Fifth Sunday After Pentecost – Sunday, July 13, 2014 | Pr. Chris Rosebrough
| Welcome to the Teaching Ministry of Kongsvinger Lutheran Church. Kongsvinger is a beacon for the Gospel of Jesus Christ and is located on the plains of Northwestern Minnesota. We proclaim Christ and Him crucified for our sins and salvation by grace through faith alone, and now, here’s a message from Pastor Chris Rosebrough: |
| Time Stamp | Transcript |
| 0:27 | The holy Gospel |
| 0:29 | according to Matthew chapter 13 verses 1 |
| 0:32 | through 9 and 18-23 |
| 0:35 | that same day when Jesus went out of the |
| 0:38 | house and sat by the lake such large |
| 0:40 | crowds gathered around them that he got |
| 0:42 | into a boat and sat in it while all the |
| 0:45 | people stood on the shore then he told |
| 0:47 | them many things in Parables saying a |
| 0:50 | farmer went out to sow his seed and as |
| 0:52 | he was scattering the seeds some fell |
| 0:53 | along the path and the birds came and |
| 0:55 | ate it up some fell on Rocky places |
| 0:57 | where it did not have much soil it |
| 0:59 | sprang up quickly because the soil was |
| 1:01 | shallow but when the sun came up the |
| 1:03 | plants were scorched and they withered |
| 1:05 | because they had no root other seed fell |
| 1:07 | among Thorns which grew up and choked |
| 1:09 | the plants still other seed fell on good |
| 1:12 | soil Where It produced a crop 160 30 |
| 1:15 | times what was sown he who has ears let |
| 1:19 | him hear |
| 1:20 | so listen then to what the parable of |
| 1:22 | the sower means when anyone hears the |
| 1:25 | message about the kingdom and does not |
| 1:27 | understand it the evil one comes and |
| 1:30 | snatches away what was sown in his heart |
| 1:32 | this is the seed sown along the path the |
| 1:35 | one who received the seed that fell on |
| 1:36 | Rocky places is the man who hears the |
| 1:38 | word and that once receives it with joy |
| 1:40 | but since he has no root he lasts only a |
| 1:43 | short time when trouble or persecution |
| 1:45 | comes because of the word he quickly |
| 1:48 | Falls away the one who received the seed |
| 1:50 | that fell among the Thorns is the man |
| 1:52 | who hears the word but the worries of |
| 1:54 | this life and the deceitfulness of |
| 1:56 | wealth choke it making it unfruitful but |
| 1:59 | the one who received the seed that fell |
| 2:00 | in the good soil is the man who hears |
| 2:02 | the word and understands that he |
| 2:04 | produces a crop yielding a hundred sixty |
| 2:07 | or thirty times what is Sun |
| 2:10 | in the name of Jesus |
| 2:12 | amen you may be seated in today’s Gospel |
| 2:16 | text we are again introduced to Jesus’s |
| 2:19 | first and maybe most well-known parable |
| 2:23 | now there’s a general misunderstanding |
| 2:25 | about Jesus’s Parables that needs to be |
| 2:27 | cleared up because why Jesus taught in |
| 2:30 | Parables is important to understand in |
| 2:32 | order to understand this Parable now the |
| 2:34 | common misunderstanding about Parables |
| 2:36 | is that Jesus told them in order to help |
| 2:38 | people understand what he was teaching |
| 2:42 | wrong that is not why Jesus told |
| 2:46 | Parables so we’re going to apply our |
| 2:48 | three rules for sound biblical exegesis |
| 2:50 | and they are remember them context |
| 2:52 | context context and we’re going to go |
| 2:56 | backwards a little bit into the gospel |
| 2:57 | of Matthew so we can take a look at |
| 2:59 | what’s going on and you’ll notice if you |
| 3:01 | read through the gospel of Matthew |
| 3:02 | chapter 12 is a transition chapter a |
| 3:05 | transition where Jesus goes from being a |
| 3:08 | popular preacher to being one who’s |
| 3:11 | actually persecuted for instance in the |
| 3:14 | beginning of Matthew chapter 12 you’ll |
| 3:16 | notice that there’s a little bit of a |
| 3:17 | battle between Jesus and the Pharisees |
| 3:20 | regarding whether or not the disciples |
| 3:23 | are breaking the Sabbath why well they |
| 3:25 | were walking through a grain field and |
| 3:27 | they were picking some of the grain |
| 3:28 | doing this with it and then eating the |
| 3:30 | kernels right and well that’s harvesting |
