Rev. Dustin ParkerGod's Word Grows
Concordia Lutheran Church
Pentecost 4, July 10, 2011
Accomplishing its Purpose
Isaiah 55:8-13
† In Jesus Name! †
May you begin to realize what God’s word has accomplished, and is accomplishing even as you hear His word and Share in His Body and Blood.
Are we receptive Soil or Not?
Why aren’t we growing?
Not faithful enough in Doctrine?
Not obedient enough to the Commission?
Today’s gospel reading has some major temptations associated with it. The first is to use it as a way of classifying individual believers or congregations. Congregation A just doesn’t have a clue about Jesus, they dismiss most of what he said, and that is why they aren’t growing. Congregation B is shallow in doctrine – and while they grew quickly, they soon saw people leaving out the back door – looking for more.. and that is why they are dying off now, We judge people and congregations that struggle with the world as the third type of ground, and dismiss them.
Within a congregation, I have seen this to justify why the church isn’t growing, as we have too many people who are the first three types of soil, and far too few who see their faith reproduced in the 30-60 and one hundred fold quantities. Can you imagine if the 90-100 plus people who are part of this church saw their faith reproduced in just 30 people each in the next year or two?
Can you imagine Concordia with 2500 people here, all celebrating the love of God, demonstrated in Christ Jesus? All realizing how freed they are from sin and guilt and shame, who rejoice in knowing God’s peace?
So why aren’t we there? Which type of soil are WE?
Is that the question we need to examine this morning?
Do we need to be asking such questions? Any question?
What is the Purpose it accomplishes?
Do we realize the “now”
Do we grasp the change?
Do we celebrate this Exodus?
Before we ask that question, I believe we need to spend some time in the Old Testament reading. We need to define God’s purpose and see how it is accomplished, otherwise we have no real way to ask the questions about which type of soil we are, or whether we as a church are successful.
It is a struggle because the plans of God are different than our worldly thoughts are, and His ways are far different than how man often plots a course for success. That difference affects us, those, who live in this world, but are not of it. I love how one person put it – since the rational movement of the Enlightenment, the church has been held hostage to man’s logic. We to often think and analyze things based on a sense of logic that requires a closed system, a highly defined schematic, and it doesn’t tolerate God’s interference all that well.
Especially when God makes it simple – as simple as the cross. As simple as the resurrection. As simple as baptism – where we are joined to that death and resurrection. The word does not return void – the transformation begins to happen, the transformation that is described in this way:
12 “For you shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall break forth into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands
In Bible Study this morning we’ll talk about why the mountains and the Hills, and indeed all creation rejoices and praises God becase of the work His word accomplishes. There is something more incredible than anything in history that happens. It is happening here, we are seeing God’s word planted in lives that some may have one considered rocky, or in the midst of thorns.
It is not the soil that grows, it is what that is planted there that grows. As the gospel grows in our lives, as His promises in that word become more and more dominant in our lives, as it grows, it changes us. Soil that could only once grow thorns and weeds now grows strong cypress trees and beautiful myrtle trees.
As those trees grow, their seeds are blown all over the place – as the word grows in the soil of our hearts, we don’t determine how it spreads it seed, to whom our peace and love, and even the word of God is shared. But there is little else in our lives that matter. There is nothing else that matters, as Luther once wrote in his commentary on this passage:
He is alluding to the exodus from Egypt which, as you know, was so celebrated by the prophets that “the mountains skipped like rams, the hills like lambs” (Ps. 114:4), that is, everything was most delightful. The “meadows laughed,” that is, they were very happy, as in springtime all things are cheerful to our feelings. So this new exodus will be most agreeable. The whole world, sun, and moon will have a different appearance for us. You will look at everything in faith and in the Word most joyfully and for life. Formerly, in the Law, we saw nothing cheerful because of a terrified conscience. When the heart is cheerful, everything looks happy, even the cross and persecution. Thus St. Agnes, led to the sacrifice, was in her heart being escorted to the dance.7 Thus all the godly regard all things as happy in inner peace and. happiness and rejoicing in the Spirit. Here you see that all Christians are joyful because peace is a fruit of the Spirit, and so is joy.
It is as the peace encounters our soul, that the seed, now as mighty as an oak, now so rooted in our life – sends forth seeds to replant the rest of the world. So too this peace infects others as they encounter us, and we may never be aware of it. We may realize we might have blessed them in some way, offering a cup of water, encouraging them, praying for them – and the word is planted – the love of Christ is shared. We might even look back and wonder – how did they hear Jesus, how did they hear His word, of His love, of His mercy, even as they are so sure they did.
