Simply Grace

Sermon for August 7, 2022. Thank you Pastor Steve!

Sermon 2022.07.31

Jesus is asked to get involved in a dispute regarding an inheritance. He says to not be greedy, and then tells a parable about a rich man who harvests a bumper crop of grain. The man builds larger storage facilities. Why didn’t the rich man sell the excess grain? The price would drop. The rich man doesn’t want to see the price of his grain diminish, so he would rather store it, and sell it later. Nevermind people who are hungry.

Jesus criticizes this approach. He says that we could die at any moment. What good will all of our hard work of preserving the price of things bring us when we die? Nothing. Maybe we should concern ourselves about the quality and preponderance of life; at least as much as the quality and preponderance of money. 

You used to be able to fill up your tires with air for free at  the gas station. Now they charge money. Do you know why that is? Inflation. Get it? Inflation. So what is the government doing to address inflation? They are raising interest rates. They are giving an incentive for people and institutions to save money just like the rich grain grower did in Jesus’ parable. Too much grain in the market drops the price of grain; just like too much money in the market drops the price of the dollar. 

What would Jesus do to address inflation? He would admonish us to beware of greed, and tell us a parable. He would warn us to not be fools, to not focus on preserving the worth of an artificial instrument like money; but instead pray to have enough bread for one day, and pray that God’s kingdom of peace and justice would come here on earth. You can’t take it with you, but you can shape your legacy. 

Tradition holds that King Solomon wrote Ecclesiastes. He lacked nothing in terms of wealth and power. Solomon surveys all that he has and concludes that it is meaningless, that working and toiling for wealth, power, and security is like chasing after the wind. No matter how much you get it won’t be enough, you will die, and you cannot control what others will do with it. 

The despair that Solomon feels isn’t all bad. Reflecting on life’s brevity can open the possibility of faith. You can see that life is a precious gift of grace. You can serve your neighbor in love with the time you have. 

One way that we can practice our faith, serve our neighbor, and keep greed in check is through stewardship. Faithfully giving away a portion of your income, perhaps 10% if you are able, is a way of trusting in God’s Grace. This applies not just to us as individuals, but to institutions, and us as a church. We as a church body need to be generous too. 

A couple of weeks ago during Sunday School, one very young child innocently asked, “What does God do with the money we give?” I said that the church together decides what we do with the money. Most of it is used to pay the bills of the church, the lights, the gas, and the salaries of the staff including the pastor. Some of the money we give away to help others in need. That’s how we give it to God.

Sheri and I give 10% of my gross cash income as an offering. We have also written Grace Lutheran Church into our last will and testament as a beneficiary. I would like to see us as a congregation move toward tithing as well. It is so important for us to support the work of the synod and the wider church. 

There may be no better time in history to be generous than right now. Economy is a biblical word. It means: managing a house. The true currency of any economy is trust. Trust is created when we sacrificially give and help one another in times of need. So have faith, and be generous. Amen.

At first Jesus teaches a formula: first give thanks and praise God, then ask God for what you want. This is the formula of the Lord’s prayer. Important to remember that we pray that God’s kingdom of justice and peace comes to earth, not that we are raptured away and to leave it in shambles. Heaven is the telos or goal of earth itself.

Some question and criticize the veracity of prayer. How could we change the mind and will of God? Wouldn’t it be works-righteousness to try to win favor from a deity by performing religious acts? Indeed it would. Which is why Jesus gives additional instruction. Prayer is more about self-discipline, than twisting God’s “arm.” Jesus tells us to persevere, ask, seek and knock.

Think of it this way. God’s grace provides everything, all that is needed, air, water, food, shelter, human relationships. So when we pray for daily bread, we are praying that we would have enough, not too much, and that we would share if we have more than enough so that all might have daily bread. When we pray for the kingdom of God to come to earth, we are praying that we would live justly, and strive for justice, by God’s grace. So pray. It’s a practice of peace. It’s a practice of faith that can certainly change ourselves, and maybe the world too.

