Brent Kuhlman

Proper 22

Brent Kuhlman — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 17:25:15 -0600

Proper 22 Trinity Lutheran Church
5 October 2008 Murdock, NE

                                                                                       + Jesu Juva +

St. Matthew 21:33-46 (heavily borrowed from Dr. Norman Nagel)

Vineyard planted. A hedge set around it. A wine press dug. And a tower to watch for thieves and mobsters. So far so good.

Then the owner makes his first mistake. He lets it out to tenants. He’s asking for big trouble. He should keep the vineyard for himself. Keep all the joy of the vineyard, grapes and wine for himself.

Then the owner makes another blunder. He decides to go off to another country. Take a trip. An extended vacation. Idiot. Everyone knows that if you want things done right you have to do it yourself. You’d better watch over the tenant’s work otherwise they’ll take advantage of you.

What does this owner expect? Is he crazy? Must be! After all, he expects the tenants to do their work well. He expects the tenants to rejoice over the harvest. He expects them to generously give him his portion of the grapes and then to enjoy the wine together.

“No way in . . . !” is the tenants’ response. They will not share any of the harvest with the owner. That means less for them. And why should they? Who’s going to make them? An owner who takes vacations in another country isn’t able to do much about it.

And so the tenants “take his servants, beat one, kill another, and stone another.”

You’d think the owner would get it by now. Nope. “He sends other servants, more than the first, and the tenants do the same all over again.”

And then the owner makes the most lame-brained move of all time. “What is he thinking? DON’T DO IT MR. LANDOWNER! We warn you! If you do, there will be no bail out or rescue package for you from the Congress!”

“He sends his son to them saying, ‘They will respect my son.’”

Not these tenants! This is their big chance. An absentee landowner is nobody to worry about. And if they get rid of the son, then all their problems are solved. The vineyard will be theirs for keeps. So they do the unthinkable. “They take the son. Throw him out of the vineyard and murder him!”

Then the big theological question. “When the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?”

What do you think? He’ll clobber them! He’ll pay them back! Wouldn’t you?

Dr. Luther puts it very well. “As you believe, so you have.” In other words, if you treat God as one who is interested in getting things out of you, who deprives you of what you believe you have coming, who takes what is his, demands his rights and pays back evil for evil, then that is the God you have. If you treat God as one who can’t be trusted to care for your good, if you treat him as a threat, as an enemy, then that is the God you have.

The evil you think of God, you will receive from him. A man’s evil toward God returns upon him in judgment. There is nothing capricious about God’s judgment. It acknowledges what is the fact with a man and deals with him accordingly. “He will bring these wretches to a wretched end,” is the people’s answer. They expect God to act as they would. Selfishly. Tit for tat. Quid pro quo. As you believe so you have.

The crowds who hear the parable don’t get it. The chief priest and Pharisees do. So clearly they understand what Jesus is saying that they want to kill Him.

The owner of course is God. He’s a generous giver. His is an incredible again and again generosity. Giving His vineyard, that is, His kingdom over into our hands. His giving makes not less for us but more. So that we may share His delight in giving and sharing. So much so that He gives His Son Jesus Christ even if that means He goes into death.

Call it crazy. Call it reckless. But that’s God’s way with sinners.

There is no reason why you should get what you deserve as a sinner -- unless, of course, you insist on it. And that would be a hellish disaster. If you treat God as a threat or as an enemy, then that is what He will be to you. But that is not what God wants. He wants to share His vineyard, that is, His kingdom, grapes, wine, and the joy of the harvest.

On the cross God’s Son Jesus Christ took your sin in His Body. What you had coming, what you deserved for your sins, Jesus took in your place. Your sins can condemn you no more. You are forgiven. You are restored with Him at His table now and in the fullness of His Kingdom.

So, “as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.”

Christ’s death. The ultimate horror of history – for your sins.

If you can face that, then there is nothing in this life you cannot face. There is no misery that goes deeper than the cross. The crucified Jesus is there and deeper down still. Everything that would destroy you Jesus has faced. It did not destroy Him. And so neither you who are His.

“Until he comes,” that is, when He will drink of the fruit of the vine in His Kingdom. And Jesus doesn’t like to drink alone. And so His words to the disciples and to you: “that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom.”

So you in the vineyard. How goes the digging? The watering? The weeding? What of the harvest, the grapes, the wine?

Are you living in a vineyard or a penitentiary?

The answer is given when you confess who God is. When you say the Creed. Or how your life is lived.

Jesus didn’t fit the scribes and Pharisees idea of God. And so to preserve their idea of who God is, they plotted to kill Jesus. And they did it. They got it done!

They meant it for evil. God used that Friday for your good. Your salvation good. And now He gives you wine. And with the wine Christ’s Blood poured out on the cross for your sin. What joy! What vineyard / kingdom / harvest home joy!

In the Name of Jesus.

Proper 21

Brent Kuhlman — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 06:47:46 -0600

Proper 21 Trinity Lutheran Church
28 September 2008 Murdock, NE

                                                                              + Jesu Juva +

Philippians 2:1-4, 14-18

“Enlighten our minds by your Holy Spirit.” Holy Spirit enlightened minds. You gave your “Amen” to that prayer today. That was the Collect of the Day.

“Enlighten our minds by your Holy Spirit that, confessing Jesus as Lord, we may led into all truth.”

Enlightened by the Holy Spirit minds. Led into all truth as we confess Jesus as Lord.

How does that happen? Would you like to know? Would you? All right. But I warn you. It might just blow your minds. So, still want to know? Really? All right. Here goes. Listen closely. And I’m going to give it to you from my own translation.

“Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit. With humility of mind . . . treat the other person as the most important and not yourself. Don’t concern yourself with your own interests but instead be concerned about everyone else’s needs.”

