Category: Sermon Page

Last Sunday of the Church Year (Proper 29): Christ the King, November 24, 2024

The Clash of the Kingdoms Text: Daniel 7:9–10, 13–14

Other Lessons: Psalm 93; Revelation 1:4b–8; John 18:33–37

Sermon Theme: Christ’s kingdom supersedes all human kingdoms.

Sermon Goal: That hearers are encouraged to work in Christ’s kingdom despite the many challenges from the kingdoms of the world. Based on a sermon outline by Dr. Joel D. Heck as printed in Concordia Pulpit Resources,

This Sunday culminates the church half of the church year; Advent, beginning next Sunday, will begin the Lord’s half of the new church year. We think of Christ as the King of kings and Lord of lords, the Messiah, the ruler of all things. (The prayer before placing the crown on the head of Charles III included an acknowledgement of God as the King of kings). Christ’s reign will culminate in the full establishment of the kingdom of the Messiah in eternity. Christ came the first time as a baby, but he will come a second time as judge and king over all the earth.

But Daniel sees a glorious kingdom coming from out of this world: the messianic kingdom (vv 9–10, 13–14). This kingdom is ushered in by the King of kings. Clothing as white as snow stands for purity. Fire stands for judgment and the presence of God. There can be no doubt this “one like a son of man” is the Son of God (v 13). The “Ancient of Days,” God the Father, gives him the kingdom (v 13). All nations worship him. Jesus himself would use the term “Son of Man” for himself far more than any other title—even during his trial (Mk 14:61–62). All dominion has been given to the Son of Man. Both worldly kingdoms and the kingdom of God are derived from God’s authority.          But there are huge differences between these kingdoms: Human authority covers some territory, but God’s authority is universal (v 14a). Human authority is time limited, but God’s kingdom is eternal (v 14b). Human authority will be taken away, but God’s authority will not (v 14c). The clash of these kingdoms—the worldly versus the messianic—will ultimately be no contest. The ultimate clash was decided on the cross. The prince of this world, Satan, brought his most powerful weapon to bear: death. But the messianic King triumphed over death. Satan was powerless to hold the “one like a son of man,” Jesus. Now the reign of Christ the King will be evident to all at his second coming. “All peoples, nations, and languages” shall most certainly serve him (v 13) That will include not only those who believed and will receive him with joy, but also those who denied or ignored or fought against him to the death and will then be forced to bow the knee before him (Rev 1:7; Phil 2:10–11). His dominion “shall not pass away,” and his kingdom “shall not be destroyed” (v 14). Society often rejects the transcendent values of the kingdom of God. But we remain committed to the principle that we must obey God rather than man (Acts 5:29). We will struggle within each of our human kingdoms (Jn 16:33), but God assures us that he is with us (Mt 28:20) in the person of Jesus. Under whatever kingdoms we live, and whichever “kingdoms” influence us, this is always our assurance: the King of kings rules over all things, always for our good. On this, even the liturgy at the coronation of Charles III got it right. Just before he placed the crown on Charles’s head, the archbishop prayed: “King of kings and Lord of lords, bless, we beseech thee, this Crown, and so sanctify thy servant Charles upon whose head this day thou dost place it for a sign of royal majesty, that he may be crowned with thy gracious favour and filled with abundant grace and all princely virtues; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with thee and the Holy Spirit liveth and reigneth, supreme over all things, one God, world without end” (The Church of England, The Coronation of King Charles III, May 2023)

Amen.

Guest Pastor: Rev. Bill Zastrow
The sermon was based on Mark Chapter 13

Old Testament Reading: Daniel 12:1-3
Epistle Reading: Hebrews 10:11-25
Holy Gospel: Mark 13:1-13

Jesus Foretells Destruction of the Temple

13 And as he came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher, what wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings!” ² And Jesus said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? There will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.”

Signs of the End of the Age

³ And as he sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately, ⁴ “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when all these things are about to be accomplished?” ⁵ And Jesus began to say to them, “See that no one leads you astray. ⁶ Many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!’ and they will lead many astray. ⁷ And when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. This must take place, but the end is not yet. ⁸ For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. These are but the beginning of the birth pains.

⁹ “But be on your guard. For they will deliver you over to councils, and you will be beaten in synagogues, and you will stand before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them. ¹⁰ And the gospel must first be proclaimed to all nations. ¹¹ And when they bring you to trial and deliver you over, do not be anxious beforehand what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit. ¹² And brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death. ¹³ And you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.

