1 Thing Matters

Gratitude is the appreciation we feel when someone does something kind to us or for us. There are two factors that effect the intensity of gratitude. First, there is the deservedness factor. Say you do a favor for your neighbor. A month later, your neighbor does a favor for you. You are grateful, but not overwhelmingly so, because you deserved his help to some degree. However, if you have been an unkind or selfish neighbor, and yet your neighbor provides help when you are in need, you are extremely grateful precisely because you know you are undeserving. Second, there is the generosity factor. Imagine you pick up the mail for your neighbor for the three days he is out of town. When he gets back, he gives you a hundred-dollar bill. You might protest, “This is too generous!” He insists, and so you are very grateful.Apply this to God. Deservedness. How deserving are we of his blessing? What does God owe us? Generosity. What has God done for us? What blessings has he given us now? What blessings has he promised us in eternity? As we answer those questions, we are stunned by the undeserved generosity our God has shown us. The effect? We overflow with gratitude.

SERIES: Cause and EffectBefore we buy something, we assess whether or not we are willing to pay the asking price. If it seems reasonable to us, we may decide to make the purchase. If it seems overpriced, we likely won’t buy it.When we give gifts back to God through our offerings, it doesn’t work the same way. We don’t focus on the amount of the gift without taking an assessment of what we’ve been given first. When we do that, we see how generously God provides not only for our needs, but even our wants. When we do that, we see how generously God provides not only our physical blessings, but even more so our spiritual ones. We have all that we need - and then some! - in and through Jesus Christ. How then can we help but give back to God according to his own generosity to us?

What do John D Rockefeller, King Solomon, Henry Ford, and Joseph Stalin all have in common? Two things. First, they are all on the list of the twenty wealthiest individuals who ever lived. Second, they are all rotting in the ground. While the blessing of money can do a lot of things, it cannot prevent death or buy one’s way out of it. Jesus’ words this week warn against allowing anything - whether a love for money or anyone or anything else - to fill our hearts and crowd out the love of God and love for God. Instead, let our hearts be filled with what serves us in this life and qualifies us for the next: the Word of God.

There are more than 2,300 Bible passages that speak about money. Why? Money is a master Satan frequently tempts us to serve. In fact, out of all the masters competing for our service besides God, money is probably at the top of the list. Money provides us with a false comfort and sense of security. Money serves as a source of pride. This week, Jesus’ sharp words identify the impossibility of serving more than one master. More, Jesus teaches that if we dedicate our lives in service to money, money will always let us down. In contrast, God has proven that he is a master worth serving. When we serve God, money is put in its proper place. Instead of it being a master to serve, it becomes a tool in our service of our true Master.

SERIES: Wounds that HealThey are some of the most difficult words in the world to speak: “I forgive you.” But as hard as they are to speak, what follows them can sometimes be even harder. To reassure, comfort, and love repentant sinners - especially when we’re the one sinned against - is not an easy thing. But it is a possible thing, made so by the Jesus who first speaks words of forgiveness to us, and then goes to great lengths to follow up so that we know and believe it’s true.

SERIES: Wounds that HealThis week Jesus’ sharp words expose our desire to pursue comfort and avoid pain at all costs. Jesus explains that following him will be hard. Jesus’ disciples will be called to let go of things they love and embrace things we naturally loathe. Jesus promises that discipleship comes with crosses—a unique type of pain. So, Jesus tells us that we must count the cost of following him. He wants us to do that now, ahead of time, rather than waiting until we are in the heat of the moment and emotions are running high. However, our calculations must not only consider what we might give up for Jesus. They also entail calculating what we get through him! When we perceive the infinite blessings we find in Christ, the decisions we make, while difficult, will be clear. Whatever is lost as we follow Jesus pales in comparison to what we gain.

SERIES: Wounds that HealEveryone knows that humility is a positive trait and pride is a negative one. So, why bother talking about what we already know? Because in spite of that knowledge, we still helplessly fall into the trap of pride. We all desire acclaim, recognition, and praise. Jesus’ sharp words this week teach us that seeking exaltation in futile and fleeing ways will only result in receiving the opposite. Those who attempt to exalt themselves will eventually be humbled by God. In contrast, Jesus promises that those who leave their exaltation to God will receive honor and glory far greater than any that can be awarded in this life. Our exaltation does not need to be our responsibility, because Jesus has already made it his.

SERIES: Wounds that HealWhen it comes to the uncomfortable topic of who goes to heaven and who goes to hell, it is natural to want to avoid the issue. One way we do that is to direct our attention to more theoretical questions. “What is heaven like?” “How old will we be there?” Today someone asks, “Lord, are only a few going to be saved?” Jesus brushes all such questions aside. Instead, he answers the question we should be asking. “How might I be saved?” Jesus explains there is only one way—entering through a very narrow door. Jesus’ words cut deep! For he teaches that it is very easy to develop a false sense of security about our standing before God based on some superficial familiarity we have with him. Jesus warns that many who think they are on the path to heaven will end up shut out. These wounding words of Jesus provide healing, pushing us toward that narrow door: faith in him.

SERIES: Wounds that HealYou’ve seen it stated, “no Jesus, no peace,” in contrast to “know Jesus, know peace.” But would Jesus himself even agree? Not according to his words this morning, he wouldn’t. The world’s idea of peace is a pipe dream. Jesus’ idea of peace is a reality. What happens when those opposing ideas of peace clash? Division. Nevertheless, only in Jesus can that division be reconciled.

