First Lesson: Deuteronomy 4: 1-2, 6-9
Responsive Reading: Psalm 15
Second Lesson: James 1: 17-27
Gospel Lesson: Mark 7: 1-8, 14-15, 21-23

Grace and Peace from Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
​
The place was Springfield, U.S.A[1].  The date was May 10th.  It was a tradition that traced its origins to the fictional Revolutionary War hero Jebediah Springfield.  The day was known as “Whacking Day.”  Every year the townsfolk would round up all the snakes within Springfield to the town square and whack them to death with sticks.  Only eight-year-old Lisa Simpson would speak out against the cruelty of such a practice.  Lisa’s words though were ignored though as she was going against the town’s long-standing tradition.  Lisa Simpson then sets out on a one-woman campaign to save the snakes of Springfield.  What ended up happening, we’ll get back to the story of Whacking Day in just a little bit.

Second Story, Once upon a time a little girl was sitting in her mother’s kitchen[2].  She was watching her mother prepare a roast; she noticed her mother every time before putting the roast in the oven would cut a piece off the end of the roast beef discarding it into the trash. 

Little girl pipes up “Mom, why do you do that?”  Mom says in response “Because that’s how my mother taught me to do the roast?” The girl was more curious, so a few weeks go by, and she sees her Grandma at a family gathering,  she asks “Grandma, why do you cut the end of the roast off before cooking.” Grandma thought and said “I’m not sure, but I remember that’s the way that my Mom prepared the roast. I’m sure she’s got a really good reason”. Finally, a few more weeks, go by when the little girl goes to visit her great-grandmother she asks “Why do you cut the end of the beef off before cooking it, Mom said she learned it from Grandma, and Grandma said she learned it from you.” Great-Grandma starts shaking her head; she then blurts out “ Imagine the two of them doing that! Why I only cut the piece off because my pan was too small[3]!”

Both these stories tell us about how we often cling to tradition, because that’s the ways it’s always been, no matter how outdated the practices might seem to be.  People can confuse the true meaning of tradition within Religion like nowhere else.

Fiddler on the Roof tells the story of Tevye and his family[4].  Tevye was merely a poor farmer, yet he was respected as the leader of the family.  Tevye had three daughters who were all needing to be married.  Within Tevye’s tradition, a matchmaker would meet with the family then find suitable husbands for each of the three daughters.  The system had been working well for generations.  The daughters as you can imagine didn’t like this arrangement.  Tevye’s oldest daughter Tzietel gets set up to marry a rich farmer in his mid-fifties.  Tevye thought the family hit the jackpot.  The only problem was Tzietel was in love with a poor tailor who couldn’t even afford a sewing machine.  Tzietel and her prospective husband break the news to her father.  Tevye was outraged that Tzietel would go against tradition. Tevye huffs and puffs finally gives in[5].  The second daughter, similar story.  Finally, Tevye’s third daughter Chava went even further in wanting to marry outside the faith.  The following was unforgivable.  Tevye would bend no further.  He refused to take part in the marriage.  He kicked his daughter out of the house.  He declared Chava to be dead[6].  What ends up happening to Tevye and his traditions, we’ll get back to his story in just a little bit. 

Today’s Gospel lesson is about tradition[7].  It’s about a tradition that arose for very good reasons in ceremonial hand-washing.  Now within the Old Testament, there were all sorts of laws about what one could or couldn’t eat: shellfish, pork, mixing meat with dairy were all forbidden.  Now even if you were self-disciplined enough to exclude these foods from your diet, if you ate non-forbidden foods then you must wash your hands not merely for cleanliness, but also for ceremonial purposes.   For example[8], you needed to wash your hands with your finger-tips pointed upward, then dry with the opposite wrist, then finally turn hands downward to let excess water drip.   You violate these laws then you were declared unfit to be on holy ground.    Now good holy people of Jesus’ day like the Scribes and Pharisees had these rituals down from childhood.  Now as they were observing Jesus’ Disciples they realized they weren’t washing their hands according to proper tradition, so they went to Jesus for an explanation. 

They say to Jesus “Why don’t your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders instead of eating their food with defiled hands[9]?”

Jesus’ answer isn’t that such traditions are bad, they had served a very good purpose for generations, just like Tevye had seen his tradition of matchmaking make many happy marriages including his own.  The issue is expressed by Jesus as such: “You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions.[10]”

Tim Zingale tells the following story[11]: Once upon a time, a man grew ill between two villages.  Back in these villages whichever village was closer would take care of the stricken man.  The only problem was, in this case, it wasn’t entirely clear.  One village argued that the distance needed to be measured from the man’s belly button whereas the other village argued from the man’s mouth.  Both villages wished to pass off the responsibility onto the other.  They went back and forth between each other.  One problem was in the midst of all this drama; the poor fellow passed away.

The point of this story is even though your answer may be right, it can be very wrong at the same time.  How Jesus came not to do away with tradition, but give tradition a new meaning.  Jesus came to point all of the Old Testament in the direction of the Cross.  The promises given are in our Gospel are more significant than any tradition that came before it or since.

Again Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen to me, everyone, and understand this. Nothing outside a person can defile them by going into them. Rather, it is what comes out of a person that defiles them[12].

Once upon a time, there was a gentleman named Narcissus[13].  One day, Narcissus wandered into the forest where he went looking for a spot to get a drink of water.  As Narcissus looked down at the pond, he saw the most beautiful sight he had ever seen: a beautiful face, pretty eyes, a noble nose, the most beautiful human being he had ever laid eyes.  So Narcissus stared and stared wanting to kiss this figure.  Every time though he bent down to kiss the face in the stream, the face would disappear.  Narcissus would grow depressed, back away, until he saw the face once again.  He sat there withering away until the very moment he died[14]. 

We often think the following way about tradition.  What we think we see has more beauty than ever was intended for it, traditions are merely markers to the point to much greater truths. 

As long as people have worshipped God, they have often viewed tradition in the same way as within our Gospel lesson. 

“For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and defile a person[15].”-Mark 7:21-23.

Tradition does not eliminate human sin. Tradition does not put to death our own selfishness.  Tradition unto itself will merely lead to death, whereas the Gospel is the Gift of God which shall bring forth eternal life[16].

Earlier, I told you the story of Tevye disowning his daughter for marrying outside the faith.  The final scene of Fiddler on the Roof, the Russian Revolution was beginning[17]. The family was going to be split up forever.  Tevye’s daughter Chava returns.  She hoped to make amends with her father against tradition.  This was where tradition’s authority would ultimately make itself known within Tevye’s life.  Tevye turned his back on her once again; the story ends in nothing but brokenness, pain, and separation.

Compare this story to the ending of another story where tradition isn’t quite so sacred.  A story like within our Gospel lesson where traditions are redefined forever. 

Also earlier, I told you the story of Springfield’s whacking day[18].  Bart Simpson after being kicked out of school did a little bit of research.  He found out Whacking Day’s origins were not with the town founder not in the Revolutionary War, the origins were much, more recent, and the day originated as an excuse for ethnic bullying.  The Simpson children then hatch a plan to save all of Springfield’s snakes, before pointing out to the gathering crowd all the good the snakes had in fact done in taking care of Springfield’s rodent population.  The snakes against all odds had ended up being cheered upon the conclusion of Whacking Day.

Sometimes traditions live on; sometimes they die natural deaths.  The great Christian hope though does not come through how we wash our hands.  The great Christian hope comes that we have a savior who washes away the very sins of the entire world. 

Since being a young child, I’ve never cared much for snakes.  Even seeing a harmless garter snake out hiking, causes me to flinch.  Like all traditions, it’s a good thing that my traditions aren’t what ultimately determine whether our God could possibly work through even snakes for his purposes and for our salvation.  Amen
 
 


[1] “Whacking Day”. Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation.  5th.July.2018. Web. Aug. 1.2018. “Whacking Day” is the tweinth episode of The Simpsons fourth season originally airing on the Fox network on April 29th, 1993. 
[2] Higgins, Scott. “The Pan.” Stories for Preaching. Web. Aug.1.2018. 
[3] Higgins, Scott. “The Pan.” Stories for Preaching. Web. Aug.1.2018. 
[4] Markquardt, Ed. “Tradition, Fiddler on the Roof.” Sermons from Seattle. Pentecost 13B. Web. Aug.1.2018. 
[5] Markquardt, Ed. “Tradition, Fiddler on the Roof.” Sermons from Seattle.
[6] Markquardt, Ed. “Tradition, Fiddler on the Roof.” Sermons from Seattle
[7] Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23. 
[8] Zingale, Tim. “Using Religion To Escape Religion.” Sermon Central. 5. Sept.2003. Web. Aug.1.2018.    
[9] Mark 7:5
[10] Mark 7:8
[11] Zingale, Tim. “Using Religion To Escape Religion.” Sermon Central.
[12] Mark 7:14-15. 
[13] Sterne, Rev.Martha. “Looking in the Mirror.” Day 1. 30.Aug.1999. Web. Aug.1.2018. 
[14] Narcissus (mythology). Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. 1.Aug.2018. Web. Aug.1.2018. 
[15] Mark 7:21-23. 
[16] Markquardt, Ed. “Tradition, Fiddler on the Roof.” Sermons from Seattle.
[17] Markquardt, Ed. “Tradition, Fiddler on the Roof.” Sermons from Seattle.
[18] Whacking Day”. Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation

First Lesson: 1 Kings 8: (1, 6, 10-11), 22-30, 41-43
Responsive Reading: Psalm 84
Second Lesson: Ephesians 6: 10-20
​Gospel Lesson: John 6: 56-69

Grace and Peace from Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
​
The year was 221 B.C.  The place was Northern China.  China had recently unified through a series of battles among is its six previous independent states[1][2].  China though remained under constant threat of attack from Barbarian nomads.  Emperor Quin Shi Huang proposed the construction of a “wall” in response.  The wall would stretch for 3,000 miles.  The wall worked just as intended.  China was indeed safe from Barbarian attack for centuries afterward.  Eventually, problems arose within China.  The wall had seemingly made them safe.  The wall’s upkeep fell into more and more disuse with each passing year.  Fast forward to the year 1211 A.D. a neighboring empire the Mongols led by Ghengis Kahn was able to circumvent openings in the wall.  The Mongols would rule over China for the next 157 years. 

Interestingly enough what is known as the “Great Wall” today was rebuilt beginning in 1474.  This wall has not been nearly as effective with multiple dynasties being brought down by popular uprisings despite the presence of the seemingly insurmountable re-built wall[3].

China has certainly seen its share of threats and enemies from both inside and outside their wall.  For Christian people; it remains the same. 

Today we look at our last lesson from the Book of Ephesians.  The Book of Ephesians describes our enemies as such:  Our “struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms[4]."

Ed Markquart describes it as such: “We are not merely fighting petty battles with booze or drugs or sex or material pleasures, important as these are.  No, the Bible says that we are fighting an evil force greater than ourselves, the very powers of darkness[5].”

It is this darkness which starves children, sends children and parents to the grave within human history: Hitler, Stalin, Mao.  It is this darkness which causes mass murderers to show little care for human life.  The darkness doesn’t happen if evil’s very, real and present forces don’t surround us[6].  We are often surrounded by forces of which the odds of ever overcoming seem insurmountable.   

So what is the Apostle Paul’s response to all these evil forces of sin, death, and the Devil.  Paul says “Put on the armor of God[7].” , put on resistance against whatever nasty forces threaten to attack us. 

Our lesson begins with the following: “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.  Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes[8].”

