Two Gifts for One Sin - Isaiah 40:2

                                                            Two Gifts for One Sin  Isaiah 40:2

Bible Study Notes

CHAPTER 40:1-2    A Gospel Twofer: Two  Gifts for One Sin

 1 Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God.

Comfort or speak the sweet, joyful Gospel of the coming Messiah.  Speak it to my people.  The emphasis is on My/God’s people.  It implies a people that God will not forsake.  It also implies that there is a people that God does not claim as His own.  He claim those who are of a crushed and humble conscience and who with a troubled heart call upon God in their day of trouble.  There is another people that rely on themselves or their own resources to get them through their troubles.  That people is not the people of God.  That people needs no comfort for they are not troubled or emptied and are too full to receive any comfort.  Comfort implies an affliction.  God’s people are those who have been wounded and terrified by God’s good Law and are empty vessels capable of receiving comfort, God’s good Gospel.  Comfort means nothing if there isn’t an affliction.  Your God emphasizes your because a troubled conscience does not think it has God but considers God a devil, an enemy, the source of all trouble.  Your implies the saying “Do not be afraid” in this affliction.  

 2 Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished (ended), that her iniquity (immoral behavior) is pardoned (forgiven): for she hath received of the LORD’S hand double for all her sins.

Speak means a bold public statement, not a quiet encouragement.  To quote Martin Luther: To speak tenderly, or “to the heart,” is a Hebraism which means to flatter (make someone feel honored and pleased), to cajole (to persuade someone), as in Gen. 34:3: “He spoke tenderly to her.” So here, the heart, groaning and sighing, is comforted by the Spirit, for the Spirit speaks to the heart as He wills. Do you want a gracious God? He answers: “You have a gracious God.” Do you want to be comforted? He answers: “You are comforted.” Here, then, you observe God’s people, afflicted and sad. To them the Gospel is spoken, to their heart and feeling. For Gospel preachers are commanded to say joyful things, more than the heart can grasp, as Paul says (Rom. 8:26), “with sighs too deep for words.” So these groans are comforted with consolations too deep for words. Let the preacher say, then: “I not only preach Christ to you as the One who forgives, but I also give you His righteousness, so that, clothed with Him, you may have all that is His. The comfort is therefore far more excellent than all groanings. Do you want to be holy? I will make you holy, yes, most holy through Christ.”

Warfare is ended

Again Luther, “Here the prophet explains what the words of comfort are and what his treasure is: “Our warfare is ended, and double gifts are given in its stead.” Let these words avail against the advocates of free will. Warfare. In the Sacred Scriptures every striving, attempt, and religious exercise represents this warfare of the Law. May the Spirit change it into the warfare of Christ! For to conduct warfare under the Law is2 to strive and to toil under the Law. Certainly those who are zealous in offering works of the Law have this warfare, like the self-righteous, just as the Jews conducted warfare under the Law with an evil zeal (Rom. 10:2). Warfare is the anxious and agitated concern to render satisfaction to God. For under the Law we are as it were under a custodian (Gal. 3:24). To love and to strive is to conduct warfare, and they are zealous in these works of loving and striving. When these works are finished, it is said that “your warfare is ended.” Thus those who are zealous of works here conduct warfare under the Law. For them another warfare is set forth by the Spirit and the Word, namely, Christ as the Mediator and the One who renders satisfaction, as the apostles teach. Every man must necessarily first be disturbed by the scepter of the Law, of death, and of hell and must experience a confounding of his conscience. Such people truly conduct warfare under the Law. To them properly belongs the comfort of the Gospel which says, “Do not fight any longer. Your warfare is finished and ended through Christ, the Redeemer.”

