Ezekiel 18:1-4, Psalm 25:1-9 Philippians 2:1-13 St. Matthew 21: God s work: our calling Our hands: the presence of God faithful ministry

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1 THE SAME MIND The 16 th Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 21A) September 28, 2014 Lessons Ezekiel 18:1-4, Psalm 25:1-9 Philippians 2:1-13 St. Matthew 21:23-32 Semicontinuous Series Exodus 17:1-7 Psalm 78:1-4, Pastor David J. Risendal facebook Dave Risendal Twitter: drisendal Saint Peter Lutheran Church 9300 East Belleview Avenue Greenwood Village, CO / facebook.com/stplc God of love, giver of life, you know our frailties and failings. Give us your grace to overcome them, keep us from those things that harm us, and guide us in the way of salvation, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen. Prayer of the Day God s work: our calling Our hands: the presence of God faithful ministry Sermon 1 Grace to you and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. Thank you for being with us this morning. Today is God s work. Our hands. Sunday. This is a day of celebration. It began last year, as a celebration of the Evangelical Lutheran Church s 25 th anniversary as a denomination. During the month of September, thousands of churches across the country sent their worshippers out into the surrounding neighborhoods, to be involved in community service. We have chosen to continue the tradition this year, frankly, because our congregation enjoyed it so much last year. (What I mean is that we enjoyed the community service so much; not that we enjoyed the short sermon so much. Am I right?) We also chose to continue this because it has to do with how we understand ourselves. We are a church that likes to roll up our sleeves and get to work. 1 Romans 1:7, 1 st Corinthians 1:3, 2 nd Corinthians 1:2, Galatians 1:3, Ephesians 1:2, Philippians 1:2, Colossians 1:2, 1 st Thessalonians 1:1, 2 nd Thessalonians 1:2, Philemon 3; New Revised Version Bible ( 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America).

2 The 16 th Sunday after Pentecost Proper 21A (September 28, 2014) 2 We also are a church that takes seriously what the Scriptures say, and that includes this morning s passage from the Apostle Paul s letter to the Philippians. The Philippians were favorites of the Apostle Paul: faithful to the Gospel, and strong supporters of the Apostle s ministry. So it was important for him to offer them this additional challenge. He wrote, Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who emptied himself [and] humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death on a cross. Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus. These words called the Philippians to a cross-shaped life. A life in which their strong experience of God s grace grounded them, and empowered them for a life of service to their neighbor. They took their cue from Jesus, who didn t take advantage of his position as the son of God, but who emptied himself; who humbled himself; who was willing to give even life itself to be of service to the world. This is the life Paul challenges the Philippians to embrace, and this is the life to which he calls us today. We may live in a world where the prevailing attitude is to grab for all you can get, but we worship a Lord who models humble service. Paul s advice to us: Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus. We, also, are not to take advantage of our position in life. We, also, are to humble ourselves: honoring, respecting and caring for every neighbor. We, also, are to give of ourselves in service. And so today we invite you to live this out. In your worship folder you will find descriptions of a number of ways to serve your community at the close of this worship service. In fact, in the same folder you will find suggestions as to how you and your family can serve your community throughout the year. But this morning, we want you to choose one of these service opportunities and join us as we offer a couple hours of our lives in service to our neighbors after worship. Following communion, if you are wiling to serve, we'll ask you to come forward for a blessing, after which we ll send you into the world to use your hands to do God s work. If you are unable to serve today, after the blessing we ll ask you to come forward and be seated in the front section, where we will have a time of guided prayer for those who are serving through Saint Peter, and all around the world today. Have the same mind in you that was in Christ Jesus. This is not an easy calling. It is a lot to live up to, but it comes with a promise. Paul writes: it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure. We have a God who has high expectations of us. But we also have a God who gives us the will to do this, and who empowers our efforts. Ultimately, this is what makes it possible for us to end our worship the way we always do: with an affirmation of our calling and our gratitude: Go in peace. Serve the Lord. Thanks be to God. Amen. David J. Risendal, Pastor Gospel Lesson; English Text 2 21:23 When he entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him as he was teaching, and said, "By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?" 24 Jesus said to them, "I will also ask you one question; if you tell me the answer, then I will also tell you by what authority I do these things. 25 Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin?" And they argued with one another, "If we say, From heaven,' he will say to us, 2 A list of Bible lessons for the coming weeks is available at

