, following the worship service.

• LitWits, our book club, will meet Sunday evening at the Kimsey’s. The book we will discuss it “The Great Divide: The Failure of Islam and the Triumph of the West” by Alvin J. Schmidt.  

• I will be out of town on Circuit Counselor business Monday and Tuesday of next week.

Well, I pray we will see you Sunday.

Blessings in Christ,

Pastor John Rickert

Worship Notes for Easter 3 - 2013

Thursday after the Second Sunday of the Resurrection of Our Lord

April 11, 2013

He is Risen!

This coming Sunday is the Third Sunday of the Resurrection of Our Lord (Easter 3), April 14.  We will be celebrating the Lord’s Supper, using the third setting of the Divine Service, beginning on page 184 of the hymnal. Our assigned lessons are: Acts 9:1-22, Revelation 5:1-14, and John 21:1-19. The sermon is titled “The Jesus Difference.” The text is Acts 9:20-21. As we are still in the Easter Season, our hymns will continue to be mostly Easter ones. Our opening hymn will be “All the Earth with Joy Is Sounding” (LSB 462). The sermon hymn will be “He Is Arisen! Glorious Word” (LSB 488). Our closing hymn will be “Jesus Christ Is Risen Today” (LSB 457). Our distribution hymns will be “I Know that My Redeemer Lives” (LSB 461), “Our Paschal Lamb, That Sets Us Free” (LSB 473), and “Lord Jesus Christ, You Have Prepared” (LSB 622).

In our prayers we will continue to remember those trapped in slavery today, those who have been misled by our cultures advocacy of abortion and sexual immorality and sister congregations in the SED (this Sunday: St. James, Southern Pines, NC; Holy Trinity, Statesville, NC; Salem & St Paul, Taylorsville, NC; Calvary, Charleston, SC). We also continue to remember believers around the world. This Sunday the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia (ELCL) and their Archbishop, Rev. Janis Vanags, our missionary in Russia, Rev. Alan Ludwig, and the persecuted believers in Iran, especially the imprisoned Pastor, Vahik Abrahamian. New to our Sunday morning prayers will be the African Immigrant Mission of North America. This is a group of believers our Southeastern District is helping out and we are being asked to remember them in our prayers. There are more Lutherans in Africa than the USA. Many have fled their country due to persecution, and have come to our country. Why are they seeking out the LC-MS? Look at the post I put up earlier today to see what kind of welcome the “other large Lutheran” body has given these faithful believers.

Our closing hymn is sung by the Lutheran Warbler

Preview of Lessons

Acts 9:1-22

In short, this is the story of the conversion of the great persecutor of the Apostolic Church, Saul, who becomes the great Apostle to the Gentiles, Paul. Aside from here, the story of Paul’s conversion is also found in Acts 22 and 26. In 22 and 26, the story is part of Paul’s defense while he is on trial. The fact that Luke chose to record the event so fully three times indicates how important Paul was in the Gentile Church.

Saul/Paul is on his way to Damascus to continue the persecution of Christians there. They had scattered from Jerusalem after the stoning of Stephen (Acts 8:1). On the way, Jesus appears to Paul in a blinding light, announcing that the persecution of the Church is the same thing as persecuting Jesus himself. This is something we should remember today as the Church comes under attack from all sides. Saul/Paul was an extremely well educated man (Philippians 3:4-5; Acts 22:3; 26:24) in the Jewish Faith. When Jesus appeared to him, blinded him, and then Paul was received into the home of a Christian and a Christian pastor came to him in a errand of mercy, restoring Paul’s sight, Saul/Paul was compelled to reevaluate his understanding of Scripture. With help from Ananias, his new pastor, Saul/Paul quickly put the pieces together, understanding the Old Testament in light of Jesus. This is another important point. Today many try to understand the Old Testament apart from Jesus. This is a critical mistake! (Luke 24:25-27; 2 Timothy 3:15) Paul is quickly baptized and puts his great education to use by arguing in the synagogue in favor of Christ and his Body. How long this period lasted, the text does not tell us. We know that, if we were to read beyond the assigned lesson, opposition arose and Saul/Paul had to escape. This would be the first of many escapes in his career, fulfilling the words of Jesus, “I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.”

Revelation 5:1-14

The book of Revelation has suffered greatly under the hands of hack “interpreters.” This is because the book is written in highly symbolic language, which is used to import all kinds of non-biblical ideas. Rule One in understanding this book: If you can’t prove the idea from other CLEAR Scripture passages, then the understanding is wrong! At the end of Luke’s Gospel, and again at the beginning of his book of Acts, Luke records the Ascension of our Lord. His account is from the point-of-view of those standing on the ground. Here in Revelation, we see what the earthly witnesses could not. In other words, we have here Jesus’ reception into heaven. The eternal, divine, incarnate God, resumes the full exercise of his power and authority. Notice how the praise in heaven is centered on the redemptive work of Christ. Would that we would feel such a thrill every time we think of and talk about the work of our redemption! Notice the angsts when the word of God is sealed and it seems like it will not be opened. Notice that the key to unlocking scripture is Jesus and his atoning work. All of heaven recognizes the greatness of Christ. By grace, we do also.

