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May 3, 2026                                                                        Text:  Acts 6:1-9, 7:2a, 51-60

Dear Friends in Christ,

            About a year ago Toni and I vacationed with Karson, Elizabeth and Asher in the Smoky Mountains.  We had a house rental in the mountains.  Karson and family were already at the rental as we made our way up the mountain.  It was a series of hills and winding roads.  We had no idea what was around the corner because our view was blocked.  At some of the corners they had mirrors hung on poles so you could see what the vehicle coming the other way was doing.  We finally made it, but only because Karson was standing near the end of the steep driveway.  It was a beautiful house in a scenic location, but a challenge to get to.

            The things of the world can block our view of God’s kingdom.  Even as this happens the Holy Spirit is working to keep our eyes on His glorious kingdom, which will be revealed one day.  As we consider the account of the martyrdom of Stephen, let’s think about . . .

“WHEN OUR VIEW IS BLOCKED”

            Hills block our view of God’s kingdom on earth.  The scribes and elders stoned Stephen because they could not see of the kingdom of which he preached.  The disciples got weighed down and had their view blocked because they were serving tables and not preaching the Word of God.  It is not unlike your Pastor’s view which has gotten a little blocked this year by all the building minutiae, when you called me here to preach and teach and administer the sacraments. 

            Stephen was one of the called seven.  We know about him and Philip.  The other men mentioned we don’t know much about.  The text says, “Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people.” (v. 8). The Holy Spirit was allowing Stephen to preach and perform miracles.  When that preaching reached the elders and scribes, they could not see the kingdom of which he preached because of the hills they erected before their own eyes.  Their view was obstructed, and they lacked faith in the Son of Man.

            Do the things of this world ever block our view of God’s kingdom of grace?  How about caring for our child’s physical needs?  Do they block our view of their spiritual needs?  Do we leave their spiritual welfare to the church and confirmation class when the duty is ours at home?  Are their false teaching and theologies out there they we might buy into that block our view?  Do we watch a movie or read a book that don’t agree with the teachings of Jesus?  Do life’s anxieties block our view of all our blessings?  So, we don’t have hot water for a few days.  Inconvenient, but not tragic.  Can we see what’s ahead?

This is the beauty of the Holy Spirit’s work.  He helps us to keep the focus on heaven.  Stephen’s view could have been blocked as he took the pounding of the stones.  The Holy Spirit gave him a view of heaven and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.  Even with everything coming at him, he is able to commend his spirit to the Lord and to pray, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.”  Those words draw us back to the words of our Savior on Good Friday.  Then don’t miss this.  Something good comes from this murder.  Notice the young man witnessing all this?  Who is it?  In the text he is named Saul.  After his conversion it would be Paul.  This event changed the life of the Apostle Paul.

This happens to us.  The Holy Spirit grants us a view of the glory of heaven, though it might be hidden under earthly things.  The Holy Spirit preaches Christ both to parents who neglect their children and to the children through grandparents, God parents, friends, neighbors.  The Holy Spirit sometimes moves faithful Christians to produce movies and books that give an accurate portrayal of Christ Jesus.  The Holy Spirit brings surprises out of anxieties.  Blessings from curses. 

In the Divine Service the glory of heaven is most clearly revealed.  The glory of heaven is hidden under earthly means of bread and wine, we receive a foretaste and a fore view of the feast to come.

For the five days we were in the Smokies, we made that trip up and down the mountain several times.  Every time the trip got easier and easier because we knew what was around the corner.  The view was still blocked, but things had been revealed to us.  God often accomplishes his greatest good in the midst of suffering and when things go against human reason.  The hill of Calvary, on which Jesus gave up his spirit unto death and sought the forgiveness of his persecutors, is always in view.  It has been revealed to us.  We know what is around the corner – an eternity in the glorious presence of our Lord.

