First Lesson: 2 Kings 2: 1-2, 6-14
Responsive Reading: Psalm 77: 1-2, 11-20
Second Lesson: Galatians 5: 1-13, 25
​Gospel Lesson: Luke 9: 51-62

Grace and Peace from Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
 
I was furious! I was in trouble at school and it wasn’t my fault.  I had a good friend named Ben; we had another friend that I’ll call Otis.  Ben and I knew that Otis was really easy to get worked up.  Our study hall would be across the hall from his; we’d make a funny faces and gestures than get Otis to run across the hall to our great amusement the whole 8th grade long. 
 
Well, one day, Ben, Otis, and I were walking back from the lunch room.  Ben and I get Otis worked up.  Otis gets mad and throws Ben into the waiting area of the Girls bathroom.  The counselor, Mr. Menard, was furious. 
 
He calls Ben and me to his office.  He sent Otis to class and was ready to suspend from school Ben and I.  We hadn’t even done anything.  Mr. Menard was mad because instead of failing to set good examples, we had continually provoked Otis’ mischief. While I was furious in 8th Grade, twenty-five plus years later, I must admit that Mr. Menard was 100% percent correct in his reaction.  Mr. Menard was wise enough to want to make the point that our legacy in this world is not defined just by our actions, but how our doings  effect  each and every person around us.
 
Thinking about our legacy leads us into our Old Testament Lesson for Today from 2 Kings 1[1].   There were few heroes of the faith like Elijah in the nation of Israel.  Elijah performed miracles like raising from the dead the widow from Zarapeth’s son.  Elijah called down “fire from heaven” on Mount Carmel in his showdown with the prophets of Baal[2].  Seemingly no one could replace Elijah if he retired from his ministry[3]. No one wanted to think about what life might look like if Elijah left the Earth. 
 
Elisha had been Elijah’s long-time sidekick.  Elijah’s work had been hard.  He was always running for his life from King Ahab and Jezebel with Elisha by his side.
 
Their last day together consisted of Elijah rolling up his robe, tapping the Jordan River so that Elijah and Elisha could walk on it together[4]. 
 
Elijah then asks Elisha: “What can I do for you before I leave this Earth[5]?” Elisha requested “A double portion of the Lord’s spirit[6]?” Elisha made this request because he felt so inadequate and unprepared to take over for Elijah.
 
Elijah had performed some of the mightiest acts of God within the scripture .  Replacing Elijah would be like replacing Babe Ruth on the New York Yankees, no mere mortal seemed capable of following in his footsteps[7].  Israel seemed destined to take a step backward as a nation without Elijah around.
 
So Elijah promised Elisha a dramatic sign about whether his double-blessing was actually going to take place.  Elisha must be a witness to his mentor being brought directly into heaven before him.  No grave, no death, Elijah was going to go up to heaven with Elisha watching[8].
 
Then as Elijah and Elisha kept walking.  A chariot of fire came out of the sky.  The Chariots of Fire don’t take Elijah into heaven.  They just come alongside the whirlwind that does take Elijah into heaven[9].
 
Elisha, as he bears witnesses to this scene, realizes that he is now Israel’s spiritual leader.  The Chariots symbolized something even more important.  Chariots were associated with the might of Kings within Elijah’s day.  Chariots symbolize God’s unseen forces that are going to be walking alongside Elisha in the future years of his ministry.  God is reassuring Elisha that the same forces that God had given Elijah to stand up and overcome the king’s armies would now be walking alongside him[10]. 
 
So what happened happened next?
 
Something incredible, took place after Elijah was taken up into heaven in a whirlwind.  Elisha, who believed himself to be inadequate actually expanded Elijah’s ministry.  Elisha cleansed the infected waters in the River of Jericho, saving many lives in the process.  Elisha healed the Syrian Military Commander Namaan of Leprosy[11].  Elisha performed twice as many miracles as Elijah before him.  No one would perform more miracles until Jesus[12]. 
 
Elijah left behind a legacy more valuable than even money.  Elijah sought to put Elisha in position to keep advancing God’s Kingdom beyond what Elijah ever could.
 
Elijah and Elisha lead us to a question this morning: “What do we want our legacy to be?” “How do we want people to remember us decades after we’re gone.”
 
The year was 1987.  I had just turned “8” years old; my parents announced that we were going to the hospital because my Great-Grandma Mabel was dying.  Mabel was exactly the same on her death bed, as she was throughout her life.  The first thing she noticed was my mismatched socks.  She proceeded to tell my Parents and me all about it.  Now thirty plus years after Mabel’s death, family members speak of her by describing her challenging nature.  We all have family members and friends that we admit that no one would ask for double portions of parts of their personality.   While I may have been dressed slovenly as a child, there are so many more important things that people can take from us than our criticisms.  
 
Yesterday, we celebrated the 100th Birthday of one of our own in Esther Olson.  Esther’s legacy can never be unnoticed.  Even at nearing 100, she would still stand tying quilts with Lorraine Nelson for multiple hours during Mission Circle. She works as hard as anyone in the church kitchen during Coffee Hour or funerals.  She helps out for projects with the Golden Agers.  When I go visit Esther every time, she’ll ask: “If she can cook for me?”  Esther’s legacy will be how she’s always seeking to give to others — always trying to make lives around her better, even if it costs her something.   
 
Tom Lehman is a golfer raised in Alexandria, Minnesota[13].  The U.S. Open is one of professional Golf’s Four Major Championships.   Lehman came close multiple times to winning the U.S. Open.  He led after 54 of 72 holes for three straight years.  He lost every single time.  No loss would be more painful than the 1996 U.S. Open.  Tom Lehman began the day with a one-shot lead over Steve Jones.  Lehman and Jones would play the next 18 holes together to determine the champion. 
 
Steve Jones was visibly anxious as he approached the first tee[14].  Tom Lehman notices this.  He walks up to his fellow competitor on the 1st Fairway, saying a prayer that the Lord would be lifted up no matter the outcome.  Jones was at peace and began to focus on his golf game.
 
