Zion Lutheran

Baptism of Our Lord

January 11, 2009

GOSPEL

Mark 1:4–11

Mark’s gospel reports the story of Jesus’ baptism with some irony: the one on whom the Spirit descends is himself the one who will baptize others with the Holy Spirit.

4John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 6Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7He proclaimed, “The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. 8I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

9In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. 11And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.”

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First Sunday of Christmas

December 28, 2008

GOSPEL

John 1:1-18

John begins his gospel with this prologue: a hymn to the Word through whom all things were created. This Word became flesh and brought grace and truth to the world.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was in the beginning with God. 3All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being 4in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. 5The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.

6There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. 8He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. 9The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.

10He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. 11He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. 12But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, 13who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God.

14And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth. 15(John testified to him and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks ahead of me because he was before me.’”) 16From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father’s heart, who has made him known

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Fourth Sunday in December

December 21, 2008

GOSPEL

Luke 1:26–38

In this annunciation, Luke makes clear that God comes with good news for ordinary people (Mary) from little-known places (Nazareth). This king will not be born to royalty in a palace, but to common folk in a stall. Here Luke highlights the role of the Spirit, a special emphasis in his gospel.

26In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, 27to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28And he came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” 29But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. 30The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. 33He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” 34Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” 35The angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. 36And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. 37For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.

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Second Sunday of Advent

December 7, 2008

GOSPEL

Mark 1:1–8

The Gospel of Mark does not begin with a story of Jesus’ birth but with the voice of one crying out in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord.

The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

2As it is written in the prophet Isaiah,

“See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way;

3the voice of one crying out in the wilderness:

‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,’”

4John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

5And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.

6Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist,

and he ate locusts and wild honey.

7He proclaimed, “The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me;

I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals.

8I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

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Twenty-sixth Sunday after Pentecost

November 9, 2008

GOSPEL

Matthew 25:1–13

Jesus tells a parable about his own second coming, emphasizing the need for readiness at all times.

Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. 2Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; 4but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. 5As the bridegroom was delayed, all of them became drowsy and slept. 6But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Look! Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ 7Then all those bridesmaids got up and trimmed their lamps. 8The foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9But the wise replied, ‘No! there will not be enough for you and for us; you had better go to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’ 10And while they went to buy it, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went with him into the wedding banquet; and the door was shut. 11Later the other bridesmaids came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ 12But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I do not know you.’ 13Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.

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 Twenty-third Sunday after Pentecost

Sunday, October 19, 2008

Gospel

Matthew 22:15–22

After Jesus begins teaching in the temple, religious leaders try to trap him with questions. First they ask if God’s people should pay taxes to an earthly tyrant like Caesar.

15Then the Pharisees went and plotted to entrap him in what he said. 16So they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are sincere, and teach the way of God in accordance with truth, and show deference to no one; for you do not regard people with partiality. 17Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?” 18But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, “Why are you putting me to the test, you hypocrites? 19Show me the coin used for the tax.” And they brought him a denarius. 20Then he said to them, “Whose head is this, and whose title?” 21They answered, “The emperor’s.” Then he said to them, “Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” 22When they heard this, they were amazed; and they left him and went away.

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October 5, 2008

Text:  Isaiah 5:1-7, Psalm 80:7-15, Philippians 3:4b-14, Matthew 21:33-46

This sermon was not recorded, so a transcript is provided instead.

Please join with me in prayer.  Holy and gracious God, you have called us to ventures that we can not see, you strengthen us when we are weak and you grant us hope in the midst of all things.  Mold us into the people you would have us to be for the sake of our broken world.  Amen.

Dear hearers of God’s word, grace be unto you and peace, from God our creator, Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  Amen.

I’m curious — how many Bibles do you have in your home?  It’s not a contest just a question?  So, the next questions is what do you with your Bible and how to you see it?  Hopefully it is more than a collector of other important pieces of paper, more than a decorative bookend.  So, the next question is how do you use it?  Is it a divine reference book — spiritual first aide — do you see it as God’s autobiography contain with in the front and back covers — how about the law — church members hand book of do’s and don’ts  to keep others out — ?  How about seeing the Bible as the living word that forms and changes our lives.  Move beyond a reference book of how others did it to entering into the word so that the Bible  can help us make sense of our lives.

