Last week’s Gospel reading reminded us of a man whose great wealth (and the sin of idolatry) separated him from God. Through the sacrificial, life-giving death of our Savior, our Heavenly Father forgives our sins and assures us that “nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord!” (Romans 8:39)

Jesus continued His teaching as He “looked around and said to His disciples, ‘How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!’… ‘Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.’” (Mark 10: 23-25)

The disciples were amazed because they thought that earthly wealth was a sign of God’s favor. So, how could it be that those who were favorably blessed by God would, at the same time, have difficulty being received into His Heavenly Kingdom?

It is true that many who are blessed with abundant earthly possessions can be distracted by those same possessions. Sometimes our possessions possess us! When we find ourselves “overly worried” about acquiring, accumulating, managing, investing and growing the number of our “things/toys,” we tend to focus on our “stuff” and forget the gracious hand of our Heavenly Father, the One who “richly and daily provides us with all we need to support this body and life.” (Luther’s explanation to the First Article of the Apostles’ Creed)

When Jesus used the image of a “camel passing through the eye of a needle,” He was not talking about a large dromedary passing through the head of a small sewing needle! That WOULD be impossible, and He was not saying that it was impossible for people with earthly blessings – like you and me – to enter heaven! (Think also of the biblical examples of godly people, who were believers – faithful followers of God – such as Old Testament Abraham and Job, and the New Testament Lydia.) He WAS speaking about the small opening in the wall of a fortified city; that is, “the eye of the needle,” by which people and animals could “squeeze through” and enter a city when its huge, defensive gates were closed – difficult, yes, but NOT impossible. So it is with us, and others like us, who have earthly blessings (gifts from God) which could become a distraction from our worship, faith-life and discipleship.

Actually, it is impossible for any human being to “Come Into the Kingdom” by ourselves, by our own doing or goodness. The walls of God’s heavenly kingdom are simply too high, wide, thick and impenetrable for us to try to enter on our own. And yet, God “desires not the death of the wicked, but that all would turn and be saved.” (Ezekiel 33:11) Jesus, Himself, lovingly promised that He was going to “His Father’s house to prepare a place for us… so that He could come back and take us to be with Him forever.” (John 14:6) In His substitutionary death on the cross – in our place- Jesus has opened the Kingdom of God to all Believers; completely and freely forgiving our sins; and graciously giving us the gift of eternal life.

We thank our Father who lovingly gives us “a good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over… poured into our lap.” (Luke 6: 38) We pray to receive and use our earthly blessings wisely and faithfully. And when our last day comes, may we like Paul say, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is stored up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day – and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for His appearing.” (2 Timothy 4: 7-8) Come Into His Kingdom with JOY in Jesus!

See you in church!

Blessings in Christ,
Pastor Snow

Sermon Audio

Sermon Audio

This weekend, God’s Word speaks to us about marriage and divorce.

One day a man came into his pastor’s office and said that he was sick and tired of his marriage. He said he didn’t love his wife, that he wanted a divorce! The pastor listened and simply replied, “Good!”

The man was shocked at his pastor’s immediate response! He had dreaded coming to his pastor, knowing that his pastor upheld marriage very highly and that divorce was only as an absolute LAST RESORT after many attempts to try and repair the broken relationship of the marriage.

But his pastor continued, “You know, if YOU feel that way about your marriage, I wonder if your WIFE might also feel that way.” The man admitted that he had not thought about his wife’s feelings for quite some time! Then the pastor challenged this man to join with his wife in getting a divorce… not from one another, but from the kind of marriage in which the two of them were involved.

The pastor asked, “What would it mean for the two of you to ‘divorce’ yourselves from that kind of marriage and to start building a new one?” The choice that this man faced was which kind of love would he choose, love of self (sinful divorce) or love from God and for his wife (divorce from a self-centered life).

This is the message behind this sermon title: “Everyone Should Get a Divorce” – we all need a “divorce” (whether we are married, single, divorced, remarried) from the sinful love of self – to the life-giving love from God and for others.

