Trinity Lutheran Church
465 Oak St.
Wyandotte, Michigan 48192
November 6th & 7th, 2009
Mission Fest
Trinity Youth Outreach
Hymns
“Stand Up, Stand Up For Jesus”
“This is the Feast”
“Who Trust in God a Strong Abode”
“Let the Vineyard Be Fruitful”
“Lord Jesus Think on Me”
“Lord Jesus Christ We Humbly Pray”
“O Jesus Blessed Lord to Thee”
“O Lord We Praise Thee”
“Praise to the Lord the Almighty”
Scripture – Please Read
Hebrew 12:26-29
Mark 13:1-13
Bad News/Good News
Mark 13:1-8
Grace, mercy and peace to you from God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit; Amen.
Would you pray with me? Lord Jesus, you come to us as “Good News,” as the answer to all our questions, the light in our darkness, the hope in our despair. I you we experience the near and ever presence of God, embracing us, reaching out to us.
In this life, Lord, we have bad things happen to us and all around us. We discover that we are not as secure, not as safe from tragedy as se think. Bad news breaks into our sphere, and we feel engulfed, threatened by sadness and difficulty. Even when our lives seem good, and life is easy, and we are content for the moment, we know that we have brothers and sisters in Christ who are in pain. And if we are to follow you, we must feel some of their pain too.
Lord, again and again you come to us through your word and sacraments to turn our bad news into good. We invoke your name so that you will come to work with us, beside us and through us. Save us from the things that threaten. Save us from ourselves. Savoir of the world, our best Good news. Hear our prayer. Amen.
Introduction
Today we get right to the heart of the question: When will the end of the world come? (v 4) The disciples politely asked the question of Jesus, “(If the Temple in all of its glory can be torn apart without one stone left on top of another) - when will these things happen?” And yet as we review Jesus answer it seemed so vague: “Watch out that no one deceives you?” For almost 2000 years people have been asking this very question.
The people of the Apostles time wanted to know so that they could give everything away. Yet the only answer the apostles could give was, “Watch and wait.” Paul had had it in his toil over the ministry and prayed to leave this world for heaven. Yet answer to his prayer was, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in your weakness.” (2 Cor. 12:8) I know I would like to know. I think we all would like to know. Yet scripture tells us, “It would be good for (us as) servant (to be dressed, vigilant, and watching so that the) Master finds us ready.” The passage goes on to say: “Even if he comes in the second or third watch.” (Luke 12:37)! And yet is it ours to know or ours to watch?
Body of the Sermon
Have you watched the news lately? It seems like every day we are bombarded with nothing but bad new. One minute we are on the military installation at Fort Hood Texas - a soldier looses touch with reality for one moment in time – and twelve people lay dead with thirty two injured from gun shot wounds. Who would have ever thought that a police woman and soldier would have a shoot out? Then we’re told that this is not the first time. Our military men are war fatigued from numerous tours of duty and many of them who are weekend National Guard never expected to see active duty again.
In an instant Fort Hood is old news as an employee goes postal on a group of people in Florida. More dead! Another lone gunman! Another tragedy!
How much bad news can we take? How much can the human mind endure? The economy is the worst it can be in Wayne County of Michigan. Many of our loved ones are in the war theater, and it seems according to the news more, not less, troops are going to be sent to Iraq and Afghanistan to complete the conflict. President Obama’s promise was that he would bring the troops home, and yet, his report card is receiving worse grades each and every day.
I remember back to the election. The conversation was kind of funny in a ways. I asked one person “How are you doing?” They replied: “Well, after the results of this past week, great! Our nation is at least back on course.” When I asked another, “How are you doing?” He said, “Considering last week, not so good, I really fear for the future of the country!”
This is the way the disciples felt. Here they were in Jesus presence and he was predicting the destruction of the world metaphorically through the Temple building. He was not telling them that their world would improve he was telling them that the world will be destroyed.
He was telling them that we should not worry about tomorrow. He was quoted as saying,
“Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life?” He pointed to the “Good News” instead of the bad by saying: “Look at the birds of the air – they don’t work – they don’t worry – and yet God takes care of them. Look at the Lillys of the field – they don’t work – they don’t worry – and yet God takes care of them. He continues our life is just like the grass – It comes up – it’s grows – it turns brown in an instant. (Matt. 6:25-34)
He says to the disciples, you and me, what is more important than worrying about the end of times is to work out your own salvation today. Know what you believe and do not let anyone trick you with this or that scheme that may catch your ears. Jesus said the world will come and go, but my word will endure forever.
Conclusion
C. S. Lewis wrote that most of us, who call ourselves Christians are “too easily pleased.” There is this human tendency to raise up science, human philosophy, human institutions and humanly created situations with an almost a divine prominence as if God himself had ordained everything as we now know it – as if God keeps his hands off of morality and exchanges between neighbors. We seem to live more by democratic consensus and political correctness than by the word of God.
Jesus said, don’t worry! You know that I have overcome the world, death and Satan himself. Jesus said, don’t worry! You will see the signs – when men think they are like god or even gods – when wars become too numerous to count, nations are against nation, when famines and earthquakes and collimates come.
Jesus said, time and time again, “Oh you of little faith.” Faith reminds me of swinging on a trapeze. Once you’ve gained the courage to swing, you really don’t want to let go ... and then, without warning you look up and see another trapeze swinging towards you, perfectly timed to meet you in the air, and you realize you are being asked to let go and grab it. To do it you have to release your grip. You have to reach out in trust. You have to let go of the terror of of the unknown void between to find the greatness that is trust.
Jesus said, don’t worry,” your prayer, “Thy kingdom come.” is being answered. Don’t worry, just stay in the Word. Be ready. Be vigilant, for the kingdom of heaven is near.
Sometimes the only difference between “Good News” and bad is where you happen to be when you receive it. To some there are no issues – everything is good. But if you happen to be one of those people whose wall are coming apart – and you don’t know how you are going to cope today – then you are in the right place – Jesus is the “Good News.” Amen