Fist Lesson: Isaiah 1: 1, 10-20
Responsive Reading: Psalm 50: 1-8, 22-23
Second Lesson: Hebrews 11: 1-3, 8-16
Gospel Lesson: Luke 12: 32-40

Grace and Peace from Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, 
​
The year was 1967. My Dad was a freshman at the University of Minnesota (Twin Cities campus).  He played in the marching band during Golden Gopher football games.  The Gophers were good in 1967; the Gophers were so good in fact that after beating Wisconsin in the last game of the season, they were set-up  to play in College Football’s grand showcase, the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California on New Year’s Day.   All that had to happen is heavily-favored Purdue needed to beat Indiana. Rose Bowl plans seemed so inevitable that My Dad was given an itinerary for the upcoming trip to California.  Well, Dad has  never seen the Rose Bowl in person.  Indiana upset Purdue to go the Rose Bowl instead.  The Gophers wouldn’t get close to going to the Rose Bowl again in Dad’s four years of college.  

Now Dad has always talked about going to the Rose Bowl when the Gophers  perhaps eventually play.  In the year 2000, the Gophers upset perennial powerhouse Ohio State, my Dad started looking into January travel plans midway through the season, only to see the Gophers lose the next week to lowly Indiana so that the dream died once again.  So the wait has been fifty-two years for Gopher fans like my Dad who have longed to spend New Year’s Day in Pasadena, California. 

My Dad is a realist about the Gopher football team.  He knows the Gophers have numerous disadvantages both in terms of financial resources and local talent to compete with Big Ten powers like Michigan, Ohio State, or even recently Wisconsin that always play in the Rose Bowl.  

Sid Hartman is the most famous sportswriter in all of Minnesota.  Sid began his career writing about the Gophers and other teams in 1945.  Sid is still writing and will turn 100 next spring[1].  

Here’s the thing that I love about Sid, every spring or early fall is going to be the year the Gopher Football team is going to breakthrough.  It doesn’t matter if the Gophers were 1-11 the previous year.   The Gophers small, but dedicated fan base is about to travel to Pasadena to see the Rose Bowl in droves. 

Sid when it comes to the Gophers is the eternal optimist.  When Sid was growing up in Minneapolis, the Gopher Football team was winning National Championships.  Sid remembers the Gophers trips to Pasadena in 1961, 1962 fondly.  Sid believes that somehow, someway the Minnesota farm kids will triumph against bigger, faster, and stronger kids from Ohio. 

My Dad, Sid, and the Gophers lead us into our New Testament Lesson for Today from Hebrews 11[2].

Now before we begin, let me ask the following question: “What is the difference between Sid-Hartman like optimism and hope?”  Optimism and Hope might seem to be the same thing until you come to our lesson[3].

Our lesson begins with the following verse: “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see[4]?”

Hebrews 11 then proceeds to give a history of those who in the earliest days of the Old Testament clung to both faith and hope regardless of their present circumstances: Abel, Enoch, Noah, and finally Abraham.

Abraham’s life begins in the land of Ur[5], which lies in modern-day Iraq.  Abraham had been doing well in Ur, living a comfortable day to day existence have accumulated all sorts of land and possessions.  One day, God proceeds to interrupt Abraham’s life by declaring: “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.“I will make you into a great nation.[6]”

Here’s the problem, Abraham is already “75” at this point[7], his wife Sarah is long considered to be barren.  No ordinary thinking person would have thought Abraham’s move in the midst of both wealth and comfort to be a good idea. 

So what did the years ahead bring Abraham? Abraham as soon as leaving the land of Ur experiences great famine in the land of Canaan, so he is forced to journey to Egypt[8]. While in Egypt,  the Pharaoh tries to steal his wife, putting Abraham’s own life at risk[9].  Abraham separates from his closest family member Lot[10].  His wife Sarah remained long-barren, so she gives Abraham permission to conceive a child with her handmaiden Hagar instead[11]. The child would be called Ishmael[12].   When Abraham is 99 years old[13], God declares that Abraham, through Sarah, will (still) be “a father of many nations[14].”  Sarah finally gets pregnant with her son named Isaac. 

Only Abraham, Hagar, Ishamel Isaac, and Sarah have so much conflict that they’re forced to separate[15].  Then at the end of all this, Abraham is asked to sacrifice his beloved Isaac upon the Mount of the Lord, only for the Lord to intervene as Abraham held a knife to Isaac’s throat[16].  Abraham becomes a widow after his beloved Sarah dies[17].   Abraham eventually dies “100” years after being asked to leave his life of comfort behind in Ur[18].  So Abraham’s story nearly has it all: uncertain living arrangements, famine, infertility, family separation, and grief. 

God might have chosen Abraham with the most unique of callings, but this didn’t mean that Abraham didn’t have many dark days where he longed to see a clear sign of God’s promise someday coming true[19].  In the midst of all this, Abraham never abandoned either faith or Hope.     

For it was nearly two thousand years later that  the fulfillment of Abraham leaving Ur for a better place was made known as our Hebrews lesson concludes: “they (Abraham’s descendants) were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them[20].”

Abraham left Ur amidst the greatest of uncertainties, so that he and his descendants may ultimately inherit heaven upon the Cross of Christ. 

What is the difference between optimism and Hope, as displayed in the life of Abraham? Optimists like Sid Hartman tend to see the best in situations and best in people.  Optimism is, in many cases,  is a good thing.
Optimism though has its limits.  It’s not enough to be optimistic when, like Abraham, you long for one child or many children only for it to seem medically impossible.

It’s not enough to be optimistic when the fate of your long-awaited child is hanging in the balance? It’s not enough to be optimistic as we bury our loved ones and seem soon to follow them?  Abraham had numerous events take place in his life that should have crushed his optimistic spirit, Abraham instead clung to hope.
What is the difference between optimism and Hope? Optimism is based on human potential, whereas Hope is based on God’s eternal promises[21].  Optimism can only take you as far as the grave, whereas Hope can take you beyond the grave.  Hope is found in the moments when mere optimism fails.

