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| By Norma A. Boeckler |
The Seventh Sunday after Trinity, 2018
Pastor Gregory L. Jackson
The melodies are linked in the hymn title.
The lyrics are linked in the hymn number.
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| By Norma A. Boeckler |
The Confession of Sins
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16
The Gloria Patri
The Kyrie p. 17
The Gloria in Excelsis
The Salutation and Collect p. 19
The Epistle and Gradual
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16
The Gloria Patri
The Kyrie p. 17
The Gloria in Excelsis
The Salutation and Collect p. 19
The Epistle and Gradual
The Gospel
Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed p. 22
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed p. 22
And All These Things
The Preface p. 24
The Sanctus p. 26
The Lord's Prayer p. 27
The Words of Institution
The Agnus Dei p. 28
The Nunc Dimittis p. 29
The Benediction p. 31
The Hymn # 199 Jesus Christ Is Risen Today
The Lord's Prayer p. 27
The Words of Institution
The Agnus Dei p. 28
The Nunc Dimittis p. 29
The Benediction p. 31
The Hymn # 199 Jesus Christ Is Risen Today
KJV Romans 6:19 I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness. 20 For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. 21 What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. 22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. 23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
KJV Mark 8:1 In those days the multitude being very great, and having nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples unto him, and saith unto them, 2 I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now been with me three days, and have nothing to eat: 3 And if I send them away fasting to their own houses, they will faint by the way: for divers of them came from far. 4 And his disciples answered him, From whence can a man satisfy these men with bread here in the wilderness? 5 And he asked them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven. 6 And he commanded the people to sit down on the ground: and he took the seven loaves, and gave thanks, and brake, and gave to his disciples to set before them; and they did set them before the people. 7 And they had a few small fishes: and he blessed, and commanded to set them also before them. 8 So they did eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets. 9 And they that had eaten were about four thousand: and he sent them away.
SEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY
Lord God, heavenly Father, who in the wilderness didst by Thy Son abundantly feed four thousand men besides women and children with seven loaves and a few small fishes: We beseech Thee, graciously abide among us with Thy blessing, and keep us from covetousness and the cares of this life, that we may seek first Thy kingdom and Thy righteousness, and in all things needful for body and soul, experience Thine ever-present help; through Thy Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one true God, world without end. Amen.
Sermon Introduction
I am beginning each sermon with a short essay on a doctrinal topic because so little is done in this area, whether in seminaries or colleges.
The Holy Spirit and the Word
This is a troublesome miracle for many, even those who consider themselves to be orthodox, faithful, or at least legacy Christians (fifth generation members). One must stick to a simple concept revealed by the Scriptures - God always works through the Word and never apart from the Word. This is not proven by God, but revealed by God.
Men make claims without any support. That happens all the time, because their ideas float like clouds, without any foundation. Everyone must agree with them or be verbally assaulted in some way. God does not work the way man does, but reveals His wisdom and makes that clear in teaching those articles of faith in many different ways. If we do not understand it one way, He reveals it another way. That also means that the same matters grow in importance and clarity as we see them together as themes in the Scriptures. However, the sectarians look at verses, half-verses, and invidual words to make a case for their hobby.
One example - at a Creation conference one man offered his book on the Flood. He could explain everything about the Flood, but what he missed was this - God caused the Genesis Flood by His Word and ended it the same way. Mankind has forgotten the term "an act of God" and therefore explains everything without God.
This also affects our attitude toward Creation. Those who deny the power and efficacy of the Word are all mixed up about Genesis 1 and ignore John 1. This can come from forgetfulness. One generation does not teach the next, and the next fills in the empty spaces with the wisdom of man. Modern theologians easily fill up those empty spaces with pretty words that form a bridge between rationalism and the Christian Faith. God "could have taken billions of years" so Creation is compatible with evolution. The worst part of that new version is not allowing God the ability to create instantly by the Holy Spirt at work in the Word.
Human reason always seeks to satisfy the needs of human reason, so the Scriptural teachings are overlooked. We cannot imagine God multiplying the food. One response is, "God's miracle through His Word," but the other is "People were hiding their food until the boy offered his. In shame they got out their food and shared it too, so there were baskets left over." I know ministers who will not say that directly but let people think so by the way they say the Feeding of the Multitude was a "Miracle of Sharing." Does that bear analysis? Who shared? No one. God gave through His Word and the disciples distributed. That vague language allows for the greatest number to agree and no one to be upset. But when we say what the Word teaches, that disturbs people.
