Pastor
Jeff Lange
June 25 Sermon
June 25 Sermon – You can be a Lutheran
without even knowing it
After he stilled the storm, Jesus said to them, "Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?" Mark 4:40
The disciples had been traveling with Jesus, listening to Him teach and watching him do marvelous deeds – and yet he has to ask them: “Where is your faith”
As we follow Jesus by listening to the gospel over the next few months, we’ll hear Jesus refer to them as “Ye of little faith” so often that it will sound like their nick-name “Little faiths”.
What’s wrong with them? Are they slow learners?
No, they’re human, just like us.
Apparently, even for disciples who are close to Jesus, faith does not come easily. Rather faith grows and develops slowly – it is a process that takes time.
God is almighty, all powerful – and also invisible and beyond our comprehension. We can never really understand God.
As the Lord told Job in our first lesson:
Who is this that darkens counsel by words without
knowledge?
Who are you to question my ways? – You have no real knowledge of me. Then the Lord asks:
Where were you
when
I laid the
foundation of the earth?
Tell me, if you have understanding. Job 38:2,4
A reminder that we will never fully comprehend God and his ways. We need a guide who will show us the way – which is exactly what Jesus came to do – and that is why we keep studying the gospel – to see the way to faith and understanding.
Jesus is the way to faith. He calls us to imitate those first disciples by listening to what he says and observing what he does. He not only tells us God’s way but also lives it. We grow in faith as we follow Him, putting his words into practice in our lives.
Jesus way to faith is learning by doing – so His invitation first is not “Believe in me” but rather “Follow me”. Like the first disciples, if we follow, then we will come to believe and to grow in faith.
One way we show that we have accepted His invitation to follow Him is by joining together with others in a congregation – a gathering of Jesus’ followers who are growing in faith – a local church. In that sense, every church is like that first group of disciples gathered around Jesus.
Like them, we listen to his word – his teaching in the gospel – that we might learn how to live it.
We experience his presence among us in the breaking of the bread – in Holy Communion.
We speak to him in prayer - and open our hearts to the guidance of his Spirit.
And he sends us out – as he sent them – to witness and to serve in his name.
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For Lutherans, those brief statements sum up what the church is:
The assembly of
all believers among whom
the gospel is
preached in its purity
and the holy
sacraments are
administered according to the gospel.
The church is not an institution, but an assembly – a gathering of folks like us – and we, like millions of others around the world, have gotten together this morning to hear the gospel and celebrate the sacraments – thus, to be the church.
That Lutheran definition of the church says nothing about the church’s institutional structure. Some kind of organizational structure may be needed, but it is of human, not divine origin. And since it is man-made, it will be marred by sin – and hence always in need of reform.
Within the gathering – the local church – individuals are needed to preach the gospel and serve the sacraments. They may be called bishops or pastors, ministers or deacons – and they are called by Christ to serve, not to be served.
That Lutheran definition of the church uses the word “gospel” twice in just one sentence, because the gospel is essential.
For Lutherans, the church is a gospel fellowship rather than a Bible fellowship. Martin Luther objected to term “Lutheran” and said we should be called “evangels” – the Greek word for gospel.
Why?
Because the gospel leads us to faith in Jesus Christ – and that is the first mission of the church – to help individuals come to faith – to persevere in faith – to grow in faith in Christ.
That emphasis on the gospel means that Lutherans put on “gospel glasses” to read the Bible. So we read the Old Testament law with the interpretations of Jesus in mind – for example asking “What did Jesus say about this law in the Sermon on the Mount?” We read the prophets and see them pointing to Christ.
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The gospel is Christ’s promise to you – the promise of His
love and mercy, His acceptance and forgiveness – His promise of the Spirit and
new life. All of those good things are
encompassed in a single word: “grace” -- they are the free gift of God
to you, as
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God. Ephesians 2:8
We need only open our hearts to His love and our minds to His Spirit.
I began by saying that growth in faith is a process. Lutherans are realistic. Yes we have received God’s grace and we’re
saved. Yet at the same time we are still
sinners. Hence, a paradox: I am simultaneously
saint and sinner. The sanctifying work
of the Spirit isn’t complete for any of us.
God is not done with me yet, as
We urge you also
not to accept the
grace of God in vain. 2 Corinthians 6:1
With the Lutheran emphasis on grace comes the temptation to presume too much. Lutherans even have a name for that temptation “cheap grace”.
Cheap grace is preaching forgiveness without requiring repentance, communion without confession.
Cheap grace is grace without discipleship and discipline.
Each Sunday we confess that we are still sinners.
How do I know?
Because that’s what God’s law tells me when I compare my life to the commandments, as Jesus explained them. For in His teaching, Jesus revealed the law’s meaning and purpose – he intensified the law rather than relaxing it. For example, the Law says “Do not murder” and Jesus says its intent is that you not be angry with a brother or sister. If anyone has something against you, you have the responsibility to go and be reconciled to that brother or sister.
As forgiven sinners we need the law to show us how to live together - and to correct us – and to show us our need for God’s grace.
For the gospel promises that this is more than self improvement, for we have His promise that as we strive to follow in His way, His Spirit will aid us – guide and empower us.
What is a Lutheran?
An unfinished Christian, still growing in faith.
A Lutheran is always a work in process. In this life we continue to struggle with sin, but at the same time the Spirit is working within us through the Word to sanctify us.
Of course, that’s not only true of Lutherans – many others would see the Christian life is the same way. So you can be a Lutheran without even knowing it. Because at its best that word “Lutheran” describes someone who is on a journey of faith – listening to both the demands of the law and the promise of the gospel – and finally simply putting their trust in Christ – in His love and grace.
But that faith – that trust does not come easily. Like the first disciples in the boat besieged
by a storm, we may be afraid – and Jesus says to us “Where is your faith?”
Like those disciples, our faith will only grow by following Jesus – and learning for ourselves that he is trust worthy. Jesus will not calm all the storms that beset us, but He will calm us in the midst of the storm, offering us inner peace and confidence – if we will trust Him.
We have his word on that – and His word is true.
We can trust Him because others have trusted him before us – and they were not disappointed.
We can trust Him because He died for us and demonstrated his love for us.
He invites you to find out for yourself by putting your faith in him, simply trusting that His hand will lead you and his love support you.