As Christians, we know that God’s will is always to SAVE a marriage (whenever possible) rather than to end it. God’s will is that NO ONE (neither husband, wife, children nor other family members) should have to suffer the terrible pain of divorce. But as Jesus acknowledges in today’s Gospel reading, divorce sometimes must be “permitted” because of mankind’s “hardness of heart” (sinfulness). God forbids divorce except for marital unfaithfulness (adultery or desertion) as we read in Matthew 19:9, “I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness (not just one time, but on-going unfaithfulness and refusal to be reconciled), and marries another woman commits adultery.” And 1 Corinthians 7:15, “If the unbeliever leaves (refuses to honor the marriage relationship, lives as if there is no marriage relationship), let him do so. A believing man or woman is not bound in such circumstances.” Adultery and desertion are terrible situations – as some know from experience and many of us know from family and friends that have and are experiencing! That’s why, in God’s gracious wisdom and love, in an effort to prevent the pain and agony of “brokenness” God declared from the beginning: “what God has joined together, let man not separate.” (Mark 10:9)

Although the world we live in far too quickly considers divorce to be the solution to broken marriages, God’s loving will for us is that there be no divorces – “what God has joined together, let man not separate.” (v.9); and yet, “because of hardness of hearts,” divorces are not only permitted, but even necessary sometimes for the safety and welfare of the spouse and children!

When a person is diagnosed very early with heart problems, it would be unthinkable to even suggest that we might as well do nothing or end their life. Instead, we know that such a person needs immediate, special attention, possibly “radical surgery” to remove the hardened cells and then time and changes to become healthy again. If the hardness is not acknowledged (ignored or not dealt with), the hardness becomes worse and worse, ending in death.

This is the same with marriage. There are times when it is “hardened” because marriage is always made up of two sinful people. When these times come, the world’s solution is oftentimes “death and burial” (divorce), while God’s will is always healing and restoring. God gives us Godly pastors and counselors who are committed to helping married couples as well as those who are single, by bringing the “healing” Word of God; God’s gracious gift of confession and absolution; to every situation, no matter how bad or helpless it might seem.

These Christian pastors and counselors know that “Everyone Should Get a Divorce.” Certainly not from their spouse (if they are married), but a “divorce” from the sinful love of self which destroys relationships – whether with our spouse, in relation to children or any of our relationships.

Did you notice that the verses in Mark 10, doesn’t only tell us about Jesus’ teaching against sinful divorce, but it also includes a teaching concerning little children. When people were “bringing little children to Jesus to have Him touch them”, the “disciples rebuked them.” Apparently, the disciples, with their sense of self-importance, tried to send the little children away. Apparently they thought they were too important to be bothered with a bunch of kids.

“When Jesus saw this, He was indignant.” (v.14) There is no one anywhere; whether young or old; single, married, divorced – no one who is outside the vast bounds of God’s love!

God knew that our sinfulness separates us first of all from His great love and blessings (vertical relationships); and secondly destroys our relationships with others (horizontal relationships). That is why, in His boundless love, God sent Jesus to take all our sin upon Himself, to suffer and die for us, so that we might “live a new life.” We see this blessing given every time we celebrate a baptism; and we receive it also as Jesus gives us His true body and blood in Holy Communion for the forgiveness of sins. We have confessed our sins and received the Absolution; God, the Holy Spirit again today works in our lives through His Holy Word; God works in us a “divorce” from our sinful, selfish nature and re-creates in us a “new heart,” a heart and life full of God’s love that shows itself again this week in our relationships with others; our spouse (if we’re married) / little children in our lives / all others.

God’s Word of Law tells us that we should get a divorce from our sin-full, self-centered life of living only for ourselves; and God’s Word of Gospel assures us that God freely accepts us into the Kingdom of God as He “creates” in us a “child-like” faith.

A teacher asked her students to draw a picture of what they wanted to be when they grew up. Soon the little hands got busy drawing. Pictures emerged of firemen, doctors, sports figures, teachers, nurses, etc. As the teacher looked around the room she noticed one little girl just sitting and dreaming. She walked over and asked how the picture was going. The girl responded, “I’m having a hard time drawing what I want to be.” “What is it you want to be?” asked the teacher. She responded, “I want to be happily married, but I don’t know how to draw that.”

How would you draw – “happily married?” From God’s Word we know that First God has “healed” our vertical relationship with Him – sending Jesus to die on the cross to forgive us all our sins; and we also know that God also “heals” our “weak” horizontal relationships – with others around us – therefore, the little school girl could have drawn a cross to picture her dream of being happily married. The vertical speaks of God’s love in Christ coming to us; the horizontal speaks of God’s enabling power to help us in all of our relationships! And all of this because of Jesus our Savior!

