Sunday, April 8, 2012

The Feast of the Resurrection of our Lord 2012 Sermon


·        Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!
o   A man is walking from the lake carrying two fish in a bucket. He is approached by the game warden who asks him for his fishing license.
§  The fisherman says to the warden, “I did not catch these fish, they are my pets. Every day I come down to the water and whistle and these fish jump out into my bucket and I take them around to see the sights only to return them at the end of the day.”
·        The warden, not believing him, reminds him that it is illegal to fish without a license. The fisherman turns to the warden and says, “If you don’t believe me then watch,”
o   The Warden now has swallowed the fisherman’s story hook, line and sinker and says: “Well, I have to see this!”
§  The fisherman looks back with a sly smile on his face as he throws the fish back into the water.
·        The warden says excitedly, “Now whistle to your fish and show me how they jump out the water.”
o   The fisherman turns to the warden and says, “What fish?”

·        I bet you can relate to that warden – I bet you can remember a time when you swallowed someone’s practical joke or story “hook, line, and sinker.”
o   When you were completely sucked in - We have all been there.
§  In fact it goes back to the very beginning doesn’t it? All the way back to Adam and Eve
·        They were the first ones to swallow a deception hook, line, and sinker weren’t they?
o   They swallowed Satan’s sly lie, they bit into the devil’s deception - hook, line, and sinker.
§  “If you eat of that fruit you will not die – you will be like God.”
·        Adam and Eve both took the fruit and ate – and with it they swallowed death
o   Death for themselves and death for every one of their sons and daughters who would come after them – right down to you and me as we sit here this very morning.

·        We are not so much better than Adam and Eve are we?
o   Ever notice how at Christmas and at Easter the magazine covers and the TV shows always have something to do with a so-called shocking secret revealed about the Bible and what it says about Jesus?
§  We are tempted to swallow this pseudo-scholarship and it raises doubts in our mind just as it did for Adam and Eve – did God really say?
·        We are tempted to swallow all kinds of false teaching and preaching that we hear on the radio or TV by so called ministers of the Gospel who are really only snake oil salesmen seeking to charm you out of what is in your wallet
o   We are tempted to swallow all kinds of unbiblical teaching and thinking that we hear all around us in the world – the modern day orthodoxy of our culture often times is completely contrary to what God’s Word reveals as true
§  Many Christians who are not well founded upon God’s Word in the Bible have not only nibbled at some of this false teaching but have swallowed it hook, line and sinker
·        It is a dangerous world out there and there are all kinds of lures, all kinds of bait, the devil tries to use to entice our sinful flesh to bite and swallow
o   But the devil’s basic strategy has not changed since Adam and Eve – he is basically asking the same question to try and introduce doubt into the believer’s heart – “Did God really say?”

·        That question of the devil’s is no more strongly heard than at the graveside of a loved one
o   We look down at a casket being lowered into the ground and we can hear the question: Did God really say? Did God really say that by grace through faith in Jesus there is eternal life and the resurrection of the body? Did God really say?
§  At the death of a loved one it can feel not so much that we have swallowed anything but that we have been swallowed up in darkness.

·        But in the midst of the struggles we have with our sinful flesh and the devil’s deceptive lures we have a clear Word of God, a clear promise
o   The prophet Isaiah wrote: “He will swallow up death forever.”
§  A clear promise full of hope for all of us this morning – all of us who face the struggles of this life, all of us who have faced the death and loss of a loved one, all of us who will one day face our own death.
·        “He will swallow up death forever” Isaiah prophesied. And the prophecy, that promise from God, was fulfilled in Jesus.
o   This morning I am going to tell you about a time when the Devil took God’s bait and swallowed it hook, line, and sinker
§  And in so doing death was swallowed up forever.

·        Picture Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. Kneeling in anguished prayer. Sweating blood. He prays: “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.”
o   The cup of which our Lord speaks is the cup of God’s wrath that will be poured out upon Him on the cross. The cup of which He speaks is the cup of suffering.
§  On Good Friday – Jesus will drink of that cup upon the cross
·        He will drink it to the dregs. He swallowed all of it.
o   And there He died. The sins of the whole world upon Him. There He suffered hell – forsaken of the Father. For you. For me.
§  The devil rejoiced to see Jesus dead on the cross. The devil with a smile curling at his lips would have gone forward to claim his newest and most precious of all victims. The devil went forward and swallowed Jesus.