 On the 16th hole with the championship hanging in the balance[15], Lehman quoted the scriptures from the Book of Joshua[16] to  his competitor Steve Jones: “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”
 
Lehman and Jones enter the 72nd and final hole tied.  Tom Lehman drives his tee shot into the bunker[17].  Lehman loses the championship by one shot.  Lehman came close to winning the U.S. Open the next two years playing in the final group on Sunday both years[18].  Tom Lehman’s legacy though will not be defined by failing to win a golf tournament; Tom Lehman’s legacy is much more significant as a man of faith encouraging a competitor heading into an uncertain future. 
 
Like Tom Lehman what do we want our legacy to be? Do we want to be known for bickering and complaining?  Or do we want to be known for building people up? Do we want to be remembered like Elijah for bringing faith to the Next Generation?
 
People will say to me, “What will the Church look like in five years” or even “three years?”  These are questions that keep me up at night. Similar questions were asked when Elisha stood alongside Elijah, worried about an uncertain future that only God could answer.  What I do have as the firmest of convictions is that I want every community member within the Silver Bay area whether they’re Lutheran, Christian, or a non-believer to see Sychar’s purpose for existing.  I want non-members to weep if this church ever had to think about closing its doors because of its reputation in the community.
 
Paul Robeson lived one of the most remarkable lives of the 20th Century.  Paul Robeson was an All-American Football player at Rutgers.  He played in the NFL but quit the game to finish Law School.  He left the law because of all the racism he experienced.  He then became a stage actor, movie actor, and singer.  He would end his career as a prominent civil-rights activist[19].  Paul Robeson left behind an incredible legacy. Robeson did one of the best-known renditions of the song: “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot[20].”    
 
The song describes our lesson for Today where a Chariot of Fire comes from out of heaven to pick up God’s people.  The song was a favorite spiritual sung by those who celebrated death not as a source of suffering but rather Resurrection hope[21].  It’s a reminder that God is sending a chariot for every one of us, just like Elijah.  How will this be the brightest day since Jesus took away your sins? How our life of trouble will be over when Jesus comes to bring us home?
 
The question for all of “us” is, how do we want to be remembered on the day when our chariot arrives? Do we want to live in the world where our legacy merely ceases at our death?   Do we want to merely wait for the undertaker to show up[22]?  Or do we want to go out like Elijah in a whirlwind? Do we want to empower those who come after us in the faith? Do we want people to weep like Elisha at our passing? Do we want a double portion of success for those who come after us?  We can’t stop the chariots that are coming, though we can steer the chariots towards a brighter ministry than our congregation has ever known.  Amen


[1] 2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14. 
[2] “Elijah.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. 27.May.2019. Web. June.13.2019. 
[3] Bratt, Doug. “2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14.” Center for Excellence in Preaching. Calvin Seminary. Grand Rapids, MI. 20.June.2016. Web. June.13.2019. 
[4] 2 Kings 2:8.
[5] 2 Kings 2:9. 
[6] 2 Kings 2:9.
[7] Hanson, Pastor Clifton. “New Ventures.” Faith Lutheran Church. Isanti, MN. 12.Feb.2019. Web. June.13.2019
[8] 2 Kings 2:10.
[9] Bratt, Doug. “2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14.” Center for Excellence in Preaching.
[10] Bratt, Doug. “2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14.” Center for Excellence in Preaching.
[11] “Elisha.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. 22.May.2019. Web. June.13.2019. 
[12] Hanson, Pastor Clifton. “New Ventures.” Faith Lutheran Church.
[13] “Tom Lehman.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. 28.May.2019. Web. June.13.2019. 
[14] Jones, Steve. Everything Just Fell Into Place.” Links Letters. December 1996. Web. June.13.2019. 
[15] Jones, Steve. Everything Just Fell Into Place.” Links Letters.
[16] Joshua 1:9. 
[17] Jones, Steve. Everything Just Fell Into Place.” Links Letters.
[18] “Tom Lehman.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation
[19] “Paul Robeson.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. 25.May.2019. Web. June.13.2019. 
[20] Stier, Leon. “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot.” Email Mediatations. 8.June.2016. Web. June.13.2019. 
[21] Stier, Leon. “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot.” Email Mediatations.
[22] Stier, Leon. “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot.” Email Mediatations.

First Lesson: 1 Kings 19: 1-4, (5-7), 8-15a
Responsive Reading: Psalm 42 & 43
Second Lesson: Galatians 3: 23-29
​Gospel Lesson: Luke 8: 26-39

Grace and Peace from Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
​
Reflecting on my childhood, there was one punishment that I got that was the worst ever.  I was in 9th Grade; we had an away Basketball game scheduled for Friday night.  The whole team had been looking forward to it and the long bus trip with friends for the entire week.

 Our coach pulls me aside the day before the game: “He tells me that I’m not going.”   He said the teachers had singled me out as being too disruptive in class to attend.   I had certainly been punished in school many times before; no punishment could ever bring tears to my eyes as this one did.  Many children experience the same thing when they are picked last or not at all on the playground, there is no worse feeling in the world.

Now was the Basketball coach wrong for doling out this punishment? Looking back on it, “no.”   

Did it matter whether I played or the Junior Varsity basketball team won? No, it didn't. 


Still, when you’re a 15-year-old boy, there isn’t a more painful punishment that can be assigned than to be told that you don’t deserve to be on the team.  

Today’s lesson from the 3rd Chapter of Galatians tells a similar story[1].   The Church in Galatia was divided between circumcised Jews and Gentiles.  Seeking to address this divide was the Apostle Paul.  