I pray that you can join us this weekend for more of God’s gracious, healing and strengthening gifts of His Word and Sacraments, and that you are daily being blessed in your reading and being guided by God’s precious Word.

Pastor Myers

Sermon Summary

As we are introduced to other adults, we usually are told (or we ask) “what they do for a living;” and when we meet children we ask, “What grade are you in?” A devotion writer said that he was surprised one time when he asked a child, “What grade are you in?” and the child replied, “I’m in 2^nd grade, what grade are you in?” The writer at first didn’t quite know how to respond, but after a few quick thoughts, he did some quick math, figuring that most of us start school at least by the age of five, so… subtracting five from his age, she said, “I guess I’m in the 35^th grade!” But later, with some further reflection, he pondered if maybe he had missed a grade or more along the way – not learning what he should have learned during some of those years (having to repeat some grades or not getting promoted?) The question for us is, “What grade are you in? Are you still learning, or have you stopped learning?”

What “grade” would you say Jesus’ disciples were in? As we read in the second half of Mark 9: 30-31: “Jesus did not want anyone to know where they were, because He was teaching His disciples.”

Jesus was always teaching (through His Words, actions, miracles, healings, raising from the dead, etc.) In these verses, He specifically is teaching with His words – and some of them are very HARD to understand – especially “The Third and Hardest Lesson”!

Three “lessons” that Jesus teaches His disciples and us – to help us remember them, I’ve labeled them G E D (“borrowed from the educational systems GED – General Educational Development tests)

G – greatness in service – Mark 9:33-37

E – exclusiveness excluded – Mark 9:38-41

D – disciplined disciples – Mark 9:42-50

The First Lesson: 1) Greatness in Service – (v.33-37)

In these verses the disciples had been arguing on the way about who was the greatest? The disciples were worried about competition with each other rather than “learners and co-workers” with Jesus. So Jesus teaches the first lesson: GREATNESS in SERVICE – “If anyone wants to be first (all of the disciples DID! So do we – it’s our sinful, human nature) he must be the very last, and the servant of all… welcoming one of these little children in My name.”

The Second Lesson: 2) Exclusiveness Excluded – (v.38-41)

John said, “We saw a man driving out demons in Your name and we kept telling him to stop, because he was not one of us!” Did they think that Jesus would work only through the 12 of them? Were they so “self-centered on their own greatness” that they were blinded to Jesus working His miraculous release from demons through another man?

Have we learned the lesson? We confess, “I believe in the Holy Christian Church, the communion of saints,” and yet do we exclude from the Kingdom of God fellow Christians who are proclaiming the Gospel message and through whom God is working to build His Kingdom even though we have differing church practices and denominational titles? “In Jesus’ name” means with the truth of God’s Word and through saving faith in Jesus – regardless of whether they are “one of us” or not.

And now, The Third and Hardest Lesson: 3) Disciplined Disciples (v.42-50)

These verses are hard verses to understand and very shocking to read! Jesus is most definitely using “hyperbole” (exaggeration), for cutting off our hands or feet, plucking out our eye will not necessarily stop our sinning – but Jesus speaks these exaggerations to teach the self-centered, power grabbing disciples (and us!) what they haven’t learned so far… “Don’t you dare get in the way of the Gospel – Don’t you dare “cause yourself or anyone else to sin!” The WORST punishment is threatened if you do – not just physically drowning with a millstone tied around your neck, but eternity in HELL “where the worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched!” (v.48) WOW, what a warning!

And finally, the summary of these three lessons: “Everyone will be salted with fire.” (v.49) has the teaching of making a difference: (Romans 12:1-2) “In view of God’s mercy, offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed (“salted with fire” by the Holy Spirit) by the renewing of your mind.”

Jesus’ teaches three lessons –

G (greatness in service) – “Have salt in yourselves …

E (No exclusiveness – Jesus says, “Do not stop anyone who does anything ‘in My name.’) and be at peace with each other.” (Mark 9:50)

D (disciplined disciples) – (“have salt in yourselves / the salt and fire of the Holy Spirit)

What grade are you in? With Jesus as our teacher WE NEVER STOP LEARNING – and as we have the opportunities – to pass these truths on to others!   In Jesus’ precious name!

