Divine Service - Trinity 23

                    Divine Service - Trinity 23

Our Savior Lutheran Church - LCMS 2611 Lucas Street Muscatine, Iowa 52761 www.oursaviormuscatine.org

Divine Service - Trinity 23

Matthew 22:15-22

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ.

"Render … to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's."   

Now what is so amazing is that in one sentence, Jesus not only escapes both dangers, He also is able to express the distinction between the kingdom of God and the kingdoms of men. "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." Here is the Biblical teaching on the two kingdoms, the kingdom of grace and the kingdom of power, distilled into one sentence. We have an obligation in our worldly affairs to be good citizens: paying our taxes, dealing honestly with others, working hard. St. Paul elaborates on this by saying that to obey the government is to obey God. The Fourth Commandment, "Honor your father and mother," applies also to other authorities, such as the government, which we are bound to honor and obey.

However, the obligation to God is not similar. It is higher. We are to render unto Caesar the things that are his; but to God we are to render the things that belong to God. The obligation to worldly rulers consists of paying taxes and obeying the law. The obligation to render unto God the things that are God's is far greater, for what are the things that are God's? Everything. Render unto Caesar the tax money, but the LORD your God you shall love with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, all your mind. It is not a matter of warming a pew, tossing your leftovers into the offering plate, and saying a prayer or two now and then. To render unto God the things that are God's will mean perfection on your part: moral, religious, ethical perfection. "Whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all." "Why do you call Me, 'Lord, Lord,' and not do what I say?"

"Render unto God the things that are God's" is one of those passages that shows the full weight of God's Law. God's Law is crushingly comprehensive. It demands, and we cannot meet its demands. We can render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's, but we are incapable of rendering unto God the things that are God's. The sinful nature hinders us.

This is why the Son of God, the Second Person of the Holy Trinity, took on our human flesh. His incarnation was for this purpose: that He might, as a Man, render unto God the things that are God's: to do God's will, to offer Him a worthy sacrifice, to make atonement for sin – to bring man back to God.

So now, even as we live and move in the worldly kingdom of modern-day Caesars, paying our taxes and rendering the obedience and honor due to the government, we Christians nevertheless recognize that this is not the sum and substance of our lives. There is something else for which we live; there is something else that we are besides merely citizens of an earthly kingdom. I am often struck at what a privilege it is, an amazing undeserved blessing, to be a citizen of the United States. I am deeply thankful for that. And yet it pales in comparison, it is not even worthy to be compared to the one real citizenship that matters. For do you not know, we heard from St. Paul in the epistle, that "our citizenship is in heaven"? Our true citizenship is not here, it is in heaven. And so our goals are not attached to this worldly kingdom, but to attain unto the next, to attain unto the resurrection. What is the promise of that kingdom? What is the promise of Christ, who has indeed in our place rendered unto God the things that are God's? He "will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself." Those are the words in the funeral liturgy, spoken at the graveside. There, in the cold horror of the grave, everything is in its starkest contrast. No Caesar, king, president, government, flag, or constitution, can take away your sins and deliver you from that grave. None of them are able. All fail. So render unto them the honor and taxes due them, but do not look to them for your help. Your help does not come from the government, from your social security and Medicare, from its laws and constitutions, from its flag and army. Your help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth. Your help is in the Lord Jesus, who has rendered unto the Father that things that are His, and will transform your lowly body even from the grave, that it may be conformed to His glorious body in the resurrection. Glory be to Him, therefore, forever and ever! 

The peace of God that passes all understanding keep your hearts in Christ Jesus.

Matins Service

                                 Matins Service

Our Savior Lutheran Church - LCMS 2611 Lucas Street Muscatine, Iowa 52761 www.oursaviormuscatine.org

Announcements

                                Announcements

Today's printed sermon

Wednesday Matins Video

Last Sunday's Divine Service Video & printed sermon

Thank you for your prayers and offerings to Our Savior Lutheran Church - LCMS

TWENTY-SECOND SUNDAY AFTER HOLY TRINITY

Sunday, November 12th 9:00am       &       Monday, November 13th at 6:00pm

Divine Service  184       Psalm 14        Hymns  966, 578, 619, 658, 726, 596, 537, 805

Today    

08:00am Individual Absolution

09:00am Divine Service

10:30am Sunday School

Monday      

10:30am Sunnybrook Bible Study

01:00pm  Homebound

04:00pm  Office Hours

06:00pm  Divine Service

Tuesday

09:30am Matins Service - Congregation Invited

10:00am Circuit Meeting at Our Savior until 2:00pm

Wednesday

06:30am Men’s Bible Study

04:00pm Office Hours

09:00am Matins Service

09:30am Women’s Bible Study

06:15pm Jr. High Catechesis

 Thursday

07:00pm LWML Meeting

Sunday

08:00am Individual Absolution

09:00am Divine Service                         

10:30am Sunday School

 IN OUR PRAYERS

 Physical Health +Krystol Martz (Allan & Katie Ball’s granddaughter) ear surgery +Juliette (John & Carolyn Yeater’s great-granddaughter) heart surgery +Isabella Valenzuela (Jerry & Peggy Hart’s granddaughter) bone marrow transplant +John Francis (Mary’s husband) cancer treatment +Irene Meyers (Don’s wife) post surgery

