+ In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti + Amen.
Text: Luke 8:35
Theme: Freed From Bondage
Dear friends in Christ Jesus,
Where Jesus walks the devil can have no peace. Divine light pierces his dark realm. Truth exposes his lies. Hope and peace are given to hearts Satan formerly ruled with despair and turmoil. Christ releases from bondage minds and wills the devil keeps captive. It is these things we pray for when we petition our heavenly Father in the Lord’s Prayer to deliver us from evil; particularly the schemes of the evil one.
We cannot ignore the large number of incidents recorded in the New Testament in which Jesus encounters demons or evil spirits. It would be easy to dismiss these encounters as historical relics of a by-gone era. In a culture that still lives off the capital of rationalism these incidents seem amusing but benign. Often such occurrences are simply equated with psychological or emotional problems. But this hardly does justice to the spiritual truths demanding to be recognized. Each encounter was a confrontation with Satan- a confrontation with evil.
Today’s incident between Jesus and spiritual evil bears the marks of a pattern we see developed throughout the narratives of the New Testament. Yet particular details are exceptional. The recognition by the evil spirits that Jesus was the Son of God is typical but telling. Demons recognize Christ but will not honour Him. Remarkable in this encounter is the magnitude of evil’s presence. “Jesus asked him, ‘What is your name?”1 He replied that his name was Legion. A legion was a Roman military force consisting of between 4,000 and 6,000 soldiers. Extraordinary too, is the action of Jesus sending the demons into a herd of pigs.
It may seem challenging to relate this amazing account to current circumstances. The unchanged reality of evil may be a good starting point. Sin isn’t limited to ethical or moral failure as we commonly understand it. The foundation of sin is unbelief. Even with the best of intention any pursuit of life that proceeds in defiance of God’ truth is false, unrighteous, and evil by definition. Commenting on the original fall into sin, Luther said of Satan, “He led them from the external Word of God to spiritualizing and to their own imaginations, and he did this through other eternal words.”2 Adam and Eve reasoned that it wasn’t necessary to take God at His word. Faith must cling to God’s revealed word.
Faith dares to venture to places where human wisdom forbids us to go. Faith is always confronted by conventional prudence that advises against risk. Faith clings to God’s promises in Christ which often seem to amount to little in the eyes of the world. The world says, “Hastily avoid pain.” Faith says, “Wait for God’s deliverance.” The world says, “Please yourself!” Faith says, “Consider others.” The world says, “Justify and defend yourself.” Faith says, “Be willing to suffer wrong for others.” The world says, “Fear those who pose a physical threat.” The Saviour says, “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.”3 The Holy Spirit must teach us godly fear.
Two explorers were on a jungle safari when suddenly a ferocious lion jumped in front of them. "Keep calm" the first explorer whispered. "Remember what we read in that book on wild animals? If you stand perfectly still and look the lion in the eye, he will turn and run." "Sure," replied his companion. "You've read the book, and I've read the book. But has the lion read the book?" When our fear is the greatest, where do we turn for help? Has everyone read The Book? Jesus says, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”4
How is this so? Not by show of pride but of humility. The Son of the Most High God5 was not too vain to take on human flesh and blood and walk the paths of sinners. He was not so self-involved that He saved His own skin first. He hungered. He thirsted. He had no place to lay His head. He was ridiculed, beaten, scourged, and mocked. All His companions abandoned Him. Most importantly He was crucified with criminals. Salvation could be accomplished in no other way. Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of the Father, gave Himself over in sacrifice for our iniquities. And He lives! He is risen to give us life. His love is so gentle it will not harm a child prematurely born but so strong it cannot be destroyed by all the hatred Satan can muster. His life is yours; by grace, through faith.
What does the apostle say to believers? “You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.”6 He feeds you with His own body and blood, the antidote for evil. He casts your sins away as far as the east is from the west. Like the man in bondage today He releases you from sin’s grip.
We have freedom. We are free to love without restraint. We are liberated to serve those who are still bound. But we do not have license to act apart from God’s word. We do not have license to establish our own standard of morality. We do not have warrant to excuse our sins under the guise of freedom. We have a high calling to address in godly wisdom and truth the sufferings and hardships of others. We do not live as lone rangers. Christ’s goal for us is not to be independent, isolated, and self-reliant. We are members of His body and as such we compliment all the others.
It was Cain that first expressed the inclination of humanity to wash its hands of responsibility to care for others. “Am I my brother’s keeper?”7 It was a model for Pilate who washed his and declared himself innocent of the blood of Christ8. Such declarations, even by those in authority, have no standing before the Almighty. There is a difference between meddling in the affairs of others and coming to their aid in a time of need. Sins of omission are no less damning than sins of commission.
And we should never think that our responsibility concerns only the physical needs of others. Spiritual well-being is always the believer’s first concern. We should never neglect the greater concern at the expense of the lesser. Jesus chastised the Pharisees for this reason.9 The body can pass into eternity worn and frail but the soul cannot enter into heaven without Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.
Dear friends, it is for our own well-being that we are not privy to all the mysteries of God’s actions. Sometimes God calms the storm. Other times He lets the storm rage and calms the child. Sometimes God heals the body. Other times he lets the sickness rage and heals the soul. Sometimes God silences Satan immediately. Other times He lets him speak so that we can learn to know the Master’s voice. Sometimes God answers prayer before it is even offered. Other times He forces the pray-er further to his or her knees. Sometimes God removes the stumbling block to faith before we even know it’s in our path. Other times He allows us to stumble so we see we’re on the wrong road.
All these things He does not impulsively but with divine foresight and compassion. He does not seek to toy with us but to ground us more firmly in His grace. The demons who were ‘Legion’ identified Him as the Son of God and cried out in fear. If such great powers were subdued by Him do you not think that this same Son of God cannot calm your every fear, address your every need, and fulfill your every hope? The Scripture says, “No matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through Him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God.”10
+ In nomine Jesu +
Fifth Sunday After Pentecost
23 June 2013
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 Luke 8:30
2 Smalcald Articles 312, 5
3 Matthew 10:28
4 John 16:33
5 See Luke 8:28
6 Galatians 3:26-27
7 Genesis 4:9
8 See Matthew 7:24
9 See Matthew 23:23
10 2 Corinthians 1:20
Sunday, June 23, 2013
Friday, June 14, 2013
Christian Burial of Colin Lloyd 14 June 2013
+ In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti + Amen.
Text: John 11:25
Theme: Life In Christ
Dear family, friends, and loved ones of Colin, Cindy, Tanya, Cory, and especially you, Janet,
Words are sometimes hollow substitutes for expressions that require something more substantial. A sympathetic embrace can render words insignificant. Grieving is a holistic enterprise. It engages us; mind, body, soul and spirit. It occupies our thoughts, seizes our emotions, and even affects us physically. It is proper that it should be this way because when we grieve we confront ultimate things. Death is not a fictitious problem. It is the very epitome of reality beyond our control.
Yet there are appropriate words to be said because there is One who says them with authority. Christ was no stranger to death. But death could not hold Him and it is His words that matter. Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies.”1 He said, “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.”2 Colin is now embraced with divine love. Thanks be to God!
Colin was a man of few words. But that didn’t mean he had little to say. He had his ways to speak clearly. Wisdom from the Book of Proverbs fit Colin well. “When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise.”3 “A man of knowledge uses words with restraint, and a man of understanding is even-tempered.”4 Colin certainly used words with restraint and he was even-tempered.
Colin was a devoted husband and father. He was loved by his family and loved them immensely. He was respected in the community. He was loyal to his church. He was found regularly in God’s house hearing His word, taking communion and receiving forgiveness. All these things he did with integrity still knowing he required God’s mercy.
Colin was saved by grace just like every sinner. He was the beneficiary of the boundless mercy of God shown in Jesus Christ. He was baptized into the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit into whose presence he has now been received. Colin no longer suffers silently. His burdens have been lifted. He cares and concerns have dissolved. He has received the reward of faith. He is at peace.
But we continue on with our journey here, temporary as it is. Mortality is no laughing matter. There is no opting out of the discussion. Each day is a gift, not an entitlement. The widely held opinion that we should all die at a ripe old age is merely a human construct. To fall short of this gives no one the right to cry unfair. No mortal can stand on their own justified before the Almighty. Only Christ’s sacrifice on the cross counts. There the price for sin is paid. Only His resurrection offers true and eternal life. Christians should not live life seeking to avoid the topic of death as long as possible. Rather, we cherish every day of life we are granted on this journey to a much greater existence.
Colin was never one to have a fuss made over him. He wasn’t really one for fanfare. He loved the quiet of the river and the opportunity for reflection that it offered. Words weren’t really required. But Colin did have to tolerate some fanfare and some important words when he was received into his heavenly home; as the Scripture says, “Come, you who are blessed by My Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.”5
These were Christ’s words to Colin. He was blessed richly in His life and He was a rich blessing to others. Jan, your comfort is in the words of the Apostle Paul who said, “I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”6 These are His words of promise. Amen.
