Sermon on the Alternate Gospel at Matins on 30 October 2016, Reformation Sunday (Observed)

The Rev. Paul J Cain

Matthew 11:12–19

The Kingdom of Heaven

Reformation Sunday Matins, 30 October 2016

Immanuel Lutheran Church, Sheridan, Wyoming

In the Name of Jesus. Amen.

Today is not the 500^th Anniversary of the Lutheran Reformation. That’s a year from tomorrow, 31 October 2017. Yet, the celebration begins here and now. The Protestant Reformation was a protest: a protest of errors, false practices, and misuse of Church authority in the hope and prayer of reform centering on Christ, returning to God’s Word, emphasizing the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, and reforming human traditions on the basis of Scripture and the Gospel!

The Church was in need of reform. Some priests knew enough Latin to get through Mass, but rarely preached sermons, if at all. Others didn’t even know the Lord’s Prayer. Most people couldn’t understand the services. Many could not read. Many were not taught much at all about the Bible or Jesus or Christianity. Positions of authority like bishoprics were sold for money. People were eager to pay especially for positions like the archbishopric in Mainz, because the officeholder was an elector and could vote for the next Holy Roman Emperor. The HRE wasn’t that holy, wasn’t very Roman, and wasn’t much of an empire. Yet, an Elector like Frederick III of Saxony could protect a reform-minded friar, priest, and doctor of the Church like Martin Luther.

One can see why Matthew 11 is an appropriate Gospel reading for the celebration of the Reformation of Christ’s Church.

¹² From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence,⁴ and the violent take it by force. ¹³ For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John, ¹⁴ and if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come. ¹⁵ He who has ears to hear,⁵ let him hear.

¹⁶ “But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their playmates,

¹⁷ “ ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance;

we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’

¹⁸ For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ ¹⁹ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.”^{6 [1]}

The kingdom of heaven has suffered violence. Sin is violence against the Lord and His heavenly kingdom. Sin is a violent act, especially when people sin against the Lord and His kingdom by preaching, practices, and lives lived contrary to God’s Word. There is always need for reform in the Church because there are sinners in the Church. Some don’t like what is said or what is done, so they seek to change things one way or another. The Judaism of Jesus’ day had Pharisees, seen by many as hypocrites, Sadducees, who resemble Scripture-denying religious progressives today, Zealots with a radical political focus, Essenes who dwelt as a hermit-like purified community in the wilderness, and Herodians who supported King Herod.

John the Baptist is dead because he dared to speak God’s truth to one with worldly power, Herod. Herod had his brother’s wife move in with him and he made promises without thinking because of his niece’s dance at a dinner party. John lost his head and the kingdom of heaven once again suffered violence.

Yet, wisdom is justified by her deeds. Jesus speaks true wisdom to his hearers in Matthew 11, crowds eager to hear what He would say after He and his disciples met with messengers from John the Baptist. John is one like the Old Testament prophet Elijah. John is the last Old-Testament-style prophet. John prepares the way for Jesus, the Christ, the promised Messiah, the prophet, priest, king, suffering servant, temple, and the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Jesus speaks wisdom.

Yet, wisdom is justified by her deeds. Jesus was all in. He was committed to His ministry of teaching, His ministry of suffering, dying, and being resurrected for you, and His ongoing ministry of Word and Sacrament here and now. Jesus’ words are true and wise. Jesus’ words are also backed by deeds that reveal Him as God and Lord, creator and redeemer.

Some in this world will never be satisfied with us as Christians. They urge us to change. Some are even so bold as to tell us so: “(And) deep seated cultural codes, religious beliefs and structural biases have to be changed.” When words like that are said aloud, religious liberty is under attack. In saying this, I do not mean to imply that we’ll all be persecuted tomorrow. We do need to stand up for what we believe on the basis of God’s Word. We stand for religious liberty, Biblical marriage, and life when we speak in the public square.

Suppose for a moment we did change one of our sincerely held beliefs. I do not intend to, nor do I wish us to. But suppose for a moment we changed one. Would the world be satisfied? No. Say we changed another and another and another, rapidly or gradually. Would we ever earn the approval of this world? No. It would always be a losing battle. Approval from the world is always a moving target. Flute or dirge, we Christians dare not dance or mourn at the bidding of a sinful, fallen world.

Source of the following: http://www.luther.de/en/ws.html

Luther arrived in Worms as part of a triumphal procession. The emperor and church officials expected him to recant his theses while at the Diet.