Paul growing up was the exact opposite of the 9th Grade me.  Paul followed God’s law and the law of others like no one else.  Paul grew up thinking his diligence would be his path to salvation.  Paul had reason to behave thinking that he’d become God’s favorite person in the whole, wide world[2]. Moses said it; Paul listened to it, and everyone else who didn’t wouldn’t be allowed to ride the bus moving forward. 

Paul has his life-changing experience blinded on the Road to Damascus.  Now Paul comes to the Galatian church and sees all sorts of “New” Christians being excluded for all the ways that they didn’t measure up.[3]  Paul seeks to make the point to the Galatian Church that it is about their present “faith’ rather than their past ‘works” that will ultimately pave the way to their salvation.

Paul seeks to give the Galatians a radically different vision of the church from which they had grown up.

Once upon a time, a woman was visiting a Nordstrom’s department store in Beverly Hills, California[4].  The woman mostly just liked taking in the atmosphere of a high-end store, especially during the Holiday season.

On one of her visits, she would witness a scene that mirrored Paul’s vision for the Galatian church.  A woman steps out of the elevator at Nordstrom’s. The woman at first glance didn’t look like she belonged.  Her clothes were dirty and torn.  Her hair was uncombed. In her hand was a very full and dirty looking gym bag.  Now she was surrounded by dresses costing thousands of dollars[5].

The woman observing figured a security guard would quickly arrive to tell, the different looking woman that she didn’t belong.  But instead, a well-put-together sales associate approaches the woman asking: “May I help, you, Madam.”  The street woman declares: “Yeah! I wanna buy a dress!”

The sales associate acts like is the bag lady is no different from any other customer by asking: “Any particular type of dress[6].”

“A party dress.” The surprised woman declared.

The sales associate smiles: “Well, you’ve come to the perfect place. Follow me. I think we have some of the finest party dresses in the world[7]. “ The sales associate spends the next fifteen minutes helping the street woman try on expensive party dresses. 

The street woman finally announces, “I’ve changed my mind. I’m not going to buy a dress Today[8].” The onlooker figured the sales associate would snap for wasting her precious time.   The sales associate merely smiled declaring: “That’s all right. But here’s my card.  Should you come back to Nordstrom’s? I would consider it a privilege to wait on you again[9].”   

The onlooker was amazed as she saw this saleswoman display such unbelievable grace considering the circumstances. 

Paul eventually realized something from his previous life before converting to Christianity.  You can find a reason to exclude someone for just about anything.  People can be too young, too old, too short, too tall, too poor, too ugly, too smart, too weird or have any number of things in their past.  

For as long as I can remember, my Dad has written bail bonds for Goldberg Bonding. The County Jail was about two miles from where I grew up.  My Dad would often take me with him on bond calls.  My dad at the County Jail encountered a very different type of crowd; then we would at Trinity Lutheran Church or Lindstrom’s City Hall. 

We would meet the kind of crowd whose eventual testimonies might make people uncomfortable. But the one thing that I’ll forever admire my Dad for is he would never treat someone who he bailed out any different than someone he saw at church.  He would never make snide comments as soon as we got back to the car.  He understood that writing bail bonds was an extraordinary calling, yet this didn’t eliminate a real human need for forgiveness. 

Paul’s desire for the Galatian church is to receive broken and varied people different than everywhere else.   So Paul, within our lesson, speaks some of the most powerful words of belonging within the scriptures:

“There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus[10].”

Paul’s whole point in writing these words, speak to his vision of the Christian Church within its earliest days.

Paul’s intentions were not doing away with the long-established Roman social order.  Paul’s goal was instead that the first churches be places of unique community.  Places were all the long-standing social distinctions Jew/Greek, slave/free, male/female are brought together in common mission under the name of Jesus Christ[11].

Now anyone familiar with church history can mention numerous examples of how the Church has failed to live up to Paul’s vision of being a community of mutual counsel and support to its varied and especially weakest members.  Plenty of Christian people can hear the story of the street woman at Nordstrom’s and be caught off-guard. 

When I was told I wasn’t traveling to the Basketball game, I was probably the worst player on the team.  There would have been very little reason for a teammate to insist that I needed to play. 

What Paul is telling the Galatian church is that their calling is to be a different kind of a community than one who measures based on your religious background, gender, employment status, or even athletic ability. 

Daniel “Rudy” Ruettiger had a dream to play College Football at the University of Notre Dame[12]. 

There were two problems with this dream.  1. He wasn’t a very good student; he was dyslexic and could never achieve the grades nor test scores that deserved entry into such a top-flight academic institution.  2. He lacked the ability to play football at such a high level. Ruettiger was 5’6, 165 lbs., and did not possess the athleticism to make up for it[13]. 

Ruettiger though despite all the evidence telling him “no” believed he belonged at Notre Dame.   It didn’t matter what every other force in his life was telling him.

After making accommodations for his dyslexia, he gets accepted as a Notre Dame student.  He then shows up to open Football tryouts. It was quickly obvious how outmatched that Rudy was on the Football field.  He worked so hard the coaches feel they could never cut him despite his lack of talent.  Last game of his senior year of college, Notre Dame Coach Dan Devine unexpectedly and unnecessarily gives Rudy one of the limited spots on the game day roster. He plays three plays when the game is long-decided.[14]

On the last play, Rudy Ruettiger sacks the Quarterback for Georgia Tech forever making him a part of the Notre Dame record book.

His teammates are so supportive of Rudy Ruettiger, their weakest player that he is the first player in Notre Dame’s long history to be carried off the field by his teammates[15]. 

