Top Ten Reasons Only One of Ten Lepers Returned to Jesus in Faith

Top Ten Reasons only One of Ten Lepers Returned to Jesus in Faith

10) He had no TCN to transform His old fashioned ministry.
9) He had no PLI to train Him in leadership principles and skills.
8) He had no CTCR or CCM to make a ruling.
7) He had no DRP to resolve the disputes of the nine.
6) He had no DP or CoP to step in.
5) He had no LC-MS to give Him credibility and a pretty purple logo.
4) He appeared to believe His own opinions should be accepted without question.
3) Not enough eye contact.
2) The other nine had Him in their hearts.

And the Number One reason only one of ten lepers returned to Jesus in faith . . .

No Praise Band!

Rise and Go Your Way!

If you would like to hear the sermon preached at Trinity Lutheran Church in Layton, Utah for the Fourteenth Sunday after Trinity, "Rise and Go Your Way" click on this MP3 audio link. The audio includes the Hymn of the Day, LSB #814, "O Bless the Lord, My Soul." The sermon begins at the 1:55 mark.

Rise and go your way in Christ, the way of salvation, washed clean of the leprosy of your sin and born into the kingdom of heaven.

A servant of the Word and His folk,
Pastor Hering

Here is the preaching manuscript if you prefer to read along or read instead.

TEXT: Luke 17:11-19 11On the way to Jerusalem [Jesus] was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. 12And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance 13and lifted up their voices, saying, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us." 14When he saw them he said to them, "Go and show yourselves to the priests." And as they went they were cleansed. 15Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; 16and he fell on his face at Jesus' feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. 17Then Jesus answered, "Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? 18 Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?" 19And he said to him, "Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well."

Dear Baptized,

"Rise and go your way!" This is what the Lord, your God, is telling you every time you hear the words by which you were born again from above and into the kingdom of heaven--in the name of the Father ,and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

"Rise and go your way!" This is what the Lord, your God, is telling you when the Church begins her liturgy of the Divine Service every Lord's Day with the Invocation--in the name of the Father ,and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

"Rise and go your way!" This is what the Lord, your God, is telling you when—having confessed your sins--you receive absolution from the pastor--in the name of the Father ,and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

"Rise and go your way!" This is what the blessed Martin Luther wanted to call to your mind when he wrote his instructions for daily prayer in The Small Catechism, where he wrties:
"In the morning, when you rise/In the evening, when you go to bed, you shall bless yourself with the holy cross and say, 'In the name of God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.'"

"Rise and go your way!" because in the Sacrament of Holy Baptism that has been poured over you, God "works forgiveness of sins, delivers from death and the devil, and gives eternal salvation to all who believe this, as the words and promises of God declare. Which are these words and promises of God? Christ, our Lord, says in the last chapter of Mark, 'Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned'" [Mark 16:16]. - Small Catechism, The Sacrament of Holy Baptism, Part Two

"Rise and go your way!" because, "the Word of God, which is in and with the water of [the Sacrament of Holy Baptism], makes Baptism a gracious water of life and a washing of regeneration in the Holy Spirit. As St. Paul says in Titus chapter three, 'He saved us … by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. The saying is trustworthy'" [vv. 5-8]. - Small Catechism, The Sacrament of Holy Baptism, Part Three

"Rise and go your way!" because in the Sacrament of Holy Baptism the "water God has poured over you signifies that the old Adam in you should, by daily contrition and repentance, be drowned and die with all sins and evil lusts. And also it shows that a new man should daily come forth and arise, who shall live before God in righteousness and purity forever. As Paul says in Romans chapter 6, 'We were buried therefore with Him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life'" [v. 4]. - Small Catechism, The Sacrament of Holy Baptism, Part Four

When Jesus told the Samaritan sinner--I mean leper--"Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well," He was giving this one even more than what He had given the rest. The other nine were cleansed of their leprosy and had their bodily disease healed just as certainly as had the Samaritan sinner—I mean, leper. But something more happens with the Samaritan sinner—I mean, leper. In addition to being cleansed and healed of his leprosy, Jesus declared the Samaritan leper—and by leper, now I mean sinner—to be saved.

Why? Because by his cleansing and healing encounter with Jesus, the Holy Spirit brought him to believe that Jesus is the Son of the Living God.

