Daily Readings for August 28-September 3, 2011

NEXT WEEKS LESSONS:

THE ELEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

Genesis 4:1-15: Cain's offering was rejected because the faith of his heart was wrong. He trusted in himself and believed the Lord owed him because of his goodness. Abel's offering was accepted because the faith of his heart was in the mercy of God.

Ephesians 2:1-10: This classic passage on salvation by grace alone teaches that man is spiritually dead in trespasses and sins apart from the operation of the Holy Spirit and that even faith in Christ itself is a gift of God's grace.

               

Luke 18:9-14: “The Lord respected Abel and his offering, but He did not respect Cain and his offering” (Genesis 4:1–15). For unlike Abel, Cain’s offering did not proceed from a heart that revered and trusted in the Lord. Thus, the lowly tax collector who prayed, “God be merciful to me, sinner!” was the one who went down to his house justified before God, not the respectable, outwardly righteous Pharisee who trusted in himself and his own good living (Luke18:9–14). “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast” (Ephesians 2:1–10). The one who penitently despairs of his own righteousness and relies completely on the atoning mercy of God in Christ is the one who is declared righteous. For Christ died for our sins and rose again the third day (1 Corinthians 15:1–10). Therefore, “everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” (LSB hymnal notes)

Readings for the Week of 10th Sunday after Trinity

August 28                       Jesus Weeps over Jerusalem—Luke 19:41-48

                                                 1 Samuel 28:3-25, 1 Corinthians 6:1-20

August 29           Paul’s Third Missionary Journey—Acts 18:23—19:10

                                                 1 Samuel 31:1-13, 1 Corinthians 7:1-24

August 30                       The Miracles Worked by Paul—Acts 19:11-20

                                                 2 Samuel 1:1-27, 1 Corinthians 7:25-40

August 31                                      The Riot at Ephesus—Acts 19:21-41

                                                   2 Samuel 5:1-25, 1 Corinthians 8:1-13

September 1      Eutychus Falls from a Window at Troas—Acts 20:1-16

                                                   2 Samuel 6:1-19, 1 Corinthians 9:1-23

September 2     Paul’s Farewell to the Ephesians Elders—Acts 20:17-38

                                           2 Samuel 7:1-17, 1 Corinthians 9:24–10:22

 September 3                                      Look ahead to Sunday's Readings

                                   Genesis 4:1-15, Ephesians 2:1-10, Luke 18:9-14

Daily Readings for August 21-27, 2011

NEXT WEEKS LESSONS: THE TENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

Our Lord wept over Jerusalem for the destruction that would soon come upon her. For she did not recognize the time of God’s visitation in Christ, who had come to bring her peace (Luke 19:41–48). Through His prophets God had consistently called His people to turn from their deceit and false worship. “But My people do not know the judgment of the Lord” (Jeremiah 7:1–11; 8:4–12). They sought to establish their own righteousness rather than receive Christ’s righteousness through faith (Romans 9:30–10:4). So it was that God was in His temple to cleanse it, a precursor to the once–for–all cleansing from sin which He would accomplish in the temple of His own body on the cross. God grant us to know the things that make for our peace—His visitation in the Word and Sacraments—that by the Holy Spirit we may penitently confess “Jesus is Lord” (1 Corinthians 12:1–11).

Collect: O God, as You declare Your almighty power above all in showing mercy and pity, mercifully grant unto us such a measure of Your grace that we may obtain Your gracious promises and be made partakers of Your heavenly treasures; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord . Amen.

