Thy Kingdom Come!

The Second Petition.

Thy kingdom come.

What does this mean?--Answer.
The kingdom of God comes indeed without our prayer, of itself; but we pray in this petition that it may come unto us also.
How is this done?--Answer.
When our heavenly Father gives us His Holy Spirit, so that by His grace we believe His holy Word and lead a godly life here in time and yonder in eternity.

(http://bookofconcord.org/smallcatechism.php)

By faith alone! The kingdom of God has come and we, by faith, in our Lord, Jesus the Christ, are residents of that kingdom.

Yes, we live in this world; but, all who believe also live in the kingdom and under the gracious rule of God our Father, the Lord Jesus the Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit.

The heavenly kingdom is not just for a time after physical death. When that temple curtain was ripped in half at the time of Jesus' death; the doors to the kingdom were flung wide open. The kingdom comes by the work of our Lord. May God help us to receive live in His kingdom; life in His presence; beginning today and for all time.

God's Peace - Pr. J

John 4:27-42 Come and See

John 4:27-42 NIV
So what did this "woman" at the well do in response to Jesus knowing all about her and still inviting her to drink of the water of life?  She went and told. She told them to come and see for themselves.

So when was the last time you told anyone to "come and see?" When was the last time you invited anyone to come and hear for yourself; come and drink from the water of life; come and meet the Savior of the world? It's about time, isn't it?

God's Peace - Pr. J

Luke 17:20-37 - Kingdom In Your Midst

Luke 17:20-37 NIV
Luke 17:20-21 was one of those "aha" moments for me. I first encountered it about 30 plus years ago.

"Once, on being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, “The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed, nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is in your midst.”

These two little verses changed my whole way of thinking about what the Kingdom of God is and when we actually enter into the Kingdom. This Kingdom is not a place far away. Through Jesus Christ, it has entered into this world. All who believe live in that Kingdom even now.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Mark 10:13-16 Let The Children Come

Mark 10:13-16

One of the practices that I have seen in many smaller congregations here in the Midwest is the practice of having a children's sermon at the beginning of the service and then "dismissing" them so that they can go to Sunday School. It is not too much different here at Zion. It is not a great practice; but, it happens. There are practical reasons that congregations do this. One reason being that we are located so remotely that if the Sunday School were at a separate time from Worship parents wouldn't know what to do with themselves while the children are in class (of course they wouldn't attend a Bible study; that's a silly thought you're thinking!) and in most cases the children would never be at worship if Sunday School were before or after worship. So, what we have opted to do for many years is start Sunday School classes 15 minutes before worship. They hear and discuss stories from the Bible during this time and so are hearing the Word through their teachers. Following my sermon, the children join us; actually, they join me at the altar rail, where they kneel. I do not do a children's sermon; rather, we talk for a few minutes about what they learned in Sunday School. They are not always too excited about answering questions; especially when they didn't pay attention. But, here comes the parts that they love being included in. They lead the appointed Creed with me (yes, most of them know it by heart at a very early age) and then they pray the prayers of the church. Each child (that can read) prays a petition or two. They then go out and share the peace of the LORD with the rest of the congregation prior to two of them receiving and bring the offering forward. And... now comes the main reason that we have the children coming up after the sermon instead of for a few minutes at the beginning of worship. It never made sense to me to begin communing children so young and then sending them to Sunday School during worship so that they don't receive the Lord's Supper again until Christmas Eve, Easter morning or when they are too old for the Sunday School classes we have to offer. The children come forward; some with their friends; some with their teacher; some with their parents for Holy Communion. They need to be able to come and receive the Sacrament. They need to be fed. Children who are not yet receiving the Sacrament (as well as adults who for whatever reason do not) come to the Table, as well. They come for the laying on of hands and a blessing.

A couple of years ago, we tried integrating the Sunday School youth even more into worship and it is working. On the last Sunday of every month, Sunday School is held at Worship (not in the basement classrooms). No, they don't have a lesson like they would normally. They are learning how to worship. They help lead worship. They read the lessons for the Sunday and they pray all of the prayers: Prayer of the Day, Prayers of the Church, Offering Prayer; they lead the Creed, and they collect the offering. Sometimes, they provide special music. On these last Sundays of the month, they all come to the Lord's Table first as a group. We are small and they are small so they all usually fit. Together, they receive the Lord in His Supper. Together, they receive His blessing.

This mixing of Sunday School and Worship is not an ideal situation; but, we have attempted to ensure that they feel fully included when they do come. One of my pet peeves over the years at more than a few congregations was the habit of including our youth in the life of the congregation is to have them rake the church yard. This is not what I nor what most children would consider welcoming. Let them come. Let them be blessed. Let them be a blessing to us all. They are gifted and most of all: They love Jesus.

Let the little children come and may God help us all to learn how better to include them in the life of the whole congregation.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Ezekiel 47-48 - Now God's People

“You are to distribute this land among yourselves according to the tribes of Israel. You are to allot it as an inheritance for yourselves and for the foreigners residing among you and who have children. You are to consider them as native-born Israelites; along with you they are to be allotted an inheritance among the tribes of Israel." (Ezekiel 47:21-22 NIV)

We have come to the final vision in Ezekiel. He is given a vision of the restored Jerusalem. In that restored Jerusalem, the land is allotted not only to the Israelites, but to all the foreigners who reside among them who have children. They are to be considered Israelites.

The Book of Ezekiel ends in much the same was as the Book of Revelation in the New Testament. John, too, had a revelation of a new Jerusalem. In both, there is a tree-lined river. In Revelation it is for the healing of the nations. That is, for many people of different nations. In both Ezekiel and Revelation, those people who were not God's people, are welcomed among God's people.

As God desires that we live in harmony with one another, may His Kingdom come, His will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Jeremiah 36 - Proclaim God's Word

One way or another, the people will hear the word of the LORD. They didn't listen to Jeremiah. He was restricted from the temple because of his preaching. Now, he has Baruch write down his sermons and bring them to the temple to read. Baruch is questioned. Are these not Jeremiah's sermons? Baruch is advised that he and Jeremiah ought to get out of town and hide as this will be reported to the king. It surely was. The king burns the scroll containing the word of the LORD and puts out a warrant for Baruch and Jeremiah. But, even as the LORD has hidden them, Jeremiah and Baruch write yet another scroll with the word of the LORD on it so that all may hear and turn to God.

In Matthew 24:10-14 Jesus tells his followers: "At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come."

Whatever it takes... speak it; write it; send it in letters; post in on the lamp post; or even the door to the church; Facebook it; tweet it; but, get the word out. Proclaim the gospel of the kingdom as a testimony to the whole world, to all people. Just as in Jeremiah's day, you may well be persecuted for speaking the truth. You may end up in hiding for awhile. Luther did. There are faithful children of God in this world, even today, who are even put to death for the proclamation of the Good News. Kings really don't like having another kingdom proclaimed. Whatever it takes, proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God for all who believe, through Jesus Christ, our LORD.

Jeremiah attempted to get the word out by use of the law; but, we have a message that is not one of impending doom. It is a message of grace. "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16) That is, eternal life in the Kingdom of God where we live completely, totally, in His presence.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Psalm 79 - Thy Kingdom Come This New Year

O God, the nations have indeed invaded your inheritance! (Psalm 79:1)

And.. not just the nations, but, we, we who are His children, have defiled the temple of God.  We, have neglected the worship and praise due to One who loves us so dearly. We wait for a miracle or two or three and then we will believe, truly believe and trust in the LORD. We, who are His people, have turned our backs on Him and share in the sins of past generations. He will not hold against us our ancestor's sins.  However, sadly, we have inherited their sins.  We have learned them. We have repeated them and, yet, we say, we have no sin.

It is the eve of a new year.  Repent, turn to the LORD, live life more fully in His kingdom.  Make this year a sweeter one.  Make this world a more joyful and peaceful one.  Even as we trust that He answers our prayer: "Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven."

Turn back and rejoice in the LORD now.  Begin a new thing, something that has been lost for a few generations:  Praise the LORD now, even before you can see with your eyes the blessings that the LORD has given you, has given us.  Praise the LORD, all you children of God.  Praise Him and give Him thanks for those things which, through faith, you have received.

God's blessings on your new year. And... may the peace of God be extended through you to all people.

Pr. J.