Rev. Dustin ParkerTrust
Concordia Lutheran Church
Easter 2, May 1, 2011
He is Risen Indeed! So What?
1 Peter 1:3-9
† IN JESUS NAME †
As we explore the question of “So what”, may you realize that this grace, this mercy, this love and faithfulness of the Father changes everything, and may you rejoice!
Concordia’s Pastor commented…
Why would He find this exciting?
Because we have to trust God!
The article quoted Concordia’s pastor as saying, “that he finds it exciting to be a Christian. He enjoys life and wants to live in the community…
It goes on, “there is no legalism involved in his teachings. The response he hopes to draw from his people is one of freedom and not of “required church attitude”
“He states, ‘Too often we want people to be our kind of people, or we don’t mess with them, This applies to both adults and young people. Today, young people are searching and the church must show the way…”
Towards the end of the article, they reporter wrote, “His (Concordia’s pastor’s) belief is for everybody to do their own thing – but to the glory of God. The biggest job is to get people to come back to church.”
Now this may sound familiar, these words describing and attributed to the pastor of Concordia Lutheran Church. They were published, not recently, but on my fifth birthday! Al and Steve and Jeff were the “young people” back then! The article was about a new church in Cerritos, which was meeting in Cerritos Elementary School, while they worked at developing a church that would be built on the corner. The pastor was on Reverend Vilas E Mazemke!
Things haven’t changed.
The pastor still of Concordia finds it exciting to be a Christian, hopefully there is not any legalism, we still struggle when we interact with people different than “us”. Young people are still searching and we, this church, must be there to show them the way…and we need to get people back to church!
Because, praise God, He is Risen!
Because we have a God in whom we can trust, for not only does He keep His promises, He guards and protects us until those promises are completely fulfilled!
God’s working!
Re-conceived to a Living Hope
Hear what this hope is!
BECAUSE He rose
That is the promise we see in the reading from Peter’s letter to a traumatized church. It is part of the answer to the question “So what?” For Christ’s resurrection changes everything – including the fact that we can trust in God!. Hear the words again!
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead!
A “living hope” is what we have been baptized, regenerated, renewed into because Christ was born again, Realize that when the Bible talks about hope, it isn’t talking about I hope it doesn’t get to hot this July in Palm Springs, it’s talking about a sure expectation, that for which we confidently, even if not always patiently await!
We live in this hope, truly live, knowing how secure the promise is, this place we have in Christ Jesus! Nothing can diminish it, or reduce it or spoil it! It is ours, eternity spent in God’s glory with Him, His children. That which Paul writes to the Corinthians about saying,
9 But as it is written: 'Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love him'. But God has, through the Spirit, let us share his secret. 1 Corinthians 2:9 (Phillips NT)
It is no wonder that Peter describes the reaction to this, not using the word for just joy, but the superlative – extremely joyous! Pr. Mazemke used the word excited for a reason, for it is exciting to watch God at work, as He causes our re-birth, our re-generation! God gathering people together, pouring out on them His love and hope in a way that goes beyond our understanding!
He is our God people! Through the same power He exhibited in raising His only begotten Son, Jesus, from the dead, He has re-made us, recreated us as His people. That is this so what – we trust in the work He has done, and will complete in us.
Despite
The pains of the past, and the trials of the present
Our trust was proved genuine
That means HE DOESN”T fail
Peter even as he describes us as rejoicing in our salvation, notes that we can presently be grieved, a word also translated as irritated, by the trials of life. This was true in Peter’s day, as the church was being persecuted, it was true in Luther’s day, and it has been true over the years even here at Concordia.
The article I quoted from had this sketch above it, and a map showing how the church was to be built. Our present site looks nothing like what was planned and I bet that caused a little stress – even then. We can chronicle many of the challenges since, the Air Collision, the friends who have gone home, many far too early, others who have gone to other places, we all face challenges today. The prayer list testifies to that, but also to the fact we can and do place our friends, our families, those we care about in the hands of a caring loving God whose faithfulness is there, even in the midst of our impatience and doubt.
I love how verse 7 pictures it…
7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Our faith, our trust in God’s work and promises will not prove false, He cannot deny Himself, nor His will.