Can you summarize what you’ve just heard in one word? I’ll give you a hint. It begins with an “L.” Has four letters. Ends with “E.” That’s right. L-O-V-E.

Love, a fruit of the Holy Spirit, says: “Why am I being so selfish? So self centered? I will put myself last. I am a nothing. My brothers and sisters in Christ are everything. What is my spouse’s need? My child’s? My Mom’s? My Dad’s? My congregation’s? My school’s? My country’s? Will that mean less for me? Yes. Does my neighbor deserve it? Probably not. But will it benefit my neighbor? Then I will do it.”

That’s a Holy Spirit enlightened mind. That is being led into all truth. Living not for yourself. Sacrificing for others. That’s the life that flows from faith in Jesus.

Speaking of Jesus, that’s precisely the way it is with Him. He came NOT TO BE SERVED BUT TO SERVE AND GIVE HIS LIFE AS A RANSOM FOR MANY. Jesus made Himself nothing. A servant. Humbled Himself. And then gave His life on the cross to win forgiveness for you.

Do you deserve it? No. Did you earn it? No. Did He do it to make Himself look good? No. Then why did Jesus do it? It’s that four-letter word again: L-O-V-E.

His love for you.   That’s why Jesus sacrificed Himself for you. Even while you were His bitterest enemies. While you were yet sinners He died for you. You needed saving. You needed forgiveness. And you couldn’t do anything about it. In fact, you didn’t even care about it. So He went to work. Did His Good Friday salvation job. “Humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”

All our sin answered for. Death and Satan defanged and neutered. Relationship with God changed from damning wrath to gracious mercy.

Now the Lord Jesus has good use for you. With Holy Spirit enlightened minds through Holy Baptism to live not for yourselves but for others. To know the truth that you do not live to be served but to serve.

“Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit. With humility of mind . . . treat the other person as the most important and not yourself. Don’t concern yourself with your own interests but instead be concerned about everyone else’s needs.”

Such humility we learn from Jesus. Such humility we receive from Jesus.

For He’s still the same Savior. He humbles Himself before you today. Even though He is highly exalted He puts you first. Your needs. Your greatest need. No selfishness with Him. No conceit.

So humbly He comes as your Servant that you hardly notice it. With the bread He gives you His most holy Body. Humbly with the wine He gives you His most holy Blood. And with that He promises forgiveness. All is forgiven.

What a Savior. Totally self-effacing. Totally self-giving. And now all that is yours in Him: Holy Spirit enlightened minds and all the truth that He brings and gives for you.

In the Name of Jesus.

Proper 20

Brent Kuhlman — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 17:25:11 -0600

Proper 20                                     Trinity Lutheran Church
21 September 2008                   Murdock, NE

                                                                                  + Jesu Juva +

Matthew 20:1-16

“The kingdom of heaven is like . . .”   That’s the tip off. The clue. The 411. No Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac bad loan stories with Jesus. No colossal buyout strategies or screeds against the greed of Wall Street today from Jesus. He’s not running for political office. He’s the Savior. And He’s in the savioring business.

“The kingdom of heaven is like . . .” Did you catch that? Jesus has another thing on His mind. A matter of life or death. A salvation story. He tells the parable to show you how He deals with sinners. Every kind of sinner. In every stage of life. And it is a kingdom where the first are last and the last are first.

Check it out. It’s quite scandalous for some, the first. Quite delicious for others, the last. Here goes. “The kingdom of heaven is like a landowner. He’s got a vineyard. Wants workers to have the joy of the harvest. Been quite a growing season. The kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who goes out . . .”

The landowner does the verbs. He goes out. He searches. He finds. He hires. Or to put it another way: He saves. He goes after lost and dead sinners who have nothing but their lostness and deadness going for them.

So off the landowner goes. At dawn. Hires workers for a day’s wage. A denarius. Let’s say a smooth $120. Then again at 9:00 a.m. And again at Noon. And again at 3:00 p.m. Keeps on hiring workers for His vineyard. Loading them up in his buses and putting them to work. Chop chop.   “Whatever is right,” the landowner promises, “I’ll pay you.” Then at 5:00 p.m. he finds some more deadbeat sinners just standing around in their lost and dead condition. You know the greasy long hair critter types with their pants hanging . . . hanging . . . well, you know. And their girlfriends too – more lipstick and hairspray than brains. More tattoos than freckles and moles. Empty six packs everywhere.    “I’ll put you to work too,” the landowner says. “There’s plenty of room for you in my vineyard.”

Then comes the very end of a very long day. Time to belly up to the pay table. You can just imagine the workers figuring out what they deserve.

The workers hired last are paid first. One of the shirt open to the waist body and face pierced studs shows his girlfriend his pay. He’s been in the vineyard one hour. $120 bucks! $120 bucks!

Everyone else’s mental calculators go to work. $120 per hour? Let’s see the 3:00 crowd figures they deserve: $360! The Noon crew does the math: $720! The 9:00 a.m. bunch does their bookkeeping: $1,080! And then the dawn crew puts the mental math keeping pedal to the metal: $1,440!!!!!

But surprise, surprise, surprise! Each group, when they open their envelopes, they discover six crisp twenties. $120 bucks for everyone. No matter when they were hired (or to put it another way – saved).

That goes over like ice cold Budweiser to the 5:00 p.m. group, dirty dishwater to the 3:00 p.m. crew, swamp water to the Noon crowd, vinegar to the 9:00 a.m. bunch, and sulfuric acid to the dawn squad!

The first are really hacked. “Hey Landowner! Those punks worked only for one hour. We knocked ourselves out all day for you. How dare you give them the same! They don’t deserve it! You can’t cook the books like that! We’ll contact our congressman and boy will you be in trouble.”

But that’s precisely what the first were promised. $120 bucks. He told the rest He’d pay them what was fair. And the Landowner is not about rewarding the rewardable but graciously giving what He wants. He treats the last like the first. All the same. No insiders. No outsiders.

