Each Day in the Word, Monday, February 13th

Posted on February 13, 2023 by Tom and Karen Klumb

Mark 10:1-31

10 Then He arose from there and came to the region of Judea by the other side of the Jordan. And multitudes gathered to Him again, and as He was accustomed, He taught them again.

2 The Pharisees came and asked Him, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” testing Him.

3 And He answered and said to them, “What did Moses command you?”

4 They said, “Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce, and to dismiss her.”

5 And Jesus answered and said to them, “Because of the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept. 6 But from the beginning of the creation, God ‘made them male and female.’ 7 ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, 8 and the two shall become one flesh’; so then they are no longer two, but one flesh. 9 Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.”

10 In the house His disciples also asked Him again about the same matter. 11 So He said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her. 12 And if a woman divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.”

13 Then they brought little children to Him, that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked those who brought them. 14 But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. 15 Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.” 16 And He took them up in His arms, laid His hands on them, and blessed them.

17 Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?”

18 So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. 19 You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Do not defraud,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’ ”

20 And he answered and said to Him, “Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth.”

21 Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.”

22 But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

23 Then Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!” 24 And the disciples were astonished at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, “Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

26 And they were greatly astonished, saying among themselves, “Who then can be saved?”

27 But Jesus looked at them and said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible.”

28 Then Peter began to say to Him, “See, we have left all and followed You.”

29 So Jesus answered and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel’s, 30 who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions—and in the age to come, eternal life. 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

Usually when you hear someone quoting the passage “for with God all things are possible” it is meant to imply what great things that individual can do if he just has God working for him (because they take it out of context). When you read this verse in context, however, it is not talking about God making possible what mankind does — rather, it is about salvation!

Only God can save! Mankind cannot do anything that will bring him salvation. Obeying the Commandments cannot do it.   That’s why confessional Lutheran’s are so blessed to have the explanation to the Third Article professed through their lips: “I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him, but the Holy Spirit has called me by the Gospel.” Not even selling all you have and giving it to the poor can do it. With mankind, salvation is impossible, period! But with God, salvation is possible.

Our Lord Jesus Christ humbled Himself and became man so that the impossible task of fulfilling the Commandments might be accomplished for mankind (this is called His ‘active obedience’). He even humbled Himself further by selling all that He had, even His very life, to suffer our punishment on the tree of the holy cross to atone for the breaking of the Commandments by all mankind (this is called His ‘passive obedience’). On account of the merits and work of Christ we, believers, now have treasure in Heaven, an eternal life with our Redeemer and all the saints. This why Christ the crucified is the focal point of the Christian Church. His scars are glorious in our eyes of faith!

Let us pray: O God, the strength of all who put their trust in You, mercifully grant that by Your power we may be defended against all adversity; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

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Hear God’s Word in a way that actually saves

Posted on February 12, 2023 by Rev. Paul Rydecki
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2 Corinthians 11:19-12:9  +  Luke 8:4-15

Sometimes I’ll begin a sermon by asking you why you’re here, to get you thinking about it, thinking about why you set aside this time on a Sunday morning to come to Emmanuel (or to tune in to this service online). There are bad and silly reasons to come to church; there are several good reasons to choose from, too. But I hope that one of the main reasons you would give is this: I’ve come to hear God’s Word! Simple! Straightforward! A good answer! Faith comes by hearing! You know that! Sadly, I think fewer and fewer people who identify as Christians would even give that answer anymore, and even more sadly, even if they went to church to hear God’s Word, chances are they wouldn’t hear much of it during a typical service. Such is the state of the external Christian church.

But I’m confident that you, who have been instructed and trained in the Christian faith, would confess that, yes, you’ve come to hear God’s Word. Now, if that’s the case, then hear what Jesus teaches you today about hearing. Hear His warning in the parable of the sower and the seed, that hearing His Word is essential, but that hearing is not enough. You have to hear the Word of God in a way that actually produces fruit. You have to hear in a way that actually saves.

