May 29, 2016 Text: Galatians 1:1-12

Dear Friends in Christ,

Aaron Neville sang a song called, “Everybody Plays The Fool.” Part of the chorus goes like this, “Everybody plays the fool sometimes, there’s no exception to the rule.” What fools you? A magician? The break in your putt? The reaction of a spouse or child to something you tell them? Your body and mind not working together? Does the devil ever fool you into believing something you shouldn’t?
Paul is addressing the Galatians in our text and speaking to us . . .
“DO NOT BE FOOLED!”
People are gullible and easily fooled. It’s like the science teacher who set a beaker of colorless liquid on a windowsill near an open window. He then casually remarked, that if this bothered anyone, they should let him know. Shortly thereafter, students started to wheeze and cough, and soon this spread throughout the room. When the teacher asked what the problem was a student said that the beaker was giving off a strange odor. As you might have guessed, the beaker was filled with water.
People want to be fooled. They will believe things that their common sense says can’t be. People will believe most anything if you package and present it properly. People are gullible.
There are others who prey on people like this. They take advantage of the person as they swipe their money. Many make a living convincing people there is a better way to health and wealth, a better way to find purpose in life, a better way . . . to God?
Religion has always had your quacks and crackpots, your gurus and preachers that discover something “new” amid that which was never lost and is unchanging. This is not new. Just ask St. Paul. He writes, “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel.” (v. 6) Paul knew about those claiming some new breakthrough in religion. He knew about those who claimed faith had to evolve over the years. He knew about those who claimed that Scripture is outdated or not complete. He knew about those who claimed a special revelation from God or found a new purpose. He knew because they were as prevalent in his day as in ours. He says to the Galatians and to us: “Do not be fooled!”
There will always be people who try to convince others that they have discovered: a better way to grow the church, a better way to come to Jesus, a better way to find purpose, a better way to market the church, a better way to live. It sounds good at first, but delve deeper and you find it always requires a tweaking of the Gospel. They do a little theological plastic surgery and there it is. “I am astonished you are so quickly…turning to a different gospel” – which is no gospel at all. Changing the Gospel destroys the Gospel. Do not be fooled!
This is the Gospel of Jesus Christ: God in his mercy sent his only-begotten Son into our sinful world. Jesus gathered that sin and carried it to the cross of Calvary. Under the load of our sin on that cross, He suffered and died. He paid the price demanded of our sin. He fulfilled the Law and redeemed us from sin and death. Jesus was laid in the tomb but rose again on the third day. He ascended to heaven where He rules at the right hand of God the Father. He has risen and so shall we. Because of what Christ has done for us we have forgiveness and life and salvation. Our heavenly mansion is prepared. We continue to experience God’s grace through Word and Sacrament.
That is it. There is only one Gospel. But my human mind says I must participate in my salvation – different gospel. This book says if I do the right things on earth I will have a better seat in heaven – different gospel. My neighbor says if I don’t speak words I don’t understand I’m not God’s child – different gospel. The TV preacher says if I send him more money I will have more money in my bank account – different gospel. My friend says I must be tolerant of all kinds of behavior because God is love – different gospel. Do not be fooled – there is only one Gospel of Jesus Christ.
The Gospel of Jesus Christ pleases God, not man. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is God’s plan, not man’s plan. Paul even says, “If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.” (v. 10)
A Pastor from one of our seminaries served a small, rural parish in Iowa. The fellowship hall and kitchen were located in the basement. On the outside wall of the kitchen, facing the fellowship hall was a thermostat. Every week for every meeting, Bible Class, fellowship event, this Pastor would adjust the thermostat up or down. His did this for two years until a member pulled him aside and said, “Pastor, that thermostat isn’t connected to anything.” They give him the thermostat as a going away gift.
Do not be fooled. Like that thermostat, a different Gospel from the one found in Scripture has no power. It’s useless for your salvation. There is only one Gospel found in the love of our Savior Jesus Christ who has saved us from death and opened the gates of everlasting life to us. Amen.