The problem is people are often hurting by the time they’re called to take a stand[9].  They would often rather hide in a foxhole instead.  They might believe too many battles have already been lost.  They believe they’re too imperfect to take up the cause against the forces of darkness.  They might be depressed, they might be ill and weak, they might be anxious, and they might be afraid.  They might believe their sin has been too great for God’s armor to adorn them.

What Paul is saying to the Ephesian Church Today is this.  No matter the battle of any past battles, you are not defeated.  You will be hurt!  You will have nights where you see nothing but darkness!  You do not fight these battles without armor.  As we fight the great battles of our faith, Temptation will constantly seem destined to devour us, yet our Lord equips us with the full armor of God.
Here’s what the armor of God consists of[10]:
Paul begins with the Belt of Truth.  This belt seeks to confront the lies of the present age that you are unworthy of God’s love.  You are too broken for redemption.  The world is nothing more than here today gone tomorrow.  The belt reminds us that truth is not seen merely in the forces that surround us.

Paul then moves on to the upper body when talking about the “Breastplate of Righteousness.- In Paul’s day as he’s writing to the Ephesian Church.  A breastplate would protect one’s heart.  It served the same role that a bulletproof vest would serve within our day[11].  The Vikings several weeks had an Assistant Coach Tony Sparano die suddenly because his heart gave out.  Lose one’s heart, lose one’s life.  So what serves as our Breastplate of Righteousness?

We hearken back to Paul’s early writings: “The righteous shall live by faith[12].”  What Paul is saying is the first line of defense against all these spiritual enemies is our faith.  The source is your imperfect faith. The faith given in Baptism, the faith sustained in our Lord’s Supper and the preaching of the Gospel, the faith that calls out in prayer.  Our shield of faith.  It is a reminder that this faith has the potential to move mountains, even when we are at our most discouraged. It is ultimately your faith that should protect you from any arrows lobbed at you by the evil one no matter how nasty[13]. 

Paul then goes down to the feet.  “Shoes of the Gospel”- The older I get, the more I recognize the importance of good footwear.  When I go hiking there is nothing you fear more than your shoes failing you, feet getting marked by blisters and the feet being unable to go on because of pain.  What Paul is reminding us is that living as Christian people is that we will face tough situations.  It is at these moments that we cling to the promises of our Gospel upon our feet.  Christ Jesus Died for the Ungodly[14]. 

Paul then moves on to a believer’s head. “Helmet of Salvation”. Picture a football helmet; it serves as a source of protection against all sorts of nasty hits, bumps, and bruises, Whereas the Helmet of Salvation, reminds us that nothing shall separate us from the Love of God found in Christ Jesus[15][16].

It is ultimately the Sword of the Spirit to which we cling that shall fight off all these enemies as Satan threatens continual destruction and damnation. 

The whole armor of God is a reminder that regardless of any battles that we’re going through, the outcome of the eventual battle is certain.  God’s people will prevail.  The Gospel will become true before our very eyes. No matter how long the odds, or unbelievable the potential outcome.

Let me close with one final story for this morning.  This story illustrates how just a little bit of faith can help you overcome the strongest of adversaries.  Earlier this summer, I was coaching the Silver Bay Boys Basketball team in the Summer League down in Superior.  We were one of the smaller schools in the league.  The kids we did have weren’t always available to play.  We had lost nine games in a row.  Some close, some not so close.  On this night, we had five kids.  The kids we did have most of them played on a Junior Varsity team that won one game the previous year.  We were playing Duluth East J.V who had thirteen kids.  Silver Bay’s high school enrollment this year will be less than 100 kids in grades 9-12.  Duluth East ’s, enrollment will be nearly 1400 kids.  Before the game, I was dreading the outcome as a coach. 

The game starts.  We start making baskets.  Before I know it, we’re up 10.  Pretty soon the kids whole demeanor changes as they believe they can win.  They begin to play with confidence that I hadn’t seen the rest of the summer.  We go into the half with a sixteen point lead.  I was the most surprised person in the whole gym. 

The second half begins, Duluth East changes their strategy.  They start to press the whole court to tire our five guys out.  Duluth East starts chipping away at the lead.  Every time, Duluth East would get close, and the lead seemed destined to slip away, we would get a bucket.  The game gets down to its closing seconds.  Our lead was three points; one bad pass could lead to what seems like an inevitable loss.  My previous flaws at late-game strategy seemed destined to fail again.  The Duluth East coach then gets called for a technical foul for not quite understanding the rules of the game.  We hit a free-throw then run the clock out.  Five very, sweaty, tired young boys hug at center-court after taking down mighty Duluth East. 

This game reminds me of something about our lesson for Today.  Faith can provide Armor that it is impenetrable against the most powerful of forces.  It doesn’t matter what you think, or anyone else thinks.  Faith in spite of long odds is the most powerful force in the whole, wide world.  This is why Paul closes out the Book of Ephesians by instructing Christians to see their faith as serving as a force just as powerful as armor given by God. 

Some years, a great wall was built in China.  It cost all sorts of money and was the product of all sorts of labor.  When finished, it was thought that no one could overcome it.  An enemy though eventually overcame it[17].  All the best of human works eventually end in disappointment, whereas faith has the power to achieve victory against even the strongest forces which challenge us.  On this day, we close our summer study of Paul’s letters.  We are encouraged to put on the whole Armor of God.  Armor that is impenetrable against the darkest of spiritual forces: sin, death, and the power of the Devil.  What Paul’s writings remind us is that in the end: Grace shall win! Forgiveness shall win! Eternal life shall be inherited! God’s people shall emerge as the victors!  Amen
               
 


[1] “Great Wall of China.” History Channel. Web. July.23.2018. 
[2] “Warring States Period.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. 19.July.2018. Web. July.23.2018. 
[3] Chen, Alexander. “How effective was the Great Wall at protecting China's border? Quora. 6.Mar.2016. Web. July.23.2018. 
[4] Ephesians 5:12. 
[5] Markquardt, Ed. “Put on the Whole Armor of God.” Sermons from Seattle. Web. July.23.2018. 
[6] Markquardt, Ed. “Put on the Whole Armor of God.” Sermons from Seattle.
[7] Ephesians 6:10-11 
[8] Ephesians 6:10.
[9] Stier, Leon. “Stand Your Ground.” Email Mediatations. 30.Apr.2014. Web. July.23.2018. 
[10] Molin, Steve. “Dressing for Success.” Sermon Writer. 2006. Web. July.23.2018. 
[11] Molin, Steve. “Dressing for Success.” Sermon Writer.
[12] Romans 1:17. 
[13] Ephesians 6:16b. 
[14] Romans 5:6. 
[15] Markquardt, Ed. “Put on the Whole Armor of God.” Sermons from Seattle
[16] Romans 8:38-39. 
[17] Fosdick, Harry Emerson. “Defense.” Sermon Illustrations. Web. July.23.2018.  

First Lesson: 1 Kings 2: 10-12; 3: 3-14
Responsive Reading: Psalm 111
Second Lesson: Ephesians 5: 15-20
​Gospel Lesson: John 6: 51-58

Grace and Peace from Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
​
“Experience comes from what we have done. Wisdom comes from what we have done badly[1].” -Theodore Levitt, Harvard Business School.

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.”-Proverbs 1:7
As I was growing up in Lindstrom, one cannot be separated from the reputation of one’s parents.  Lindstrom was a town of about 2,000 people then.  My Dad not only owned a business but served on the City Council since I was three years old.  He has been elected Mayor of the town seven times since 2002.  Before him, his Dad served as mayor.  Before him, his Grandpa served as mayor.  In fact, a direct descendant had served the town every decade since the town’s inception in 1894.  So with a family tree like that, you’re always going to be in other people’s shadows.  You don’t merely want to be remembered as Keith Carlson’s son.  There are all sorts of ways to stand out from your ancestors: you can do it in sports, in music, you can become wildly successful be a doctor or a well-known businessman.  What if there are other ways to stand out from those who came before you in ways that we don’t often consider.

King David was Israel’s greatest king.  The land had known unity, peace, and prosperity like no other time in Israel’s previous 500 years.  Replacing David as King was going to be like replacing Babe Ruth on the New York Yankees, it seemed to be nothing but an impossible task. Solomon seemed destined to forever be known as David’s son within Israel.

Shortly into King Solomon’s reign, his life would change forever.  The Lord appeared to him in a dream.  God said to Solomon: “Ask for whatever you want me to give you[2].”  What an unbelievable offer[3].  Solomon began to ponder perhaps wealth or long lives for oneself or their loved ones.  Solomon though thought differently.  Solomon asked God for Wisdom instead.  “Give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong[4].”  The Lord was impressed with Solomon giving such an answer[5].  So God promised that Solomon would possess wisdom like no one would have ever walked the Earth before[6]. 

Soon right after this, Solomon’s gift would be put to the test[7].  Solomon is approached one day by two women[8].  Both women were the mothers of young infants.  Both women slept in the same house.  Tragedy struck during the night as one of the women rolled over crushing her infant to death.  The grieving mother in response decides to take the other mother’s child and place the dead infant in her bed.  As soon as the other mother awakens, she knows that the dead child lying next to her is not her own.  The mothers go back and forth; they bring the dispute to King Solomon.  Solomon listens patiently.  Solomon suggests the only solution is “Cut the baby in two[9].”  One mother agrees while the other mother cries out in agony: “Please, my lord, give her the living baby! Don’t kill him[10]!”  Solomon had his answer as to the true mother of this child.  So brilliant, that the whole nation of Israel is in awe of Solomon’s wisdom[11], Solomon’s reign quickly becomes a smashing success.  Solomon is an expert in diplomacy, he built foreign alliances so strong, that Israel would never be under threat like in his father King David’s reign[12].  Solomon’s diplomacy led to great wealth through foreign trade.  In fact, Solomon was greater in riches than all the other kings of the Earth.  Solomon was regarded as not just the wisest man in Israel, but eventually the whole, wide world.  What eventually happened to Solomon, we will get back to the conclusion of his story in just a little bit.

So as we hear the story of Solomon - what might such wisdom look like within our own lives.  In our lesson from Ephesians 5[13], the Apostle Paul begins to answer this question. 

“Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is[14]”.

How exactly might we acquire wisdom?  In 1993, the comedian Bill Murray starred in a movie called Groundhog Day[15].  Murray plays a weather forecaster who is forced to journey to Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania famous for the nation’s Groundhog Day celebration[16].  The weatherman was upset about having to go to a small backwater town populated by what he thought was nothing but hicks.  He tapes a lazy report from Punxsutawney hoping to go home as soon as possible.  The worst thing imaginable soon happens a blizzard kicks up, and he gets stranded.  The next morning, the weatherman is stunned to awaken to another February 2nd.  He acts like a fool would act binge-drinking, reckless driving, and finding any woman around[17].  He eventually grows depressed at all this, thinking suicide would be the only way out.  When he realizes the emptiness of all this, he begins to acquire wisdom.  He decides to use his new-found experience of every other Groundhog Day to better the world around him.  He becomes a piano-player, an ice sculptor, picks up French, and begins enthusiastically reporting on all that took place in Punxsutawney on Groundhog’s Day[18].”

What is Wisdom as Christian people?  Wisdom is best summed up by King Solomon as he writes the Proverbs which declare: “When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom[19].”

Wisdom is recognition of the brokenness of the world around us and within us.  Wisdom is recognizing our own foolishness.  As said by Mickey Anders: “To be foolish in the Jewish tradition means throwing away the chance for salvation[20].”

Roy Harrisville was a mentor of mine at Luther Seminary[21].  Roy served thirty-some years in the New Testament at Luther Seminary.  Roy preached shortly after his ninetieth birthday, at my installation here at Sychar six years ago.  Roy is considered among the best New Testament scholars in the country.  He’s the only friend of mine with a Wikipedia entry. 