¿Quién soy yo para criticar a Marta? Yo, hombre, quien tiene tanto privilegio no tiene el derecho de criticar a una mujer que trabaja muy duro como Marta. Celebramos la fidelidad de Marta: 

quien invitó a Jesús en su casa

quien limpiaba y cocinaba para Jesús y los discípulos

quien cuando tenía inquietud con su hermana fue a Jesús para ayuda

y quien aceptó el consejo de Jesús con mente y corazón abierto.

¡Que sean más Martas en el mundo! 

También celebramos a María, la hermana de Marta. Ella rompió el cielo de vidrio separando hombres y mujeres por sentando a los pies de Jesús. ¡Qué buena mujer!

Por supuesto celebramos a Jesús como imagen y símbolo de Dios. Celebramos que estamos salvados por la gracia a través de la fe y no por obras buenas. No hay el dios que reprima o condena según nuestras acciones. Estamos totalmente libre para trabajar o no trabajar. Lo que necesitamos es tener fe. Fe es aprovechar el momento, cada momento que tenemos con los seres queridos. No hay segundas chanzas. Solamente hay una vida. Por eso María escogió mejor: porque alcanzó su oportunidad estar con Jesús y enriquecer a su vida. ¡No dejes que tu oportunidad se vaya; agarralo con fe; agarra a la gracia de Dios! Amen.

Last Saturday I had the pleasure of servicing the clothes drier in the parsonage. For some time Sheri had been dropping hints and comments that it needed attention. It finally came to a head when my parents came to visit and there were even more comments made, and then I was reminded we had friends visiting from Minnesota who we would be hosting, and who might have to do laundry.

So I watched a few videos online, read some tutorials, called the head of buildings and grounds, who assured me I could handle it, and talked to the parts department at Cagle’s in Ontario. There was but one thing left to do: take it apart and figure out what was wrong. 

If you’ve ever fixed things at home or gotten wrapped up into DIY (Do it Yourself) projects you know that it never goes quite like they say it will in the video, book, or blog. But little by little I was able to take apart the drier and found out that a drum roller, its shaft, and the felt seal had all gone bad. This meant a LOT of lint had filled the inside of the dryer. So I vacuumed, cleaned, and then vacuumed and cleaned some more! I also gathered a handful of change!

Next was a trip to Cagle’s. I was given some encouragement and sympathy when the technician helping me found out we were a family of seven. He gave me some tips and I headed back up Euclid with the replacement parts riding shotgun. He also told me their techs charge $100 an hour, so I felt renewed motivation to complete the project! As the children splashed in the pool I replaced the shaft, roller, felt seal, and carefully placed the other parts and screws back where they belonged. Now the dryer hums quietly and peace has been restored.

Thank you for the privilege to serve with you and live at the parsonage! It gives us joy and satisfaction to exercise stewardship, and be able to host and entertain people. Hospitality is a service of love and sacrifice, and it is worth it. Abraham and Sarah hosted angels unaware and as a result received a prophetic blessing, finally Sarah would bear a child. 

The friends that we hosted were our friends Jill and Gretchen. They are both pastors and recently adopted four children. I am humbled by their faithfulness, and we were blessed and honored that they would stop and visit with us. We enjoyed getting to know their kids and catching up with our friends.

It was also in a spirit of hospitality Marta and Mary received Jesus. Who am I to criticize Marta? I, a man, who has so much privilege, does not have the right to criticize a woman who works very hard like Marta. We celebrate Martha’s faithfulness: 

who invited Jesus into her home, 

who cleaned and cooked for Jesus and the disciples,

who when she had concerns with her sister went to Jesus for help, 

and who accepted Jesus’ advice with an open mind and heart.

Let there be more Martas in the world! 

We also celebrate Mary, Martha’s sister. She broke the glass ceiling separating men and women by sitting at the feet of Jesus. What a good woman! Of course we celebrate Jesus as the image and symbol of God. We celebrate that we are saved by grace through faith and not by good works. There is no god who represses or condemns us according to our actions. We are totally free to work or not to work. What we need is to have faith. Faith is seizing the moment, every moment we have with loved ones. There are no second chances. There is only one life. That is why Mary chose better: because she got her opportunity to be with Jesus and enrich her life. Don’t let your chance slip away; grab it with faith; take hold of the grace of God! Amen.