How can I say this so confidently? Because, as Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 13:3, "No one can say, 'Jesus is Lord,' except by the Holy Spirit." And when the Samaritan sinner "turned back, praising God with a loud voice; and he fell on his face at Jesus' feet, giving him thanks," he was repenting of his sin and confessing, "Jesus as his Lord.

Here it will be helpful to understand something about the disease of leprosy, because to do so is also to understand sin. The white, flaky skin and terrible festering sores of leprosy are an indication and result of a systemic condition. As if leprosy's uncleanness and sores of the flesh are not enough, it also causes a numbing of the nerves that prevents one from feeling pain. While this might seem like a good thing, it prevents one inflicted with the disease from realizing the damage being caused and the danger posed. Sin works the same way.

Because sin is such an insidious condition, Luther reminds us of the importance of hearing the Word and receiving the body and blood of our Savior often in his Large Catechism explanation to THE SACRAMENT OF THE ALTAR.

75 But if you say, "What, then, shall I do if I cannot feel such distress or experience
hunger and thirst for the Sacrament?" Answer, "For those who are of such a mind that they do not realize their condition I know no better counsel than that they put their hand into their shirt to check whether they have flesh and blood. And if you find that you do, then go, for your good, to St. Paul's Epistle to the Galatians. Hear what sort of a fruit your flesh is:
Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies and things like these. [Galatians 5:19-21]

76 Therefore, if you cannot discern this, at least believe the Scriptures. They will not lie to you, and they know your flesh better than you yourself. Yes, St. Paul further concludes in Romans 7:18, "I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh." If St. Paul may speak this way about his flesh, we cannot assume to be better or more holy than him. 77 But the fact that we do not feel our weakness just makes things worse. It is a sign that there is a leprous flesh in us that can't feel anything. And yet, the leprosy rages and keeps spreading. 78 As we have said, if you are quite dead to all sensibility, still believe the Scriptures, which pronounce sentence upon you. In short, the less you feel your sins and infirmities, the more reason you have to go to the Sacrament to seek help and a remedy.

On p. 329 of LSB, you will find The Small Catechism's "Christian Questions with Their Answers,: Prepared by Dr. Martin Luther for those who intend to go to the Sacrament" [to receive the body and blood of Christ]. Let us now examine ourselves together. Please recite the answers with me as I ask the questions beginning on p. 329.

[Ask Questions of, and recite Answers with congregation]

Dear Baptized, you who have been instructed, examined and absolved according to the Word of God, come now to the table of the Lord. And for you who have not yet been so instructed, examined, absolved, or baptized, come receive these things here at Trinity so that with the Samaritan sinner and all the Baptized, you will believe and be saved when you hear Jesus say to you--"Rise and go your way!" Even more than the ten lepers, you have been washed clean. Because you have been forgiven all your sins and born from above to life in the kingdom of heaven, now and forever--in the name of the Father ,and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Who Is the One Who Shows Mercy?

Dearly Beloved of God,

If you would like to hear the sermon preached at Trinity Lutheran Church in Layton, Utah for the Thirteenth Sunday after Trinity, "Who Is the One Who Shows Mercy?" click on this MP3 audio link. The audio includes the Hymn of the Day, LSB #852, "O God of Mercy, God of Might." The sermon begins at the 1:50 mark.

Have a great week in Christ knowing He has shown you mercy and given you eternal life.

A servant of the Word and His folk,
Pastor Hering

Here is the preaching manuscript if you prefer to read along or read instead.

Who is the One Who Shows Mercy?

TEXT: Luke 10:23-37 23Turning to the disciples [Jesus] said privately, "Blessed are the eyes that see what you see! 24For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it."

The One who shows mercy is the One whom the disciples saw and heard—Jesus the Christ, the Son of the living God.

He is also the One whom many others don't see even though they behold Him with their eyes every day,
For what can be(AL) known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature,(AM) have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. Romans 1:19-20

and don't hear even though they have the very Word of God.
And the Father who sent me has himself borne witness about me. His voice you have never heard, his form you have never seen, and you do not have his word abiding in you, for you do not believe the one whom he has sent. You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life. John 5:37-40
So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly." Jesus answered them, "I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name bear witness about me, but you do not believe because you are not part of my flock. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. John 10:24-27

Who are the ones who do not see, or hear, or follow the One Who shows mercy? We tend to think, we would like to think they are only those who are blatantly evil, plainly hurtful to others and harmful to society. But Jesus tells us differently.