Well once upon a time, Roy was speaking to a church.  The Pastor didn’t like what Roy had to say.  The Pastor was going to let everyone in the room know how wrong that Roy was.  So he begins to appeal to his forty-some years of experience serving various churches.  Roy was merely a young Seminary professor at the time.  Roy in his annoyance merely snapped back: “You don’t have forty-years, you’ve done the same year forty years straight.”

Roy is making an important point about wisdom that just because time has passed doesn’t mean we are wiser because of it if we don’t learn from our mistakes.

Even King Solomon the wisest man who ever lived did not have a happy ending to his story.  One of the ways that diplomacy was done in Solomon’s day took place by intermarrying among the kingdoms[22].  So Solomon took all sorts of wives: “had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines[23].”  All these wives would soon bring trouble to Solomon’s kingdom.  They would bring Gods other than the God of Israel into the land.  Solomon would use his great wealth to build impressive shrines to these foreign gods[24].  Pretty soon the faith which had brought Solomon such great wisdom had been corrupted. 

Solomon’s foolishness brought the following curse: "Since this has been your practice and you have not kept my covenant and my statutes that I have commanded you, I will surely tear the kingdom from you and will give it to your servant[25]."

Israel upon Solomon’s fall would begin to collapse as a kingdom slowly.  Solomon had many great building projects, but they brought a lot of debt to the land[26].  The people began to rebel against Solomon’s taxes.  A near civil war broke out throughout the land.  Upon Solomon’s death, the war finally broke out[27].  Israel would soon divide into the Northern Kingdom of Samaria and the Southern Kingdom of Judah.  Israel would never again enjoy such good times as when Solomon was the wisest man in the world. 
A thousand years after Solomon’s reign[28], Jesus was speaking of Solomon when he declared “not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.” [29] Jesus was pointing out how all our eventual foolishness shall be redeemed and we shall know a kingdom way beyond anything that Solomon could ever know.  Where we are weak, we will soon cling to Christ’s strength.  True wisdom will point its way to a cross.

This wisdom has a way of overcoming all forces that might afflict us on this day.  Let me close with one final story; once upon a time, there was the owner of a small store[30].  He was being pressured day after day to sell to the owners of a much, larger department store.  The man seemed destined for bankruptcy against the much stronger competition.  The man continually refused to sell his store.  So the Department store makes other plans, they open their store on both sides of the smaller shop.  They spend all sorts of advertising dollars promoting their grand-opening, hanging giant banners bringing in people from far and wide.  The store owner seemed defeated.  He thought of an idea though.  So right above his store, he hung a small banner which proclaimed “Main Entrance.”  His store remained open for many years afterward, all thanks to a little wisdom.  The little guy took down the big guy.  The Cross of Christ shall eventually take down all not only Solomon’s sin but our own, our eventual death, and make the devil ultimately look foolish.  Amen


[1] Found on Sermon Illustrations under Wisdom on July 19th, 2018. 
[2] 1 Kings 3:5b
[3] Stier, Leon. “Solomon (part one of two).” Email Meditations.10. Aug.2016. Web. July.19.2018.   
[4] 1 Kings 3:9a. 
[5] Stier, Leon. “Solomon (part one of two).” Email Meditations.
[6] 1 Kings 3:12. 
[7] 1 Kings 3:16-28. 
[8] Stier, Leon. “Solomon (part one of two).” Email Meditations.
[9] 1 Kings 3:25. 
[10] 1 Kings 3:27. 
[11] Stier, Leon. “Solomon (part one of two).” Email Meditations.
[12]Stier, Leon. “Solomon (part two of two).” Email Meditations. 11. Apr.2016. Web. July.19.2018. 
[13] Ephesians 5:15-20.
[14] Ephesians 5:15-17. 
[15] “Groundhog Day (film).” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. 22.July.2018. Web. July.22.2018. 
[16] Analogy idea comes from Erwin F. Goedicke on Text Week for Ephesians 5:16. 
[17] Groundhog Day (film).” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation.
[18] Groundhog Day (film).” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation
[19] Proverbs 11:2
[20] Anders, Mickey. “How to Live.” Sermon Writer. 2003. Web. July.19.2018. 
[21] Idea was sparked by a similar story on Stories for Preaching  titled “Two Teachers” found under Wisdom on July 19th, 2018. 
[22] Stier, Leon. “Solomon (part two of two).” Email Meditations.
[23] 1 Kings 11:3. 
[24] Stier, Leon. “Solomon (part two of two).” Email Meditations.
[25] 1 Kings 11:11. 
[26] Stier, Leon. “Solomon (part two of two).” Email Meditations.
[27] Stier, Leon. “Solomon (part two of two).” Email Meditations.
[28] Stier, Leon. “Solomon (part two of two).” Email Meditations.
[29] Luke 12:27
[30] Found on Family Times under Wisdom Illustrations on July 19th, 2018.  Analogy comes from Paul Decker on Sermon Central.  

First Lesson: 2 Samuel 18: 5-9, 15, 31-33
Responsive Reading: Psalm 130
Second Lesson: Ephesians 4: 25 - 5:2
Gospel Lesson: John 6: 35, 41-51

Grace and Peace from Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
​
I want to begin this morning with the story of a young boy[1].  The young boy is like many a young boy you might know.  When he would play baseball and didn’t like the umpire’s calling of balls and strikes, he would get mad.  When he would argue with his brother and sister, he would get so mad that he would storm out of the house and not come back for hours.  When he got mad at school, his face would turn red; he tended to let words slip that he shouldn’t say, and he would get sent to detention. 

His dad was getting frustrated at all the boy's temper tantrums during the first bit of adversity.  So his dad one day came home and handed his boy a bag of nails.  He then gave the following instruction “Whenever you get mad, I want you to take one of these nails and hammer it into the back of the fence out back.”  This advice didn’t seem to work too well at first.  The boy lost his temper just as much.  Pretty soon, though the boy’s outbursts became rarer and rarer, the boy came to realize that it was easier to either walk away or calmly state his concerns then continually pound nails into the fence.  One day, the boy comes home proudly announcing to his father that he had finally made it through the day without losing his temper. 

Father then gave the following advice. ‘Every day you don’t lose your temper, why don’t you pull a nail out of the fence[2].”

Days go by until finally, the boy had restrained his anger enough to remove every single nail.  The father told the son “he was proud,” but they needed to go look at the fence.  The Dad pointed out all the holes in the fence where nails used to be.” Dad then made the point “It is the same way with anger, every time your anger wounds another, the wound remains long after the outburst[3].” 

Today’s lesson comes to us from Ephesians 4[4].  In our lesson for Today, Paul is seeking to address conflict within the Ephesian church.  What the exact nature of the conflict is the text doesn’t say.  What Paul implies is that the conflict was old, the conflict was long-standing.  There was some long-standing grievance from the past that prevented the Ephesians from moving forward.  The Ephesians probably weren’t that different from us in dealing with conflict.  We sit on opposite sides of the sanctuary.  In bigger churches, people even might dare to attend a different service to avoid certain “Christians[5].” 

When I first started attending Viking games with my dad, I remember sitting across the aisle from a gentleman.  He was a short gentleman with a mustache.  He was mad throughout the Vikings game, even if they managed to win.  His face seemingly got redder and redder with every play.  He looked like a heart attack waiting to happen.  He was mad at the coach!  He was mad at the offensive coordinator!  He was mad at the Quarterback!  He would do the best he could to let these people know how they disappointed him from section 235 in row 19, whether the Vikings could hear him or not didn’t matter!

While the Vikings losing might be a disappointment, it need not be a source of wounds.   

Christians like those in Ephesians, like those in our churches probably struggled with discerning the difference between a disappointment and a wound.  A color you don’t like in the fellowship hall is a disappointment; it is not a wound[6]. 

Even on more critical issues, such as the treatment of a former pastor or a church budget[7], it cannot permanently wound a church’s mission to bring the Gospel to their wider community. 

So Paul gives the Ephesians some advice, “Be Angry, but do not sin[8].”

To consider the following verse, let’s reflect on whether anger is a sin[9].

Paul would say that anger, in fact, does have its place among Christian people. 

When I was growing up, I had a park up the street where kids would frequently congregate.  One day a fight broke out.  It wasn’t much of a fight but rather a beating where a group of junior highers were beating up and begin to bloody another junior higher.  Living right across the street from the park was Mr. Allen.  Mr. Allen was a mountain of a man.  He stood 6’4; he weighed over 300 lbs at the time.  As soon as Mr. Allen saw what was happening, he stormed out of the house.  The kids saw Mr. Allen approaching, raising his voice, they cleared as quickly as they could.  Mr. Allen was a devout believer and was right to get mad.  There were limits to anger’s power.  If Mr. Allen had sought an eye for an eye retaliation against the children, then anger would have been taken too far.  For example, within the Old Testament, it was not uncommon for the prophets to lash out in anger regarding how God’s covenant with the people was being violated[10].  Anger’s limits need to be realized when placed in the hands of flawed and sinful people like ourselves.  We must be cautious of seeking to justify our anger.  We must be even more cautious not to try to stir up anger further.  The Christian calling is not to respond to anger with violence.   The Devil can very easily feed off our anger[11].  The Devil will attempt to destroy the Christian community by making getting even into a higher priority[12]. 

So how does Paul encourage Christians to respond to anger: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry[13], “

When I was in high school, I had a friend named Ben.  Ben was very well-mannered, and I never heard Ben raise his voice.  Ben’s whole family was the same way.  The more time I spent around them, I saw them as good religious people who seemed incapable of anger.  Ben was in for a million dollar education when he decided to go with me to Grandma’s on one summer night.  Grandma, Ben, and I were sitting in the kitchen when my Uncle Gregg comes bursting in the door.  Gregg was mad!  Gregg was mad because Grandma couldn’t be reached earlier in the day! Now a family member was going to show up at Gregg’s house in the middle of the night and wake his young children.  Gregg didn’t begin by exchanging pleasantries.  Gregg merely started raising his voice to let Grandma know everything that was wrong.  Grandma being about seventy-five at the time wasn’t just going to sit there and take this.  She stood up and started yelling at Gregg right back!  Even nearing ninety-five, I know of no one who should think it’s a good idea to start a screaming match with Grandma.  Grandma and Gregg go back and forth for like five-ten minutes.  Ben looks on mortified at what he was witnessing.  Then remarkably, Grandma and Gregg solve their issue.  They exchange a few jokes.  Gregg walks out the door smiling, Grandma resumes business like normal, and their issues were resolved.  The following story is an example of not letting the sun go down on one’s anger.  They believed it was better for the relationship to disagree however uncomfortably and ultimately work their way forward as people.

This is why Paul encourages us Today to : “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you[14].”

Let me give you a painful truth on this day.  We will have unlovable people in our lives[15].  You will have people disappoint you.  You will have people speak wrongly about you.  For what the Gospel does is reveal the exact opposite of anger.  The Gospel reveals love at those very moments when we or those around us seem to be unlovable.  We cannot or will not make ourselves right with God in comparison to other people.  So their needs to be better ways to deal with anger even as difficult as they may be[16].

Let me close this morning with one Final Story, Chet Bitterman was an American missionary and Bible Translator[17].  Bitterman begins his missionary work in Colombia, South America[18].  While in Colombia, Bitterman one morning, terrorists bang on his door demanding to see his supervisor.  When the supervisor is unavailable, Bitterman is kidnapped instead[19].  Bitterman’s wife and children witness this scene.  Bitterman is eventually killed by his captors.  Few people will ever be justified in their anger like Chet Bitterman’s family.  You can understand if the family wanted nothing to do with the people of Colombia ever again.  Bitterman’s family wanted to funnel their anger to more productive means[20].