Sermon 2022.07.10

Deuteronomio 30:9-14

Los seres humanos pueden cumplir la ley de Dios según el libro de Deuteronomio. Pero Lutero dijo que no estamos salvados por cumplir la ley. ¿Entonces qué hacemos con este enigma? 

El problema es una teología de justificación a través de las obras de la carne. Esto es creer en la mentira que unas personas merecen derechos y otras personas no merecen. Un abogado quiso definir esta distinción con Jesús: quien es un prójimo que merece amor y quien no.

Jesús respondió con una historia y una pregunta. En vez de preguntar quien es prójimo se preguntó: ¿Quién se hizo prójimo? El que tuvo compasión. Entonces nosotros debemos tener compasión de todos. Tenemos que sufrir con los que sufren para que alcancemos un alivio juntos. 

Cuando yo era consejero en el campamento El Camino Pines hicimos muchas caminatas. Todos los niños y niñas participaron. Los más fuertes fueron a la caminata más larga y difícil que se llama el Sunset Hike.  Y lo más pequeño y débil hicieron el Chumash Hike: muy fácil. Pero hace unos años regresé al campamento e hicieron algo diferente. ¡Cambiaron la tradición de las caminatas! Ellos dijeron que todo el campamento desde el más joven, pequeño, o temeroso hasta el más grande, fuerte, y valiente tuvieron que hacer la misma caminata: the Ravine Hike. Me soñaba loco. Pero como buen pastor y voluntario me dejó la boca cerrada. 

Lo que sucedió era algo tan difícil y bonito que nunca iba a imaginar. El principio de la caminata es bajar un cañón muy empinada. Los niños chiquitos estaban casi llorando mientras los teenagers corrieron abajo. Pero en ese momento los consejeros dijeron que no podíamos continuar hasta que todos bajaran.  Entonces los teenagers subieron el lado del cañón regresando en el sendero hasta que fueron puestos para ayudar. Y los pequeños bajaron confiando en sus amigos grandes para ayudarles. Y si les ayudaron. Y así continuamos la caminata lenta, pero juntos. Los fuertes en cuerpo dando alivio a los con necesidad. Y los más débiles del cuerpo dando propósito a los con capacidad.

Antes no me gustaba mucho la caminata del Ravine porque no me interesaba mucho personalmente. Pero esta vez, me encantaba, porque lo veía desde los ojos del grupo: una experiencia distinta y única. Este es el punto del buen samaritano. Quizás tú puedes tomar un rodeo o una caminata difícil, interesante, divertida o más cómoda. Pero ser un prójimo y tener fe, es buscar el camino que podemos hacer juntos cuidando uno al otro para que todos llegamos al fin juntos sanos y salvos.

Hay muchas maneras de llegar al mismo punto. Unos dicen que hay muchos caminos para llegar a la parte encima de una montaña. Pero hay que pensar en el pueblo, el grupo, la familia, y la comunidad. Según el libro de deuteronomia los caminos de Dios no son difíciles, son cosas que podemos hacer juntos. Esto es un ejemplo de seguir las leyes de Dios.

Amar al prójimo es un acto de fe. La gracia de Dios es la manera en que podemos amar al prójimo y cumplir la ley de Dios. Seguir las leyes de Dios nos llama a enfrentar la injusticia del mundo. 

¿Qué pasó en Colosas en la época de Pablo? Él habla de premios y cosas buenas para los creyentes en Jesús. El premio de la fe es la paz y el crecimiento del pueblo. Es una paz que sobrepasa todo entendimiento: es una paz que puedes realizar por dentro. Es la misma paz que Cristo tuvo mientras sufría en la cruz. Esta paz es el premio de la fe. Hay cosas que están en la vida que no podemos evitar. Pero con fe y gracia nos capacitamos para cumplirla juntos. Como prójimos, vecinos, y samaritanos buenos.