+ In nomine Jesu +
Christian Burial for Colin David Lloyd
14 June 2013
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 John 11:25
2 Revelation 1:17-18
3 Proverbs 10:19
4 Proverbs 17:27
5 Matthew 25:34
6 Romans 8:37-39
Text: John 11:25
Theme: Life In Christ
Dear family, friends, and loved ones of Colin, Cindy, Tanya, Cory, and especially you, Janet,
Words are sometimes hollow substitutes for expressions that require something more substantial. A sympathetic embrace can render words insignificant. Grieving is a holistic enterprise. It engages us; mind, body, soul and spirit. It occupies our thoughts, seizes our emotions, and even affects us physically. It is proper that it should be this way because when we grieve we confront ultimate things. Death is not a fictitious problem. It is the very epitome of reality beyond our control.
Yet there are appropriate words to be said because there is One who says them with authority. Christ was no stranger to death. But death could not hold Him and it is His words that matter. Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies.”1 He said, “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.”2 Colin is now embraced with divine love. Thanks be to God!
Colin was a man of few words. But that didn’t mean he had little to say. He had his ways to speak clearly. Wisdom from the Book of Proverbs fit Colin well. “When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise.”3 “A man of knowledge uses words with restraint, and a man of understanding is even-tempered.”4 Colin certainly used words with restraint and he was even-tempered.
Colin was a devoted husband and father. He was loved by his family and loved them immensely. He was respected in the community. He was loyal to his church. He was found regularly in God’s house hearing His word, taking communion and receiving forgiveness. All these things he did with integrity still knowing he required God’s mercy.
Colin was saved by grace just like every sinner. He was the beneficiary of the boundless mercy of God shown in Jesus Christ. He was baptized into the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit into whose presence he has now been received. Colin no longer suffers silently. His burdens have been lifted. He cares and concerns have dissolved. He has received the reward of faith. He is at peace.
But we continue on with our journey here, temporary as it is. Mortality is no laughing matter. There is no opting out of the discussion. Each day is a gift, not an entitlement. The widely held opinion that we should all die at a ripe old age is merely a human construct. To fall short of this gives no one the right to cry unfair. No mortal can stand on their own justified before the Almighty. Only Christ’s sacrifice on the cross counts. There the price for sin is paid. Only His resurrection offers true and eternal life. Christians should not live life seeking to avoid the topic of death as long as possible. Rather, we cherish every day of life we are granted on this journey to a much greater existence.
Colin was never one to have a fuss made over him. He wasn’t really one for fanfare. He loved the quiet of the river and the opportunity for reflection that it offered. Words weren’t really required. But Colin did have to tolerate some fanfare and some important words when he was received into his heavenly home; as the Scripture says, “Come, you who are blessed by My Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.”5
These were Christ’s words to Colin. He was blessed richly in His life and He was a rich blessing to others. Jan, your comfort is in the words of the Apostle Paul who said, “I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”6 These are His words of promise. Amen.
+ In nomine Jesu +
Christian Burial for Colin David Lloyd
14 June 2013
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 John 11:25
2 Revelation 1:17-18
3 Proverbs 10:19
4 Proverbs 17:27
5 Matthew 25:34
6 Romans 8:37-39
Monday, June 10, 2013
Third Sunday After Pentecost (C) 2013
+ In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti + Amen.
Text: Luke 7:13
Theme: “He Had Compassion”
Dear friends in Christ Jesus,
Hope has a broad horizon. It sees past the tumult, the chaos and the clamor of this ephemeral existence to the place where mortality intersects with eternity. Hope germinates in the treasures of Christ’s conquests. All other optimism is not really biblical hope, but mere humanistic deception. Just as peace flows from the knowledge that Christ was crucified for sinners, so too, hope exists only in the Christ that lives.
Today a widow without hope met the living Christ. The Scripture communicates the situation candidly. “As He drew near the gate of the town, behold, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow, and a considerable crowd from the town was with her. And when the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said to her, ‘Do not weep.’”1
It was an unexpected and gripping scene. The little Greek word translated as ‘behold’ isn’t always found in English versions. It draws attention to something remarkable that is about to be witnessed. The grief of this widow was clearly palpable. Jesus is not remiss in His response. Immediately He bids her to cease her weeping. Imagine having the boldness to tell a mother overcome by sorrow not to cry. Yet Jesus’ boldness is driven by more than compassion. His life-changing intervention is about to ensue. “Young man, I say to you, ‘arise.’”2
Every attempt to deny or “explain away” the miraculous facets of Christianity is at the same time an attempt to relieve Christ of His divine power. He is the God who raises the dead. This truth can never sit comfortably with human reason. Rationalists may claim that Christians suspend clear logic and reason when they believe in the miraculous. Yet believers can say confidently that God Himself is the creator of human intellect, human reason, and, for that matter, everything that exists. But this is not some trump card that simply ends the argument.
There can be no compatibility between a pure materialism that leaves everything to chance (think here of the dogmatism of Darwinian evolution) and the purposeful intention of a compassionate God who sent His Son for the sake of the world. The apostle Paul warns, “What fellowship can light have with darkness?”3 Is it more foolish to believe that God created humans and redeems them through Christ; or that this point in humanity’s existence has been reached through a chaotic, improbable, impersonal, and valueless force which we now seek to invest with meaning?
At stake here is not some abstract theory that concerns only philosophers, scientists, and theologians. We are talking here of different worldviews that comprise our understanding of existence, the place of humanity, and the very reality of God Himself. If you think you can go your merry way happily unaffected by this clash of creeds- stay tuned!
Dear friends, life is more tenuous than we often are willing to admit. And we do not seek provisional solace to get us through the day. We seek truth; truth grounded in the accomplished work of Him who was crucified and now intercedes before the Father’s throne.
Yes, we seek daily bread, but we look for much more. Jesus deals with the ultimate cause of terror. St Paul calls death the “last enemy” 4. Dying is a process we are all subject to from the time of birth. But we have the Word and Bread of Life (Jesus). He has already thrown us a life-line in His word and sacraments. Dying is a process of change but life in Christ is a splendid, unchanging existence.
We are already heirs to this incorruptible life. Yet how do we carry on now in this journey often beset with frailty and hardship. Christ places us in the cradle of the church. The church is a hospital for the treatment of sinners. It treats sinners afflicted and emaciated by the disease and decay of sin. You are one such sinner, and so am I. The church draws her strength and life from the promise of complete and irreversible healing. She boldly confesses the resurrection. And she does so in the face of formidable opposition.
Satan is adept at running concurrently two contrasting programs aimed to achieve the same goal. The one is a program of starvation. He seeks a famine of God’s word. He hopes to prevent every contact, every hearing, every study, every prayer, every opportunity, every communication between the sinner and the word of Christ. And when this cannot be averted he looks to poison the hearing of the word and make it ineffective. The other is a program of gluttony. He promotes a veritable feast, a binge of activities, addictions, and obsessions that fully occupy the capacity, energy, and interests of the sinner. Completely satiated and even bloated on the philosophies, ideals, and indulgences of the world he hopes people will have no appetite for God’s word. His methods are as ancient as the first question he posed to Eve; but they are always being tweaked. Apart from God’s forgiveness we wither and die.
Christ’s promise is not a politician’s pledge. Your time in the church is a life-long convalescence. But you will be healed. It may be in rehabilitation. It may be through surgical procedure. It may be through extensive medical treatment. It may be a life-long process. It may involve learning to live with an incurable disease. But you will be healed. It will certainly come to pass through Christ’s work of resurrection. The Bible says that He is the one, “who will transform our lowly body to be like His glorious body, by the power that enables Him even to subject all things to Himself.”5
Meanwhile, what confidence do we have that He will continue to attend to us? Consider these words of Luther, “Until the last Day, the Holy Spirit remains with the holy community of Christendom, through which He heals us and which He uses to proclaim and propagate His Word, whereby He initiates and increases sanctification so that we grow daily and become strong in faith and in its fruits, which He creates.”6 Yes, even in the midst of dying we become strong and flourish. He enlists us in the cause of His name. What opportunities do you have to contribute to the work of His kingdom? You don’t have to go overseas to foreign tongues and foreign lands. Your vocations, personal and professional, provide ample opportunity to witness to the redeeming love of God in Christ.