He hires / “saves” them all the same. His pay / “grace” is the same for all.

“Look here Buddy, if you first folks don’t want that,” says the Landowner, “and you want to insist on your bookkeeping, then you can be the last. I’ll call security and they’ll escort you right out of here. Is that what you want?”

Landowner Jesus isn’t in any mood for our scorekeeping. He’s simply a gracious giver. A raiser of the dead. A Savior of the lost. Giving sinners want they don’t deserve: forgiveness. Salvation. Making the last first.

That’s what He’s done for you. Gone out to find you. To rescue you. Or to use the language of the parable: hire you to work in his vineyard.

He gives you what you don’t deserve: full and free salvation. The complete forgiveness of all your sins.

Some may call such a Landowner crazy. That’s all right. He’s a gracious the last will be first kind of Savior. Call Him crazy if you want. He doesn’t mind. What counts is that He’s hired you, that is, saved you.

In the Name of Jesus.

Proper 19

Brent Kuhlman — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 06:47:42 -0600

Proper 19 Trinity Lutheran Church
14 September 2008 Murdock, NE

                                                                                            + Jesu Juva +

Matthew 28:19-20
Baptism of Ellie Jane Woodshank

“Make disciples of all nations by baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” Those are the Lord’s words. His mandate and institution words.

Holy Baptism is the Lord’s gift. With the water comes the Holy Name. The Divine Name. The Triune Name. “In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” Ellie was gifted with the Triune Name today at the font.

Are you baptized? Then God has put His Name on you too.

Please note that God’s Name is the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. And sinners for whom Jesus died are to be baptized with water in that Name. And that Name only.

I’ve got news for you. Someone who is “baptized” with water in the Name of God the Mother, God the Daughter and God the Child is NOT BAPTIZED. Mother, Daughter, Child: that’s not God’s Name. What about: “I baptize you in the name of the Creator, and of the Redeemer, and of the Sanctifier?” Or: “I baptize you in the name of the Creator, and of the Liberator, and of the Sustainer?” What does Jesus say? He mandates that Baptism be done “in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” That’s God’s Name. He gives it to sinners in Baptism.

Ellie is baptized. We know that for sure. Because it was done according to the Lord’s bidding. According to His mandate and institution.

And since Ellie is baptized in God’s Name, she is baptized by God Himself. That’s why Baptism is holy. It is God’s own work. God’s own gift. His own giving. He speaks. We listen. He gives. We receive. A holy gift from Him. A remarkable gift. His most holy Name.

The Holy Trinity has made Himself accessible to Ellie and to you. She doesn’t have to take a rocket ship to the outer rim of the Milky Way Galaxy to try and find God. God found her / you. God came to her / you. Where? At the font. With His Name. God gives Himself in all His fullness to her / you with His Name.

For with His Name He is there. “Lo, I am with you always,” Jesus promises. And Jesus, the crucified and risen Savior, is never without His Father and your Father. And Jesus is never without the Holy Spirit who proceeds from both the Father and the Son.

Where God gives His Name – He’s there. And in Holy Baptism He’s there for you. For Ellie too.

So Ellie doesn’t have to try to get to heaven. Heaven came down to her as a gift. That’s right. Paradise is her treasure right now. All given with the Triune Name. With the Triune Name put on her in Holy Baptism heaven broke wide open for Ellie. And all of heaven’s gifts.

And to put it quite simply that’s salvation. God’s saving Name is in Holy Baptism. God’s saving Name is given in Holy Baptism. And where God’s saving Name is, there is life and salvation for sinners. For you. For me. For Ellie.

No wonder St. Paul describes Baptism as a “washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit,” (Titus 3). With God’s Saving Name the water of Baptism is a life giving water. Rich in grace.

Baptism and salvation go together. Jesus Himself promises in Mark 16:16, “He who believes and is baptized will be saved.” To be saved is nothing else than to be rescued from sin, death and the devil. To be forgiven by God’s grace. To be given all the benefits of Christ’s dying and rising. And to be given the Holy Spirit with all His gifts. To be saved is nothing else than to be brought in to Christ’s kingdom of forgiveness in order to live with Him forever.

Until the forever living with Him, there’s the living with Him right now.

And for that, there’s the proper use of one’s Baptism. Kristi and Joe, how will you teach Ellie to use her Baptism? Members of Trinity, how do you use your Baptism?

That’s easy. It’s a daily kind of thing. Daily we sin. Daily we sin much. And so the old Adam by daily contrition and repentance must be put to death. Drowned and die with all sin and evil desires. Why? So that the new man, the person of faith, will daily emerge and arise to live before God in Christ’s forgiveness. Daily dying to sin. Daily rising to new life through faith in Christ. Death. Resurrection.

Kristi and Joe, teach Ellie to draw strength and comfort from Holy Baptism. When her sins, conscience, or the devil accuse her or you, what do you dare teach her to say? It’s this: “Oh, yes, I am a sinner. Big time. I have sinned. This is what I have done. This is what I’ve left undone. But Jesus has died for me. Go talk to Him! He says I’m forgiven. And in addition I am baptized! God put His Holy Name on me. And since I am baptized I have the promise that I am saved and have eternal life in Jesus. Take that sin! Take that devil! My conscience is free. Jesus reigns there. So get lost sin and devil. Jesus is my Lord!”

Happy Baptism Day Ellie! Happy using your Baptism for your comfort and joy!

In the Name of Jesus.

Proper 18 Trinity

Brent Kuhlman — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 06:22:50 -0600

Proper 18                                     Trinity Lutheran Church
7 September 2008                      Murdock, NE

                                                                                      + Jesu Juva +

Matthew 18:15-20

“If your brother sins against you . . .”

“If you brother sins against you . . .” -- you tell anyone and everyone about it. At the ball game. At the post office. At Round the Bend. At Wal Mart. On the cell phone. Text it. Send an email. “Did you hear what that SOB did to me? You didn’t? Well let me tell you all about it. It’s just shameful.”

No, that’s shameful. Listen to Jesus again. Would you care to listen to Him? Would you? All right. But I warn you. You’re not going to like it. But it needs to be said. So here goes. “If your brother sins against you, go and talk to HIM! Go and talk to Him! And no one else.”

I told you that you wouldn’t like it. Who wants to do that? NO ONE! The old Adam shudders at such words. We want to play the victim card. Use the victim status to make ourselves big. Great. Important. The old Adam loves to puff himself up. I’ve been hurt so now I have every right to tell everyone about it.

No you don’t. You have a divine call from Jesus Himself to do just the opposite. “If you brother sins against you, speak to Him about it. Just him. No one else. Nobody else needs to know.”

Go to the brother sinner who sinned against you. Go ahead. Tell him the sin. But that’s not the most important part. The reason why you go to the sinner is to speak an additional word. What’s that? “I’m here to forgive you for your sin.”

And if your brother sinner receives your forgiveness you’ve won your brother. That’s the goal. That’s precisely why you go to him personally. Because what’s forgiven is forgiven. Relationship restored. A new life together in the freedom of forgiveness.

Now because such mercy talk is so rare, your brother may not get it. The world doesn’t operate that way. The world’s way is the way of chains, locks, and prisons. Tit for tat. Quid pro quo. Forgiveness? Mercy? What? To receive the forgiveness means that you admit that you’ve sinned. After all there can be no forgiveness unless you’ve sinned. So you may have to try numerous times with your brother.

But if you get nowhere all by yourself with your sinner brother who refuses to listen to your forgiveness, then take one or two others with you. They can establish the fact that the sin has taken place. But more importantly, they too can hear your offer to speak the word of forgiveness. “Dear brother you have nothing to fear. I’m here with our friends. We’re all here as beggars. Please receive my forgiveness and all will be set right. We can live together in peace.”

That’s the goal. That’s how you want to win your brother. With forgiveness. You want to treat him the way you would want to be treated. With mercy. With love. Absolution.

Who wouldn’t want that? You brother might not. So if the one on one fails. And the one or two others fails after repeated attempt. Then enlist the entire church. The whole congregation of forgiven sinners. “Tell it to the church,” Jesus says. Let everyone in the congregation have a crack at the brother sinner. Begging him to receive the word of forgiveness. Week after week. Month after month. Year after year.

Who would dare to not listen to such begging? Sadly some. Tragically, some would dare to hold their sin outside of Christ’s forgiveness. And “if he refuses to listen even to the church,” Jesus says, “then treat him the way he wants to be treated – like an unbeliever.”

Don’t want forgiveness? The Lord won’t force it on you. Neither will the church. Want to be bound in your sin, then bound you are. Not only on earth but also in heaven. And believe me, that’s not good.

The opposite of all this is to receive forgiveness from a brother or sister in Christ as from the Lord Himself. This is how the Lord Jesus reigns in the midst of a congregation of sinners. For whatever is forgiven on earth is forgiven in heaven Jesus promises.

So when a brother sins against you, go to him. Tell him the sin. And then in love tell him you’re there to forgive him in Jesus’ Name. Receive such forgiveness from the Lord Himself. For where two or three gather in such a way for confession of sin and the speaking of forgiveness Jesus makes another promise: “there I am in the midst of them.”   Yes, indeed, He reigns among those for whom He died with His love and forgiveness.

Happy winning your brother. In Jesus’ Name.

Proper 18 Immanuel

Brent Kuhlman — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 06:18:19 -0600

Proper 18                                Immanuel Lutheran Church
7 September 2008                Louisville, NE

                                                                                             + Jesu Juva +

Acts 2:38-39
Baptism of Tyler Joseph Gilsdorf

“The Son of Man came to save that which was lost,” (Matthew 18). Jesus died for everyone. There’s none He didn’t die for. Can you name anyone Jesus leaves out of His Good Friday Calvary dying? . . . I didn’t think so. Jesus died for you. Jesus died for Tyler too. Winning and achieving the salvation that only He could do. And He did! “It is finished!” The sacrifice for all sin is done in the death of the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

Jesus would bestow on sinners for whom He died the forgiveness of sins won by His Good Friday dying. And so He institutes Holy Baptism. “Make disciples of all nations by baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,” (Matthew 28).

So the church baptizes according to the Lord’s mandate. According to His bidding. Always has. Always will. Until the Last Day that is. Right away, then, the blessed apostle Peter invites sinners to Holy Baptism. “Be baptized every one of you.” “Every one of you.” Not some. Every one means “every one.” What part of “every one of you” don’t you understand? The “every one of you” of Acts 2 matches the “all nations” of Matthew 28.

“Be baptized every one of you in the Name of Jesus, (the Jesus who died for you).”

And then Peter extols the benefits promised in Holy Baptism. Remarkable benefits. Heavenly benefits. Salvation benefits. Listen again. “Be baptized every one of you in the Name of Jesus for the forgiveness of your sins and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

Whoa! Did you catch that? It’s right there in the Bible! Very clear. No doubt. From an apostle who learned it from Jesus Himself. “Receive Holy Baptism everyone.” For what reason Peter? For what gift Peter? "For the forgiveness of sins." The forgiveness won by Jesus on the Cross. Holy Baptism delivers that forgiveness! Good Friday forgiveness! Outstanding!

“Be baptized every one of you in the Name of Jesus.” For what reason Peter? For what benefit Peter? “And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” The Holy Spirit is the Lord and Giver of life. Life! New life. New birth! Regeneration! In Holy Baptism. The water together with the mandate and institution Word of Jesus Himself.