·        And it is here, dear friends, it is here, that the devil took the bait. It is here that the death dealing devil took God’s bait and swallowed hook, line, and sinker.
o   For the devil in his insane evil foolishness thought he had won, thought he was victorious over God and His plan to rescue the world
§  And so he swallowed Jesus – not realizing that this was God’s plan all along!
·        Not realizing that he was not swallowing some man – but He was swallowing the Son of God, He was swallowing God Himself
o   And at that the deceiver had been deceived, at that by deception the deceiver would be destroyed
§  God gave a mighty yank and pulled the devil out of the water and up onto the shore
·        There on the shore the devil flopped around and Jesus walked up, the risen and resurrected and fully victorious Jesus, and lifted his heel and with all the might of God he smashed down with his heel and crushed the devil’s head
o   The strife is o’er, the victory’s won!

·        God speaks to you this day through His holy Word.
o   Despite what you might hear in the world around you. Despite the devil’s deceitful whispers you might hear in your ear
§  The truth of God’s victory drowns out all the devil’s prattle. The truth of God’s victory drowns out all the world’s words
·        Hear this loud and clear this day dear Christian friends!
o   Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!
§  And because He lives so shall you and so shall all who die in faith.
·        St. Paul writes: “Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
o   Jesus took upon Himself all the sins of the world on the cross. Your sins and mine.
§  Jesus was swallowed up into the tomb.
·        In the tomb your sins were swallowed up. In the tomb your death was swallowed up – forever.
o   In the tomb your sins and your death were buried – never to be seen again. Death is dead!
§  But the tomb could not hold Jesus.
·        Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!
o   Jesus rose victorious from the grave. Jesus rose conquering sin, death, and the devil
§  Jesus rose and lives as our triumphant king giving freely to His people His gifts of forgiveness, life, and salvation

·        You who face the many struggles of this life – hear God’s Word of promise to you this morning.
o   You who  mourn the death of a loved one – hear God’s Word of victory to you this morning
§  You who will one day face death itself – hear God’s Word of triumph to you this morning.
·        For He speaks it directly to you because He did it all for you.
o   But even more than speaking He comes to you with His risen body and blood in Holy Communion
§  In Holy Communion you swallow the medicine of immortality
·        In Holy Communion you swallow salvation.
o   In Holy Communion the risen Jesus is with you personally, strengthening you to face the struggles of this life, giving you life to face death.

·        Isaiah prophesied” “He will swallow up death forever”
o   Jesus fulfilled that prophecy. Death and the devil have been defeated.
§  You receive this victory simply by grace through faith in Jesus.
·        We journey forward into our lives, knowing we will face trials, knowing we will face struggles and temptations, knowing we will one day face death – but we go forward with confidence because we know our risen and victorious Lord Jesus is behind us, beside us, and in front of us.
o   And so in that confident trust and with hearts full of faith we gather on this highest and most holiest of all festivals with Christians here in God’s house, we gather with millions of Christians around the globe this day, we gather with the whole host of heaven including the faithful who have gone before us in the mystical body that is the Church of Christ, and we rejoice and we sing, we celebrate and we feast, because death has been defeated! Death has been swallowed up forever!
§  Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!

Saturday, December 24, 2011

Christmas Eve Sermon 2011

Christmas Eve/12.24.11

·        We are going to start with everybody’s favourite kind of joke: a knock knock joke.
§  Knock Knock. Who is there?
·        Mary. Mary who?
o   Mary Christmas!

·        “Merry Christmas!”
o   This has become an interesting phrase hasn’t it?
§  It has even become a controversial phrase.
·        Should we expect to hear someone wish us a merry Christmas when we are out shopping somewhere? Should we be offended if the cashier at Walmart wishes us happy holidays or Season’s greetings instead of merry Christmas?
o   That is an interesting question isn’t it?
§  I have my own take on it – and it might surprise you – but we aren’t going to talk about that tonight.
·        I want to talk about what we should really mean when we say “Merry Christmas!”

