Sermon: Martin Luther and the Difference He Made

The Gospel for this Sunday came from the first passages of the Gospel of John, the famous description of Jesus as the Word made flesh, present at the beginning of all things yet dwelling among us, full of grace and truth.  John explained how Jesus came to his own people but they knew him not.  Yet his light shone through the darkness and the darkness could not overcome it.

This Gospel dovetailed nicely with the beginning of our Lutheran Basics course, starting next Sunday following worship.  Luther's theology had its deepest roots in the writings of Paul but the first chapter of John could have been a handbook of affirmations of our faith.  For instance, did you know that we believe these things?

• Jesus is singular, unique.  He's the only person who ever lived who could do what he did.  None of us could accomplish our own salvation no matter how hard we tried?
• Nothing in all creation stands apart from, or is able to escape, God.  We can fool ourselves into thinking we're running from God or overpowering him with our choices but fooling ourselves is all we're doing.  The tragedy of sin is not that we misuse our own things, rather that we misuse things that belong to God and are meant for goodness and life.
• No shortcoming of ours is more powerful than God's work and intention.
• Our job is not to create goodness.  We aren't capable of doing that.  Rather our job is to testify to and celebrate the goodness that God has created, especially among people who could use some good news.
• We are not capable of knowing God on our own terms.  Even realizing his presence is a sign that he loves us and has gifted us.
• We are not capable of understanding God nor understanding righteousness, at least not through our own nature.  Looking right at God we still don't recognize him.  But God inspires us to see beyond our inadequate definitions, transforms us from blindness to freedom.
• We are not simply followers of God, as if he were a doctrine.  We are God's children, heirs of salvation and eternal goodness through Jesus Christ, our brother.
• God never stops giving.
• Law and judgment are inadequate measures.  They cannot define how much God loves us.  They only show us how limited our vision and righteousness are.
• Over and above Law and judgment God gives us grace upon grace, transforming us from what we were into what we're meant to be.

Caught in the crucible of violent, confused, and fast-moving times, Martin Luther came to understand all this and more in  the words of scripture.  We also live in violent, confused, and fast-moving times, yet many of us have forgotten these things, or even if we remember them we don't know why and how they matter.

That's why this Lutheran Basics course is a big deal.  It's not a "rah rah, here's what to believe, Lutherans are right so adhere to doctrine" experience.  That stuff is a waste of time.  This is an inspirational, transformational moment in which we come to understand God and our mission in a deeper, more vital way.  It's not just about what we believe but why and how that makes a difference in our lives.  It's also the amazing story of one troubled, mixed-up monk working in the midst of chaos and despair who somehow found himself graced to deliver a message that enlightened the world.

The course will start on Sunday and continue the next few weeks after church.  You won't want to miss it.

--Pastor Dave (pastordave@geneseelutheranparish.org)