The Apostle Paul, who wrote Galatians, would have loved this scene of the weakest player Rudy being so supported by his teammates.  The Apostle Paul would have loved watching a street woman being treated in Nordstrom’s like the most important customer in the store.   The Apostle Paul dreamed of a church where the weakest brother/sister in the faith is encouraged rather than finding all sorts of ways to be torn down.  The following was Paul’s vision for how the Galatian church should view the presence of each other  as neither Jew, Greek, slave, free, male, or female for we are all one in Christ Jesus. Amen
 


[1] Galatians 3:23-29. 
[2] Hoezee, Scott. “Commentary on Galatians 3:23-29.” Center for Excellence in Preaching. Calvin Seminary. 13.June.2016. Web. June.11.2019. 
[3] Hoezee, Scott. “Commentary on Galatians 3:23-29.” Center for Excellence in Preaching.
[4] Bowen, Gilbert. “Transcending the Tribe.” Sermon Writer. 2003. Web. June.11.2019. 
[5] Bowen, Gilbert. “Transcending the Tribe.” Sermon Writer.
[6] Bowen, Gilbert. “Transcending the Tribe.” Sermon Writer.
[7] Bowen, Gilbert. “Transcending the Tribe.” Sermon Writer.
[8] Bowen, Gilbert. “Transcending the Tribe.” Sermon Writer.
[9] Bowen, Gilbert. “Transcending the Tribe.” Sermon Writer.
[10] Galatians 3:28. 
[11] Lancaster Patterson, Jane. “Commentary on Galatians 3:23-29.” Working Preacher. Luther Seminary. 23.June.2019. Web. June.11.2019. 
[12] Wagner, Keith. “All in the Family.” Sermon Central. 2001. Web. June.11.2019. 
[13] “Rudy Ruettiger.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. 31.May.2019. Web. June.11.2019. 
[14] “Rudy Ruettiger.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation.
[15] “Rudy Ruettiger.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation.

First Lesson: Proverbs 8: 1-4, 22-31
Responsive Reading: Psalm 8
Second Lesson: Romans 5: 1-5
​Gospel Lesson: John 16: 12-15

Grace and Peace from Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
​
Jimmy Durante was one of the most famous American entertainers in the first half of the 20th Century.  His career began as a Piano player who eventually added to his act singing and joke-telling leading him to be a Vaudeville, Radio, Theater, Movie, and finally Television star[1].

One night stood out as perhaps the most remarkable evening of Jimmy Durante’s fifty plus year career.  In the middle of the Second World War, Ed Sullivan who would soon become a famous T.V. star in his own right was organizing a variety show for soldiers at a hospital in Staten Island, New York City[2].

Word was received that the great Jimmy Durante was in town for other obligations, so Sullivan invited Durante to perform.  Durante agreed, but he let Sullivan know he needed to keep a tight schedule to fulfill his radio obligations that day.  Durante let Sullivan know his schedule would only allow him to perform one song.  Sullivan agrees to the request.

Durante goes on stage for a surprise performance; the soldiers go wild with applause after hearing Durante’s jokes and songs.  Jimmy Durante begins exiting to leave for his other obligations.  Ed Sullivan takes the stage to explain why Durante needed to go.  Jimmy Durante though surprised everyone by returning to the stage for an encore.  Durante performed number after number from within his act.  For many of the wounded soldiers, this was the greatest night of their lives[3]. 

Durante finally ends his performance; Ed Sullivan goes backstage worried that Durante couldn’t’ fulfill his other obligations.  Ed Sullivan asked why Jimmy Durante stayed?  Why did he miss radio-appearance that was potentially way more financially lucrative? Durante told Sullivan, “Go look at the front row?”.

Sullivan peaks his head onstage where he sees two soldiers sitting  in the center of the row; both men had lost arms during the war, while they were unable to clap on their own, they would clap both their remaining hands together[4]. 

Upon seeing this sight, Durante could not have left this performance early for an ordinary radio show.

Now here’s the thing about the Jimmy Durante and two soldier story.  Each person involved was vital to it taking place.  If not for Jimmy Durante’s God-given entertaining talent the soldiers don’t get so excited, but without both of the two soldiers working together using their hands, Jimmy Durante probably leaves early to find a different captivated audience elsewhere.

Three beings, each of equal importance see to it that the hospital is brought to joyful hysteria on that night in Staten Island. 

Today’s Gospel lesson tells a similar story[5].  Jesus is seeking to prepare the Disciples for his departure from this world.  Jesus intends to explain to the Disciples two things: 1. The benefits of upcoming his death and subsequent Resurrection. 2. The work of the Holy Spirit who is coming down to the Earth after him.  Jesus describes the Spirit’s ultimate work to calm their fears and strengthen their faith[6].

Today’s Sunday of the Church Year is known as Trinity Sunday.  It is the day when we reflect upon how the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit work together for our salvation.

As we seek to understand the Trinity better, it’s helpful to describe what the Trinity isn’t.

The Trinity is not the worship of three separate Gods.  The Trinity is three different beings, not three different Gods.  For example, We believe God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit were all present at the creation of the world. 

Jesus presence at the beginning is described at the start of John’s Gospel: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God[7] …Through him all things were made; without him, nothing was made that has been made[8]…The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us[9].”

The Holy Spirit being present at the beginning of the world is described in the second verse of Genesis: “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. 2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters[10].”

The Father, Son, and Spirit being distinct entities can be seen elsewhere in the scriptures[11].  In the 10th Chapter of John’s Gospel Jesus declares: “I and the Father are one.",  yet Jesus would pray not to himself  at the Cross but rather to his Father in heaven when he prayed: “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." When he had said this, he breathed his last[12].”

One chapter before Our Gospel, Jesus declares in the limits of his human flesh: “for everything that I learned from my Father, I have made known to you[13].”

In our Gospel lesson for Today, Jesus differentiates himself from the Holy Spirit by declaring: “But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth[14].”

Earlier, I described the Trinity as three separate beings, not three different Gods. Here’s what I mean.  Later Today, I will celebrate Father’s Day . Now you ask my Sister and me to plan dinner there are going to be some differences.  Anne is a yoga instructor who doesn’t eat Red Meat.  So we have some different ideas to as to what the best restaurant will be.  Trying to find a place to make both of us and my Dad all happy takes some work but some form of compromise works itself out when you have such conflicting opinions.