25And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, "Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" 26He said to him, "What is written in the Law? How do you read it?" 27And he answered, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself." 28And he said to him, "You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live."

The ones who do not see, or hear, or follow Jesus are the ones who want to inherit eternal life by what they do rather than by what they receive. No one ever inherits anything by what they do, but by what their benefactor does.

So the ones who go through life asking the wrong question, what must I do, get an answer that is impossible. Sensing this,

29But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" 30Jesus replied, "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. 31Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. 32So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. 34He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, 'Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.' 36Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?" 37He said, "The one who showed him mercy." And Jesus said to him, "You go, and do likewise."

Clearly this is not something the lawyer was likely to do. It would be inconvenient. It would be dangerous. It would even make him unclean.

Yet this is the requirement of the Second table of the Law--not only that we do "not hurt or harm our neighbor in his body, but help and befriend him in every bodily need [in every need and danger of life and body]."--Small Catechism Explanation to the Fifth Commandment

Yet, lest you and I think we would never be so smug and uncaring as the lawyer and the priest and the Levite,
And furthermore, "that we not despise or anger our parents and masters, but give them honor, serve them, obey them, and hold them in love and esteem."-- Small Catechism Explanation to the Fourth Commandment
And if that is not enough, "help him to improve and protect his property and business."-- Small Catechism Explanation to the Seventh Commandment
"defend him, ‹think and› speak well of him, and put the best construction on everything." -- Small Catechism Explanation to the Eighth Commandment

And if all this is not enough, because according to Ephesians 5:21 baptized believers in faith live their lives "submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.". Scripture sets before us what the Small Catechism lists as a TABLE OF DUTIES--for Various Holy Orders and Positions, by Which These People Are to Be Admonished, as a Special Lesson, about Their Office and Service
FOR BISHOPS, PASTORS, AND PREACHERS
Therefore, an overseer [pastor] must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive. He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it. (1 Timothy 3:2-4, 6; Titus 1:9)
‹WHAT THE HEARERS OWE TO THEIR PASTORS
In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel. (1 Corinthians 9:14)
One who is taught the word must share all good things with the one who teaches. (Galatians 6:6)
Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, "You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain," and, "The laborer deserves his wages." (1 Timothy 5:17-18)
Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you. (Hebrews 13:17)›
CONCERNING CIVIL GOVERNMENT
Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer. (Romans 13:1-4)
‹WHAT SUBJECTS OWE TO THE RULERS
Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's. (Matthew 22:21)
Let every person be subject to the governing authorities.… Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God's wrath but also for the sake of conscience. For the same reason you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed. (Romans 13:1, 5-7)
First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. (1 Timothy 2:1-2)
Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work. (Titus 3:1)
Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. (1 Peter 2:13-14)›
FOR HUSBANDS
Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered. (1 Peter 3:7)
Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them. (Colossians 3:19)
FOR WIVES
Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.
For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their husbands, as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. And you are her children, if you do good and do not fear anything that is frightening. (Ephesians 5:22; 1 Peter 3:5-6)
FOR PARENTS
Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. (Ephesians 6:4)
FOR CHILDREN
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. "Honor your father and mother" (this is the first commandment with a promise), "that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land." (Ephesians 6:1-3)
FOR MALE AND FEMALE SERVANTS, HIRED MEN, AND LABORERS
Slaves, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free. (Ephesians 6:5-8; see also Colossians 3:22)
FOR MASTERS AND MISTRESSES
Masters, do the same to them, and stop your threatening, knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and that there is no partiality with Him. (Ephesians 6:9; see also Colossians 4:1)
FOR YOUNG PERSONS IN GENERAL
Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you. (1 Peter 5:5-6)
FOR WIDOWS
She who is truly a widow, left all alone, has set her hope on God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day, but she who is self-indulgent is dead even while she lives. (1 Timothy 5:5-6)
FOR ALL IN COMMON
The commandments … are summed up in this word: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." (Romans 13:9) "First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people." (1 Timothy 2:1)

So what does this all say to the lawyer, or more importantly to you or me as to our ability to, "go, and do likewise"?

Who is it Who is the One Who has submitted not only to His Father and mother, but to earthly authorities, and even to you and to me in going to Calvary? Who is the One Who Shows Mercy?