Even as we are so sure of the freedom from what we have been delivered from, by that seed, we affect people on our journey home. Paul even mentions this passage as he explains this to the church in Corinth!
8 And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. 9 As the Scriptures say, “They share freely and give generously to the poor. Their good deeds will be remembered forever.” 10 For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you. 11 Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous. And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will thank God.
2 Corinthians 9:8-11 (NLT)
Or to explain it paraphrasing what Chuck has told me was once the mission statement of this church – we are blessed and our blessedness becomes a blessing!
It is not that we are changed to become these tremendous special people, but that the gospel that takes root in our lives becomes so dominant that it blesses others. Our families, our friends, both new and old, our communities, and even our enemies and adversaries.
It is all about His purpose – God’s purpose of causing life where there wasn’t life, of creating holiness where there was only sin, of creating Godliness and Christlikeness where there was once only evil and self-centeredness.
And it is happening all around you. His redemptive work is taking us who have been crushed and restoring us, using us, by having His word grow in the soil of our lives.
It is amazing. It is incredible to watch, it is precious, and it is as Paul told the Colossians,
25 God has given me the responsibility of serving his church by proclaiming his entire message to you. 26 This message was kept secret for centuries and generations past, but now it has been revealed to God’s people. 27 For God wanted them to know that the riches and glory of Christ are for you Gentiles, too. And this is the secret: Christ lives in you. This gives you assurance of sharing his glory.
That is why, he goes on with
28 So we tell others about Christ, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all the wisdom God has given us. We want to present them to God, perfect in their relationship to Christ.
Colossians 1:24-28 (NLT)
One last verse – the word of God which is accomplishing its purpose,… here and now:
21 “Pay attention, O Jacob (My children), for you are my servant, (My People) O Israel. I, the LORD, made you, and I will not forget you. 22 I have swept away your sins like a cloud. I have scattered your offenses like the morning mist. Oh, return to me, for I have paid the price to set you free.” 23 Sing, O heavens, for the LORD has done this wondrous thing. Shout for joy, O depths of the earth! Break into song, O mountains and forests and every tree! For the LORD has redeemed Jacob (His children) and is glorified in Israel (His people)!
Isaiah 44:21-23 (NLT)
AMEN!
Pentecost 4, July 10, 2011
Accomplishing its Purpose
Isaiah 55:8-13
† In Jesus Name! †
May you begin to realize what God’s word has accomplished, and is accomplishing even as you hear His word and Share in His Body and Blood.
Are we receptive Soil or Not?
Why aren’t we growing?
Not faithful enough in Doctrine?
Not obedient enough to the Commission?
Today’s gospel reading has some major temptations associated with it. The first is to use it as a way of classifying individual believers or congregations. Congregation A just doesn’t have a clue about Jesus, they dismiss most of what he said, and that is why they aren’t growing. Congregation B is shallow in doctrine – and while they grew quickly, they soon saw people leaving out the back door – looking for more.. and that is why they are dying off now, We judge people and congregations that struggle with the world as the third type of ground, and dismiss them.
Within a congregation, I have seen this to justify why the church isn’t growing, as we have too many people who are the first three types of soil, and far too few who see their faith reproduced in the 30-60 and one hundred fold quantities. Can you imagine if the 90-100 plus people who are part of this church saw their faith reproduced in just 30 people each in the next year or two?
Can you imagine Concordia with 2500 people here, all celebrating the love of God, demonstrated in Christ Jesus? All realizing how freed they are from sin and guilt and shame, who rejoice in knowing God’s peace?
So why aren’t we there? Which type of soil are WE?
Is that the question we need to examine this morning?
Do we need to be asking such questions? Any question?
What is the Purpose it accomplishes?
Do we realize the “now”
Do we grasp the change?
Do we celebrate this Exodus?
Before we ask that question, I believe we need to spend some time in the Old Testament reading. We need to define God’s purpose and see how it is accomplished, otherwise we have no real way to ask the questions about which type of soil we are, or whether we as a church are successful.
It is a struggle because the plans of God are different than our worldly thoughts are, and His ways are far different than how man often plots a course for success. That difference affects us, those, who live in this world, but are not of it. I love how one person put it – since the rational movement of the Enlightenment, the church has been held hostage to man’s logic. We to often think and analyze things based on a sense of logic that requires a closed system, a highly defined schematic, and it doesn’t tolerate God’s interference all that well.