 Your iniquity forgiven  

Again Luther, “First, then, the warfare of the Law is abolished, that is, whatever there is of strivings, of works, and of toil outside of grace.  (All tyrants, such as the pope and the Turk, are unwilling to see their warfare ended but want it to be perfected. As for you, ...put aside this warfare. The second thing, your iniquity is forgiven, that is, forgiven by grace and mercy. You are set free from sins, not by working and struggling but by forgiveness.

 double for all her sins  

Again Luther, “For in place of because of is a Hebraism.  Grace is wonderful. Not only is a single gift given for sins, but doubled and outstanding gifts are given. Summary: By the pure mercy of God doubled gifts are given for all sins. We have learned this by experience. By our endless works and labors and in endless ways we have resisted this grace and achieved nothing but anguish of conscience. Here, however, you see it said by the wisdom of the Spirit that we attain to all these things by the grace of God alone, not as a result of our merits, but for our sins.  

Pentecost Sunday 2017

Our Savior Lutheran Church - LCMS 2611 Lucas Street Muscatine, IA 52761 www.oursaviormuscatine.org oslcp@machlink.com

Pastor Pautz

Title: How to Become More Pentecostal than a Pentecostal - The Office of the Holy Spirit

Grace and mercy to you from God our Father and the Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

The text is John 14:26-27 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. 27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. (KJV)

Thus far the text. Let us pray: Creator Father, you have sent the Holy Spirit to us in Jesus’ name, grant to us that the Holy Spirit teach us all things which You have given Jesus to have said and bring to our remembrance all the things which Jesus did, so that we may be comforted in our afflictions. In the name of Jesus. Amen.

Most of the Church Fathers were more Pentecostal than today’s Pentecostals. How is that? Martin Luther was more Pentecostal than today’s Pentecostals. Is that proper to say?

Pentecostalism has spread like wildfire in the last century. Holiness groups such as the Nazarene and the Assembly of God denominations swept through 19th century America and continued through mission societies throughout 3rd world countries. To the young men and women who are college bound this fall, I predict with your first month at college you will be contacted by one of the pentecostal leaning Christian groups on campus such as Campus Crusade for Christ (now called Cru); or The Navigators; or Intervarsity Christian Fellowship; or Young Life; or World Student Christian Federation; or Campus Outreach; or many more. (This does not include pagan sects such as the Mormons, Jehovah Witnesses, or the Pagan Student Alliance.)

But do not point a finger at the Pentecostals or Campus Ministries for the same pentecostal teachings are within Lutheran churches and even have had organized societies with our own LCMS such a RIM but now underground. The teachings are probably held by some of you. The problem is the loss of your comfort in the midst of affliction.

This Pentecost Study I challenge you to become more Pentecostal than the Pentecostals. I’m not going to point you to the traditional marks of Pentecostalism such as speaking in tongues, or a rebaptism in the Holy Spirit, or even how to become a prayer warrior to claim whole families and cities for God.

I’m going to point you to a work of God that is even more powerful and given with a clear promise to those who have the faith of Jesus.

The Holy Spirit is given to do two works among us.

1. First, the Holy Spirit is to teach us all things of your heavenly Father.

2. Second, the Holy Spirit is to help your remember all that Jesus did.

The Holy Spirit’s goal in teaching and reminding is to bring you such a comfort in your affliction that you even despise death. That facing death, you rest in a peace that comes only from being taught and reminded of Christ your Savior.

Some will say, if only my poverty would be turned to riches, I would have peace. But, such peace God does not give.

Others will say, if only my physical or mental illness were healed, I would be comforted. But, such peace God does not give.

And other will say, if only my approaching death were turned to life, will I ever be comforted. But, such peace God does not give.

Martin Luther had this to say about the work of the Holy Spirit:

“Such peace Christ does not give. He allows the affliction to remain and oppress; yet He employs different tactics to bestow peace: He changes the heart, removing the heart from the affliction rather than the affliction from the heart. This is the way it is done: When you are sunk in affliction He so turns your mind from it and gives you such consolation that you imagine you are dwelling in a garden of roses. Thus, in the midst of dying is life; and in the midst of trouble is peace and joy. This is why it is that St. Paul declares to the Philippians (4:7) a peace which passes all understanding.” Thus far Luther.

How do you life as if you have just entered a garden of roses in the midst of your daily afflictions? Well, you can’t enter it. Access to this garden was barred from sinners after Adam and Eve were cast out of the Garden of Eden. However, the Holy Spirit will escort you into living as if you are in a rose garden.