Love, Trust and Rejoice!
Your Future guarded by all of heaven
You are being guarded, til it Is revealed!
Rejoice, Christ is Risen!
Therefore you life changes,, verse 8,
8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
We are delivered to the Father – we have a lot in heaven, this inexpressibly incredible place, which we only get glimpses of, when we commune and realize that this is His body, this is His blood, shed for you and I. When we see the relationships healed that we thought long past any hope of reconciliation, when we see God take those trials and prove His faithfulness, so incredibly that we feel compelled to worship in awe.
The challenge of course, is keeping our eyes on the cross, the place where this all became real. To love and trust and therefore Rejoice!
A challenge that is not found in our own stability. But in realizing what we heard last week, that we are hid with Christ in God! That when He is revealed, so will we be truly. Guaranteed!
Step back to verse 4 and 5
4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
The word “kept” we have talked about before – the word not referring to the things we place in the garage with the hope of fixing them “someday”. But kept as in castle keep – the place where the treasure is stored, the most impenetrable, secure place in the entire kingdom. Our inheritance, our legally declared lot in eternity is secured there, until we return with Christ.
Yet not is just our inheritance guarded and secured, but so are we! Verse 5 makes that clear – using the term for guard that means God is actively on duty, using all of His power to secure us! We know this in our minds, my goal is that we know it with every part of our being, mind, soul, heart, body, in every aspect of our lives, not just our church! But in our homes, to know He is there, and in our workplaces, with our friends, where we shop, and in our doctor’s office.
It is there that we need to grasp the SO WHAT to the fact HE IS RISEN!
This isn’t law folks, this is not something we can do, save for that which He is working within us! A desire to love Him, even though we do not see Him, we know His love, we have it given to us. We trust in Him, believe in Him. He is Risen, …. And so shall we rise with Him, for eternity!
Our offertory is, “tis so sweet to trust in Jesus, just took take Him at His word! “ For as we do, we live in our baptism, in our regeneration in that living hope.
So What? He is what, the God we love, and trust, because He loved us, and is always faithful to His promises… AMEN?
Easter 2, May 1, 2011
He is Risen Indeed! So What?
1 Peter 1:3-9
† IN JESUS NAME †
As we explore the question of “So what”, may you realize that this grace, this mercy, this love and faithfulness of the Father changes everything, and may you rejoice!
Concordia’s Pastor commented…
Why would He find this exciting?
Because we have to trust God!
The article quoted Concordia’s pastor as saying, “that he finds it exciting to be a Christian. He enjoys life and wants to live in the community…
It goes on, “there is no legalism involved in his teachings. The response he hopes to draw from his people is one of freedom and not of “required church attitude”
“He states, ‘Too often we want people to be our kind of people, or we don’t mess with them, This applies to both adults and young people. Today, young people are searching and the church must show the way…”
Towards the end of the article, they reporter wrote, “His (Concordia’s pastor’s) belief is for everybody to do their own thing – but to the glory of God. The biggest job is to get people to come back to church.”
Now this may sound familiar, these words describing and attributed to the pastor of Concordia Lutheran Church. They were published, not recently, but on my fifth birthday! Al and Steve and Jeff were the “young people” back then! The article was about a new church in Cerritos, which was meeting in Cerritos Elementary School, while they worked at developing a church that would be built on the corner. The pastor was on Reverend Vilas E Mazemke!
Things haven’t changed.
The pastor still of Concordia finds it exciting to be a Christian, hopefully there is not any legalism, we still struggle when we interact with people different than “us”. Young people are still searching and we, this church, must be there to show them the way…and we need to get people back to church!
Because, praise God, He is Risen!
Because we have a God in whom we can trust, for not only does He keep His promises, He guards and protects us until those promises are completely fulfilled!
God’s working!
Re-conceived to a Living Hope
Hear what this hope is!
BECAUSE He rose
That is the promise we see in the reading from Peter’s letter to a traumatized church. It is part of the answer to the question “So what?” For Christ’s resurrection changes everything – including the fact that we can trust in God!. Hear the words again!
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead!