The One who shows mercy is the One you are hearing today; the One whose very body and blood you have come to eat and drink; the One in whom you live and move and have your being; the One who lived, died, rose, and ascended for His neighbor; the One who has sent the Holy Spirit to forgive you all your sins and keep you with Him in His holy Christian Church and life everlasting --in the name of the Father ,and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Be Opened!

Dear People of Trinity,

If you would like to hear the sermon preached at Trinity Lutheran Church in Layton, Utah for the Twelfth Sunday after Trinity, "Be Opened!" click on this MP3 audio link. The audio includes the Hymn of the Day, LSB #545, "Word of God, Come Down to Earth." The sermon begins at the 2:30 mark.

Have a great week in Christ as He has commanded heaven to "Be Opened!" to you.

A servant of the Word and His folk,
Pastor Hering

Here is the preaching manuscript if you prefer to read along or read instead. Thanks to Rev. Dean Kavouras (Pastor at Christ Lutheran Church, Cleveland; Chaplain Cleveland Emergency Services and FBI - Cleveland Division) for his 9/11 observations.

Dear people of Trinity,

Some will never forget what they were doing on September 11, 2011, and for others (like me) it was all a blur. Certainly, as Americans, our lives have never been the same.

And yet, as Christians, we have never known another way and will not know any other way until our Lord comes again.

Matthew 24:6-8: And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.

So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:7-10

As Americans today we want and need to remember the many who died and their survivors who suffered such great loss—that these men and women are among God’s gifts to us, as is our country and our laws, by which we live in relative peace and security even in these times of economic uncertainty.

As Christians we want and need to remember the One who died that we might live. Remember not just as some mental exercise or emotional experience, but as an ongoing work of our Lord by which He unites us to Him in a state of forgiveness that surrounds us with the very kingdom of heaven and all its hosts of angels to protect us from the evil one, and saints who rejoice with us in singing thanks and praise to God in Christ Jesus.

As Americans today we want and need to know that we will always respond when our people are threatened—and we want the world to be reminded of that as well.

As Christians we want and need to know our Lord is here to respond to our needs of daily bread for the body and the bread of life to sustain our faith—and our neighbors and indeed the world needs us to bring those things to them as well.

As Americans today we want and need to pay tribute to those who answered that call 10 years ago, who ran into the peril as everyone else was running out.

As Christians we want and need to give thanks to the One Who not only provided those that answered the call on 9/11/2001, but who has saved us from an eternity of 9/11 infernos and continues to walk with us through and protect us in the Valley of the Shadow of death.

As Americans we want and need to be ever vigilant and remember 9/11 was no one day deal, no mere random incident, but the work of those who want to see us gone.

As Christians we want and need to be ever vigilant and remember the evil one still prowls around like a hungry lion seeking whom He may devour.

As Americans we want and need the hope of gaining, by God’s gracious blessing, a degree of closure if possible, and the power to move forward if we can.

As Christians we want and need the hope of gaining, by God’s gracious blessing, an ultimate victory over death and the grave and attaining eternal life in the kingdom of heaven.

We heard last week, the Lord lifts up the lowly and only the lowly to give them this forever victory and kingdom. Now, as we remember 9/11/2001, God reminds us that as great a country as the United States is, it is not forever. And while we always should give thanks to Him for our nation and pray for our leaders and those who serve to protect us at home and abroad, we have an infinitely more desperate need and greater nation to which we belong.

This need is fulfilled and this nation of heaven is constituted for us only in Christ’s holy Christian church. Like 9/11 this no one day deal. Just like we, as Americans, need continual protection from our enemies abroad and even from our own selves within.

So our dear Lord provides it through the preaching and sacraments of His Word by which He continues to protect us and keep us in His kingdom of heaven until He comes again on the Last Day to give us that kingdom in the flesh.

And because this kingdom and protection of God comes to us only by the Word, we have the same need and want as the deaf mute of our Gospel text today.

TEXT: Mark 7:31–37 31[Jesus] returned from the region of Tyre and went through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, in the region of the Decapolis. 32And they brought to him a man who was deaf and had a speech impediment, and they begged him to lay his hand on him. 33And taking him aside from the crowd privately, he put his fingers into his ears, and after spitting touched his tongue. 34And looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.” 35And his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly.”

Last week the tax collector and little Kaden showed us how the Lord lifts up the lowly and only the lowly. Now today, 9/11, our Gospel not only shows us the healing of one deaf and mute 2000 years ago, but speaks God’s Word to us today so that our sinful Ears, Mouths, Hearts, and even heaven itself “Be opened” to us now.