·        We don’t use the word “merry” all that often really.
o   “Merry” means to be cheerful, lively, happy, and light-hearted according to one dictionary I checked.
§  But we don’t use the word all that often. We don’t say “Merry Easter” or “Merry Birthday!” or “Merry anniversary!” or “have a merry day!”
·        No, we reserve the word “merry” generally for Christmas – we wish you a merry Christmas!   
o   It is a kind and well meaning sentiment.
§  But what exactly do we mean by having a merry Christmas?

·        A merry Christmas is when we have all our family and friends around with laughing and love and fun.
o   A merry Christmas is when we have nice clean white snow and a fire crackling in the fireplace.
§  A merry Christmas is when the Christmas tree has a bunch of presents wrapped beautifully underneath
·        A merry Christmas is when the turkey is browned just right and the stuffing turns out moist and the cranberries are perfect and the gravy is not lumpy, and the Christmas pudding has just the right amount of rum…
o   A merry Christmas is when the kids open their presents and their eyes open up wide in astonishment and joy at their gift
§  There are a lot of things we need to have just right so we can have a merry Christmas isn’t there?

·        All those things are great things and are wonderful to have at this time of year.
o   But what if all of that doesn’t happen or fall into place this year?
§  What if all our family and friends aren’t all gathered in the same place this year?
§  What if instead of laughing and love and fun there is tension, anger and distrust?
§  What if we don’t get much snow or the snow is all dirty and melting?
§  What if you don’t have a fireplace for a warm crackling fire and instead have a lonely, empty, cold feeling room?
§  What if the presents under the tree are fewer this year?
§  What if the Christmas meal didn’t turn out or if there is an empty chair at the table to remind you of someone who is not with you this year?
§  What if the kids are all grown up and the magic of Christmas just isn’t there anymore?
§  What if the kids were not all that impressed with your gift? What if the kids are now teenagers and are generally unimpressed with most everything you do?
·        If everything is not perfect can you still have a merry Christmas?

·        I would suspect that there are very few of you here today who can say that everything is perfect tonight.
o   For some of you a lot of things might be very good – but not perfect.
§  For some of you a lot of things are far from perfect – maybe you are even feeling like things are terrible and are miserable during this season.
·        So what is so merry about Christmas anyway?

·        The truth is that Christmas is a merry celebration – but it is not a celebration of our families, not a celebration of our gifts, not a celebration of our food – No, Christmas is a merry celebration of the birth of Jesus
o   Christmas is a merry celebration of the greatest gift of all time – the gift of a Saviour
§  Christmas is a merry celebration because God so loved the world that He sent His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.
·        Christmas is a merry celebration because in Jesus we see forgiveness, life, and salvation
o   Christmas is a merry celebration because in the baby laid in a manger we see the love of God.
§  Christmas is a merry celebration because this gift from God is for you – personally.

·        That is why for centuries Christians have gathered with family and friends for the festival we call Christmas
o   That is why for centuries Christians have gathered around a feast to celebrate the birth of Jesus
§  That is why for centuries Christians have gathered in merriment to give gifts in celebration of the greatest gift – Jesus!
o   That is why for centuries Christians have held special Services at church to celebrate the birth of Jesus and to receive His gifts of forgiveness, life, and salvation through Word and Sacrament
§  Christmas is a merry celebration because of Jesus!

·        What has happened in our day and age is we have forgotten the real reason for the merriment of Christmas and instead have only looked to the things that are to help us celebrate the birth of Jesus
o   We have made Christmas only be about our family gatherings and our feasts and our gifts
§  And if those things don’t line up just so – well, we feel, it is not such a merry Christmas after all.
·        But when you keep in mind that those things are meant only to be a part of the celebration of the birth of Jesus – the very reason we would gather together and have a feast and give gifts
o   Then no matter what the circumstances are in your life you can celebrate the birth of Jesus – because He is God’s gift to you.
§  You can be merry not because of anything that is or is not happening in your life right now – but because the truth is that God sent Jesus because of His unfathomable love for you
·        The truth is that Jesus would lived for you a perfectly sinless life and that perfect life is credited to you by grace through faith
o   The truth is that He  loved you so much that He carried your sins to the cross and there died for them and received the punishment you deserve
§  The truth is that Jesus would defeat all your enemies – sin, death, and the devil when He rose from the grave
§  When you keep all this in mind, all that the gift of Jesus means for you now and into eternity – it is a merry Christmas no matter what the circumstances.