What we witness here informs, orders, and inspires our witness to the world. We are His baptized; the cherished bride of the Bridegroom. These are not human constructs but divine accomplishments. The gift of the Holy Spirit in baptism does not happen magically. The Spirit attends the word of God and works life in the soul that receives that word. Charli Isabelle is not the subject of a hollow religious ritual. She is the beneficiary of sacred promises. As such she has more than the blessing of this congregation or the church at large. She is the object of divine love. A love expressed in sacrifice. A love tested by the cross. A love victorious over the grave. Hear the Scripture’s promise, “He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Saviour.”7 Hope has a broad horizon; exactly as broad as the outstretched arms of the crucified Lord; as broad as the brimming light of the resurrection. Amen.
+ In nomine Jesu +
Third Sunday After Pentecost
9 June 2013
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 Luke 7:12-13
2 Luke 7:14
3 Corinthians 6:14
4 See 1 Corinthians 15:26
5 Philippians 3:21
6 Large Catechism
7 Titus 2:5-6
Text: Luke 7:13
Theme: “He Had Compassion”
Dear friends in Christ Jesus,
Hope has a broad horizon. It sees past the tumult, the chaos and the clamor of this ephemeral existence to the place where mortality intersects with eternity. Hope germinates in the treasures of Christ’s conquests. All other optimism is not really biblical hope, but mere humanistic deception. Just as peace flows from the knowledge that Christ was crucified for sinners, so too, hope exists only in the Christ that lives.
Today a widow without hope met the living Christ. The Scripture communicates the situation candidly. “As He drew near the gate of the town, behold, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow, and a considerable crowd from the town was with her. And when the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said to her, ‘Do not weep.’”1
It was an unexpected and gripping scene. The little Greek word translated as ‘behold’ isn’t always found in English versions. It draws attention to something remarkable that is about to be witnessed. The grief of this widow was clearly palpable. Jesus is not remiss in His response. Immediately He bids her to cease her weeping. Imagine having the boldness to tell a mother overcome by sorrow not to cry. Yet Jesus’ boldness is driven by more than compassion. His life-changing intervention is about to ensue. “Young man, I say to you, ‘arise.’”2
Every attempt to deny or “explain away” the miraculous facets of Christianity is at the same time an attempt to relieve Christ of His divine power. He is the God who raises the dead. This truth can never sit comfortably with human reason. Rationalists may claim that Christians suspend clear logic and reason when they believe in the miraculous. Yet believers can say confidently that God Himself is the creator of human intellect, human reason, and, for that matter, everything that exists. But this is not some trump card that simply ends the argument.
There can be no compatibility between a pure materialism that leaves everything to chance (think here of the dogmatism of Darwinian evolution) and the purposeful intention of a compassionate God who sent His Son for the sake of the world. The apostle Paul warns, “What fellowship can light have with darkness?”3 Is it more foolish to believe that God created humans and redeems them through Christ; or that this point in humanity’s existence has been reached through a chaotic, improbable, impersonal, and valueless force which we now seek to invest with meaning?
At stake here is not some abstract theory that concerns only philosophers, scientists, and theologians. We are talking here of different worldviews that comprise our understanding of existence, the place of humanity, and the very reality of God Himself. If you think you can go your merry way happily unaffected by this clash of creeds- stay tuned!
Dear friends, life is more tenuous than we often are willing to admit. And we do not seek provisional solace to get us through the day. We seek truth; truth grounded in the accomplished work of Him who was crucified and now intercedes before the Father’s throne.
Yes, we seek daily bread, but we look for much more. Jesus deals with the ultimate cause of terror. St Paul calls death the “last enemy” 4. Dying is a process we are all subject to from the time of birth. But we have the Word and Bread of Life (Jesus). He has already thrown us a life-line in His word and sacraments. Dying is a process of change but life in Christ is a splendid, unchanging existence.
We are already heirs to this incorruptible life. Yet how do we carry on now in this journey often beset with frailty and hardship. Christ places us in the cradle of the church. The church is a hospital for the treatment of sinners. It treats sinners afflicted and emaciated by the disease and decay of sin. You are one such sinner, and so am I. The church draws her strength and life from the promise of complete and irreversible healing. She boldly confesses the resurrection. And she does so in the face of formidable opposition.
Satan is adept at running concurrently two contrasting programs aimed to achieve the same goal. The one is a program of starvation. He seeks a famine of God’s word. He hopes to prevent every contact, every hearing, every study, every prayer, every opportunity, every communication between the sinner and the word of Christ. And when this cannot be averted he looks to poison the hearing of the word and make it ineffective. The other is a program of gluttony. He promotes a veritable feast, a binge of activities, addictions, and obsessions that fully occupy the capacity, energy, and interests of the sinner. Completely satiated and even bloated on the philosophies, ideals, and indulgences of the world he hopes people will have no appetite for God’s word. His methods are as ancient as the first question he posed to Eve; but they are always being tweaked. Apart from God’s forgiveness we wither and die.
Christ’s promise is not a politician’s pledge. Your time in the church is a life-long convalescence. But you will be healed. It may be in rehabilitation. It may be through surgical procedure. It may be through extensive medical treatment. It may be a life-long process. It may involve learning to live with an incurable disease. But you will be healed. It will certainly come to pass through Christ’s work of resurrection. The Bible says that He is the one, “who will transform our lowly body to be like His glorious body, by the power that enables Him even to subject all things to Himself.”5
Meanwhile, what confidence do we have that He will continue to attend to us? Consider these words of Luther, “Until the last Day, the Holy Spirit remains with the holy community of Christendom, through which He heals us and which He uses to proclaim and propagate His Word, whereby He initiates and increases sanctification so that we grow daily and become strong in faith and in its fruits, which He creates.”6 Yes, even in the midst of dying we become strong and flourish. He enlists us in the cause of His name. What opportunities do you have to contribute to the work of His kingdom? You don’t have to go overseas to foreign tongues and foreign lands. Your vocations, personal and professional, provide ample opportunity to witness to the redeeming love of God in Christ.
What we witness here informs, orders, and inspires our witness to the world. We are His baptized; the cherished bride of the Bridegroom. These are not human constructs but divine accomplishments. The gift of the Holy Spirit in baptism does not happen magically. The Spirit attends the word of God and works life in the soul that receives that word. Charli Isabelle is not the subject of a hollow religious ritual. She is the beneficiary of sacred promises. As such she has more than the blessing of this congregation or the church at large. She is the object of divine love. A love expressed in sacrifice. A love tested by the cross. A love victorious over the grave. Hear the Scripture’s promise, “He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Saviour.”7 Hope has a broad horizon; exactly as broad as the outstretched arms of the crucified Lord; as broad as the brimming light of the resurrection. Amen.
+ In nomine Jesu +
Third Sunday After Pentecost
9 June 2013
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 Luke 7:12-13
2 Luke 7:14
3 Corinthians 6:14
4 See 1 Corinthians 15:26
5 Philippians 3:21
6 Large Catechism
7 Titus 2:5-6
Sunday, June 2, 2013
Second Sunday After Pentecost (C) 2013
+ In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti + Amen.
Text: Luke 7:2
Theme: No Anonymity in Christ.
Dear friends in Christ Jesus,
There is no anonymity in Christ. The unrepentant sinner cannot disappear into the woodwork. But the children of God need never think they are forsaken or forgotten. Our status before Him is never a matter of achievement but of grace; not of merit, but of mercy. We never presume upon God, but we do expect great things from Him. Christ never meets the expectations of the egotistical, but always of the humble.
Today’s account from Luke is a great illustration. Today Jesus was ‘summoned’ to the aid of the slave of a Roman centurion. Who or what has the authority to summon Christ? Only humility. We are told the man was precious in His master’s eyes. The seriousness of the man’s condition (he was dying) required urgency. Yet the centurion himself, a Gentile (but a God-fearer), didn’t think he was worthy to trouble Jesus. Here is what the centurion said, “Lord, do not trouble Yourself, for I am not worthy to have You come under My roof. Therefore I did not presume to come to You. But say the word, and let my servant be healed.”1 It is just this type of humility that God commends.
Say the word. Centurions were accustomed to having their word obeyed. A centurion had charge over a hundred Roman soldiers. It was an immense responsibility and with it came respect and status in society. Other centurions played important parts in New Testament history. The centurion who stood guard at the foot of the cross and witnessed the death of Christ is understandably the most notable. He confessed Jesus as the Son of God. Cornelius was a centurion who, at the Spirit’s direction, invited Simon Peter into his home. And a centurion name Julius was a key figure associated with Paul’s shipwreck. Jesus commends the faith of this centurion as exceeding anything He had found in Israel! No pretense! No intent of negotiation or manipulation! No attempt at interrogation! It stands as a lesson for all who approach God with an agenda.