                                                                                                                        Amen    

April 26, 2026                                                                                 Text:  1 Peter 2:19-25

Dear Friends in Christ,

            If you want to show someone as a good example, where do you turn?  If you want to commend good behavior, a kindness that didn’t go unnoticed or somebody who handled their finances well, where do you turn?  Do you look to people in the public eye?  Maybe.  But as we learn so often, many of these folks are deeply flawed and have their moral failures.  There are no perfect examples.  If there are people out there who are good examples, and there are some, maybe even in your own life, we may feel they set the bar so high we can never measure up to them.

            Today in the text Peter holds up another example.  This one is different than any role model.  The apostle commends to us the Good Shepherd, Christ Jesus.  He is the Savior, who suffered for our sins and was raised from death to give life to unruly and straying sheep.  This Good Shepherd is . . .

“MORE THAN AN EXAMPLE”

            Leonhardt Goppelt describes the context of 1 Peter:  “Christians were discriminated against by slanderous accusations…This verbal hostility against the Christians comes from their fellow citizens, also and precisely from their relatives, colleagues, and acquaintances.  It is more than personal insult:  It takes from them the public respect on which existence in society depended, even more than in our time, and public officials have found action against them appropriate.”

            The Christians suffered.  Peter writes they were suffering unjustly.  The suffering here is what happens when Christians are doing what is good and right in the Lord’s eyes.  They are cross bearing.  Identified with the Lord.  It recently happened to a pro basketball player of the Chicago Bulls.  He was cut from the team because he called homosexuality a sin on a personal web page.  He wasn’t speaking for the team.  This is what we can be up against, especially in corporate America.  Some of you know of what I speak.  Herman Sasse writes, “To believe in the cross always means also to carry the cross.  A yes to the cross of Christ is also a yes to my cross.”

            Christ is an example of endurance.  Before we go any further, let’s make this clear.  Christ’s suffering for us always comes first.  Because he has suffered for us, he becomes an example for our bearing of the cross.  We are not justified by imitating Christ.  But he is the pattern for the life of the Christian in the world.

            When Christ was insulted and ridiculed.  He received it.  He was betrayed by friends.  Spit upon.  Heckled by soldiers.  He is then unjustly executed as a blasphemer.  The One who knew no sin is made sin for us. 

            Our Good Shepherd is an example of forgiveness for those who do us wrong.  Forgiveness of sins was his mission.  He innocently suffers and atones for our sins.  Throughout his life he extended this forgiveness.  The healing of the paralytic.  The woman caught in adultery.  He even prayed from the cross that his tormenters would be forgiven.

            More than an example, Christ forgives us.  He is a victim who does not victimize.  History is full of examples of how oppressed people became oppressors themselves.  But Jesus does not make victims of those who persecute him.  He bears the sin of the world – and our individual sin – in his body.  Being forgiven, we are released from sin’s power.

            Our Good Shepherd is the example of putting our lives into the hands of a faithful God.  Jesus commends his spirit to the Father.  The Jewish “now I lay me down to sleep” prayer becomes his prayer.  We follow Jesus’ example with, in effect, the same prayer in Luther’s Morning and Evening Prayers:  “For into your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things.”

            More than an example, Jesus is the shepherd and guardian of our souls.  We have the assurance that nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.  We are not snatched from the hands of the Good Shepherd.  The evil of others, He can work for our good if we trust in him.

            This theology of Jesus as example, can be a little tricky for Lutherans.  But if we remember it all flows from him by faith then we can happily live the life he has earned for us.  He is an example for the life of faith in the Father and love for our neighbor.  Rescued by the Shepherd, reconciled to the Father, the Gospel enlivens us to live in Him and for Him.

                                                                                                                                                Amen. 

This is an excerpt from a new outreach commercial for LCMS congregations voiced by LCMS President Matt Harrison and produced by Lutheran Public Radio, Inc. CLICK HERE to listen and to download.

Come celebrate our 30th anniversary on August 24, 2025.

9:15 AM – Bible Study
10:30 AM – Service
12:00 PM – Catered Meal

Meal tickets are $12.00 and will be available later in June. For those coming from out of town, a special rate is available at the Holiday In Express – 309.662.4700, ext 7016.

Additional information can be found on the Good Shepherd Facebook page. If you have any questions, please contact the church office.