Harold Russell was born in 1914. Russell was struggling in life at the age of 27, thinking himself a failure because he was working in a supermarket. The Japanese attack Pearl Harbor. Russell enlists in the U.S. Army in response hoping to turn the direction of his life.  In 1944, while teaching demolition work to his fellow soldiers, a defective fuse went off costing Russell both his hands[22].   Harold Russell as he woke up in a hospital bed seeing nubs where his hands used to be, thought his life to be over.  As he lied in his hospital bed, Harold Russell kept entering into deeper and deeper despair, until one day when he received a visit from a fellow soldier who had also lost both his hands[23].   Russell couldn’t make sense of his fellow solider being so joyful, without his hands. 

The soldier then turns to Russell before declaring: “There's one thing you ought to keep in mind…You are not crippled; you are merely handicapped[24].”

The great Christian hope is this, life such as in the story of Harold Russell can hurt and handicap us in many ways, even defeating our optimism, but life cannot cripple us. Hope can turn what appear to be crucifixions into eventual resurrections[25]. 

Harold Russell would go onto live a remarkable life without any hands.  He would marry his childhood sweetheart, act in motion pictures even winning an Academy Award, and become a best-selling author[26].   

Reality is the following. We will like Harold Russell or Abraham have our circumstances where we wonder from: “Where in our life can Hope possibly come?”

With this in mind, let me close with one final story[27].  Over a century ago when the steamships full of passengers would frequently venture upon Lake Superior.  A great fog broke out.  The passengers quickly grew concerned as the ship didn’t even slow down.  The passengers go track down the captain’s first mate to complain about the ship’s speed.  The first mate gave the passengers some wise advice declaring: “Don’t be afraid! The fog lies low and the captain is high above it.  He can see where we are going[28]!”

We like these passengers, Abraham, or Harold Russell will have our moments when we can’t make sense of the waters behind us or ahead of us.  The following is o.k. because Our Savior has gone and seen the darkest of places before us, only to walk out (again) three days later.  So we are not merely optimistic about any Rose Bowls that lie ahead, instead, we cling instead to the great hope given upon the Cross of Christ. Amen

[1] “Sid Hartman.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. 16.Mar.2019. Web. July.24.2019. 
[2] Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16.
[3] The following sermon idea comes from Micheal Foss ‘ “Wishful Thinking, Optimism and Hope.” Given on August 12, 2007 found on Day 1 linked by Text Week on July 23, 2019. 
[4] Hebrews 11:1.
[5] “Ur of the Chaldees.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. 15.July.2019. Web. July.23.2019. 
[6] Genesis 12:1.
[7] Genesis 12:4.
[8] Genesis 12:10.
[9] Genesis 12:14-20.
[10] Genesis 13:5-12.
[11] Genesis 16.
[12] Genesis 16:15-16
[13] Genesis 17:1.
[14] Genesis 17:4.
[15] Genesis 21:8-21.
[16] Genesis 22:1-18.
[17] Genesis 23:1-2.
[18] Genesis 25:1-11.
[19] Hoezee, Scott. “Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16.” Center for Excellence in Preaching. Calvin Seminary. Grand Rapids, MI. 31.July.2016. Web. July.24.2019.
[20] Hebrews 11:16.
[21] Foss, Michael. “Wishful Thinking, Optimism and Hope.” Day 1. 12. August.2007. Web. July.24.2019.
[22] “Harold Russell.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. 21.June.2019. Web. July.24.2019.
[23] Foss, Michael. “Wishful Thinking, Optimism and Hope.” Day 1.
[24] Foss, Michael. “Wishful Thinking, Optimism and Hope.” Day 1.
[25] Foss, Michael. “Wishful Thinking, Optimism and Hope.” Day 1.
[26] Foss, Michael. “Wishful Thinking, Optimism and Hope.” Day 1.
[27] Klaus, Ken. “Fear and Faith.” Lutheran Hour Ministries. 26.Aug.2001. Web. July.24.2019.
[28] Klaus, Ken. “Fear and Faith.” Lutheran Hour Ministries.

First Lesson: Hosea 11: 1-11
Responsive Reading: Psalm 107: 1-9, 43
Second Lesson: Colossians 3: 1-11
​Gospel Lesson: Luke 12: 13-21

Grace and Peace from Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
 
The year was 1970; the place was Stanford University[1].  A social experiment was planned to consist of thirty two- preschool age boys and girls of equal numbers.  The test was each child would be offered a choice of one small reward mostly marshmallows, or if the child had enough restraint to wait fifteen minutes before eating the marshmallow, then they would get to enjoy one additional marshmallow for two marshmallows in total[2].  The children were given toys as potential distractions for those fifteen minutes[3].
 
So the study was intending to ask: “How good are preschoolers between 3 and 5 at waiting, even for a very short time, when they could potentially receive a much better reward just fifteen minutes later?”
 
What did the Marshmallow study prove? We’ll get back to the results in just a little bit.
 
Leon Stier tells the story how, once upon a time a young woman was living in California.  She proceeds to write a letter to her mother living in North Dakota[4].
 
Dear Mom,
“Sorry, we haven’t been in touch.  I got sick of hearing all Dad’s and your speeches telling me how I was wasting money.  Even when I last came home as he was dying, he wanted to talk about my foolish spending ways.
 
I write because I must admit that you were both right.  Mark lost his job about six months ago and we’re going under on the home mortgage.  We’re also getting divorced, as the constant fighting about money and our debt has destroyed our marriage[5].
 
As much as it pains me to admit it, I should have listened to Dad more.  I thought Mark and I had it made.  We both had college degrees and good jobs.  Between the banks and credit cards, we were able to travel all over the globe and move into our dream house.  We thought we could have had as many possessions as you accumulated over the years, as soon as we got married.  I thought we had it easy with money that would never run out[6]. I was wrong in many, many ways!
 
I need to say that I’m sorry for our big fight after Dad’s funeral. I was petty and mean on one of the worst days of our life[7].
 
If you could forgive me, I have a huge favor to ask.  I need a place to live.  I need to file for bankruptcy as my company is downsizing.  Could I possibly have my old room at home back, until better days[8]?”
 
Love, Pamela
 
Now Pamela would be an example of a person who only lives life in the short-term.  A person whose wants quickly become needs.  Pretty soon, life falls apart.  What can we learn from Pamela[9]?  
 