Humans are very crafty in their ability to rationalize matters about which God has clearly spoken. We do this quite “naturally” to excuse our failings and pacify our consciences. One of our most common techniques involves ambiguity. We claim we’re not exactly certain what God means and whether it is applicable to us. Generalized love cannot replace the specificities of the Ten Commandments. The intent to love without concrete parameters can easily decay into nothing more than good intentions. When God says, for instance, “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbour,”2 He means something more exact and comprehensive than above-average intent to tell the truth. When God says, “You shall not covet,”3 He means something more specific than enough self-control not to be constantly ruled by jealously. He is condemning that juicy bit of gossip you’d like to help spread or that specific envy of your neighbour that keeps getting the best of you.
What we ultimately hope to excuse ourselves from is the need for forgiveness. If belief about original sin- and here we mean not the theory of its existence but the power it still wields in our lives- is compromised, the need for forgiveness will soon become discretionary and the sacraments optional. We can witness this reality both through personal encounters with those who seek to tap into their inner goodness or beauty, and in the official teaching of churches and denominations that give much more credit to the inherent goodness in people than the Bible allows. Finding ways to tap into that apparent goodness leads to far different approaches to spiritual well-being than looking to put to death the sinful nature because there is no good worth salvaging.
The search for ‘goodness’ that is useful as a means to an end is the methodology of all the ideologies of the world. On one level it is the simple application of logic. Spiritually, it is the method of the law. The law is not unintelligible to the unbelieving world. That doesn’t mean it won’t be challenged, denied, circumvented, or rejected. The unconverted will operates between the polarities of fear and reward. Decisions are made based on what one can get away with or what benefit stands to be gained. The function of the law is innately familiar. Its dynamic is the way of the world; risk-reward, investment-return, obedience-praise, restraint-protection, and an eye for an eye. This is how we function in the social and civil sphere.
The gospel, however, is another matter altogether. Here the world is baffled and/or offended. The Christian’s life is overlain by the grace and forgiveness of Christ. The gospel counter-balances the work of the law in the lives of Christians. But not in such a way that the two are kept in equilibrium. The truth of Christ- His humbling Himself to be born of a virgin, His suffering, His crucifixion, His triumph over hell and Satan, His resurrection and ascension, all for you and for your salvation-this life-giving truth frees us from the condemnation of the law, from guilt, and from serving the world’s agenda, and finally, from doubt and despair.
Every human being craves certainty. We crave certainty in respect to our greatest needs and our strongest fears. Without certainty there is not stability. And without stability humans are prone to anxiety spanning the scale from slight to severe. God’s word is a fortress of indestructibility. Say the word, Lord! We can hardly do better than to ask to have the faith of this centurion. By Christ’s word sins are forgiven, the sick are healed, the dead are raised, the earth is renewed. Say the word Lord and calm our anxieties, restore our relationships, temper our grief, cure our diseases. What made the faith of the centurion so exemplary? His was a humility that did not presume upon God. His was a faith that looked only to Christ and found its rest in Him.
The centurion’s was not a self-reflective, navel-gazing faith. Our assurance of salvation can never be based on introspection. You can try to reconstruct a memory of your faith at the time you were confirmed. You can reflect on your faith at times of crisis and times of happiness. You can try to take a reading of your faith every day or every hour for the next month or year. And what will you find? You will find that your faith is like the weather. It may have long stretches of sunshine but also dark and stormy episodes. It may become cold like the frost or tossed about by the wind. Your faith may wilt as in the heat of summer or shimmer like a brilliant autumn day. But you can NEVER be certain what it will be tomorrow. Your faith can never be a barometer by which you know the certainty of God’s love!
If only I could be more devoted! If only I could repent more sincerely! If only I hadn’t committed such and such sin! If only I could change the past! Then, I could be certain that my faith is good enough for God. Dear friends, Christ was good enough. He is good enough. He paid the price for you sin. He lives that you may have life. And He doesn’t extend His blessing to you generically. The Holy Spirit names you in baptism. He designates you as God’s child, freed and forgiven. There is no anonymity in Christ. When you kneel at His altar He knows your name. His blood isn’t given to the unidentified but to those who bear His name. We were never told the centurion’s name. Christ knew. And through him Christ was made known. Amen.
+ In nomine Jesu +
Second Sunday After Pentecost
2 June 2013
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 Luke 7:6-7
2 Exodus 20:16
3 Exodus 20:17
4 1 Corinthians 10:2-4
5 Romans 6:3-4
6 2 Corinthians 4:17
Text: Luke 7:2
Theme: No Anonymity in Christ.
Dear friends in Christ Jesus,
There is no anonymity in Christ. The unrepentant sinner cannot disappear into the woodwork. But the children of God need never think they are forsaken or forgotten. Our status before Him is never a matter of achievement but of grace; not of merit, but of mercy. We never presume upon God, but we do expect great things from Him. Christ never meets the expectations of the egotistical, but always of the humble.
Today’s account from Luke is a great illustration. Today Jesus was ‘summoned’ to the aid of the slave of a Roman centurion. Who or what has the authority to summon Christ? Only humility. We are told the man was precious in His master’s eyes. The seriousness of the man’s condition (he was dying) required urgency. Yet the centurion himself, a Gentile (but a God-fearer), didn’t think he was worthy to trouble Jesus. Here is what the centurion said, “Lord, do not trouble Yourself, for I am not worthy to have You come under My roof. Therefore I did not presume to come to You. But say the word, and let my servant be healed.”1 It is just this type of humility that God commends.
Say the word. Centurions were accustomed to having their word obeyed. A centurion had charge over a hundred Roman soldiers. It was an immense responsibility and with it came respect and status in society. Other centurions played important parts in New Testament history. The centurion who stood guard at the foot of the cross and witnessed the death of Christ is understandably the most notable. He confessed Jesus as the Son of God. Cornelius was a centurion who, at the Spirit’s direction, invited Simon Peter into his home. And a centurion name Julius was a key figure associated with Paul’s shipwreck. Jesus commends the faith of this centurion as exceeding anything He had found in Israel! No pretense! No intent of negotiation or manipulation! No attempt at interrogation! It stands as a lesson for all who approach God with an agenda.
Humans are very crafty in their ability to rationalize matters about which God has clearly spoken. We do this quite “naturally” to excuse our failings and pacify our consciences. One of our most common techniques involves ambiguity. We claim we’re not exactly certain what God means and whether it is applicable to us. Generalized love cannot replace the specificities of the Ten Commandments. The intent to love without concrete parameters can easily decay into nothing more than good intentions. When God says, for instance, “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbour,”2 He means something more exact and comprehensive than above-average intent to tell the truth. When God says, “You shall not covet,”3 He means something more specific than enough self-control not to be constantly ruled by jealously. He is condemning that juicy bit of gossip you’d like to help spread or that specific envy of your neighbour that keeps getting the best of you.
What we ultimately hope to excuse ourselves from is the need for forgiveness. If belief about original sin- and here we mean not the theory of its existence but the power it still wields in our lives- is compromised, the need for forgiveness will soon become discretionary and the sacraments optional. We can witness this reality both through personal encounters with those who seek to tap into their inner goodness or beauty, and in the official teaching of churches and denominations that give much more credit to the inherent goodness in people than the Bible allows. Finding ways to tap into that apparent goodness leads to far different approaches to spiritual well-being than looking to put to death the sinful nature because there is no good worth salvaging.
The search for ‘goodness’ that is useful as a means to an end is the methodology of all the ideologies of the world. On one level it is the simple application of logic. Spiritually, it is the method of the law. The law is not unintelligible to the unbelieving world. That doesn’t mean it won’t be challenged, denied, circumvented, or rejected. The unconverted will operates between the polarities of fear and reward. Decisions are made based on what one can get away with or what benefit stands to be gained. The function of the law is innately familiar. Its dynamic is the way of the world; risk-reward, investment-return, obedience-praise, restraint-protection, and an eye for an eye. This is how we function in the social and civil sphere.
The gospel, however, is another matter altogether. Here the world is baffled and/or offended. The Christian’s life is overlain by the grace and forgiveness of Christ. The gospel counter-balances the work of the law in the lives of Christians. But not in such a way that the two are kept in equilibrium. The truth of Christ- His humbling Himself to be born of a virgin, His suffering, His crucifixion, His triumph over hell and Satan, His resurrection and ascension, all for you and for your salvation-this life-giving truth frees us from the condemnation of the law, from guilt, and from serving the world’s agenda, and finally, from doubt and despair.
Every human being craves certainty. We crave certainty in respect to our greatest needs and our strongest fears. Without certainty there is not stability. And without stability humans are prone to anxiety spanning the scale from slight to severe. God’s word is a fortress of indestructibility. Say the word, Lord! We can hardly do better than to ask to have the faith of this centurion. By Christ’s word sins are forgiven, the sick are healed, the dead are raised, the earth is renewed. Say the word Lord and calm our anxieties, restore our relationships, temper our grief, cure our diseases. What made the faith of the centurion so exemplary? His was a humility that did not presume upon God. His was a faith that looked only to Christ and found its rest in Him.