3 The 16 th Sunday after Pentecost Proper 21A (September 28, 2014) 3 Why then did you not believe him?' 26 But if we say, Of human origin,' we are afraid of the crowd; for all regard John as a prophet." 27 So they answered Jesus, "We do not know." And he said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things. 28 "What do you think? A man had two sons; he went to the first and said, Son, go and work in the vineyard today.' 29 He answered, I will not'; but later he changed his mind and went. 30 The father went to the second and said the same; and he answered, I go, sir'; but he did not go. 31 Which of the two did the will of his father?" They said, "The first." Jesus said to them, "Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you. 32 For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him; and even after you saw it, you did not change your minds and believe him. 3 Gospel Lesson; Greek Text: 21:23 Καὶ ἐλθόντος αὐτοῦ εἰς τὸ ἱερὸν προσῆλθον αὐτῷ διδάσκοντι οἱ ἀρχιερεῖς καὶ οἱ πρεσβύτεροι τοῦ λαοῦ λέγοντες ἐν ποίᾳ ἐξουσίᾳ ταῦτα ποιεῖς; καὶ τίς σοι ἔδωκεν τὴν ἐξουσίαν ταύτην; 24 ἀποκριθεὶς δὲ ὁ Ἰησοῦς εἶπεν αὐτοῖς ἐρωτήσω ὑµᾶς καγὼ λόγον ἕνα, ὃν ἐὰν εἴπητε µοι καγὼ ὑµῖν ἐρῶ ἐν ποίᾳ ἐξουσίᾳ ταῦτα ποιῶ 25 τὸ βάπτισµα τὸ Ἰωάννου πόθεν ἦν; ἐξ οὐρανοῦ ἢ ἐξ ἀνθρώπων; οἱ δὲ διελογίζοντο ἐν ἑαυτοῖς λέγοντες ἐὰν εἴπωµεν ἐξ οὐρανοῦ, ἐρεῖ ἡµῖν διὰ τί οὖν οὐκ ἐπιστεύσατε αὐτῷ; 26 ἐὰν δὲ εἴπωµεν ἐξ ἀνθρώπων, φοβούµεθα τὸν ὄχλον, πάντες γὰρ ὡς προφήτην ἔχουσιν τὸν Ἰωάννην. 27 καὶ ἀποκριθέντες τῷ Ἰησοῦ εἶπαν οὐκ οἴδαµεν. ἔφη αὐτοῖς καὶ αὐτός οὐδὲ ἐγὼ λέγω ὑµῖν ἐν ποίᾳ ἐξουσίᾳ ταῦτα ποιῶ. 28 Τί δὲ ὑµῖν δοκεῖ; ἄνθρωπος εἶχεν τέκνα δύο. καὶ προσελθὼν τῷ πρώτῳ εἶπεν τέκνον, ὕπαγε σήµερον ἐργάζου ἐν τῷ ἀµπελῶνι. 29 ὁ δὲ ἀποκριθεὶς εἶπεν οὐ θέλω, ὕστερον δὲ µεταµεληθεὶς ἀπῆλθεν. 30 προσελθὼν δὲ τῷ ἑτέρῳ εἶπεν ὡσαύτως. ὁ δὲ ἀποκριθεὶς εἶπεν ἐγώ, κύριε, καὶ οὐκ ἀπῆλθεν. 31 τίς ἐκ τῶν δύο ἐποίησεν τὸ θέληµα τοῦ πατρός; λέγουσιν ὁ πρῶτος. λέγει αὐτοῖς ὁ Ἰησοῦς ἀµὴν λέγω ὑµῖν ὅτι οἱ τελῶναι καὶ αἱ πόρναι προάγουσιν ὑµᾶς εἰς τὴν βασιλείαν τοῦ θεοῦ. 32 ἦλθεν γὰρ Ἰωάννης πρὸς ὑµᾶς ἐν ὁδῷ δικαιοσύνης, καὶ οὐκ ἐπιστεύσατε αὐτῷ, οἱ δὲ τελῶναι καὶ αἱ πόρναι ἐπίστευσαν αὐτῷ ὑµεῖς δὲ ἰδόντες οὐδὲ µετεµελήθητε ὕστερον τοῦ πιστεῦσαι αὐτῷ. 4 First Lesson; English Text: 18.1 The word of the Lord came to me: 2 What do you mean by repeating this proverb concerning the land of Israel, The parents have eaten sour grapes, and the children s teeth are set on edge? 3 As I live, says the Lord God, this proverb shall no more be used by you in Israel. 4 Know that all lives are mine; the life of the parent as well as the life of the child is mine: it is only the person who sins that shall die. 25 Yet you say, The way of the Lord is unfair. Hear now, O house of Israel: Is my way unfair? Is it not your ways that are unfair? 26 When the righteous turn away from their righteousness and commit iniquity, they shall die for it; for the iniquity that they have committed they shall die. 27 Again, when the wicked turn away from the wickedness they have committed and do what is lawful and right, they shall save their life. 28 Because they considered and turned away from all the transgressions that they had committed, they shall surely live; they shall not die. 29 Yet the house of Israel 3 4 St. Matthew 21:23-32, New Revised Standard Version Bible ( 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America). St. Matthew 21:23-32, The Greek New Testament, Aland, Kurt, Black, Matthew, Martini, Carlo M., Metzger, Bruce M., and Wikgren, Allen, ( 1983, Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft Stuttgart).