| 3:33 | and you can’t Harvest on the Sabbath now |
| 3:36 | it might seem like kind of a trivial |
| 3:37 | thing but in reality the fact that the |
| 3:40 | Pharisees brought this up it’s deadly |
| 3:42 | serious because the the punishment for |
| 3:45 | being a Sabbath breaker in Israel is |
| 3:47 | what |
| 3:48 | death |
| 3:50 | okay so this was not a small thing then |
| 3:53 | you get to chapter chapter 12 verse 22 |
| 3:56 | and Jesus heals a guy that drives a |
| 4:00 | demon out let me let me read this to you |
| 4:03 | chapter 12 verse 22 then they brought |
| 4:07 | him a demon-possessed man who was blind |
| 4:09 | and mute and Jesus healed him so that he |
| 4:12 | could both talk and see and all the |
| 4:16 | people were astonished and said could |
| 4:18 | this be the son of David that’s code |
| 4:20 | talk for the Messiah right but the |
| 4:22 | Pharisees you can just see them doing |
| 4:24 | this |
| 4:25 | right but the Pharisees when they heard |
| 4:27 | this they said it is only by bials above |
| 4:30 | the prince of demons that this fellow |
| 4:32 | drives out demons |
| 4:35 | so Jesus is literally |
| 4:37 | setting people free from bondage to the |
| 4:40 | devil the type of bondage that you see |
| 4:42 | it like in the movie The Exorcist right |
| 4:44 | where somebody is literally possessed by |
| 4:47 | a demon and they see the Miracles they |
| 4:50 | don’t deny that he’s performing them but |
| 4:52 | they say he’s doing this by the power of |
| 4:54 | the Devil Himself right then a little |
| 4:57 | bit later in the same chapter it says |
| 4:59 | this then some of the Pharisees and |
| 5:01 | teachers of the law said to him teacher |
| 5:03 | we want to see a miraculous sign from |
| 5:05 | you |
| 5:06 | what has Jesus been doing |
| 5:09 | he’s been healing people he’s been |
| 5:11 | feeding multitudes he’s been giving |
| 5:13 | sight to the blind he’s been driving |
| 5:15 | demons out of people and they come along |
| 5:17 | and they say it’s not enough show us a |
| 5:19 | sign |
| 5:21 | right so Jesus answered a wicked and |
| 5:24 | adulterous generation asked for a |
| 5:26 | miraculous sign but none will be given |
| 5:28 | to it except for the sign of the prophet |
| 5:30 | Jonah for as Jonah was three days and |
| 5:32 | three nights in the belly of a huge fish |
| 5:34 | so the son of man will be three days and |
| 5:36 | three nights in the heart of the Earth |
| 5:38 | the men of Nineveh now this gets really |
| 5:40 | fun it gets real personal right because |
| 5:42 | remember the story of Jonah Jonah was |
| 5:44 | sent to Nineveh Nineveh by the way think |
| 5:46 | of them as like the ultimate terrorist |
| 5:48 | Nation if you would okay their armies |
| 5:51 | were so cruel and so brutal that if you |
| 5:52 | were conquered by them and you were |
| 5:55 | unfortunate enough to actually survive |
| 5:57 | the military encounter they would bury |
| 5:59 | you in the Sands of the desert out there |
| 6:01 | up to your neck and let you starve to |
| 6:03 | death you know and die that way it’s |
| 6:06 | just just brutal guys I mean and the |
| 6:08 | ninevites they were not Jewish boys they |
| 6:10 | were pagans they worshiped false gods |
| 6:12 | and so Jesus kind of throws down here he |
| 6:16 | says the men of Nineveh you have those |
| 6:18 | Pagan guys they will stand up at the |
| 6:20 | Judgment with this gen generation and |
| 6:21 | they will condemn it |
| 6:25 | yeah this is not good right you know so |
| 6:29 | this is like this is the equivalent of |
| 6:31 | saying that on the day of judgment the |
| 6:33 | Nazis are going to rise up and they’re |
| 6:35 | going to condemn the United States |
| 6:36 | that’s kind of like you know in the |
| 6:38 | ballpark of what Jesus is saying here |
| 6:40 | all right men of Nineveh so you kind of |
| 6:43 | get the idea Jesus is now experiencing |
| 6:46 | in his ministry full on persecution |
| 6:50 | unbelief it’s it’s unbridled and so |
| 6:53 | Jesus’s solution is not to make his |
| 6:56 | teaching more easy to understand |
| 6:59 | nope Jesus’s solution to this type of |
| 7:02 | unbelief is to make his preaching to be |