The centurion’s was not a self-reflective, navel-gazing faith. Our assurance of salvation can never be based on introspection. You can try to reconstruct a memory of your faith at the time you were confirmed. You can reflect on your faith at times of crisis and times of happiness. You can try to take a reading of your faith every day or every hour for the next month or year. And what will you find? You will find that your faith is like the weather. It may have long stretches of sunshine but also dark and stormy episodes. It may become cold like the frost or tossed about by the wind. Your faith may wilt as in the heat of summer or shimmer like a brilliant autumn day. But you can NEVER be certain what it will be tomorrow. Your faith can never be a barometer by which you know the certainty of God’s love!
If only I could be more devoted! If only I could repent more sincerely! If only I hadn’t committed such and such sin! If only I could change the past! Then, I could be certain that my faith is good enough for God. Dear friends, Christ was good enough. He is good enough. He paid the price for you sin. He lives that you may have life. And He doesn’t extend His blessing to you generically. The Holy Spirit names you in baptism. He designates you as God’s child, freed and forgiven. There is no anonymity in Christ. When you kneel at His altar He knows your name. His blood isn’t given to the unidentified but to those who bear His name. We were never told the centurion’s name. Christ knew. And through him Christ was made known. Amen.
+ In nomine Jesu +
Second Sunday After Pentecost
2 June 2013
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 Luke 7:6-7
2 Exodus 20:16
3 Exodus 20:17
4 1 Corinthians 10:2-4
5 Romans 6:3-4
6 2 Corinthians 4:17
Sunday, May 26, 2013
Sunday of Holy Trinity (C) 2013
+ In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti + Amen.
Text: John 16:15
Theme: The Father’s Patrimony
Dear friends in Christ Jesus,
The believer is tied directly to the mystery of the Trinity through baptism. The mystery of God’s being is that He is one God in three persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Jesus said, “All that belongs to the Father is Mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you.”1 What a comforting thought to know that the Holy Spirit makes the grace of Christ known to us, and that Christ’s grace is the avenue to the Father. Baptism brings you into fellowship with the Trinity and allows you to share in all the blessings of His life. These gifts can only be appreciated through the insight of the Holy Spirit.
You’ve probably heard people say that religion is not for them; they’re not cut out for it. They may have in mind the caricature of tee-totaling, mindless moralist who mostly misses out on the pleasurable side of life. Sometimes it used be said, “Such and such person was born religious.” But, in fact, NO ONE is cut out for it. No one is naturally fitted for life in God’s kingdom. That is precisely the point. The truth of fallen humanity is that all are estranged from God from the time of conception. Original sin has consequences. Adam and Eve were banned from Eden. The wicked all perished in Noah’s flood. A generation of Israelites died before crossing the Jordan. The 21st Century person has no fewer consequences of sin to deal with. Temptations bombard us from all sides.
The likelihood of succumbing to some temptations changes with maturity. Some tendencies diminish. Other proclivities become more resistant to resolution. The rebellious child may come to appreciate the value of respecting proper authority later in life. The temptation to revolt may relax as the individual finds himself or herself in a position of responsibility and authority. Teenagers that were critical of their parents often find themselves imitating them once they have their own children. On the other hand, the self-centred person may be just as self-absorbed at the age of 70 as they were at 20. Greed isn’t cured by acquiring great fortunes. Long established habits are always more difficult to change. Much depends upon what informs our worldview.
Our society cries out for recognition. “Look at Me!” “Take notice of what I have done!” We are taught to scrape and claw, scream and fight for our place. In this way people hope to find meaning, value, purpose and fulfillment in life. But what is the edifice- the composition of things that value and define us- built on? If our true worth (call it self-worth if you like) doesn’t rest in Christ then we have an unstable foundation. We cannot indefinitely live in a building prone to collapse at the slightest tremor. The ageing process exempts no one.
It all comes to head with an honest reflection on mortality. Movie buffs and gamers are familiar with heroes that encounter fatality and yet emerge with all their former vibrancy; or the contestants who are endlessly reincarnated to fight again. Reality is something very different. We can sojourn in a fantasy world perhaps the better part of our temporal lives. But it doesn’t prepare us for the genuine crisis we must face. Christian maturity requires we recognize the limits of escapism.
But Christ has no limits. You need not stand at the graveside and ask, “Is this where it all ends?” “Is this the conclusion to a few short years on earth?” Christ has been to death and back. He speaks of what He knows. He doesn’t offer us a sympathetic hug as we draw our last breath but then leave us to face a future of despair. Instead He transports us through the dark evil of death unharmed. The Scripture says, “If in this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied. But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead.”2
Already, through forgiveness first granted in our baptism, we participate in that resurrection spiritually. Spiritually, but not theoretically. “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand.”3 Forgiveness is more than an act of will on God’s part. It is even more that a movement of the heart. It is an expression of His very nature. The crucifixion was a tearing open of the inner mystery of God. It was a rending of God’s holiness. Like a tsunami His compassion swept over a humanity suffocating in sin and self-centredness. Christ died and rose again not as an act of heroism but as the means to reconcile all humanity to the Father. We’re all in this together.
Your baptism identified you in Christ in relation to a local community of faith and the universal church. Remember Christianity from the time of Pentecost was designed to be a global faith. Christians who insulate themselves in parochial enclaves fail to appreciate the nature of God’s seeking and expansive love. The Good Shepherd searches for the lost sheep. Life in community, not as individuals is how God intends it. The Spirit inducts us into this community through baptism where Christ continues to feed us with His word and His body and blood. Here we are also united in an unbroken succession with those saints who went before us. The apostle writes, “I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers, that our forefathers…were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. They all ate the same spiritual food and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ.”4
Sadly, not all are interested in what Christ has to offer. It cramps their style. Those who follow religions of the law and atheist have something important in common. They both take matters into their own hands. They are self-reliant. The religious legalist seeks recognition from God- idolatry of self. The atheist must flatly deny God and recognize himself or herself- also the trappings of idolatry. In the end everyone comes down on one side of the equation or the other. There is no neutral ground between reverence for the true God and idolatry. There is no middle ground. In a wider sense this is what makes Christian truth so unbearable for some. You cannot flee to a ‘spiritual Switzerland’ and take up permanent residency there. You must cope with a clearly defined external existence; heaven or hell.
Your baptism is a mighty fortress. Satan cannot dismantle, demolish, or destroy the foundation upon which it is built. Hear what the Scripture says, “Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? We were buried therefore with Him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.”5
This newness of life has authenticity and permanency. We live the baptismal life, bearing our crosses, sacrificing our extravagances, serving in humility, trusting that “our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.”6 The biblical witness suggests that this real life is often much more engaging and enthralling than what the world has on offer. The parameters are not dependent on artificial schemes and structures. The rules of engagement aren’t always changing. The source of security is never unreliable. The future is never uncertain. God grant that our baptism is never a distant memory but a constant source of strength and life. It is not a matter of our aptitude but of His promise. Amen.
+ In nomine Jesu +
The Holy Trinity
26 May 2013
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 John 16:15
2 1 Corinthians 15:19-20
3 Romans 5:1-2
4 1 Corinthians 10:2-4
5 Romans 6:3-4
6 2 Corinthians 4:17
Text: John 16:15
Theme: The Father’s Patrimony
Dear friends in Christ Jesus,
The believer is tied directly to the mystery of the Trinity through baptism. The mystery of God’s being is that He is one God in three persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Jesus said, “All that belongs to the Father is Mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you.”1 What a comforting thought to know that the Holy Spirit makes the grace of Christ known to us, and that Christ’s grace is the avenue to the Father. Baptism brings you into fellowship with the Trinity and allows you to share in all the blessings of His life. These gifts can only be appreciated through the insight of the Holy Spirit.
You’ve probably heard people say that religion is not for them; they’re not cut out for it. They may have in mind the caricature of tee-totaling, mindless moralist who mostly misses out on the pleasurable side of life. Sometimes it used be said, “Such and such person was born religious.” But, in fact, NO ONE is cut out for it. No one is naturally fitted for life in God’s kingdom. That is precisely the point. The truth of fallen humanity is that all are estranged from God from the time of conception. Original sin has consequences. Adam and Eve were banned from Eden. The wicked all perished in Noah’s flood. A generation of Israelites died before crossing the Jordan. The 21st Century person has no fewer consequences of sin to deal with. Temptations bombard us from all sides.
The likelihood of succumbing to some temptations changes with maturity. Some tendencies diminish. Other proclivities become more resistant to resolution. The rebellious child may come to appreciate the value of respecting proper authority later in life. The temptation to revolt may relax as the individual finds himself or herself in a position of responsibility and authority. Teenagers that were critical of their parents often find themselves imitating them once they have their own children. On the other hand, the self-centred person may be just as self-absorbed at the age of 70 as they were at 20. Greed isn’t cured by acquiring great fortunes. Long established habits are always more difficult to change. Much depends upon what informs our worldview.