The Office of the Holy Spirit is to teach you and remind you. The Holy Spirit has recorded the Father’s invitation to you in Holy Scripture in order that you may be taught and reminded of Jesus. This written word is Holy Spirit filled. This Holy Scripture and the Holy Spirit are so closely associated the what the Father has had written in Holy Scripture is delivered by the Holy Spirit.

So, how do you live as if you are in a beautiful rose garden? Jesus gives you His faith by means of what the Holy Spirit wrote! It is written, “For in the Gospel the righteousness of God is revealed by faith alone; as it is written, "The just shall live by God's faith." (Romans 1:17, Habakkuk 2:4b). This is the verse that sparked the Reformation of the church.

Luther continues, saying, “Christ gives this faith to you. He says to you: just pass down into the valley of death, yes, it will be sweet for you. There the Holy Spirit will come to you and make you so courageous and joyful that you will not know death, yes, it will be sweet to you. The reason for this peace (continues Luther) is that the Holy Spirit teaches one to know the great goodness and grace of Jesus Christ, making those who believe in Jesus lords, just like Jesus, over sin, death and all things. Therefore a Christian must be possess this teaching and remembrance, which is the work of the Holy Spirit, to be joyful in good and in evil fortune, whether it be bitter or sweet. (and just a little more Luther) Some possess this teaching and remembrance in greater degrees than others, for we are not all perfect, in fact, no one will be so perfect as to never again experience struggle and affliction.” Thus far Luther.

Christians do not openly oppose the Office of the Holy Spirit in theory, but in practice many will seek the work of the Holy Spirit apart from the Holy Scriptures (such as praying in tongues or, among us, church growth strategies) or many will deny what is written in the Holy Scriptures (such as a rejecting infant baptism, or believing prayer chains are more effective than individual prayers of one Christian, or deny that Satan is a real person or that hell is a real place, or believing that all religions are the same.)

No, Jesus Christ was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified died and was buried, descended into hell, on the third day Jesus rose from the dead and ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God SO THAT the He could send the Holy Spirit to you who is promised to be your Comforter through the means of grace; through Word and Sacrament.

The result being that even now you may begin to despise death. Cling to the teaching God has given in your Holy Bible and your Small Catechism. The Holy Spirit will continue to teach you and remind you of what you have in Jesus. In the midst of affliction and death turn to the Scripture and Catechism to be taught and reminded of Jesus and you will begin to live more and more as if you were dwelling in a Garden of Roses. And you too will become more Pentecostal than a Pentecostal for you will begin to despise death and receive comfort in your affliction.

A final reminder, if you had no affliction caused by God’s good Law, you would would have no need for comfort. Comfort implies affliction that has taken away your comfort and if you had no need for comfort you would have no need for the Comforter, the Holy Spirit.

This whole passage in the Gospel of John is about the Office of the Holy Spirit, who is comforting you by teaching you from Holy Scripture and reminding you that you are baptized in Jesus death and you are invited to eat and drink Christ’s very body and blood for the forgiveness of all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

The peace of God, which passes understanding, guard and keep you in body and soul through Jesus Christ your Savior. Amen.

Jesus Cleanses the Temple - John 2:12-25

                                         Jesus Cleanses the Temple - John 2

Bible Study - John 2:12-25

Pastor Pautz    Title: Whipping Fair Trade & Broken Buildings - Your Holy Temple

 Invocation & Opening Prayer

Study Notes

2:12 After this he went down to Capernaum, he, and his mother, and his brethren, and his disciples: and they continued there not many days.  

A little bit of Christ’s biography.  Matthew tells us He lived in Nazareth from the time He returned from Egypt until entering office.  Joseph probably passed during His time in Nazareth (Matthew 2:21-23).  After entering His office, He moved to Capernaum (Matthew 4:13).  Lots of speculation (Ruth 3:10f), however, I consider Jesus’ brothers to be His cousins but correct or not it does not add or subtract from the faith.  Capernaum was Jesus’ home to which He returned after travelling throughout Galilee.  He labored as a pastor with God’s Word.  The summary of His work is given in Acts 10:37-38.