God’s blessings this week as we continue to learn from God’s Word every day in Bible Study and devotions – and as we come together next weekend again to receive his wonderful gifts of Word and Sacraments.

Pastor Myers

Sermon Audio

The great Apostle and Evangelist, Paul, was nearing the end of his ministry and his earthly life as he wrote to the young pastor, Timothy. In his “parting words” to his young friend and protégé, the wise, older pastor urged Timothy to “be prepared in season and out of season to Preach the Word” of God with great patience and care.

Because of the presence of God and of Christ Jesus; since Jesus will come with His almighty power to be the judge of the living and the dead; and in view of the fact that He will be appearing again in all His glory, establishing His perfect and everlasting Kingdom – preach and teach the Word of God so that everyone has the opportunity to hear, believe, be saved and be prepared to receive Him when He comes again! (2 Timothy 4: 1-2)

Paul told Timothy to use the Word of God to “correct” (to point out error, fault and sin); to “rebuke” (sharply and forcefully reprimand); and to “encourage” (to bring the sweet message of God’s love, forgiveness, mercy, grace and the gift of eternal life through saving faith in the sacrificial death of Jesus on behalf of all people). As Lutherans we would say today, “With great patience and care, preach and teach the Law and the Gospel… morning, noon and night so that all people confess their sins and recognize (believe and trust) that Jesus is their only Savior from sin, death and the power of the devil.”

The Law of God always condemns, always destroys and always kills sin– or as Paul told Timothy, it corrects and rebukes. In turn, the precious message of the Gospel brings forgiveness, life, hope, encouragement, peace and joy through Jesus!

It is essential to “Serve the Savior – in season and out” by preaching and teaching the Word of God – all-the-more since “the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.” (2 Timothy 4: 3) That time has come, and is now! Timothy faced this challenge with the people and so do we!

We live at a time when we are continually challenged by the sinful cravings and desires of the voices of our culture. Abortion, Pornography, Sex outside of Marriage, Homosexuality, Gay Marriage, Syncretism (the belief that “all faiths/religions lead to the same salvation”) are only a few examples of the “itching ears” of our generation. Those who live in such sin gather around themselves false pastors, teachers, politicians and leaders who agree, justify and encourage these sinful beliefs and practices. Every day we see around us those who “turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths (the lies and temptations of the devil).” (2 Timothy 4: 4)

So, God’s call to professional church workers and to ALL God’s people is to serve the Savior, in season and out, by preaching and teaching the true Word of God. (At Holy Cross Lutheran Church and School, 45 staff members – with a combined total of 681 years of ministry experience – serve in this ministry of preaching and teaching.)

Finally, as we joyfully and winsomely proclaim the message of the gospel, Paul, by the inspiration of God, urges us to “keep [our] head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist and discharge all the duties of [our] ministry.” In other words… “Serve the Savior – In Season and Out!”

See you in church!

Blessings in Christ,
Pastor Snow

Sermon Audio

“‘If you can?’ said Jesus. Everything is possible for one who believes.’” Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” Mark 9:19-24

This prayer of the desperate father: “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” is one of the most succinct, and in some ways wisest. prayers in the Bible.

Are there times when it is easier to believe than others? Are there times when it is harder to believe? On a scale of 1-10, “10” being “extra certain and strong” to “1” being “faltering, on the brink of unbelief” – where would you rank your “believing” at this moment? Was it the same yesterday? A month ago? A year ago? Will it be the same next week?

I know, for me, it changes. It is “Easier to believe” when things are going well, when I am reminded of God’s grace, mercy and love – 1) when a worship service or Bible Study is especially meaningful to me; 2) a special family event (i.e. wedding, baptism, birth of a child, holiday gathering); other times. And there are times when it is “harder to believe” – 1) spouse / family member – Alzheimers / Parkinsons / stroke / death; 2) we are terminated from our job for no apparent reason; 3) our health or that of our loved one is misdiagnosed and we suffer the results; many others.