They decided to enlist the support of friends and neighbors to begin a fundraising campaign for the people of Colombia to buy an ambulance where one was needed.  Chet Bitterman’s parents even traveled to Colombia to present the new ambulance.  During the ceremony, Chet Bitterman’s mom declared “We can do this because God has taken the “anger” hatred from our hearts[21].”

On the cross, God gave hope and life eternal in response to the very people who put him to death.  God gave forgiveness to those who had denied it to others.  God had declared the “unlovable” to now be beloved.  Anger had turned into grace.  The world was now going to forever change because of it.  Paul’s message to the Ephesian church is other people will disappoint us, but we cannot let them wound us.  We will get angry, but this anger isn’t a bad thing if it points us to the day when our Lord shall permanently take all anger and brokenness from not only the Ephesian Church, but our church, and ultimately our world, only to the sunrise again as we witness the power of Resurrection.
 Amen
 
 
 
 


[1] Higgins, Scott. “Nails in the Fence.” Stories for Preaching. Web. July.18.2018.  Taken from Unknown Source. 
[2] Higgins, Scott. “Nails in the Fence.” Stories for Preaching.
[3] Higgins, Scott. “Nails in the Fence.” Stories for Preaching.
[4] Ephesians 4:25-5:2. 
[5] Molin, Steve. “Had Any Good Church Fights Lately?” Sermon Writer. 2006. Web. July.18.2018. 
[6] Molin, Steve. “Had Any Good Church Fights Lately?” Sermon Writer.
[7] Molin, Steve. “Had Any Good Church Fights Lately?” Sermon Writer.
[8] Ephesians 4:26
[9] Tranvik, Mark. “Commentary on Ephesians 4:25-5:2.” Working Preacher. Luther Seminary. 12. Aug.2012. Web. July.18.2012. 
[10] Tranvik, Mark. “Commentary on Ephesians 4:25-5:2.” Working Preacher.
[11] Ephesians 4:27
[12] Tranvik, Mark. “Commentary on Ephesians 4:25-5:2.” Working Preacher.
[13] Ephesians 4:26b. 
[14] Ephesians 4:31-32. 
[15] Tranvik, Mark. “Commentary on Ephesians 4:25-5:2.” Working Preacher.
[16] Tranvik, Mark. “Commentary on Ephesians 4:25-5:2.” Working Preacher.
[17] Fritz, Paul. “Overcoming Anger Toward Belligerent People.” Sermon Central. 18.Oct.2000. Web. July.18.2018. 
[18] “Chet Bitterman.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. 14.Jan.2017. Web. July.18.2018. 
[19] Steffen, Bonnie. “Chet Bitterman: Missionaries have never been off-limits for terrorists.” Christianity Today. March/April 2002. Web. July.18.2018. 
[20] Fritz, Paul. “Overcoming Anger Toward Belligerent People.” Sermon Central.
[21] Fritz, Paul. “Overcoming Anger Toward Belligerent People.” Sermon Central.

First Lesson: 2 Samuel 11: 1-15
Responsive Reading: Psalm 14
Second Lesson: Ephesians 3: 14-21
​Gospel Lesson: John 6: 1-21

Grace and Peace from Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
​
This summer we’ve been having a good deal of Road Construction upon the North Shore.  I’ve had trips from Two Harbors that have taken 1 ½ hours.  We all can understand this frustration.  Now picture a bigger city like Minneapolis where the cars aren’t just in the hundreds but the hundreds of thousands on the road at any given time. 

With road construction in mind, let me begin by telling a children’s story as told by Alice Schertle[1].  Once upon a time, there was a little, blue truck[2].  The truck was small.  The truck was slow.  The truck looked like it didn’t belong on the road with the other cars.  One day the little blue truck dared to venture into the big city.  As the little, blue truck drove around, everyone couldn’t help but see all the ways that it didn’t measure up to the other vehicles on the road.  Other vehicles would shout out at the little, blue truck “Shove on, Shorty,” honk their horns, or yell “Get out of the way[3].”

Finally, the little blue truck encounters the biggest limousine around.  The limousine was the prettiest car around.  It was obvious that someone important is inside.  That person turned out to be the big city’s mayor.  Pretty soon a traffic jam came to the big city.  Cars were stuck with nowhere to go. Drivers were yelling and honking at each other.  The little blue truck though had a realization; a little patience will help things move a lot faster.  “One at a time is the way to go[4].”

As the little blue truck encountered the limo once again, the limo started to go attempting to cut off the little blue truck, only to have its engine give out right in the middle of the city.  The little blue truck then offered the mayor a ride.  Everyone was shocked when the mayor took the little blue truck up on its offer.  The mayor encourages all the cars to follow the little blue truck’s advice.  Pretty soon, all the cars in line.  Soon everyone around begins to cheer the little, blue truck for ultimately leading the way out of the traffic jam once and for all[5]. 

Now the little, blue truck showed something important about leadership how it's not always the biggest trucks on the road that are needed to get the job the done[6]. 

Sometimes all that’s needed to change the world is a simple servant who sees a much bigger purpose. 

Let me tell a second story; Once upon a time, there was a seminary professor on vacation[7].  He and his wife were having dinner when an old man they hadn’t seen before in their lives began to approach them.  The old man asks what do you the professor “What do you do.”  To which the professor replies “I work as a preacher.”  Normally announcing he was a preacher would put a quick end to a lot of conversations, but the old man grew more excited.

He said, let me tell you a story.  The old man began to explain his life as a child[8].  He never knew who his father was.  His mother was ostracized by nearly everyone around in their town in Tennessee. The young boy had never gone to church because of this.  One day though a new preacher came to town.  The young boy to the amazement of everyone showed up at the church.  The boy left the service early before anyone could talk to him.  He would keep coming back week after week.  He would be the last one in and the first one out. He was skilled at never talking to anyone.  One Sunday though the boy got caught up in the sermon and didn’t leave.  As soon as the service was over, the aisles started to fill.  The boy started scurrying for a side door, embarrassed that he had been caught at church.  Pretty soon though he feels a giant hand come down upon his shoulder.  The boy turns around sees the preacher staring right at him.  “What’s your name, boy? Whose son are you?”  The little boy was ashamed at the question; he didn’t want to dare tell this preacher the truth that he had no idea who his father was.  He thought he’d be told to never come back to the church ever again.  The preacher begins looking the boy up and down.  Before the boy could answer, the preacher began to speak “know who you are. I know who your family is. There’s a distinct family resemblance. Why you’re the son, you’re the son; you’re the son of God!”.  The old man described this encounter in the midst of a church traffic jam as forever changing his life, even years after it had taken place.  The old man got up and left the preacher’s table then finally the restaurant.

The waitress comes up to deliver the bill “Do you know who that was?” The preacher got confused, only to hear the waitress answer “That was Ben Hooper, the two-term governor of Tennessee.[9]”

On that day the preacher was merely a simple servant who saw a much bigger purpose at work in the life of this fatherless child. 

These two stories lead us into our lesson for Today from Ephesians 3[10].  In this chapter, Paul begins to pray for the Ephesian church.  Ephesians was one of Paul’s last letters.  Paul probably wrote Ephesians while sitting in prison[11].  Paul though in these days saw a much bigger purpose for the Ephesian church. 
Paul’s prayer goes as such: “I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God[12].”

Paul’s prayer for the Ephesian church is that they comprehend the vastness of God’s love.  The vastness of God’s grace in all kinds of life’s situations.  The reality that this grace does not end even when you’re an outcast child trying to escape a church in Tennessee. 

Rev. Dr. Guy Sayles sums this passage up best when he says[13]: ‘ Thankfully, as Paul’s prayer for the Ephesian Christians reminds us, we don’t have a small and distant god.  The real God revealed to us in the history of Israel and in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ is magnificent, mysterious, and mighty.”

The type of God that Paul prays can take the smallest of acts and use them for much, much bigger purposes.

Let me close with one final story; Once upon a time in Romania, there was a pastor named Laszlo Tokes[14] who was continually harassed by the secret police of the communist government.  Pastor Tokes refused to back down, so the government set out to arrest him and deported to his native Hungary.  Yet all the members of his church gathered to protect him and form a blockade around him[15].  Just like the little blue truck or the small boy in the church, the communist forces were flummoxed.  Pretty soon people from all over the Romanian countryside came out to join Pastor Tokes cause.  Nine days later, the Romanian government fell.  The reign of the Iron Curtain over Eastern Europe was soon to come to an end.  All these things took place because one Pastor saw a much bigger purpose that his current oppression.   In the wake of Pastor Tokes’ victory and the fall of the Communists, a sign went up declaring “The Lamb Wins[16].”  The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.  Paul’s prayer to the Ephesians had come true.  God’s spirit filled the land, and the church was assured of their eventual, final victory in Christ Jesus.  God’s purposes are often bigger their own.  The following reality is why we often struggle to see God’s purposes on any given day.  Within the Kingdom of God eventually, the tiny, little blue truck becomes the most admired car in the city. The little-ashamed boy in the back of the church becomes the Governor of Tennessee, or the simple country Pastor changes the whole wide world.   The one theme all these stories have in common is they all took place in the midst of various traffic jams.  Remember this the next time you encounter a little bit of road construction. Amen
 
 
 
 
 


[1] Landes, Elizabeth Boulware. “Little Blue Truck: Leads the Way.” Storypath. William Smith Morton Library, Union Presbyterian Seminary. 19.Jun.2015. Web. July.12.2018. 
[2] Miss Becky. “Little Blue Truck Leads the Way by Alice Schertle.” You Tube. 12. May.2017. Web. July.12.2018. 
[3] Miss Becky. “Little Blue Truck Leads the Way by Alice Schertle.” You Tube
[4] Miss Becky. “Little Blue Truck Leads the Way by Alice Schertle.” You Tube.
[5] Miss Becky. “Little Blue Truck Leads the Way by Alice Schertle.” You Tube
[6] Landes, Elizabeth Boulware. “Little Blue Truck: Leads the Way.” Storypath.
[7] Higgins, Scott. “You’re the Son of God.” Stories of Preaching. Web. July.12.2018 taken from Tony Campolo’s It’s Friday but Sunday’s Comin. Word Books. 1985.
[8] Higgins, Scott. “You’re the Son of God.” Stories of Preaching.
[9] Higgins, Scott. “You’re the Son of God.” Stories of Preaching.
[10] Ephesians 3:14-21. 
[11] Markquardt, Edward. “Fill Er’ Up: Books of the Bible: Ephesians.” Sermons from Seattle. Web. July.12.2018. 
[12] Ephesians 3:16-19. 
[13] Sayles, Rev.Dr. Guy. “Our Vast and Loving God.” Day 1. 29. July.2012. Web. July.12.2018. 
[14] “László Tőkés.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. 25.June.2018. Web. July.12.2018. 
[15] Buchanan, Rodney. “I Believe In The Holy Catholic Church.” Sermon Central. 10.Jun.2012. Web. July.12.2018. 
[16] Buchanan, Rodney. “I Believe In The Holy Catholic Church.” Sermon Central.