Such a thing doesn’t happen with the Trinity. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit all three-beings with one,  unified mission that is bringing salvation to the Earth.  Each member of the Trinity has different roles in the process: creator, savior, author of faith.  

For years and years, the Early Church debated how the Father, Son, and Spirit worked together before deciding that the mystery of the Trinity’s is best explained by what we confess in the Apostles Creed: “We believe in God the Father… and, we believe in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord… and, we believe in the Holy Spirit[15].”

How does Trinity work? Let me talk about our favorite Baseball team the Minnesota Twins.  The Twins currently have the best record in Baseball at 47 wins and 22 losses.  How are they doing this?

The Twins are hitting the ball well.  They’ve been on pace to set a league record in Home Runs.  The Twins have an endless array of long-ball hitters: Eddie Rosario, Max Kepler, C.J.Cron, Nelson Cruz, and Miguel Sano. 

The Twins have been winning with pitching.  At the top of their rotation are Jose Berrios, and Jake Odorizzi with Taylor Rogers coming out of the bullpen.  All these guys might make the Major League All-Star game. 

The Twins have been winning out in the field with one of the fastest players in Baseball Byron Buxton patrolling Center Field.  

Now the Trinity is also not different modes of God.  The Father does not begin as Clark Kent go into the Phone Booth and become the Son, Jesus Christ.  

You put one of the Twins’ regular pitchers at the plate to try to hit a Home Run; you would soon see they were not intended to hit.  You put one of the sluggers in Center Field; the other team would probably score a bunch of runs against players not to meant to specialize in the field.  You ask a non-pitcher to pitch, you’d see why pitching for many needs to be a lifelong specialty.

Hitting, Pitching, and Fielding are all vital parts of Baseball, but specialists best do these roles in given areas.    Twins outfielder Byron Buxton could have been a Major League Pitcher throwing baseball nearly 99 miles per hour in high school, yet he knew this wasn’t his intended role in Major League Baseball. 

The Trinity works similarly.  The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit all have unique roles within the story of our salvation.  The Holy Spirit was never intended to assume human flesh like God the Son.  Jesus was never meant to remain on Earth after ascending into heaven, creating and building the Christian Church would be the work of the Holy Spirit. 

While the God the Son and Holy Spirit were witnesses to the creation of the world, they were not active in the process like the God the Father.  The Trinity is not a pecking order or ranking system.   All three parts of the Trinity are equally  vital in working together to achieve human salvation.   The God who gives breath.  The God who wins eternal life upon a cross. The God who creates faith.   All three parts (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) team up “for us” for the sake of our victory over sin and death. 

Let me close this morning with an analogy of the Trinity given by Saint Patrick of Ireland.  Saint Patrick once upon a time compared the Trinity to a three-leaf clover.  He pointed to each of the three leaves to ask, “Is this one leaf or three?” The hearers would study the clover, before finally declaring “both.” To which Saint Patrick would reply, “So as it is with God.” Amen
 

[1] “Jimmy Durante.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. 9.May.2019. Web. June.11.2019.
[2] Chapman, Brian. “One-Armed Soldiers Clapping.” Legends & Rumors. Blogger.com. 10.Mar.2010. Web. June.11.2019.
[3] Chapman, Brian. “One-Armed Soldiers Clapping.” Legends & Rumors.
[4] Hansel, Tim. Holy Sweat. Word Book Publishers. Pg.104-105. 1987. Web. June.11.2019. Found on Sermon Illustrations.com under Teamwork. 
[5] John 16:12-15
[6] Adkins-Jones, Timothy L. “Commentary on John 16:12-15.” Working Preacher. Luther Seminary. 16.June.2019. Web. June.11.2019.
[7] John 1:1.
[8] John 1:3
[9] John 1:14.
[10] Genesis 1:1-2.
[11] Stier, Leon. The Trinity (d) “ Email Mediatations. 22.May.2016. Web. June.11.2019. 
[12] Luke 23:46.
[13] John 15:15.
[14] John 16:13.
[15] Stier, Leon. The Trinity (d) “ Email Mediatations. 

First Lesson: Genesis 11: 1-9
Responsive Reading: Psalm 104: 24-34, 35b
Second Lesson: Acts 2: 1-21
​Gospel Lesson: John 14: 8-17 (25-27)

Grace and Peace from Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
​
The year was 1851, a new group of western settlers within the Oregon Territory, wished to govern themselves[1].  In 1852, this group of settlers decided to appeal to the U.S. Congress for new independent territory.  The floor debate broke out early in 1853; the original proposed name was the “Territory of Columbia.” For its division from Oregon between north and south was taking place at the Columbia River.
Representative Richard Stanton of Kentucky[2] hated this name; he was worried that the “Territory of Columbia[3]” would be confused with the “District of Columbia” where the nation’s capital Washington D.C.  sat.  So Representative Stanton proposed an alternative name for this new territory named after the nation 1st’s President George Washington. The Territory of Washington was incorporated in 1853 and became a state in 1889 hopefully never to be confused with Washington D.C. ever again. 

Today’s first lesson[4] tells a similar tale where a group of settlers seek to become famous.  But in the end, they created nothing but confusion among themselves. 

Our lesson comes from the 11th Chapter of the Book of Genesis.  The story comes right after the well-known Biblical story of Noah and the Great Flood.  Noah and his three sons: Ham, Shem, and Japeth and their descendants spread throughout the Earth.  They still had one thing that tied them together: “Now the whole world had one language and a common speech[5].”

Many of Noah’s descendants settled in a place called Babel or Babylon.  As soon as they settled in Babylon, they began to plan to make Babylon their permanent home.  The first thing they sought to do was build a: “tower that reaches to the heavens[6].”  They did this so they would become so famous that God would know them.   

God seeing their plans intervenes: “Coming down and confusing their language so they would not understand each other[7].”