I began this morning by telling the story of the Stanford Marshmallow Experiment.  The psychologists behind it did a follow-up study in 1988, where they evaluated the thirty-two preschool children (eighteen years later)  as they transitioned into adulthood.  What the follow-up studies found is that children that were able to wait (fifteen minutes) even as preschoolers  for the extra marshmallows had higher SAT scores, achieved higher levels of education, and carried less body fat all because they had learned the ability of patience to receive rewards when they were very young children[10].
 
Today’s Gospel lesson tells a similar story[11].  Jesus is preaching to a crowd.  When someone interrupts Jesus by shouting out: “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me[12].”
 
I imagine the lesson is set by Jesus being annoyed by this question as Jesus is preaching about Heaven and Hell.
 
So Jesus seeks to make a dramatic point in response! 
 
Jesus tells the tale of a rich farmer.  This farmer’s land had done so well that he does not have enough storage space in his barns.  So he begins to make plans to build bigger and bigger barns[13], so that he may have the most comfortable of retirements.
 
The rich farmer at first glance would seem to be the exact opposite of the children who couldn’t wait for the extra marshmallows or Pamela and Mark who racked up credit card debt all the way to bankruptcy.  The farmer had saved well for the future and seems now to be able to now enjoy his prosperity.
 
But as Jesus says within the parable, the rich farmer has made a miscalculation[14].
 
“You fool! This very night your life is being demanded of you. And the things you have prepared, whose will they be[15]?”
 
The big question of our lesson is this:  “Why does Jesus call the rich farmer a “fool?” “ The issue isn’t that the rich farmer saves, but rather the rich farmer thinks his possessions can buy his way into eternal life.
 
You see the rich farmer had more money than he could ever need, yet he was unwilling to consider how he could give back to the God who provided it all.
 
The rich farmer had a wrong understanding of where his security would ultimately come.  He was one unexpected illness or accident away from the same spiritual bankruptcy of the man who interrupted Jesus about his inheritance at the beginning of the lesson[16]. 
 
The point isn’t that the rich farmer’s wealth is a problem; it’s instead where the rich farmer’s priorities ultimately lay.  Was the rich farmer’s life pointing only towards the short-term thinking of what’s in it for him (how many marshmallows can he immediately consume) or would he use his considerable gifts to help bring salvation to the world around him[17]?
 
Let me tell you about another rich person of whom you’ve maybe heard named Henry Ford.  The year was 1908; Henry Ford invents the Model T[18].  Henry Ford soon grew very, very rich.  Henry Ford could have been just like the rich farmer in Jesus’ parable sitting back, building bigger and bigger garages. Henry Ford thought long-term rather than short-term.  Ford longed to create cars that the average person could own.  The labor process for the Model T was too expensive for the commoner, until one day, an employee described a recent visit to a slaughterhouse which made use of a conveyor[19].  Perfecting the assembly line required all sorts of tinkering, patience, investment, and long-range thinking for Ford.  Henry Ford ultimately put his business and fortune on the line for the sake of the long-range goal of an automobile assembly line.
 
By 1914, Henry Ford’s assembly line was a reality. Cars went from taking 12.5 hours to 1.5 hours to manufacture. Prices dropped over  50 percent. Within a decade, Ford would sell his ten-millionth Model T[20]. All sorts of other good things had happened: salaries skyrocketed for employees, working hours decreased, and America within a generation would become a global economic super power.  All these things happened because short-term thinking of merely being rich wasn’t good enough for Henry Ford. 
 
There is a well-known Bible story that like Henry Ford contrasts with the thinking of the rich farmer.   The Book of Joshua tells the tale of the Nation of Israel who had waited for forty long years wandering in the uncomfortable heat of the wilderness eating the same boring foods (day after day) awaiting the long-promised land[21].   Now entering the Promised Land would have appeared to take a mere matter of months, but the nation of Israel kept straying leading to consequences. It was only the generation after Moses, Aaron, and Miriam that would be able to enter the Promised Land .   When the people of Israel finally did enter the Promised Land, they had built enough faith that God’s promises would eventually come through that they were able to overcome mightier enemies than even they could imagine.
 
Bible commentator Elisabeth Johnson recalls how once upon a time, there was a very wise Pastor who realized something important about the difference between thinking in the short-term like the marshmallow eaters, Mark and Pamela , and the Rich-Farmer versus the long-term thinking of Henry Ford and the Biblical Joshua.
 
The Pastor declared: “I have heard many different regrets expressed by people nearing the end of life, but there is one regret I have never heard expressed. I have never heard anyone say; ‘I wish I hadn’t given so much away. I wish I had kept more for myself[22].” Death had a way of clarifying what really matters[23]”.
 
With this in mind, let me close with one final story that comes from my hometown of Lindstrom.  I want to tell you about Elmer and Pearl.  Elmer worked as a milkman.  Pearl worked for the telephone company.  Elmer and Pearl never had any children.  Elmer died in 1961. Pearl would live until 2015  staying quite active in Trinity Lutheran for all these years.  Upon Pearl’s death at the age of 104, it was revealed that she had left her estate to the church.  Pearl’s gift was worth over 1.2 million dollars.  Jaws around town were dropped because people couldn’t believe that she’d have that type of money.  What made Pearl such a remarkable woman of faith is that she understood that Christianity is ultimately not about the sins of your past, nor is about the rewards of the present whether farmland or even marshmallows, instead Christianity looks to the future hope of the Resurrection.  Where the eyes might even be able to see more marshmallows than they’ve ever seen before.  Amen      