Can you relate to the “great need” of the father in today’s Gospel reading? How totally helpless he was because an evil spirit tormented his son. This father wanted to bring his son to Jesus to be healed, but Jesus was not there. (He was on the Mount of Transfiguration – see Mark 9) So the father brought his son to the other disciples, who were unable to help. [To add to the helplessness: had this father heard that the disciples HAD been driving out demons? (Mark 6: Jesus “sent them out two by two and gave them authority over evil spirits… they drove out many demons…”)] Adding insult to injury: 1) The teachers of the law (church leaders) were of no help; instead, they mocked and were arguing with the nine disciples! 2) A large crowd was gathering – not to help, but to “gawk,” to see what would happen next. How embarrassing for the father and the son! 3) Even when Jesus arrived – but then asks, “How long has he been like this?”

The father in desperation cried out: “Don’t ask questions; DO something!” “If You can do anything…”

Jesus answered, “Everything is possible for one who believes.” Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” Note the beautiful prayer of confession and plea for help by the father! This needs to be our constant prayer too! As this father confessed his “unbelief” and asked that his son be healed anyway, Jesus demonstrated that the man’s faith or lack of it was no obstacle to Jesus! Jesus commanded, and the evil spirit HAD to obey. Jesus answered the father’s prayer in the greatest way – Jesus helped the father “overcome his unbelief!”

And this Gospel reading is not just about the father. Why couldn’t the disciples drive out the demon? They had done it before! (Mark 6:13) God’s Word answers this: Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.” The same is true for why the father was so desperate, and why we have times of doubt and despair. Unbelief = trust in self = looking for human answers, human strength.

When the disciples asked Jesus why they were unable to drive out the evil spirit from the boy, Jesus answered, “This kind can come out only by prayer.” (v.29)

Jesus is NOT saying that prayer is like a magic formula (hocus pocus), nor is “this kind” more resistant to exorcism and thus requiring additional power to be cast out. The only power – of prayer and to cast out demons – is Christ Himself. The point is that the disciples had forgotten this – they had been successful in casting out demons (Mark 6:13) by the power of Christ (6:7) but now, it appears, they had come to think the power was their own. Prayer is always an expression of dependence on Jesus, a trust that He and He alone could do the work. On our own, we are totally helpless – with Jesus, “all things are possible.” Mark 9:23

Jesus’ statement and question: “You unbelieving generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you?” addressed to His disciples, the scribes (v.14), the crowd, the father (v.17-18) – every one of us. Jesus CAME for unbelievers – to GIVE us faith. He continues to come – day after day – always – to strengthen and keep us in the one true faith. He does this through the daily blessing of remembering our baptism; daily being strengthened by reading, hearing, learning God’s Word; daily through the power of God in prayer to Jesus “the Author and Perfecter of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2); regularly through the Lord’s Supper “the true body and blood… given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins and the strengthening and preserving us in the true faith until life everlasting.” Like the father in our Gospel reading, we too may “Depart in peace.”

Please join us each weekend as we receive God’s bountiful blessings as we gather together for worship and Bible Classes. (The new quarter’s classes began this weekend – but you can always come and be a part of a class. Call the church office at 684-5201 for more information.)

Pastor Myers

Sermon Audio

Some people have the mistaken impression that God only cares about the spiritual stuff. Some wrongly believe that God only cares about your work if you are a pastor, or a parochial school teacher, or if you are engaged in some other kind of full-time church work. But that is a serious error. God loves you so much; He cares about every aspect of your life. That includes all the necessary physical things. That is why Luther wrote in his explanation to the first article: Luther: “I believe that God has made me and all creatures; that He has given me my body and soul, eyes, ears, and all my members, my reason and all my senses, and still takes care of them. He also gives me clothing and shoes, food and drink, house and home, wife and children, land, animals, and all I have. He richly and daily provides me with all that I need to support this body and life.” Does God put food on your table? Indeed he does. But he does not do it directly. He does it through the hard work of the famer who planted and harvested. And through the truck driver   who hauled the produce to the market, and through the grocer who puts the food on the shelves.

Jobs, whatever they may be, have divine significance because God is working through these people and the jobs they do, to provide you with the service or products you need for your life. God provides you with peace through the police and the military. He heals you through the doctors and nurses. He works through the waitress at the restaurant to bring you your food; He works through the banker to help you save your money. He works through artists and musicians to make the world a more beautiful place for you. God works through many people in all their multitude of different jobs for you—to be a blessing to you.