| 7:05 | almost impossible to understand |
| 7:08 | that’s what’s really going on so that |
| 7:11 | brings us then into chapter 13. the |
| 7:14 | context is growing hostility to Jesus |
| 7:17 | and his message that Jesus begins |
| 7:20 | teaching in in Parables as you’re about |
| 7:22 | to see Jesus didn’t teach in Parables to |
| 7:24 | make his teaching more understandable |
| 7:25 | this is what I said he taught in |
| 7:26 | Parables to make his teaching impossible |
| 7:28 | for some to understand and Matthew |
| 7:31 | chapter 13 verses 10 through 17 you’ll |
| 7:33 | notice that’s the section that God |
| 7:34 | omitted from today’s pericope let me |
| 7:37 | read this to you okay so Jesus tells the |
| 7:39 | story of the of the soils right there’s |
| 7:40 | good soil there’s bad soil there’s rocks |
| 7:42 | there’s weeds and all this kind of stuff |
| 7:43 | and everyone goes |
| 7:45 | what we don’t get it so the disciples |
| 7:48 | come to him they say |
| 7:49 | why are you speaking to the people in |
| 7:51 | Parables right and Jesus replied |
| 7:54 | get this the knowledge of the secrets of |
| 7:57 | the Kingdom of Heaven has been given to |
| 7:59 | you but not to them Whoever has will be |
| 8:04 | given more and he will have an abundance |
| 8:06 | whoever does not have even what he has |
| 8:08 | will be taken from him this is why I |
| 8:10 | speak to them in Parables here it is |
| 8:12 | though seeing they do not see |
| 8:16 | uh-huh |
| 8:18 | though seeing they do not see though |
| 8:20 | hearing they do not hear or understand |
| 8:23 | in them is fulfilled the prophecy of |
| 8:25 | Isaiah you will be ever hearing but |
| 8:27 | never understanding you will be ever |
| 8:29 | seeing but never perceiving for this |
| 8:31 | people’s hearts has become calloused |
| 8:33 | they hardly hear with their ears they |
| 8:36 | have closed their eyes otherwise they |
| 8:39 | might see with their ears hear see with |
| 8:43 | their eyes hear with their ears |
| 8:44 | understand what their hearts and turn |
| 8:45 | and I would heal them but blessed are |
| 8:47 | your eyes because they see your ears |
| 8:49 | because they hear if I tell you the |
| 8:51 | truth many prophets and righteous men |
| 8:53 | long to see what you see but did not see |
| 8:55 | it and to hear what you hear but did not |
| 8:57 | hear it so did you catch that Jesus’s |
| 9:00 | parables are designed to make his |
| 9:02 | teachings to be almost impossible to |
| 9:04 | understand |
| 9:06 | so now notice also this that Matthew |
| 9:09 | assumes that you are a disciple |
| 9:13 | he assumes that you believe in Jesus he |
| 9:16 | assumes that you want to know the |
| 9:18 | secrets of the kingdom of God so he’s |
| 9:21 | going to give you the inside skinny he’s |
| 9:23 | going to give you the inside scoop what |
| 9:24 | the disciples got to hear as to what the |
| 9:27 | parable means he is going to share that |
| 9:29 | with you with the belief that you really |
| 9:31 | want to understand these things that you |
| 9:33 | do not want to be one of those people |
| 9:35 | who is ever seeing but never perceiving |
| 9:38 | ever hearing but never understanding |
| 9:40 | that’s the Assumption right |
| 9:42 | so listen then to what the parable of |
| 9:45 | the sower means Jesus gives us the |
| 9:47 | interpretation no guessing |
| 9:52 | guessing Okay and by the way this little |
| 9:54 | crib sheet that gives us the definition |
| 9:55 | uh the interpretation of The Parables |
| 9:58 | gives us the understanding of how then |
| 10:01 | to unpack the future Parables that we’ll |
| 10:03 | get to over the summer all right so here |
| 10:05 | we go listen then to what the parable of |
| 10:08 | the sower means when anyone hears the |
| 10:11 | message about the kingdom and does not |
| 10:13 | understand it the evil one comes and |
| 10:16 | snatches away what was sown in his heart |
| 10:18 | this is the seed sown along the path |
| 10:22 | which then begs the question |
| 10:25 | what is the message of the Kingdom |
| 10:27 | that Jesus wants us to hear |
| 10:30 | what is the message of the Kingdom |
| 10:32 | do you all remember the preaching of |
