Confirmation of Noah Gamble - June 9, 2013

Today Noah Gamble professed his faith publicly and became a member of Redemption Church in this year's confirmation service. Instead of a sermon you can listen to the questions that Noah answered as part of his public examination. Sorry, no script is available.

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In Service to Christ,

-Pastor Caleb Schaller

Talks on Luther's Catechism - June 10, 2012

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SERVICE:

Before Jesus Christ ascended back into heaven, He told His disciples to go into the world and make disciples of all nations. He told them to baptize people in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit and to teach these disciples to observe everything He had commanded. (Matthew 28:18-20)

Here at Redemption Church we wish to carry out Christ's command. So, we baptize and we teach our children what our Lord has taught us. That's what our confirmation classes are all about - teaching God's things.

The essential textbook for this task is the Bible. But we also use tools like Luther's Catechism.
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About four hundred and fifty years ago, Martin Luther toured the churches of Germany and found that the people who belonged to these churches knew little of Bible teaching. So, Luther wrote the Catechism. He intended the heads of each household to use this little book to instruct their families in the Word of God.

For the past three years our confirmands have been using Luther's Catechism to study God's Word. Today they will confirm their faith publicly and become members of Redemption Church. So, we take this opportunity to review the fundamental teachings of God's Word which our confirmands have studied.

"The Ten Commandments"

Luther's Catechism starts with the Ten Commandments. This is a good place to start, because all people are born with God's law written in our hearts. We instinctively know things like stealing and murder are wrong. God has given us a conscience which tells us when we have sinned and when we have done what is right.

But our conscience can't always be trusted. Sometimes it tells us something is right, when it is wrong. Sometimes it tells us something is wrong, when it is right.

God gave us a dependable summary of His will when He had the Ten Commandments written down in the Bible. Where our conscience goes astray, God's Word shows us the truth. In this way God's Law works as a guide.

But, God's law also works as a curb and a mirror.

People know that they will be punished if they do evil. So, they often refrain from sinning because they are afraid of being punished. In this way God's Law acts as a curb, causing people to shy away from unchecked sinning.

Also, when we compare our lives with what God's Law says, we find that we have not kept God's Law. We find that we are sinners who deserve punishment in this life, and hell in eternity because of our sins against God and man. In this way God's Law acts as a mirror, showing us that we are sinners who need a Savior.
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The first three commandments deal with how we are to act toward God. You shall have no other Gods. You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God. Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.

Commandments 4-8 deal with how we are to act toward the people around us. Honor those place in authority. Don't murder. Don't steal. Don't lie.

Commandments 9-10 also deal with how we are to act toward the people around us. But, these commandments also reveal that sin is committed first in the heart before it is shown outwardly by our words and actions. These commandments tell us not to covet. That is, not to desire in a sinful way that which God has not given to us.
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That sin is an internal problem is one of the greatest lesson God's Law can teach us. Outwardly we can guard the things we say and do. But we can't stop our hearts from sinning.

Think about it like this. I can change the oil in my car and polish the paint job, but if the problem is in the heart of the engine - I need a mechanic to fix that.

The Law of God is good, but it's power is limited. The Bible teaches us that the Law will not be able to help us when we stand before God on the Last Day. The Law can only show us that we are sinners who need a Savior.

Romans 3, verse 19 says...

"19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. 20 Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin" (Romans 3:19-20 NIV).

"The Apostles' Creed"

The second part of Luther's Catechism is the Apostles Creed. While the Law shows us our sin, the Apostles Creed speaks about our Savior.

The Gospel, also called the Good News, tells us how God solved our problem of sin. God sent His Son to become a human being. As a human being, Jesus was required to keep God's Law. Where we have failed, Jesus succeeded in obeying the Law perfectly. Then, God's Son offered Himself as an innocent sacrifice in our place. He suffered our hell on the cross. In this way, Jesus took our punishment away forever.
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The two most important teachings of the Bible are Law and Gospel. Romans 6:23 expresses these two teachings like this...

"23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23 NKJV).

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The Apostles Creed also echoes the Bible's teaching that that God is Triune, or "three-in-one". Though there is only one God, the Bible reveals that God has three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. That's why Jesus told his disciples to baptize in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

The Creed teaches us that God the Father is our both our creator and preserver. He made us and provides everything that we need and everything we enjoy in this life.

The Creed also teaches that God the Spirit is our sanctifier. Sanctification is not a word we hear everyday. Here's what it means.

Sanctification in the wide sense is everything that the Holy Spirit does to bring a sinner to faith in Christ and keep that sinner trusting in Christ for forgiveness. Sanctification in the narrow sense is everything that the Holy Spirit does to create fruits of faith in the life of a Christ follower. "Fruits of faith" are good words and actions that match God's will for our lives.