A sinner cannot come to know or believe in God by his own free will any more than a deaf man can will himself to hear. And just as Jesus used His fingers and saliva to open up a deaf man’s ears and loose his tongue, so He uses earthly means of the preached Word and Sacraments to open up dead hearts and loose tongues to confess sins and faith.

Because our flesh is attacked by the evil one and we are enclosed by the world every minute of every day, the “Be opened!” command and touch of our Lord is something that we continue to need until the day we leave this sinful flesh behind in the grave. So our risen and ascended Lord sends the Holy Spirit to deliver the proclamation by which Jesus touches our flesh every Lord's Day in the Divine Service and whenever and wherever the Word of forgiveness of sins in Him and His name is delivered and received in faith.

Dear people of Trinity, the Lord Jesus Christ is touching your ears, your tongues, and your hearts today and commanding them to, “Be opened!” so that “you [are able to] confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, [and] be saved.”

He is also commanding the kingdom of heaven to, “Be opened!” and giving you eternal life by forgiving you all your sins --in the name of the Father ,and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Be Opened!

Dear People of Trinity,

If you would like to hear the sermon preached at Trinity Lutheran Church in Layton, Utah for the Twelfth Sunday after Trinity, "Be Opened!" click on this MP3 audio link. The audio includes the Hymn of the Day, LSB #545, "Word of God, Come Down to Earth." The sermon begins at the 2:30 mark.

Have a great week in Christ as He has commanded heaven to "Be Opened!" to you.

A servant of the Word and His folk,
Pastor Hering

Here is the preaching manuscript if you prefer to read along or read instead. Thanks to Rev. Dean Kavouras (Pastor at Christ Lutheran Church, Cleveland; Chaplain Cleveland Emergency Services and FBI - Cleveland Division) for his 9/11 observations.

Dear people of Trinity,

Some will never forget what they were doing on September 11, 2011, and for others (like me) it was all a blur. Certainly, as Americans, our lives have never been the same.

And yet, as Christians, we have never known another way and will not know any other way until our Lord comes again.

Matthew 24:6-8: And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.

So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:7-10

As Americans today we want and need to remember the many who died and their survivors who suffered such great loss—that these men and women are among God’s gifts to us, as is our country and our laws, by which we live in relative peace and security even in these times of economic uncertainty.

As Christians we want and need to remember the One who died that we might live. Remember not just as some mental exercise or emotional experience, but as an ongoing work of our Lord by which He unites us to Him in a state of forgiveness that surrounds us with the very kingdom of heaven and all its hosts of angels to protect us from the evil one, and saints who rejoice with us in singing thanks and praise to God in Christ Jesus.

As Americans today we want and need to know that we will always respond when our people are threatened—and we want the world to be reminded of that as well.

As Christians we want and need to know our Lord is here to respond to our needs of daily bread for the body and the bread of life to sustain our faith—and our neighbors and indeed the world needs us to bring those things to them as well.

As Americans today we want and need to pay tribute to those who answered that call 10 years ago, who ran into the peril as everyone else was running out.

As Christians we want and need to give thanks to the One Who not only provided those that answered the call on 9/11/2001, but who has saved us from an eternity of 9/11 infernos and continues to walk with us through and protect us in the Valley of the Shadow of death.

As Americans we want and need to be ever vigilant and remember 9/11 was no one day deal, no mere random incident, but the work of those who want to see us gone.

As Christians we want and need to be ever vigilant and remember the evil one still prowls around like a hungry lion seeking whom He may devour.

As Americans we want and need the hope of gaining, by God’s gracious blessing, a degree of closure if possible, and the power to move forward if we can.

As Christians we want and need the hope of gaining, by God’s gracious blessing, an ultimate victory over death and the grave and attaining eternal life in the kingdom of heaven.

We heard last week, the Lord lifts up the lowly and only the lowly to give them this forever victory and kingdom. Now, as we remember 9/11/2001, God reminds us that as great a country as the United States is, it is not forever. And while we always should give thanks to Him for our nation and pray for our leaders and those who serve to protect us at home and abroad, we have an infinitely more desperate need and greater nation to which we belong.

This need is fulfilled and this nation of heaven is constituted for us only in Christ’s holy Christian church. Like 9/11 this no one day deal. Just like we, as Americans, need continual protection from our enemies abroad and even from our own selves within.