Sermon 2022.07.10

Deuteronomy 30:9-14

Human beings can fulfill God’s law according to the book of Deuteronomy. But Luther said that we are not saved by keeping the law. So what do we do with this puzzle? 

The problem is a theology of justification through the works of the flesh. This is believing in the lie that some people deserve rights and other people do not. A lawyer wanted to define this distinction with Jesus: who is a neighbor who deserves love and who is not.

Jesus responded with a story and a question. Instead of asking who is a neighbor, he asked himself: Who became a neighbor? The one who had compassion. So we should have compassion for everyone. We have to suffer with those who suffer so that we can find relief together. 

When I was a counselor at Camp El Camino Pines we did a lot of hiking. All the boys and girls participated. The strongest went on the longest and most difficult hike called the Sunset Hike. And the smallest and weakest they did the Chumash Hike: very easy. But a few years ago I went back to camp and they did something different. They changed the tradition of the walks! They said that the entire camp from the youngest, smallest, or scariest to the biggest, strongest, and bravest had to do the same hike: the Ravine Hike. I dreamed crazy. But as a good pastor and volunteer, he kept my mouth shut. 

What happened was something so difficult and beautiful that I would never have imagined. The beginning of the hike is down a very steep canyon. The little kids were almost crying as the teenagers ran downstairs. But at that point the counselors said we couldn’t continue until everyone got off. Then the teenagers went up the side of the canyon back on the trail until they were put to help. And the little ones went down trusting their big friends to help them. And if they helped. And so we continue the slow walk, but together. The strong in body giving relief to those in need. And the weakest of the body giving purpose to those with capacity.

I used to not like the Ravine hike very much because it didn’t interest me much personally. But this time, I loved it, because I saw it through the eyes of the group: a different and unique experience. This is the point of the good samaritan. Perhaps you can take a difficult, interesting, fun, or more comfortable rodeo or hike. But being a neighbor and having faith is looking for the path that we can take together, caring for each other so that we all reach the end together safe and sound.

There are many ways to get to the same point. Some say that there are many paths to reach the top of a mountain. But you have to think about the town, the group, the family, and the community. According to the book of deuteronomy, God’s ways are not difficult, they are things we can do together. This is an example of following God’s laws.

Loving your neighbor is an act of faith. God’s grace is the way we can love our neighbor and fulfill God’s law. Following God’s laws calls us to confront the injustice of the world. 
What happened in Colossae at the time of Paul? He talks about rewards and good things for believers in Jesus. The prize of faith is peace and the growth of the people. It is a peace that passes all understanding: it is a peace that you can realize within. It is the same peace that Christ had while suffering on the cross. This peace is the prize of faith. There are things in life that we cannot avoid. But with faith and grace we enable ourselves to fulfill it together. As neighbors, neighbors, and good Samaritans.

Sermon 2022.07.03

We are saved by the grace of God through faith and not by works. 

What is grace?

Grace is being comfortable and living abundantly as Isaiah 66:10-14 prophesied. He says that everyone who loves Jerusalem and everyone who feels sad and angry about the situation of war and violence that is there will be happy. Not only Muslims, but also Jews, Christians, and all nations. This is grace poured out for all. Our bodies will flourish. It’s great and it’s a free gift that God gives to you. But God is angry with his enemies. 

Who are the enemies of God? The enemies of God are those who mistreat and abuse their own beings and others. Paul says in Galatians 6 that we are to receive those who transgress against God with kindness and affection. Let us love the enemies of God. Also be careful not to think too much about yourself, because you too easily fall into error. 

This is faith: understanding that we have to take responsibility for our actions and not blame God. You reap what you sow. If you want to reap something different from what you have, you have to sow different seeds. All the violence and suffering in the world is not God’s will. No. Because God has already forgiven human beings all along. If there is violence and suffering it is our fault. Paul says that to sow by the flesh is to reap by the flesh. Violence against human beings and creation exists because we think according to the flesh and not the spirit. 