Now, in the parable, which Jesus explains to His disciples who asked Him the meaning, the seed is the Word of God as it is preached. So, first, understand, God doesn’t plant the seed of His Word by dropping Bibles down upon the world. The written Word in the Bible is essential and God-given and our only source of doctrine and our most reliable source of the knowledge of God. But God plants His Word by sending preachers to speak it. To speak it broadly, to toss it out into the world and a sower tosses seed from his pouch. For there to be a harvest, the seed has to be sown. For souls to be saved, the Word of God has to be preached, and people have to hear it.

Let’s make sure right from the beginning that we understand what the “Word of God” is. In one sense, it’s everything in the Bible. But the Word of God that is preached, that lands in the ears of men, and that has the power to create faith and produce fruit is the message of who God is, what He requires of us, and what He has done for us and has promised to do for us. It’s the message of sin and grace, Law and Gospel, the threat of judgment, the call to repentance, and the promise of forgiveness and help through Christ Jesus. It’s the message of the cross. It’s the preacher, sent from God, applying the message of sin and grace to individuals. That is the Word of God that has to be preached, and that people have to hear.

But the Lord describes four kinds of hearing in our Gospel, and three out of four don’t result in a harvest. Three out of four don’t result in salvation for the hearer, not for any defect or ineffectiveness in the seed, but for the condition in which the Word of God is heard. In all three of those cases that don’t result in salvation, there is a common thread: The seeds hits the ground, but it doesn’t take root, and three different reasons are given for that.

The first reason, the first obstacle to the seed taking root and producing a plant that produces fruit, is represented by the seed that fell along the walking path. It never penetrates into the ground. Instead, it sits on top and is either trampled by men or plucked away by the birds. Those along the path are the ones who hear; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.

This is hearing without listening. Hearing without considering, without pondering, without learning. It’s showing up to church and then letting your mind wander to other things. This is also what happens when people hear God’s Word but then they let fallible men, along with the devil himself, come along and trample it and pluck it away. “You can’t believe that Bible stuff! Believe in science! Believe in reason! Fall in line with the rest of the world, not with these religious nuts!” Also in this category would be those who hear God’s Word, not to learn, but to judge. This is how many of the Pharisees heard the word of Jesus, in order to catch Him in a trap, in order to find something to disagree with. Those who listen like that will never send down roots, will never grow, will never produce fruit, will never be saved.

The second obstacle to the seed taking root and producing a plant that produces fruit, is represented by the seed that fell on the rock. Those on the rock are the ones who, when they hear, receive the word with joy. But they have no root; they believe for a while, and in the time of temptation they fall away.

This is a very common form of hearing the Word of God, common among so many who identify as Christians. They hear the message of sin and of God’s grace in Christ, and it sounds good to them. But it’s all superficial. They are not concerned with growing in grace and in the knowledge of God, with deepening their faith, learning the doctrine of Christ, regularly hearing God’s Word and receiving His Sacraments. They go to church when they feel like it and don’t go when they don’t. They think of themselves as Christians, but they’re not even sure exactly what that means, and that’s okay with them, because, hey, they “believe in Jesus” and that’s enough. The problem is, it won’t be enough, Jesus says, when temptation comes along, or persecution, or the troubles that come with faithfulness to the Word of God. You cannot survive as a believing Christian without being firmly rooted in the Word of God and in the Christian faith. If you remain a superficial believer, you’re tempting God, which He commands people not to do. If you remain a superficial believer, you will fall away.

The third obstacle to the seed taking root and producing a plant that produces fruit, is represented by the seed that fell among the weeds. As for that which fell among thorns, these are the ones who hear and, as they go along, are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of this life and bring no fruit to maturity.

This, too, is a common way of hearing God’s Word. You hear it. You believe it. You even desire to grow in it. But as you go along, you let other things take priority, good things, like family and work, or bad things, like indulging in the sinful pleasures of this world. And hearing God’s Word becomes just one task among many, just one activity that has little or nothing to do with how you actually live the rest of your life. And faith is chocked. And love grows cold. And salvation itself is lost to the cares and riches and pleasures of this life.

Now, I want you to understand that Jesus doesn’t tell this parable in a fatalistic way. That is, when you hear God’s Word, you are not at the mercy of the devil. You are not bound to hear it in a bad way. As He kept crying out, Whoever has ears to hear, let him hear! The Spirit’s power is in those words! Jesus tells this parable and explains it to you have sought the meaning of it, so that, as you hear, you take it to heart and seek to avoid the obstacles that would prevent the Word of God taking root in you and growing into a mature and healthy Christian. That’s what it means for the seed to fall on good ground. But as for that which fell on the good ground, these are the ones who hear the word with a good and noble heart, hold fast to it, and bear fruit with patience.

So hear with a good and noble heart. Hear and pay attention to God’s Word, and watch out for  the lies of men and of the devil. Hear and make it your priority to study and learn and grow, so that you can withstand all the trials and temptations that will come at you from the devil, the world, and your own sinful flesh. Hear and, instead of letting your earthly life drown out God’s Word, let God’s Word drown out the world. Watch out for the weeds, and if you notice them creeping in, get rid of them quickly.

Hear God’s Word in a way that actually saves. Hold fast to it, and bear fruit with patience, slow and steady, over the years, over the decades, over a lifetime, allowing God’s Word to form you into the image of Christ, letting the love of Christ spill over into your words and actions toward others. Pray for strength, for yourself and others. Make regular worship your priority, as you already have been doing. And when you think of coming to worship, don’t think about what you’re coming to do for God. Think of it as coming to the place, to the field, where God, through the preacher whom He has called, will scatter the seed of His Word into your ears and hearts. And let the people around you know why you go to church. Let them know that you go to hear God’s Word! And let that be true! And then, as always, invite them to go and hear it with you! Amen.

 

 

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Each Day in the Word, Sunday, February 12th  

Posted on February 12, 2023 by Tom and Karen Klumb

Revelation 3:7-13

7 “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write,

‘These things says He who is holy, He who is true, “He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens”: 8 “I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name. 9 Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie—indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you. 10 Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. 11 Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown. 12 He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name.

13 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” Well, who is able to say they don’t have an ear?  Honestly, no-one! Even deaf people ‘have’ an ear and they also are able to receive “what the Spirit says to the churches.” (it’s just through a different medium). All of these messages to the churches reveal how God takes the proclamation of His Word extremely serious. So, it’s always shocking when someone is encountered who treats God’s Word flippantly. But, sadly and frustratingly, it happens — a lot!

It’s imperative to keep in mind who the Spirit is as God’s speaks through the written word. The Spirit is called the “teacher,” at many places of Holy Scripture (see Nehemiah 9:20; John 14:26; Luke 12:12; and 1 John 2:27). Being familiar with the terminology, we, Lutherans, could call God’s Spirit the ultimate ‘catechist’ (teacher) when it comes to the ‘catechesis’ (teaching) of God’s Word. God’s Holy Scripture could then be looked upon as the ultimate ‘catechism’ (book of teachings); and we could be viewed as the Holy Spirit’s ‘catechumens’ (students).

This gives a whole new perspective to Luther’s words “Let me ever remain a student of the catechism!”  Obviously Luther was speaking about the catechisms (large and small) that he had created. But the same applies when it comes to all of God’s Word! It’s the Spirit who, thankfully, reveals the spiritual things of God. Those things are not discerned by man. Every word spoken by any teacher of Holy Scripture needs always to be held accountable to “what the Spirit says” — for what He speaks, through Law & Gospel, is what brings about true repentance and belief in Jesus. Rejoice that you have heard!

Let us pray: O God, the strength of all who put their trust in You, mercifully grant that by Your power we may be defended against all adversity; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

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Each Day in the Word, Saturday, February 11th

Posted on February 11, 2023 by Tom and Karen Klumb

Mark 9:2-32

2 Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and led them up on a high mountain apart by themselves; and He was transfigured before them. 3 His clothes became shining, exceedingly white, like snow, such as no launderer on earth can whiten them. 4 And Elijah appeared to them with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. 5 Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; and let us make three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah”— 6 because he did not know what to say, for they were greatly afraid.

7 And a cloud came and overshadowed them; and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!” 8 Suddenly, when they had looked around, they saw no one anymore, but only Jesus with themselves.

9 Now as they came down from the mountain, He commanded them that they should tell no one the things they had seen, till the Son of Man had risen from the dead. 10 So they kept this word to themselves, questioning what the rising from the dead meant.

11 And they asked Him, saying, “Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”

12 Then He answered and told them, “Indeed, Elijah is coming first and restores all things. And how is it written concerning the Son of Man, that He must suffer many things and be treated with contempt? 13 But I say to you that Elijah has also come, and they did to him whatever they wished, as it is written of him.”

14 And when He came to the disciples, He saw a great multitude around them, and scribes disputing with them. 15 Immediately, when they saw Him, all the people were greatly amazed, and running to Him, greeted Him. 16 And He asked the scribes, “What are you discussing with them?”

17 Then one of the crowd answered and said, “Teacher, I brought You my son, who has a mute spirit. 18 And wherever it seizes him, it throws him down; he foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth, and becomes rigid. So I spoke to Your disciples, that they should cast it out, but they could not.”

19 He answered him and said, “O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him to Me.” 20 Then they brought him to Him. And when he saw Him, immediately the spirit convulsed him, and he fell on the ground and wallowed, foaming at the mouth.

21 So He asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?”

And he said, “From childhood. 22 And often he has thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.”

23 Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.”

24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!”

25 When Jesus saw that the people came running together, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “Deaf and dumb spirit, I command you, come out of him and enter him no more!” 26 Then the spirit cried out, convulsed him greatly, and came out of him. And he became as one dead, so that many said, “He is dead.” 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose.

28 And when He had come into the house, His disciples asked Him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?”

29 So He said to them, “This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting.”

30 Then they departed from there and passed through Galilee, and He did not want anyone to know it. 31 For He taught His disciples and said to them, “The Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of men, and they will kill Him. And after He is killed, He will rise the third day.” 32 But they did not understand this saying, and were afraid to ask Him.

In today’s text we read of Jesus’ Transfiguration, His healing of a demon-possessed boy, and yet another declaration of His death and resurrection.

Our Lord’s Transfiguration is an amazing site for Peter, James, and John as they were taken by Him to a high mountain by themselves and witnessed His highest glory, as later in Gethsemane they were to be witnesses of His greatest humiliation. Luke’s account records that Jesus, Moses, and Elijah were talking about the Lord’s departure that He would accomplish in Jerusalem – His suffering, death, and burial.

Further, the appearance of Moses and Elijah underscores that there is indeed a resurrection from the dead. Their bodies had been in the grave for centuries, and yet here they are with Jesus. This is a prefigurement of the resurrection that Jesus Himself would guarantee for all who die in Him by His own rising from the dead.  The faith and confession of Moses and Elijah testified of the Messiah to come – the Messiah who would defeat death and the grave for all who believe in Him and who would, by His own resurrection, make certain that all who die in Him will also be raised.

Our Lord then released a young boy from a terrible demon-possession demonstrating yet again His power and authority over evil spirits and even the devil himself. Indeed the devil is powerful, the second-most powerful being ever. But Jesus rules over him, proving by His own resurrection from the dead that the devil’s lynchpin – death – is undone and overcome by Jesus.

Dear Christian, Christ died to pay for all your sins and rose from the dead for you. If you, by God-given faith alone believe that, you also have the promise of forgiveness and eternal life, a promise and truth that will sustain you in this life until God calls you Home to be with him forever. And you need not even fear death, for your Lord and Savior Jesus has overcome that for you as well.

Let us pray: Lord Jesus, thank You for dying and rising for me and all mankind, and for giving me faith to believe in You. Amen.

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Each Day in the Word, Friday, February 10th

Posted on February 10, 2023 by Tom and Karen Klumb

Mark 8:10-9:1

10 immediately got into the boat with His disciples, and came to the region of Dalmanutha.

11 Then the Pharisees came out and began to dispute with Him, seeking from Him a sign from heaven, testing Him. 12 But He sighed deeply in His spirit, and said, “Why does this generation seek a sign? Assuredly, I say to you, no sign shall be given to this generation.”

13 And He left them, and getting into the boat again, departed to the other side. 14 Now the disciples had forgotten to take bread, and they did not have more than one loaf with them in the boat. 15 Then He charged them, saying, “Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.”

16 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “It is because we have no bread.”

17 But Jesus, being aware of it, said to them, “Why do you reason because you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive nor understand? Is your heart still hardened? 18 Having eyes, do you not see? And having ears, do you not hear? And do you not remember? 19 When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of fragments did you take up?”

They said to Him, “Twelve.”

20 “Also, when I broke the seven for the four thousand, how many large baskets full of fragments did you take up?”

And they said, “Seven.”

21 So He said to them, “How is it you do not understand?”

22 Then He came to Bethsaida; and they brought a blind man to Him, and begged Him to touch him. 23 So He took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the town. And when He had spit on his eyes and put His hands on him, He asked him if he saw anything.

24 And he looked up and said, “I see men like trees, walking.”

25 Then He put His hands on his eyes again and made him look up. And he was restored and saw everyone clearly. 26 Then He sent him away to his house, saying, “Neither go into the town, nor tell anyone in the town.”

27 Now Jesus and His disciples went out to the towns of Caesarea Philippi; and on the road He asked His disciples, saying to them, “Who do men say that I am?”

28 So they answered, “John the Baptist; but some say, Elijah; and others, one of the prophets.”

29 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”

Peter answered and said to Him, “You are the Christ.”

30 Then He strictly warned them that they should tell no one about Him.

31 And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. 32 He spoke this word openly. Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him. 33 But when He had turned around and looked at His disciples, He rebuked Peter, saying, “Get behind Me, Satan! For you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.”

34 When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 35 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. 36 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? 37 Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? 38 For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.”

9 And He said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that there are some standing here who will not taste death till they see the kingdom of God present with power.”

Jesus warned His disciples to “beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Herod.”  The Pharisees’ teachings functioned like leaven, or yeast, that spread throughout Jerusalem like a cancer and turned people away from the truth of Scripture.  Their teachings were nothing more than rules by which to live and their own erroneous interpretations and applications of the Scriptures over which they claimed to have authority. Although they were the religious leaders, they didn’t believe in Jesus as the fulfiller of Old Testament prophecies; they didn’t believe He was the Messiah, the Savior of the world.

Any preaching or teaching in the church by anyone claiming to be “religious” that does not point to Jesus as the only One who has fulfilled all the Old Testament prophecies and Who gave His life on the cross to pay for the sins of all mankind is leaven.  It is false and misleading.  It is a cancer that ultimately and eternally kills.

What saves and gives life is the confession and teaching that Peter gave: Jesus is “the Christ, the Son of the living God” (the fuller presentation from Mt. 19:16), a confession that, according to Matthew, was given from God the Father. That is the only truth that matters in this world. That is the only truth that gives not only the certainty of sins paid for and the promise of heaven, but also the sure and certain hope of the resurrection.

Forgiveness of sins is given to us through God-given faith in Christ’s work for us on the cross. In Holy Baptism we die to sin as Christ did and rise to life as Christ did. His death and resurrection become ours in those wonderful waters by the power of the Word of God. And through regular hearing of Christ’s Gospel and reception of Christ’s Sacramental gifts, we continue to proclaim Christ’s death until He comes and are strengthened in our various vocations as living confessions of Christ to those around us.

Let us pray: Lord Jesus, Your death and resurrection are solid truth. Keep us in that one true faith until You call us Home to be with You forever. Amen.

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