St. Paul agrees. That’s in Titus 3. “God saved us . . . through the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit whom He poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior.”   Washing. That’s Baptism. And with that the regeneration or gift of new life from the dead by the Holy Spirit.

Jesus told Nicodemus that sinners are received into the kingdom of God through Holy Baptism: “Truly, truly I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God,” (John 3). Water and the Spirit. Everyone knows that’s Holy Baptism. Sounds just like what Peter said. “And you (you who are baptized) will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Told you Peter learned it from the Lord.

I can just hear it now. “Well Reverend, we’ll grant you that Jesus says ‘all nations,’ and that Peter says, ‘every one of you.’ But Scripture nowhere says that a little one like Tyler should be baptized. Got you there Reverend!”

Not so fast my friend! Better listen to the rest of what Peter says. You might just be delightfully surprised. Go ahead Peter. I’ll let you tell them. “All right Pastor Kuhlman. This promise   . . . (the promise of forgiveness and the gift of the Holy Spirit) in Holy Baptism IS FOR YOU AND YOUR CHILDREN. And what is more . . . IT IS FOR ALL WHO A FAR OFF, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.”

For you. For your children. For all.

Jesus died for you. He died for Tyler. Baptism is for you. For your CHILDREN. For all. Because it gives Calvary’s forgiveness and new life through the Holy Spirit. No wonder Jesus makes the promise is Mark 16, “He who believes and is baptized will be saved.”

The “little ones” who believe in Jesus are the greatest in the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 18).   Belief. That’s faith. Trust. In Jesus. Who gives such wonderful salutary gifts in Holy Baptism. The Father’s will is that none of the “little ones” who believe and who have angels to watch over them should ever “perish.”

You are a “little one.” Tyler is a “little one.” For whom Jesus died. Winning your salvation. And then bestowing what He achieved at Calvary in Holy Baptism. “Be baptized every one of you in the Name of Jesus for the forgiveness of your sins and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. This promise is for you and your children.” Happy Baptism Day Tyler! Happy remembering and rejoicing in your Baptisms, members of Immanuel!

In the Name of Jesus.

Proper 17

Brent Kuhlman — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 07:08:10 -0600

Proper 17 Trinity Lutheran Church
31 August 2008 Murdock, NE

+ Jesu Juva +

Matthew 16:21-28

Last week Peter was so helpful. Confessed Jesus to be the Christ, the Son of the living God. How true. Jesus promises to build His church on that confession. Great job Peter.

Now Jesus spells out the “what” of His being the Christ ministry. Explains the Christ job He’s going to do. Spells it right out. It’s quite a Christ mission.

Listen to Jesus again. “It’s absolutely necessary, i.e., it’s God’s will for me to set out for Jerusalem. And there I will suffer deeply at the hands of the lay leaders, senior pastors, and Bible teachers. I’ll be executed. And on the third day I’ll rise from the dead.”

Last week we learned “who” Jesus is. The Christ. That’s clear. No problem there. But this week we hear the “what.” The “how” Jesus is the Christ. He’s the Christ who will suffer. Suffer not just in general. A suffering that will be terminal. He won’t die of a broken heart or of old age. He’ll suffer a death by execution. Stapled to the Cross as a public menace. That’s His Christ mission.

Got a problem with that? Peter sure does. You followed his lead last week. Will you follow him this week?

Peter ponders what Jesus says. A suffering Christ? A dead Christ? Absolutely unthinkable! Oxymoron! According to Peter, the words “suffering” and “Christ” completely contradict each other. The words “dead” and “Christ” are like fingernails on a chalkboard. THE CHRIST CAN’T LOSE! He supposed to be a winner! THE CHRIST CAN’T DIE! Inconceivable!

So Peter takes Jesus aside. Politely. Pastorally. Issues his first encyclical. “God be merciful to you Jesus. I’m going to let you in on a little secret. What you’ve just said will never happen to you. Why? Because the Christ cannot suffer and the Christ cannot, (now listen to me carefully Jesus) DIE! EVER!”

No suffering, dying, and rising Christ Jesus for Peter. How about you? Would you give your “Amen” to Peter’s words? Would you too insist on a Jesus who goes to Jerusalem minus Holy Week, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday?

If you’re with Peter who infallibly holds to a suffering free Christ Jesus, then you’re in league with the devil! Jesus turns on a dime. Looks right at Peter. Looks right at you. “Get behind me Satan!”   It is Satanic to not want Jesus to do a Jerusalem Holy Week, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday. Satan tried to derail Jesus doing His salvation job of bearing all the world’s sin on the cross with his three sensational wilderness temptations of: “Turn stones into bread!” “Jump!” “I’ll give you the world!”

Pull a Peter and you’re pulling a Satan all over again. Pull a Peter and you’re not concerned with God’s ways but men’s. Pull a satanic Peter and you don’t have a Savior. You’re left all on your own. And believe me, that’s not good!

Jesus will have none of it. He will not abandon His trip to the Cross and a borrowed tomb. He will go to Jerusalem. He will suffer. He will be crucified. He will be buried. He will rise from the grave. And neither you, Peter, nor Satan can stop Him. He will not put Himself first. He is the Suffering Servant Christ who suffers, dies, and rises for sinners.

Now His Cross shapes your lives. Patterns your lives. A disciple of Christ Jesus “finds his life” by . . . “losing it!”

You have a life when you take up your cross and follow Jesus.

And that simply means this:
1) You believe the truth about yourself and then,
2) you believe the truth about Jesus Himself!

First, what is the truth about yourself? Warning! It’s not pretty. You are a sinner. A rotten to the core sinner. By nature lost in your selfish self. A sinner that relentlessly seeks to assert yourself against God. Even to prevail over Him. A life centered on yourself. A sinner with the constant drive to be number one no matter who you hurt. And that you as a sinner deserve nothing but God’s temporal and eternal punishment.

