Here follows is the sermon delivered to the saints at Zion Lutheran Church of Beecher, Illinois this week. Pr. Ron Rock +++++++++++++ +++++++++++++
"A MODERN PARABLE; AN OLD STORY" Sermon Text - Isaiah 35:4-7a 14th Sun. a. Pentecost, B, (Proper 18) Sun. & Wed., September 6 & 9, 2009 Zion Lutheran Church, Beecher, IL OT Reading - Isaiah 35:4-7a Epistle - James 2:1-10, 14-18 Gospel - Mark 7:31-37 In the name of Jesus. [Amen] Our sermon for today is the type known as a "modern parable." This style of sermon calls for a modern day story to be told by the preacher with the preacher then charged with the task to relate that story to the truths that are found in Scripture. Of course, this follows the practice that our Lord Jesus did all so often in His preaching. By God's grace, we shall attempt to do the same. Dear friends in Christ Jesus, The following was told to our youth and their counselors at the Higher Things Conference this past July. It was told as a true story. A farmer had a wonderful, faithful dog. Picture it in your mind's eye. It was a fine animal in every way - strong of body and of heart. The dog's coat was shiny and well groomed. It was loyal, tame, helpful - forgiving of the toddler who inadvertently stepped on its tail and ferocious in defending the barnyard from uninvited visitors who drove into the domain of both the family and the dog. Also, the dog was joyful. Whenever any of the family came outside, the dog would come bounding toward them, his tail wagging so vigorously that his entire hind quarters moved with his tail! But the dog had a secret a dark, ugly secret. He lived a double life, for you see, he acted one way when around his master and he acted another way when he thought that no one was watching. Each night, after the last of the lights in the house were extinguished, the dog would leave his station and take to the fields. There just over the second hill the dog would meet up with a pack of other dogs and hang out. And no the dogs didn't just lay in the grass enjoying the cool evening breeze and exchange stories of how they'd been obedient dogs earlier that day. No it was nothing like that! The dogs became as one. They reverted to their old nature and became wild with one intention - to kill and destroy! The marauding dogs would attack sheep and sink their sharp canine teeth through the wooly fluff into the flesh of a helpless, hapless lamb biting and tearing until the lamb was silent and kicked no more. But one night, the dogs lingered too long in their revelry. The master arose earlier than usual that morning, and as he walked out of the house, his "wonderful" dog (or so he thought!) wasn't there to greet him. After a moment, the dog's master saw him in the distance, making his way home running as fast as his powerful legs could carry him. The master was appalled for as his beloved dog approached he could see blood smeared around his muzzle and chest. At first, the master thought that his precious dog had been injured. But as he examined it, looking for wounds, the truth came out. The truth was there were no wounds. The blood on the dog wasn't his own. The dog out of breath from his run home was panting heavily with his mouth wide open. And then the master's heart sank - the undeniable evidence was found. Stuck between his precious dog's fangs was lamb's wool and lamb's flesh! Sick at heart the dog's master got up and walked away his heart broken. His beloved dog had betrayed him! Dear friends, you too as do I we all live a double life. On the outside we look like pious Christian "dogs." In fact a couple among us even wear a collar! We know, don't we? We know what our heavenly Master expects of us. We know the Commandments and their meanings by heart! If asked, most of us could recite them without missing a word or pausing for breath. Much like a dog, we might even hope against hope that someone would notice us and rather than pat us on the head or scratch us behind the ears and say "Atta boy!" rather than that we hope that they would stroke our pride and ego with their complimentary words: "Oh, what a good Christian you are! You know the Commandments perfectly!" But, much like the wayward dog in our parable who knew what his master expected of him but didn't do it likewise we, too leave our station at the Lord's side and meet up with others the second hill over and willingly embrace a double life the wild life. We all so often return to those base, sinful desires within us! And so, what is it that beckons you to go to that "second hill over" when you think that no one is watching? Is it a sinful relationship? Is it a book, movie, or web site that cheapens humanity? Might it be pride, and an attitude of: "I know that I'm not perfect but at least I don't do what so and so does!" When the story of the wayward dog was first told to us at the conference, we weren't told what happened to the dog. But having been raised on a farm myself I know what happens to dogs like