All Saints’ Day (Observed), November 3, 2024

Your Future Is Bright and Glorious! Text:

Revelation 7:(2–8) 9–17 

Other Lessons: Psalm 149; 1 John 3:1–3; Matthew 5:1–12

Sermon Theme: Your future is bright and glorious!

Sermon Goal: That you are comforted in the tears of this life—including separation from beloved saints who have died—by the anticipation of the eternal joy to come for all the saints. Based on a sermon in CPR by Dr. Charles A. Gieschen,

Sermon: “After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes” (v 9). This part of the vision recorded by John in the book of Revelation helps us to see that the life of a Lutheran congregation is not just about living Sunday to Sunday or year to year or decade to decade or even a hundred years together. This vision helps us to see the goal of every Christian, every congregation, and the church militant across the earth: to be part of this great multitude for eternity that no one can number from every nation, tribe, people, and language, standing before God’s throne, standing before Christ, the Lamb slain for our sin, clothed in resurrected glory for eternity. Why do we establish congregations? Why do we seek to be faithful in reaching out to the lost in our community year after year? Why do we call pastors, build sanctuaries, teach Sunday School, give offerings sacrificially each week, and continue planning for the future? So that we and many others from this congregation, this community, this generation of sinners may be part of this great multitude before the throne of the Lamb! Why did God first give this vision to John to share with the seven churches and many others in future generations? Because he knew that the faithful saints of these congregations had struggles in the past, they were going through struggles in the present, and they would encounter more in the future. Sin was alive and well in these pagan cities of ancient Rome. In the seven letters that Jesus dictates in Revelation 2–3, we hear of false apostles, false teaching, sexual immortality, the Jezebel-like priestess, spiritual lukewarmness, and much more. 

This sounds a lot like the world today! Even much of the church is confused on what marriage is, how sexuality should be experienced, and who created this world in the first place. As we heard in the Beatitudes of our Gospel, Jesus promised his faithful church would face challenges: “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven” (Mt 5:11–12).

God gave this vision of the future, of the Church Triumphant after the day of resurrection, to encourage us about what our individual future is and what our future is as a congregation. This is your future: risen, living, worshiping, and singing for all eternity, “Salvation belongs to our God,” namely the one sitting on the throne, and “the Lamb. . . . Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen” (vv 10, 12). Knowing this is our future encourages us to be faithful and active witnesses in the present

What is the reason given here for these saints being in heaven? Are they there because of the great lives they lived, the number of boards on which they served, or the church council meetings that they attended? No, there is only one reason given for their status: “They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the lamb” (v 14). Your future as a congregation, your future as the church militant on earth, and your future as the Church Triumphant in heaven is based upon the blood of the Lamb, Jesus the Christ, that was shed on Calvary’s cross to atone for your sin, for all sin! As John the Baptist proclaimed when he saw Jesus: “Behold, the Lamb of God who is taking away the sin of the world!” (Jn 1:29, author’s translation). You are saints, holy ones, now and forever through the holy blood of Jesus.

This vision in Revelation 7 is dripping with irony. The last thing you usually want on white robes would be blood; it stains permanently. But the blood that Jesus shed cleanses permanently, because it is a payment in full for sin. It is blood that continues to cleanse you from sin today as you hear of it here and as you drink it at this altar. As the earlier hymn to the Lamb in Revelation 5 states: “For you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation”(5:9).  

This vision is one of the most extensive descriptions in the Scriptures of what we as the Church will do after Christ’s return into eternity. Listen to your future as Christians, as a congregation, once again: “Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe every tear from their eyes” (vv 15–17). None of our years on earth have been without tears of pain and struggle; there will be more tears in the years you have left in your earthly journey; of that you can be sure. You have shed some tears, no doubt, in saying a temporary goodbye to some of the saints of your extended family and church family who are now with the Lord. But nothing ever has, nor nothing ever will, separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. He refreshes us daily for our work in the world and our service to him in his Church. But one day sin will be no more—no more hunger and thirst and struggle. Our baptismal garments will be exchanged for the permanent robe of resurrected glory, and God will wipe every tear of pain and suffering from our eyes.    

Revelation 7 helps you to see your ultimate and certain future as forgiven saints through the blood of Christ: God himself with be with you, and he will wipe every tear from your eyes. Death will be no more, neither shall there be any mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore—and you will see his face! That is your bright and glorious future as saints through the blood of Jesus. Amen.

Pastor Tim Weiser

Old Testament Reading: Amos 5:6-7, 10-15
Epistle Reading: Hebrews 3:12-19
Holy Gospel: Mark 10:17-22