Now, with that said, it only works when we open it, when we read and study scripture in our own lives so that as we come together for worship we are ready to give thanks and praise as a community for all the places we see God at work.  Worship is the place where we listen together for God’s voice, God’s claim on our life for how we are to be his people in this place.  We need to move beyond the book — to the living, life giving word.  As Luther said, the Bible is the cradle that holds the message.

With this is mind, knowing that we have shared together in the reading of the gospel — listen to it again — this time from Eugene Peterson’s Message.  What catches your attention:  Here’s another story.  Listen closely.  There was once a man, a wealthy farmer, who planted a vineyard.  He fenced it, dug a winepress, put us a watchtower, then turned it over to the farmhands and went off on a trip.  When it was time to harvest the grapes, he sent his servants back to collect his profits.

The farmhands grabbed the first servant and beat him up.  The next one they murdered.  They three stones at the third but he got away.  The owner tried again, sending more servants.  They got the same treatment.  The owner was at the end of his rope.  He decided to send his son.  ‘Surely,’ he thought, ‘they will respect my son.’  “But when the farmhands saw the son arrive, they rubbed their hands in greed.  ‘This is the heir!  Let’s kill him and have it all for ourselves.’  They grabbed him, threw him out, and killed him.

“Now, when the owner of the vineyard arrives home from his trip, what do you think he will do to the farmhands?”

“He’ll kill them — a rotten bunch, and good riddance,” they answered.  “Then he’ll assign the vineyard to farmhand who will hand over the profits when it’s time.”

Jesus said, “Right — and you can read it for yourselves in your Bibles:  The stone the masons threw out is now the cornerstone.  This is God’s word; we rub our eyes, we can hardly believe it!  This is the way it is with you.  God’s kingdom will be taken back from you and handed over to a people who will live out a kingdom life.  Whoever stumbles on this Stone gets shattered; whoever the Stone falls on gets smashed.”

When the religious leaders heard this story, they knew it was aimed at them.  They wanted to arrest Jesus and put him in jail, but, intimidated by public opinion, they held back  Most people held him to be a prophet of God.

What catches your attention, your imagination?  Do you feel sympathy for renters, then ones who do all the work but the owner gets all the benefit?  How are you with the violence — they are down right abusive — but why do they think that by killing the son they could inherit the vineyard  — what claim do they have on the property.

If this is a test for the renters, how did they do?  They changed the story into a test of the master — what should he do to those who entrusted with his property when they screw up and abuse/misuse that trust?

Sometimes these readings are a little too close to home — but that’s why Jesus tells them on his way to the cross — that is the living word working in our lives — because the parable doesn’t end with the death of the son — look at verse 42 it says:  Have you never read in the scriptures:  ‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord’s doing, and it is amazing in our eyes.’  Well, if you are not reading scripture, not dwelling in the word you probably missed it — but we are clear in Jesus being the cornerstone of our lives.

Paul tells us that we have this treasure in earthen vessels so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us.  The treasure, God’s living, life giving word has been entrusted to us.  Each and every one of us.  How can you know what it says if you do not read it, dwell in it, listen to God’s voice?

We live in turbulent times.  Election years raises anxiety.  The economy is scary.  Pastoral transitions in churches raises anxiety.  In some ways it feels like everything is fall apart.  Where do you turn?  To the news?  To the latest gossip?  To God’s living word?  You see, God is patient with us.  Yes, very, very patient.  When we stumble, when we screw up and when we are overwhelmed and exhausted God continues to reach to us claiming us as redeemed, guiding us through the Holy Spirit so that we can continue to do his work with our hands to the least, the last and the lost in Jesus’ name.  Not in our name, but in Jesus’ name.

