Sinner and Saint

Rev. Adam A. Dietrich Retirement Sermon

Retirement of Rev. Adam A. Dietrich

Numbers 6:22-27        1 Peter 1:13-25            Matthew 28:16-20

“Through the Church the Song Goes On”

 

Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior          Jesus Christ. Amen.

 

            What a joy and privilege it is to be here this afternoon as we gather in thanksgiving for Rev. Adam A. Dietrich as he sets forth into retirement…again. On that note…have no fear…for a Pastor is never really retired and Pastor Dietrich will now become my exclusive and personal fill-in. Thanks Dad!

            For nearly 49 years, 35 Of them here at Immanuel, Hodgkins, Pastor Dietrich faithfully served his Lord as a Pastor. Here at Immanuel alone Pastor Dietrich had the privilege of bringing 160 into faith in Christ through the waters of Holy Baptism, confirming 110 as they made their good confession of the faith given them in baptism, marrying 59, and burying 77 of God’s children who were called home to heaven.

            What many of you may be thinking is that those are certainly impressive numbers…especially considering the size of Immanuel. But to Pastor Dietrich… “numbers” are of little value. Truly for a Pastor baptizing, confirming, marrying, and burying are more than just numbers. They point to the struggles, the sadness, and the joy a Pastor has. What you as members probably don’t realize is how all of the events of your lives…all of your struggles…your sadness…and your joys… are also his. Growing up as a Pastor’s child…I never fully realized how true that is until I became a Pastor. Now I know how much my Dad loved each of you, how much he loved me, and how much he loves his Lord.

            The only word that comes to mind is Thank You. Thank You Pastor Dietrich. Thank You Dad. But as we say thank you…we need to realize what we are giving thanks for. Who can tell me what all of the lessons chosen for this service have in common? Really there are a number of correct answers. The one I’m looking for is that they are all things you have heard Pastor Dietrich speak in this place.

            We have seen and heard Pastor as he holds a baby in his arm pouring water over the baby’s head and saying “I baptize you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.” (Matthew 28:19) We have even seen and heard him do this with older children and many adults. You have brought your children to receive instruction and to confirm their baptismal faith. We don’t just baptize but follow our Lord’s Word: “teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:20a)

            We have heard Pastor Dietrich preach God’s Word imploring us to repent…to have a change in heart…and turn from our sinfulness to Christ. We have heard the proclamation of law… that we are poor miserable sinners in need of a Savior. We have heard the joyous news of Grace… that our sins are forgiven in Christ Jesus who bore our iniquity on the cross and was raised by God the Father that we as forgiven people inherit life everlasting in heaven. “And this is the word that was preached to you.” (1 Peter 1:25b)

            We have also heard at the end of many a worship service in this church “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord look upon you with favor and give you peace.” (Numbers 6:24-26)

            The real reason we say “Thank You” to Pastor Dietrich isn’t because he did what we wanted him to do…it isn’t that he acted in a way we approved of… it isn’t because he said things we wanted to hear…it is because Pastor Dietrich was faithful to God and His Word. So as a fellow Pastor, as a former parishioner, as a son… Thank You. Thank You for baptizing me and raising me to know God’s Word. Thank You for calling me to repentance when I sin and then proclaiming the wonderful  words “I forgive your sins in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.” Thank You for never straying from God’s Word…for teaching the pure doctrine and administering the Sacraments correctly. Thank You for being the example of a loving and faithful Father, Husband and Pastor that God called you to be.

            Before we get too carried away. Before Dad’s head gets too big from all these compliments (just kidding). Let us remember who deserves all the thanks. God. For you were baptized into the name of the Triune God, you were forgiven your sins by Christ himself, You received the body and blood of Christ for forgiveness and strength, you were blessed by God. Pastor Dietrich was faithful because God was faithful. Pastor Dietrich was baptized just like you. He was confirmed just like you. He was married in God’s House. He received forgiveness of his sins from a faithful Pastor just like you. All of these things go on because God is faithful. He is faithful to the promise He makes in Baptism. He is faithful in sending workers into the harvest field. He is faithful in the promise that “surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20b)

            And so we give thanks to God for His faithfulness to us. As Pastor Dietrich retires things will stay the same and things will change. There are many of you that are not ready to see Pastor retire. There are many of you that wonder what will happen in the future. There are many of you that have doubts this day. But what you need to remember is that God is faithful.