Why do we worry? Because worrying changes anything? Because worrying is good for us? Because maybe God won’t actually provide for us like he promised? Nope, nope, and nope. Worry is not rooted in any of those things, but in something else entirely. And the good news is that you already have the antidote to worry. The antidote to worry is not merely paying lip service to our greatest treasure - Jesus - but actually treasuring him above all else.

Things need to be renewed all around us. Car registrations. Subscription services. Insurance. The list goes on. But it isn’t just stuff that needs renewing - so do we! This morning we celebrate our 60th Anniversary. What, exactly, are we celebrating? That God has used this congregation of believers to proclaim the certainty of the Resurrection and to facilitate the renewal that accompanies those who have been raised to live in Christ. Since God only brings about that ongoing renewal through Word and Sacrament, we pray that he continues to equip us to faithfully use them for generations to come.

“Pray for What Pleases God” (1 Timothy 2:1-7)Series: Undivided AttentionIn a sense, prayer comes naturally to us. We want so we ask. We hurt so we cry out. We are frustrated so we vent. We are blessed so we give thanks. Natural! What does not come naturally, however, is a proper understanding of the privilege of prayer. Prayer is a privilege, based entirely on the unique and unearned relationship we have with God, our Father. And the purpose of prayer is really not to tell God what we want, but to claim that which God wants for us, that which is pleasing to him. Prayer provides the opportunity to bring our will into conformity with God’s will, not the other way around. This week, we give our undivided attention to what God says about this access we call prayer. Along with Jesus’ disciples we say, “Lord, teach us to pray” (Luke 11:1).

Series: Undivided AttentionSometimes circumstances have to be just right for something to be effective or to work properly. Sometimes, though, even when something is effective or working properly, we can’t tell. A recipe may turn out exactly the way it’s supposed to, but if we don’t know what the finished product is supposed to taste like, how can we tell if the recipe was a success? If a play on the field didn’t work, is it because the players didn’t carry it out correctly, or did the other team just stop it effectively? Sometimes it may seem difficult to tell if the church - and by extension the Word - is working. We don’t see the results we expected or the results don’t line up with what we assumed we’d see. How do we know the church is working in our midst here or anywhere? Because the gospel grows. That’s what it does - wherever it is proclaimed.

Series: Undivided AttentionThere are likely paths you would pursue right now in whatever season of life you’re in if not for limitations. Those limitations might be physical. They might be financial. They might be time-related, or any number of other factors might cause them. Whatever they are, how would your life be different if those limitations didn’t exist? We have freedom in Christ. Complete freedom. But from what? And just as important - for what? To know the answer to the first question is to open up the endless possibilities for the second.

Series: Undivided AttentionIn recent weeks we learned that everyone who has seen the grace of God will, whenever the opportunity arises, serve as a witness for Christ. However, Scripture teaches that there is also a need for individuals for whom gospel proclamation is their full-time focus. There are many different terms for these workers: shepherds, pastors, teachers, ministers, missionaries, etc. These workers are called by God himself through the Church to proclaim law and gospel in some public capacity. Called workers carry out their calling, not because of what they might gain from the flock, but because of what the flock might gain from Jesus through public ministry. Since Jesus taught there will always be a need for the privilege of such work, we want to give this matter our undivided attention.

Series: Undivided AttentionThere are different types of fans. There is the type of fan who follows his team if they make the playoffs. Then there is the type of fan who, regardless of his team’s record, watches every game and knows the stats for every player. There are also different types of followers: the half-hearted versus the committed. Jesus is uninterested in followers who pay attention to his Word and will only when their other pursuits provide the time. Jesus wants followers who are all in . . . who love him above all things . . . who would be willing to leave everything else behind if that’s what it would take to be with him.

A father doesn’t typically take his lead from his son. Doing so could be disastrous! A son lacks the necessary experience and wisdom to know what’s in his best interest. But in one area - which also happens to be the area that matters most! - fathers need to take their lead from the Son. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life, and as he works in perfect harmony with the Father and the Spirit, the Triune God equips fathers with everything they need to give their children what matters most.

SERIES: Because He LivesJesus’ ascension marked the fact that his work was complete. However, in another sense, it also marks that his work is just beginning. Through the Church, Jesus now proclaims forgiveness of sins throughout the world. This is our mission, as we saw last week. But, since the Church consists of people like us who are often timid and weak witnesses, Jesus promised to send us his Spirit to give us the power to carry out his mission, as we’ll see this morning on Pentecost. Equipped with both the mission and the means to carry it out, we boldly take the gospel to the ends of the earth. And we do so with the full confidence that the One ascending and sending is the One who lives and reigns over everything for the benefit of his Church.

SERIES: Because He LivesJesus’ ascension marked the fact that his work was complete. However, in another sense, it also marks that his work is just beginning. Through the Church, Jesus now proclaims forgiveness of sins throughout the world. This is our mission, as we see this morning. But, since the Church consists of people like us who are often timid and weak witnesses, Jesus promised to send us his Spirit to give us the power to carry out his mission, as we’ll see next week. Equipped with both the mission and the means to carry it out, we boldly take the gospel to the ends of the earth. And we do so with the full confidence that the One ascending and sending is the One who lives and reigns over everything for the benefit of his Church.

SERIES: Because He LivesIf someone saved you from a horrible death, what would you do to thank them? Probably just about anything they asked, because that’s how grateful you would be! Jesus not only saved us from eternal death in hell, but he won for us an eternity in paradise. What shall we do to thank him? He asks for just one thing: love. He asks us to demonstrate to others the same selfless love he has shown to us. That is how we thank him - we lead with love.