First Lesson: 2 Samuel 7: 1-14
Responsive Reading: Psalm 89: 20-37
Second Lesson: Ephesians 2: 11-22
​Gospel Lesson: Mark 6: 30-34, 53-56

Grace and Peace from Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
​
Once upon a time, there was a young man in India[1].  The man was raised Hindu.  He struggled with Hinduism as he was part of a lower caste[2].  Therefore, he always treated as a second-class citizen wherever he went.  The young man became acquainted with Christianity through the British Rule of India at the time.  While the young man wasn’t the biggest fan of the British, he began to study Christianity.  The young man grew greatly intrigued.  So the young man one Sunday decides to seek out a church in Calcutta.  Afterward, he wished to talk to the minister about converting.  Young man approaches the sanctuary.  An usher stops him at the door, refuses to give him a seat, and then suggests he go worship with his own people.  The young man would later declare: “I’d be a Christian if it were not for the Christians.”  The young man’s name was Mohandas Gandhi[3].  Gandhi would go on to help lead the India Independence movement against the British while employing principals of non-violent resistance.  Gandhi would become one of the most admired men of the 20th century. 

As Christians like this usher proved we always struggle with who is exactly kind of believer, Nadia Bolz-Weber was a seminary classmate of mine.  She’s a former stand-up comedian and a recovering alcoholic and drug user.  She’s heavily tattooed and often known for using colorful language.  Nadia started a church in Denver, Colorado for those who didn’t seem to fit in with any church: recovered addicts, the depressed, those who had previously been burned by the Christian faith[4].  Nadia’s a gifted speaker, and the church quickly grew.  She gets invited to speak before 10,000 people at Red Rocks for an Easter Sunday service.  Nadia’s fame spreads further.  Her church quickly grows.  Larry then shows up on Sunday[5].  Larry was not the type of guy that Nadia had in mind starting her church.  Larry’s presence at her church makes Nadia uncomfortable for all sorts of reasons: age, gender, zip code, breath, and waistband.  Larry seemingly didn’t fit in at Nadia’s church in any way.  He was totally uncool in a church that appeared to be cool.  Larry was the guy who rambles on inanely about boring stuff during coffee hour.  Nadia soon begins not to include Larry in emails for church activities[6].  Nadia comes up with an excuse to not perform Larry’s wedding.  Nadia soon comes to realize that even Christian pastors can be nothing but narrow-minded jerks when it comes to dealing with others.  What happens with Larry and Nadia, we’ll get back to, that story in just a little bit.

Today, we’re looking further into the Letters of the Apostle Paul.  We start a new book Today in Ephesians.  The main theme for Ephesians is “Who exactly does make up the Body of Christ?”  The background is Paul early in his ministry had traveled to Ephesus.  He had two visits.  One went on for three months[7].  The second visit took place for three years[8].  The church got firmly established on Paul’s second missionary journey.  Paul’s work in the Ephesus church had helped spread the Gospel through Asia or modern-day Turkey.  Yet the Ephesian church had tensions.  Most of these tensions centered on the controversial divisions of the early church between Jews and Gentiles.  The Gentiles would be the newest converts to Christianity were often treated much like Nadia treated Larry or the Usher treated Gandhi.

For example, as described by Pastor Mickey Anders[9].  If a Gentile woman were giving birth to a child, a Jewish person would not be allowed to provide aid.  If a Gentile invited a Jew over for coffee, the Jew could not enter lest they be declared “unclean.”  Marrying a Gentile would have been considered the equivalent of death and you would have been excommunicated from the family.  So consider all this background, once you put Jews and Gentiles into the same church, you’re going to have problems. 

The most controversial issue between Jew and Gentile Christians was circumcision.  The Jews thought it needed to be practiced as ritual, whereas the Gentiles saw it as unnecessary.  So within our lesson for Today[10], Paul seeks to give the source of peace between both Jew and Gentile.  Paul seeks to break down the walls of hostility and turn divided people into the Body of Christ.  Earlier in Ephesians 2, Paul lays out the whole point of the book:
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--not by works so that no one can boast[11].”

What Paul is saying is that the divisions between Jew and Gentile that seem so significant Today will be done away with through the Cross of Christ.

Let me tell a story.  Once upon a time, there was a beautiful castle along the English Coast with no one currently living there[12].  Vandals would frequently come by and pillage the place.  The owner decided that he needed to find a permanent solution.  So he hired a contractor to build a giant wall around the castle.  The contractor quickly ran into problems though; he couldn’t find rocks for the wall.  So the contractor called the owner to complain.  The owner was furious “I paid you good money, and I don’t care where you find the rocks, just build the wall.”  The owner eventually comes to check on his castle; it is now surrounded by a beautiful high wall just like he wanted.  He was thrilled with the contractor’s work.  The vandals could no longer pillage the castle.  The owner then went through the wall only to see there was no castle there.    The contractor begins to explain “You told me to build the wall by any means necessary, and there were all these wonderful rocks in that run-down castle, so I used them[13].”

The owner thought he was protecting himself; the owner thought he was protecting something of a great tradition and great value.  Often all we do is build a wall to God’s grace working in new ways such as in the case of bringing together both Jew and Gentile with the Church.

“There is neither Jew nor Greek; there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”- Galatians 3:28. 

Early, I told you the story of Larry and Nadia[14].  Larry being socially awkward around the young female pastor.  Nadia not knowing what to do in response.  Larry contracts a brain tumor and dies as a relatively young man.  Nadia gives a sermon at his funeral.  Afterward, a woman that Nadia had never seen before comes up to her.  She says “I wanted to thank you for having a church where Larry felt so welcome.  He spoke highly of you and your congregation, and I know that having you as his pastor meant a lot to him in his final months[15].”

This story reminds us how even the best of us remain imperfect.  We justify our jerkiness in all sorts of ways yet through this all we receive Grace.  It is our various imperfections that ultimately make up the Body of Christ. 

Robert E. Lee is best known as the commander of the Army for the Confederate States of America[16].  Lee before this had served his country as a hero in the Mexican-American War and as a commander at the United States Military Academy.  As Civil War loomed in this country, Robert E.Lee saw slavery as a great evil.  Lee was skeptical that political methods such as war would be after hearing of great bloodshed in Kansas over whether to make it a free or a slave state.  Lee’s loyalties were conflicted.  He was opposed to southern secession, while upset at those who thought slavery could end through bloodshed.  While Lee was recruited to join the Union cause, Lee initially wished to stay neutral as he ultimately could not turn his sword against his native Virginia.  Lee was then encouraged to resign from the Union army.  Most of Lee’s family sided with the Union cause.  Lee though became a soldier in the Confederate army.

America would endure four years of Civil War.  When we think of the nastiness of our politics Today, they are nothing compared to how strongly pronounced allegiances were in the wake of America’s Civil War.  Here’s what you should also know about Robert E. Lee he was a man of devout faith.  Shortly after the Civil War ended, he attended a church service in Washington .D.C[17].  Lee during this service goes up to Communion where kneeling alongside him is an African-American man.  Both Lee and this gentleman receive the sacrament.  An onlooker then goes up to Robert E. Lee and says “How could you do that?”  To which Lee replied. “My friend, all ground is level beneath the cross.[18]”

Amen
 


[1] Stanford, Lama Chuck. “Voices of Faith: Why did Gandhi say, ‘If it weren’t for Christians, I’d be a Christian?’ Kansas City Star. 17. Apr.2015. Web. July.3.2018. 
[2] Our Daily Bread “Prejuicide.” 6. Mar.1994. Web. July.3.2018 taken from Sermon Illustrations.com
[3] “Mahatma Gandhi.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. 3.July.2018. Web. July.3.2018. 
[4] Bolz-Weber, Nadia. “Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. 5.July.2018. Web. July.7.2018. 
[5] Bolz-Weber, Nadia. “Accidential Saints: Finding God in All the Wrong People.” Convergent Publishing. New York. 2015. Pg.14.
[6] Bolz-Weber, Nadia. “Accidential Saints: Finding God in All the Wrong People.” Pg.15
[7] Acts 18:19-21
[8] Acts 20:31
[9] Anders, Pastor Mickey. “Breaking Down the Dividing Wall.” Sermon Central. 2003. Web. July.3.2018. 
[10] Ephesians 2:11-12
[11] Epheisans 2:8-9
[12] Anders, Pastor Mickey. “Breaking Down the Dividing Wall.” Sermon Central. Taken from 1988 sermon by Joel Gregory at Southern Baptist Convention. 
[13] Anders, Pastor Mickey. “Breaking Down the Dividing Wall.” Sermon Central.
[14] Bolz-Weber, Nadia. “Accidential Saints: Finding God in All the Wrong People.” Pg.19
[15] Bolz-Weber, Nadia. “Accidential Saints: Finding God in All the Wrong People.” Pg.19
[16] “Robert E. Lee”. Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation.  2.July.2018. Web. July.3.2018. 
[17] Source Unknown. “Prejuicide.” Sermon Illustrations. Web. July.3.2018 
[18] Source Unknown. “Prejuicide.” Sermon Illustrations.

First Lesson: 2 Samuel 5: 1-5, 9-10
Responsive Reading: Psalm 48
Second Lesson: 2 Corinthians 12: 2-10
​Gospel Lesson: Mark 6: 1-13

Grace and Peace from Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
​
Michael Jeffrey Jordan was born in Brooklyn in 1963[1].  Jordan perhaps is the most gifted person on the planet ever to pick up a Basketball.  As a freshman in college at North Carolina, he hit the game-winning jump shot to bring the Tarheels a National Championship.

Jordan, when he becomes a professional, joins the Chicago Bulls.  Jordan was an immediate sensation.  Jordan was the NBA’s leading scorer in 1987 and would proceed to win ten consecutive scoring titles in seasons that he qualified[2].  Jordan’s last six full seasons with the Chicago Bulls led to world titles every year. Jordan’s success led to him being perhaps the most sought-after celebrity endorser on the planet.  Jordan’s contract with Nike turned them from a small running shoe company to perhaps the most well-known shoe company in the world.  In 1991, Gatorade had a series of commercials with the slogan “Be Like Mike[3].”  These commercials had a group of school children singing how they dreamed of being just like Mike.  Michael Jordan seems to be the type of person every school child should inspire to be: successful and wealthy beyond people’s wildest imaginations. 

Now I want to tell you the story of another Basketball player of whom you probably haven’t heard. Bryon Russell was a good basketball player.  He played college ball at the little-known Long Beach State[4].  There was little interest in him playing in the NBA. Russell was gritty though.  He ends up playing in the NBA for thirteen seasons despite never being any team’s best player. 

In 1994, Jordan went into a brief retirement, only to be told by Bryon Russell: “Why did you quit? You know I could guard you[5].” Russell’s semi-serious trash talk which wasn’t unheard of for a Basketball player set off Jordan as few people have ever been set off.

In 1998, Jordan’s last game with the Bulls he hits a shot to win a World Championship over Bryon Russell.  When Jordan got inducted into the Pro Basketball Hall of Fame in 2009 , he continued attacking Bryon Russell’s foolish mouth and weak game in his speech[6].   Michael Jordan wanted to point out his great superiority over every Bryon Russell that had ever been put before him. 

Now I want to tell you Today about another similar situation that took place within the Corinthian Church.  The Corinthian Church had a group of super-apostles[7].  These were the types of Christians who like Michael Jordan when they talked of all they did, the rest of the Corinthians couldn’t help but feel inferior.  The super-apostles had begun taking control of the Corinthian Church; they would shame the other believer's faults at every opportunity.  No different than Michael Jordan would do so to Bryon Russell. 

So as Paul writes the Corinthian Church, he speaks of his authority coming from elsewhere rather than his achievement.  Paul saw things differently from the super-apostles.  Paul saw his weakness as a sign of strength.  Paul speaks of a great thorn in his flesh[8].  Paul speaks of praying that this thorn is removed.  Paul eventually comes to terms with his limitation and realizes that his weakness was, in fact, a source of his authority:

Paul declares: “That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong[9].”