A “living hope” is what we have been baptized, regenerated, renewed into because Christ was born again, Realize that when the Bible talks about hope, it isn’t talking about I hope it doesn’t get to hot this July in Palm Springs, it’s talking about a sure expectation, that for which we confidently, even if not always patiently await!
We live in this hope, truly live, knowing how secure the promise is, this place we have in Christ Jesus! Nothing can diminish it, or reduce it or spoil it! It is ours, eternity spent in God’s glory with Him, His children. That which Paul writes to the Corinthians about saying,
9 But as it is written: 'Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love him'. But God has, through the Spirit, let us share his secret. 1 Corinthians 2:9 (Phillips NT)
It is no wonder that Peter describes the reaction to this, not using the word for just joy, but the superlative – extremely joyous! Pr. Mazemke used the word excited for a reason, for it is exciting to watch God at work, as He causes our re-birth, our re-generation! God gathering people together, pouring out on them His love and hope in a way that goes beyond our understanding!
He is our God people! Through the same power He exhibited in raising His only begotten Son, Jesus, from the dead, He has re-made us, recreated us as His people. That is this so what – we trust in the work He has done, and will complete in us.
Despite
The pains of the past, and the trials of the present
Our trust was proved genuine
That means HE DOESN”T fail
Peter even as he describes us as rejoicing in our salvation, notes that we can presently be grieved, a word also translated as irritated, by the trials of life. This was true in Peter’s day, as the church was being persecuted, it was true in Luther’s day, and it has been true over the years even here at Concordia.
The article I quoted from had this sketch above it, and a map showing how the church was to be built. Our present site looks nothing like what was planned and I bet that caused a little stress – even then. We can chronicle many of the challenges since, the Air Collision, the friends who have gone home, many far too early, others who have gone to other places, we all face challenges today. The prayer list testifies to that, but also to the fact we can and do place our friends, our families, those we care about in the hands of a caring loving God whose faithfulness is there, even in the midst of our impatience and doubt.
I love how verse 7 pictures it…
7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Our faith, our trust in God’s work and promises will not prove false, He cannot deny Himself, nor His will.
Love, Trust and Rejoice!
Your Future guarded by all of heaven
You are being guarded, til it Is revealed!
Rejoice, Christ is Risen!
Therefore you life changes,, verse 8,
8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
We are delivered to the Father – we have a lot in heaven, this inexpressibly incredible place, which we only get glimpses of, when we commune and realize that this is His body, this is His blood, shed for you and I. When we see the relationships healed that we thought long past any hope of reconciliation, when we see God take those trials and prove His faithfulness, so incredibly that we feel compelled to worship in awe.
The challenge of course, is keeping our eyes on the cross, the place where this all became real. To love and trust and therefore Rejoice!
A challenge that is not found in our own stability. But in realizing what we heard last week, that we are hid with Christ in God! That when He is revealed, so will we be truly. Guaranteed!
Step back to verse 4 and 5
4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
The word “kept” we have talked about before – the word not referring to the things we place in the garage with the hope of fixing them “someday”. But kept as in castle keep – the place where the treasure is stored, the most impenetrable, secure place in the entire kingdom. Our inheritance, our legally declared lot in eternity is secured there, until we return with Christ.
Yet not is just our inheritance guarded and secured, but so are we! Verse 5 makes that clear – using the term for guard that means God is actively on duty, using all of His power to secure us! We know this in our minds, my goal is that we know it with every part of our being, mind, soul, heart, body, in every aspect of our lives, not just our church! But in our homes, to know He is there, and in our workplaces, with our friends, where we shop, and in our doctor’s office.
It is there that we need to grasp the SO WHAT to the fact HE IS RISEN!
This isn’t law folks, this is not something we can do, save for that which He is working within us! A desire to love Him, even though we do not see Him, we know His love, we have it given to us. We trust in Him, believe in Him. He is Risen, …. And so shall we rise with Him, for eternity!
Our offertory is, “tis so sweet to trust in Jesus, just took take Him at His word! “ For as we do, we live in our baptism, in our regeneration in that living hope.
So What? He is what, the God we love, and trust, because He loved us, and is always faithful to His promises… AMEN?