[1] “Stanford Marshmallow Experiment.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. 21.May.2019. Web. July.18.2019. 
[2] “Stanford Marshmallow Experiment.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation.
[3] For further reading see Walter Mischel’s The Marshmallow Test published by Litte, Brown and Company in 2014. 
[4] Stier, Leon. “Instant Gratification (1/2).” Email Mediatations. 15. Jan.2016. Web. July.18.2019. 
[5] Stier, Leon. “Instant Gratification (1/2).” Email Mediatations.
[6] Stier, Leon. “Instant Gratification (1/2).” Email Mediatations.
[7] Stier, Leon. “Instant Gratification (1/2).” Email Mediatations.
[8] Stier, Leon. “Instant Gratification (1/2).” Email Mediatations.
[9] Stier, Leon. “Instant Gratification (1/2).” Email Mediatations.
[10]“ Stanford Marshmallow Experiment.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation.
[11] Luke 12:13-21. 
[12] Luke 12:13. 
[13] Luke 12:18.
[14] Johnson, Elisabeth. “Commentary on Luke 12:13-21.” Working Preacher. Luther Seminary. Saint Paul, MN. 4.Aug.2019. Web. July.18.2019.  
[15] Luke 12:20
[16] Johnson, Elisabeth. “Commentary on Luke 12:13-21.” Working Preacher.
[17] Johnson, Elisabeth. “Commentary on Luke 12:13-21.” Working Preacher.
[18] History Channel. “Ford’s assembly line starts rolling.” History.com. 13.Nov.2009. Web. July.18.2019.
[19] “Assembly Line.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. 27. June.2019. Web. July.18.2019.
[20] History Channel. “Ford’s assembly line starts rolling.” History.com.
[21] Stier, Leon. “Instant Gratification (2/2).” Email Mediatations. 16. Jan.2016. Web. July.18.2019. 
[22] Johnson, Elisabeth. “Commentary on Luke 12:13-21.” Working Preacher.
[23] Johnson, Elisabeth. “Commentary on Luke 12:13-21.” Working Preacher. 

First Lesson: Hosea 1: 2-10
Responsive Reading: Psalm 85
Second Lesson: Colossians 2: 6-15, (16-19)
​Gospel Lesson: Luke 11: 1-13

Grace and Peace from Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
 
Now ever since I became a Seminary student.  There is something that I’ve noticed about family gatherings.  Everyone always waits for me to eat.  Or another way to put this is everyone waits for me to pray a pre-dinner prayer.  Now, most of my family are semi-regular churchgoers who have heard prayers longer than I’ve been alive.  Going to school, according to some, gives a more direct pipeline to God.  Such thinking is nothing new among the religious.  The Disciples thought the same way.  In our Gospel lesson[1], they sit and watch Jesus pray. Before asking Jesus, “How exactly should we pray[2]?”
 
Jesus answers this question by teaching them to pray what is known as the Lord’s Prayer.
So why does Jesus teach the Lord’s Prayer specifically? What does it say about what exactly we believe about prayer as Christian people?
 
Father (in heaven), hallowed be your name.
 
What type of Father do we have in heaven?  Let me tell you a story about one remarkable father[3].
 
In 1962, Dick Hoyt had a son named Rick Hoyt[4].  Rick Hoyt was dealt a tough hand at birth.  The umbilical cord was wrapped around Rick’s neck, leading to a diagnosis of cerebral palsy.  Rick’s doctor said that he would spend the rest of his life outside his parents care in an institution for special needs children.  The prognosis was a life spent living like a vegetable.  It seemed to be the cruelest of news to new parents.  The Hoyts saw hope, though, as Rick’s eyes were able to follow movements around the room.  They eventually seek out a new diagnosis for Rick, whoichencourages the Hoyts to bring Rick home and try to raise him like any other child. Rick soon learns the alphabet. He eventually is fitted with a computer that allowed him to communicate.  Rick was able to attend public school[5].
 
In 1977, Rick Hoyt had a request for his dad Dick Hoyt; he wanted to run a race.  The following request seemed like a stretch as Rick couldn’t walk and Dick wasn’t a runner.  Rick though wished to participate in the races, to prove that his handicap would not define him. So Dick Hoyt (the dad) needed to get in shape. He needed to get in such good shape that he would be able to push his son in a wheelchair for five miles.  Dick Hoyt would begin by practing pushing a wheelchair containing a bag of cement when Rick was at school. Over the next forty years, Dick and Rick would compete together in over 1,100 events including 72 marathons and six Iron man triathlons.  Dick Hoyt’s dedication to his son is so great that a statue of the Hoyts was built near the start of the country’s most prestigious race the Boston Marathon.  The Hoyts would eventually go up on inspirational billboards throughout this country.  The Hoyt’s fame was all driven by a Father’s great love for his child[6].
 
We begin our Lord’s Prayer  with praying to our Father in Heaven because just like Rick Hoyt, we know that this Father’s love for his children knows no limits or depth.  We pray as a statement of trust that our Father in heaven will care for us even beyond how Dick Hoyt cared for his son Rick.  
 
Now, as we pray to our Father in heaven, here is where we often get prayer wrong as Christian people, we assume prayer is a series of personal requests that we can make.  Prayer is instead the connecting force of our relationship with God[7].  Think of the closest people to you in life.  If they didn’t live in your house, you probably stay in regular contact via telephone.  I know the times when my Dad usually calls, the conversations can be long, especially when they involve the Minnesota Vikings.
 
 He called Friday night at 9:15, didn’t get off the phone till after 10:30.  Prayer’s purpose works the same way, giving you the means to provide all your wants, worries, cares, and needs to your heavenly father via conversation[8]. 
 
Give us each day our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.
 
Ever since Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit and sin’s curse was passed down throughout the generations.  Our relationship with our Father has been broken.  But our Father promises the great hope of his eventual forgiveness.
 
There’s a Spanish story not unlike the Biblical tale of the Prodigal Son.  A Father and Son became estranged. The Son ran far away from home.  The Father never heard from the Son for months on end. The Father then began traveling all around the land, trying to find his lost son.  Finally, the Father took out an ad in one of the country’s largest papers in Madrid.  The ad read as follows: “Dear Paco, meet me in front of this newspaper office at noon on Saturday. All is forgiven. I love you. Your Father.” The next Saturday, 800 different Pacos showed up outside the newspaper office, looking for forgiveness and love from their fathers[9].  
 
Forgiveness is one of the few forces in this life so powerful that it can perpetually change the world.
 
To paraphrase writer Todd Brewer:  “When forgiveness takes place there are three deaths: the one being forgiven, the one granting the forgiveness and the relationship between the two of them. Subsequently, a new reality occurs, new life all around.” Forgiveness is a real, actual event; when we hear, “I see what you did and God (declaring) I  still love you[10].”
 