Our society cries out for recognition. “Look at Me!” “Take notice of what I have done!” We are taught to scrape and claw, scream and fight for our place. In this way people hope to find meaning, value, purpose and fulfillment in life. But what is the edifice- the composition of things that value and define us- built on? If our true worth (call it self-worth if you like) doesn’t rest in Christ then we have an unstable foundation. We cannot indefinitely live in a building prone to collapse at the slightest tremor. The ageing process exempts no one.
It all comes to head with an honest reflection on mortality. Movie buffs and gamers are familiar with heroes that encounter fatality and yet emerge with all their former vibrancy; or the contestants who are endlessly reincarnated to fight again. Reality is something very different. We can sojourn in a fantasy world perhaps the better part of our temporal lives. But it doesn’t prepare us for the genuine crisis we must face. Christian maturity requires we recognize the limits of escapism.
But Christ has no limits. You need not stand at the graveside and ask, “Is this where it all ends?” “Is this the conclusion to a few short years on earth?” Christ has been to death and back. He speaks of what He knows. He doesn’t offer us a sympathetic hug as we draw our last breath but then leave us to face a future of despair. Instead He transports us through the dark evil of death unharmed. The Scripture says, “If in this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied. But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead.”2
Already, through forgiveness first granted in our baptism, we participate in that resurrection spiritually. Spiritually, but not theoretically. “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand.”3 Forgiveness is more than an act of will on God’s part. It is even more that a movement of the heart. It is an expression of His very nature. The crucifixion was a tearing open of the inner mystery of God. It was a rending of God’s holiness. Like a tsunami His compassion swept over a humanity suffocating in sin and self-centredness. Christ died and rose again not as an act of heroism but as the means to reconcile all humanity to the Father. We’re all in this together.
Your baptism identified you in Christ in relation to a local community of faith and the universal church. Remember Christianity from the time of Pentecost was designed to be a global faith. Christians who insulate themselves in parochial enclaves fail to appreciate the nature of God’s seeking and expansive love. The Good Shepherd searches for the lost sheep. Life in community, not as individuals is how God intends it. The Spirit inducts us into this community through baptism where Christ continues to feed us with His word and His body and blood. Here we are also united in an unbroken succession with those saints who went before us. The apostle writes, “I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers, that our forefathers…were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. They all ate the same spiritual food and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ.”4
Sadly, not all are interested in what Christ has to offer. It cramps their style. Those who follow religions of the law and atheist have something important in common. They both take matters into their own hands. They are self-reliant. The religious legalist seeks recognition from God- idolatry of self. The atheist must flatly deny God and recognize himself or herself- also the trappings of idolatry. In the end everyone comes down on one side of the equation or the other. There is no neutral ground between reverence for the true God and idolatry. There is no middle ground. In a wider sense this is what makes Christian truth so unbearable for some. You cannot flee to a ‘spiritual Switzerland’ and take up permanent residency there. You must cope with a clearly defined external existence; heaven or hell.
Your baptism is a mighty fortress. Satan cannot dismantle, demolish, or destroy the foundation upon which it is built. Hear what the Scripture says, “Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? We were buried therefore with Him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.”5
This newness of life has authenticity and permanency. We live the baptismal life, bearing our crosses, sacrificing our extravagances, serving in humility, trusting that “our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.”6 The biblical witness suggests that this real life is often much more engaging and enthralling than what the world has on offer. The parameters are not dependent on artificial schemes and structures. The rules of engagement aren’t always changing. The source of security is never unreliable. The future is never uncertain. God grant that our baptism is never a distant memory but a constant source of strength and life. It is not a matter of our aptitude but of His promise. Amen.
+ In nomine Jesu +
The Holy Trinity
26 May 2013
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 John 16:15
2 1 Corinthians 15:19-20
3 Romans 5:1-2
4 1 Corinthians 10:2-4
5 Romans 6:3-4
6 2 Corinthians 4:17
Sunday, May 19, 2013
The Day of Pentecost (C) 2013
+ In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti + Amen.
Text: Genesis 11:9
Theme: Prelude to Pentecost
Dear friends in Christ Jesus,
God speaks! In His speaking He brings order out of chaos, faith out of unbelief, and life out of death. The event of Pentecost enhances our understanding of a God who wishes to make the gifting of His Son ‘intelligible’ to the world. Fifty days after his resurrection from the dead Jesus sent the promised Holy Spirit to His disciples. Manifested as tongues of fire the Spirit enabled the disciples to speak the gospel in different languages. Christianity was destined to be a truly global religion. Translation of the Scriptures continues in many parts of the world today including Aboriginal languages. “Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.”1 It is our privilege to support the articulation of the gospel in every tongue in every place.
God speaks. And in so doing He forms the witness of the believer. God who created the tongue also trains it for speech. The ability to articulate and understand the sounds the human voice is capable of producing are among the most complex realities of human existence. The combination of sounds possible to communicate human thoughts is essentially limitless. The fact that these become organized into coherent systems identifiable as languages, dialects or language-groups is surely a reflection of the truth that humanity was created in the image of God.
It was an image quickly lost in the rebellion of sin. Mutiny against God continues to be manifest in every possible way in private and public life. One of the most notable examples in the history of humanity is the building of the Tower of Babel. How high was the Tower of Babel before construction was divinely arrested? Spiritually it was high enough that the egos that built it had a mighty fall. The foolish man built his house on the sand “and it fell with a great crash.”2
Babel and Pentecost are contrasting events. As such they illustrate God’s mode of operating in the world. Babel involved God’s judgment on the conspiracy of sinful humanity. A common speech had facilitated their idolatrous efforts. They were unified in their efforts and communications to stand in insubordination and rebellion against the Almighty. He confused their language and scattered them. Pentecost involved the Spirit’s blessing of redeemed humanity. Extraordinary gifts facilitated their efforts to articulate the Gospel. They became unified in their efforts to communicate in the native languages of those assembled there. He illuminated their speech to gather them.
God speaks. Of course nothing can be said so clearly that those with evil intent cannot misinterpret or dismiss it. We often hear what we want to hear. This is a continual liability of our sinful nature for which we are called to repentance. Respect for the authority in question greatly influences the response. President Calvin Coolidge once invited friends from his hometown to dine with him at the White House. Unsure of their table manners, the guests decided to imitate the president. They watched closely to see which utensils he used, what foods he ate and when. Their strategy seemed to succeed until coffee was served. Coolidge poured some coffee into his saucer. They did the same. He added sugar and cream. His guests did, too. Then the president bent over and put his saucer on the floor for the cat!
If we are not careful whose example we follow we may find ourselves feeding the cat instead of honoring the proper authority. Is our allegiance to the world more influential than our reverence for God? We may imitate the world, even subconsciously, out of fear or the desire to fit in. To do so uncritically makes us vulnerable to mindless mimicking. Pressing issues in society demand our attention. If an expectant mother was murdered would the perpetrator be charged with only one murder if evidence is given that the mother was planning to have an abortion? Who will determine when value is placed on life and on what basis? Should the birth certificate of a child raised by lesbians have both their names listed at the expense of the biological father? Who will determine the rights of the most defenseless and on what basis?
God speaks. The Apostle Paul says, “Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me- put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”3
We speak with our tongues. We can speak with our hands. We most certainly speak with our actions. We even “speak” with our silence. The question is: What are we saying? God speaks for the vulnerable and He calls on those who bear His name to do the same.
Why? Because we seek to be true to that which we are part of: “the one holy, Christian and apostolic Church.”4 Not mindlessly following or giving hollow allegiance, but in the manner Paul encourages Timothy, “Continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of…and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.”5
We can’t expect to be well-received by the world. It is natural that we have doubts. Today Philip is bold enough to ask Jesus the question that is on the minds of many, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.”6 In other words, “Prove Yourself to us, Lord! Make your divinity more obvious! Show us a sign! Give us a glimpse of heaven! Then, we’ll believe without any doubt.” Jesus’ reply? “Whoever has seen Me has seen the Father.”7
Satan knows how to play upon uncertainty. Yet he has no answers to the message of the Messiah who came not in pomp and circumstance, but in humility. God does not wish to be found except on a cross. How does the Crucified One come to us now? The word of the cross comes to you in forgives proclaimed in all its fullness; in baptismal water poured for our cleansing; and in the body and blood given and shed for our salvation. These are His means of grace. The living Christ doesn’t expect sinners reach Him, appease Him, impress Him, or satisfy the debt of sin. He is the all-atoning sacrifice that has opened the way to the Father. The task of faith is to receive Him as He is.