Doesn’t that kill you to say confess such a thing? Indeed. And that’s the point! The old Adam brags about his accomplishments and his record. But the old Adam must be put to death! Drowned. Crucified. Daily. With all his sin and evil desires. To take up your cross and follow Jesus is the daily search and destroy mission of the old Adamic self.

So go ahead. Confess the truth about your sinful self. Repent! Turn away from that life of believing lies. Lose the life of trusting in yourself. For only when you lose that life do you find another!

And that’s a new life in Christ! When you take up your cross and follow Jesus you believe what He says. He says that He is the suffering and dead Good Friday Christ! The Easter Sunday Christ! That He does it all for you and for your salvation. For the forgiveness of all your sins. Only in this Christ Jesus are you saved. You can gain the entire world, but without faith in Christ Jesus, there’s only one alternative: the place prepared for the devil and all his angels.

Faith’s reward is salvation. A reward that is only by grace. Salvation in Jesus! He reveals His reign over us sinners in His suffering, death, and resurrection. Peter saw that. So did the other disciples. They didn’t taste death, i.e. they didn’t die, before they saw Jesus’ words come true. Jesus died on the Cross. And from the Cross He reigns as the Christ, the divine Son of Man, winning a salvation for sinners like Peter, you and me.

In the Name of Jesus.

Proper 16

Brent Kuhlman — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 06:16:44 -0600

Proper 16 Trinity Lutheran Church
14 August 2008 Murdock, NE

+ Jesu Juva +

Matthew 16:13-20

It’s Jesus who’s asking the questions today. Not you. Not me.

“Who do Whoopi, Joy, Elisabeth, Sherri, Barbara or Oprah say that I am?” Well, Jesus, their answers vary. Anywhere from like John the Baptist to Elijahesque. A Jeremiah re-do. Or the catch-all: you remind us of an OT prophet. Courageous. Uncompromising. An inspiring man of God. A great example.

All right. But then comes the big question. The life or death question. The salvation question. And there’s no avoiding it. Jesus comes right out and asks you point blank: “But who do YOU say that I am?”

Any one care to answer? What’s that? Too shy? Not quite sure what to say? Cat got your tongue?

Simon steps up to the plate. He’ll go first. Sticks his neck out. More than willing to speak up. “Well Jesus, you’re the Christ. Son of the living God you are.” Whew! Thanks a ton Simon. Nice job. Where’d you come up with that one? Pretty clever. You’re so good someone ought to nominate you to be the first bishop of Rome.

Don’t be so impressed. Simon didn’t pull this out of his hat. Simon’s not so creative. Beware of those, even if they claim to be apostolic, who brag about their “creativity!” Instead, Jesus says: “Blessed are you Simon, son of Barjona.. Blessed are you because my heavenly Father revealed this truth to you. Remember my Baptism in the Jordan? Heaven broke wide open. My Father’s voice declared: ‘He’s my beloved Son!’ And I began my Messianic ministry that you’ve seen quite clearly. In my ministry I’m revealed to you as the Christ. God’s divine Son. Very good Peter.”

Jesus is the Christ. He is the Son of the living God.

But what about you? Is that your confession too? Then blessed are you! For Jesus, Son of the living God, Christ goes to do a Calvary job for you. Takes all your sin. Becomes the sinner. Answers for all your sin in His crucified body. Endures the Father’s wrath against all your sin in your place. Son of the living God, Jesus, the Christ, dies a damned sinner’s death. Yours.

Can you trust a Jesus like that? Or would you confess a different Jesus?

Here’s what’s at stake. No Good Friday Jesus – no salvation. No Son of the living God Christ Jesus who lies stone cold dead and buried – no reconciliation with the Father. No Son of the living God Christ Jesus who bolts from the black hole of death – no forgiveness. No nothing! No Son of the living God Christ Jesus like that for you – everything is pointless – you are still in your sins. And you’ll have to answer for them all – all by yourself. Good luck with that!

“So who do YOU say that I am Trinity congregation?”

Why you’re the Son of the living God Messiah revealed to us by the Father in that Friday we call good and in your Easter Sunday first fruits resurrection! All this for us and for our salvation!

“Blessed are you. Blessed are you,” Jesus says.

And then Jesus makes a most remarkable promise. A most counter cultural and vehemently anti human achievement vow. “Upon this rock, i.e., upon this confession that I am the Son of the living God Messiah, I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH!”

Did you hear that? It’s absolutely astounding! First, who builds the church? You? Me? Consultants? Church growth gurus? Jesus says just the opposite. Jesus promises just the reverse: “I will build.”   “I will build.” He doesn’t say to Simon: “Now look here Simon! It’s all up to you now. Put on your vestments and mitre. Better start acting like a bishop of bishops and get busy building the church!” No. Jesus does the verb. “I will build.”

He builds the church because she belongs to Him. She is His beloved bride for whom He, Son of the living God Christ, gave His life into a Good Friday death. She is bought and redeemed by the sacrificial blood of Him who is the Son of the living God. Holied and cleansed by the washing of His baptismal water with His mandate and institution Word.

We are simply given to answer the question: “But what about you? Who do you say that I am?” And the only answer that holds is the one given to us by the Father through His Spirit filled Word: “You are the Christ! You are the Son of the living God!” And when you say that you say: “You are my Savior!”

On that rock, on that solid rock confession, Jesus builds His church.

And then Jesus graciously gives another most remarkable promise. “Not even the gates of hell will be able to overthrow the church I build!” Satan, his demons, and all their hellish powers cannot destroy Christ’s church. Jesus will always have His church. And His church is going on where the faithful and true confession is going on: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

In this church where Jesus is confessed, sins are forgiven for Jesus’ sake. Forgiveness is the key that unlocks Christ’s heavenly reign on the earth for sinners. “I give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Whatever sins you forgive [loose] on the earth, shall be forgiven [loosed] in heaven.”