 2:13 And the Jews’ passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem, 14 And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting:

So after His first miracle to reveal His divinity at the Wedding in Cana and moving from Nazareth to Capernaum where Jesus used as a home parish from which He preached and taught for three years until He entered Jerusalem Palm Sunday for His Passion.  And we know what caused Jesus’ reaction to what He saw in the temple.  In the Old Testament, God gave guidelines for the care of the temple priests and beyond that the people gave many voluntary gifts to the priests.  However, by this time, all that generosity was not enough.  They started selling sacrificial animals for profit and then make the sacrifice on the people’s behalf for a price.  This is similar to Roman indulgences.  This is similar for unbecoming synod salaries and expensive programs while not supporting seminarians and teachers and missionaries.  Then what about our congregation?  The greatest expense is support for me and my family for which I am thankful.  I have been presenting to you several articles from Rev. Heath Curtis.  I agree with his presentation of Biblical stewardship and encourage you to read them and pray concerning them.  First, it is geared toward families starting with the Law and then the Gospel to become more generous.  Second, it offers a Gospel approach to establishing a congregational budget.  To summarize, the people would be asked to pledge an estimated offering for the budget year.  The pledges would be given to the Board of Finance (who already discretely count and record all offerings).  This would establish the total budget number for the new year.  This number would then be based on the generosity of the people. The Board of Stewardship would submit a line line item budget in consultation with the various church boards.  The Church Council would edit and recommend it to the voters for approval.  There would be no follow up with pledges.  No one can know what will happen in the new year.  Some will keep their pledge and other won’t.  Some will give more than their pledge and other would give less.  That is ok.  So, the Board of Finance would ask for a pledge but they would not keep track of whether the pledges were kept or not.

 15 And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers’ money, and overthrew the tables

Why does the Lord use force in this situation when beforehand He has only used on word of mouth?  Jesus connects all that is in the Old Testament to all that is in the New Testament.  In the Old Testament, acting as a prophet, Jesus should have used more than drive them out with His fists and a whip, He should have stoned the money changers (Leviticus 20:2).  Jesus is the Lord of the Sabaoth.  Sometimes He follows the Law of Moses very closely but never as one oppressed by it.  Jesus did not have to go to the Jerusalem Temple the three specified times per year, but when He did, He went willingly and gladly.  So, here, Jesus is acting as a disciple of Moses but this is not an action to be copied.  The violence and force that is to be exercised in the church today is the sword of Jesus’ mouth (it is a sword that never entered His mouth but comes out of His mouth which is His Word) Revelation 1:16; 11:4; 19:20-21.  However, the fisted sword should remain with the state and the worded sword should remain with the state.  Today, as in times past, the church wants to use both swords.  The church properly uses the worded-sword when it speaks God’s Word to give and strengthen faith in Jesus.  However, it wants to use the fisted-sword by compelling people to give more money for purposes other the Word and Sacrament.  Also, the state wants to use both swords.  The state properly uses the fisted-sword when it stops evil in accordance with natural law.  However, it wants to also use the worded-sword by compelling the church what to believe and how to practice that belief in the public square.  Both church and state need our prayers.

 17 And his disciples remembered that it was written, “The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.”  

This is evidence that the people knew the Holy Scripture well.  There were many synagogues where especially the Psalms were being taught, sung and heard.  Luther, “We know, of course, what type of people Christ’s disciples were—not learned men, not high priests, Pharisees, and scribes, but poor beggars and fishermen, lowly folk, Peter, Andrew, and Bartholomew. But still they were able to learn the Psalter; they heard it read, sung, and preached. Simply by listening to Holy Scripture they familiarized themselves with it; and they learned it so well that they remembered the words and pondered them.”  We do too.  Let us continue.

18 Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things?

If someone came to Our Savior and insisted he was the new pastor and also dismissed the Church Council because he was going to take care of things, especially the redesign of the sanctuary, it would be ok to ask the same thing the Jews asked Jesus.