Luther's books were placed on a table. He was then asked if they were his works and whether he wanted to recant any of the information. Luther requested time to think over his reply and the next day he answered with the well-known speech: "Unless I am convicted by scripture and plain reason - I do not accept the authority of the popes and councils, for they have contradicted each other - my conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and I will not recant anything for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. God help me. Amen." [According to] legend (that) Luther [also] said the words "Here I stand. I cannot do otherwise. God help me, Amen!"

There are days we are on defense because the Church and Christians are under attack. There are days we are primarily on offense. That is when we make ourselves known primarily for what we are FOR rather than AGAINST. That is when the Church is known for making disciples of all nations by baptizing and teaching God’s Word. God help us! Amen.

The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.

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^[1] Lutheran Service Book Historic (One Year) Lectionary. (2009). Bellingham, WA: Concordia Publishing House.

Funeral Sermon for Vera Kaufmann Rhoades, 29 October 2016

The Rev. Paul J Cain

Psalm 43

Thine Forever

Saturday of Trinity XXII, 29 October 2016

Immanuel Lutheran Church, Sheridan, Wyoming

Funeral Sermon for Vera Laura (Kaufmann) Rhoades

In the Name of Jesus. Amen.

Death is on our minds today. We mourn, but we have hope in Christ, for He has defeated death by a death of His own and a Resurrection of His own that He will one day share with us.

We miss Vera, our sister in Christ. She felt like family, even to many of us who were not related to her by blood or marriage. The Lord makes us family through Holy Baptism. He makes promises to us in His Word and He keeps them, of that we can be sure. One such promise is Mark 16:16. “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.” Vera was baptized in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, according to Christ’s command, and into this promise. We rightly leave the rest up to the Lord.

Elements of today’s service tell of the gifts Christ gave to Vera and the story of her life in Christ. She was baptized on the Sunday before Ash Wednesday, Quinquagesima, in 1918. Our Epistle lesson today was likely heard that day.

The Sunday before Palm Sunday was Vera’s Confirmation Day in 1930, and at least a portion of Psalm 43 was heard that day. (Read underlined verses on next page.)

¹Vindicate me, O God, and defend my cause against an ungodly people, from the deceitful and unjust man deliver me! ²For you are the God in whom I take refuge; why have you rejected me? Why do I go about mourning because of the oppression of the enemy? ³Send out your light and your truth; let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling! ⁴Then I will go to the altar of God, to God my exceeding joy, and I will praise you with the lyre, O God, my God. ⁵Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.

We read the whole of this psalm responsively earlier in the service. It speaks to God’s vindication and deliverance of us, the light and truth of His Word guiding us each day and all our life long, His gathering of us to be His people in the place where He delivers His gifts to us, and that He is the source of our hope, the object of our praise, both our Savior and our God.

On a Confirmation Sunday in a German Lutheran congregation in 1930 Nebraska, one would probably also hear this verse from the mouth of Jesus:
Sei getreu bis an den Tod, so will ich dir die Krone des Lebens geben.^[1]
The English of Revelation 2:10b is: “Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.”

In Holy Baptism, Vera is in Christ. At her Confirmation and First Communion and every Communion since, even those in her room with us at Green House Living, she is in Christ. Now, she is at peace, at rest, in Christ, and in His presence. With her we await the return of Christ and the Resurrection of all on the Last Day, when all delivered and saved by Christ will be with Him and one another face to face, knowing in full, fully in Christ.

Years ago, I asked Vera about her favorite hymn. “Well, I like them all!” she said in her “happy-grumpy” voice. And then we opened up her hymnal and looked at some, including “Let Me Be Thine Forever.” You may be noticing a theme develop. Together, the readings and hymns echo her confession of faith.

When a pastor visits a Christian like Vera on her deathbed, he has a wonderful resource in a book called the Pastoral Care Companion that accompanies the hymnal Lutheran Service Book. (And yes, there’s even an app for that on my smartphone.) Some call it “Last Rites.” We call it “Commendation of the Dying.” What an excellent opportunity to comfort a believer who received the washing of water and the Word, heard Jesus’ Words of forgiveness, drank deeply of Sacred Scripture, and feasted upon Christ’s own Body and Blood. Near the end of the “commendation,” or, when death is near, the pastor speaks or chants the Nunc Dimittis, “Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace…”

Then, the pastor may say or sing stanza three of the classic Lutheran hymn “Lord, Thee I Love with All My Heart,” LSB 708: ¯ “Then let at last Thine angels come, To Abram’s bosom bear me home That I may die unfearing. And in its narrow chamber keep My body safe in peaceful sleep Until Thy reappearing. And then from death awaken me That my own eyes with joy may see, O Son of God, Thy glorious face, My Savior and my fount of grace! Lord Jesus Christ, my prayer attend, my prayer attend, And I will praise Thee without end.”