In the church, the pastor, by Christ’s command and promise, declares that you are forgiven because Jesus died for you. That Word of forgiveness is called Holy Absolution. It is Christ’s Word. Christ speaks to you in His Word. You hear His voice in His Word of forgiveness. And His Word does what it says. It delivers what it promises. “Whatever sins you forgive on the earth, shall be forgiven in heaven.”

Who wouldn’t want that? Who would refuse that? Then the opposite is true. Then you’re still in your sins. Bound by them. “Whatever you shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven.” Holding your sins purposely outside of Christ’s forgiveness is a game you don’t want to play with God. Don’t want a forgiveness for all your sins Jesus? Then you may just get what you want. It will be hellishly tragic. The door of heaven completely locked. Forever.

So what do you say? Who do you say Jesus is? Blessed are you who say like forgiven sinner Simon: “You are the Christ! You are the Son of the living God! Thank you Jesus for your dying, rising and Word of Absolution! Thank you that it’s all for me!”

In the Name of Jesus.

Proper 15

Brent Kuhlman — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 06:10:19 -0600

Proper 15 Bethlehem & Immanuel Congregations
17 August 2008 Bremen, KS
Mission Festival

+ Jesu Juva +

Matthew 15:21-28

What will you do Jesus? You’ve been doing mission among your own people. Hasn’t been going very well. We’ll grant you that. Herod imprisoned and murdered the great prophet and your forerunner, John the Baptist. Your hometown of Nazareth wouldn’t have you. But you’ve come precisely for the lost sheep of Israel. To be their Shepherd. To be their Savior.

Now what? Take a look! This Canaanite, Gentile woman from Pagan Land (Tyre and Sidon) comes screaming after you. Canaanite! Did you hear that Jesus? Canaanite means poison. Skull and cross bones poison. Canaanite means everything that is deadly to the faith of Israel. Israel and Canaan: that’s like throwing a match into gasoline. And what’s with all her yelling? So like a Canaanite. What a loud mouth! Best just to stay away from her Jesus.

Need we remind you Jesus? Your mission is to Israel. To the lost sheep of Israel. Israel. Israel. Israel. Israelites. Not Canaanites! You never should have tried to get away from it all with this jaunt into the region of Israel’s bitterest enemies.

When you do that you’re going to run into Canaanites. And that’s exactly what happens. Mrs. Non-Israelite Loud Mouth Canaanite relentlessly comes after you. She’s heard of you Jesus (Mark 7:25). Word’s gotten out. People have been talking. Faith comes by hearing. And hearing by the Word of Christ.

She needs your help. Desperately. Her daughter is terribly demon possessed. Could it be? Is it possible? That a Canaanite woman believes?

Yes indeed. Mrs. Gentile Canaanite knows who you are Jesus. “Lord, Son of David,” she says. “Lord.” That’s not just “mister” or “good sir.” It’s: “Jesus, you’re God’s divine Son. And that means, ‘Savior.’ The Savior promised from King David’s family. You’re King David’s promised Son! The One greater than Solomon who will reign forever and bring salvation to Israel.” And she knows why you’re here Jesus. “Lord, Son of David . . . HAVE MERCY ON ME.”

Pretty impressive Jesus. Mrs. Tyre and Sidon believes in you. She’s betting her life that you’ll have mercy even on her. A Gentile. What will you do? Will you abandon your mission to the lost sheep of Israel? Or will you be distracted and do some Canaanite mission work? What will people think? Especially the house of Israel?

What’s that Jesus? Cat has your tongue? Don’t have anything to say? We suppose not. “He does not answer her a word.”

OK Jesus. We take it that the silent treatment means that you’re an Israel only kind of Savior. Surely she’ll get the message.

Nope. Mrs. Canaanite doesn’t leave. Even after receiving the silent treatment. She tries to get to you through your disciples. Begs them. They don’t like it. A Canaanite! And a woman to boot! Jesus’ mission is to Israel. “Get rid of her will you Jesus! She keeps on yelling at us!” No “Lord, Son of David” talk from Israelite disciples. That’s interesting isn’t it?

Well, what will you do Jesus? Let’s hear it. Will you help Mrs. Canaanite or not? “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.”

There you have it Madam! Nice try. Close but no cigar. He’s an Israel man. An Israel Messiah. Not for the likes of you honey! Surely she’ll give up on you now Jesus!

What? She’s still here? Now she’s bowing before you Jesus. Still she begs. “Lord, help me. Please help me.”

Now what Jesus? “It just isn’t right to take the children of Israel’s bread and toss it to little Canaanite lap dogs. I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.”

That ought to do it Jesus. Surely she’ll quit and go home now. And you can get back to your mission work in Israel.

What’s this? She dares to speak again? “You’re absolutely right Lord! I am a little dog. We little lap dogs are allowed in the house aren’t we? So that means that even a little lap dog like me gets to eat the scraps that fall from the lost sheep of Israel’s table, right?”

That’s a brilliant move, isn’t it Jesus? She’s caught you in your own words! There’s no getting out of your words. You let her in the house by calling her a lap dog. She’s more than willing to be a little Chihuahua in Israel’s house and at Israel’s table! Not just in the house but at the dinner table!

Now she’s caught you in your own words! Can’t contradict your own words and promises. So now what Jesus?

He explodes! “Woman, you have great faith! Let it be done for you exactly as you wanted! Your daughter is healed.”

Jesus loves to be caught in His own words. He did come for the lost sheep of Israel. Sure, He was on a Israelite mission. Israel first, but then via Israel on to all nations. Making disciples of all nations as He says in Matthew 28.

