Lutheran Church of the Resurrection

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Preaching on parables about vineyards and vineyard management is much easier done from California or up state New York than from central Maine. California preachers will have loads of analogies and illustrations to use in their sermon this morning. And their congregations will understand them and their connection to the meaning of this parable. But we live in central Maine where vineyards are as scarce as snow blowers in San Jose. And unfortunately for you, you have a pastor who knows nothing about vineyards except that it's where grapes come from and where wine is made and I like the red stuff better than the white stuff. So, just like with all of those parables about sheep and shepherding you don't get any of those clever little illustrations about animal husbandry, so this morning, unfortunately, you're not going to get any illustrations about the agricultural management techniques of a vineyard.

So with that disclaimer on the table and those terrible limitations that we are burdened with, let's see if we're still able to hear what our Lord would have us all hear and learn through this parable about the owner of a vineyard and his workers. (more…)

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As a father or a mother, you must ask yourself, does it really matter how rich or successful or athletic or intelligent your children are if, when you get to heaven, you don't see them there? As a son or a daughter, you must ask yourself, does it really matter how much my parents have given me or done for me or left to me, if when I get to heaven, I don't see them there? As a brother or sister, you must ask yourself, does it really matter how well you all got along or how much you argued with your siblings, if when you get to heaven, you don't see them there? As a husband or wife, you must ask yourself, does it really matter how happy or wonderful my marriage has been if, when you get to heaven, you don't your spouse there? (more…)

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"You who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness."

In 1833, the British Parliament passed the 'Abolition Of Slavery' Act, which made the practice of slavery in Great Britain illegal, and granted all slaves in the British Empire their freedom. But you are still a slave.

On September 22, 1862, President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation declaring the freedom of slaves in any state of the Confederate States of America. But you are still a slave.

On December 18, 1865, the United States Congress ratified the 13th Amendment to the Constitution saying that, "Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime where of the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction." But you are still a slave.

Don't think that just because the Constitution says that you're free, that you're free to do anything you please. You are still a slave. You are under authority. You must obey the laws of the land. You may be free to help or not to help your neighbor in his need but you are not free to murder him. You are free to share or not to share what you have with others, but you are not free to steal from others. You are free to come and go as you please but you are not free to exceed the speed limit or drive through red lights. You are still a slave. (more…)

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Stop number 2 on our 15 week summer tour of Paul's letter to the Romans takes us into the very heart and soul of what he wants to say to the Christians in Rome, as well as to all who read his letter after them. "For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law." —apart from works of the law.� —apart from works of the law.�

How strange is that? How can it be that one is justified apart from the works of the law? We hold that one is justified by his performance of the works of the law. Isn't that what the 10 Commandments are there for? If we are not justified by our performance of the works of the law, then how are we justified before God?

"For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law." These are shocking words, because this is not at all what we expect. And they are disturbing words too. Because this is not at all the way we think one is justified before God.

First of all, if these words are true, it means that all of our striving to justify ourselves before God on the basis of our performance of works of the law is worthless. In fact, it's worse than worthless. It's downright sinful. It's contrary to the Word and His way. We put our confidence in our performance and good works and He says, "it doesn't count for anything with Me. It doesn't help you get ahead with Me. It doesn't improve My opinion of you one bit. It doesn't make me love you any more." And we say, "well it should." (more…)

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I. Background

A. Introduction to the Season

Today begins a new season on the church's calendar. Today we begin the season of the Sundays after Pentecost. Today is the 2nd Sunday after Pentecost and the season will continue until we get to the 27th Sunday after Pentecost, which takes us into November.

The color of the season is green. This is the time for grazing in green pastures and lying down beside quite waters to eat and drink God's Word so that our faith in God may be strengthened and our love of His Word grow and increase and bear fruit.

As with every season on the church's calendar, the path that we follow is marked out for us by the appointed readings—the Psalm, Old Testament, Epistle and Gospel readings. Beginning today and continuing for the next 17 Sundays, the appointed Epistle reading will be from St. Paul's letter to the Romans. Beginning today and continuing through the summer, we're going to focus our attention on the Epistle to the Romans. (more…)