| 10:34 | John the Baptist what was his message |
| 10:37 | repent |
| 10:39 | for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand |
| 10:41 | now what was Jesus’s message after he’s |
| 10:43 | baptized and he’s had his little |
| 10:45 | encounter with the devil in the |
| 10:46 | wilderness |
| 10:47 | repent |
| 10:48 | for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand of |
| 10:51 | course the kingdom of heaven was at hand |
| 10:53 | the King was present right and so the |
| 10:56 | message of the kingdom is a message of |
| 10:58 | repentance repentance from sin turning |
| 11:02 | to God being forgiven this is the |
| 11:04 | message of the Kingdom Paul summarizes |
| 11:07 | the message this way in First |
| 11:09 | Corinthians chapter 15. here’s what he |
| 11:11 | says now Brothers I want to remind you |
| 11:13 | of the Gospel the good news that I |
| 11:15 | preached to you which you received and |
| 11:16 | on which you have taken your stand by |
| 11:20 | this good news you are saved if you hold |
| 11:23 | firmly to the word that I preached to |
| 11:25 | you otherwise you have believed in vain |
| 11:27 | for what I received I pass on to you as |
| 11:29 | a first importance that Christ died for |
| 11:33 | our sins according to the scriptures |
| 11:35 | that he was buried that he was raised on |
| 11:37 | the third day according to the |
| 11:38 | scriptures and that he appeared to Peter |
| 11:40 | and then to the twelve |
| 11:42 | that’s right |
| 11:43 | the message of the kingdom is that |
| 11:45 | Christ died for our sins a good summary |
| 11:49 | of this is found in the Nicene Creed you |
| 11:51 | want to know what the message of the |
| 11:53 | kingdom is well here’s its Anthem it’s |
| 11:55 | an old one I like old things I believe |
| 11:58 | in one God the Father the almighty the |
| 12:01 | maker of heaven and Earth and of all |
| 12:02 | things visible and invisible ah the |
| 12:04 | message of the Kingdom begins with the |
| 12:06 | pronouncement that we are created by God |
| 12:08 | right we’re not accidents we didn’t |
| 12:11 | evolve from monkeys |
| 12:13 | we are here because God made us |
| 12:17 | that’s right |
| 12:19 | and in one Lord Jesus Christ the only |
| 12:23 | begotten Son of God begotten of his |
| 12:25 | father before all worlds God of God |
| 12:28 | that’s who Jesus is he’s God of God |
| 12:30 | light of light very God of very God he’s |
| 12:32 | begotten not made being of what |
| 12:34 | substance with the father by whom all |
| 12:36 | things were made and here’s the fun part |
| 12:38 | who for us men |
| 12:40 | and for our salvation |
| 12:43 | that’s right |
| 12:44 | the message of the kingdom of God is the |
| 12:47 | good news that God became man for us and |
| 12:51 | for our Salvation in other words we find |
| 12:54 | ourselves in dire need of being saved |
| 12:58 | now the question is saved from what what |
| 13:01 | are we being saved from a bad hair day |
| 13:04 | are we being saved from Financial ruin |
| 13:07 | are we being saved from a toxic |
| 13:09 | relationship |
| 13:11 | what are we being saved from |
| 13:13 | the answer is the wrath of God |
| 13:17 | that’s what we’re being saved from and |
| 13:19 | you’re saying |
| 13:20 | but God is love you mean what do you |
| 13:22 | mean the the the wrath of God |
| 13:27 | the wrath of God against your sin |
| 13:31 | you were born dead and trespasses and |
| 13:33 | sins you were born a child of the devil |
| 13:37 | and weekly daily hour by hour minute by |
| 13:40 | minute you do not love God with your |
| 13:42 | whole heart you do not love your |
| 13:44 | neighbor as yourself |
| 13:46 | and what does this earn you |
| 13:49 | well God’s justice demands an eternity |
| 13:51 | and hell for this Rebellion |
| 13:54 | but |
| 13:56 | as the Nicene Creed correctly summarizes |
| 13:58 | scripture the only begotten Son of God |
| 14:01 | who for us men and for our Salvation he |
| 14:04 | came down from heaven he was incarnate |
| 14:07 | by the Holy Spirit of the Virgin Mary |
| 14:09 | and he was made man and he was crucified |
| 14:11 | also |
| 14:13 | for us under Pontius Pilate |
