Rev. Dustin ParkerSo What? We Serve as He Serves
(this one - I didn't preach... but I still thought it worth posting - actually it was proclaimed in Spanish at another church!)
Concordia Lutheran Church
5th Sunday of Easter, May 22, 2011
So What? We Serve, as He serves!
1 Peter 2:2-10
† IN JESUS NAME †
As you hear that Christ has been made manifest for your sake, may you clearly hear and know that His love and mercy is yours, making your life and its work acceptable to the Father!
So What? We Serve as He Serves!
HalleluYah! Jesus Christ is Risen from the Dead! (Wait for response!)
So what?
That is the question we need to ask ourselves, as we celebrate this season of Easter. Does the resurrection make a difference in our lives, or is it just another historic event, like Mother’s day or the Fourth of July?
Today, we will look at one of the differences, one pointed to in the reading from Acts, where deacons were set apart to serve. It is the difference we hear in Jesus words in today’s gospel, where He says, “12 “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do,:
But, you are saying, isn’t this talking about the apostles? It means the pastors and deacons will do these great works – right? No. It means those who believe, those who trust in Jesus, knowing that He has saved you, that you will serve the Father, and that He will find your work, acceptable. Acceptable, not as in “C” level work, but acceptable to His standards….
All because of Jesus. Because He has Risen, you will serve, even as He serves..
Doing His Works? Really? Me?
You might be saying, who me? I am not a good communicator! Moses used that excuse. Or I am not a leader – look at Gideon and David! Or the excuse that I am a hothead, or impatient, look at Peter and John – the apostles who would show just the opposite! If you use the excuse, I am too old – the words of Simeon, who was the first to publicly acknowledge the fulfillment of God’s plan to bring the Messiah was done by someone your age. If you claim you are too young, there is Timothy, and well, John the Baptist, who rejoiced in the Messiah’s salvation while still in the womb.
So it is talking about all believers – yes including you.
Does this mean?
That’s difficult
That’s impossible
That’s really not it…
The next question is what does it mean to be a priest, a Christ-like servant. Last week our reading pointed out that we should walk in His steps, we have all heard the phrase “what would Jesus do”, and maybe we even know that the word Christian means “little Christ’s” or we know we should be considered Christ-like.
What does this mean? Some will think or preach that we have to be perfect, that we have to dedicate all we are, that we have to suffer for others, that we have to all become missionaries to Papua New Guinea, or to Chile, or to Uganda, or evangelists on the streets of Cerritos. They will point to the first deacon, Stephen, and his attitude in interceding with God, that he would forgive those who murdered him. Isn’t that what being a priest means, what being Holy is all about?
The problem is, that by our own strength, such is difficult. How many of you are actually going to live a perfect life today? The kind of life that can, without any assistance, face God’s consideration or judgment? How many of you do not do the wrong things, but also do all the correct things?
Okay, it is not just difficult for us to see our lives as being acceptable, it is impossible. We cannot by our own strength overcome sin, we cannot defeat satan, we cannot cheat death. It is impossible.
But, isn’t that what be the chosen elect people of God means? Isn’t that what the scriptures are talking about, when it talks about us being living stones, being built up up into a spiritual temple?
No, not really. It is all about being built up in Christ
As the Spirit Builds the House
We need nourishment
Nourished we realize we are acceptable,
A people made verse 9
And our spiritual sacrifices are made not just acceptable – but quite pleasing!
Peter confirms the Old Testament, when he says that, 5 so that you, too, may be living stones making a spiritual house as a holy priesthood to offer the spiritual sacrifices made acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.” For unless the Lord builds this house, it will not stand. It has to be His work that does it, that causes us to grow, that causes us to be inline with the cornerstone, that causes us to be the living stones, the priests set apart for a special work.
The way in which we go from being unable to find ourselves acceptable to God, is in being nourished. That nourishment comes from the word of God, as it says in verse 2, 2 Like new-born babies all your longing should be for milk—the unadulterated milk of the word —which will help you to grow up to salvation,
We, the baptized, know that God is gracious, we have received grace in our baptism. Here in a place like this, at a font, or in a baptismal tank, God poured our His Spirit cleansing us with the waters of regeneration and renewal, by the power of His word. Yet we struggle with what that means, the “so what” of being united with the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Yet continually nourished with the word, the logos of God, we trust more and more in what He has done, that in Christ we, and indeed our lives and work, has been made acceptable through Christ. We are no longer genetically tied to sin, our lives have been made completely new with Christ Jesus. That is how we become,
9 But you are a chosen race, a kingdom of priests, a holy nation, a people to be a personal possession..
What an incredible work God has done and is doing in our lives! He has set us aside, created from every culture on earth, one people, one nation – one ethne – and the only way we are identified is, as HIS! Called by Him, set aside as His servant ministers, His people, that He reigns over, having cleansed us and identified us as His.