            Hear again the words you sang earlier. “Lo, the apostles’ holy train. Join Thy sacred name to hallow; Prophets swell the glad refrain, And the white-robed martyrs follow, And from morn to set of sun Through the Church the song goes on.” (Holy God, We Praise Your Name LSB 940)

            My brothers and sisters in Christ “Through the Church the song goes on.” That “Song” is the Good News of Salvation. That “Song” is the wonderful message of sins forgiven. The “Song” is the Gospel…the “Song” is about Christ. The “Song” is God’s Word and it will go on because God is faithful. The “Song” will go on because this is God’s Church and the gates of Hell will never overcome it. Amen.

 

Now may the peace of God which passes all human understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior. Amen.

Sheep or Goat

2^nd Last Sunday of the Church Year, 2011

Matthew 25:31-46

“Sheep or Goat”

 

Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

 

 

            Are you a sheep or are you a goat? Throughout the history of the world there have been people that could be described as a sheep or as a goat. The question is what distinguishes the two from each other. Let’s take a look at Scripture for guidance.

            “Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the LORD. But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.” (Genesis 4:2b-5)

            It certainly looks like Able is the sheep and Cain is the goat. But is that fair? That is the question that our Tuesday Bible Class had when going through this text. It just doesn’t seem fair. Why would God look with favor on Abel and not Cain? Even though the sacrifices were different, one being grain and the other the fat of an animal, they were both of equal value. Both Cain and Able had to work hard to produce and raise them. Really…it doesn’t seem fair does it. This is the kind of reaction that those being called goats in our Gospel probably had. Listen:

            “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

             “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

             “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

              “The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’

             “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’

             “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’

             “He will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’” (Matthew 25:31-46)

             The first thought that many have when reading this text is that the sheep and the goats are judged upon their good works. It would seem that the sheep are sheep because they did good. “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.” (Matthew 25:35-36)

             It also would seem that the goats are goats because they failed to do good things. “For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.” (Matthew 25:42-43)

             Even though it seems that some do good things and some do not…they respond the same. When did we see you hungry? When did we see you thirsty? When did we see a stranger? When did we see you naked? When did we know that you were in prison? When you notice that part of the text…it seems that… God isn’t being fair…just like it didn’t seem that He was fair to Cain.

             The truth is that good works do play a role in the Final Judgment according to our Gospel text. But look at what our text is really saying. The King, God, calls the sheep “righteous” and the goats are called “cursed.” Good works are vital in the Final Judgment not as the cause of our salvation, but as the evidence of a living faith.  The sheep were not sheep because of their works. The sheep are sheep because of faith…faith that produces good works. Good works are therefore evidence of a living faith!

             The sheep are sheep by faith and the goats are goats because they reject the faith. This is also the reason why God judged the sacrifices of Cain and Able differently. Able had faith in God while Cain did not. Able’s sacrifice was given out of faith while Cain’s was not. The difference between Can and Able…between the Sheep and the Goats is Faith. Faith, like a good tree, produces good fruit…good works.

             My dear brothers and sisters in Christ…as sheep remember…God never requires more than what he gives. This is grace: that God gives us all that we need even though we don’t deserve it or do anything for it. God requires faith for salvation and gives us that faith in our Baptism and strengthens it with Jesus’ very body and blood. God requires works and gives us the faith that produces these good works. God requires perfection and gives us His Son…who lived and died…so that we might be made perfect through Him. God grant you the opportunities for your faith to be active in serving others and thus serving Him. Amen.

 

Now may the peace of God which passes all human understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior. Amen.

Whose Child are You?

All Saints Day, 2011

1 John 3:1-3

“Whose Child are You?”