Paul says that he will never presume anything I accept the cross of Christ. This is living by the spirit. Why? On the cross Jesus showed what faith is: receiving God’s enemies with kindness. Open arms in love. It’s not work in order to earn. It is service in order to  love.

This kind of life of loving enemies and suffering on the cross is only for Jesus; because he is special? Or is it a lifestyle for everyone? In the Gospel of Saint Luke 10 Jesus sent out seventy disciples to do exactly the same thing as him. He says that you are sent as sheep into wolves. In other words: you are sent to the cross, to love and receive God’s enemies with kindness. To live like this is to live totally free. 

Twenty-one years ago I heard a sermon on this text by Pastor Jim Proper, the director of Lutheran Retreats Camps and Conferences. I was a camp counselor. The pastor said that we were sent to serve as Christ. I was surprised to have to take care of children after training. Because we had two weeks of playing and I forgot the purpose: to be a counselor to boys and girls. May we not be too comfortable here together, we are sent like sheep within wolves to love the enemy. Amen.

Sermon 2022.07.03

Estamos salvados por la gracia de Dios através la fe y no por las obras. 

¿Qué es la gracia?

La gracia es sentirse cómodo y vivir en abundancia como profetizó Isaias 66:10-14. Dice que todos que aman a Jerusalén y todos que se sienten tristes y enojados por la situación de guerra y violencia que está ahí van a estar gozosos. No solamente Musulmanes, pero también Judios, Cristianos, y todas las naciones. Esta es la gracia derramada para todos. Nuestros cuerpos van a florecer. Es buenísimo y es un regalo gratis que Dios te da a ti. Pero Dios está enojado con sus enemigos. 

¿Quiénes son los enemigos de Dios? Los enemigos de Dios son los que maltratan y abusan a sus propios seres y a otros. Pablo dice en Gálatas 6 que nosotros debemos recibir a los que cometen transgresión contra Dios con amabilidad y cariño. Amemos a los enemigos de Dios. También ten cuidado de no pensar demasiado en ti misma, porque también fácilmente caes en error. 

Esto es la fe: entender que tenemos que tomar responsabilidad por nuestras acciones y no culpes a Dios. Cosechas lo que siembras. Si quieres cosechar algo diferente de lo que tienes, hay que sembrar semillas diferentes. Toda la violencia y sufrimiento que hay en el mundo no es la voluntad de Dios. No. Porque Dios ya ha perdonado a los seres humanos todo el tiempo. Si hay violencia y el sufrimiento es culpa de nosotros. Pablo dice que sembrar por la carne es cosechar por la carne. La violencia contra seres humanos y la creación existe porque pensamos según la carne y no el espíritu. 

Pablo dice que nunca va a presumir nada acepto la cruz de cristo. Esto es vivir por el espíritu. ¿Por qué? En la cruz Jesús mostró lo que es la fé: recibir a enemigos de Dios con amabilidad. Abrir los brazos en amor. No es trabajo para ganar. Es servicio de amor.

¿Este tipo de vida de amar a los enemigos y sufrir en la cruz es solamente para Jesus; porque él es especial? ¿O es un estilo de vida para todos? En el evangelio de San Lucas 10 Jesús envió a setenta discípulos a hacer exactamente lo mismo que él. El dice que tu estás enviado como ovejas a dentro de lobos. En otras palabras: estás enviado a la cruz, a amar y recibir a los enemigos de Dios con amabilidad. Vivir así es vivir totalmente libre. 

Hace veintiún años escuché un sermón de este texto por el Pastor Jim Proper, el director de Lutheran Retreats Camps and Conferences. Yo era un consejero del campamento. El pastor dijo que nosotros estábamos enviados a servir como Cristo. Me dió sorpresa tener que cuidar a niños después del entrenamiento. Porque tuvimos dos semanas de jugar y yo olvidé el propósito: ser consejero a los niños y niñas. Que no estemos demasiado cómodos aquí juntos, estamos enviados como ovejas dentro lobos para amar al enemigo. Amén.

Sermon for June 26, 2022

Many thanks to Rev. Rene Martin who preached and presided at worship at Grace Lutheran on June 12, 2022! Thank you!