Old Testament: Jeremiah 8:4–12

Epistle: Romans 9:30–10:4 or

Holy Gospel: Luke 19:41–48

Readings for the Week of 9th Sunday after Trinity

August 21                          The Rich Young Ruler—Matthew 19:16-30, 1 Kings 3:16-28

August 22     Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard: Matthew 20:1-16,1 Kings 4:22-34

August 23   Jesus Predicts His Passion a Third Time: Matthew 20:17-28, 1 Kings 5:1-18

August 24                  Two Blind Men Receive Sight: Matthew 20:29-34,2 Chronicles 3:1-17

August 25                              The Fruitless Fig Tree:  Matthew 21:18-27, 1 Kings 8:1-66

August 26               The Parable of the Two Sons — Matthew 21:28-32, 1 Kings 9:1–28 

August 27            Look ahead to Sunday's Readings  Jeremiah 8:4–12, Romans 9:30–10:4, Luke 19:41–48

Sermon for August 21, 2011 Trinity 9

Trinity 9          Luke 16:1-9     August 21, 2011

In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

                     

Is the word steward really so medieval, so confounding to our ears? Perhaps, it is. The ESV translates the word as “manager.” That sounds to me like someone who works at McDonald's or the Gap.

You remember, of course, that the parable from today's Gospel is traditionally called the unjust steward. A steward in the ancient world had a great deal  more authority than a manager of local bank. He was like the regent, ruling in the place of the king. Ambassador is not strong enough either. I suppose he was like a modern day personal assistant or vice-president. But to my thinking the best modern analogy is XO, that is, executive officer. He was the guy that ran things for his lord, in his lord's stead. He spoke with the lord's own authority.

The XO is the second in command in a military organization, and in command when the commander isn't around. He also has the particular duties, day to day, of seeing to food, supplies, transportation, and planning. He is kind of an officer version of the first sergeant.

That the military maintains such a command structure, even when the world no longer has stewards, is probably tied to the fact that the military still operates within a rigid hierarchy and is not structured for equality but efficiency.

This is important because the lord in the parable will and must honor the deals that the steward makes. The steward's injustice in forgiving debt, in giving away his lord's kingdom, will not be taken back. If the steward says, “Take your bill and write fifty,” then it is fifty even if it is cheating. The lord has been cheated, to be sure, but he has to honor the contract because the steward has authority, the power of attorney.

So far, so good. The master might do that simply out of honor or to uphold the law, out of fear of punishment. But the master here commends the steward for what he has done. That is the surprise. God is not like us. No earthly masters desires their stewards give away their kingdoms. But this master wants to forgive debts. He wants to give away the kingdom. He was displeased before because the steward was wasting his possessions. How so? In our day-to-day lives, possessions are wasted by spending them frivolously, throwing good money after bad, not paying attention. But if giving away the master's possession for free pleases the master, then how were they wasted before? By keeping them, by earning interest and expanding them, by holding the debtors to their debts, by trying to make a profit.

This is good news for us. We have debts we can never repay.  If we had to deal with a just steward, we would be damned. Another word for injustice here is mercy. Justice demands punishment. Mercy withholds punishment that is deserved.

The parable should be shocking. Jesus means it to be. Because our vanity is forever thinking God is like us, that He gets us, that we get Him, that we have some special understanding or relationship. But we are small and petty and incapable of separating temptation from sin, of ever putting ourselves all the way off, we can't and don't love our neighbors as ourselves but we most surely love ourselves. The part of us that is shocked at God's mercy, at His injustice, is the part that is awake, that notices this isn't right, we don't deserve this.

But the Lord is mercy. He is goodness. He is love. He is faith. He is hope. He is justice. He is wisdom. So He can and is tempted in the wilderness without any desire for that which God has not given. We can't even imagine that. We are too tainted, too weak. We sin with every breath, every thought is obsessed with self. He is punished, unjustly, for sins He did not commit, and yet He never grows in the least bit bitter or holds any grudge or craves any of the credit He is due. He is modest, humble, hard-working, serving. He gives His life as a ransom, to buy back those who don't love Him, who don't appreciate it, who didn't even want it, like a steward forgiving debts.

He is like a cattle farmer who refuses to slaughter cattle for meat or profit, who just loves cattle. He  lets them grow fat and old in his fields and gives Himself to be their food. He is like a business owner who pays people for not working, for not even coming to work, and who gives them credit for His success. He is like a policeman who gives his inheritance to the criminals that killed his family.  He is like a rock star who gives away all his money and asks you for your autograph.