So our dear Lord provides it through the preaching and sacraments of His Word by which He continues to protect us and keep us in His kingdom of heaven until He comes again on the Last Day to give us that kingdom in the flesh.

And because this kingdom and protection of God comes to us only by the Word, we have the same need and want as the deaf mute of our Gospel text today.

TEXT: Mark 7:31–37 31[Jesus] returned from the region of Tyre and went through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, in the region of the Decapolis. 32And they brought to him a man who was deaf and had a speech impediment, and they begged him to lay his hand on him. 33And taking him aside from the crowd privately, he put his fingers into his ears, and after spitting touched his tongue. 34And looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.” 35And his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly.”

Last week the tax collector and little Kaden showed us how the Lord lifts up the lowly and only the lowly. Now today, 9/11, our Gospel not only shows us the healing of one deaf and mute 2000 years ago, but speaks God’s Word to us today so that our sinful Ears, Mouths, Hearts, and even heaven itself “Be opened” to us now.

A sinner cannot come to know or believe in God by his own free will any more than a deaf man can will himself to hear. And just as Jesus used His fingers and saliva to open up a deaf man’s ears and loose his tongue, so He uses earthly means of the preached Word and Sacraments to open up dead hearts and loose tongues to confess sins and faith.

Because our flesh is attacked by the evil one and we are enclosed by the world every minute of every day, the “Be opened!” command and touch of our Lord is something that we continue to need until the day we leave this sinful flesh behind in the grave. So our risen and ascended Lord sends the Holy Spirit to deliver the proclamation by which Jesus touches our flesh every Sabbath and whenever and wherever the Word of forgiveness of sins in Him and His name is delivered and received in faith.

Dear people of Trinity, the Lord Jesus Christ is touching your ears, your tongues, and your hearts today and commanding them to, “Be opened!” so that “you [are able to] confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, [and] be saved.”

He is also commanding the kingdom of heaven to, “Be opened!” and giving you eternal life by forgiving you all your sins --in the name of the Father ,and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

The Lord Lifts Up the Lowly

Dear Saints of God,

If you would like to hear the sermon preached at Trinity Lutheran Church in Layton, Utah for the Eleventh Sunday after Trinity, "The Lord Lifts Up the Lowly," click on this MP3 audio link. The audio includes the Hymn of the Day, LSB #559, "Oh, How Great Is Your Compassion." The sermon begins at the 3:14 mark.

Have a great week in Christ as He lifts you up and gives you eternal life by His holy Word.

A servant of the Word and His folk,
Pastor Hering

Here the preaching manuscript if you prefer to read along or read instead.

TEXT: 9[Jesus] also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: 10"Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.' 13But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me, a sinner!' 14I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted." Luke 18:9-14

Dear Baptized,

The Lord lifts up the lowly—and only the lowly.

What better example of this than little Kaden this morning.

Sadly, there are many more opposite examples. You think we do not have Pharisees today?

A couple called me a little over a week ago wanting to have their 8 mo. old baby daughter blessed. I asked them to come in and meet with me so we could talk about it.

We met last Saturday. Turns out both parents were baptized Lutheran, one at the very same font at which Kaden was baptized today. Neither were brought to church or taught the Word of God by their parents afterward.

Not surprisingly, then, when I asked them just what it was they expected me to do for their child in blessing her, they didn't really know. So I took them through the explanation of Baptism in the Small Catechism, as well as showing them the oprder of Baptism in our hymnal—the order by which little Kaden was born again by the Holy Spirit into the kingdom heaven this very morning.

I gave them copies of both and asked them to study them together in private at home and come back to have any questions answered and decide how to proceed.

When I called them back, they told me that I had made them uncomfortable. The baby's father said, "You made us feel like sinners."

"Well, you are. So am I. So is your baby daughter. That's why we have baptisms. We talked about that right? I'm not going to baptize a baby only to have you, her parents take her away from Christ's church and apart from God."

But what was it that turned these parents off? It was the Word of God in Luther's Small Catechism explanation to Baptism and the order of Baptism itself. You heard the order of Baptism today. Now let's review and confess Luther's Small Catechism explanation to Baptism together.

Small Catechism Explanation of Baptism--LSB, p. 325:

IV. THE SACRAMENT OF HOLY BAPTISM

As the Head of the Family Should Teach It in a Simple Way to His Household

FIRST

What is Baptism? Baptism is not just plain water, but it is the water included in God's command and combined with God's Word.