·        It is a merry Christmas because of Jesus. And Jesus does not just come to you once a year.
o   Jesus, Emmanuel, God with us – promises to be with you always.
§  He promises to be with you all the year – He promises to be with you to uphold you and strengthen you as you face all the ups and downs and uncertainties of the new year and the years to come.
·        He promises to be with you with forgiveness and love, grace and mercy.
o   But where does He promise to be for you?
§  In His Word and Sacraments in His Church – nowhere else.
·        He promises to be with you and strengthen you when you read and hear His Word in the Bible, when you receive holy Communion, His very Body and Blood where He promises to strengthen you in your faith, and He promised to be with you always in your baptism.
o   And Jesus always keeps His promises.

·        So it might be true that not everything is perfect as you would like in your celebration of Christmas this year
o   But don’t confuse the lack of perfection in your life with the celebration itself and the reason for merriment this Season
§  Remember the angel’s announcement to the shepherds in the field that holy night, and hear it again announced to you this holy night:
·        For unto you this day is born a Saviour – Jesus Christ the Lord.
o   Therefore – have a Merry Christmas!

Sunday, January 30, 2011

What do you mean?


I have come to realize, and have heard others say similar things as well, that nobody understands what another person is saying anymore.

We often hear certain Christian groups referred to as fundamentalist. The church body to which I belong has been called fundamentalist by some. What does that really mean? What is really being expressed by those who refer to groups of people as fundamentalists?

When I hear a report about fundamentalist groups the sense I get from the reporter is that this group of people are somehow a little "off." That they are not the mainstream within their group. That the people are somehow scary, brain-washed zombies.

But that is not really the meaning of the term "fundamentalist." Within Christian usage it goes back to an attempt to bring about unity in the Church by finding agreement in the every core basics of Christianity. In a sense the attempt was to identify those things that could not under any circumstances be altered. Within a wider framework it means a strict adherence to a certain set of beliefs.

So - really when someone is referring to someone else as a fundamentalist they are saying: "so, you really believe what you say you believe." or: "you really mean what you say!"

So when I say that the Bible is the Word of God - I mean it. This, according to some, makes me a fundamentalist. Some Lutherans of another stripe have referred to me in just such a way. So - when they say the Bible is the Word of God, don't worry, they are not fundamentalists - they don't really believe it.

When I say the Apostles' Creed - I actually mean and believe what I say. In a historical and physical sense. The things that I say I believe happened - I believe happened. But those who would call me a fundamentalist - don't worry, they don't.

Those who accuse others of being fundamentalists are just play acting. They say the same things as I say but think themselves too enlightened to actually believe it. They say the words but wink and grin at each other while they mock those who actually hold to it. It is how elitists lie. For some reason this group is unable to say what they really believe - that what the Christian Church has held as true for 2000 years is not really true. That they are more enlightened now than everyone before them. That they actually deny the very basics of the Christian Faith. They reinterpret the Christian Faith to make the realities of the historic Christian Faith irrelevant. It is a lie wrapped in pious actions and language that goes down smooth and easy.

It is made me all the more appreciate a church body's public confession of what they believe. It is sad but true - I need the public confession of another church body so I know what they mean when they say - I believe in Jesus Christ... . What do you mean? The Lutheran church is blessed with a robust explanation of what we believe. There is not a lot of ambiguity. Here it is. This is what we believe. Take it or leave it. And we believe what we say.

Saturday, December 18, 2010

Insightful

"A mood develops in which there is little respect for the past and even less knowledge of it. As the mood envelops pastoral work we are charmed into forgetting the very wisdom that we are called upon to share with others: the majestic reality of God and the immediate significance of each personal and local detail in the story of redemption. We are told that we must be au courant in the ways of looking at, studying, and working with persons, and that psychology and sociology will revolutionize our capabilities, putting us in the vanguard of those who will achieve a new human potential. But the whole work which has to do with the human's relation to God and God's will for the human does not come from knowing more about the times but from knowing humanity - and God. It has to do with continuities , not novelties; with what is essential in the human condition, not with what is accidental. that being the case, we are far more likely to get help from those whose experience has been tested in a variety of climates and cultures, and been demonstrated in the testing to be trustworthy." -- Eugene Peterson - Five Smooth Stones for Pastoral Work

I am still working through my summer reading list I had intended on completing - in the summer :-) I have read a few books that were not on that list in the meantime but now I am back to re-reading books that I read while in college and seminary that I felt were influential. the four books Peterson wrote on the pastoral ministry I recall being very influential when I read them 12-14 years ago. I am on volume 1. I think the above that Peterson writes is bang on. though I am uncomfortable with some of Peterson's approach to Scripture I think he has a lot of good things to say. I saw him give a presentation about 9 years ago and I was impressed. So - back to his books for the next little while.