This clearly shows what 2 Thessalonians 2 is teaching about the Word. Those who reject the Word are blinded by its power and grow ever more hateful about the Word. They rejoice in their evil. One pastor phoned me to yell at me for my posts, trying to deny everything I wrote. But at the end, he asked, "Where do you get your information?" I said, "From your own fellow pastors." He screamed and slammed down the phone (old story). The energy of his scream was like his final question - it came from hearing the truth and not liking it at all.
This is what we see in Jesus teaching the righteousness of faith and the Pharisees plotting to kill Him. If we do not see the 2 Thess 2 aspect of this, we miss the entire meaning of the Atonement. Jesus was teaching faith, and they were teaching works. His teaching was clearly divine and it destroyed their teaching and their righteousness. Therefore, they had to hate Him and plot against Him.
Likewise today, the cross laid on us reveals that many do not believe the Word of God, even if they write about it daily, receive many honors, and even call themselves Reverend and Dr. (or at least DMin - Latin for Minimal Doctor or Driveby Doctor). If we shrink back from annoying these people, we miss the power of the Word in revealing the truth of God's wisdom and God's will.
How does any pastor or layman stand fast when he denies the efficacy of the Word? He will give up the meaning and the comfort of Holy Communion. He will be glad to compromise to have the security and comfort he wants from this life. He will never comprehend or teach Justification by Faith, which means God declares us forgiven through faith in the Savior.
And All These Things
KJV Mark 8:1 In those days the multitude being very great, and having nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples unto him, and saith unto them, 2 I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now been with me three days, and have nothing to eat:
For his second sermon on this passage, Luther uses this teaching of Jesus - "Seek first the Kingdom and its righteousness, and all these things will be yours."
Luther's point is that Jesus' mission was not to feed and clothe people, but to teach them about forgiveness of sin and salvation. God already provides for our material needs. However, in love God also pours out blessings on us.
Neverthetheless, we should never be alarmed that life is unsettled, uncertain, full of various troubles and difficulties. Our Old Adam wants all that taken away, but it is part of living in a sinful world, and we contribute our part to it as well.
This large crowd found Jesus' teaching so compelling that they followed Him into a place where they might drink water but would still have nothing to eat. One could easily say, they sought the Kindom first and its righteousness. Before they even thought to ask Jesus about food, He was answering their needs.
That is always good to remember, because this is an ancient Promise in the Old Testament. He is already answering before we think to ask.
Isaiah 65 23 They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the Lord, and their offspring with them. 24 And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.
That is why we should dwell on the Word of God, because it strengthens us in the midst of doubt and despair.
It is strange how nothing can change and yet we can be filled with energy and hope from one insight from God's Word. Then the very nature of pain can be seen as a joy and a blessing.
For example, I have thought many times, "No one is listening, in spite of books and hundreds of articles. Nothing more needs to be said." Then one or the other will happen.
- Someone I never knew before will write and tell me how much it means to read traditional Biblical teaching instead of modernism and hucksterism. This happens fairly often.
- Or, someone will rant against me so visciously that I know a post or a graphic has drawn toxic blood from the false teacher. As Maggie Thatcher once said, in so many words, "When you attack me personally and even included my family members, then I am glad. Because I realize you do not have any arguments left."
Difficulties make us look at everything all over again. Seek first the Kingdom, not Seek first a calm and placid life. The turmoil, the fears, the anxieties - all show us the texture of life. Then the blessings and the Promises are more vivid to us.
Where great emotional pain and suffering exist, there is so much more opportunity to experience the healing of God's grace and forgiveness. That does not mean grace without repentance, as the hippy theologians would argue, but true forgiveness and forgetting - as God forgets - after repentance.
Being quick to forgive in the right context also makes us quick to say, "I'm sorry" and mean it. The Old Adam wants to accuse and not repent. The New Man is inclined to forgive and to repent, because the power of God's forgiveness is the power of the Gospel Word.
This miracle teaches us that God takes care of our spiritual needs first and always watches over our material needs.
3 And if I send them away fasting to their own houses, they will faint by the way: for divers of them came from far.
Jesus knew what it was like to be hungry in the desert. That was His first temptation. We should never overlook the Two Natures in Christ, because He knows exactly how we experience life in those difficult moments.
Being hungry, or out of work, or wondering where the groceries will come from - that will influence reactions from that point on. I was trying to influence a family to give up sugary drinks, which they could not afford anyway. The kids were suffering for it. I knew how addicting they were because I had trouble stopping in Phoenix, when an iced soda tastes so good and sparks some fake energy. I just dropped off cases of water for the family, and the little girl came to love that. Once when I came by, the girl ran out delighted and tried to drag the case inside on her own. Her father helped, and he said, "The kids love this water. Thanks."