Which is that Word of God? Christ, our Lord, says in the last chapter of Matthew, "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" [Matthew 28:19].

SECOND

What benefits does Baptism give? It works forgiveness of sins, rescues from death and the devil, and gives eternal salvation to all who believe this, as the words and promises of God declare.

Which are these words and promises of God? Christ, our Lord, says in the last chapter of Mark, "Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned" [Mark 16:16].

THIRD

How can water do such great things? Certainly not just water, but the Word of God in and with the water does these things, along with faith which trusts this Word of God in the water. For without God's Word the water is plain water and no Baptism. But with the Word of God it is a Baptism, that is, a life-giving water, rich in grace and a washing of the new birth in the Holy Spirit, as St. Paul says in Titus chapter three, "He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that having been justified by His grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. This is a trustworthy saying." [vv. 5-8].

FOURTH

What does such baptizing with water indicate? It indicates that the old Adam in us should by daily contrition and repentance be drowned and die with all sins and evil desires, and that a new man should daily emerge and arise to live before God in righteousness and purity forever.

Where is this written? St. Paul writes in Romans, chapter 6: "We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life." [v. 4]

It is difficult to witness anybody reject the love of God when it is offered. How sad that after showing these parents what God has done for them in Baptism and what He wants to do for their baby girl that "You made us feel like sinners."

So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish. Matthew 18:14

But what do we teach our little ones if we baptize them only to never bring them back to hear the Word of God and receive His forgiveness again?

"Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea." [Mark 9:42; Luke 17:2]

Now I do not want to be too hard on these parents. After all, they don't know any better. How could they? It is only what they were taught by their parents, and what their parents were taught by their parents.

"I the LORD your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments." Exodus 20:5-6

This little girl is now the fourth generation. But at least now this family has heard the Word of God. They have been warned and told what God has for them, what He wants for them..

And at the end of seven days, the word of the LORD came to me: 17(AB) "Son of man,(AC) I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall(AD) give them warning from me. 18(AE) If I say to the wicked,(AF) 'You shall surely die,'(AG) and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, in order to save his life, that wicked person(AH) shall die for[d] his iniquity,(AI) but his blood I will require at your hand. 19(AJ) But if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, or from his wicked way, he shall die for his iniquity,(AK) but you(AL) will have delivered your soul. 20(AM) Again, if a righteous person turns from his righteousness and commits injustice,(AN) and I lay a stumbling block before him, he shall die.(AO) Because you have not warned him, he shall die for his sin,(AP) and his righteous deeds that he has done shall not be remembered, but his blood I will require at your hand. 21But if you warn the righteous person not to sin, and he does not sin, he shall surely live, because he took warning, and you will have delivered your soul." Ezekiel 3:16-21

But I am not telling you this to pound my chest like the Pharisee and make that family look like the tax collector of Jesus parable. As I told them, I am sinner too. I need what Baptism gives. And so do you. I am telling you this as a warning and as encouragement to you.

You and I not only need what God gives in Baptism gives, but what God keeps on giving to the Baptized in the worship life of the Church in the Divine Service and the Sacrament of the Altar. Without these things to keep us with Christ in our Baptism, we simply cannot remain in faith, because faith is always receiving, must always be receiving or it is not faith.

Church and worship and the sacraments are not about what we give to God, but what He gives to us. He does not need to be told how great or amazing He is.

Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. Philippians 2:5-7

And having done that on Calvary, He sends the Holy Spirit to continue to be our servant today in His Holy Christian Church.

So in the DS we begin with the same Word and name of God by which we were born again into the kingdom of heaven. We confess that we are indeed sinners, and are forgiven. We sing the Kyrie, and God has mercy. We hear the Word preached to repent and receive the kingdom of God and we do—at the Lord's table.

Dear Baptized, rather than saying, "thank you that I am not like other me," God grant us ever to plead, "God, be merciful to me, a sinner."

"For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted."

Yes, the Lord lifts up the lowly. He has lifted Kaden up through the water of Holy Baptism--and He is lifting you up as well in the absolution, the preaching, and the Sacrament of the Divine Service today—by forgiving you all your sins He is opening the kingdom of heaven to you and giving you eternal life -- the name of the Father ,and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen