Thought for the Day

The reign of Christ is hidden under the cross. - Martin Luther

Pastoral Installation Sermon on Good Shepherd Sunday

Acts 20:17-35       A Shepherd’s Call       21 April 2013

Rev. John Shank installation as Senior Pastor, Trinity, Edwardsville, IL

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.  It is most fitting to hold a pastoral installation on this Sunday of the Church Year known as Good Shepherd Sunday.  The common name for ministers among Lutherans is “pastor,” which is the Latin for shepherd.  Pastors point people to the One Shepherd who alone is called “good,” Jesus Christ. The text we shall consider is from the first reading. Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which He obtained with His own blood (Acts 20:28).

Paul was returning to Jerusalem when he passed through Miletus for the final time.  The apostle met there with the pastors from Ephesus.  He reminds them of his own ministry among them. The apostle had patiently instructed them in the “whole counsel of God” in fulfillment of the Great Commission.  Jesus calls pastors to deliver what He entrusts to them.  Pastors baptize into the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  They teach all things that Jesus taught and that which has been recorded for our instruction. Little has changed in the two millennia following.  Pastoral ministry is simply taking what we have received from the Lord Jesus Christ and literally handing it over to the people they are called to serve (1 Cor 11:23.  Pastors speak the Word of Holy Scripture and the sheep learn the voice of the Good Shepherd.

This is more difficult than it seems as Paul testifies. He is comforted with the knowledge that he did not shrink from this responsibility.  He withstood the plots of the Jews opposed to Jesus (v. 19).  The apostle taught in public and from house to house to both Jews and Greeks.  His message is summarized beautifully: repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ (v. 21). This message is the timeless golden cord that runs through Holy Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions. During the rite of installation we will review again what the Bible says concerning the institution of the Office of the Holy Ministry, as well as its responsibilities, strengths and promises.  Listen attentively to what is read.  These are the expectations God places upon pastors.  They form the standard for ministry in The Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod.

What makes ministry difficult is when the expectations of a congregation and its members differ from what the Lord requires of His pastors who shepherd the church of God, which He obtained with His own blood. If a congregation asks the pastor to preach, teach or do something that is not in accord with the Scriptures an immediate conflict arises.  Is the pastor to do what the congregation wants, even if it violates Holy Scripture?  Since he cannot please everyone, does he make the perceived majority happy? How does he discharge the duties of the Holy Ministry as God directs?  Should the church favor the best givers or the ones who can trace their congregational ancestry back generations?  Holy Scripture commands us to show no partiality. Paul instructs pastors when he says: Keep a close watch on yourself and on your teaching. Persist in this, for in so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers (1 Timothy 4:16).

Paul says to the Ephesian pastors: Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which He obtained with His own blood (Acts 20:28). The church does not belong to the pastor nor is it the possession of the congregation in whole or in part.  The Lord Jesus purchased you to be His own through the shedding of His blood on the cross.  He is the Head of His body, the Church.  Pastors are stewards of the mysteries of God (1 Cor 4:1-2).  They do not own or control them according to their own whims and desires.  The Lord expects His servants to be faithful in the fulfilling of their ministry.  The Lord does not authorize pastors to subtract from or add to the Holy Scriptures.  These are the Lord’s Words that He wants proclaimed, taught and believed.  When the pastor speaks God’s Word to you, it is the Lord who is speaking to your through Him.  You are to receive him as you would receive the Lord Jesus Christ if He was here visibly before you.

Likewise the church is the Body of Christ in this place.  Pastors are to care for Christ’s people in the manner befitting a faithful shepherd. The focus is on Jesus. It is Jesus who is “all in” for you in His incarnation, death, resurrection, ascension and coming return.  Jesus is not an absentee owner.  While the fullness of His divine glory is hid from human eyes until it is revealed on the Last Day; He is here in water, word, bread and wine.  Jesus remains among His own as the One who serves. Christians do well to treat each other with love, honor and respect. The Bible says that believers should be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy to all people (Titus 3:1-2).

The sad reality is that no pastor or layman does these things perfectly.  Pastors and laity share a sinful human flesh.  This flesh is well practiced in the art of sinning.  That comes naturally. We cannot help but sin as even our best intentions are tainted with our own self-interest. We have a God who specializes in sinners.  Jesus died for every one of our sins, trespasses and transgressions.  He forgives them all.  In Holy Baptism you are joined to His death and resurrection.  The Lord calls you by name and you are His.  He feeds you through the hearing of His Word and shortly in receiving our Lord’s body and blood through which He has purchased you to be His own.  In the pew, at the font and at the rail we are beggars still whom God richly cleanses and feeds.

Paul’s ministry with the Ephesians was coming to an end as he gave them final instructions and warned them of what would happen when he left.  False teachers would arise from their number and seek to lead others away.  Pastor Shank your ministry begins anew today as Senior Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church.  The challenges you face are shared by your brothers throughout our district and Synod.  Remain alert for the various wolves who would attempt to steal the sheep of God’s flock here at Trinity.

The Lord has blessed you with a beautiful family.  Do not neglect them for the sake of the Holy Ministry.  They are also God’s gifts to you. Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which He obtained with His own blood (Acts 20:28). Remember that you are God’s man to care for His flock here at Trinity. These are the Lord’s people, purchased with His own blood.  They have prayed for wisdom, guidance and direction as they called you to be their pastor. The Holy Spirit has guided you to say yes to this call. May the Lord grant you a long and blessed tenure together!  Amen.

The Living One

The Living One  

Revelation 1:4-18

Southern Illinois District Pastoral Conference, Wartburg, IL

In the name of Jesus Christ, the first and the last and the Living One who died and is alive forever.  He holds the keys of death and Hades in His hand, Amen.  Of all the disciples, one can argue that John was closest to Jesus.  He is known as “the beloved disciple.” John was next to Jesus in the Upper Room. Jesus commended the care and keeping of Mary into John’s hands as the cross.  Among the men John was the first to reach the tomb. His piety prevented him from entering. Peter ran up and went straight inside.  John was present Easter evening and again the following week as The Living One appeared to Thomas.  John was among the brothers as Jesus ascended into heaven.  Yet nothing in John’s experience prepared him for what he saw in the Revelation of Jesus Christ that forms today’s text.

Two rangers were on foot patrolling their campground around 3:00 am.  One was a Christian, the other an agnostic.  Suddenly night turned into day as a bright light burst from the heavens.  Both men fell to their knees in the dew drenched grass.  Looking up to they saw the bright tracing of a meteor that had entered the atmosphere and burned up.  The Christian said to the other, “I know why I was on my knees. What about you?”  He had no answer. The return of Jesus will have an even greater impact.  Every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him.  All tribes of the earth will wail on account of Him.  Every knee will bow to Jesus and confess that He is Lord to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:9).

Jesus is alive.  The crucified one is risen from the dead.  He holds the keys of death and Hades in His hands.  The believer’s momentary fear will give way to everlasting joy as your redemption draws near.  Those who rejected Christ will see with their own eyes what they rejected.  Jesus is alive.  He is returning to judge the living and the dead. The whole world is accountable to God (Romans 3:19-20). No excuses, no alibi’s, no good intentions count.  Either one believes in his heart and confesses with His mouth that Jesus is Lord or will face the eternal consequences for their rejection of Christ.

Permeating this text is an implicit fear of God.  This fear, expressed so well in Luther’s explanation of each commandment, is missing from the Public Square and pop spirituality. Some see God as their personal spiritual trainer. He is there to help you work out your salvation and improve on character shortcomings.  Some women see Jesus as a lover and the understanding man their husband can never be. Increasingly “the nones” have no use for any caricature of God.  What about you?  Do you fear God more than men? Are you more concerned with keeping your congregation happy than calling them to repentance and faith?  Do you keep quiet about controversial issues hoping they will go dormant? Do you fear people more than God?  Repent!

Jesus says. “Do not fear those who can destroy the body but cannot kill the soul.  Rather fear Him who can destroy both soul and body in hell…So everyone who acknowledges Me before men, I also will acknowledge before My Father in heaven, but whoever denies Me before men, I also will deny before My Father in heaven” (Matthew 10:28, 32-33). Jesus is the Living One.  He died and is now alive forever.  He holds the keys of death and Hades.

The apostle John did not recognize Jesus. Christ is the Pantocrator in His divine glory.  Still, like the Son of Man because of the incarnation.  Jesus is in the midst of His church.  He is the High Priest who intercedes for His people. Eyes with fire enable Him to discern the thoughts and intentions of every heart. He stands with His burnished bronze feet victorious over all the earth.  He speaks with the authority of God Himself. His Words kill and make alive.  He emanates light brighter than the sun.  Like the two rangers who fell on their knees, John falls prostrate before Jesus.  The beloved disciple knows He has no right to stand in the presence of the glorified Christ. Neither do we if He appeared to us with the unveiled majesty that is rightly His.

Jesus approaches John and laid His right hand upon John’s shoulder.  Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one.  I died and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades (Revelation 1:17-18).  The right hand of Jesus’ power and authority is entrusted to the Church.  Jesus continues to walk among us.  He graciously veils His divine glory that we may enter His presence with joy and thanksgiving.  He is here cradled in the Scriptures instructing us in all things and calling you to make disciples by baptizing and teaching them everything Jesus has revealed.  Jesus is here.  His body hidden in bread; His blood conveyed in wine. He enters our bodies in the eating and drinking of this most sacred meal.  Jesus is here forgiving you of all your sins.  He is here to strengthen you for the living of these days.  The Living One invites you anew to His feast service to your neighbor. Jesus had the first word at creation and will have the final one on the Last Day.

We are entering uncertain times for the Church within the United States. Persecution is underway.  The extent of which is unknown.  In many ways ministry will be fulfilled in an age increasingly hostile to you and the Savior that you proclaim.  We are not unique or alone.  Consider how John identifies himself as the author of Revelation.  He is your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus (Revelation 1:9).  He writes from Patmos where he had been exiled because of Jesus.

The Revelation of Jesus Christ is a book of immense comfort for Christians in an hostile age.  No matter what happens, Jesus wins.  His people prevail and we will be with Him forever.  Knowing how everything ends makes it easier to face today.  The Lord Jesus joined you into His death and resurrection in your baptism.  Your true life is now hidden with God in Christ. The Lord Jesus will transform your lowly body to be like His glorious body by the power that enables Him to subdue all things to Himself.  What is there to fear? Jesus, the Living One remains in the midst of His golden lampstands, the Church.  He is coming back.  Everyone will see Him.  When these things take place stand erect and look up for Jesus, your redemption draws near, Amen.