There is no greater thing that He has done, and is doing, as He calls more people to Himself through those who serve Him as His priests…. O wait – isn’t that us? Yes, it is. But not because of programs, though they can help. Not through our own holiness, for any holiness we have is of Him.
No, it comes from being fed the very truth found in His word, that He is the one who changes everything, and causes everything to be made again, perfect.
It’s all about Christ’s work, and our praises exangello –
When we realize what He has done..we exangello it
Evil Darkness into Light!
Peter describes us glorifying God for what He has done, in uniting us to Christ in this way, to sing the praises of God who called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. 10 Once you were a non-people and now you are the People of God; once you were outside his pity; now you have received pity.
As you realize this work has been done to you, (look at individuals) and to you, that this is not just about some historic event, but that He is risen indeed, that you could be united with that death and resurrection, that you proclaim the excellent work He has done.
Not because you have to because I told you too… Not because that is what will cause this church to grow, not because you do it to impress God.
You proclaim His excellency because you recognize that it is the truth, how dark in evil and sin you were, and how He has brought you into this marvelous, glorious, incredible life. You begin to realize what it means to be no longer people without a home, without a people, but now you are His people, by His call,
We, those who trust in God, yet struggle in this world of sin, need to be reminded of this fact – we are God’s – because of Christ – because He died, and rose again, because we are united with that death and resurrection….
And as we do, the praises start within this place, the joy overwhelms us, and floods into every part of our life. Joy in the midst of suffering, joy in the midst of boring work, joy even in the face of death. And that is what Peter is saying by saying we proclaim the excellency – literally the news goes out - this incredible message goes out, for we cannot but help rejoice – for He has done this! As we proclaim His excellency, through that proclamation He serves and calls to that relationship others. He works through our serving as His servants, His priests, and calls others to join this ethne.
My friends, you are God’s. Bought with a price that is beyond any other. Put in place, a by God marking you as His, for you are a chosen race, a kingdom of priests, a holy nation, a people to be a personal possession when He marked you as His, in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit!
AMEN!
Concordia Lutheran Church
5th Sunday of Easter, May 22, 2011
So What? We Serve, as He serves!
1 Peter 2:2-10
† IN JESUS NAME †
As you hear that Christ has been made manifest for your sake, may you clearly hear and know that His love and mercy is yours, making your life and its work acceptable to the Father!
So What? We Serve as He Serves!
HalleluYah! Jesus Christ is Risen from the Dead! (Wait for response!)
So what?
That is the question we need to ask ourselves, as we celebrate this season of Easter. Does the resurrection make a difference in our lives, or is it just another historic event, like Mother’s day or the Fourth of July?
Today, we will look at one of the differences, one pointed to in the reading from Acts, where deacons were set apart to serve. It is the difference we hear in Jesus words in today’s gospel, where He says, “12 “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do,:
But, you are saying, isn’t this talking about the apostles? It means the pastors and deacons will do these great works – right? No. It means those who believe, those who trust in Jesus, knowing that He has saved you, that you will serve the Father, and that He will find your work, acceptable. Acceptable, not as in “C” level work, but acceptable to His standards….
All because of Jesus. Because He has Risen, you will serve, even as He serves..
Doing His Works? Really? Me?
You might be saying, who me? I am not a good communicator! Moses used that excuse. Or I am not a leader – look at Gideon and David! Or the excuse that I am a hothead, or impatient, look at Peter and John – the apostles who would show just the opposite! If you use the excuse, I am too old – the words of Simeon, who was the first to publicly acknowledge the fulfillment of God’s plan to bring the Messiah was done by someone your age. If you claim you are too young, there is Timothy, and well, John the Baptist, who rejoiced in the Messiah’s salvation while still in the womb.
So it is talking about all believers – yes including you.
Does this mean?
That’s difficult
That’s impossible
That’s really not it…
The next question is what does it mean to be a priest, a Christ-like servant. Last week our reading pointed out that we should walk in His steps, we have all heard the phrase “what would Jesus do”, and maybe we even know that the word Christian means “little Christ’s” or we know we should be considered Christ-like.