The apostle Paul knew all too well the struggle of moving on, moving past those things that keep us stuck.  Paul understood what it means to be turned around and changed by God.  He says this in Philippians 3:  Friends, don’t get me wrong:  By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us toward — to Jesus.  I’m off and running, and I’m not turning back.  So let’s keep focused on that goal, those of us who want everything God has for us.  If any of you have something else in mind, something less than total commitment, God will clear your blurred vision — you’ll see it yet!

We’ve been entrusted with the vineyard, with God’s life giving word — not to control and abuse, not to hoard and hide from others — no it’s life giving, it is our story — it breathes life back into us when the wind has been knocked of us — it kicks us in the seat when we screw up.  For some it gives faith that makes all things better for other it is a way to keep our footing in turbulent times.

Yes – amazing things happen through this life giving word.  Thanks be to God… Amen.

 Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost

September 21, 2008

Gospel

Matthew 20:1–16

Jesus tells a parable about God’s generosity, challenging the common assumption that God rewards people according to what they have earned or deserve.

For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. 2After agreeing with the laborers for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard. 3When he went out about nine o’clock, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace; 4and he said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ So they went. 5When he went out again about noon and about three o’clock, he did the same. 6And about five o’clock he went out and found others standing around; and he said to them, ‘Why are you standing here idle all day?’ 7They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard.’ 8When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, ‘Call the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and then going to the first.’ 9When those hired about five o’clock came, each of them received the usual daily wage. 10Now when the first came, they thought they would receive more; but each of them also received the usual daily wage. 11And when they received it, they grumbled against the landowner, 12saying, ‘These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’ 13But he replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? 14Take what belongs to you and go; I choose to give to this last the same as I give to you. 15Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?’ 16So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”

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 Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost

August 17, 2008

GOSPEL

Matthew 15:[10–20] 21–28

Jesus teaches his disciples that true purity is a matter of the heart rather than outward religious observances. Almost immediately, this teaching is tested when a woman considered to be pagan and unclean approaches him for help.

10Then he called the crowd to him and said to them, “Listen and understand: 11it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but it is what comes out of the mouth that defiles.” 12Then the disciples approached and said to him, “Do you know that the Pharisees took offense when they heard what you said?” 13He answered, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. 14Let them alone; they are blind guides of the blind. And if one blind person guides another, both will fall into a pit.” 15But Peter said to him, “Explain this parable to us.” 16Then he said, “Are you also still without understanding? 17Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth enters the stomach, and goes out into the sewer? 18But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this is what defiles. 19For out of the heart come evil intentions, murder, adultery, fornication, theft, false witness, slander. 20These are what defile a person, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile.”

21Jesus left that place and went away to the district of Tyre and Sidon. 22Just then a Canaanite woman from that region came out and started shouting, “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is tormented by a demon.” 23But he did not answer her at all. And his disciples came and urged him, saying, “Send her away, for she keeps shouting after us.” 24He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” 25But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.” 26He answered, “It is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.” 27She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” 28Then Jesus answered her, “Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.” And her daughter was healed instantly.

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 Ninth Sunday after Pentecost

July 13, 2008   

GOSPEL

Matthew 13:1–9, 18–23

In Matthew’s gospel, both Jesus and his disciples “sow the seed” of God’s word by proclaiming the good news that “the kingdom of heaven is near.” Now, in a memorable parable, Jesus explains why this good news produces different results in those who hear

That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. 2Such great crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat there, while the whole crowd stood on the beach. 3And he told them many things in parables, saying: “Listen! A sower went out to sow. 4And as he sowed, some seeds fell on the path, and the birds came and ate them up. 5Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and they sprang up quickly, since they had no depth of soil. 6But when the sun rose, they were scorched; and since they had no root, they withered away. 7Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. ther seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 9Let anyone with ears listen!”

18Hear then the parable of the sower. 19When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what is sown in the heart; this is what was sown on the path. 20As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21yet such a person has no root, but endures only for a while, and when trouble or persecution arises on account of the word, that person immediately falls away. 22As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the lure of wealth choke the word, and it yields nothing. 23But as for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”

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