ANNOUNCEMENTS

 OUR SAVIOR MUSCATINE hosts the Mt. Pleasant Circuit Meeting this Tuesday.  The congregation is invited to attend the opening Matins Service starting at 09:30am.  Please welcome: Rev. Dt. Chris Hinkle from St. Paul, Wapello, Rev. Chris Roepke from Concordia, Burlington, Rev. Steve Rasmussen of Our Savior, Ft. Madison and Our Savior, Keosaukua, Rev. Mike Scudder of Faith, Mt. Pleasant, Rev. Mark Brase of Immanuel, Fairfield, Rev. James Preus of Trinity, Ottumwa, and Rev. Dan Ognoskie of Zion, Wilton.  Afterwards, the pastors will hold their monthly study of Holy Scriptures.

THE LARGE LWML MITE BOX is positioned as you exit the service today for your dollars and coins.  The LWML appreciates your mites in helping us reach our mite goal!

 THE LWML NOVEMBER MEETING of the LWML will be held at the Muscatine Center of Social Activity (MCSA) on Thursday, November 16th at 7 pm.

 Our meeting will include a tour of the facility that serves the homeless here in Muscatine.  Mary Francis will lead our bible study and Angie Banko will be our hostess.  All ladies of the congregation are invited to attend.  The free will offering from our Soup Advent supper will be given to the center.  Our mission outreach for November is collecting food/paper items for our local food pantry.

 LWML ADVENT SOUP SUPPER A sign-up sheet is posted on the easel in the narthex for Wednesday, December 6th beginning at 5:30 p.m. The freewill donations will be given to the Muscatine Center for Social Action.   Thank you!

 LWML CHRISTMAS BRUNCH The Board of the LWML would like to invite the ladies of the congregation to a Christmas Brunch here at Our Savior on Saturday morning, December 9th beginning at 10 a.m.  A sign-up sheet for those planning to attend is posted on the easel along with a food item sheet showing what is needed if you would like to contribute.   Once the deadline for reservation is past the board will notify you of what will be needed.   Food donations are not required but appreciated if you are able to help in any way.  The bunch will include food, singing, devotion, skit, Christmas mite offering and Christian fellowship.  We hope you are able to come as we prepare for the Birth of the Christ Child in our hearts.   If you have any questions please ask any board member Karen Schaub, President; Becky Ernst, Vice President; Mary Francis, Treasurer and  Angie Banko, Christian Growth.

THANK YOU FOR SERVING                        Next Sunday

Organist           Sandy Koch                         Organist          Lisa Seaba  

Elder Group     Bruce Seaba                        Elder Group    Bob Husband

Acolyte              Zach Stoltzfus                   Acolyte           Kayla Hirschfeld      

Flowers            Crew Schliesman -Bday     Flowers           Allan & Katie Ball  62nd Anniversary

Trinity 22

                                                                     Trinity 22

Our Savior Lutheran Church - LCMS 2611 Lucas Street Muscatine, Iowa 52761 www.oursaviormuscatine.org

Trinity 22

November 12, 2017

Matthew 18:23-35

It is written in Matthew chapter 18: Then Peter came up and said to Jesus, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times? Jesus said to Peter, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.” Thus far the text.

Let us pray.  Blessed Father, You have caused all Holy Scripture to be written for our learning.  Grant that we may so hear them, read, mark, and inwardly digest them that, by patience and comfort of Your Holy Word, we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life; through Jesus Christ, our Savior.  Amen.

Peter wants to know what we all want to know: How long must I put up with my neighbor? God, I know, is merciful to ME! He puts up with me. He forgives me all my sins. But how long must I forgive my brother?

This is a dreadful thing! We must all learn some repentance today, before we are thrown into prison forever!

That's what Jesus says, and what are we to make of it? Don't try to make Him say that God's forgiveness really does depend on YOU and how forgiving YOU are to your neighbor.

Jesus doesn't teach against the Gospel. Jesus knows that God's mercy rests entirely on the Giving of His Son for you - into death - and now, through Word and Sacraments.

God has paid the penalty for sin in killing Jesus on the cross. All your debt is paid. What you owe, Christ took. Though YOU deserve to be cast into prison till you've paid the final cent, JESUS went to prison for you. He paid your sins and mine. He paid them all, for every man, woman and infant; the vilest sinner and whatever Grandma still is guilty of while sitting in her chair.

Jesus rescued us from ever thinking there is ANYTHING we have to do or give or show to gain God's heaven. So, PLEASE don't make Him a preacher of that popular religion which only knows how to withhold God's grace and mercy until sinners make SOME kind of effort to pay off their debt!

But also don't make Him the author of that evil thought that rises in St. Peter's heart and yours and mine each time we think of casting off our patience, calling it quits, or making someone suffer a little longer before we give them our forgiveness.

