Concordia Sermons

Christmas is meant to be a happy time of year! Yet, for many, it is stressful and sad. How do we endure the downs of this season? The preacher of Hebrews gives us the answer: by fixing our eyes on the reason for the season.

Daniel is persecuted by people who are jealous of him. They purposely set him up so that he will have to compromise his faith or risk being killed in a den of lions. Daniel does not compromise in his faith. As we watch instances of persecution around our world, how will we witness to our faith – no matter what?

King Belshazzar has taken holy things plundered from the temple in Jerusalem and used them for unholy purposes – for revelry. God judges Belshazzar’s immorality, however. When we are confronted with immorality, do we trust that God will get the final word of righteousness?

In Daniel 3, King Nebuchadnezzar sets up a giant golden idol. Three of Daniel’s friends, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego have a choice: do they bow down to the king’s statue or do they stand up for what they believe. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego stand up for what they believe. When we are confronted, do we capitulate? Do we handle things passive aggressively? Or, do we stand?

In Daniel 2, King Nebuchadnezzar has a dream that none of his wise men can interpret for him. Daniel offers to interpret the king’s dream, but before God reveals to Daniel its meaning! All Daniel can do is trust and pray that God will give him the wisdom that he needs. When things are uncertain in our lives, do we trust and pray that God will give us what we need?

In order to learn from mistakes, a coach will often have his team watch the tape of their last game. This way, they can study and learn how to do better next time. We too are to “watch God’s tape” – that is, God’s Word – so that we can understand our mistakes and serve our Lord well. As Joshua reminds us, we are to “be careful to do everything written in [God’s Word]” (Joshua 1:8). As we celebrate the Reformation, we are reminded to be people who read, mark, and inwardly digest God’s precious truth.

Professional teams live with salary caps. This way, one team cannot radically outspend another. We too live with salary caps. God has given us much, but He has not given us everything. Our challenge is to be generous with what God has given us not only when it feels good, but when it becomes hard.

A superstar may be good for a franchise’s bottom line, but it is rarely good for a team. Teams play together to lift each other up. As Christians, we are on Christ’s team. We must play together and serve each other. This is why one of the fundamental facets of Jesus’ ministry, as Jesus Himself describes it, is service. He has come to serve us. In the pattern of Jesus, we too are to serve others. Service teaches us humility and reminds us that what is most important is not found in our accomplishments, but in our selflessness.

When you’re on the field, you have tune out the roar of the crowd to focus on the game. When life roars at us, we need similar focus. This is why, when Job loses everything, his friends come to him not to speak, but to sit in silence with him. Silence allows us to listen to God and guards us from confusing God’s Word with our words. It also allows us to demonstrate, as Job’s friends do, empathy with someone – not explaining their pain, but being with them through their pain.

Just as important as playing hard is resting well. We need rest to replenish ourselves. This is why the Bible commands us to Sabbath. But Sabbath is not only a command, but a blessing. To legalistic religious leaders who had turned the Sabbath into a burden rather than a blessing, Jesus restores the Sabbath’s appropriate place as a gift of time to rest and relax. Are we taking advantage of this?

What you eat before the big game is important. Similarly, what you eat in your walk with God is vital. This is why the Bible suggests fasting. Fasting teaches us to control our desires and reminds us that we rely on God’s providence to meet all our needs. It also reminds us that the best bread is not the bread that feeds our bodies, but the bread of life that feeds our souls.

Before a team hits the field, they will often gather to pray. This prayer helps reorient them on what matters most. How much time do you spend huddling with God in prayer? Martin Luther explained, “Prayer is a strong wall and fortress of the church: it is a goodly Christian’s weapon.” Prayer is so important to Jesus that He not only tells us that we should pray, He goes so far as to specifically teach us how to pray.

Threading the Needle

Adultery is often justified by excuses. “My marriage has grown cold.” “This lover is my soul mate.” “God wouldn’t want me to be happy.” But no excuse can justify adultery. What we need are not excuses. What we need is forgiveness.

Coveting is a dangerous sin because you can fall prey to it without anyone around you knowing it. It is first a sin of the heart. And it will make you miserable. How can we be content rather than covetous?

Everyone lies. But just because everyone’s doing it doesn’t make it right. Abraham lies about his relationship to Sarah because of fear. He also tries to justify his lie by pointing out how it is partially true. We do many of the same things. Yet, because Christ is the truth (cf. John 14:6), we are called to be truthful.

When someone “please the fifth,” they are refusing to speak about a particular incident because what they say may wind up being incriminating. In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus looks at the Fifth Commandment and pleads with us that we follow it not only in our actions, but in our hearts.

God loves to provide for us (cf. 2 Corinthians 9:10). Stealing takes what God has provided for someone else and tries to commandeer it for oneself. Therefore, stealing distrusts God’s provision. Theft, of course, is not just a crime of the poor. As the story of Zaccheaus demonstrates, even the rich can fall prey to distrusting God’s provision. The remedy for theft is both faith in God and generosity toward others. Do we live our lives in this way?

The great Greek philosopher Aristotle asserted that families are the basis of any healthy society. The Scriptural authors would agree. Thus, families need to thrive. The Fourth Commandment is meant to foster such thriving. Parents and children are to show mutual respect to each other.

The Hebrew word “Sabbath” means “stop.” God’s desire is that we stop and take time to rest so that we may do the work He has given us. The Sabbath, then, is meant to be a joy, given by God out of love. Yet, in our culture, we all too often neglect this joy for the sake of workaholism. How can we be more intentional about practicing the rest God commands?