Once upon a time, there was a young man named Harry Day[10]. Harry was set to enroll at Stanford University.  Harry’s dad suddenly died.  Harry then inherits the family ranch in New Mexico.  The family ranch was remote.  It had no running water or electricity.  It was nine miles from the nearest paved road.  The family had to hunt jackrabbits to survive[11].  Harry eventually gets married to Ada Mae.  They give birth to a baby girl named Sandra.  As Sandra grows up, Ada Mae would read to her for one hour a day.  Sandra has to be sent away for school in El Paso over two-hundred miles away as Harry hoped Sandra would have the education that he never could get.  Sandra eventually enrolls at Stanford. Sandra gets accepted into law school.  Sandra then hits the job market.  At first, she only received job offers to be a legal secretary.  Sandra’s first job is as an assistant county attorney; she only gets the job after agreeing to work for no money.  Sandra eventually builds her own law practice in Arizona.  Twenty-nine years after graduating law school, Sandra gets a phone call from President Ronald Reagan.   The poor ranch girl from New Mexico now known as Sandra Day O Connor had just been named the first female justice of the United States Supreme Court. 

The story of Sandra Day O’Connor reminds how there is power in weakness.   She seemingly had every disadvantage imaginable growing up: poor, lack of educational opportunities, wrong gender to enter the legal fields in the 1950’s, yet all these things lead her to the United States Supreme Court. Paul makes the case that his weakness, his “thorns in the flesh” are what gives him the authority to proclaim God’s grace in his own life.  Paul’s reminder is the church doesn’t have its Micheal Jordans, true spiritual power comes to us only through Christ Alone. 

Once upon a time, there was a young woman who was growing through a rough time in her life[12].  The woman storms into her mother’s kitchen.  She wanted to give up on life, every time one problem was solved another new one arose. 

Mom then walks over to the stove without saying a word[13].  She fills three pots with water.  She then turns the stove over each of the three pots.  Pretty soon the water turns to a boil. Mom takes out some carrots, eggs, and coffee.  She puts the three items in each pot. 

The Mother after twenty minutes takes the carrots, eggs, and coffee out of their respective pots.    Mom opens her mouth for the first time in twenty minutes to ask her daughter what she sees.  The daughter is confused only to reply “carrots, eggs, and coffee[14].”

Mom asks daughter to feel the carrots which she notices are soft as cooked carrots can be.  Mom then pulls the shell off the hard-boiled egg while her daughter watches.  Finally, Mom asks daughter to drink the coffee; the coffee was some of the best tasting coffee she ever had drunk.

Daughter is confused at this point: “What does this mean Mother?”

Mom replied “You see each of these items faced the same adversity in boiling water. "

“The carrot went in strong, hard and unrelenting.  However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak.

The egg had been fragile.  Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior, but after sitting through the boiling water, its insides became hardened.

The ground coffee beans were unique, however.  After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water[15]”.

The Apostle Paul realized it was his hardship, his adversity, his thorns are what made him into a preacher of the Gospel. Paul had seen the water change around him.  Paul had seen resurrection come from death within his own life.  Paul’s thorn was a reminder that the greatest examples of God’s grace come from the greatest of human weaknesses[16]. 

Let me close with what finally story told by Keith Wagner[17].  This story could take place in a church just like this one.  Once upon a time, a man joined the church choir.  The man couldn’t sing at all. The choir director worked with him, but it did no good.  The man was so off-key that the other choir members couldn’t hit their notes[18].  The rest of the choir asked the choir director to do something.  The choir director then decided to go to the pastor to hopefully address the issue. 

The pastor goes to the man’s house.  The pastor explains how the man’s talents would be better used elsewhere other than the choir.  The man responds “But I like singing; it gives me great joy[19].”  The pastor gets frustrated “But you sing off-key, and the choir doesn’t sound that good.” The man shakes his head at the pastor. “You know you aren’t the world’s greatest preacher, but I listen every Sunday.”  And because you are my pastor I listen even though it is rare when I get anything good from your sermons.” The pastor was speechless at such a response.  The pastor then finally says “We’re lucky to have people like you singing in the choir[20].” The pastor then went home reflecting on the meaning of Paul’s words for us Today:

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me[21].”

Michael Jordan for the last thirty years has been considered one of the great role models within our nation.  Jordan could jump and shoot a basketball in ways that nearly every kid at every tiny gym in our nation could only imagine.  The Corinthian Church had a group of believers who seemed to be the same way.  The Apostle Paul said the perfect Christian is not what we should aspire to be.  We should instead seek to “Be like Bryon.” Cling to our handicaps like Sandra Day, The Coffee Mother, or the awful choir singer.  Remember our strength comes not from our achievement, but rather an old beaten down wooden cross which ultimately brings eternal life.  Amen
 
 
 
 
[1] “Michael Jordan.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. 12.June.2018. Web. June.13.2018. 
[2] Michael Jordan.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation.
[3] Michael Jordan.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation.
[4] “Bryon Russell.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. 8.June.2018. Web. June.13.2018. 
[5] Abbott, Henry. “Bryon Russell, back in Michael Jordan's face.” ESPN: True Hoop. 3.Dec.2009. Web. June.13.2018. 
[6] Abbott, Henry. “Bryon Russell, back in Michael Jordan's face.” ESPN: True Hoop.
[7] Malcolm, Lois. “Commentary on 2 Corinthians 12:2-10”. Working Preacher. Luther Seminary. 5.July.2015. Web. June.13.2018. 
[8] 2 Corinthians 12:7. 
[9] 2 Corinthians 12:10. 
[10] Wagner, Keith. “The Weakest Link.” Sermon Writer. 2003. Web. June.13.2018. 
[11] “Sandra Day O’Connor”. Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. 12. June.2018. Web. June.13.2018. 
[12] Stier, Pastor Leon. “Carrots, Eggs, and Coffee.” Email Me
diatations. 1. June.2018. Web. June.13.2018. 
[13] Stier, Pastor Leon. “Carrots, Eggs, and Coffee.” Email Mediatations.
[14] Stier, Pastor Leon. “Carrots, Eggs, and Coffee.” Email Mediatations.
[15] Stier, Pastor Leon. “Carrots, Eggs, and Coffee.” Email Mediatations.
[16] Kegel, Rev.Dr.James. “Strength in Weakness.” Sermon Writer. 2006. Web. June.12.2018. 
[17] Wagner, Keith. “The Weakest Link.” Sermon Writer.
[18] Wagner, Keith. “The Weakest Link.” Sermon Writer.
[19] Wagner, Keith. “The Weakest Link.” Sermon Writer.
[20] Wagner, Keith. “The Weakest Link.” Sermon Writer.
[21] 2 Corinthians 12:9.  

First Lesson: 2 Samuel 1: 1, 17-27
Responsive Reading: Psalm 130
Second Lesson: 2 Corinthians 8: 7-15
Gospel Lesson: Mark 5: 21-43

Grace and Peace from Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
​
Once upon a time in a town such as this one lived a very rich man[1].  Everyone in the surrounding area knew this gentleman as the richest man around.  In the same small town was a tiny charity struggling to pay their bills and keep their doors open week after week.  As the charity’s situation kept worsening getting to the point where they feared imminently closing down, their Executive Director decided to appeal to the richest man around.  The Executive Director cobbled together her best outfit and spent hours going over the best reasons to give to the charity that meant so much to her.  The rich man sitting in a suit that cost thousands of dollars listened to her case.  Finally, after ten minutes, he proceeds to interrupt her. 

“I can understand why you approached me. Yes, I do have a lot of money, and yours is an important cause. But are you aware that I have a lot of calls for my money? Did you know my mother needs 24-hour nursing care[2].”

The Executive Director meekly shares her head. 

The rich man then asks “Did you know my sister is struggling to raise a family of eight on her own[3]?”

The Executive Director shakes her head once again.

The rich man keeps going “Did you know I have one son in a drug rehab clinic and another doing volunteer work overseas[4]?”

The Executive Director softly says “No, I didn’t know any of this.”

To which the rich man looks her in the eye and says “Well if I don’t give them a cent, what makes you think I’ll give it to you[5]?!”

Now the rich man in our story had worked hard for every cent he had ever made.  It was certainly true that he was entitled to every last cent, yet perhaps there can be different ways to think about the money that we have.

Let me tell you another story, towards the end of the 19th Century two young men were working their way through what was known at the time as Leland Stanford University[6].  These young men being college students barely had a penny to their name.  They then thought of what seemed to be a brilliant fundraiser scheme; Ignacy Paderewski was arguably the most popular musician in the world in the 1890’s[7].  The students wished to put on a piano concert performed by Paderewski at what would come to be known as Stanford University.  The students figured the profits from the concert could help pay for their room and board.  They get a hold of Paderewski’s manager who asked the students to guarantee 2,000 dollars for a Paderewski appearance.  The students agreed and the concert was planned.  Paderewski plays at Stanford, yet a problem remained.  The students had only raised $1600 of the 2000 dollars they had promised Paderewski.  They talk to Paderewski after the concert; they give him a promissory note and declare that they will send the missing $400 bucks to Paderewski as soon as possible.  Paderewski refused any additional money; he tore their promissory note to shreds, he then unexpectedly handed back to them 10% shares each of the sixteen dollars that he had been given to thank them for their work and effort[8].  Paderewski had given away hundreds of dollars that rightfully belonged to him putting it back in the pockets of broke college students.  The story of Paderewski and these college students would not be over; we will return to their story in just a little bit. 

Today’s lesson comes to us from the Book of 2 Corinthians[9].  The new Bible study we’re doing at church is about the letters written by the Apostle Paul to the various 1st generation Christian Churches.  Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians deals with the theme of Christian Stewardship. 

A “steward” is considered one who manages the financial business of another[10].  The concept of Christian stewardship is laid out in Psalm 24 which declares: “The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it[11].”
So Christian Stewardship is how we manage the very resources that God has given us such as the Rich Man from the first story managed his money or Paderewski played his piano.  Stewardship is a reminder that everything that we own no matter whose name is on the bank account, credit card, or mortgage statement is a gift from God[12].

This notion of stewardship is on display throughout the scriptures.  In the life of Moses as the Israelites prepare to enter the “promised land.” Moses reminds them of all God has done to bring them to that place: release from Egyptian slavery, journey through the wilderness while being sustained by manna falling from the sky. God had provided for the people of Israel in awesome and direct ways.  But now as they journeyed forward, God’s role would not be so dramatic, but God’s activity would come in more indirect ways of sun, rain, and growth from the Earth[13].   The land ahead will be a “land of plenty,” where the Israelites will truly lack nothing if even this doesn’t appear to be so.   Moses had a very important reason for addressing the concept of stewardship so directly to the people of Israel.  He knew the more prosperous the people of Israel got, the more likely they were to forget from whom their blessings truly came.  Moses’ struggle with stewardship would soon become Paul’s struggle upon the birth of the Christian church[14]. 

So in our lesson Today, Paul seeks to address an issue of Stewardship directly.  The Christian church in Jerusalem has a lot of saints/members in need (Romans 15:25-26.[15])  The Corinthian Church has their share of well-off members[16].

Now the Corinthian Church given to the Jerusalem church was not to going to be easy.  These two churches illustrated in many ways the great divide of Paul’s day.  The Jerusalem church was predominantly Jewish Christian who would often treat Gentile Christians or new-believers which were dominant in Corinth as Second Class-Christians. In fact, many Jewish Christians would even refuse to dine with Gentile Christians.  Now Paul was boldly asking the Gentile Christians to open up their wallets to support those Jewish Christians with whom they’ve had tension. 