Why did God do this?  Why did he stop the construction of the Tower of Babel?  God had seen pride nearly destroy humanity multiple times in earliest days of creation: first in Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, then Cain killing Abel, and finally needing to flood the Earth because the people had grown so prideful and wicked[8].  God needed to make the point that human sin will lead to nothing but brokenness and separation from God going forward.  So God scattered the people to repopulate the Earth and confused their language. 

The Year was 1173[9].  The place was Italy.  Plans were made for a 180-foot high marble stone tower.  Prominent local architects and builders were hired.  A problem would arise on the building site having nothing to do with the builders or the materials.  The problem was the land on which the tower was built.  The tower built in Pisa, Italy was named “Pisa” because it was Greek for area of marshy land[10].  The Leaning of Tower of Pisa was born because a structure was built on land that could never possibly support its weight[11].

What had taken place at Babel is Noah’s descendants had lost sight of their foundation.  They thought their salvation would be found in more possessions, more status and fame, yet this wouldn’t be enough until they dared to try to reach heaven themselves.  So God brought down their tower to remind them of the source of their salvation.  God placed a curse upon the Earth, where people would be separated by their speech for generations and generations. 

The story of Abram begins right after the Tower of Babel reminding us that God vows never to abandon his people[12].   Abram would not have any children with his wife Sarah for 99 years, yet just as God had previously promised,  he would end up the father of a great nation with descendants as “as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore.” Through  Abraham’s family tree, salvation would come to the Nation of Israel through Jesus Christ[13].  The people of Israel were forced to wait thousands of years to witness salvation coming down from out of heaven upon a cross.

What Abraham's  story reminds us is that it is often in our greatest confusion that we find our greatest clarity. 

Once upon a time in Kansas City, Missouri a young cartoonist was fired.  The reasons given were that the young man lacked “imagination.” And “good ideas.”  He then started his own animation studio in Kansas City only to see it file for bankruptcy[14].  The man then decided to move to California to try to start another animation studio with his brother.  This idea seemed destined for failure. In 1928, he created a character named Mortimer Mouse who would soon be renamed Mickey Mouse[15].  Walt Disney had spent years in confusion and uncertainty before great clarity came into his life. 

Here’s something interesting about Walt Disney nearly eighty years after being fired by the Kansas City Star newspaper. The animation company bearing his name purchased the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) which owned the Kansas City Star newspaper[16]. 

The clarity amid confusion at the Tower of Babel would also eventually come.  It was the Festival of Weeks or Shavuot[17]. It was a celebration of the day in Israel’s history when God spoke to the people on Mount Sinai delivering the Ten Commandments.  So people from all over the world were gathering in Jerusalem: Libyans, Egyptians, Romans,Arabs and Asians, all were gathering[18].   While they all worshiped the God of Israel, they dating back to the days of Babel were separated by a lack of common language. 

On this day, of Shavuot also known as Pentecost in Greek, Jesus’ disciples were standing among the crowd.  Remember, Jesus’ disciples were primarily a group of fishermen from Galilee.  They were not experts in foreign languages.  The crowd saw what appeared to be tongues of fire come upon the Disciples.  The Disciples then began to speak in the tongues of every language of the Earth.  Peter began to preach and three-thousand new Christians were created by the Holy Spirit on this day.   Pentecost is the day where  Babel’s curse is no more[19].  Peter proclaims human pride as a way to the salvation was broken upon a cross. 

What happened on the Day of Pentecost?  Let me tell a story; I was in fourth grade.  In music class, we were learning to play the recorder as our first instrument. We go through the semester with me paying particularly little attention during the lessons. Finally the exam is the next day.  Nine o clock at night, I’m forced to admit that I’m unable to identify or play any of the notes.  My parents were gone and they would have been furious if I failed a recorder exam. 

They had a babysitter staying at the house.  She happened to be a very talented church musician. She stayed up with me until I learned how to play the recorder.  I passed the exam on the next day.  A  seemingly hopeless situation had been given “new life.” I was given the gift of “musical” language that I could not achieve on my own.

The following is what the Holy Spirit does on the Day of Pentecost.  The spirit gives us the ability to confess the faith into which we are baptized and often unable to confess on our own.  The spirit gives us belief when so many forces within this world tell us not to believe. 

To illustrate this further, let me close with one final story.  Meredith Wilson’s Music Man tells the story of Harold Hill[20].  Harold Hill is a traveling scam-artist going from town to town promising to form boys bands  then collecting money for instruments and uniforms before leaving town to find his next group of suckers.  Harold arrives in River City, Iowa.  Harold like had so many times before convinces the town to believe in his charm.

Finally, a gentleman from Harold’s past arrives in River City vowing to expose Harold Hill as a fraud with no musical credentials to his name[21].  Harold Hill seems destined to end up in jail.  Harold is handcuffed when the town’s folks meet to decide his fate.   The mayor finally puts Harold on the spot asking: “Where’s the band?” 

Finally, a group of boys enters the gym, and through some power other than their band director, the boys begin playing Beethoven's Minuet in G (Min-U-ET)[22].   Regardless of how the band actually sounded, every mother thought their child’s music to be the most beautiful music they had ever heard.  Before long the whole town celebrates  to a rousing rendition of 76 Trombones performed by the previously inept boys band.   Harold Hill is set free. 

What did the Holy Spirit do on the day of the Pentecost?  

“If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”-Romans 10:9. 

The Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost brought clarity to the confusion by leading people to confess “Jesus is Lord and Savior”.   A number of years ago, the Tower of Babel was built where people attempted to reach heaven from themselves.  The pride of this act brought death and pain for generations. What happened on the day of Pentecost is God came down from heaven in the form of the Holy Spirit. It was this Holy Spirit who created 3,000 new, unexpected believers speaking every language from around the Earth[23].   This Holy Spirit would keep spreading the message of salvation through human voices many times the world over: into the German, Swedish, and Norwegian language of many of our ancestors and then to the language where the Gospel was first proclaimed to us.   Reminding us that heaven’s trombones and trumpets will sound all around us when we least expect it.    Amen
 
                          

[1] “Washingston Territory.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. 9.Apr.2019. Web. May.30.2019.
[2] “Richard Stanton.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. 12.May.2019. Web. May.30.2019. 
[3] Unknown Source. “Confusion.” Sermon Illustrations. Web. May.30.2019. 
[4] Genesis 11:1-9. 
[5] Genesis 11:1
[6] Genesis 11:4. 
[7] Genesis 11:7
[8] Donovan, Richard Niell. “Bibilical Commentary: Genesis 11:1-9.” Sermon Writer. 2006.2010. Web. May.30.2019. 
[9] “Leaning Tower of Pisa.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. 26.May.2019. Web. May.30.2019.
[10] Leaning Tower of Pisa Website. “Leaning Tower of Pisa Facts.” Tower of Pisa.org. 2018. Web. May.30.2019. 
[11] Perkins, Alan. “Leaning Tower of Pisa had Poor Foundation.” Sermon Central. 2019. Found on Family Times.net.May.30.2019.
[12] Donovan, Richard Niell. “Bibilical Commentary: Genesis 11:1-9.” Sermon Writer.
[13] Genesis 22:17. 
[14] Gillett, Rachel. “How Walt Disney, Oprah Winfrey, and 19 Other Successful People Rebounded After Getting Fired.” Business Insider. 7.Oct.2015. Web. May.30.2019. 
[15] “Walt Disney.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. 25.May.2019. Web. May.30.2019. 
[16] “Kansas City Star.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. 22.May.2019. Web. May.30.2019. 
[17] “Shavout.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. 29.May.2019. Web. May.30.2019. 
[18] Acts 2:9-11
[19] Stier, Leon. “The Tower of Babel and Pentecost.” Email Mediatations. 24.May.2015. Web. May.30.2019.  
[20] “The Music Man.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. 22.May.2019. Web. May.30.2019. 
[21] “The Music Man.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation.
[22] Schick, Steve. “The Music Man (1962).” Text Week: Movie Illustrations for Holy Spirit. Web. May.30.2019. 
[23] Acts 2:41. 

First Lesson: Acts 16: 16-34
Responsive Reading: Psalm 97
Second Lesson: Revelation 22: 12-14, 16-17, 20-21
​Gospel Lesson: John 17: 20-26

Grace and Peace from Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
​
When I was in 9th Grade, I played Basketball on the Junior Varsity team.  I had all sorts of disadvantages to being a good basketball player: I was short, slow, lacked jumping ability, couldn’t dribble well with my left hand, and so I spent a lot of time sitting on the bench.  My playing time was limited to only moments when the game was long decided.  I decided though to work hard over the summer between my 9th and 10th-grade year. I attended Basketball camp, and really worked on my shooting skills. 

10th Grade starts- the first game of the year, I played well the team won by an unexpectedly big margin, I would soon be sitting the bench for varsity rather than junior varsity.  I then got elevated to a starter for the junior varsity point guard; things were finally working out on a basketball court. 

The next game starts, I start turning the ball over repeatedly against a tough press, the coach pulls me like two minutes into the game down 10-0. We get blown out.  As the season progressed, my time at the end of the bench got longer and longer.

At the end of the season, I made a decision that I regret over twenty plus years later; I stopped playing basketball.  I figured sitting on the bench wasn’t worth it, I thought I knew more than the coaches.

Now I was never going to be given any money as a basketball player, but because of my impatience, I gave up an activity that with a different attitude could have brought me great joy in my final years of high school.
Today’s First lesson tells the tale of two men who found hope in great adversity and we’re ultimately better off because they saw their mission for the sake of the Gospel was indeed worth it.

Our lesson from Acts 16 begins with Paul and Silas visiting Philippi[1].   They were going to a “place of prayer,” like every other day[2].  They then encounter a slave girl who made her owners a great deal of money through fortune-telling.   The lesson describes the woman as being possessed by an evil “spirit” that allowed her to predict the future.  The first time, she encounters Paul and Silas, she starts yelling at them, perhaps in a mocking tone.  Finally, Paul commands her spirit to come out, she gives up fortune telling, but her owners are outraged[3].

Paul and Silas are then seized and dragged[4] into the marketplace[5].

An angry mob strips them of their clothes and begins beating them with rods[6].

They were delivered repeated hard blows, before being thrown into prison[7]. 

The Jailer put their feet in shackles[8].

They experienced all these things because they traveled far from their homes, wanting to start a new church in Philippi. Now intending originally to preach to the Philippians “Freedom from their sins”, they were now captive within a Philippian prison. 

Whereas I was upset about my lack of talent playing Basketball, Paul and Silas opening their mouth within Philippi had led them to a jail cell.  No one could blame Paul and Silas for keeping their mouths shut, getting out, going home, and never speaking of the Philippians again.

Paul and Silas, though in their Jail Cell kept on singing hymns of praise and kept on praying for God to work through them[9]. 

Finally, an earthquake shakes the foundation of the prison; all the doors open, all the chains are loosened. The Jailer awakes, he is distraught at what he sees. He draws his sword, planning to kill himself fearing he had lost all his assigned prisoners, Paul basically shouts out “Stop.” 

Amid great turmoil, comes great opportunity. The man turns on the prison lights before declaring to Paul and Silas: “Sirs, what must I do to be saved[10]?”

“Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.[11]”

Later that evening, the Philippian Jailer and his entire household were baptized[12]. 

The Jailer who was ready to take his life is described as filled with “joy” as our lesson ends[13].

All these great things involving the Philippian Jailer and his family take place because Paul and Silas believe their mission is greater than any obstacles that ultimately seek to impede it.

Our life often works the way that it did for Paul and Silas.  What we can see are the moments when we’re beaten and shackled.  What we often fail to see is the moments to come when doors swing wide open and we’re about to celebrate in the presence of others[14].