Once upon a time, there was an old country church, not unlike this one[11].  The preacher would get up and give long sermons week after week.  The sermons would go all over the place and would be hard for the congregation to follow.  The ushers though were good sermon critics.  At the start of every sermon, they would lock the doors of the church so no one could escape, especially the Preacher.  They would only unlock the doors when the Preacher delivered a word of Gospel, a word of forgiveness for all who gathered that Sunday. No matter what else the Preacher rambled about.  Christians gather on Sunday morning only because of the hope of the forgiveness that has been given through Christ Jesus.
Luke’s Gospel version of the Lord’s Prayer closes with  and lead us not into temptation.  Whereas Matthew’s Gospel concludes; but deliver us from evil[12].
 
When we think of evil, we often think of the forces that continually overpower us.  The bullies in our life that we can’t seemingly defeat on our own.  With this in mind, let me tell a story. 
 
The place was a YMCA in Hollywood, California[13].  Basketball players would gather every day, choose teams of five, and play till they lost and were forced off the court.  Well, there was a team that seemed unbeatable.  They were made up of former UCLA college players and even former pros.  They would never lose and they would not shut up about it.
 
 Well, every single day down at the basketball court was an old man who loved the game, but was now approaching “60” and could never dream to keep up with these recently retired pros.  Every day, the man would proclaim that he was friends with “Magic Johnson,” one of the best players in the world at the time for the nearby Los Angeles Lakers[14].
 
Every day, the basketball bullies would laugh at the older man.  Well, one day, the basketball bullies had their way once again. The older man finally snapped, storming off the court, and came back twenty minutes later with the great Magic Johnson.  Magic picks his team, including the older man and others just standing around.  The basketball bullies were looking forward to beating Magic Johnson and humiliating this older man once again.  The game begins, it soon becomes evident that it didn’t matter who was on Magic Johnson’s team, they weren’t losing. 
 
The basketball bullies were quickly defeated with the Old Man draining a long three-pointer in their face at the end of the game.  The bullies kept demanding rematches only to keep losing to Magic Johnson and the Old Man again and again.  The reign of the basketball bullies had come to an end when the Old Man found a teammate to deliver him [15](from evil).   
 
The Apostle Paul declares in the Book of Romans:  “As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature.[a] For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out[16].”
 
Evil is a continual struggle for us as Christian people, even if it always isn’t in the form of basketball bullies. We can find evil nearly every place we look. We often pray to God to remove evil from our lives in the form of illness or broken relationships or even within ourselves. 
 
The challenge with prayer is God often seems to be silent.  But here’s the point about Evil from within the Lord’s Prayer, Evil will be with us in the short term, but on the last day, All evil will vanish from the Earth[17]. 
 
What Christ will do on the last day is the same thing that Magic Johnson did within that Basketball game.  He will defeat all evil forces that surround us (not just big-talking basketball players), but more importantly, sin, death and the power of the Devil. 
 
The whole reason that we pray is to confess that our eventual salvation is going to soon come from someone way, more powerful than ourselves.   The following confession is what we say every time that we pray the Lord’s Prayer. 
 
The great hope of the Lord’s Prayer is that we have a perpetually loving father in heaven, whose relationship to us means so much, that he wants nothing more than to forgive us and reunite with us.  Our evidence of this is found upon a cross.   And on a day that is to come, our Lord will deliver us from the greatest evidence of evil in death and bring us the triumph of his Kingdom for all eternity.  Amen
 


[1] Luke 11: 1-13.
[2] Luke 11:1. 
[3] Higgins, Scott. “Dick & Rick Hoyt – A Video of a Father Competing in Endurance Events with his Disabled Son.” Stories for Preaching. Web. July.10.2019. 
[4] “Team Hoyt.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. 17. Apr.2019. Web. July.10.2019. 
[5] “Team Hoyt.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation
[6] “Team Hoyt.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation
[7] Lose, David. “Commentary on Luke 11:1-13.” Working Preacher. Luther Seminary. Saint Paul, MN. 25.July.2010. Web. July.10.2019. 
[8] Lose, David. “Commentary on Luke 11:1-13.” Working Preacher.
[9] Bits and Pieces. “The Father and Paco.” Found under Father on Sermon Illustrations. 15.Oct.1992. pg.13. Web. July.10.2019.  
[10] Brewer, Todd. “We Are Bold to Say… The Lord’s Prayer, Pt 5: Forgive Us Our Trespasses.” Mockingbird (MBird) Ministries. 23. Aug.2012. Web. July.10.2019. 
[11] This analogy comes from an Preaching conference that I attended hosted by Augsburg Lutheran Churches in 2007 at Advent Lutheran in Roseville. 
[12] “Lord’s Prayer.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. 27.June.2019. Web. July.10.2019. 
[13] Toldayso edited by RiverdanceJonas. “The story of Magic Johnson showing up at the local Y and crushing the most arrogant pickup team in LA.” Reddit. NBA subreddit. 8.July.2019. Web. July.10.2019. 
[14] Toldayso edited by RiverdanceJonas. “The story of Magic Johnson showing up at the local Y and crushing the most arrogant pickup team in LA.” Reddit. NBA subreddit
[15] Toldayso edited by RiverdanceJonas. “The story of Magic Johnson showing up at the local Y and crushing the most arrogant pickup team in LA.” Reddit. NBA subreddit
[16] Romans 7:17-18. 
[17] Stier, Leon. “Deliver Us from Evil.” Email Mediatations. 2.May.2017. Web. July.13.2019.   

First Lesson: Amos 8: 1-12
Responsive Reading: Psalm 52
Second Lesson: Colossians 1: 15-28
​Gospel Lesson: Luke 10: 38-42

Grace and Peace from Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
 
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles.  And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith…”-Hebrews 12:12.
 
Once upon a time in the former Soviet Union, there was a wave of thefts within the factories[1].  Guards were set outside all the factories to hopefully catch the thieves.
 
 Well, at a particular factory, there was a guard who knew all the workers well.  The first evening, the guard observed a man named Pyotr Petrovich pushing a wheelbarrow with a suspicious looking sack inside it. 
 