that! If that sheep-killing dog had been on my farm, the master, when he turned to walk away from the dog, would have returned in a few minutes carrying not a dog biscuit but a rifle! You see, the penalty for sheep-killing dogs is death! The killer dog is given no second chance. Although the dog might lay on his back in a submissive way whimpering and crying in his sorrow, the dog's master must make sure that no more sheep are killed by that dog! St. Paul says it simply and accurately: "The wages of sin, is death " (Romans 6:23a, ESV) But dear people, listen carefully to what now is said Although you've been like the dog in our parable, leading a double life at times, the Lord, your God doesn't He does not turn away from you, only to return a few minutes later to end your life. Not at all! Beginning with Adam and Eve and continuing with you we've all broken our Master's heart through our wild and willful disobedience to Him. We've failed Him time and time again and each time was worthy of eternal death in hell! We deserved for Him to immediately damn us to be apart from Him and His love forever any whimpering or crying doing us no good. But our gracious God determined that He would pay the "wage" for all the "wild dog actions" of all people of all time. Although He was heartbroken over our sins, His "justness" wouldn't allow Him to ignore it for He can't deny who He is a holy and just God punishing sin, just as He said He would. So, He turned away from us in order to find a suitable substitute who could bear our sinfulness and our death. He turned to His Son, Jesus, and sent Him to be lifted up on the cross of Calvary to suffer and die in the place of the double-dealing, double-life sinners of this world. His resurrection from the dead three days later proves that His death was accepted by the heavenly Father. Thus, the wages of death that our sins deserved, were paid in full, by our Master, Himself! His love His boundless love for fallen mankind behind it all! So that you might know that all this is so, He comes to you through His Word telling you over and over of His love. He comes to you and washes you clean in His Baptism and He feeds you with the flesh and blood of a Lamb the very Lamb of God, Who has taken away the sin of the "wild dogs" of this world - all of yours included! Some might say that they're looking for "relevancy" in the Church today. Furthermore they might complain that "Church doesn't reach me where I'm at!" Frankly where fallen humanity is "at " is in hell! And the Good News of God's love, His mercy, His forgiveness that's proclaimed here and in other Christian churches week after week, is designed to reach them and give them hope hope for this life and the life to come! The Gospel is designed to rescue them and bring them back to the side of their Master. You who are guilty of sin you who thought that you could run with the dogs and sneak back without your Master knowing, repent of our sins, and commit anew with the power of the Holy Spirit to change your life. And, know this, believe this. Your Master still loves you and has forgiven you through His Son. And now, with this known, consider what it is that is yours. Isaiah's gorgeous words speak of the restoration that the Master lavishes on His beloved. For God has come not to wreak death upon you but to save you. Say to those who have an anxious heart, "Be strong; fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance [not to kill, but to forgive] He will come and save you." 5Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; 6then shall the lame man leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute sing for joy. (Isaiah 35:4-6a, ESV) And so it is, beloved ones of God. No longer do you run and carry on with those who have only eternal destruction in their future. No! Now and by God's grace you trot leisurely at your Master's side for time and eternity! Thanks be to God! [Amen!] May the peace of God which passes all human understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus unto life everlasting. Amen. ____________________________________________________________ Best Weight Loss Program - Click Here! http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2141/fc/BLSrjpTFoYegddHBuWVCT3h7a8gUFXmmgjbVcj61liBdGOcU3ewkw7YRg1S/ ___________________________________________________________________________ 'CAT 41 Sermons & Devotions' consists of works that are, unless otherwise noted, the copyrighted property of the various authors; posting of such gives members of this list implied consent for redistribution _with_ _attribution_ unless otherwise specified by the author, as well as for quoting or use in a congregational setting _with_or_without_attribution_. Note: This list's default reply is to the *poster*, NOT the list. Do *not* reply to the list with your comments, but to the poster. Subscribe? Send ANY note to: [email protected] Unsubscribe? 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