"Holy Baptism"

The third part of Luther's Catechism deals with Baptism. It's clear that Jesus commanded His followers to be baptized and to baptize others. But what is baptism all about?

God understands that people learn in different ways. Some people learn best from reading, others from hearing, still others from hands on experience. As a master communicator, the Lord expresses the Good News of Jesus in a number of different ways. One of these ways is found in Holy Baptism.

Baptism has been called, "the visible Gospel". Following our Lord's command we simply put water on a person and say, "I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit".
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Some churches teach that Baptism is only a symbol, and that it has no real power to save. But the Word of God says otherwise in numerous places. That baptism saves is clear from passages like Acts 22:16. There Peter says...

"...why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.’" (Acts 22:16 NKJV).

We know from the rest of the Bible that a sinner can only be saved through trust in the Savior, Jesus Christ. So, we teach that Holy Baptism creates and seals faith through the powerful Word of God.
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Some churches teach that only adults should be baptized, as if Baptism was something that we do for God and not the other way around. But the Bible teaches us that human beings are sinful from the point of conception, so children need salvation just as much as adults. Jesus told His followers to baptize "all nations", which certainly includes infants. Finally, we know that infants trust their parents who love them. Through the Bible we are taught that they can also trust in God who loves them more than any parent every could.

It's important to remember that Jesus told his followers to baptize AND teach. If we don't raise our baptized children to know the Gospel, their faith will die.

Think about it like this: Baptism is like planting a seed. Without continual watering, that seed cannot live and thrive. So, we follow the faith planting of Holy Baptism with the faith watering of instruction in God's Word - especially the saving message of sins forgiven through Jesus' cross.
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Before we move on, I'd like to share one more Bible passage about Baptism. This passage shows that Baptism creates an amazing connection between a person and Christ Jesus Himself. Romans 6, verse 3 says...

"...do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life" (Romans 6:3-4 NKJV).

Through the faith connection to Christ that Baptism creates, we get credit for all that Jesus did. Though we didn't feel the nails of the crucifixion, we were there. Though we didn't feel the cold tomb, we were buried with Him. And when Jesus was raised from death to life, we were spiritually raised with Him. In this new life we shun sin and embrace God's ways.

Galatians 3, verse 26 expresses the visible Gospel of Baptism like this...

"26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ" (Galatians 3:26-27 NKJV).

"Keys and Confession"

Faith in God is a matter of the heart. Outward membership in a church does not connect a person to God. While there are many faithful believers in God in churches, there are also hypocrites. People who have strayed away from faith only retain the name "Christian".

Part of being a fellowship of believers is guarding each other from hypocrisy. To help us do this our Savior, Jesus Christ, has given His believers a gift called the "Office of the Keys".

The fourth part of Luther's Catechism deals with the Office of the Keys. It says...

"The Office of the Keys is the special power Christ gave to His Church on earth to forgive sins of penitent sinners and to retain the sins of the impenitent as long as they do not repent" (Sydow Catechism).

One of the places in the Bible where this teaching comes from is John 20, verse 22. There it says...

"[Jesus] breathed on them, and said to them, 'Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained'" (John 20:22-23 NKJV).

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In connection with the Keys, it's important to note the distinction between "sins of weakness" and "unrepentant sin".

Sins of weakness are sins that a person does daily simply because we have an inner sinful nature. A Christian doesn't defend these sins, but rejects them as evil and looks to Jesus for forgiveness and for the power to avoid them in the future.

Unrepentant sins, on the other hand, are sins done by a person that they aren't sorry for. They dismiss these sins as "okay" or even defend them as right and good. Unrepentant sin is a sign of unbelief.
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Jesus instructs us to use the "loosing key" on sinners who are sorry for their sins and willing to change. In other words, we are commanded to reassure the repentant person that because of what Jesus did on the cross, their sins are forgiven and heaven is open to them.

Jesus instructs us to use the "locking key" on sinners who are not sorry for their sins and are not willing to change. In other words, we are commanded to tell them the sad truth that as long as they remain unrepentant, their sin separates them from Christ's forgiveness. Jesus wants us to do this in order to rattle the unrepentant sinner and lead them back to repentance and the salvation which is found in Christ Jesus.

First Timothy 2, verse 4 says...

"[God] desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth" (1 Timothy 2:4 NKJV).

Luther's Catechism says...

"A Christian congregation, with its pastor, uses the Keys according to Christ's command, either by forgiving those who repent of their sins and are willing to change, or by excluding those who are obviously impenitent from the Christian congregation. These actions are as valid and certain in heaven also as if Christ our dear Lord were dealing with us Himself" (Sydow Catechism).

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The portion of Luther's Catechism that teaches about the Keys, also talks about Confession. In the Bible God encourages us to confess our sins. In James 5, verse 16 we are told...