 

Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

 

 

             They say that if you really want to know what a preacher is all about, or what is at the heart and center of his teaching, or if you really want to know what a church believes, teaches, and confesses, attend a funeral service at that church. Watch what happens at that funeral. Look at what the pastor does and listen to what he says. What hope is given, and on what basis? What doubts are alleviated? What does it all mean—life and death? What joy is expressed in Christ Jesus in the midst of the sorrow of the loss of a loved one? Are the bereaved family members left uncertain about the eternal destiny of their loved one—or worried if he or she did enough to earn heaven—or are they comforted by the Gospel? Are they directed to the good life, the good deeds, of the deceased or are they directed to the work of Christ? These are the kinds of things for which you’ll find a variety of answers, depending on what the preacher really believes deep down, or what a church really believes, teaches, and confesses.

             These kinds of questions are also relevant for us today as we observe All Saints’ Day. It’s a time of year when we think about those faithful departed who have gone on before us to be with Jesus. Since the third century, Christians have gathered together on a special day to remember and give thanks to God for those who’ve won the victory by faith and have gone on to rest from their labors in paradise; in heaven. But as we think about those saints who are now in heaven, we should also remember that the issues of life, death and salvation are relevant for us right here and now too.

             Where is your hope? Like many of you I have been to funerals at many different churches of many different denominations. It is unfortunate and sad that at many funerals I have come away thinking to myself “where is the hope?”

             One of the main issues goes back to the great Reformation and the Biblical teaching of Grace alone. The way we see things is to say “an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.” We think in terms of revenge or getting even…or in terms of justice being served. We believe that people should pay for their wrongdoing and that the punishment should fit the crime.

             All people are sinful and we all find a way to get locked into the vicious cycle of sin. When we do something wrong and realize it…we think we have to make up for our sins…we have to do something to pay for what we’ve done. But the more we struggle and depend on ourselves…the more deeply we find ourselves mired, sinking even more deeply. It’s like watching an Indiana Jones movie where Indy gets himself stuck in quicksand. The more Indy struggles to free himself from the quicksand…the deeper he sinks. That’s us when it comes to sin.

             But Grace isn’t about what we do. Grace isn’t about our actions. Grace is about God and what He does. The truth is that God the Father’s love for us is beyond human imagination. Listen again to the opening words of our lesson: “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” (1 John 3:1) That love is hard to understand because we aren’t able to love like God. How can God love us when we reject Him, when we break His commandments, when we worship ourselves or our wants, when we do such evil and wicked things to one another or towards God?

             The world doesn’t understand Christianity. Often Christians are called “hypocrites” because we call ourselves “children of God” while sin is still evident in our lives. The world cannot understand how God can call us His children. This world doesn’t get us…and it doesn’t get God. “The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.” (1 John 3:1b) When you don’t know God…you cannot understand His love…love that is so marvelous that “while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8) That is a God whose love for us is beyond comprehension.

             The bottom line is that God is the one who provides all things including “grace through faith” and a hope in things eternal that is sure and confident. Hope is a funny little word for us because we use it to mean something more akin to wishful thinking. We might say… “we hope mom brings pizza home for dinner” or “I hope the Cubs win the World Series next year.” Sometimes we lose sight of God’s promises and our “hope” turns to hopelessness.

             “Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. 3 Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure.” (1 John 3:2-3)

             Hope in Scripture isn’t merely the power of “positive” or “wishful” thinking, but is really a spiritual gift, because it is based on something outside of us. God gives us true hope. Hope is ours because God has called us His children.  Hope is ours because we are not just called to be God’s children but have been made God’s children through Christ. Scriptural hope, therefore, is waiting for something with certainty!

             Our hope is certain for our hope is centered and built on Christ. Of this we are certain: Christ has died and is risen! We can boldly proclaim that all who have died in the faith are in heaven. There is no doubt…for they have been baptized into Christ Jesus and made children of God. “Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.” (Romans 6:3-4)

             So on this All Saints’ Day, we have the answer to life’s—and death’s—bottom-line issues: seeing God for who he really is. We see him as a loving God, whose love is incompressible to those who don’t know him. He is a God who gives us hope. Not just a wishful thinking kind of hope, and not a hope in some utopian fantasy, but hope in the sense of an eager expectation that’s ours because we know we’re called and indeed are God’s children for we have been baptized [just like Luke Michael Stoll this morning] into Christ Jesus. Amen.

 

Now may the peace of God which passes all human understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior. Amen.