What does this mean? Some will think or preach that we have to be perfect, that we have to dedicate all we are, that we have to suffer for others, that we have to all become missionaries to Papua New Guinea, or to Chile, or to Uganda, or evangelists on the streets of Cerritos. They will point to the first deacon, Stephen, and his attitude in interceding with God, that he would forgive those who murdered him. Isn’t that what being a priest means, what being Holy is all about?
The problem is, that by our own strength, such is difficult. How many of you are actually going to live a perfect life today? The kind of life that can, without any assistance, face God’s consideration or judgment? How many of you do not do the wrong things, but also do all the correct things?
Okay, it is not just difficult for us to see our lives as being acceptable, it is impossible. We cannot by our own strength overcome sin, we cannot defeat satan, we cannot cheat death. It is impossible.
But, isn’t that what be the chosen elect people of God means? Isn’t that what the scriptures are talking about, when it talks about us being living stones, being built up up into a spiritual temple?
No, not really. It is all about being built up in Christ
As the Spirit Builds the House
We need nourishment
Nourished we realize we are acceptable,
A people made verse 9
And our spiritual sacrifices are made not just acceptable – but quite pleasing!
Peter confirms the Old Testament, when he says that, 5 so that you, too, may be living stones making a spiritual house as a holy priesthood to offer the spiritual sacrifices made acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.” For unless the Lord builds this house, it will not stand. It has to be His work that does it, that causes us to grow, that causes us to be inline with the cornerstone, that causes us to be the living stones, the priests set apart for a special work.
The way in which we go from being unable to find ourselves acceptable to God, is in being nourished. That nourishment comes from the word of God, as it says in verse 2, 2 Like new-born babies all your longing should be for milk—the unadulterated milk of the word —which will help you to grow up to salvation,
We, the baptized, know that God is gracious, we have received grace in our baptism. Here in a place like this, at a font, or in a baptismal tank, God poured our His Spirit cleansing us with the waters of regeneration and renewal, by the power of His word. Yet we struggle with what that means, the “so what” of being united with the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Yet continually nourished with the word, the logos of God, we trust more and more in what He has done, that in Christ we, and indeed our lives and work, has been made acceptable through Christ. We are no longer genetically tied to sin, our lives have been made completely new with Christ Jesus. That is how we become,
9 But you are a chosen race, a kingdom of priests, a holy nation, a people to be a personal possession..
What an incredible work God has done and is doing in our lives! He has set us aside, created from every culture on earth, one people, one nation – one ethne – and the only way we are identified is, as HIS! Called by Him, set aside as His servant ministers, His people, that He reigns over, having cleansed us and identified us as His.
There is no greater thing that He has done, and is doing, as He calls more people to Himself through those who serve Him as His priests…. O wait – isn’t that us? Yes, it is. But not because of programs, though they can help. Not through our own holiness, for any holiness we have is of Him.
No, it comes from being fed the very truth found in His word, that He is the one who changes everything, and causes everything to be made again, perfect.
It’s all about Christ’s work, and our praises exangello –
When we realize what He has done..we exangello it
Evil Darkness into Light!
Peter describes us glorifying God for what He has done, in uniting us to Christ in this way, to sing the praises of God who called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. 10 Once you were a non-people and now you are the People of God; once you were outside his pity; now you have received pity.
As you realize this work has been done to you, (look at individuals) and to you, that this is not just about some historic event, but that He is risen indeed, that you could be united with that death and resurrection, that you proclaim the excellent work He has done.
Not because you have to because I told you too… Not because that is what will cause this church to grow, not because you do it to impress God.
You proclaim His excellency because you recognize that it is the truth, how dark in evil and sin you were, and how He has brought you into this marvelous, glorious, incredible life. You begin to realize what it means to be no longer people without a home, without a people, but now you are His people, by His call,
We, those who trust in God, yet struggle in this world of sin, need to be reminded of this fact – we are God’s – because of Christ – because He died, and rose again, because we are united with that death and resurrection….
And as we do, the praises start within this place, the joy overwhelms us, and floods into every part of our life. Joy in the midst of suffering, joy in the midst of boring work, joy even in the face of death. And that is what Peter is saying by saying we proclaim the excellency – literally the news goes out - this incredible message goes out, for we cannot but help rejoice – for He has done this! As we proclaim His excellency, through that proclamation He serves and calls to that relationship others. He works through our serving as His servants, His priests, and calls others to join this ethne.
My friends, you are God’s. Bought with a price that is beyond any other. Put in place, a by God marking you as His, for you are a chosen race, a kingdom of priests, a holy nation, a people to be a personal possession when He marked you as His, in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit!
AMEN!