People use to not realize that. During the time prior to the Reformation many people thought that to be doing God’s work and to be doing the work that God really cared about, you had to somehow be involved in fulltime church work. If you could not be a priest, you could at least be a monk or a nun. Those were considered to be honorable professions, more important that any secular job. But Dr. Luther said, no. God cares about all of our jobs because they are all expressions of our Christin love. Luther said, the mother who nurses her child, the maid that milks the cow and the cobbler who makes our shoes are all involved in the Lords work of lovingly providing for his people.

This is what Christian love is. Christian love is not an intangible, pie in the sky, abstract idea. It is a very down to earth, sweat-on-the-brow-hands-in-the-mud thing. It provides for people by helping them in specific, practical, and sometimes very difficult and inconvenient ways. This is why Jesus died for you. Jesus died for you because He loves us, yes, but more than that, He also died for you and has given you forgiveness and new life so that you can be a blessing to others. This is why you are redeemed. This is why you live. This is why you labor. This is why you get out of bed every morning and go to work.   Because through your work you can put your faith into action and be a blessing to others by working at your job and providing others with the goods and services they need, to support their life.

This gives your life divine significance. Don’t you ever, ever think your life is insignificant or unimportant. Not only did God make you and redeem you in Jesus Christ, but He has also put you here on this earth here and now on purpose, to do His work and to be a blessing to others. Luther makes this same point when he says, “We have no other reason for living on earth than to be of help to others. If this were not the case, it would be best for God to kill us and let us die as soon as we are baptized and have begun to believe” (LW 30:11).

Perhaps you’ve heard it said, “Another day another dollar.” No, our work as Christians is much more than that. We labor not for selfish material gain. We labor at our jobs because labor is part of our Christian life, and in every aspect of life, we are blessed by God to be a blessing to others. Amen

Pastor John Tape

Sermon Audio

What image comes to your mind when you think of someone or something that’s “Squeaky Clean?” For me it is the image of a thoroughly cleaned baby who has just come out of a bathtub of warm, soapy water. Then after being gently dried with a big, fluffy towel, lots of powder is applied so that a large, fragrant cloud “poofs” all around the squeaky clean child.

The Pharisees and teachers of the Law, in today’s Gospel reading, desired to appear “Squeaky clean” before God because of their outward actions and appearances. Earlier in Mark 7, the same teachers criticized Jesus and His disciples for not keeping “all the traditions of the elders” and Jesus, quoting Isaiah, said, “These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. They worship Me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.” (Mark 7: 6-7, from Isaiah 29:13)

In explaining further, Jesus told the parable, “Nothing outside a man can make him ‘unclean’ by going into him. Rather, it is what comes out of a man that makes him ‘unclean.’” (Mark 7: 15)

Jesus later, in the house, told to His disciples that the real “heart of the matter” is a “heart issue!” In other words He said, “What comes out of a man is what makes him ‘unclean.’ For from within, out of men’s hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All of these evils come from inside and make a man ‘unclean.”‘ (Mark 7: 20-23)

God’s Word helps us to “define” what is pleasing and what is displeasing to Him. He graciously gives us His Word so that by it we may gain wisdom and understanding. (Deuteronomy 4:6) And He warns His followers – including you and me- not to “add to what I command you and do not subtract from it, but keep the commands of the Lord your God that I give you.” (Deuteronomy 4: 2)

The thirteen “heart issues” which Jesus says make us unclean” divide into three categories – those unclean thoughts, unclean words and unclean actions which defile us. (Evil thoughts include greed, malice or hatred, deceit, envy and arrogance; ungodly and slanderous words include cursing, falsely swearing and using profanity; and Jesus says that the type of actions which defile us “from within” include sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, lewdness and folly- “stupidity and silliness.”)

Prompted by the Holy Spirit, if we would each search our own thoughts, words and actions, it becomes evident that we each need to humbly bow before our Creator in repentance, asking His forgiveness. In Christ Jesus, we fully and freely receive His mercy, forgiveness and grace because Jesus took upon Himself all our sin, guilt and shame. For these He was punished, crucified and died, in order that through His victory over sin, death and the power of the devil, we would receive forgiveness and eternal life!

What we could NEVER do for ourselves- making ourselves acceptable to God by our own actions and observance of man-made traditions- Jesus has fully accomplished for us and now, thanks be to God, we are “Squeaky Clean – Inside and Out!”

See you in church!

Blessings in Christ,
Pastor Snow

Sermon Audio

Sermon Audio