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A sermon is a manner of oral communication and therefore words and sentence structure/order would be added, altered, or deleted at the moment of delivery. + In Nomine Jesu + The Rev. Evan Gaertner Deuteronomy 30:15–20 [Life or death in the promised land] “See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil. If you obey the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you today, by loving the Lord your God, by walking in his ways, and by keeping his commandments and his statutes and his rules, then you shall live and multiply, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to take possession of it. But if your heart turns away, and you will not hear, but are drawn away to worship other gods and serve them, I declare to you today, that you shall surely perish. You shall not live long in the land that you are going over the Jordan to enter and possess. I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live, loving the Lord your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days, that you may dwell in the land that the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.” Today is a wonderfully exciting today. I am excited today because our Sunday School year opens, Bible studies are starting back up, and today we are having a wonderful celebration remembering that we have been a people Sharing God’s Grace yesterday, today, and tomorrow. For 100 years we have been in this community celebrating the faith, hope and love that we have by the gift of Jesus Christ. I find in our Old Testament lesson from the book of Deuteronomy guidance for understanding the road that is ahead of us as we seek to continue to share God’s grace. The book of Deuteronomy is a sermon by Moses preparing the people of Israel to enter the Promised Land. Moses reminds the people that they have before them either life and good or death and evil. It is the desire of God to give us life and good. This path is found in the blessing of the Lord. The other path of death and evil is found if our heart turns away. It is crucial that we understand the alternatives to the path of the Lord. Moses says, “that you shall surely perish. You shall not live long in the land that you are going over the Jordan to enter and possess.” There is a truth to Moses warnings that we at times may desire to avoid. I believe in hell. I believe there are eternal consequences to unbelief. We share God’s grace because we know that without God’s grace we would only know evil and death. God promises the giving of life and death, blessing and curse with the entire universe as a witness to his promises. Today as we celebrate the joy of sharing God’s grace through Christian education I want us to be reminded of what is at stake. I firmly believe that Grace Lutheran Church has been planted into this community so that we can bear the good fruit of Christ. The harvest of good fruit is only possible by remaining in Jesus. In Jesus we have glory and righteousness, and apart from him we can do nothing. There is an invitation to know the blessings of the Lord. Moses invites us to life, to blessing. This invitation is not a mass market commercial. This invitation is not a random anonymous telemarketing call trying to get you to switch your natural gas supplier. This invitation is not an invite to a kid’s party where adults are invited to just drop off their kids and enjoy the rest of the morning. The invitation to be a part of the kingdom of God is for you because your savior loves you dearly. A new pastor moved into town and went out one Saturday to visit his community. All went well until he came to one house. It was obvious that someone was home, but no one came to the door even after he knocked several times. Finally, he took out his card, wrote on the back "Revelation 3:20" and stuck it in the door. The next day, as he was counting the offering he found his card in the collection plate. Below his message was a notation "Genesis 3:10." Upon opening his Bible to the passage he let out a roar of laughter. Revelation 3:20 reads:(Pastor’s note) "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If any man hear my voice, and opens the door, I will come into him, and will dine with him, and he with me." Genesis 3:10 reads: "And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked." (Alpha Course Joke Book) There are moments when we might be afraid to meet with God because we are embarrassed or ashamed. But I want you to know that God’s invitation is real and personal. He truly does love you and care for you and so desires that you would meet with him in his house and feast upon his meal of forgiveness. Today we celebrate that we have been invited to the Promised Land. With faith and hope we trust in the love of God. There are moments when it is only by faith and hope we can trust because the darkness of this sinful world can be unbearable. Do you notice that Moses speaks of life and blessing in the kingdom while Jesus warns us of the difficult paths that are ahead of us? Even while we walk through the valley of the shadow we shall fear no evil for our the Lord our Good Shepherd is leading us. Jesus desires to be your shepherd as we make our way through this world and he has commanded us to go and tell others about the good news of the kingdom. Jesus told his disciples, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me, therefore go and make disciples of all the nations by baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them all that I have commanded you. Behold I will be with you to the very end of the age.” Growing in this promise of life and blessing is the life of the child of God. It is by the washing of rebirth that we are children of God. Baptisms at Grace Lutheran Church are a joyous occasion. I want you to remember as a congregation that when we baptize a child we fulfilling the command of Christ. Christ’s command was not simply to baptize but also to teach. Sons and daughters of Grace remember everyday you are a child of God and so remain connected to the good word that gives life. In our Christian education here and in all that we do as a congregation we desire to put our focus on the heart and center of the entire Bible: Jesus Christ, our savior from sin, death, and the devil. Jesus says, “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.” (John 15:3-5) I know that with our lips, our hands, and our thoughts we have disobeyed the commands of God. I know that all of us deserve the death and evil that Moses warns us about. But I trust that it is the desire of God that we would know his life and blessings. It is out of this holy desire of God to share his life and blessings that he sent his son Jesus Christ to suffer our death and evil. It is the desire of God our savior that all people be saved and come to the knowledge of his saving truth. Through sharing God’s grace yesterday, today, and tomorrow Grace has been a place, a people, a community, where people can hear and see the grace of God. Please be part of sharing God’s grace today and tomorrow with trust that the Holy Spirit will give you the opportunity and courage to share the good news that lives within you. Soli Deo Gloria |
