It’s Friday
It’s Friday…
And so I wonder… do you wonder… what will the sermon be on… be about… this coming Sunday?
Stay tuned, as they used to say.
Now my pastor back home… sainted… in the true sense… since 2013… 36 or 37 years in the same parish! Wow! And now..now in heaven.
But he was an exceptional preacher. Few could match him, and I would “stay tuned” and would “look forward” to the next “episode”….
He could point that Law and sooth so wonderfully with the Gospel. Well, it was not him. I mean, it was and … but…
And you know what?
He would tell me about a professor he had at the seminary. We went to the same seminary, just 30 years apart. That professor he told me about was long gone by the time I got there, but…
He said that this professor could bring out the Law and Gospel exceptionally well. But this guy was stiff as a board and put little emotion in his delivery.
Would that work today– at all? I don’t know, as we are so media driven… so much expecting to be entertained.
Yet, I wonder how long the Holy Spirit will put up with that?
Because it cannot be about the man behind the curtain. It cannot be the man’s abilities because then it would be upon my… and every other preacher’s shoulders to get it just right each time…
And I am just not that good… most of the time… (some of the time?)
And it is not as if we don’t… as if I don’t try… but I can’t read your minds nor look into your hearts. I can only surmise or guess at what is going on… THAT IS… WHAT IS TRULY going on … in your lives.
It has to be then, the work and word of the Holy Spirit. And He will not put up with our sentimentality or itching ears. He will not put up with our craving entertainment and demand to have our attention held by a performer performing.
Preaching is about proclaiming God’s Word. Properly divided. Law to expose sin, and Gospel to cover sin, and heal, when there is repentance.
This needs no fan fare to be effective. It can be presented as dull as army green paint and still work the miracle of conversion.
Does that mean I can be lazy and not put anything into my sermons? No!
But the Holy Spirit might raise up only those like Moses who have a speech impediment to spite those entertainment mongers called Americans…
And this just because we have despised the pure Law and Gospel and chase after (the Bible is a little more crass here and calls it whored after) entertainment instead of good teaching.
So then where will we be? Who among us will go to the fun churches instead of the faithful ones?
So then who is it that you are going to worship? Why are you in church? What did you go out into the desert to see, asked Jesus of those who went to hear John the Baptist?
Would it surprise you to know that when you come to church, you are on duty as a priest or priestess of the Lord. Each one of us are. Not a pastor, no, but one who offers up a sacrifice of thanksgiving and praise. That is what priests do. And we all are called to gather with Jesus and do just that. With Him, to our Father.
I was called by you to lead you in this. So Sunday Divine Service is not a time for you to sit back and take in the show. No, you participate.
Sure, the main part is God giving us His great gifts of Grace, Mercy and Forgiveness through Word and Sacrament, but our part, as we were taught at home to do, is to say thank you. We also are to offer praise to the one– the only one really, who deserves it.
This is what the whole Divine Service is all about. This is the great dance. The great choreographed movement in the court of the Lord’s House.
That is why there is a lot of standing and sitting. That is why the Pastor (as the prophet—the spokesman for God) speaks and the congregation responds.
When a pastor is facing the people he is acting as prophet—speaking God’s Word to you—representing God. When he is facing the altar, he is a priest representing you, the people of God, to God.
To immerse yourself in this movement, this doing… this activity … each week, is the primary act of faith. It is the act of confessing what we believe, teach and confess together.
Do so with purpose… come expecting… listen… respond with intention… with conviction…
And yes, even though this is Friday, it will soon be Sunday… where we will once more join this great cosmic dance… together with the whole church here on earth, and also in heaven…
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Sunday, September 20, 2026 – 16th Sunday after Trinity
Old Testament – Deuteronomy 32:39-40
Epistle – Ephesians 3:13-21
Gospel – Luke 7:11-17
Sermon Theme – WHAT KIND OF SON IS HE?
Based on the Gospel reading Luke 7:11-17
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Prayers: For a lasting peace that would be established and would remain between the people of Israel and Gaza as well as for the People of Russia and the Ukraine. Between the US and Iran. For our congregation that it would please our Lord that we would increase in numbers and there remain in this place a congregation that calls upon Him rightly, practicing the faith according to the Scriptures. For those who are being persecuted and murdered because they call upon the name of Jesus—especially in Africa. For the end of violence in our cites and that our schools and congregations would be protected from those who wish them harm. For our families that parents would courageously discipline their children and raise them in the fear of the Lord, teaching them about salvation in Jesus alone.