He is like a steward who gives away the kingdom, who forgives debts and sins, who washes clean the filthy to make them His own; like a vine that produces good fruit and sticks it onto dead branches that they wouldn't be torn out; like a grain of wheat that has fallen dead to the earth and risen again to bear a harvest a hundredfold that you would eat and be satisfied by eating Him. He said, “You shall not eat the blood of any creature, for the blood of every creature is its life.” and then He gives you His life, the life of God, in His Blood to drink, that you would obtain His life. And by this injustice He declares you just.

This unjust steward is just what we need, the only type we would take, the only hope we have, and His injustice is grace, mercy, the love of God in Christ Jesus, and it is most certainly good.

In + Jesus' Name. Amen.

Daily Readings for August 14-20, 2011 Looking ahead to the 9th Sunday After Trinity

NEXT WEEKS LESSONS: THE NINTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

 “The master commended the unjust steward because he had dealt shrewdly” (Luke 16:1–9). The steward’s shrewdness is praiseworthy for two reasons. First, he knew the master would be merciful. He trusted that the master would honor the debts he forgave in the master’s name. In the same way, though we have squandered our heavenly Father’s possessions in selfishness and sin, Jesus is the Steward who has canceled our debt, knowing that His forgiveness will be honored by the Father because of the holy cross. Secondly, the steward was shrewd in using oil and wheat to provide for his earthly welfare. So also do these earthly elements aid us when pressed into heavenly use in the anointing of baptism and the wheat of the Lord’s Supper. Those who have the Sacraments will have an eternal home when the earthly fails. These are our escape in temptation (1 Corinthians 10:6–13). For the Lord is our strength and a shield to all who trust in Him (2 Samuel 22:26–34).

Collect: Let Your merciful ears, O Lord, be open to the prayers of Your humble servants; and that they may obtain their petitions, make them to ask such things as shall please You; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord. Amen.

Old Testament: 2 Samuel 22:26–34

Epistle: 1 Corinthians 10:6–13

Holy Gospel: Luke 16:1–9 (10–13)

2 Samuel 22:26-34: This passage of Second Samuel records for us part of the text that Jesus used in teaching the parable of the Unjust Steward. It speaks of how the Lord Himself is more shrewd and clever than even the most shrewd and clever of men: "With the merciful You will show Yourself merciful; With a blameless man You will show Yourself blameless; 27 With the pure You will show Yourself pure; And with the devious You will show Yourself shrewd. 28 You will save the humble people; But Your eyes are on the haughty, that You may bring them down" (vs. 26-28).

1 Corinthians 10:6-13: St. Paul uses the example of Old Testament Israel to warn the Corinthian Christians against the  danger of idolatry (false faith and worship) which evidences itself in sexual immorality, murmuring, and complaining against the Lord. The end of such idolatry is the loss of faith and eternal death. This warning against the danger of idolatry is intended to draw us to the One Man, Christ Jesus, who alone can deliver us from these dangers in the time of such temptation: "Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it" (vs. 12-13).

Luke 16:1-13: “The master commended the unjust steward because he had dealt shrewdly” (Luke 16:1–9). The steward's shrewdness is praiseworthy for two reasons. First, he knew the master would be merciful. He trusted that the master would honor the debts he forgave in the master's name. In the same way, though we have squandered our heavenly Father's possessions in selfishness and sin, Jesus is the Steward who has canceled our debt, knowing that His forgiveness will be honored by the Father because of the holy cross. Secondly, the steward was shrewd in using oil and wheat to provide for his earthly welfare. So also do these earthly elements aid us when pressed into heavenly use in the anointing of baptism and the wheat of the Lord's Supper. Those who have the Sacraments will have an eternal home when the earthly fails. These are our

escape in temptation (1 Corinthians 10:6–13). For the Lord is our strength and a shield to all who trust in Him (2 Samuel 22:26–34).—Excerpted from the LSB hymnal project