"...confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed..." (James 5:16 NASB).

To God we confess all our sins, even the ones we don't know we have done. In Psalm 19, verse 12 the Psalm writer prays...

"12 But who can discern their own errors?
Forgive my hidden faults" (Psalm 19:12 NIV).

To each other we confess the sins that we have done against one other. Also we can confess sins that weigh heavy on our conscience.

Luther's Catechism gives us these directions...

"Examine your place in life according to the Ten Commandments. Have you been faithful as a father, mother, son, daughter, employer or employee? Have you been disobedient, unfaithful, or lazy? Have you injured anyone by what you have said or done? Have you stolen anything, neglected your duty, been careless, or damaged anything?" (Sydow Catechism).

When a fellow Christian confesses their sins to us, Luther's Catechism instructs us to reply like this...

"According to the command of our Lord Jesus Christ I forgive you your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen" (Sydow Catechism).

Because of Jesus, whenever we confess our sins, we are assured that our sins stand forgiven. As it says in 1 John 1, verse 9...

"9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9 ESV).

"The Lord's Supper"

The fifth part of Luther's Catechism teaches us about the Lord's Supper, also called Holy Communion or the Sacrament of the Altar.

The word "sacrament" means "sacred act". In the Bible we find two such acts that (1) have been instituted by Christ Jesus Himself, (2) involve the use of earthly elements connected to God's Word, and (3) offer and seal the forgiveness of sins that Christ has won for us on the cross. Baptism is one such sacrament, the Lord's Supper is another.
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The Bible tells us about how Jesus instituted the Lord's Supper in a number of places. In our hymnal we combine these accounts to say...

"Our Lord Jesus Christ, the same night in which He was betrayed, took bread. And when He had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to His disciples, saying, 'Take, eat. This is My body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of Me.'”

"In the same way He took the cup, after supper, gave thanks, and gave it to them saying, 'Drink of it, all of you. This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of Me.'”

Since our Lord Jesus says this is His body and blood, that is what we believe and teach. The bread and wine are not outwardly transformed, for we see no change. Even so, the body and blood of Christ are truly offered here in a real, though supernatural, way. We call this the "real presence".

Some churches teach that this is nonsense. They say that surely Christ's body and blood cannot be here since we cannot detect them. But we remember that before Jesus took His visible presence from this earth, He promised His disciples that He would be with them "even to the end of the age". We cannot see Him with us, but we trust His promise. It is the same thing with the real presence in the Lord's Supper.

Also, in First Corinthians 11 it says...

"...whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord" (1 Corinthians 11:27 NIV).

It does not say that person will be guilty of sinning against Christ, but specifically against the body and blood of Christ.

This is a great mystery and a matter of faith. But the purpose is clear. The Lord's Supper is a gracious way that our Savior comes to us to strengthen our trust in Him.
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The book of Corinthians also instructs us to examine our hearts before approaching the Lord's Supper so that we will be blessed and not harmed by taking the Lord's Supper. It's kinda like weight lifting. If you do it properly, it makes you stronger. If you don't, you can be seriously injured.

So, we ask: Just how is a person properly prepared to receive the Lord's Supper? Luther's Catechism says...

"Customs in connection with eating and drinking are indeed a fine preparation. However, a person is truly worthy and well prepared who has faith in these words, 'Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins.' Whoever does not believe these words or doubts them is unworthy and unprepared. The words, 'for you,' require nothing but believing hearts" (Sydow Catechism).

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At Redemption Church we ask that only members of our church come forward to receive the Lord's Supper when we celebrate it. In this way we try to ensure that none receive the Lord's Supper to their harm.

Also, when we gather to share in this blessing, we are expressing our unity as a fellowship. Since this unity is based on the shared confession of faith that our members hold, we ask that people fully understand our teachings before partaking.

"The Lord's Prayer"

The sixth and final part of Luther's Catechism speaks about the Lord's Prayer. During Jesus' ministry, His disciples asked Him to teach them how to pray. Jesus responded by giving them what we call "The Lord's Prayer".

The Lord's Prayer is both a prayer that we can pray, and a template to use in constructing our own prayers.

First of all, this prayer is directed to God. No where in the Bible are we taught to pray to dead relatives, past Christians, angels, or anyone other than to the Triune God. Prayer is a heart to heart talk with God, and God only.

Jesus' prayer also teaches us to get to the point. It's just about impossible to condense the Lord's Prayer. It has no flowery church words, no rambling and empty phrases, it gets right to the point. This too is how we should endeavor to pray.

Jesus' prayer also teaches us to focus on spiritual things. Of the seven petitions found in the Lord's Prayer, only ONE of them is about physical things - "give us this day our daily bread". In this way Jesus reminds us that when we seek first the things of God's Kingdom, we can be sure that He will take care of all the smaller details that we humans so often fret and worry about. (see Matthew 6:25-34).