John 21:1-19

This reading is about a post-resurrection appearance of Jesus. So it takes place after Easter and before Ascension Day (40 days after Easter). There is a shorter and a longer option with the shorter option ending at verse 14. While doing something else this week, I found a video by Pastor Jonathan Fisk about verses 1 – 14. He apparently does one of these a week, focused on the Gospel lesson, and publishing it on his blog on Tuesday. I’m just going to post his video, and I hope you find it a blessing. One note, in reference to Revelation he says the sea symbolizes “chaos.” Those who remember my Revelation study will remember I disagree with that common interpretation. I see it as either a reference to trials/tribulations, especially in the OT, or baptism, especially in the NT. If you substitute “baptism” for “chaos” in Fisk’s comments, you will see it makes a wonderful comment about being buried in baptism with Christ and raised to new life in our Lord. The end part of our reading, which Fisk omits, deals with the re-commissioning of Peter and the information that his death would glorify God. The final words, “Follow me,” echo across time and are for all believers. Now, the Fisk video.

The Good Shepherd Feeds His Lambs (Summary from LC-MS)

“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain” (Rev. 5:12), who by His cross has conquered sin and death. With His blood, He has “ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation” (Rev. 5:9). This same Lord Jesus visits people of all nations and calls them to Himself by the Gospel, even as He “was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead” (John 21:14). He restored Simon Peter to faith and life and commissioned him to feed His lambs and tend His sheep (John 21:15–17). Likewise, He revealed Himself to Saul of Tarsus and brought him to repentance, so that the persecutor of Jesus might carry and confess His name “before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel” (Acts 9:15–16).

Tidbits

• Remember, our HEALTH FAIR is this Saturday, April 13. Drop by between 1:00 and 4:00 pm. You will be glad you did. Oh, and bring a friend.

• If you see this in time, the Women’s Bible Fellowship is meeting tonight (Thursday), at church. The gathering starts at 6:30.

• The Board of Evangelism will meet Sunday, after worship, for lunch and planning.

• Just a quick peek ahead to Monday of next week; our Greek club will meet at Panera’s Bread Company at 8:30 am for translating and breakfast.

Well, I pray we will see you Sunday.

Blessings in Christ,

Pastor John Rickert

ELCA Evicts African Lutherans

ELCA evicts African Lutherans

because of opposition to new ELCA teaching and policy

Okay, so I’m as slow as molasses running up hill in the middle of winter, but I found this article when doing some research about a new association of Immigrant Africans whose gathering is being supported by the Southeastern District. The story was published in 2011. It is about the fate of two African Immigrant congregations that met in ELCA congregation buildings.  - Pastor

Posted on Wednesday, January 19, 2011 6:03:32 PM by rhema

The ELCA is taking harsh actions against African immigrant Lutherans who oppose the ELCA’s new teaching and policy on marriage and same-sex sexual relationships.

Two African immigrant congregations have been expelled from local ELCA congregations where they have worshiped at the direction of ELCA officials.

“Oromo congregations in Houston, Texas, and Denver, Colorado, were asked by their mission directors and host church to leave the church premises without delay. The reason they were given was they are not in agreement with the August 2009 Churchwide Assembly resolution,” the January newsletter of the United Oromo Evangelical Churches reported.

The 2009 ELCA Churchwide Assembly voted to change ELCA teaching and practice on marriage and sexual ethics to affirm same-sex sexual relationships and to allow pastors to be in those relationships.

The 2009 assembly also asked the ELCA to respect the “bound consciences” of those who disagree with the church’s new teaching and practice. But that part has been more difficult for ELCA officials.

“One of the things mentioned to the leaders of the church in Denver: ‘Rev. Gemechis Buba has resigned from his ELCA position and we assume you have a similar stand and we have no reason to keep you in our buildings,’” the newsletter reported.

The Rev. Dr. Gemechis Buba is the former Director of African National Ministries for the ELCA. He resigned his ELCA position Dec. 8 to accept a call to serve as Missions Director for the North American Lutheran Church.

Dr. Buba was the first prominent leader from the ELCA national offices in Chicago to leave the church body since the 2009 ELCA Churchwide Assembly.

Members of these congregations came to America to escape persecution because of their Christian faith in their native Ethiopia under the Communist regime that ruled Ethiopia until 1991. Some of them were imprisoned and tortured because of their commitment to Christ. They now face a different kind of persecution in their new home because of their faith.

“We ask all of our church leaders to announce fasting and prayer time for the difficulties we currently facing,” the newsletter requests.