You’re the fruits of Matthew 28’s mission. Gentiles for whom Jesus died. Gentiles who are baptized in the Triune Name. Made disciples through Baptism and teaching all the Lord Jesus has given.

After catching Jesus and holding Him to His words, Mrs. Canaanite went home to be with her healed daughter. Her disciple life was the life of faith toward Jesus and love for her daughter.

So too with you. Jesus died for you. You’re forgiven.   You’re healed from Satan, his terrible demons, and their eternal hell. You’re baptized into His death for a new life. You too are little discipled lap dogs who eat the scraps that fall from the Master’s Table, His Body and His Blood.

Good Friday-ed and Easter Sunday-ed by Him you hold Him to His words of promise for you. Great is your faith because Jesus is so great for you. He is the Savior of both Jew and Gentile.

And so Jesus too sends you back home. On a mission. To take care of your family. Children. Grandchildren. Spouse. Grandparents. Whoever. Faith in Him. Love for each other. Where He has put you, He has good use for you. Sacrificial service for those in your life.

And your constant cry is: “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me a sinner.” And His answer: “Great is your faith. May it be exactly what you want.”

In the Name of Jesus.

Proper 14

Brent Kuhlman — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 06:48:55 -0600

Proper 14 Trinity Lutheran Church
10 August 2008 Murdock, NE

+ Jesu Juva +

Matthew 14:22-33

The disciples are in trouble again. Last week they couldn’t feed the huge mob. This week it’s a boating trauma. A storm on the sea. Their boat is battered by high waves. The winds won’t let them make any progress. All their boating skills are put to the test. They’re failing. They’re as good as dead. Where are you Jesus? He’s on the mountain. Praying. All by Himself. What good is that kind of Jesus?

Are you in trouble? What’s bothering you? Can’t handle the pressures and assaults of the life’s stormy seas? Is it all just too much? Find yourself getting nowhere against the constant battering of your sin, the devil’s accusations, and death’s creeping door? Where are you Jesus? Where are you Jesus? Are you still on the mountain praying all by yourself? What kind of Jesus are you?

He’s the Jesus who comes. Comes to His disciples on the water. Comes to you in the water of your Baptism. You who are in need. Comes the way He chooses. To save you. To strengthen your faith in Him.

So off the mountain and on to the sea He goes. Comes to them. He is not a ghost. It’s really Him. Flesh and blood Jesus. Walking on the stormy sea. Walking the midst of your stormy life. Bellies right up to His frightened disciples and to you. He speaks: “Courage! I am! Don’t be afraid.”

Good thing He speaks. Because seeing can be deceiving. Seeing can be terrifying. Threatening. “Is it a ghost!” And they scream in fear. So would we. So Jesus speaks: “Courage! I am! Don’t be afraid.” Faith comes from hearing. And hearing from the word of Christ.

So not a ghost but flesh and blood Jesus speaks. He doesn’t say: “It’s me guys.” No. He literally says: “I AM.” He’s the great I AM of the Old Testament. He is Jehovah God of the Old Testament in the flesh. He is the I AM, YHWH, who speaks to Moses from the burning bush. He is the great I AM who brings Israel out of Egyptian death and hell. Who speaks to Job and you in the OT lesson. Who saves you, His NT Israel, from sin, death, Satan and hell. Jesus speaks out His Name: “I AM.” He gives them His name. He gives you His Name in Baptism. He is their God. He is your God. The only God there is.

And His words do what they say. “Courage! Do not be afraid.” And they are comforted. We are comforted. He comes to save not destroy. That’s the kind of Jesus He is.

Not a ghost but flesh and blood walking on the water Jesus draws believers to Himself. And so Peter wants to be with Jesus. “Lord, if it’s you, command me to come to you on the water.”    Faith is not content just to know Jesus is out there. Faith desires communion with Jesus. To be where Jesus is. To walk where Jesus walks.

But that means leaving your old life behind. Forsaking everything that you are, everything that you have been, and everything that you have. It means dying to self and trusting only in Jesus. It means that you are nothing and that Jesus is everything.

Jesus tells Peter -- He tells you, “Come.”   And so we go in the power of that inviting word. We and Peter leave the security and safety of our lives behind in the boat. We venture to trust that we have nothing but Jesus’ word “Come,” to hold us up.

And then our faith shrivels. Who can trust a Jesus who simply says, “Come,” when our eyes only see the waves, whitecaps and winds? When ears are distracted from Jesus’ speaking, to the sight of this life’s boiling and churning waters, we sink. Just like Peter. Fear and doubt are the cement goulashes that take us under.

Compared to the waves Jesus appears to be too small. Too little to handle our problems. Too insignificant to take care of our disappointments. To scrawny to save us from our diseases. Too weak to save us from sin, death, and hell.

When you’re wearing the cement shoes of fear and doubt the only thing left to do is cry out like Peter: “Lord, save me!”

Peter is nothing. We are nothing. Jesus is everything. All that’s left when we’re going under is: “Lord, save me!” Straight away Jesus reaches out, grabs Peter, and puts him in the boat. “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”

Jesus is greater than the winds and the waves. Greater than any of your troubles. Greater than any of your sin. He is I AM who dies on the Cross for you. “Courage! Do not be afraid! Do not doubt any longer.”

“And those who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying, ‘You are certainly God’s Son!’”    Not a ghost. But the Son of God. To say Jesus is God’s Son is the biggest thing you can say about Jesus. For when you say, “Jesus, you sure are God’s Son,” you’re saying, “Jesus you sure are my Savior!”

He certainly is. He death is for you. His resurrection is for you. Pulled you out sin and death as you were buried with Him in Baptism. And in the water Son of God Savior Jesus bids you to “Come” and walk with Him. Your baptismal water is the glassy and calm sea where Jesus says: “Courage! I AM! No need to fear! I’ve got you.”

In the Name of Jesus.