The guard says, “All right, Petrovich?” “What’s in the bag?”
 
 Petrovich declared, “Nothing but sawdust?”
 
The Guard assumes Petrovich to be trying to outsmart him, only to open the sack and see that he’s telling the truth.  Every night that week, Petrovich came out with his wheelbarrow, which the guard diligently inspected.  Finally, after several nights of examining the wheelbarrow, the guard gets really frustrated with Pyotr Petrovich.  
 
The guard finally says, ‘Petrovich, I know you, I’ve known your whole life.”  “Tell me, what exactly are you smuggling out of here.” And “I’ll let you go.”
 
 A huge smile comes over Pyotr Petrovich’s face as he declares: “Wheelbarrows, my friend.” Every night, I’ve smuggled out a new wheelbarrow, while you’ve been distracted by sawdust[2]”  
 
A couple of years back, I was having dinner at North Woods.  I observed a family sitting nearby.  Every member of the family had their cell-phones out.  No one at the table was even attempting to talk to each other throughout the meal.  The scene struck me, so I asked the waitress about it at the end of the meal.  To which she declared that such a scene was in no way unique among her customers.  
 
Now, my point is not that cell-phones or the internet are bad.  I can’t imagine putting a sermon together thirty years ago without having so much information at my fingertip.  I can’t help be struck when I go to Sporting Events whether they be high school or professional where people pay money to attend, and they still never put their phones away. 
 
Being easily distracted leads us into Our Gospel lesson for Today from Luke 10[3].  In our lesson, Jesus is visiting the home of two sisters Martha and Mary.
 
Let me describe the wo sisters for you a bit.  Martha was the older sister.  Martha was a doer.  Martha kept a neat and orderly house.  Martha heard that Jesus was coming to visit and was going to make sure that her honored house guest was treated how he should be[4].  So when Jesus arrives, Martha keeps working in the kitchen as hard as she could to make the night special for everyone gathering.
 
Mary was the younger sister.  Mary was a free spirit.  Some might even describe Mary as the absent-minded sister.  Mary was the one who just figured everything would magically come together in the end.  So Jesus arrives at her house. Mary just casually puts her feet up in the living room while Martha does everything she possibly can to get dinner ready.  Mary never thinks about asking Martha, “If she can help.”  Martha eventually gets quite mad witnessing what she thinks is nothing more than Mary being lazy. 
 
Martha finally declares to Jesus: “Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me![5]”
 
When I was growing up, my mom would prepare dinner most nights.  If Mom said something was being served at 6:30, it was going to be served at 6:30.  The following was an expectation that everyone understood.
 
When my parents were busy, I would often have meals at my Grandma’s.  Dinner at Grandma’s was always an adventure waiting to happen.  She’d vow to cook “turkey” for dinner, you’d show up right at dinnertime,  there wouldn’t even be a turkey in the house.  Frozen pizza, Subway, Hardees, or Dairy Queen would then be the evening meal.  I’d always be excited to go to Grandma’s because I knew junk food would always make it’s way onto the menu. 
 
So every person in the world benefits from having Marthas in their life[6].  So when Martha starts complaining about Mary to Jesus, she had what appeared to be some valid points.  Martha as soon as she started complaining about Mary’s lack of help in the kitchen, figured that if Jesus was such a wise religious teacher than he would obviously side with her.  Only this doesn’t happen. 
 
Jesus answered Martha: “you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her[7].”   
 
I imagine Martha got mad when Jesus started praising what appeared to be her irresponsible sister Mary.
 
So what point is Jesus trying to make?
 
Once upon a time, Saint Bernard was traveling with a poor, uneducated farmer who proclaimed: “I never get distracted when I pray[8].”  Saint Bernard couldn’t believe such a thing to possibly true.  So he proposed the following: ‘If you can say the Lord’s Prayer without being distracted, I’ll give you this mule on which I’m riding.’ But if you can’t do this, you must come with me and become a monk. 
 
The farmer agrees to the bet.  He begins praying: “Our Father, who are in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name.” The farmer then pauses before asking Saint Bernard. “Does the mule come with the saddle and bridle also[9]?”
 
You see, Mary like the farmer appeared to be easily distracted sitting at Jesus’ feet without a care in the world, while Martha worked as hard as could be getting the house ready for dinner.
 
What Jesus is doing within the Gospel lesson is making a point about the nature of the Christian faith, how the Gospel is about receiving, rather than doing.  The following statement doesn’t mean that doing is unimportant.  If doing was unimportant, I would never have gotten a meal other than Oreo cookies and frozen pizza growing up[10].  Rather as Christian people, we can’t preoccupied with so many different things that we miss out on what’s truly important.
 
A number of years back-Richard Baxter declared[11]:
 
“Know Christ, and you will know enough.  Know how to get to heaven, and you will have knowledge enough.  Remember the one thing needed.  Other things may be desirable and interesting to understand, but this you must understand, or you are undone forever. If you had enough time, it might be interesting to learn everything in the whole Encyclopedia, but life is short, and we are dull; eternal things are necessary, and your souls are precious.”
 
Jesus is making the point that as Martha is preparing the evening meal, the most important thing is not preparing the finest meal for him possible, but instead receiving the living word of God standing in her presence. 
 
We, as Christian people just like Martha, tend to get easily distracted from these things.  In our lives, these distractions take many forms: careers, community events, self-improvement projects, home improvement projects, travel.  These can all be wonderful things on their own.   The problem with getting too busy is it’s easy just like Martha to get distracted as to how the most important gift of salvation comes into our life. 
 
What’s truly important? Let me close with one final story.  Yogi Berra was a well-known Baseball player for the New York Yankees[12].  Hank Aaron was a terrific power hitter for the Milwaukee Braves who would be the first player to hit more home runs than Babe Ruth.
 
The Yankees and Braves were meeting in the World Series to determine baseball’s  champion.  What made Yogi Berra most famous is that his mouth was always moving during baseball games.  Yogi hoped to encourage his teammates, and distract everyone he could on the Milwaukee Braves.  Hank Aaron wasn’t much of a talker, but Yogi tried to get a rise out of him on this day.
 