 19 Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.  

Jesus will die for this comment.  Luther “In Matt. 21:23–27 we find a more detailed account of this happening. When the Lord, on the eve of His suffering and after His entry into Jerusalem, created such a sensation that the chief priests and elders came to Him with the query: “By what authority are You doing these things, and who gave You this authority?” Jesus answered them: “I also will ask you a question; and if you tell me the answer, then I will also tell you by what authority I do these things. The Baptism of John, whence was it? From heaven or from men?” And now as they also request a sign from Him, He asks them again, thereby perplexing and confusing them so that they are at a loss for a reply. For “they argued with one another: If we say: From heaven, He will say to us: Why, then, did you not believe him? But if we say: From men, we are afraid of the multitude; for all hold that John was a prophet. So they answered Jesus: We do not know. And He said to them: Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things. If you had listened to the word and preaching of John, you would know by what authority and power I do this.”  Jesus cornered in the Matthew account.

 20 Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? 21 But he spake of the temple of his body.  21 But he spake of the temple of his body.

These men are under Isaiah’s 6:9-10 curse.  Seeing they do not see, hearing they do not hear.

22 When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said.  

What did they believe?  The scripture.  The writings.  They believed the Word of Jesus which the Holy Spirit recorded for them.  Ie. The Holy Bible.

 23 Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast day, many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did. 24 But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men, 25 And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.  

Summary: Jesus is God.

 Closing Prayer - The Lord’s Prayer.

Ascension Day Service 2017

The Ascension of Our Lord - Observed at Our Savior Lutheran Church 2611 Lucas Street Muscatine, Iowa 52761 www.oursaviormuscatine.org

Sunday, May 28, 2017

The Ascension of Our Lord - Observed

Title: What goes up must come down - He who believes and is baptized will be saved!

According to Mark 16:14-20

 It is written: 14 Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen.  15 And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.  16 "He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.  17 "And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18 "they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover."  19 So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God.  20 And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen.  (NKJV)

 Thus far the text.  Let us pray:

 Creator Father, whose only-begotten Son Jesus Christ fulfilled what You sent Him to do for our salvation, give to us the Baptism and Faith of Jesus, so that we may remain remain saved from our unbelief and remain with you in body and soul both now and forever more.  In the name of Jesus.  Amen.

 Summary:  1. The long ending of Mark agrees with the Majority Text and with other major and clear passages of Holy Scripture so it should not be doubted that it is a gift of the Holy Spirit.  2. The miracles which are prophesied here were performed by the apostles to confirm the truth of the Scriptures to those yet unbelieving.  3  The Gospel is this: Those who believe and are baptized are saved.  4.  Jesus ascended to the right hand of His Father so that He might also descend with all the Father’s authority in heaven and earth to deliver and keep us by faith alone.  5.  Jesus is not far away but continues to do the miracles which He promised to those who believe in Him.  6.  His mission is for His church, with pastors, to baptize all nations in the Triune name and teach them all things which He has commanded by means of His Word and Sacraments.

 14 Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen.

 Thomas is the main disciple Jesus rebukes.  Thomas did not believe those who had seen the resurrected Jesus.  Jesus rebukes the unbelief and hardness of Thomas’ heart.

 Jesus rebukes the eleven disciples.

 Jesus rebukes us too.  We need a rebuke now and then.  A rebuke for our unbelief because we do not believe we are saved by the faith of Jesus alone.  We want to have some responsibility.  We need a rebuke for our hardness of heart because after the first rebuke by a pastor or friend with God’s Word we continue in our old ways.

15 And Jesus said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.

 This is the Great Commission according to St. Mark.  Convincingly, it is at the same time and place Jesus met with the 500 in Galilee where St. Matthew records Jesus’ Great Commission in his beautiful little Gospel.

 In both cases, Jesus is not commanding people to go away.  The 500 will go back to their God-given vocations with the Gospel.  The 500 will return to being mom’s and dad’s and children.  They will return to be teachers and students, soldiers and civilians, governors and citizens, but they will go with the Gospel.