Readings for the Week of 7th Sunday after Trinity

August 14                        Beware of False Prophets—Matthew 7:15-23

                                                      1 Samuel 14:47—15:9, Acts 24:1-23

August 15                Paul’s First Missionary Journey–Acts 12:25–13:12

                                                   1 Samuel 15:10-35, Acts 24:24–25:12

August 16  Paul Preaches in the Synagogue of Antioch—Acts 13:13-42

                                                           1 Samuel 16:1-23, Acts 25:13-27

August 17     Paul and Barnabas Preach in Iconium—Acts 13:42—14:7

                                                             1 Samuel 17:1-19, Acts 26:1-23

August 18   Paul and Barnabas Mistaken for Greek Gods–Acts 14:8-28

                                                     1 Samuel 17:20-47, Acts 26:24–27:8

August 19                                   The Jerusalem Council—Acts 15:1-21

                                                      1 Samuel 17:48—18:9, Acts 27:9-26

August 20                                                                   Sunday’s readings

2 Samuel 22:26–34, 1 Corinthians 10:6–13, Luke 16:1–13

Sermon for August 13-14, 2011

Trinity 8      August 13-14, 2011    Matthew 7:15-23

In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

“Not everyone who says to me ‘Lord, Lord’ will enter into the kingdom of heaven.”

We need to let these words have their way with us. The common view of heaven is that all decent people go there when they die. It is not so. It is not the repository of all the dead minus truly heinous men. It is not even the abode of most of the dead. Most men in this world do not cry to Jesus, “Lord, Lord.” And without Him, apart from His Name, no man enters heaven. It does not matter how pious or sincere or good a Muslim or a Bhuddist or a Mormon is. No one comes to the Father except through the Son. There is no other Name under heaven by which men are saved. But worse than that, not even everyone who is baptized, everyone who calls “Lord, Lord” enters into the kingdom of heaven. Who enters? Only those who do the will of the Father.

Repent. Heed the warning. Sin is a wily seductress. She corrupts the hearts of men. She turns fathers and husbands into craven, lying, sneaks who seek their thrills in the dark and destroy their children and their wives. It is not merely the arrogant, or the rich, or the weak, who are susceptible. It strikes the Ministers and Laity, men and women, adults and children, rich and poor. It turns them inward, fills them with anger, lust, and greed. It never delivers. It never satisfies. It only breeds discontentment while hardens consciences with multiple excuses.

Repent. Pornography kills. Gossip destroys. Pride crushes all virtue. “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord’ will enter into the kingdom of heaven.” Repent. Now is the hour of Salvation. Tomorrow it may be too late. Repent.

No man can stand against the Law. It is a standard, a demand, too perfect and holy for us. Any comparison we make with our lives is damning. It always accuses us. For we are fallen, sin-infected men. That is why we are tempted to try and abandon the Law or make up new Laws that are easier to keep. But that does not remove the Law’s condemnation. It is just another excuse. It is just a temporary delusion that will be stripped away in Hell’s fire. Repent.

And notice this: those who are saved, who are entering into the kingdom of heaven, are not saved by saying, “Lord, Lord.” They are saved by Our Lord saying, “You are forgiven. Take, eat. Go in peace.” They are not saved because of what they have done, prophesying, casting out demons, or performing other wonders. Those who are saved are passive. They do not save themselves, they are saved. They are saved by the Lord. He is the Actor and rather than them crying “Lord, Lord,” they hear Him calling their names.

Where can those weary of the Law’s demands and their failure find rest? Where is help for those who cannot help themselves, who are accused and dying? Rest here, ye weary ones, in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. He has come into the world and taken up your Flesh in order to fulfill the Law for you. He has not come to condemn or to accuse you. He has come to save you. He has reconciled you to the Father. He has declared you righteous. Not for any merit or worthiness or faith in you, not by your calling our “Lord, Lord,” but from His Fatherly, Divine mercy and goodness alone. He has intervened on your behalf. He has called you by name, brought you to Himself through the waters of Holy Baptism. He has planted and nourished your faith. He pardons your sin, removes your guilt, and welcomes you into the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, into His kingdom.