Yogi shouted out: “Henry, you’re holding the bat wrong? You need to hold it, so you read the trademark when you’re swinging[13].”
 
Hank Aaron ignored Yogi Berra; next pitch was thrown, Hank Aaron hits the ball into the left field bleachers for a home-run.   Hank Aaron then runs around the bases, touches home plate and says to Yogi Berra, “I didn’t come up here to read[14].”
 
The point that Jesus is making to Martha in our lesson is don’t get distracted by saw-dust, fancy saddles, cell-phones, or fine print on baseball bats.  Jesus is in our lives, in our worship, in our prayers, even when we happen to get a bit distracted ourselves.  Amen
 


[1]  Guinness, Os..   The Devil's Gauntlet: The Church and the Challenge of Society. Intervarsity Publishing. 1989.  Print. Found on Sermon Illustrations under Distraction on July, 3, 2019. 
[2] Guinness, Os..   The Devil's Gauntlet: The Church and the Challenge of Society. Intervarsity Publishing
[3] Luke 10:38-42.
[4] Markquardt, Ed. “Mary and Martha or Martha and Mary.” Sermons from Seattle. Pentecost 8C. Web. July.3.2019. 
[5] Luke 10:40. 
[6] Markquardt, Ed. “Mary and Martha or Martha and Mary.” Sermons from Seattle.
[7] Luke 10:41-42.
[8] Stier, Leon. “Too Many Distractions (part two).” Email Mediatations. 31.Oct.2014. Web. July.3.2019. 
[9] Stier, Leon. “Too Many Distractions (part two).” Email Mediatations.
[10] Hoezee, Scott. “Luke 10:38-42.” Center for Excellence in Preaching. Calvin Seminary. Grand Rapids, MI. 10.July.2016. Web. July.3.2019.
[11] Stier, Leon. “Too Many Distractions (part two).” Email Mediatations.
[12] Boice, James Montgomery. Nehemiah: Learning to Lead. Revell Publishing. 1990. Print. Pg.38. Found on Sermon Illustrations under Distraction on July, 3, 2019. 
[13] Boice, James Montgomery. Nehemiah: Learning to Lead. Revell Publishing.
[14] Boice, James Montgomery. Nehemiah: Learning to Lead. Revell Publishing.

First Lesson: 2 Kings 5: 1-14
Responsive Reading: Psalm 30
Second Lesson: Galatians 6: (1-6), 7-16
​Gospel Lesson: Luke 10: 1-11, 16-20

Grace and Peace from Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
​
“For I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes.”--Romans 1:16. 

I want to begin by telling everyone a fishing story, but hopefully, it’s a fishing story that you’ve never quite heard.

A group was formed at a church not much different from this one.  The church was in an area not unlike the North Shore surrounded by lakes and streams full of hungry fish.  The group was going to be called the Fishermen’s Fellowship[1].  They hoped to have regular meetings to discuss fishing and tell their best fishing stories.  The first meeting the room was nearly full of avid fishers.

As they began their meeting, someone suggested they needed a group philosophy.  So much discussion ensued regarding the purpose of fishing.  The group then developed a list of preferred fishing strategies.  They wanted to think exactly as the fish would think? They then discussed the best types of fish food.  Pretty soon, the members started traveling to conferences about fishing.  Some even went back to school to get Ph. D’s in Fish Biology[2].  While the group had made progress in a lot of areas, they had yet actually to go fishing.

So another subcommittee was formed to determine the best fishing places for their limited number of fishers to venture. Surveys were handed out to the group. Lists of best fishing spots were placed on the church’s bulletin board.  With all these meetings, it seemed that no one had any time to fish anymore[3].

One day, a new member joined the group named Jake.  Jake, after an inspiring meeting at church, went fishing and caught a beautiful walleye.  At the next meeting, he told his story to a roomful of cheering fishers.  Pretty soon, Jake was appointed to the Board of Directors of the Fishermen’s Fellowship and no longer had time to fish[4]. 

Jake soon realized that this fishing fellowship did everything but catch fish.  Jake finally one day thought of what seemed to be a genius solution. Jake invited a buddy of his to one day sneak away from the meeting to go fishing.  What happened next? The two of them caught many fish as everyone else was too busy with their meetings[5].

Now this story might silly with all sorts of really enthusiastic fishermen sitting around the room discussing the best fishing techniques never having the time actually to go “fish.”

As we hear this story,  we wonder, how often we are the same way as Christian people?

Today’s Gospel lesson comes to us from the 10th Chapter of Luke’s Gospel[6].   In the previous chapter[7], Jesus had commissioned twelve disciples to go spread the Gospel into neighboring villages[8], Jesus hopes the Twelve keep going with this mission until they reach the very ends of the Earth.

Now in Today’s lesson, Jesus commissions “seventy-two[9],” more people to do the same thing.

How Jesus goes about giving these instructions is interesting: Jesus doesn’t spend  time giving the seventy-two the perfect technique like the church fishing group, nor does he spend time enlisting every type of scenario they might encounter.  Jesus rather reminds them of the importance of reaching out and trusting that God, rather than our brilliant techniques, will bring about faith and salvation. 

Jesus, instead of endless discussion regarding the perfect evangelism strategy encourages something else, Jesus’ instructions are that these seventy-two gather to go out “Two by Two. To support each other as there will often be times that the seventy-two feel like “lambs” among the “wolves[10].” Talking or sharing our faith can seem the same way, but encouragement can make all the differences in the world.
When I was in college, I had a roommate named Chris.  Chris grew up in Palisade, Minnesota.  Chris was familiar with Grandma’s Marathon growing up in the area, but he heard 26.2 miles, he thought could never do that[11].  Chris would get made fun for his weight as a child.  Chris would try to make lifestyle changes in college, but they would always be short-lived.  Chris got married in 2005; I was the best man at Chris’ wedding.  Chris, on his wedding day, weighed 331 pounds. 

Shortly after getting married, Chris realized that he was no longer living for just himself, but now he had a wife.  He knew things had to change, so he didn’t have a heart attack at 40-50.  He began walking on river trails near where he lived[12].  He shortly after decided to sign up for a 5K run where he would be forced to run a portion to break his goal of 40 minutes.  He ran a 38:40.  He was exhausted. He didn’t know that he could ever run another 5 K again.