Especially when God makes it simple – as simple as the cross. As simple as the resurrection. As simple as baptism – where we are joined to that death and resurrection. The word does not return void – the transformation begins to happen, the transformation that is described in this way:
12 “For you shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall break forth into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands
In Bible Study this morning we’ll talk about why the mountains and the Hills, and indeed all creation rejoices and praises God becase of the work His word accomplishes. There is something more incredible than anything in history that happens. It is happening here, we are seeing God’s word planted in lives that some may have one considered rocky, or in the midst of thorns.
It is not the soil that grows, it is what that is planted there that grows. As the gospel grows in our lives, as His promises in that word become more and more dominant in our lives, as it grows, it changes us. Soil that could only once grow thorns and weeds now grows strong cypress trees and beautiful myrtle trees.
As those trees grow, their seeds are blown all over the place – as the word grows in the soil of our hearts, we don’t determine how it spreads it seed, to whom our peace and love, and even the word of God is shared. But there is little else in our lives that matter. There is nothing else that matters, as Luther once wrote in his commentary on this passage:
He is alluding to the exodus from Egypt which, as you know, was so celebrated by the prophets that “the mountains skipped like rams, the hills like lambs” (Ps. 114:4), that is, everything was most delightful. The “meadows laughed,” that is, they were very happy, as in springtime all things are cheerful to our feelings. So this new exodus will be most agreeable. The whole world, sun, and moon will have a different appearance for us. You will look at everything in faith and in the Word most joyfully and for life. Formerly, in the Law, we saw nothing cheerful because of a terrified conscience. When the heart is cheerful, everything looks happy, even the cross and persecution. Thus St. Agnes, led to the sacrifice, was in her heart being escorted to the dance.7 Thus all the godly regard all things as happy in inner peace and. happiness and rejoicing in the Spirit. Here you see that all Christians are joyful because peace is a fruit of the Spirit, and so is joy.
It is as the peace encounters our soul, that the seed, now as mighty as an oak, now so rooted in our life – sends forth seeds to replant the rest of the world. So too this peace infects others as they encounter us, and we may never be aware of it. We may realize we might have blessed them in some way, offering a cup of water, encouraging them, praying for them – and the word is planted – the love of Christ is shared. We might even look back and wonder – how did they hear Jesus, how did they hear His word, of His love, of His mercy, even as they are so sure they did.
Even as we are so sure of the freedom from what we have been delivered from, by that seed, we affect people on our journey home. Paul even mentions this passage as he explains this to the church in Corinth!
8 And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. 9 As the Scriptures say, “They share freely and give generously to the poor. Their good deeds will be remembered forever.” 10 For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you. 11 Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous. And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will thank God.
2 Corinthians 9:8-11 (NLT)
Or to explain it paraphrasing what Chuck has told me was once the mission statement of this church – we are blessed and our blessedness becomes a blessing!
It is not that we are changed to become these tremendous special people, but that the gospel that takes root in our lives becomes so dominant that it blesses others. Our families, our friends, both new and old, our communities, and even our enemies and adversaries.
It is all about His purpose – God’s purpose of causing life where there wasn’t life, of creating holiness where there was only sin, of creating Godliness and Christlikeness where there was once only evil and self-centeredness.
And it is happening all around you. His redemptive work is taking us who have been crushed and restoring us, using us, by having His word grow in the soil of our lives.
It is amazing. It is incredible to watch, it is precious, and it is as Paul told the Colossians,
25 God has given me the responsibility of serving his church by proclaiming his entire message to you. 26 This message was kept secret for centuries and generations past, but now it has been revealed to God’s people. 27 For God wanted them to know that the riches and glory of Christ are for you Gentiles, too. And this is the secret: Christ lives in you. This gives you assurance of sharing his glory.
That is why, he goes on with
28 So we tell others about Christ, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all the wisdom God has given us. We want to present them to God, perfect in their relationship to Christ.
Colossians 1:24-28 (NLT)
One last verse – the word of God which is accomplishing its purpose,… here and now:
21 “Pay attention, O Jacob (My children), for you are my servant, (My People) O Israel. I, the LORD, made you, and I will not forget you. 22 I have swept away your sins like a cloud. I have scattered your offenses like the morning mist. Oh, return to me, for I have paid the price to set you free.” 23 Sing, O heavens, for the LORD has done this wondrous thing. Shout for joy, O depths of the earth! Break into song, O mountains and forests and every tree! For the LORD has redeemed Jacob (His children) and is glorified in Israel (His people)!
Isaiah 44:21-23 (NLT)
AMEN!