Jesus' compassion always includes His own human nature, knowing exactly how we feel and think about the troubles of life. He was tempted in many ways.
Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.
14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. 15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.Jesus asked this question to tempt - that is, to test - His disciples. The Bad News Bears had a quick answer - Can't be done.
4 And his disciples answered him, From whence can a man satisfy these men with bread here in the wilderness?
Use some common sense. Bread cannot be bought in the desert, and even if it could, no tradesman would have enough.
That is an important insight, because man's reason does not limit God's ability. I have tried to explain to my wife that we were not going to see a close friend randomly at a seminary, on a highway, on the streets of Chicago, or in the Mayo Clinic. And yet, while I was clinching my powerful and effective argument, each time a person appeared who was important in our lives. Paul Holmer appeared that way - twice - like Gandolf - beyond all hope.
The disciples were right, but God's Word transcends all human reason and argumentation. We should always remember God's power, because faith does not mean coming to an intellectual decision, as the UOJ stylists claim for Subjective Justification (Walther, JP Meyer, etc). Faith is created by the Gospel Word, and faith is just as much a creation of the Creator as the sun and moon are.
5 And he asked them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven. 6 And he commanded the people to sit down on the ground: and he took the seven loaves, and gave thanks, and brake, and gave to his disciples to set before them; and they did set them before the people. 7 And they had a few small fishes: and he blessed, and commanded to set them also before them.
Starting with very little, perhaps enough for the disciples, Jesus multiplied the loaves and fish through the power of the Word. And He gave thanks - as we should for our daily blessings and even more for our spiritual blessings.
This is similar to but not identical with the Lord's Supper. The power of God's Word is in multiplying the supply of bread and fish for the famished multitude. They did not have enough calories to make it back in the hot sun. It takes a lot of energy to stay warm and also to stay cool. Many who visit the Arizona desert country do not realize that and grow weary and even delirious from the heat, lack of water, and lack of food. When I took our group through the fabulous cactus garden park in Phoenix, all of us began with water. The tourists from the Midwest did not.
This miracle not only teaches us about how God cares for us, but also about the trascendent way in which He gives us the Body and Blood of Christ for the forgiveness of sin. In fact, that also applies to the abundance of His mercy. While we are inclined to be misers of mercy, God is prodigal in providing material and spiritual blessings. His power is chiefly shown in His mercy, as the prayer says.
8 So they did eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets. 9 And they that had eaten were about four thousand: and he sent them away.
If someone denies the efficacy and world-wide distribution of the Lord's Supper, he is also denying this miracle. If he denies this miracle of God's abundance through the Word, he is also repudiating the basic truths of Holy Communion.
The most basic doctrines of the Bible are the ones attacked with the most ferocity -
- The humanity of Christ.
- The divinity of Christ.
- Justification by Faith.
Depending on the era and the person, the arch-heretic thinks he is doing God a favor by getting rid of the faithful. Thus we must always be led by the Spirit in the Word, and not by our human reason, our personal experience, or the current fads.
6. From this then will follow the ruin of the Church, in that the parishes will stand vacant, the pulpits be neglected and again preachers arrive who seek not faithfully God’s Word nor the kingdom of Christ; but who think, as they preach, what the people will gladly hear, so that they may continue in that direction and again become rich; and in this manner things will again go to ruin. Therefore also at present the great and powerful, especially the nobility, plan to keep their pastors and preachers under their feet in order that they may not again become rich, and lord it over them as they formerly experienced and are now overcautious. But they will not be able to bring it about as they plan.
7. How shall we now act in this matter and from what source shall we obtain preachers and pastors in order that the kingdom of Christ may be perpetuated? For neither poverty nor riches is good for the Church; mere poverty, hunger and anxiety the preachers cannot suffer; great possessions and riches they cannot stand. Poverty hinders the development of their personality; riches are in the way of them performing the duties of their work and office. But wherever it thus happens that support is not given, and the pulpit and the office of the pastor are left vacant, then will the world also see what it will have to enjoy because of such action.
7. How shall we now act in this matter and from what source shall we obtain preachers and pastors in order that the kingdom of Christ may be perpetuated? For neither poverty nor riches is good for the Church; mere poverty, hunger and anxiety the preachers cannot suffer; great possessions and riches they cannot stand. Poverty hinders the development of their personality; riches are in the way of them performing the duties of their work and office. But wherever it thus happens that support is not given, and the pulpit and the office of the pastor are left vacant, then will the world also see what it will have to enjoy because of such action.