| 14:16 | he suffered he was buried and the third |
| 14:19 | day he rose again according to the |
| 14:20 | scriptures and ascended into heaven and |
| 14:22 | sits at the right hand of the father and |
| 14:24 | he will come again with glory to judge |
| 14:25 | both the living and the dead |
| 14:28 | so the message of the kingdom is all |
| 14:31 | about the King Jesus Son of David Son of |
| 14:35 | God born of the Virgin Mary who for us |
| 14:37 | men for our Salvation came down was |
| 14:40 | crucified for us |
| 14:43 | repent |
| 14:45 | and believe this good news |
| 14:47 | whereas Ephesians chapter 2 summarizes |
| 14:50 | it says this as for you you’re talking |
| 14:53 | to Christians you you were dead in your |
| 14:56 | trust transgressions and sins in which |
| 14:58 | you used to live when you followed the |
| 15:00 | ways of this world and the ruler of the |
| 15:02 | kingdom of the air the spirit who is now |
| 15:04 | at work and those who are disobedient |
| 15:05 | all of us lived among them at one time |
| 15:08 | gratifying the Cravings of our sinful |
| 15:10 | nature and following its desires and |
| 15:12 | thoughts and like the rest all of |
| 15:15 | mankind we were by nature objects of |
| 15:19 | Wrath |
| 15:21 | it doesn’t matter if you were born in |
| 15:23 | the in the United States of America |
| 15:25 | Canada the United Kingdom Papua New |
| 15:28 | Guinea it doesn’t matter each and every |
| 15:30 | one of us descendants of Adam and Eve |
| 15:32 | were born dead in transgressions and |
| 15:34 | sins and were by Nature |
| 15:38 | objects of God’s Wrath |
| 15:40 | but |
| 15:42 | but and here’s the fun part I always |
| 15:44 | like the word but okay remember this but |
| 15:47 | is one of these words that has this |
| 15:49 | funny little thing that it does it has a |
| 15:51 | tendency to erase the things that were |
| 15:53 | coming that came right before it right |
| 15:56 | we were by nature of objects of God’s |
| 15:58 | Wrath but oh good we can get rid of that |
| 16:01 | right how |
| 16:04 | here’s what it says but because of his |
| 16:06 | God’s great love for us God who is rich |
| 16:08 | in Mercy he has made us alive with |
| 16:11 | Christ and even when we were dead in |
| 16:13 | trans and transgressions It Is by Grace |
| 16:16 | you have been saved that’s right God is |
| 16:19 | merciful and he’s gracious even to |
| 16:21 | somebody as rotten as me as rotten as |
| 16:24 | you right an object of God’s Wrath and |
| 16:27 | God has raised us up with Christ and has |
| 16:29 | seated us with him in Heavenly Realms in |
| 16:31 | Christ Jesus in order that in the coming |
| 16:33 | ages he might show the incomparable |
| 16:36 | Riches of his grace expressed in his |
| 16:38 | kindness to us in Christ Jesus that’s |
| 16:41 | right Jesus is the ultimate expression |
| 16:43 | of God’s love and kindness for us |
| 16:45 | sinners for it is by Grace you have been |
| 16:47 | saved and it is through faith and it is |
| 16:48 | not from yourselves |
| 16:51 | it’s not from you this is the gift of |
| 16:53 | God it’s not by work so that no one can |
| 16:56 | boast |
| 17:00 | age of the Kingdom right |
| 17:02 | it’s the message and so here we are |
| 17:04 | we’re learning this Parable when the |
| 17:06 | message of the kingdom comes okay the |
| 17:09 | sower sows out this good seed the seed |
| 17:11 | of the Gospel the good news the |
| 17:13 | Forgiveness of sins one by Jesus God’s |
| 17:15 | love and mercy and some of this good |
| 17:18 | news Falls along a path |
| 17:21 | and the person says |
| 17:24 | I’m a good person |
| 17:26 | I don’t need a crucified and Risen |
| 17:27 | Savior I don’t like the idea of Blood on |
| 17:29 | the cross and and you’re saying that God |
| 17:32 | has wrath and um right |
| 17:38 | so the good news of the Kingdom falls on |
| 17:41 | the hard path it’s like cement right |
| 17:45 | and there it is |
| 17:48 | and Along Comes The Devil just like the |
| 17:50 | birds the gospel then becomes bird food |
| 17:53 | and the Satan takes that quick get that |
| 17:55 | gospel out of there right |
| 17:57 | because Satan knows if he doesn’t get |
| 17:59 | rid of that gospel you know even seed |