Jesus speaks today the way a king would if, having forgiven one servant an incredible amount of money, then finds out that that SAME servant turned around and had a fellow servant put in prison for a debt FAR less than what was owed the king.

I'm not sure how best to help us understand this. Several years before this altar gives me SOME perspective. Pastors hear the sins that people confess. They watch the lives of God's people fall apart because of sin. They hear criticisms and accusations and complaints, sometimes against the pastor. Still, a pastor stands before the altar and he says: "I forgive you all your sins." He hears confession and absolves, admitting poor sinners like themselves to Jesus' altar. By the Flesh and Blood of Jesus Christ in bread and wine, our sins are ended, done away with, forgiven and forgotten.

Then, what? After such forgiveness, a harsh word gets spoken between sinners, a responsibility is forgotten, a promise isn't kept. We sinners, though forgiven by the King of All, prove become impatient with our fellow slaves. Someone gets upset! God looks past our sins, no matter what they are! But we cast one another off - for what? An indiscretion. Being just like WE are?

This is a dangerous thing for all of us, since the question today is posed by one of Christ's first pastors.

Peter wants to know - PETER - who on one occasion will confess that Jesus is the Christ, and the next moment will be reproved by Jesus for being Satan!

Peter wants to know how far forgiveness goes. Peter - who walks on water and then sinks; who promises that he will die beside his Lord and then denies he even knew Him - not just once, but three times in an evening! Peter - who after Christ restores him to the Office of the Ministry, must be reproved by Paul for leading Christian brothers into sin.

On again off again Peter wants to know how far forgiveness goes. Oh, he's sure it's ALL THE WAY for HIM! But how many times must HE forgive his brother?

Dear people, this is a great sin, and our Lord and King will not be understanding if we presume to LORD so over Jesus' Gospel as the man does in our text today. If you want to Lord over the Gospel, take forgiveness for yourself, but then tight-fistedly treat others like there's no forgiveness, no patience, no understanding, no mercy for the things somebody does against you, then expect your heavenly Father to treat you just the same.

Any questions? It's the Law, cold, hard and in your face. And it is aimed at the chief apostle of Christ's Church.

Learn from the Ministry that's here for you! Learn from it how to be toward one another. Jesus takes your sins, dies for them, then pours out His forgiveness in their place.

Pay attention to the Ministry that's before you, dear people. Has there EVER been a time when a sinner couldn't come, repenting, confessing, saying: "I have sinned and done what is evil in God's sight," and NOT receive the absolution? EVER?

If you don't know, you've not been paying attention. I can be removed from Office if I don't forgive repentant sinners. So, come and LEARN from the Ministry of Jesus.

Learn that when you sin, the Lord will hear of your confession and He'll speak forgiveness over all your sins. He'll preach to you that Jesus died, so you will live. Your sins are not your own. They're HIS. And Jesus calls them all forgiven.

He will even feed you with His Body and His Blood; the bread and wine that carry to your lips forgiveness, life and salvation. From these, you learn to use your lips toward others.

Maybe if you'd make more use of private absolution, you'd learn a little better how to speak when someone comes repenting.

We all get angry. We all dig in our heels and try to make each other pay. We are sinners and we should be damned.

Come. Confess that. Hear how JESUS speaks, so you will learn the way to use your lips. Let the LORD'S forgiveness rule your hearts and minds and mouths, so you become a blessing, not a curse toward others or yourself.

Stubborn? Angry? Fed up? Holding onto sins that are not all that different from your own?

Don't expect that God will let you act like that. If tiny little sins - or even big ones - are just beyond forgiveness, so much so that you'd cast others off, refuse them mercy - then clearly you do not believe the Gospel. Clearly, Christ must not have died at all and sins must now be paid by sinners. So, get ready!

You cannot expect to be received at Jesus' altar in such unbelief, if you won't forgive your neighbor. So, come confess it. Plead the Lord for mercy and beg Him for forgiveness on account of Jesus. Lend your ears to the hearing of the Gospel over all YOUR sins, so God's astounding love might have its way with you toward others. Let nothing stand between you and your pastor filling you with God's forgiveness, mercy, patience and kindness might spill from you to those around you.

You will NEVER do that as you should. So don't expect that God's forgiveness given here or there is all you need. Learn it daily, how much - how long - how never-endingly the Lord forgives. Sometimes, with the children at school, a little treatment with the Gospel turns their hearts around. But when cancer grows, and it's been growing since conception, it takes some effort. It takes God repeating to you how forgiveness goes; how HE is in HIS ministry toward sinners, before sinners start to breathe the same toward one another. So, come!

With Peter, I am under orders to forgive as often as you come repenting. If you are not yet strong enough to let go of someone's sins, confess your weakness and your lack of faith and love. For Jesus' sake, and in His stead, I'll tell you what you need. I'll give you what you haven't got. I'll tell you, "I forgive you all your sins." I'll even urge you to the Supper. And with such forgiveness, we who ought to pay forever, "sincerely forgive and gladly do good to those who sin against us." INI, Amen