Wednesday, December 1, 2010


The 6th Annual St. John Chrysostom Lutheran Preacher's Retreat
June 20-22, 2011
St. Michael's Retreat - Lumsden, SK

Speaker: The Rev. Warren Hamp - Faith Lutheran Church - Kitchener, ON

For more information visit: http://lutheranpreachers.worthyofpraise.org/

Monday, November 8, 2010

Free Speech in England - So shall it be in Canada

Here is a reasonable explanation of an important issue. Section 5 in England sounds eerily like our Human Rights Tribunals/Commissions here in Canada. See Ezra Levant and Mark Steyn for examples of the heinous abuse of their powers in our country. Anyway - take a look at this video clip - seems reasonable to me.

Sunday, October 31, 2010

Reformation Day Sermon

Reformation Day/10.31.10/Fort Q & IH/Romans 3:28
“For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.”
The date today is October 31. For Lutherans this day is significant because it is Reformation Day. The day that we pause and reflect upon some of the core teachings of the Bible. The core teachings that the Lutheran Reformation brought back from the periphery and placed in the centre of the Christian Faith where it belongs. Often these are referred to as the “Sola’s” of the Reformation. Christ alone. Grace alone. Faith alone. Scripture alone.
Reformation Day is not a day for pride. Reformation Day is not a day to look down upon those who are not Lutherans. Reformation Day is a day to be filled with humble thanksgiving. It is to be a day of thanksgiving for the undeserved, unmerited, gracious goodness of God to us poor sinners. We rejoice and give thanks for the gifts God gives us for the sake of Jesus Christ.
However we are bold to say that what we believe as Lutherans today, in the direct line of the Reformers of the 16th Century, is what the Christian Church has always believed, taught, and confessed. What we believe is not new. What we believe is not something Martin Luther came up with 500 years ago. No! What we believe is what the Bible teaches. What we believe is catholic in the truest sense of the word. It is universal. What Lutherans believe, teach, and confess is what the Bible teaches and confesses.
But who cares really? What difference does it make? Does it really matter if you go to this church or that? They are all pretty much the same aren’t they? I mean the Anglican church’s liturgy and the Roman Catholic church’s liturgy are pretty close to what we do. The Baptists and Alliance folk believe in Jesus don’t they? What is the big deal?
Today we will see little ones, and some not so little ones, running around all dressed up in various costumes. Princesses and pumpkins, cats and hockey players, firemen and barbies. But, there are also those who will dress up like monsters. Vampires, ghouls, ghosts, etc. Monsters. Of course we know that monsters aren’t real. It is all for pretend and fun. It’s a little spooky. But there is one monster that I want to tell you about on this October 31st that is very real. It is the scariest and most deadly monster that has ever been. This monster is alive and well today.
The Monster of Uncertainty. Luther knew this monster well. In fact, it was he who coined the term – the Monster of Uncertainty. This is not a monster I have made up. It is real. It lives today. This monster prowls about looking to terrify consciences. This monster prowls about looking to cause doubt and fear. This monster prowls about looking to destroy trust and hope and joy. This monster prowls about looking to destroy peace.
The Monster of Uncertainty roars: “Did God really say?” The Monster of Uncertainty takes Jesus out of view and places you as the only player on the field. The Monster of Uncertainty calls into question God’s promises.
How do you know God loves you? How do you know that you are not left alone by God? How do you know your sins are forgiven? How do you know that particularly dark sin in your past is forgiven? How do you know that when you die you will not be damned to hell? How do you know that the gates to heaven are open for you?
Well, how do you know? Are you absolutely certain that God loves you? Are you absolutely certain that your sins are forgiven? Are you certain that when you die you will be welcomed into heaven? Does the Monster of Uncertainty lurk in the background of your life? Is the Monster of Uncertainty growling in the dark corners of your life? Does the Monster of Uncertainty strike fear and terror in your heart?
If you seek to answer these questions by looking to yourself – the Monster will win. You will never have any peace – only uncertainty. You will never have any comfort – you will only hear the Monster of Uncertainty growling and striking doubt and fear in your heart.