"Closing Thoughts"

We are grateful to Christians like Martin Luther whom the Lord has used to bring His Word into our lives. But more so, we are grateful to God Himself. Ultimately HE is the one who teaches us about the sin found in our hearts, and the grace and forgiveness found in Christ Jesus. Ultimately HE is the one who teaches us about all the different ways He comes to us to strengthen our trust in Christ. Ultimately HE is the one who teaches us how to guard against hypocrisy and how to pray to our heaven Father with confidence.

May the Lord bring us all to trust in Him more fully, as we await the return of Jesus, our great God and Savior, with peace and joy. Amen.

Confirmation Sunday - June 6, 2010

Today was examination Sunday. Micah Gamble was our only confirmand. Micah was unable to sit for examination in the usual manner, so I simply spoke through the questions myself. Micah had already answered these questions a number of times in preparation for this Sunday (and he made a wonderful profession of his faith in doing so).

We offer only the audio of the "sermon" this Sunday. It begins with the introduction to the service and ends after Micah's vows. Some may be difficult to hear because of the position of the microphone. Apologies in advance.

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Confirmation Sunday Examination - Jun 7, 2009

It is Confirmation Sunday, so we will not have a sermon. In a sense, the sermon will be preached by our confirmands as they answer the questions of examination.

This is not a test. These young women have already been deemed ready to become communicant members of Redemption Evangelical Lutheran Church. This is an opportunity for them to publicly demonstrate the fruit of their studies.

This is also an opportunity for all of us to review some of the fundamental truths of Luther’s Catechism. How many times last year did you pick up your old Catechism to read in and meditate on? Now is an opportunity to be refreshed and reminded of some of the fundamental truths of the Christian faith.

As the questions are asked, answer them in your head. And maybe when you get home, dig out that Catechism and set it on your nightstand.

AFTER THE CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION...

LAW AND GOSPEL

1. What are the two most important teachings of the Bible? -Law and Gospel
2. What does God teach us by the Law? -What He wants us to do and not to do
3. When we compare our lives to God’s Law, what else does God teach us? -We are sinners who deserve the punishment of death and damnation.
4. Can a sinner get to heaven by following God’s Laws? –No.

#24. Romans 3:20 Law
“Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin.

5. What does the word Gospel mean? -Good News
6. What good news does the Gospel tell us? -The Good News that God sent Jesus to take away the sins of all people.
7. What is the main purpose of the Bible? -To lead all people to know and believe that Jesus is their only hope of salvation.
8. What do we have to do to earn eternal life? –Nothing, it is a gift from God, given through faith in Jesus.

#4. Romans 6:23 The Good News
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Chapter to Remember (CTR): Where might I read about how Jesus suffered an died for my sins? –Matthew 26-27

THE KEYS

Closely related to the great teachings of “Law and Gospel” is the power of the “Keys”. Luther’s Catechism explains, “The use of the keys is that special power and right which Christ gave to his church on earth: to forgive the sins of penitent sinners but to refuse forgiveness to the impenitent as long as they do not repent.”

9. What do we call the two keys that Christ gave His church to use? -Binding Key and the Loosing Key
10. On what kind of sinner is the binding key to be used? -Impenitent sinner
11. Who is really speaking to the sinner when the binding key is used? -God Himself
12. When the binding key is used we hope that the sinner does what? -Repent and come to God for forgiveness

CTR: Where might I read about someone repenting in the Bible? –David’s Repentance, Psalm 51

13. On what kind of sinner is the loosing key to be used? -Penitent Sinner
14. When the loosing key is used how do we hope that sinner feels? -Comforted by Christ’s Forgiveness
15. Who is really speaking to the sinner when the loosing key is used? -God Himself

#30. Matthew 18:18-20 The Keys
“I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

CONFESSION

16. What are the two parts of confession? -Confession and absolution
17. What happens in the confession part? -We admit to God that we have sinned but don’t want to anymore. We ask Him to forgive us.
18. What happens in the absolution part? -We hear the announcement that our sins are forgiven because of Jesus.
19. What are the two main reasons we confess our sins to God? -God tells us to in the Bible, and we know He forgives us when we do.
20. How do we know that God will forgive us when we confess our sins to Him? -He says so in His Word.

#23. 1 John 1:8-9 Sinful Nature
“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

PASTORAL BIT ON CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION:

The Christian life is tainted with sin. But those sins are always followed with repentance. And because Jesus died on the cross in our place, our Great God always responds to genuine repentance with complete forgiveness. A Christian’s life is one of sin and grace, confession and absolution, failure and forgiveness - through Jesus Christ.

SCRIPTURE READINGS:

OLD TESTAMENT Deuteronomy 6:4-9 (NIV)

4Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. 5Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. 7Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.