Pentecost bolstered the fledgling Christian Church with fervor and focus. The Holy Spirit attends His people. The Spirit speaks the word of truth about Christ and apart from that He has nothing else to say. He has at His disposal every word of every age in every language- utterances and expressions that surpass the tongues of angels. He is never mute. He cannot be tongue-tied. He does not stammer. His speech is never muddled or chaotic. He is never a Maverick. A person cannot become or remain a believer apart from the work of the Holy Spirit. If the Holy Spirit was not at work the Christian Church would not exist.
God speaks. The Scripture says, “In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son.”8 This is the promise and power of Pentecost. In the Spirit’s time the confusion of Babel will be reversed to an expression of complete unity in Christ. Amen.
+ In nomine Jesu +
The Day of Pentecost
19 May 2013
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 Romans 10:17
2 Matthew 7:27
3 Philippians 4:9
4 The Nicene Creed
5 2 Timothy 3:14-15
6 John 14:8
7 John 14:9
8 Hebrews 1:1-2
Text: Genesis 11:9
Theme: Prelude to Pentecost
Dear friends in Christ Jesus,
God speaks! In His speaking He brings order out of chaos, faith out of unbelief, and life out of death. The event of Pentecost enhances our understanding of a God who wishes to make the gifting of His Son ‘intelligible’ to the world. Fifty days after his resurrection from the dead Jesus sent the promised Holy Spirit to His disciples. Manifested as tongues of fire the Spirit enabled the disciples to speak the gospel in different languages. Christianity was destined to be a truly global religion. Translation of the Scriptures continues in many parts of the world today including Aboriginal languages. “Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.”1 It is our privilege to support the articulation of the gospel in every tongue in every place.
God speaks. And in so doing He forms the witness of the believer. God who created the tongue also trains it for speech. The ability to articulate and understand the sounds the human voice is capable of producing are among the most complex realities of human existence. The combination of sounds possible to communicate human thoughts is essentially limitless. The fact that these become organized into coherent systems identifiable as languages, dialects or language-groups is surely a reflection of the truth that humanity was created in the image of God.
It was an image quickly lost in the rebellion of sin. Mutiny against God continues to be manifest in every possible way in private and public life. One of the most notable examples in the history of humanity is the building of the Tower of Babel. How high was the Tower of Babel before construction was divinely arrested? Spiritually it was high enough that the egos that built it had a mighty fall. The foolish man built his house on the sand “and it fell with a great crash.”2
Babel and Pentecost are contrasting events. As such they illustrate God’s mode of operating in the world. Babel involved God’s judgment on the conspiracy of sinful humanity. A common speech had facilitated their idolatrous efforts. They were unified in their efforts and communications to stand in insubordination and rebellion against the Almighty. He confused their language and scattered them. Pentecost involved the Spirit’s blessing of redeemed humanity. Extraordinary gifts facilitated their efforts to articulate the Gospel. They became unified in their efforts to communicate in the native languages of those assembled there. He illuminated their speech to gather them.
God speaks. Of course nothing can be said so clearly that those with evil intent cannot misinterpret or dismiss it. We often hear what we want to hear. This is a continual liability of our sinful nature for which we are called to repentance. Respect for the authority in question greatly influences the response. President Calvin Coolidge once invited friends from his hometown to dine with him at the White House. Unsure of their table manners, the guests decided to imitate the president. They watched closely to see which utensils he used, what foods he ate and when. Their strategy seemed to succeed until coffee was served. Coolidge poured some coffee into his saucer. They did the same. He added sugar and cream. His guests did, too. Then the president bent over and put his saucer on the floor for the cat!
If we are not careful whose example we follow we may find ourselves feeding the cat instead of honoring the proper authority. Is our allegiance to the world more influential than our reverence for God? We may imitate the world, even subconsciously, out of fear or the desire to fit in. To do so uncritically makes us vulnerable to mindless mimicking. Pressing issues in society demand our attention. If an expectant mother was murdered would the perpetrator be charged with only one murder if evidence is given that the mother was planning to have an abortion? Who will determine when value is placed on life and on what basis? Should the birth certificate of a child raised by lesbians have both their names listed at the expense of the biological father? Who will determine the rights of the most defenseless and on what basis?
God speaks. The Apostle Paul says, “Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me- put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”3
We speak with our tongues. We can speak with our hands. We most certainly speak with our actions. We even “speak” with our silence. The question is: What are we saying? God speaks for the vulnerable and He calls on those who bear His name to do the same.
Why? Because we seek to be true to that which we are part of: “the one holy, Christian and apostolic Church.”4 Not mindlessly following or giving hollow allegiance, but in the manner Paul encourages Timothy, “Continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of…and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.”5
We can’t expect to be well-received by the world. It is natural that we have doubts. Today Philip is bold enough to ask Jesus the question that is on the minds of many, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.”6 In other words, “Prove Yourself to us, Lord! Make your divinity more obvious! Show us a sign! Give us a glimpse of heaven! Then, we’ll believe without any doubt.” Jesus’ reply? “Whoever has seen Me has seen the Father.”7
Satan knows how to play upon uncertainty. Yet he has no answers to the message of the Messiah who came not in pomp and circumstance, but in humility. God does not wish to be found except on a cross. How does the Crucified One come to us now? The word of the cross comes to you in forgives proclaimed in all its fullness; in baptismal water poured for our cleansing; and in the body and blood given and shed for our salvation. These are His means of grace. The living Christ doesn’t expect sinners reach Him, appease Him, impress Him, or satisfy the debt of sin. He is the all-atoning sacrifice that has opened the way to the Father. The task of faith is to receive Him as He is.
Pentecost bolstered the fledgling Christian Church with fervor and focus. The Holy Spirit attends His people. The Spirit speaks the word of truth about Christ and apart from that He has nothing else to say. He has at His disposal every word of every age in every language- utterances and expressions that surpass the tongues of angels. He is never mute. He cannot be tongue-tied. He does not stammer. His speech is never muddled or chaotic. He is never a Maverick. A person cannot become or remain a believer apart from the work of the Holy Spirit. If the Holy Spirit was not at work the Christian Church would not exist.
God speaks. The Scripture says, “In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son.”8 This is the promise and power of Pentecost. In the Spirit’s time the confusion of Babel will be reversed to an expression of complete unity in Christ. Amen.
+ In nomine Jesu +
The Day of Pentecost
19 May 2013
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 Romans 10:17
2 Matthew 7:27
3 Philippians 4:9
4 The Nicene Creed
5 2 Timothy 3:14-15
6 John 14:8
7 John 14:9
8 Hebrews 1:1-2
Sunday, May 12, 2013
Seventh Sunday of Easter (C) 2013
+ In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti + Amen.
Text: John 17:20
Theme: For Those Who Will Believe
Dear friends in Christ Jesus,
God doesn’t suffer from tunnel-vision. He sees the entire picture. In His field of vision lies every sin and every sinner. He lacks none of the facts. His intelligence is never incomplete. Yet in spite of His comprehensive scrutiny of us fallen creatures His response is not a matter of aversion but of compassion. He does not abandon His image-bearers but attends to them. “God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”1 Here we have Christianity in its indispensable essence.
God attends to us proactively- before we have even the capability of thinking of Him. For the converted- whether they have been believers for one day or their entire lives- this truth can easily be relegated to the historical past. What takes the fore is the living of our Christian life, bearing the cross here and now. Yet an integral part of that is concern for those still unconverted. In Christ’s sacred prayer to the heavenly Father today He makes this petition, “My prayer is not for them(disciples) alone. I pray also for those who will believe in Me through their message.”2
The Christian Church is a communion of the faithful that is yet incomplete. Your participation in the body of Christ is also for the sake of those who will believe. Rather than being nonsensical, this thought is biblical, even logical. How narrow is our vision compared with the greatness of God’s plans! Yet He wishes to make you a part. Your vocation in the world- through which you serve others according to the gifts and opportunities God has given you- also involves testifying to the truth for the sake of those who will believe. The Psalmist exclaims, “Let this be written for a future generation, that a people not yet created may praise the Lord.”3
Sometimes the task seems too daunting. Society often seems uninterested, even antagonistic towards the church. What progress can be made in situation where people don’t seem to be in the mood to even give Christianity a hearing? These considerations must occupy us. How can the uninterested by engaged in God’s truth?
It is important to assess the breadth and depth of the ideology of tolerance in our society. When the charge is made that society is becoming more secular and godless that does not mean people don’t have a standard by which they value things. Without valuations and distinctions life would become mindlessly meaningless. Their measuring stick is intensely personal, acutely sensitive to peer-review, and aware of the political hot-topics of society.
There is little belief in objective truth. All things are negotiable. All things are debatable. All things are tolerable except intolerance.