| 18:02 | has this weird way of growing in the |
| 18:05 | strangest places even in cement you see |
| 18:07 | it finds the cracks and finds the soil |
| 18:09 | and starts to take root Satan knows |
| 18:11 | that’s dangerous stuff why because Satan |
| 18:14 | doesn’t want you to believe and trust in |
| 18:17 | Jesus for the Forgiveness of your sins |
| 18:19 | his desire is for you to spend eternity |
| 18:22 | in hell with him in the Lake of Fire and |
| 18:25 | he knows that that gospel message that |
| 18:28 | good news if it takes root oh no |
| 18:32 | you might actually be brought to |
| 18:34 | penitent faith in Jesus for the |
| 18:36 | Forgiveness of your sins it comes and |
| 18:37 | takes it away right |
| 18:39 | so that’s one soil okay |
| 18:43 | next |
| 18:44 | the one who received the seed that fell |
| 18:47 | on Rocky places is a rock by the way you |
| 18:49 | Farmers out here are rocks good to have |
| 18:51 | in your field |
| 18:53 | no okay just checking I just want to |
| 18:55 | make sure you know I I’ve never farmed |
| 18:56 | okay I’m assuming it’s bad okay the one |
| 18:59 | who received the seed that fell on Rocky |
| 19:01 | places is the man who hears the word and |
| 19:03 | it once receives it with joy |
| 19:06 | but since he has no root he lasts only a |
| 19:09 | short time when trouble or persecution |
| 19:12 | comes because of the word he quickly |
| 19:13 | Falls away this is the person who well |
| 19:17 | for lack of a better way of putting it |
| 19:19 | is into emotionalism okay notice he |
| 19:22 | receives it with joy there’s an |
| 19:24 | emotional response |
| 19:26 | but see Jesus wants to do more in you |
| 19:29 | than just give you a happy feeling |
| 19:32 | a feeling of joy |
| 19:34 | the Christian Life is one of suffering |
| 19:36 | it’s difficult it’s hard and so the |
| 19:38 | Christian Life engages both heart and |
| 19:41 | mind the two work together and if you’re |
| 19:44 | chasing after the latest emotional |
| 19:46 | experience then what happens is that the |
| 19:49 | roots of the Gospel don’t go deep and |
| 19:51 | then when persecution arises somebody |
| 19:54 | says oh you’re one of those Christians |
| 19:55 | that means that you’re just a hater you |
| 19:58 | hate gay people and things like this |
| 20:00 | right okay and you say well that doesn’t |
| 20:02 | make you feel good and so what do you do |
| 20:04 | you Chuck the faith because it no longer |
| 20:07 | makes you feel happy |
| 20:09 | that’s what it means to not have any |
| 20:10 | root |
| 20:12 | okay |
| 20:13 | here’s the more thorny one if you would |
| 20:16 | pun intended |
| 20:17 | the one who received the seed that fell |
| 20:19 | among the Thorns or the weeds is the man |
| 20:21 | who hears the word but were the worries |
| 20:24 | of this life and the deceitfulness of |
| 20:26 | wealth choke it and make it unfruitful |
| 20:30 | now let’s get practical here |
| 20:32 | you all remember catechism you know |
| 20:35 | growing up remember you had to learn |
| 20:36 | Luther’s small catechism third |
| 20:38 | commandment |
| 20:39 | you shall sanctify the holy day right |
| 20:43 | what does this mean hair Luther writes |
| 20:46 | we should fear love and love God so that |
| 20:49 | we may not despise preaching in his word |
| 20:51 | but hold it sacred and gladly hear and |
| 20:55 | learn it Third Commandment right you all |
| 20:57 | remember this from being your catechism |
| 20:59 | class |
| 21:01 | question I have for you when you come to |
| 21:03 | come to church |
| 21:04 | do you begin looking at your watch six |
| 21:07 | minutes into the sermon |
| 21:09 | did you begin rolling your eyes at the |
| 21:11 | 12-minute Mark |
| 21:13 | at 15 minutes to begin seething because |
| 21:16 | you believe the preacher’s wasting your |
| 21:18 | time |
| 21:19 | repent |
| 21:21 | do you have eyes but do not see do you |
| 21:23 | have ears but do not hear what is more |
| 21:26 | important at this moment than for you to |
| 21:28 | hear and receive the word of God |
| 21:31 | the weeds and the cares of this world |
| 21:33 | are choking out the word and rather than |