GOSPEL Matthew 6:25-34 (NKJV)

25“Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? 26Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?
28“So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; 29and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
31“Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

LETTER 2 Timothy 3:10-17 (NIV)

10You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, 11persecutions, sufferings—what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. 12In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13while evil men and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

BIBLE AND INSPIRATION

21. Who wrote the Bible? -Many men over hundreds of years
22. Who authored the Bible? -God the Holy Spirit
23. Some people believe the Bible can be trusted when it comes to spiritual things, but not history. What would you say? –The Bible is God’s Word and contains no mistakes and is trustworthy at every point.

#1. 2 Tim 3:16 (NIV) Inspiration
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,”

CTR Quiz:

Fall into sin, first promise -Genesis 3
God’s Call to Abraham -Genesis 12
Moses at the burning bush -Exodus 3
David and Goliath -1 Samuel 17
Jesus on the cross -Psalm 22
Suffering servant of God -Isaiah 53
Daniel in the lion’s den -Daniel 6
Jesus birth -Luke 2
Sermon on the Mount -Matthew 5-7
Lazarus raised from the dead -John 11
Jesus’ Suffering and Death -Matthew 26-27
Jesus’ Resurrection -Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24, John 20
Ascension -Acts 1
Giving ourselves to God -Romans 12
Heroes of Faith -Hebrews 11
Judgment Day -Revelation 20
Heaven -Revelation 21-22

GOD’S MORAL LAW

Recite: Commandments.

1. You shall have no other gods.
2. You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain.
3. Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.
4. You shall honor your father and your mother that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.
5. You shall not murder
6. You shall not commit adultery
7. You shall not steal.
8. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor
9. You shall not covet your neighbor’s house.
10. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his workers, nor his animals, nor anything that is your neighbor’s.

24. God’s Law has three different uses. What are they? (Explain each) –Curb people from sinning greatly, Mirror to show us our own sinfulness, Guide to help us know exactly what God’s good will is.

CTR: Where might I find this handy summary of God’s will for humankind? –Exodus 20, Deuteronomy 5

#26. Matthew 22:37-39 Summary of the Law
“Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”

PASTORAL BIT ON THE BIBLE:

The apostle Paul speaks of two basic reasons for knowing the Bible. First, so that we can know God’s own Son, and receive His salvation, the forgiveness of sins. The second reason we are compelled to know the Bible is so that we are equipped and empowered for doing whatever God wants us to do.

AFTER THE APOSTLES' CREED IS SAID...

THE APOSTLES’ CREED

25. What is a Creed? -Statement of what a person believes.
26. The Apostles’ Creed speaks about the Triune God. What does Triune mean? -Three in one. God is three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and yet only ONE God.
27. The Apostles’ Creed tells us about three main things that the Triune God has done for us. What are these three things? –Created, Redeemed and Sanctifies us.

CTR: Where can I read about how God created the universe? –Creation of the World, Genesis 1

#15. John 17:3 The Good News
“And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.”
#35. Romans 12:2 (NKJV) Sanctification
“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

PASTORAL BIT ON THE APOSTLES’ CREED:

Our Sunday worship service is a microcosm of the Christian life. On Sunday we confess our sins to God and receive His forgiveness. We praise Him. We pray to Him. We learn from His Bible, and in the Creed we proclaim what we believe about the one true God. God move us to do these things not only on Sunday but Monday through Saturday too.

AFTER A HYMN...

THE SACRAMENTS

28. What does the word “Grace” mean? -Undeserved love
29. What does the word “Means” mean? -The Way something gets from point A to point B
30. God’s undeserved love comes to us through His Word heard and believed. It also comes to us through His sacraments. What does the word “sacrament” mean? -Holy Act
31. Sacrament is not a word found in the Bible. But as Lutherans define a sacrament having three things in common. What are these three things?-Instituted by Christ, Involve God’s Word and an earthly element, The offers and seal the forgiveness of sins.
32. How many sacraments are there? -Two: Baptism and Holy Communion.

BAPTISM

33. What is Baptism? -“Baptism is not just plain water, but it is water used by God’s command and connected with God’s Word”

#18. Matthew 28:19 Baptism

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,”

#21. Acts 22:16 Baptism

“And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.’”

34. What makes Baptism so powerful? –Word of God used with the water
35. We Baptize babies for three reasons. What are they? –The are part of “All Nations”, Sinful, Can believe
36. What two things are required for a valid Baptism? –Water and God’s Words Used
37. Which member of the Trinity is at work in Baptism? –Holy Spirit
38. Why should our Baptisms comfort us still today? –Baptism means a connection to Christ by the creation of faith. Sins covered. God’s Name on me makes me part of God’s family and an heir of heaven.