Within this context Christians are faced with the very practical challenge of seeking to live according to objective truth. Both God’s commands and His promises instruct our worldview. To do so requires honest reflection of our own motives. Are we prone to repent of our sins only when we meet with shame or failure? Do we recognize the deeper clash between our self-serving agendas and God’s call to self-sacrifice in Christ? Is the command of God easily set aside for the traditions of men?
We should never assume we know the motives of others. Speculation is fuelled by a burning desire to know or an uncharitable desire to condemn. In the latter, speculation is driven by suspicion. We are called to be truthful. The Eighth Commandment says, “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbour.” Observing this command involves an attitude about how we approach things. In this context it means not only that we refrain from lying to or about our neighbour, but that we, as Luther says, “explain everything in the kindest way.”4
A woman walked into her bathroom at home. There she saw her husband weighing himself on the bathroom scales, sucking in his stomach. The woman thought to herself, "He foolishly thinks that he will weigh less by sucking his stomach in." So, she rather sarcastically said to her husband, "That’s not going to help." But her husband replied, "Sure it will. It’s the only way I can see the numbers." In all things we must be charitable.
Dear friends, the Word is never without effect. God is not in need of our ingenuity to accomplish His purposes. Today we were reminded that he freed Paul and Silas from prison through an earthquake. What a small thing it is for Him to rescue us from the perils we face. One implication of your baptism is that God promises to attend to you faithfully. The Scripture says even, “If we are faithless, He will remain faithful, for He cannot disown Himself.”5
This Thursday past marked the Ascension of our Lord. The ascension of Christ should rouse us from our spiritual slumber. It is a portent of things to come. His Second Coming will happen without advanced notice. At His ascension the angel said, “This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen Him go into heaven.”6 Forewarned is forearmed. His bodily return in glory is incontestable. It is central to the Christian confession. “He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead.”7
The Christian’s life is prioritized accordingly. We keep our sights set on the promises He has made. “Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and go through the gates of the city.”8 Jesus prayed, “Father, I want those you have given Me to be with Me where I am, and to see My glory.”9 This is our supreme confidence and unassailable source of joy. We stay nourished by His body and blood and renewed by His forgiveness.
Christ came not for the righteous, but for sinners. He came for the suspicious. He came for the skeptic. He came for the quick-tempered. He came for the timid. And He came for the naïve. He came to Thomas who doubted Him, Peter who renounced Him, and Nicodemus who queried Him. He came for the selfish. He came for the despairing. He came for forlorn. And He came for the forsaken. He came to the widow of Nain, the woman at the well, the blind and the lame, the deaf and the mute. He came for the Pharisees who cursed Him. He came for tax-collectors and prostitutes. Can you entertain the real possibility that He did not come for you? Can you best the claim of Paul who said “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners- of whom I am the worst?”10
Jesus Christ died and rose that you might have life. He awaits the appointed time to consummate the union with His bride, the church. But He does not sit idly by. He intercedes for sinners, one and all. There are those who are yet to believe. May God make us faithful witnesses to the truth on their behalf. Amen.
+ In nomine Jesu +
Seventh Sunday of Easter
12 May 2013
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 Romans 5:8
2 John 17:20
3 Psalm 102:18
4 Luther’s Small Catechism
5 2 Timothy 2:13
6 Acts 1:11
7 The Nicene Creed
8 Revelation 22:14
9 John 17:24
10 1 Timothy 1:15
Text: John 17:20
Theme: For Those Who Will Believe
Dear friends in Christ Jesus,
God doesn’t suffer from tunnel-vision. He sees the entire picture. In His field of vision lies every sin and every sinner. He lacks none of the facts. His intelligence is never incomplete. Yet in spite of His comprehensive scrutiny of us fallen creatures His response is not a matter of aversion but of compassion. He does not abandon His image-bearers but attends to them. “God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”1 Here we have Christianity in its indispensable essence.
God attends to us proactively- before we have even the capability of thinking of Him. For the converted- whether they have been believers for one day or their entire lives- this truth can easily be relegated to the historical past. What takes the fore is the living of our Christian life, bearing the cross here and now. Yet an integral part of that is concern for those still unconverted. In Christ’s sacred prayer to the heavenly Father today He makes this petition, “My prayer is not for them(disciples) alone. I pray also for those who will believe in Me through their message.”2
The Christian Church is a communion of the faithful that is yet incomplete. Your participation in the body of Christ is also for the sake of those who will believe. Rather than being nonsensical, this thought is biblical, even logical. How narrow is our vision compared with the greatness of God’s plans! Yet He wishes to make you a part. Your vocation in the world- through which you serve others according to the gifts and opportunities God has given you- also involves testifying to the truth for the sake of those who will believe. The Psalmist exclaims, “Let this be written for a future generation, that a people not yet created may praise the Lord.”3
Sometimes the task seems too daunting. Society often seems uninterested, even antagonistic towards the church. What progress can be made in situation where people don’t seem to be in the mood to even give Christianity a hearing? These considerations must occupy us. How can the uninterested by engaged in God’s truth?
It is important to assess the breadth and depth of the ideology of tolerance in our society. When the charge is made that society is becoming more secular and godless that does not mean people don’t have a standard by which they value things. Without valuations and distinctions life would become mindlessly meaningless. Their measuring stick is intensely personal, acutely sensitive to peer-review, and aware of the political hot-topics of society.
There is little belief in objective truth. All things are negotiable. All things are debatable. All things are tolerable except intolerance.
Within this context Christians are faced with the very practical challenge of seeking to live according to objective truth. Both God’s commands and His promises instruct our worldview. To do so requires honest reflection of our own motives. Are we prone to repent of our sins only when we meet with shame or failure? Do we recognize the deeper clash between our self-serving agendas and God’s call to self-sacrifice in Christ? Is the command of God easily set aside for the traditions of men?
We should never assume we know the motives of others. Speculation is fuelled by a burning desire to know or an uncharitable desire to condemn. In the latter, speculation is driven by suspicion. We are called to be truthful. The Eighth Commandment says, “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbour.” Observing this command involves an attitude about how we approach things. In this context it means not only that we refrain from lying to or about our neighbour, but that we, as Luther says, “explain everything in the kindest way.”4
A woman walked into her bathroom at home. There she saw her husband weighing himself on the bathroom scales, sucking in his stomach. The woman thought to herself, "He foolishly thinks that he will weigh less by sucking his stomach in." So, she rather sarcastically said to her husband, "That’s not going to help." But her husband replied, "Sure it will. It’s the only way I can see the numbers." In all things we must be charitable.
Dear friends, the Word is never without effect. God is not in need of our ingenuity to accomplish His purposes. Today we were reminded that he freed Paul and Silas from prison through an earthquake. What a small thing it is for Him to rescue us from the perils we face. One implication of your baptism is that God promises to attend to you faithfully. The Scripture says even, “If we are faithless, He will remain faithful, for He cannot disown Himself.”5
This Thursday past marked the Ascension of our Lord. The ascension of Christ should rouse us from our spiritual slumber. It is a portent of things to come. His Second Coming will happen without advanced notice. At His ascension the angel said, “This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen Him go into heaven.”6 Forewarned is forearmed. His bodily return in glory is incontestable. It is central to the Christian confession. “He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead.”7
The Christian’s life is prioritized accordingly. We keep our sights set on the promises He has made. “Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and go through the gates of the city.”8 Jesus prayed, “Father, I want those you have given Me to be with Me where I am, and to see My glory.”9 This is our supreme confidence and unassailable source of joy. We stay nourished by His body and blood and renewed by His forgiveness.
Christ came not for the righteous, but for sinners. He came for the suspicious. He came for the skeptic. He came for the quick-tempered. He came for the timid. And He came for the naïve. He came to Thomas who doubted Him, Peter who renounced Him, and Nicodemus who queried Him. He came for the selfish. He came for the despairing. He came for forlorn. And He came for the forsaken. He came to the widow of Nain, the woman at the well, the blind and the lame, the deaf and the mute. He came for the Pharisees who cursed Him. He came for tax-collectors and prostitutes. Can you entertain the real possibility that He did not come for you? Can you best the claim of Paul who said “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners- of whom I am the worst?”10
Jesus Christ died and rose that you might have life. He awaits the appointed time to consummate the union with His bride, the church. But He does not sit idly by. He intercedes for sinners, one and all. There are those who are yet to believe. May God make us faithful witnesses to the truth on their behalf. Amen.
+ In nomine Jesu +
Seventh Sunday of Easter
12 May 2013
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 Romans 5:8
2 John 17:20
3 Psalm 102:18
4 Luther’s Small Catechism
5 2 Timothy 2:13
6 Acts 1:11
7 The Nicene Creed
8 Revelation 22:14
9 John 17:24
10 1 Timothy 1:15
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