| 21:36 | despise the weeds you are instead |
| 21:39 | cultivating them why would you do such a |
| 21:42 | thing don’t you know that the weeds are |
| 21:44 | going to be burned up on the day when |
| 21:46 | Jesus returns to judge the living and |
| 21:48 | the dead are you really so foolish that |
| 21:50 | you would despise the treasure that is |
| 21:52 | God’s word for a bunch of weeds |
| 21:56 | now let’s look at some of those weeds |
| 21:58 | for a second |
| 21:59 | some of you might be saying but but |
| 22:00 | preacher I’ve got important business to |
| 22:03 | tend to today |
| 22:06 | as you have pertaining to your business |
| 22:07 | and you cannot spare more than 15 |
| 22:09 | minutes on a Sunday to hear God’s word |
| 22:13 | sounds like you’ve made your business or |
| 22:15 | the pursuit of wealth into an idol |
| 22:18 | repent or you may burn along with your |
| 22:21 | riches by the way it’s not an accident |
| 22:22 | there’s only two times that Jesus talks |
| 22:24 | about wealthy people the wit the rich |
| 22:27 | man and also the guy who was a farmer |
| 22:30 | who was saying oh it’s been great I’m |
| 22:32 | going to sit here and look over the |
| 22:33 | blueprints of my new Silo my grain I’m |
| 22:36 | going to store all kinds of grain I’m |
| 22:37 | going to take it easy and that day his |
| 22:39 | life was demanded of him in both senses |
| 22:42 | the rich persons ended up in hell |
| 22:46 | it is easier for a camel to go through |
| 22:49 | the eye of a needle |
| 22:50 | than for a rich man to be pulled into |
| 22:52 | heaven right |
| 22:55 | so if your wealth your business your |
| 22:58 | farm whatever it is that you do for a |
| 23:00 | living is more important than actually |
| 23:02 | sitting and hearing Christ’s word |
| 23:05 | preached into your ears and the |
| 23:07 | Forgiveness of sins |
| 23:08 | you have an idol and that Idol cannot |
| 23:10 | save you it might actually damn you |
| 23:12 | repent |
| 23:15 | the preacher football season starts in a |
| 23:18 | couple of weeks and I’ve got to get home |
| 23:19 | so I can watch the game and catch the |
| 23:21 | highlights |
| 23:24 | um do you even hear what you’re saying |
| 23:27 | did the Minnesota Vikings die for your |
| 23:29 | sins |
| 23:31 | they’re not even that great of a |
| 23:32 | football team |
| 23:35 | sorry |
| 23:37 | that’s right |
| 23:39 | and you’ve made Jesus and his word less |
| 23:42 | of a priority than a mediocre football |
| 23:44 | team |
| 23:46 | plus they have this thing called a DVR |
| 23:51 | you could buy one of those for just a |
| 23:53 | few hundred bucks and then you can have |
| 23:55 | your football games recorded for you and |
| 23:58 | then when you get home you can actually |
| 23:59 | fast forward through the commercials and |
| 24:01 | stop wasting your time watching them |
| 24:03 | right repent |
| 24:06 | let me ask you this you who think |
| 24:08 | football is more important than the |
| 24:09 | hearing of God’s word do you not feel |
| 24:11 | the fires of Hell burning beneath your |
| 24:13 | lazy boy recliner |
| 24:17 | but preacher the election is coming up |
| 24:21 | and I have to get home and watch my |
| 24:23 | favorite News Channel so that I can know |
| 24:24 | the latest political news and strategies |
| 24:27 | and things that the enemy is up to |
| 24:30 | these are all weeds and they’re choking |
| 24:33 | out the word of God and making it |
| 24:34 | unfruitful in your life Jesus died for |
| 24:38 | you and he died to save you he did not |
| 24:41 | die to save the United States of America |
| 24:46 | the USA doesn’t need you to sit in front |
| 24:48 | of your TV watching CNN or Fox News four |
| 24:52 | five six hours a day the USA needs |
| 24:55 | Christians who will preach the good news |
| 24:57 | of the kingdom of God and call people to |
| 24:58 | repent and be forgiven by the shed blood |
| 25:00 | of Jesus Christ |
| 25:02 | your time is better spent in God’s word |
| 25:04 | preaching and teaching others and making |
| 25:06 | disciples than it is wasting your time |
| 25:08 | whether on the left News Channel or the |
| 25:11 | right News Channel doing this and |