#19. Galatians 3:26-27 Baptism
“For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”

HOLY COMMUNION

39. What meal were Jesus and His disciples eating when He instituted Holy Communion? –Jesus’ last Passover Supper
40. What earthly elements are used in Holy Communion? -bread and wine
41. Jesus tells us that His real body and blood are present with the bread and wine. What do we call this teaching? -The Real Presence

#27. Luke 22:19-20 The Lord’s Supper
“And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”
In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.”

CTR: Where else can a person read about the Lord’s Supper? –Matt 26, Mark 14, 1 Cor 11

42. Does Holy Communion ever hurt people? When? -When taken without faith in Jesus
43. Why are we so sure that communion strengthens our faith? -Because it points us to Christ’s Cross and how He gave Himself for our forgiveness

#28. 1 Corinthians 11:27 (NKJV) The Lord’s Supper
“Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord.”

44. What can we do to prepare ourselves to receive Holy Communion? –review the commandments and remember how sinful we are, remember Christ’s cross and How He is our great Savior

PASTORAL BIT ON THE SACRAMENTS

The Good News that our sins have been forgiven through the life and death of Jesus Christ is communicated to us through words spoken. In the Sacraments this message comes to us in a visible tangible way. The gifts of Baptism and Holy Communion are evidence of God’s creativity and His thoughtful love. He washes us. He feeds us. Like a tender parent washes and feeds a dearly loved child.

AFTER HYMN/OFFERING/LORD'S PRAYER...

THE LORD’S PRAYER

45. What is prayer? -Speaking to God from the heart

#10. Psalm 50:15 God Delivers
“Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.”
#11. Philippians 4:6 Prayer
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God”

46. In the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus teaches us to pray to God calling Him “Our Father”. How then should we pray to God? –With boldness and confidence as dear children ask their dear father.
47. We know that God’s good and gracious will certainly is done even without our prays. So, why do we pray “Your will be done”? –We are asking that God’s will be done among us also.
48. How does God deliver us from evil? (three ways) –keeps the evil far from us, lets it touch us but causes good to come out of it, allows our death so that we are rescued from this sinful world and brought home to Him forever

PASTORAL BIT ON THE LORD’S PRAYER:

Martin Luther is quoted as giving the following advice, “Pray, and let God worry”. In prayer God invites His followers to give over their burdens to Him. To remember that He is our watchful and powerful King. To open our innermost thoughts and desire up to He who can actually do something about them, and who always does.

LUTHER AND WHY YOU WANT TO BE HERE...

All through Catechism we’ve used Luther’s Catechism to help us learn. As you can see from our examination, Luther’s Catechism doesn’t seek to teach Luther’s thoughts and ideas, but Gods thoughts as expressed in the Bible. We call ourselves Lutheran not because we worship a man, but because we agree with Luther. We are saved by God’s Grace, through Faith in Christ Jesus, and this sure message of God comes through the Word alone.

You are already Baptized members of Redemption Church. Why do you wish to remain a member of this Church?

Bring the Child to Jesus - Jun 8, 2008

Service Introduction:

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge,

but fools despise wisdom and discipline” (Proverbs 1:7 NIV).

Living in the information age, we are also living in the education age. If you don’t have a high school diploma, you can get your GED. With an internet connection you can take college courses from the comfort of your own home. If you don’t have that, you can still learn on the job, or in the break-room with a book borrowed from the public library.

Learning is very available to us, but, not all learning has the same value. Worldly wisdom and Godly wisdom are often very different things.

God speaks to us today about true wisdom, the wisdom that we gain through our ongoing relationship with Him. This true wisdom from God often conflicts with what sinful mankind considers to be wise.

OT Introduction:

Sometimes human opinion matches up with God’s opinion. But sometimes following God’s command seems foolish.

Our Old Testament reading is taken from the Proverbs which King Solomon wrote down at the direction of God’s Holy Spirit. As we read through these think about what the characters of your favorite TV show would think. Where would they agree, and where would they laugh at the wisdom of God?

Old Testament.............. Proverbs 16:17-33 (NIV)

¹⁷ The highway of the upright avoids evil;

he who guards his way guards his life.

¹⁸ Pride goes before destruction,

a haughty spirit before a fall.

¹⁹ Better to be lowly in spirit and among the oppressed

than to share plunder with the proud.

²⁰ Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers,

and blessed is he who trusts in the LORD.

²¹ The wise in heart are called discerning,

and pleasant words promote instruction.

²² Understanding is a fountain of life to those who have it,

but folly brings punishment to fools.

²³ A wise man’s heart guides his mouth,

and his lips promote instruction.

²⁴ Pleasant words are a honeycomb,

sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.

²⁵ There is a way that seems right to a man,

but in the end it leads to death.

²⁶ The laborer’s appetite works for him;

his hunger drives him on.