Paul instead encourages the Corinthians to give because whether Jew or Gentile they are truly one family in Christ Jesus.  Paul explains the situation as such:

“At present, your plenty will supply what they need so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. The goal is equality, as it is written: “The one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little[17].”

Paul’s wants Stewardship to ultimately be thought of as the great equalizer of the Christian faith.  How the Cross took place so that both Jew and Gentile might praise together Christ’s mighty deeds of which stewardship is one part in the years ahead (Romans 15:1-13)[18].  We might struggle with stewardship because we notice our wallet getting smaller everytime we give up a dollar, it’s hard to see stewardship’s value immediately because of this.

Earlier I told you the story of the “piano-man,” Ignacy Paderewski who gave of his concert fee to help a couple struggling Leland Stanford college students.  Paderewski would go on to live a remarkable life.  He became wealthy due to his piano-playing and became a well-known philanthropist.  Paderewski was one of the most widely admired citizens in his native Poland[19].  Paderewski like the Apostle Paul would appeal to higher ideals in times of great internal strife.  World War I breaks out over Europe; Paderewski’s Poland is devastated in its wake.  Paderewski then gets appointed Poland’s Prime Minister.  Thousands of people are starving throughout his native land[20].  Paderewski needed to appeal to American allies to assist in the midst of this crisis. The Americans help Poland out.  Paderewski then travels to Paris to meet with the American official in charge of European relief efforts.  Paderewski hoped to thank the man in person.  The man graciously received Paderewski’s thanks.  He then pointed out “You don’t remember it, but you helped me once when I was a student at college at Stanford and I was in a hole[21]” of my own.  The college student who Paderewski helped out and eventually thanked went by the name of Herbert Hoover.

Paul in our lesson wants Stewardship to be the great equalizer of the Christian faith much as it eventually equalized Paderewski and Hoover.  Paul’s whole stewardship philosophy is based on the newfound realities of Christ’s death and resurrection.  “How Christ gave up his own extraordinary riches so that others might receive the abundant wealth of God’s Grace[22].”   

Let me close with one final story to illustrate this[23]; Little Ralphie belonged to a family of five.  One morning, Ralphie brought home five stones that he thought would make perfect tombstones for his family. 
“Look here,” Ralphie said to his mother.  Mother counted the five tombstones.  Mother points out Ralphie’s problem “There isn’t a tombstone for Deliah, the maid[24].” 

Ralphie was stumped for a moment; then he finally figured out the solution.

“Oh, well, never mind, Deliah can have mine, and I’ll just keep on living[25].”

I began today by telling you the story of a very rich man, who clung to his money like life itself, whereas Ralphie realized that there are things more important than money such as unoccupied tombstones.  Amen
 


[1] Higgins, Scott. “Why Would I Give It to You?” Stories for Preaching. Web. June.6.2018. Taken from unknown source. 
[2] Higgins, Scott. “Why Would I Give It to You?” Stories for Preaching.
[3] Higgins, Scott. “Why Would I Give It to You?” Stories for Preaching.
[4] Higgins, Scott. “Why Would I Give It to You?” Stories for Preaching
[5] Higgins, Scott. “Why Would I Give It to You?” Stories for Preaching.
[6] Bok, Edward. A. “Generosity.” Perhaps I Am. Web. June.6.2018. Taken from Sermon Illustrations.com
[7] “Ignacy Jan Paderewski.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. 4.June.2018. Web. June.6.2018. 
[8] Bok, Edward. A. “Generosity.” Perhaps I Am.
[9] 2 Corinthians 8:7-15. 
[10] Stier, Leon. “Christian Stewardship(part one of two).” Email Mediatations. 5.June.2018. Web. June.6.2018. 
[11] Psalm 24:1. 
[12] Stier, Leon. “Christian Stewardship(part one of two).” Email Mediatations.
[13] Stier, Leon. “Christian Stewardship(part one of two).” Email Mediatations.
[14] Stier, Leon. “Christian Stewardship(part one of two).” Email Mediatations.
[15] Works, Carla. “Commentary on 2 Corinthians 8:7-15.” Working Preacher. Luther Seminary. 1.July.2012. Web. June.6.2018. 
[16] Adams, Edward. “Church at Corinth.” Bible Odyssey. Web. June.6.2018. 
[17] 2 Corinthians 8:14-15. 
[18] Works, Carla. “Commentary on 2 Corinthians 8:7-15.” Working Preacher.
[19] Ignacy Jan Paderewski.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia.
[20] Bok, Edward. A. “Generosity.” Perhaps I Am.
[21] Bok, Edward. A. “Generosity.” Perhaps I Am.
[22] 2 Corinthians 8:9. 
[23] “Generosity”. More Illustrations. Web. June.6.2018. 
[24] Generosity”. More Illustrations.
[25] Generosity”. More Illustrations.

First Lesson: 1 Samuel 17: (1, 4-11, 19-23), 32-49
Responsive Reading: Psalm 9: 9-20
Second Lesson: 2 Corinthians 6: 1-13
​Gospel Lesson: Mark 4: 35-41

Grace and Peace from Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
 
Let me begin with a story as told by William Bennett[1]. Once upon a time, there was an old man who had lost his wife and now lived all alone.  The man had worked hard every day of his life as a tailor, financial misfortunate though had now left him penniless, and his body was too broken down to keep on working.  His hands trembled to where he could no longer thread a needle and his eyesight had declined where he could no longer properly stitch. The man had three sons who were grown and married. The sons would maybe try to stop in once a week to see their father though if they were busy other things would be given priority.
 
Dad kept declining more and more with every passing month.  His sons felt uncomfortable being around Dad in a declining state, so they kept coming up with excuses as to why they were never able to stop by at all.  Dad began to brainstorm for a solution, he finally after staying up all night thought of a way to bring his sons back around[2].
 
The next morning, he goes to see his friend a local carpenter, he orders a very large chest to be built.  He then goes to see a locksmith to purchase a lock for this chest.  Finally, he goes to see a glassblower and asks for any old, pieces of broken glass that he had lying around his shop[3].
 
The old man brings the chest home, locks it tight, and puts it underneath the kitchen table, so the next time his sons stopped by they couldn’t help but notice it. 
 
“What’s in the chest[4]?” They asked.  “Just some things that I’ve been saving?” said the old man.
 
One of the sons nudged the chest and realized how heavy its contents were, then heard a rattling from all the glass. “It must be all the gold that he’s saved over the years.” They began to whisper to one another.  They decided that they now needed to work together to guard this buried treasure.  They began staying with their father one at a time.  They cooked and cared for him while guarding this treasure[5].
 
Dad eventually grows sick and dies.  The sons decide that because of the treasure they should splurge and give him a very nice funeral.  Immediately after the funeral, they searched the house far and wide for the chest key[6]. 
 
They unlocked the chest and saw the treasure was nothing more than worthless broken, glass.  One son immediately got angry “What a rotten trick[7]!”  Another son realized a lesson in the chest “If it wasn’t for this chest, we would have neglected him until the end of his days[8].”
 
The sons then began to remove all the glass from the chest, at the chest’s very bottom read an inscription “HONOR THY FATHER AND MOTHER[9].”
 
The sons in our story always thought there was going to be a better time to see their father, whereas their father knew that time was going to be limited.  So Dad needed to do something radical to make his point about the nature of their time[10]. 
 
Today’s lesson comes to us from 2 Corinthians 6[11].  It’s a lesson that deals with the nature of God’s time.
 
Our lesson opens by declaring: “At an acceptable time I listened to you, in a day of salvation I helped you. Behold now is the acceptable time. Behold, now is the day of salvation[12].” 
 
Our lesson deals with the nature of time how God’s timing is different than our own.  Within the scripture, there are two words given for time[13].  The first word is Chronos which refers to the ticking of the clock.  Chronos is the limited number of hours that the old man’s sons had in the day that they prioritized.    Kairos refers to God’s time being very different from our own. 
 
The difference between God’s time and our own was referred to by the Psalmist when he declared: “For a thousand years in your sight are just like yesterday when it is past.”  The point is how very easy it is for us to misunderstand the value of our time[14].
 
Jim and Lois were traveling when they decided to stop along the road for lunch[15].  After lunch, they were twenty minutes from the diner when Lois makes a realization.  Lois had left her eyeglasses behind at the restaurant.  To make matters worse, they had to drive a way up the road before finding a spot to turn around. 
 
Jim was mad!! He complained the whole drive back about turning around and all the time they were wasting[16].  Lois was relieved when they arrived at the restaurant so that she could get a break from Jim’s constant complaining. 
 
As soon as Lois got out of the car though, Jim had one request for Lois “While you’re in there, you might as well get my hat and credit card.”  [17]
 
Jim is a prime example of someone who didn’t understand the value of his time.  We like Jim often struggle with the meaning of our time.  What our passage for Today reminds us is that what we seek to do with our time is ultimately a matter of faith.
 
Phillip McLarty tells the story of his dad sitting in church one Sunday when the preacher made the following point: “If you don’t like what you’re doing for a living, quit it, and do something else.[18]”
 
While most people would ignore such bold advice, his dad took it seriously.  He had been employed at a Ford dealership for fourteen years and made a decent living.  He was miserable and didn’t see things ever getting better. 
 
So he submits his two-week notice.  He had no prospects for future employment.  His friends thought he was off his rocker.  He had a wife and three young children dependent on his income.  He heard the word of the Lord and that was that[19].
 
Years of struggle go by, but Mr. McLarty starts his own auto repair shop.  The most difficult decision he ever had to make turned out to be the best decision that he ever made.  He understood God’s time, not in the matter of mere days, but rather seasons, and in the words of Ecclesiastes[20].
 
 “For everything, there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die…a time to weep and a time to laugh.”  

God’s timing is different than our own.  God’s timing asks us to expect some situations not to resolve themselves for a very long period.  Longer than we wish or even desire.  Paul speaks of all the things God’s people might endure in the meantime in troubles, hardships and distresses  in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger[21].
 
But if we fail to recognize this the consequences of misunderstanding time can lead to disaster:
 
Let me close with one final story.  Once upon a time, a United States Senator was walking down the street[22].  He gets hit by a truck where he is immediately transported to heaven.  The Senator is greeted by Saint Peter at the pearly gates.  Saint Peter upon his arrival points out “Before you settle in you’re going to have to spend one day in Hell and one day in Heaven.  Then you can choose where to spend eternity.”  Peter immediately transports the Senator to Hell.
 
The door to Hell opens and the Senator sees a beautiful golf course, he then approaches the clubhouse where he sees plenty of his old companions, they play golf, dine on Lobster and drink champagne together.  When the Senator meets the Devil he is charming, funny and an excellent dancer.  The Senator really enjoys his one day in Hell[23].
 
The elevator goes pack up where Saint Peter is waiting for him once again.  The Senator then spends a day in Heaven.  Heaven is nice enough, all sorts of harps playing in the background, and the Senator is perfectly content with his surroundings[24].
 
Saint Peter then takes the Senator aside and asks him where he wishes to spend eternity. The Senator ponders the question before replying: “I would have never said it before. I mean Heaven is delightful, but I think I would be better off in Hell.”
 
Saint Peter shrugs the Senator goes back down the elevator what he sees in Hell is not what he had remembered.  Hell is a barren wasteland, covered in garbage, with the occupants covered in hideous rags. 
 
The Devil comes over to greet the Senator.  The Senator says “I don’t understand, yesterday there was a golf course where we ate lobster and danced all night.  Now there’s garbage all over, and everyone is in misery. What exactly happened[25]?
 