If you look to yourself and the good things you have done hoping that you have earned God’s love and merit – ask yourself – how do you know if you have done enough? Are you sure? Are you certain?
If you look to yourself and base your faith upon your action of deciding and accepting Jesus – ask yourself – are you sure you gave all your heart to Jesus? Are you sure you really decided to accept Jesus? Maybe it was just an emotional thing? Did you really mean it?
The Monster of Uncertainty points you away from Jesus and has you look at yourself for your assurance and your certainty of God’s love and forgiveness. The Monster of Uncertainty wants you to find your certainty and assurance somewhere in you.
Lutherans reject all of this and this is why what you believe matters. This is why not all churches are the same. Not all churches have an answer to the Monster of Uncertainty. Many churches will have you look to something in yourself for your certainty of salvation. You see Lutheran theology – which is Christian theology – points you in the exact opposite direction as the Monster of Uncertainty. We look not to ourselves for our assurance and certainty of God’s love and forgiveness. We look to Jesus. We look not to what we have done to earn God’s merit – we look to Jesus and what He has done for us. We look not to our accepting of Jesus – but to His accepting of us by grace through faith.
How do you know what Jesus did 2000 years ago in His life, death on the cross, and His resurrection is for you? For you specifically? Individually?
Because Jesus says so.
He said so in your baptism. Through the blessed waters of Holy Baptism He claimed you as His own and promised to always be with you and to remove your sin. Notice – not what you do – but what Jesus has done and promised to you. Therefore – you can have certainty that it is true for you.
Jesus speaks His word of forgiveness in the Holy Absolution to you and by His doing He erases your guilt. Again – this is not something that you do –it is something that is given to you by the Lord’s promise. His forgiveness of your sins does not rely upon you but upon Jesus Word and faithfulness.
In the Sacrament of Holy Communion He gives Himself to you – personally and individually. He promises to be there in the Sacrament for you in His Body and Blood with the forgiveness of sins and the strengthening of faith. You don’t do anything to make this so. It is so because Jesus says it is so. It is sure and certain because it is not reliant upon you but upon Jesus.
Jesus provides you with these sure and certain places to find Him and His gifts for you. He does not want you to suffer through life with doubts and uncertainty regarding His love for you, His forgiveness of you, and His promises of eternal life for you.
For you. Specifically. Individually. For you. Jesus speaks it. Jesus promises it. Jesus gives it. For you. There is no doubt. There is no uncertainty. The One who rose from the dead and defeated sin, death, and the devil has spoken. This is most certainly true.
The Monster of Uncertainty is slain not by your efforts. The Monster of Uncertainty is slain not by your good works or merit. The Monster of Uncertainty is not slain by the strength of your faith. The Monster of Uncertainty is slain by Jesus. The Monster of Uncertainty is slain when we look to Jesus and Him alone for our life and salvation. The Monster of Uncertainty is slain when we by grace through faith trust Jesus’ Word and promises – the Word and promises that are given for you.
Dear friends, you can leave here this morning and go out into the scary world without doubt and fear. You can be fearless in the face of your sin and failure knowing that in Jesus you are forgiven. You can be fearless in the face of the trials and struggles of this life because you know that for Jesus’ sake you are beloved by God and are never left alone. You can be fearless when you face death itself because you know that in Jesus your death has been conquered – it no longer has dominion over you.
There is no doubt. There is no uncertainty. Jesus has accomplished it all for you. Jesus has given you all that He has done for you through His Word and Sacraments in the Church. On this Reformation Day let us rejoice in this Good News of Jesus Christ. Let us take comfort and have peace in our Lord Jesus’ work for us. Let us humbly acknowledge the great heritage of faithful biblical teaching that has handed down to us through the millennia. Let us seek to share this wonderful Good News with others who may be haunted by the Monster of Uncertainty. But above all else let us find peace in our Lord Jesus: For His sake - You are forgiven. You are loved by God. You have been given eternal life. This is most certainly true. Amen.