²⁷ A scoundrel plots evil,

and his speech is like a scorching fire.

²⁸ A perverse man stirs up dissension,

and a gossip separates close friends.

²⁹ A violent man entices his neighbor

and leads him down a path that is not good.

³⁰ He who winks with his eye is plotting perversity;

he who purses his lips is bent on evil.

³¹ Gray hair is a crown of splendor;

it is attained by a righteous life.

³² Better a patient man than a warrior,

a man who controls his temper than one who takes a city.

³³ The lot is cast into the lap,

but its every decision is from the LORD.

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That last proverb is so enlightening and full of power.

“The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD” (Proverbs 16:33 NIV).

There is no such thing as chance. Jehovah God governs the world He made with more care and control than that. The more we take this to heart, the more we will be able to set our foolish pride down and walk in God’s ways, even when those ways conflicts with what human wisdom dictates. Our God blesses us in ways unexpected when we live our life choices in step with His direction.

Letter Reading Introduction:

Our New Testament letter reading comes from Paul’s letter to the young pastor Timothy.

Here Paul emphasizes that God’s wisdom is different than man’s wisdom. Paul calls living God’s wisdom, “Godliness”. Godliness is very versatile. It is beneficial for this life, and for the life to come.

Letter reading............... 1 Timothy 4:6-11 (NIV)

⁶If you point these things out to the brothers, you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, brought up in the truths of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed. ⁷Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. ⁸For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.

⁹This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance ¹⁰(and for this we labor and strive), that we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, and especially of those who believe.

¹¹Command and teach these things.

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That phrase at the end might seem confusing at first,

“…we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, and especially of those who believe” (1 Timothy 4:10 NIV).

Paul is pointing out that fact that Jesus didn’t just suffer to save people who would believe in Him, Jesus suffered the punishment for the sins of all people. He is the Savior of the world.

But Paul also points out the fact that sinners only receive the blessings of God’s Salvation through faith. It is faith which binds them to their Savior and connects them to the blessings that He won through the cross of Calvary.

God is the Savior of all, and yes, He is also especially the Savior of those who believe.

Confession of Faith

Sermon:

Samuel Taylor Coleridge was a poet who lived in the 18^th and 19^th Centuries. In high school you might have had to read his poem “Kubla Khan”, or his version of “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner.”

I can’t remember much about Coleridge’s poetry, but there is one story about him that can’t forget.

Coleridge had some guests at his home and he had gotten into a conversation with a man who insisted that children should receive no formal religious instruction. Instead, they should be left free to choose their own religious faith upon reaching a suitable age.

Coleridge inwardly disagreed, but didn’t immediately argue the point. Instead, later in the evening he invited the man to see his sadly untended garden. Upon seeing the jumbled mess that Coleridge called his “garden”, the man exclaimed, “You call this a garden? There are nothing but weeds here!”

“Well, you see,” Coleridge replied, “I did not wish to infringe upon the liberty of the garden in any way. I was just giving the garden a chance to express itself and to choose its own production.”

Coleridge’s point seems to be that if we do not cultivate the proper “plants” in the garden of our children, weeds will grow there instead. If we allow the children in our care to raise themselves and to choose their own beliefs from all those that the world has to offer, then we fail our children.

Today, Jesus says to us, “Don’t let the world raise the child, bring the child to Me.”

gospel Reading................... Luke 18:15-17 (NIV)

¹⁵People were also bringing babies to Jesus to have him touch them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them. ¹⁶But Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. ¹⁷I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”

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Missionary Dave Koenig is our senior missionary serving members of our fellowship in India and Africa. Much of Dave’s work is visiting the different congregations to encourage, teach and see how the CLC might otherwise assist our brothers and sisters in Christ.

After a service of worship, the people will line up to have Missionary Koenig pray for them individually. As each person comes forward they tell him what they’d like him to pray for. Dave then puts his hand gently on their head and simply speaks to God for them.

This was what Jesus was doing in our reading. Many people came to hear Jesus teach. Many came to have Him heal them. But others came carrying little ones, babies for Jesus to lay His hands on and pray for.

This same event is recorded in Matthew and again in Mark. In Mark we are told that Jesus took the little children right into his arms to bless them (Mark 10:16). Matthew tells us that Jesus prayed for them (Matthew 19:13).

Jesus was pleased to hold and pray for these little ones. He must have also be pleased with those who brought them to Him. Babies can’t walk you see. If nobody brings them to Jesus, they’ll never get to feel His tender care, never get to hear His voice of blessing.

There are children who have been placed within your realm of influence. I don’t care if you’re a parent or not. There are children who you come into contact with. These children depend on you. Especially if you’re the one who is responsible for their daily activities, but also if you’re one who sees them just for a little while. They depend on you, to put them into contact with Jesus so that they might have all the riches of a relationship with God’s own Son.