What comfort! Even in this wicked world, His love surrounds you. He blesses you here in His Word and Sacrament according to His Gospel promises. He has given you family and friends to love you, and a congregation of other forgiven sinners to care for you and encourage you. He will never leave nor forsake you. And He is with us until the end of the age, the time of His reappearing.

For a Christian with a Lutheran background, this was Vera’s hope as she despaired of any so-called righteousness in herself and clung tightly to the forgiveness of sins Jesus won for her. This is your hope as well. Jesus tells us the Truth in His Word. I invite you to hear His Word on a regular basis, believe in the Father who sent Him, and by faith, receive the gracious Gifts of God delivered by God the Holy Spirit: Life in Him now, eternal life in the world to come, and Resurrection on the Last Day. Amen.

The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.

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^[1] Luther, M. (2001). Biblia: das ist: Die gantze Heilige Schrifft (Re 2:10). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc. 1545 translation.

Sermon for 16 October 2016, Twenty-first Sunday after Trinity

The Rev. Paul J Cain, Jr.

Ephesians 6:10-20

The Full Armor of God

Twenty-first Sunday after Trinity, 16 October 2016

Immanuel Lutheran Church, Sheridan, Wyoming

To the saints who are… faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 1:1b-2) Amen.

In the legend, Lancelot is a noble knight of the Round Table, brave and gallant, known throughout the land for his heroics.  Guinevere is the wife of King Arthur.  Lancelot and Guinevere had “fallen in love” on the day Lancelot was knighted.  He had apparently forgotten his sword, and upon noticing, Queen Guinevere was able to provide it to him unnoticed, saving Lancelot from great embarrassment.  Lancelot and Guinevere are allowed to continue a sinful, adulterous relationship for many years.  Eventually, some of the knights grow envious and jealous of Lancelot, and decide to reveal the affair to the King.  Even in fiction, most of Lancelot’s problems would have been prevented if he had only kept his armor on.

In our day, we insure our property, protect our possessions, guard our family members, and take care of our own bodies. But what of heart, mind, and soul? In those areas we often let our guard down.

“Two little eyes to look to God, Two little ears to hear His word, Two little feet to walk in His ways, Two little lips to sing His praise, Two little hands to do His will, And one little heart to love Him still.”

What happens when eyes, like Lancelot’s look elsewhere? How does what we hear from the world change our mind? When do our own feet lead us into temptation? Who or what do we praise in the place of God? Why do our hands move to sin instead of serve? What of heart, mind, and soul? In those areas we often let our guard down.

Conceived and born with original sin and also sinful because of our own thoughts, words, deeds, actions, and inaction, we have no strength. We are easy prey. True strength can only come from outside of ourselves. We don’t want to admit it, but we are outmatched, overwhelmed, and far out of our league.

The Lord is a warrior. The Lord is on Your Side. Christ is the Victor over sin, death, and the devil. And a good thing, too! We need exactly that kind of help!

10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

We are tempted to think that our enemies are the human beings that face us on the other side of a conflict. Not so—especially in the church. True, human beings can be used to carry out evil, but the devil is still the author of evil schemes. By no means does this let someone like Nero or Hitler or Bin Laden off the hook! They are guilty of their own sin, atrocities, and ultimately, unbelief. The Devil is no mere symbol or legend. The devil is the father of lies, a spiritual force, ruler, authority, and cosmic power. We are no match for Him, but Jesus is. The devil is only an angel—a fallen angel. God is the Creator and Victor. You need the Lord and the strength of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.

13Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.

Stand. Stand. Stand. Sometimes it is all we can do to stand upright. In this text, God is not asking you to take the next hill in battle. You are given to stand firm and preserve, protect, and defend what He has given you. Like a tree planted by streams of water we stand. Like Martin Luther we say, “Here I stand. I can do no other. God help me.” On Christ the solid rock we stand—all other ground is sinking sand. We stand upon Christ and His Word.

A Church Body’s official public confession is important. When you hear the headline that “Lutherans” approve of homosexual activity, so-called marriages and clergy, do not mistake the public teaching of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America for our Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. When you hear that “Lutherans” share communion and pulpits with the Episcopal Church, United Methodist Church, United Church of Christ, Reformed Church in America, the Moravian Church, and the Presbyterian Church in the USA, do not mistake the practice of the ELCA with our LCMS.

