Christ The King Sunday November 26 2017, Pastor Mark Osthus
Christ the King Sunday is always the final Sunday of the past church year. The following Sunday is when Advent begins and a new church year commences. What will that New Year hold for the Christian Church’s witness? Closer to home, what will the new year hold for the Spirit of God congregation?
Sometimes things seem so up in the air regarding our futures and that can make us feel uncomfortable. Fortunately, our worship has an order and predictability that carries us through uncertainty. Last Sunday we reflected on the first part of our Sunday worship service which includes Confession and Forgiveness, a gathering hymn, a greeting, the kyrie and usually the hymn of praise, e.g. This is the feast or Glory to God.
At this point, the prayer of the day begins the section known as “word” which includes Bible readings, the sermon, the hymn of the day, a creed and prayers of intercession.
Martin Luther cared very much about the Bible, so much so that he translated the Old Testament from Hebrew into German and the New Testament from Greek into German so that his people could read the Bible in their own language. He did not see the Bible as the “word,” but saw the Bible as a cradle, bearing and containing Jesus, God’s ultimate word for all humanity. God’s word was seen to give direction, healing and hope. There is an old Methodist hymn that has yet to be printed in one of our many Lutheran Hymnals: Wonderful Words of Life…
At the very center of Luther’s thought and preaching of the word was a proper understanding of what God was saying. There are words that give direction such as the Ten Commandments and other words of direction that reveal our sin to us when we do not follow them. These words he referred to as “law.”
But there are other words that forgive, give hope and make us joyful: these words he called “Gospel.” We are sinners unable to be perfect and we are saints forgiven by God in order that we might enjoy life in harmony with our neighbor. Any sermon worth its salt should contain both law and gospel according to Luther; and it must always end with the gospel singing in the hearers’ hearts.
The word Gospel literally means “good news.” The law tells you what to do to live a good life and that’s a good thing. However, people know that they are not perfect, have said things they regret and have missed the mark (the literal translation of the word for sin). But the gospel comes through announcing forgiveness and a chance to live as a happy person who serves with joy.
The word “Gospel” comes from the New Testament word euangelion which is pronounced evangelical in English. For something to be evangelical, it must always be good news. If something is not good news, it is not evangelical. We are the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. To be an honest church, we must be true to our name. We must be good news in what we say and do. We Republicans, Democrats, Independents and whatever else our life as citizens moves us to be. Whatever we say has to be good news for all people or it is not good news at all. Evangelical means good news and that good news informs our hearts and minds when we go to serve God and country.
As creatures made truly free by God’s forgiveness we know that Jesus is truly a king of love and not a dictator demanding our loyalty. The king of love is a shepherd who cares enough to gently guide the flock to new pastures where there is all can be fed and healed.
A child once asked, “Grandma, what color is God? Without hesitation the grandmother replied, “Why God is the color of water.” And so are the souls of us who walk confidently knowing the good news is good news for all.
Christ is the King and we are citizens of his kingdom. Thanks be to God.
AMEN
Sometimes things seem so up in the air regarding our futures and that can make us feel uncomfortable. Fortunately, our worship has an order and predictability that carries us through uncertainty. Last Sunday we reflected on the first part of our Sunday worship service which includes Confession and Forgiveness, a gathering hymn, a greeting, the kyrie and usually the hymn of praise, e.g. This is the feast or Glory to God.
At this point, the prayer of the day begins the section known as “word” which includes Bible readings, the sermon, the hymn of the day, a creed and prayers of intercession.
Martin Luther cared very much about the Bible, so much so that he translated the Old Testament from Hebrew into German and the New Testament from Greek into German so that his people could read the Bible in their own language. He did not see the Bible as the “word,” but saw the Bible as a cradle, bearing and containing Jesus, God’s ultimate word for all humanity. God’s word was seen to give direction, healing and hope. There is an old Methodist hymn that has yet to be printed in one of our many Lutheran Hymnals: Wonderful Words of Life…
At the very center of Luther’s thought and preaching of the word was a proper understanding of what God was saying. There are words that give direction such as the Ten Commandments and other words of direction that reveal our sin to us when we do not follow them. These words he referred to as “law.”
But there are other words that forgive, give hope and make us joyful: these words he called “Gospel.” We are sinners unable to be perfect and we are saints forgiven by God in order that we might enjoy life in harmony with our neighbor. Any sermon worth its salt should contain both law and gospel according to Luther; and it must always end with the gospel singing in the hearers’ hearts.
The word Gospel literally means “good news.” The law tells you what to do to live a good life and that’s a good thing. However, people know that they are not perfect, have said things they regret and have missed the mark (the literal translation of the word for sin). But the gospel comes through announcing forgiveness and a chance to live as a happy person who serves with joy.
The word “Gospel” comes from the New Testament word euangelion which is pronounced evangelical in English. For something to be evangelical, it must always be good news. If something is not good news, it is not evangelical. We are the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. To be an honest church, we must be true to our name. We must be good news in what we say and do. We Republicans, Democrats, Independents and whatever else our life as citizens moves us to be. Whatever we say has to be good news for all people or it is not good news at all. Evangelical means good news and that good news informs our hearts and minds when we go to serve God and country.
As creatures made truly free by God’s forgiveness we know that Jesus is truly a king of love and not a dictator demanding our loyalty. The king of love is a shepherd who cares enough to gently guide the flock to new pastures where there is all can be fed and healed.
A child once asked, “Grandma, what color is God? Without hesitation the grandmother replied, “Why God is the color of water.” And so are the souls of us who walk confidently knowing the good news is good news for all.
Christ is the King and we are citizens of his kingdom. Thanks be to God.
AMEN