▬

When the disciples of Jesus saw that people were lining up to have Him pray for their little ones, they tried to shoo them away. For some reason, the disciples thought that these people were bothering Jesus. Perhaps they thought that praying for babies was a waste of the Great Teacher’s time. Perhaps they thought that more important people should see the Master first, and these little children should come later. Whatever the reason, the disciples tried to send these little children away from Jesus.

In our country the same thing happens. Some parents refuse to let their children learn about Jesus at all. They wouldn’t dream of sending their children to Sunday School or Vacation Bible School. They cringe if anyone in public school even mentions the name of Jesus.

Others hinder children from meeting with Jesus by less open opposition to Him. They simply don’t share Jesus with children, and don’t support those who do. Sometimes it is Christians who prevent little ones from coming to Christ by their failure to support the ministries that reach out to them.

Others hinder children from knowing Christ by living their so-called Christian lives apart from Christ’s Word. While they might not openly speak against Christ, their actions shout against Him. They don’t seek to hear Jesus speak to them through His Word, or they carelessly dispose of His words and live their lives according the wisdom of the world.

In all of these things, the little ones around us are prevented or discouraged from meeting with their Maker and Redeemer. Yes, you and I have sinned against God in this way. We too have tried to send these little children away from Jesus. Either by what we have said, or by what we have failed to say. By what we have done, or by what we have failed to do.

The correcting voice of our Savior rings out to us today,

“…Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these” (Luke 18:16 NIV).

▬

Today, Jesus tells us to pay attention to the children around us. Jesus tells us to pay attention to them by giving them our time.

It’s so easy to treat children like they are second class humans, not quite as important as adults. It’s easy to say, “After my big important adult things are done, then I’ll pay attention to the little ones”. But a small person isn’t less of a person. Little people are not less worthy of our time.

When it came to babies, Jesus said, “Don’t worry, I’ve got time. Bring them to Me.” These little humans needed His healing hand just as much as the big ones did. These little sinners needed Jesus’ saving grace just as much as the big ones did.

When it comes to the little ones in your life, follow Jesus’ example and give them your time. Give them your attention. And by your interaction with them, lead them to spend their time with Jesus.

▬

Jesus wants us to pay attention to little children for their sake. But Jesus also directs our attention to little children so that we might learn something about the kingdom of God.

Jesus didn’t say the kingdom of God belongs to the highly educated. Jesus didn’t say the kingdom of God belongs to those who have paid for it with good deeds. Jesus said that the kingdom of God belonged to people who are like babies.

So, what are babies like? They’re needy. If someone doesn’t feed them, they’ll die. They’re helpless. They can’t protect themselves, someone else has to protect them. In a word, babies are dependent. They depend on those who are much bigger and wiser and stronger than they are. They depend on adults for everything. When babies need something, they are unable to do anything about it except cry. They cry out to those who love them.

As God’s people, this is what we need to recognize: we’re just big babies. We need God to feed us - mouth food and soul food - or we die. We need God to protect us - from body danger and sin danger - because we can’t protect ourselves.

If you want to be a strong Christian than accept that you are a big baby. You can’t do anything to fulfill your needs but cry. Cry out to God because you know that He loves you. Jesus proved God’s love for you when He died to remove your sin forever.

This lesson is hard for adults to really take to heart. We think that we’re so much more important than we really are. We think we have so much more influence on the details of our own lives than we really do. We may throw the dice, but as the proverb says, God decides how they fall (Proverbs 16:33).

All people are completely dependent on God, whether they believe it or not. So, believe it dear Christians! Be babies to Christ. Depend on Him. Cry out to Him. In all things.

“I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it” (Luke 18:17 NIV).

▬

Nickolaus Ryan Kauno received the gracious rule of God in his heart, on June 12, 1994. He did not choose to come to Jesus, but his parents brought Nick to Jesus when they brought him to the faith igniting waters of Holy Baptism.

After Nick was connected to Jesus through the waters of Baptism, his faith in Christ was nourished by the Word of God. Nick’s relationship with Jesus grew as his parents, teachers and pastors brought the nourishing Good News of forgiveness to Nick’s growing soul.

For the past three years I have had the blessing of helping Nick’s walk with Christ to grow through our study of God’s Word in Catechism Class. Today my role as Catechism teacher comes to an end. Today the spoon feeding stops and Nick enters our congregation as a communicant member.

Confirmation Vows

May God enable us all to take Jesus’ words to heart so that we bring all who need Christ to Christ. May the Holy Spirit prevent us from ever hindering people from being brought to Jesus. And may our heavenly Father continually remind us that we are dependant on Him, Him who loves us with an everlasting love which was given to us with the forgiveness of sins that came to us through Jesus Christ.

Amen.

The Peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.