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May 22, 2016 – Trinity Sunday Text: Acts 2:14a, 22-36

Dear Friends in Christ,

One thing most of you know that I enjoy are real life crime stories. Whether on television or in book form, these stories fascinate me from many different angles. As I watch and read these stories one thing I found over the years is that witnesses are unreliable. Whether from stress, anxiety, bad memory or just plain lying, many people have been convicted on the testimony of a witness that years later proved to be incorrect.
One day on my way to work I tested my own ability. I noticed a man walking on the side of the road. What if he went and broke into a home and I was called as a witness. Could I describe him? He had unusual hair, I knew his approximate height and weight and skin color, but as I continued driving, was that a brown shirt or a black shirt?, did he have on jeans or shorts? Even with my God-given memory my testimony may not hold up in a court of law.
We use the word witness in a variety of ways. Behind every call for a witness is a call for a reliable confirmation of the truth. Witnessing is the theme of Luke’s history in the Book of Acts and the theme of the Christian life.
“ARE YOU A RELIABLE WITNESS?”
Jesus began the book of Acts by telling his followers, which includes you and I, “You will be my witnesses.” (Acts 1:8) As stated already, a witness confirms the truth. What, specifically, is the truth Jesus wants the world to know about Him?
He wants the world to know that He was crucified and died, but that He rose again. He wants the world to know that He conquered sin and death. He wants the world to know He is the “judge of the living and the dead” and that “I and the Father are one.” He wants the world to know His divinity was proved by his resurrection from death. Who would believe such a thing? Preposterous we would say. Unless it could be confirmed by eyewitnesses.
That is exactly who the apostles were. Look at Peter’s words in our text, “This Jesus God raised up, and of that we are all witnesses.” (v. 32) Peter says again later in Acts, “He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen – by us who ate and drank with Him after He rose from the dead.” (Acts 10:41) When they chose a replacement for Judas they had to choose a man who had been a witness to the resurrection. In matters of life and death – especially eternal life and death – an eyewitness is the one to trust for getting the facts straight.
But eyewitnesses, never simply keep the facts straight for themselves. They are called upon to get the facts out, to give testimony. These momentous facts deserve a hearing before the entire world. The gospel is to be preached in the whole world and to the ends of the earth.
What a task the Lord puts before us. Think how nervous you might get in inviting one friend to church. Now you walk down the block, knocking on every house and not only invite your neighbors to church but you explain the Gospel and the uncomfortable truth that they are sinful and in need of a Savior. Then you leave the neighborhood and journey to the next city, then on to an adjoining state, and eventually to another country. Will you have the heart to be a reliable witness?
At first, the disciples were not all that excited about the prospect. Remember where Jesus found them after resurrection? They were not out knocking on doors; they were huddled behind locked doors in fear. Not only was being a witness to Jesus a possible humiliating task, it could be fatal. Living under Roman rule, they had to put their money and their lives – where their mouths were. This was serious. That is why Jesus did not leave His disciples to their own devices.
They would be sent out as witnesses but only after “the Holy Spirit comes on you.” They would not act or speak alone; the Spirit would work through them. He would be their voice, their encouragement, their guide. They could not help but to speak of what they had seen and heard.
Do you know that power? I do. I have wanted to stay behind a locked door and not make a call on an individual and family. I know the heart that pounds a little faster, the mind that races through all kinds of scenarios. But I also know the peace and joy that comes from the Spirit working in me. I’ve left calls thinking, “What did I just say?” That was God the Holy Spirit. I’ve witnessed lives changed and believers confirmed. I pray you have your own stories.
One story I recently read was about the daughter of Joseph Stalin, the Communist leader of the Soviet Union during and after World War II. Stalin was anti-faith, anti-God, anti-Christ to the core. The principles of communism were not compatible with the Christian faith. How many of you know that his daughter died a Christian in Richland Center, Wisconsin? She didn’t learn about Christ from her family, somebody had to witness to her. Then the Holy Spirit did His remarkable work.

The Lord says, “You will be my witnesses.” It is not an option or a request. You have been subpoenaed. To reject the call is to be in contempt of court. In this court, the Lord is judge, and that makes it a serious matter.
Being a reliable witness can still be time-consuming and humiliating. But it comes with a promise that the Holy Spirit and His power will come upon you. That power was given to you at your Baptism. The Word of God is truth. You know what you have learned. Jesus Christ was crucified under Pontius Pilate, rose again on the third day. His death and resurrection purchased your salvation and that of the world. Like Peter today in our text, you and I – the Lord’s reliable witnesses – cannot but help speaking about what we have heard.
Amen.