 Mark ends his Gospel where he started.  It is recorded that John the Baptist “preaches a Gospel of baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins” (Mark 1:4).  Mark ends with the same proclamation given to the 500.

 Repentance has two parts.  Contrition and faith.  

 The first part of repentance is the gift of contrition given only in the good Law of God Contrition or being sorry for your sin is good.  But being sorry does not save.  King Saul was sorry for trying to kill David but died in unbelief.  Judas was sorry for betraying Christ and yet hung himself in unbelief.

 The second part of repentance is a gift of faith given only in the Gospel.  Peter sorry for denying Christ three times but he also clung to the faith of Jesus for the forgiveness of his sins.  Paul was sorry for persecuting Christ’s church but he too clung to the faith of Jesus for the forgiveness of his sins.

 It is written, 16 "He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.

 The Law is good because it show us our sin.  This knowledge of good and evil is still the cause of our condemnation.

 But this is the Gospel.  The sinner who receives the faith of Jesus and is baptized will be saved from condemnation.  

 Let us receive this repentance from Jesus.  He offers you contrition with His good Law but offers you faith with His good Gospel.

 What happened to those 500 disciples in Galilee?  They went home.  They returned to their vocations with one glaring difference, they returned with the Gospel.  They went home and were baptized Jesus and had their children baptized into Jesus too.  They brought their children to Jesus on Sunday’s in the Divine Service and they brought their children to Jesus by reading the Bible to them and praying with them.  As persecutions drove those first disciples out of Jerusalem, they brought the Gospel with them wherever they were tossed and brought Jesus to a new town, a new church, and new families.

 What does the Great Commission have to do with the Ascension of Our Lord?  It has everything to do with the Gospel and your comfort in this Gospel.

 It is written: 19 So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God.

 The right hand of God is all the authority in heaven and on earth given to Jesus.  It is not a geographical place in a land called heaven.  The right hand of God is the authority to baptize and teach all nations.  Having ascended, Jesus comes to earth because He loves you and continues to work for you.  

 Finally, it is written: 20 And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs.

 The disciples join Jesus in His work.  When a dad brings a child to hear a sermon, Jesus is doing the preaching and baptizing of the child unto salvation.  When a mom reads the Bible to her children, Jesus is preaching to those little children as well as to the mom.   Don’t find comfort in this?  Then check what God has promised to you.  Preaching and teaching is followed by signs.  Those who receive what they hear (faith) and are baptized (Water and Triune name), are saved.

 However, if you find no comfort in the ascended Christ who is preaching and baptizing through His people according to their mundane vocations, you and your false teacher need another rebuke.

 Enthusiasm is the term used by Luther and the Book of Concord to describe those who separate Jesus’ ongoing work from God’s Word.  Enthusiasm is the foundation of strategies to grow the church, for evangelism, and for mission work.  In plain language, Christian Enthusiasts hold that the Word of God is dead and lifeless unless the Christian makes God’s Word relevant and attractive.  The work of growing the church and evangelizing the lost is then the Christian’s work not God’s.

 What comfort does the enthusiastic Christian have when such great work is placed on his shoulders.  If God expects the church pews to always be full, what is the Christian Enthusiast to do when only 100 people show up in this sanctuary, or only 30 show up at St. Paul’s in Wapello, or 15 show up in Keosaukua?  What about all the small churches in Muscatine of various denominations that cling to God’s Word.  The burden is on the enthusiastic Christian because he separates the on-going work of Jesus from God’s Promises.  So if Jesus’ ongoing work among us using His Word does not bring you comfort and you feel compelled to build a big church to God, you have found your repentance for this morning.  Repent and believe that Jesus is continuing to build His church His way.

 Jesus is doing the work even as He invites you to join in.  He has called you to be moms and dads and children; teachers and students; governors and citizens; doctors and nurses and yes even patients who need to be cared for.  Jesus calls you to join in His work.  Jesus has the responsibility to keep and to build His church.  You join in as you do you the work of your vocations and pray for yourself and others, believing that Jesus has baptized you for this repentance unto the forgiveness of all your sins; in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.