The will of His Father for you is that you turn from sin, repent, confess, and throw yourself upon His mercy. The will of His Father for Our Lord is that He go to the cross as a sacrifice for your sins and that His love wash and cleanse you until you are as Holy as He is. It is not His will that you pay for or even answer for your sins. The Lord has answered for you. His will is that Jesus do your work and pay your penalty so that you would get the benefit and reward. Those who do the Father’s will, that is, those who are washed in His Blood, who eat and drink the gift of the Holy Cross, the cup of wrath turned to the Cup of Blessing, they enter and abide in the Kingdom of heaven. By grace they call Him, “Lord,” but only after He has called them by His Name. You are there now, in the kingdom. For behold, he Kingdom of heaven is within you. It is Jesus Christ. You are His Temple, His chosen vessel. Jesus Christ abides in you and will not let you go.

Sin is dangerous and it is frustrating. Living by faith is a gut check, a test of patience and endurance. Lawlessness is always a temptation. It tries to tell us that we Christians are missing out, being denied something, that the pleasures of the flesh could be ours and could satisfy us. We aren’t having as much fun as we might. But it is a lie. The girls in the pictures aren’t interested in you. The people at the bar aren’t your friends. Your mistress doesn’t love you or she would not be destroying your family and hurting your children. You need the Law to have its way with you. You need to be accused and exposed you so that you would see your desperate situation for what it is and cry out to the only One who can help you, the only One who does love you, the only One who saves: Jesus Christ, Our Lord. You cry not, “Lord, Lord, look what I have done, casting out demons and performing wonders,” but you cry out, “Lord have mercy!” Our Lord wields the Law for the sake of mercy. He is like a shepherd sending out the dogs to drive the sheep into the pen. Anyone who waits on Jesus, who trusts His Word, is like a man who built his house upon a rock. The Law, sin, death, and hell cannot wash it away and all their vain threats and violence ultimately make us ever and every more aware of the foundation.

The kingdom of heaven is here by grace and for your eternal good. Come and eat what the Lord gives and receive strength and faith to face the enemy and carry on where He has placed you.

In + Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Daily Readings for August 7-August 13, 2011

NEXT WEEKS LESSONS: THE EIGHTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves” (Matthew 7:15–23). Deceit has its strength in masquerading as the truth. False prophets speak a vision of their own heart, not from the mouth of the Lord (Jeremiah 23:16–29) They deny the judgment of the Lord, speaking peace to the unrepentant, when in truth there is condemnation and wrath. “You will know them by their fruits.” The “fruits” of a true prophet are not outward righteousness or success but faithfulness in proclaiming the Word of the Lord. This is the will of the Father in heaven, that pastors take heed to the flock, the Father’s adopted ones (Romans 8:12–17), warning them against the wolves and their lies, and shepherding the church of God which He purchased with His own blood (Acts 20:27–38). For indeed, the cross is that good tree bearing good fruit, namely the body and blood of Christ, given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins.

Collect: Grant to us, Lord, we implore You, the Spirit to think and do always such things as are right, that we, who cannot do anything that is good without You, may be You be enabled to live according to Your will; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord . Amen.

Old Testament: Jeremiah 23:16–29

Epistle: Romans 8:12–17

Holy Gospel: Matthew 7:15–23

Readings for the Week of 6th Sunday after Trinity  July 31-Aug. 6, 2011

August 7                                   The Feeding of the 4,000—Mark 8:1-9

                                       1 Samuel 5:1–6:3, 10-16, Acts 18:1-11, 23-28

August 8 Sadducees Question Jesus on the Resurrection–Luke 20:27-44

                                                        1 Samuel 6:19—7:17, Acts 19:1-22

August 9                            The Widow’s Two Mites—Luke 20:45–21:4

                                                             1 Samuel 8:1-22, Acts 21:15-36

August 10                                     The Signs of the End—Luke 21:5-19

                                                      1 Samuel 9:1-27, Acts 21:37—22:16

August 11                             Destruction of Jerusalem—Luke 21:20-28

                                                           1 Samuel 10:1-27, Acts 22:17-29

August 12                          The Parable of the Fig Tree—Luke 21:29-38

                                                    1 Samuel 12:1-25, Acts 22:30—23:11

August 13                                                                   Sunday’s readings

                                Jeremiah 23:16–29, Romans 8:12–17, Matthew 7:15–23