The Devil looks at the Senator, smiles and says “Yesterday we were campaigning…Today, you voted[26].”
 
This story makes sense of Paul’s closing words from our lesson how we might seem to have nothing, yet posses everything[27].
 
The Senator’s one day in Hell misled him into making the gravest of errors. Time can often do the same thing in our own lives.  The Apostle Paul proclaims within our lesson: “Now is the day of Salvation.”
 
We struggle as Christian people because even though the Cross changes everything, it doesn’t change things fast enough for our liking.  We struggle to hear that God’s timeframe often fails to match our own.  The course of history belongs to God rather than ourselves! Sometimes like in the case of the lonely old tailor drastic courses of action are required for us to realize this.  As in the case of Jim and Lois and the Diner our impatience is often on great display.  As in the case of the mechanic, Mr. McLarty faith and patience do eventually pay off.
 
Today is the Day of Salvation! Today is the Day of Forgiveness! Today is the Day of God’s Grace being poured over our lives even if these realities will not make sense to us until the Day of Resurrection that is soon to come!  Amen       


[1] Stier, Leon. “No Time for the Old Man.” Email Mediatations. 13. Mar.2016. Web. June.5.2018 taken from William Bennett’s The Book of Virtues.
[2] Stier, Leon. “No Time for the Old Man.” Email Mediatations.
[3] Stier, Leon. “No Time for the Old Man.” Email Mediatations.
[4] Stier, Leon. “No Time for the Old Man.” Email Mediatations.
[5] Stier, Leon. “No Time for the Old Man.” Email Mediatations.
[6] Stier, Leon. “No Time for the Old Man.” Email Mediatations.
[7] Stier, Leon. “No Time for the Old Man.” Email Mediatations.
[8] Stier, Leon. “No Time for the Old Man.” Email Mediatations.
[9] Stier, Leon. “No Time for the Old Man.” Email Mediatations.
[10] Stier, Leon. “No Time for the Old Man.” Email Mediatations.
[11] 2 Corinthians 6:1-13. 
[12] 2 Corinthians 6:2. 
[13] McLarty, Phillip. “What Time Is It?” Sermon Writer. 2014. Web. June.5.2018
[14] Psalm 90:4
[15] Stier, Leon. “A Time to Laugh (A).” Email Mediatations. 5.Oct.2015. Web. June.5.2018. 
[16] Stier, Leon. “A Time to Laugh (A).” Email Mediatations.
[17] Stier, Leon. “A Time to Laugh (A).” Email Mediatations.
[18] McLarty, Phillip. “What Time Is It?” Sermon Writer.
[19] McLarty, Phillip. “What Time Is It?” Sermon Writer.
[20] McLarty, Phillip. “What Time Is It?” Sermon Writer.
[21] 2 Corinthians 6:4b-5. 
[22] Mast, Stan. “2 Corinthians 6:1-13.” Center for Excellence in Preaching. Calvin Seminary. 2015. Web. June.5.2018 found on Text Week.
[23] Mast, Stan. “2 Corinthians 6:1-13.” Center for Excellence in Preaching.
[24] Mast, Stan. “2 Corinthians 6:1-13.” Center for Excellence in Preaching.
[25] Mast, Stan. “2 Corinthians 6:1-13.” Center for Excellence in Preaching.
[26] Mast, Stan. “2 Corinthians 6:1-13.” Center for Excellence in Preaching.
[27] 2 Corinthians 6:10b.  

First Lesson: 1 Samuel 15: 34 - 16:13
Responsive Reading: Psalm 20
Second Lesson: 2 Corinthians 5: 6-10, (11-13), 14-17
​Gospel Lesson: Mark 4: 26-34

Now my Grandma was widowed at the age of 50.  She’s been pretty much single ever since.  According to Grandma, this has not been due to a lack of attention from area gentleman.  Now while Grandma is certainly colorful, she’s never had traditional advantages in dating such as youth, fitness, or steady employment yet none of these things seemingly mattered when it comes to attracting suitors. 

When Grandma was 65, she was convinced a young lawyer fresh out of law school would always get a “twinkle in his eye” whenever he saw her. 

When Grandma was around “70”, she got really upset when our minister who was twenty years her junior hugged her convinced that he had a hidden agenda from his wife.

When Grandma was “75”, I took a trip with her to California.  While waiting for a rental car, Grandma struck up a friendship with a group of Marines.  Pretty soon, Grandma and the Marines were having a grand old time playing cards together.  As Grandma and I approached the car, she turns to me with a big smile to say “I think they kind of liked me.”

Even today approaching “95” later this year while spending her days in a wheelchair, Grandma remains convinced that nearly everyone at her nursing home from residents to administrators cannot possibly resist her charms. Grandma’s confidence will certainly stun others.

Today, I want to talk about what we can learn about our faith from people like my Grandma.

Today’s Lesson to us declares[1] “So we are always confident; even though we know that while we are at home in the body; we are away from the Lord[2].”

Paul within our lesson is writing about one of the greatest conflicts within the Corinthian Church over the meaning of Christ’s Resurrection. The questions raised were:  1. When will our loved ones rise from the dead? 2. Will the wait be worth it?

The importance of Resurrection was central in Paul’s preaching to the Corinthians.

“But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised; if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain, and your faith is in vain"-1st Corinthians 15:13-14.

Here’s what makes Paul’s confidence similar to my Grandma’s.  Paul knew over time human bodies would grow weaker.  The Corinthians would indeed grow more fearful over the future.  The human body does have limitations and decay brought on by  age, strength, sin, and death.  These things though should not be a reason to lose confidence over what lies ahead. 

“For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality.”-1st Corinthians 15:53. 

The lesson speaks to the source of Paul’s confidence in the Resurrection that is soon to come. So Paul brings up the issue of confidence yet again: “We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord[3].”

Paul in our lesson expresses that his belief in the Resurrection is so strong that the members of the Corinthian Church can remain confident in spite of the death of their loved ones[4]. What lies ahead is better than anything that we’re encountering on this present day.  The Corinthians can remain confident in spite of any other events that might come their way even Earthquakes.  

Frank Lloyd Wright is considered one of the greatest architects in American history[5].  In 1922, he was approached about a designing a hotel in Japan that would be able to survive an earthquake.  Wright travels to Japan where he sees a site with eight feet of earth to be built upon sixty feet of mud.  Wright decided not that such an earthquake-proof building would be impossible, but rather he needed to be innovative in its design.   Wright built the Imperial Hotel like a ship.  Wright designed the hotel so that if the Earth beneath it moved which he was expecting, then the hotel would travel along with it absorbing minimal damage in the process.  The rooms were built like train cars hinged together, pipes and lines were hung from the ceiling rather than the ground as protection for any Earthquake related fire. 

In 1923, a huge earthquake hits Tokyo. 7.9[6] on the Richter Scale, nearly 140,000 people were killed, fires burned all over the city.  A newspaper reporter calls up Frank Lloyd Wright for comment upon hearing a rumor that his hotel had been destroyed,  Wright told the reporter to print whatever he wanted about the rumor, but be ready to issue a retraction when his hotel survives.  A short time later, Wright receives a telegram declaring “The Imperial Hotel was completely undamaged[7].” The Imperial ended up taking in hundreds of people from all over the city as other structures in Tokyo burned. 

Jesus said: “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.  The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.  But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash[8].

Here’s what the story of Frank Lloyd Wright reminds us. We might see all sorts of evidence of forces seeking to devour us.  The ground might seemingly be shaking underneath our feet.  But God’s word will come through in the end because it is solid as a rock.  Just as Christ rose from the dead before the eyes of the disciples, they would soon witness Resurrection’s powers once more. 

Howard Schnellenberger is an American Football coach born in 1934[9].  Schnellenberger was an All-American Football player at the University of Kentucky under the man considered by some to be Football’s greatest Coach Paul “Bear” Bryant.  He then advances up the coaching ranks, becoming the Offensive Coordinator for the NFL Miami Dolphins.  In 1972, The Miami Dolphins became the only pro team in the last seventy-five years to never lose a game during the season.

In 1979, Schnellenberger is hired as the Head Coach at the University of Miami.  The University of Miami’s football program was in such rough shape at the time of Schnellenberger's arrival that the administration debated whether to eliminate their college football team due to lack of interest.  Local kids thought the University of Miami was a joke and looked for any excuse to go attend school elsewhere.  Five years after being hired, Schelleneberger and  Miami were the college football national champions.

After moving on from Miami, another opportunity soon presented itself for Schellenberger.  In 1985, his hometown University of Louisville was looking for a football coach[10].  The Cardinals were bad.  The Cardinals didn’t have their own stadium, and the crowds they drew were so small that the school often tried to give away tickets desperately.  The situation was so dire that once again officials were considering dropping the team to a lower level playing smaller schools and investing less money.

A typical coach would have downplayed expectations upon getting the job.  Schnellenberger though was different.  Schnellenberger stands at the podium of his first press conference and declares this team “is on a collision course with the national championship. The only variable is time[11].” The room grows silent; jaws are dropped on the floor.  A team that had been terrible for years becoming champions, no one should believe such a thing. 

Schnellenberger becomes an object for scorn; only Howard Schnellenberger would end up having the last word.  Six years after his arrival, The Cardinals would go 11-1-1 ending the season with a convincing win over traditional power in Alabama.  Schnellenberger's brash confidence had been backed up as the Cardinals were indeed contenders for a National Championship.  

Schnellenberger had seen things work out for him in college football before and inevitability believed they would do so in the future.  It was the same way for the Apostle Paul as he wrote our lesson.  Paul had seen the Risen Lord upon the Road to Damascus. Paul had seen Christian congregations rise from nothing in places such as Corinth.  Paul had seen Resurrection more than once and believed that it would happen again soon! Paul had reasons for his confidence, and it was not going to waver no matter what. 

Back to the story of my Grandma and her popularity, upon graduating high school, she enrolled at Macalester College right as World War II was breaking out.  Grandma spent one year at Macalester where her claim to fame was a “cheerleader” for the Scots.  Grandma with World War II breaking out received multiple marriage proposals which she considered before saying “yes” to my grandpa Kermit.  Grandma throughout her life never stopped believing that her confidence should be any less than a Macalester cheerleader.  Her age didn’t matter when it came to the previous confidence that she had been given.   

What Paul is saying to us Today is a rehashing of Jesus’ words “Take heart; Do not be afraid[12].” God’s promises are the same yesterday, today, tomorrow and forever.  When we doubt any potential outcome, we look towards the cross.  We look towards the promises of Resurrection that lie ahead.  We are reminded that Resurrection shall eventually overcome all the forces of this world whether being one of the worst teams around, earthquakes, or even old age.  For while we might seemingly be away from the Lord at this very moment, our confidence in Resurrection reminds us that it will not always be so.  Amen
 


[1] 2 Corinthians 5:6-17 
[2] 2 Corinthians 5:6. 
[3] 2 Corinthians 5:8. 
[4] Works, Carla. “Commentary on 2 Corinthians 5:6-10 [11-13] 14-17.” Working Preacher. Luther Seminary. 17.June.2012. Web. June.4.2018. 
[5] “Confidence.” Bits and Pieces. 7.Jan.1993. PG.11-14. Web. Taken from Sermon Illustrations.
[6] “1923 Great Kantō earthquake.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. 15.May.2018. Web. June.4.2018. 
[7] “Confidence.” Bits and Pieces.
[8] Matthew 7:24-27. 
[9] “Howard Schnellenberger.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. 28.Mar.2018. Web. June.4.2018. 
[10] Howard Schnellenberger.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia.
[11] Howard Schnellenberger.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia.
[12] Matthew 14:27