I say this not out of smugness. Nor do I claim that all pastors, congregations, or people of the ELCA are “liberal.” Two-thirds of the delegates at their recent conventions appear to be. Not all in the LCMS are Biblically conservative.

We should greet such headlines and news with repentance, prayer for all involved, and by making a clear confession that the LCMS stands upon Christ and His Word, not popular opinion or political correctness.

14Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.

This is the armor of God. Is it any wonder that many Christians include this reading from Ephesians 6 in their devotions every morning? Seven pieces: truth, righteousness, gospel of peace, the faith, salvation, the Word of God. [And prayer in the verses after our official text.] The armor is buckled on in order. (Borrowing from Lenski…)

14Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth… Divine truth grounds us in battle. And yes, there is such a thing as one truth—not just a “truth” for me and a “truth” for you. God’s truth exists and rules over all.

...and having put on the breastplate of righteousness… Dr. Luther saw this as the moral righteousness of the Christian. To be sure, this should be the carefully guarded possession and lifestyle of all the Baptized. This is also the righteousness of Christ we put on by faith. As a breastplate protects all the vital organs, God’s verdict in Christ acquits us of all sin and guilt and declares us righteous for Christ’s sake. It is the central part of all saving truth, spiritual Kevlar. The heart of the message of the Word, righteousness in Christ, makes our heart invulnerable to the devil.

15...and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. Eager courage that is due to the Gospel fills you with the peace of God. “World Peace” is elusive. You have peace with God won for you by the Prince of Peace and delivered by the Holy Spirit. We are given to be at peace with all, but we always need to be ready when others war on us. Until the Lord calls us home, we are the Church Militant—the Church at War with the devil, the world, and our own sinful flesh.

16In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one… The shield needs to be carried, too. Reason is a poor substitute, a man-made shield that readily catches fire. “Faith” can refer both to the content of the Holy Christian faith, what we believe, as well as the believing trust in Christ that the Lord gives you as a gift. The arrows are temptation—especially the temptation to doubt, the oldest temptation there is: “Did God really say?” It worked so well against Eve, the devil still has that arrow in his quiver. The burning arrows of devilish doubt are ineffective against faith—faith created and nurtured by Baptism, Absolution, the Word of Gospel, and the Lord’s Supper.

17…and take the helmet of salvation… Our present salvation in Christ protects the head from a fatal or disabling blow, a faith-destroying blow. So far the defensive armor.

…and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God… This is the only offensive weapon in our arsenal. Spiritus Gladius Verbum Domini. The Word of God is the sword of the Holy Spirit. The Word of God is living and active like a two-edged sword. Hebrews fits well with this message of Ephesians.

God’s Word is our great heritage. The grass withers and the flower fades, but the Word of the Lord endures forever. The Word is the best evidence we have that in the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The Spirit’s Sword is invincible. Resist the devil, especially with the Word, and he will flee from you. Remember the Word in your day of temptation. Yet, the Word is not only used on offense.

Remember the defensive armor? As truth the Word belts us; as the Gospel of peace it puts the readiness of courage into our hearts; as the faith, the doctrines which we believe, teach and confess, it shields us against any and all of the wicked one’s lies. In addition to all this, the Word and utterance of God smites and defeats our [old evil] foe himself. (Lenski)

Seven. 18…praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. Often, this is the forgotten part of the whole armor of God: prayer. Bird: Hear us Father, when we pray, Through Your Son and in Your Spirit. By Your Spirit’s Word convey All that we through Christ inherit, That as baptized heirs we may Truly pray.

To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, 19and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 20for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.

A prayer list is included in our newsletter each month, even though we do not always pray specifically for everyone by name in the Prayer of the Church. You are given to pray for the whole people of God and for all people according to their needs.

Pray for those in authority and for your enemies. Every candidate and political leader is covered that way—go ahead and giggle. J We regularly pray for our sister congregations in the Wyoming District of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. As a congregation, we pray for and regularly visit our shut-ins. We pray for our young people, especially those who have recently begun or continue Catechism instruction. We pray for our families and congregational family, especially those who have been away from the Lord’s house and His gifts. We pray they will accept an invitation to come home.

And we pray for peace. Since the 6^th Century, Christians have prayed in the following way. Dr. Luther adapted this prayer and saw to it that it was set to music (LSB 778). It is a fitting prayer in times of war and uncertainty.

Grant peace, we pray, in mercy, Lord; Peace in our time, O send us! For there is none on earth but You, None other to defend us. You only, Lord, can fight for us. Amen.

Peace be to the brothers, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with love incorruptible. (Ephesians 6:23) Amen.