He soon started seeing advertisements popping up for 5K’s for important causes to him.  So Chris kept running races.  Thanks to his wife Rebecca’s encouragement, he changed his diet for the better.  Chris eventually lost over 100 lbs. Two weeks ago, Chris ran all 26.2 miles of Grandma’s Marathon. 

Now Chris will never be the fastest runner in any race. He describes “weight loss” as a journey with its share of highs and low[13]s.  But thanks to those first steps that he dared to take, his life, and the lives of his wife and children will be forever changed. 

Now Evangelism can often work the same way where any one step may seem insignificant, or even pointless until you look back to see what’s been accomplished.

Just a few years back, a missionary journeyed to one of the world’s largest mission fields in China.  The missionary upon arriving in China was overwhelmed by the sheer number of people in the nation[14].  He couldn’t begin to figure out how he could ever reach all these people with the Gospel.  Every factor seemed to be working against him. 

He eventually got in connection with a tiny church in a remote, agricultural part of the nation.  They wanted him to visit, their church.  He had to travel for hours upon unfinished, rough roads to arrive at a dilapidated building that looked long abandoned.  On that night, he was greeted by thirty Christians.  The only commonality in the room was their shared belief in Jesus, the forgiveness of sins, and the gift of eternal life.   This church had no resources: no youth programs, no band, no fancy equipment, and no great dreams for their church.  The missionary then made the suggestion: share the Gospel with five people in your circle of family and friends.  They then spent time practicing how to share their faith.  The missionary then came back in two weeks; the group  began catching up on their lives: joy and struggles. 

The missionary then asked: “Did anyone share the Good News of Jesus” as we discussed two weeks ago.  The room was silent.  Finally, an old farmer stood up and spoke.  He had shared his faith with others both in person and via other means.  Nine of his family members had become Christians.  They had joined the Chinese house church movement.  Within the next decade, hundreds of thousands of new Christians became believers in China because of people like this farmer[15]. 

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. -(Acts 1:8)”
Where are we called to Evangelize?

The majority of you are not going to be called to go to mainline China or various ends of the Earth[16].  Some of you might be called to witness to Samaritans, hurting/marginalized people of our communities.  Some of you might do outreach within Judea, people within our region or state whose paths you may come across. Everyone will experience a calling to share their faith within their own Jerusalem their network of connections amongst families and friends, people whose paths they will encounter every day.  The Christian Church in the 1st Century grew from just a few hundred on the Day of Pentecost to more than six million people within a century[17].  Most of these new Christians were not converted by famous preachers like Peter and Paul, but rather the testimony of Christians like us. 

While this might seem scary and overwhelming, let us remember what happened to the people that Jesus sent out in his name? 

Luke 10:17: “The seventy –two returned with joy, saying, "Lord, in your name even the demons submit to us!" 

The seventy-two  found success in those very places that they least expected it.  Here’s the point of our lesson, the seventy-two  were not extraordinary people.  They did not have the perfect words to speak.  .  But what they had was a life-changing message.  “Jesus died for each one of us. So that we may become inheritors of his kingdom.” This message would forever change the world of those around them.   

Once upon a time, there was a Greek soldier[18].  He was a witness to a battle between Athens and Persia.  His fellow Athenians had won. The solider was tasked with sharing this good news; he was instructed to run from the battlefield back to Athens without stopping.  Upon arriving into Athens, then finding the gathering crowd he pronounced to cheers: “We Won.’” Right after this, the soldier collapsed and died.

 You see, the battle had occurred in a place called Marathon[19].  It was 26.2 miles to the center of Athens.  The soldier was not a trained distance runner like my friend Chris.  He hadn’t sat in countless meetings discussing running strategy. Like the old farmer in China, he might not have been the most likely of runners. The soldier realized the importance of every single step he took to bring “Good News.” To his fellow Athenians.  He believed the hope and joy won in this victory was so great that he was even going to give his life to spread it. 

‘The harvest is indeed plentiful, but the laborers are few[20].”  Amen
 
 


[1] Unknown. “Fishermen’s Fellowship.” Stories for Preaching. Web. June.23.2019. 
[2] Unknown. “Fishermen’s Fellowship.” Stories for Preaching.
[3] Unknown. “Fishermen’s Fellowship.” Stories for Preaching.
[4] Unknown. “Fishermen’s Fellowship.” Stories for Preaching.
[5] Unknown. “Fishermen’s Fellowship.” Stories for Preaching.
[6] Luke 10:1-11,16-20. 
[7] Luke 9:1-9. 
[8] Niell Donovan, Richard. “Biblical Commentary: Luke 10:1-11, 16-20.” Sermon Writer. 2007.2010.2012. Web. June.22.2019. 
[9] Some Biblical manuscripts have the number at seventy. The Sychar pew Bible lists the number at 72 which is used for sake of sermon. 
[10] Luke 10:3.
[11] Bergstrom, Adelie. “Down more than 100 pounds, he's ready for Grandma's.” Duluth News Tribune. 16.June.2019. Web. June.22.2019. 
[12] Bergstrom, Adelie. “Down more than 100 pounds, he's ready for Grandma's.” Duluth News Tribune.
[13] Bergstrom, Adelie. “Down more than 100 pounds, he's ready for Grandma's.” Duluth News Tribune.
[14] Seltz, Rev.Dr.Gregory. “"Appointed, Anointed and Sent". Lutheran Hour. 7.July.2013. Web. June.22.2019. 
[15] Seltz, Rev.Dr.Gregory. “"Appointed, Anointed and Sent". Lutheran Hour.
[16] Peel, Bill. “How to Identify Your Mission Field | Acts 1:8.” Center for Faith and Work.  LeTourneau University. Longview, Texas. Web. June.22.2019. 
[17]   Peel, Bill. “How to Identify Your Mission Field | Acts 1:8.” Center for Faith and Work. 
[18] Seltz, Rev.Dr.Gregory. “"Appointed, Anointed and Sent". Lutheran Hour.
[19]Seltz, Rev.Dr.Gregory. “"Appointed, Anointed and Sent". Lutheran Hour.
[20] Luke 10:2. 

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.