Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Sermon for 6 May 2012, Fifth Sunday of Easter B



The Rev. Paul J Cain
John 15:1-8
Confirmation of Baptism
Easter 5B, 06 May 2012
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Sheridan, WY

In the Name of Jesus. Amen.

The first eight verses of John 15 make a perfect sermon text for a Confirmation Sunday.
Why?
Well, to be brutally honest, Jesus helps me end the idea that Confirmation is a Graduation from Church. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Confirmation is the recognition that the young adults before us have an informed faith in Christ and that they now confess with heart, mind, and mouth that Christ is their Savior.
No, Confirmation is not mentioned in the Bible, but what Confirmation confirms is mentioned in the Bible: Holy Baptism. Confirmation means “Confirmation of Baptism,” and that Jesus’ commission for the Church to make disciples of all nations by means of baptizing and by means of teaching His Word is fulfilled yet again.
If we were to think that Confirmation is the end of our instruction and growth in the Lord and in His Word, we would be teaching and practicing contrary to John 15.
Jesus says, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.
Humor sometimes helps me to teach difficult truths. There’s an old Church joke about Confirmation. It seems a congregation had a problem with squirrels in the attic of their church building. The Trustees got together with the pastor and the leaders of the congregation to try to come up with a plan to get rid of the squirrels. They didn’t want to poison them. Trapping them hadn’t worked. They did find the hole where the squirrels had used to get into the attic and sealed it up. One of the men turned to the pastor and jokingly said, “Well, we could always confirm those squirrels, pastor. Some we confirmed years ago haven’t come back since they were confirmed.”
For some reason, that joke has never seemed funny to me. It tells a true story better than statistics could. Not every child born in America is born to Christian parents. Not all children born to Christian parents are baptized anymore—not even as teenagers. Only about half of the children baptized in LCMS congregations are confirmed. And of those young adults confirmed on special days like this one, half are practicing Christians as adults. The Christians that came before us knew that some fall away from faith in Christ. I think that is why the formal examination, public confession, and today’s questions with the answer, “Yes, with the help of God,” were added.
Jesus says, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.
Why do Christians go to Church? A branch cannot bear fruit by itself. Each branch needs the Vine, Jesus Himself. He says, “Apart from Me you can do nothing.” Nothing drives home the law of this text more than the words, “Apart from Me you can do nothing.” Jesus gets right to the point of our sinful human nature. He even mentions the fire of judgment.
This text is not only law, however. It is rich in Gospel. The Lord Himself will prune you so that you may be even more fruitful. Your faith will be tested so that it may be strengthened. Jesus promises to abide in You. He will nourish you in Word and Sacrament as a Vine nourishes the branches. And He promises to answer your prayers. We, as Christians, prove to be Jesus’ disciples as we bear the fruit of faith, the fruit of the work of God’s Word and the Holy Spirit in us. All this brings glory to the Father.
Confirmation is not an end, a Graduation, nor is it an end in itself. Confirmation is the fulfillment of Holy Baptism. Adults who are baptized as adults have no need for Confirmation, for they are confirming their faith with their own heart, mind, and mouth as they are washed in the name of the Triune God. Most often, they are taught the faith before being baptized. Our three confirmands today were raised in the faith after baptism. We as a congregation rejoice in the gifts the Lord has given you. We look forward to hearing God’s Word with you and receiving the Sacrament of the Altar in fellowship with you and seeing you continue to grow in faith in Christ and in knowledge of His Word with us, abiding in Christ together and bearing the fruit of faith in His name.
Jesus says, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.
Amen.

In the Name of Jesus . Amen.