Wilma Rudolph was born in Saint Bethlehem, Tennessee in 1940[15]. Wilma had a tough start to her life. An early bout with polio made it difficult for her to walk. She would require leg braces and seven years of therapy to be able to walk on her own finally.  At the age of 12, she wanted to play basketball; she was cut from the team[16].  Wilma would not be deterred she would practice every day. The next year, she made the team. While playing basketball, she attracted the notice of a college track coach.  At the age of sixteen, Wilma was competing as a sprinter in the Olympics.  She got eliminated in the prelims.  Wilma Rudolph though didn’t give up; she used her disappointment as motivation to hope for a different outcome down the line.  In 1960, at the Rome Olympics, Wilma Rudolph became the first American woman to win three gold medals in a single game[17].  The sickly African-American girl who was unable to walk on her own was now a gold medalist because she had a vision of what could eventually “be” within her life.

The question for us this morning is whether we are like Paul and Silas thinking the same way when it comes to the things of faith.

Once upon a time, there was a gentleman who began praying for his five friends[18].  He did this for many months before one of them becomes a believer.  The gentleman keeps praying, sees no results for the next ten years.  Finally, two more of his friends embrace the Gospel.   Gentleman keeps praying sees no fruit for fifteen more years until his fourth friend cries out for “salvation.” The man kept praying for his fifth friend, every night until his death.  Nothing seemed to be taking place.  A short time though after the man’s funeral, the fifth friend became a believer[19]. 

Here’s a famous example on the value of persevering in faith.  A group of Andrew Jackson’s childhood friends, one day gathered[20].  They couldn’t believe that Andrew had not only become a renowned military general but ultimately, the President of the United States.  They started talking about other kids with whom they grew up, who seemed Andrew’s superiors, especially when it came to brains. 

One of Jackson’s childhood friends declared: “Why isn’t Jim Brown, famous, he was smarter and could beat Andy three out of every four times they wrestled.” The friends were confused; they knew a wrestling match was over after three defeats.  Sure this was the way things usually worked, but not for Andrew Jackson. He would keep on fighting, till Jim Brown got tired, and Andrew would be declared the winner. 

Andrew Jackson knew how to handle a setback, yet he had the courage just like Paul and Silas to keep on going forward.

Every church claims to be a welcoming church. Every church claims to be a missional church.  These things though seemingly, don’t often bear fruit.  Even as Christian people, it’s easy to believe that a certain fate is inevitable. People have believed this as long as there’s been a Christian church out to be proved wrong. I struggle with this myself.

Once upon a time, there was an elderly lady who came across a young man who was ready to “quit.”  The man declared: “I am beaten every time.’ “I must give up.”  The lady looked at the frowning young man before saying: “Did you ever notice that when the Lord told the discouraged fishermen to cast their nets again, it was right in the same old spot where they had been fishing all night and had caught nothing[21].”

God had brought Paul and Silas to Philippi; the trip seemed destined to end in disaster.  Here’s what Paul and Silas kept believing: “That even if they died in a Philippian prison cell, they would find hope, no differently than how the Roman crosses had been transformed from symbols of torture to symbols of new life before their very eyes. 

Let me close with one final story, Winston Churchill was born in 1874[22].  He grew up hating school, he frequently misbehaved, he was described by teachers as un-punctual and careless “ He was diagnosed with a speech impediment.  Years later, he was asked to address the commencement class at his former school. Churchill by this time was now the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. Churchill gave his speech in 1941 early into World War II, a few months before the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Britain had already been devastated by German bombing campaigns.   Winston Churchill would proceed to speak at his former school some of history’s most famous words[23]:
“never give in, never give in, never, never, never, never-in nothing, great or small, large or petty—never give in except to convictions of honour and good sense. Never yield to force; never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy[24].”

Churchill’s words remind us what Paul and Silas believe as they sat in a Philippian jail cell.  No matter how dark the days might be, no matter how powerful of forces threaten to overwhelm you, remember that spiritual forces made known upon a cross are way more powerful than these. The forces of love, forgiveness, and hope shall never leave you.   Amen
 
 
 
  


[1] Acts 16:16-34. 
[2] Bratt, Doug. “Acts 16:16-34.” Center for Excellence in Preaching. Calvin Seminary. Grand Rapids, MI. 2.May.2016. Web. May.21.2019. 
[3] Bratt, Doug. “Acts 16:16-34.” Center for Excellence in Preaching.
[4] Piper, John. “Delivered in God’s Good Time.” Desiring God Ministries. 26.Jan.2018. Web. May.21.2019. This is found on Email Mediatations.
[5] Acts 16:19
[6] Acts 16:22
[7] Acts 16:23
[8] Acts 16:24
[9] Acts 16:25-26. 
[10] Acts 16:30.
[11] Acts 16:31
[12] Acts 16:33.
[13] Acts 16:34.
[14] Piper, John. “Delivered in God’s Good Time.” Desiring God Ministries.
[15] “Wilma Rudolph.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. 14.May.2019. Web. May.21.2019. 
[16] Today in the World. Moody Bible Insistute. Jan.1992.Pg.10. Found on Sermon Illustrations under perserverance. May.21.2019. 
[17] Wilma Rudolph.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation
[18] Our Daily Bread. “George Muller.” Found on Sermon Illustrations under perserverance. May.21.2019. 
[19] Our Daily Bread. “George Muller.” May.21.2019.
[20] Our Daily Bread. “Andrew Jackson.” Found on Sermon Illustrations under perserverance. May.21.2019. 
[21] Unknown Author “Elderly Lady and Young Man.” Found on Sermon Illustrations.com under perserverance. Web. May.21.2019. 
[22] “Winston Churchill.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. 21. May.2019. Web. May.21.2019.
[24] Eclov, Lee. “Churchill's Real "Never Give Up" Speech.” Preaching Today. Web. May.21.2019.