August 10, 2025 Texts: Genesis 15:1-6, Hebrews 11:1-16
Dear Friends in Christ,
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church of Bloomington IL was officially thirty years old on February 19th. The church has been existence half of Toni and I’s life. We have been under the auspices of a gracious and benevolent God. We have a wonderful church building and God-Blessed people. But we don’t measure the progress of Good Shepherd by the ornateness of her building, the size of the parking lot, the social standing of her members or how many donuts have been consumed. Her advancement is measured by the faith of her members. How do we quantify faith? Faith is an active verb.
We see that in our two texts this morning. In the person of Abraham, we get a glimpse of what faith is all about. God’s Word will help us to see . . . .
“GOOD SHEPHERD’S PROGRESS”
While only thirty years old, Good Shepherd’s progress stretches back over 4,000 years. Our existence as a Christian congregation is rooted in the faith of Abraham. Paul says in Romans we are his spiritual descendants. We share in his legacy. Good Shepherd’s progress is advanced every time one of its members reaches out in faith, when they refute the teaching of the world and the doubters, when they worship and study God’s Word together. The will of the Creator is done when we remain faithful to the Scriptures and Lutheran Confessions.
This Creator would be Abraham’s shield and great reward. Abraham was doubting that God could give him one son, God promised him a whole host of offspring. He also promised one descendant would save the rest of the offspring. While we cling to our small thinking and sorry solutions, God has Christ and His countless blessings showered upon us.
Trusting in this, God’s more wonderful plans, we have the greater blessing, Christ’s own righteousness. What fuels the Church? Put another way, what is it that motivates, sustains, and activates the Church of Christ? It is God himself who provides the catalyst for our actions. God told Abraham what he was going to do, and Abraham believed it and it was counted to him as righteousness. It is this same faith that motivates us.
Do you ever consider what a miracle you are sitting here this morning? It is not natural to get dressed up and come to worship. To sacrifice your talents and earthly goods for a Savior the world makes fun of. You and I are part of the invisible church of all times and places. God has called us “out of darkness into His marvelous light.” Don’t think miracles still exist. Point to yourself, your faith is a miracle.
Hebrews 11:1 states, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” That is the story of Abraham. Remember we said earlier faith is living and active. Look at all the action verbs when the writer of Hebrews talks about Abraham. Here is a list: obeyed, go out, went out, by faith, he went to live, looking forward, greeted them. All of this moved Abraham toward his ultimate goal. “But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.”
Good Shepherd’s progress is moving us toward this heavenly city. We have not been overwhelmed with funerals, having just over 75, averaging about 2 1/2 a year. But these saints who have gone before us have reached the better country, the golden city. We stand on their shoulders, and we continue the progress they laid down.
We also warn of the danger this day. Some have been making progress, believed the Lord and then almost in an instant the faith valve stopped flowing. Did they struggle to believe the promise? Could they not see past their problems? We pray for them. Maybe it’s a struggle. Could it be they have some shame and it’s hard to come back? We stand in this pulpit, and I think you all agree, we want to welcome you back to your church home. We want to walk alongside you again in faith. We want the Good Shepherd Progress to be done together.
Good Shepherd’s Progress depends on God in faith. Good Shepherd’s Progress is a faith in Christ Jesus that all God’s promises are true. Good Shepherd’s Progress is that we are right with God, possessing all the blessings Christ’s death and resurrection earned. Good Shepherd’s Progress is ongoing until we receive the heavenly inheritance.
Amen.
"But God demonstrated His love for us in this: While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8