| 25:13 | constantly be fearing about the latest |
| 25:14 | scheme that the government is up to take |
| 25:16 | advantage of you |
| 25:18 | turn it off open up your Bible preach |
| 25:21 | the word Christ died for you he did not |
| 25:23 | die for the United States of America |
| 25:25 | there will be a time when this country |
| 25:27 | will not exist there will be a different |
| 25:29 | government in place |
| 25:32 | are your roots deep enough |
| 25:36 | that they could handle |
| 25:38 | that kind of switch |
| 25:40 | right |
| 25:42 | repent |
| 25:44 | and now the last one |
| 25:46 | the one who received the seed that fell |
| 25:48 | on good soil is the man who hears the |
| 25:50 | word and he understands it he produces a |
| 25:52 | crop yielding 160 or 30 times what is |
| 25:55 | sown let me ask another question the |
| 25:57 | farmer’s here |
| 25:58 | do any of you have any self-plowing |
| 26:01 | fields |
| 26:04 | any have they invented the self-plowing |
| 26:06 | field yet |
| 26:08 | okay good I didn’t think so I was a |
| 26:10 | little bit worried that maybe some weird |
| 26:12 | guy has come up with a self-plowing |
| 26:13 | field here’s the good news |
| 26:17 | each and every one of us me included in |
| 26:18 | hearing these list of things about weeds |
| 26:21 | and rocks and stuff like that realize |
| 26:23 | there’s weeds and rocks within the soil |
| 26:25 | of our own hearts |
| 26:26 | but we are not called to plow up our own |
| 26:29 | Fields Jesus is the one who plows up |
| 26:31 | those fields he is the one who overturns |
| 26:34 | the soil and he’s the one who removes |
| 26:36 | the weeds he’s the one who removes those |
| 26:38 | rocks so that his word can bear a |
| 26:41 | harvest |
| 26:42 | right and he does it through the |
| 26:44 | preaching of his word |
| 26:45 | so if you heard anything that stepped on |
| 26:49 | your toes today |
| 26:51 | if you heard that you need to repent of |
| 26:54 | something today and you realize that |
| 26:55 | there’s rocks and weeds right |
| 26:58 | the good news is this you’re crucified |
| 27:00 | and raised and savior knows this |
| 27:02 | pray to him and ask him |
| 27:05 | to mercifully remove those rocks and |
| 27:08 | weeds and hard places in your own life |
| 27:11 | so that his word can bear fruit you do |
| 27:13 | not want to be one of those who hears |
| 27:16 | but doesn’t understand sees but doesn’t |
| 27:19 | perceive right and the good news is that |
| 27:22 | you’re crucified and Risen Savior is so |
| 27:25 | hard in the phrase hell-bent on saving |
| 27:28 | you |
| 27:29 | that he went to the Cross to die for |
| 27:31 | your sins |
| 27:32 | and he desires to save you and he does |
| 27:35 | not want to burn you up with the weeds |
| 27:37 | he suffered the burning wrath of God on |
| 27:40 | the cross in your place and so even now |
| 27:43 | he he will answer that prayer |
| 27:47 | that says oh Lord |
| 27:49 | I fear that I |
| 27:51 | may be seeing but not perceiving hearing |
| 27:53 | but not understanding oh Lord till up |
| 27:56 | the soil of my heart |
| 27:58 | set me free from sin and make it so that |
| 28:01 | your word your gospel bears fruit in my |
| 28:03 | life he answers that prayer and he will |
| 28:05 | do so |
| 28:06 | let’s pray |
| 28:08 | blessed Lord since you have caused all |
| 28:10 | Holy scripture to be written for our |
| 28:11 | learning |
| 28:12 | grant that we may so hear them read Mark |
| 28:16 | learn and inwardly digest them that we |
| 28:19 | may Embrace and ever hold fast to the |
| 28:21 | Blessed hope of everlasting life through |
| 28:23 | Jesus Christ your son our Lord who lives |
| 28:25 | and reigns with you in the Holy Spirit |
| 28:26 | one God now and forever |
| 28:30 | amen |
| If you would like to support the teaching ministry of Kongsvinger Lutheran Church, you can do so by sending a tax-free donation to: Kongsvinger Lutheran Church 15950 470th Ave NW, Oslo, MN 56744 We thank you for your support. All of our teaching messages may be freely distributed as long as you do not edit or change the content of the message, and, again, thank you for listening. |
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