4 The 16 th Sunday after Pentecost Proper 21A (September 28, 2014) 4 says, The way of the Lord is unfair. O house of Israel, are my ways unfair? Is it not your ways that are unfair? 30 Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, all of you according to your ways, says the Lord God. Repent and turn from all your transgressions; otherwise iniquity will be your ruin. 31 Cast away from you all the transgressions that you have committed against me, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit Why will you die, O house of Israel? 32 For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, says the Lord God. Turn, then, and live. 5 Second Lesson; English Text: 2.1 If then there is any encouragement in Christ, any consolation from love, any sharing in the Spirit, any compassion and sympathy, 2 make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others. 5 Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, 7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, 8 he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 12 Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed me, not only in my presence, but much more now in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure. 6 Second Lesson; Greek Text: 2:1 Εἴ τις οὖν παράκλησις ἐν Χριστῷ, εἴ τι παραµύθιον ἀγάπης, εἴ τις κοινωνία πνεύµατος, εἴ τις σπλάγχνα καὶ οἰκτιρµοί, 2 πληρώσατε µου τὴν χαρὰν ἵνα τὸ αὐτὸ φρονῆτε, τὴν αὐτὴν ἀγάπην ἔχοντες, σύµψυχοι, τὸ ἓν φρονοῦντες, 3 µηδὲν κατ ἐριθείαν µηδὲ κατὰ κενοδοξίαν, ἀλλὰ τῇ ταπεινοφροσύνῃ ἀλλήλους ἡγούµενοι ὑπερέχοντας ἑαυτῶν, 4 µὴ τὰ ἑαυτῶν ἕκαστος σκοποῦντες ἀλλὰ [καὶ] τὰ ἑτέρων ἕκαστοι. 5 Τοῦτο φρονεῖτε ἐν ὑµῖν ὃ καὶ ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ, 6 ὃς ἐν µορφῇ θεοῦ ὑπάρχων οὐχ ἁρπαγµὸν 5 6 Ezekiel 18:1-4, 25-32, New Revised Standard Version Bible, opp. cit. Philippians 2:1-13, New Revised Standard Version Bible, opp. cit.

5 The 16 th Sunday after Pentecost Proper 21A (September 28, 2014) 5 ἡγήσατο τὸ εἶναι ἴσα θεῷ, 7 ἀλλὰ ἑαυτὸν ἐκένωσεν µορφὴν δούλου λαβών, ἐν ὁµοιώµατι ἀνθρώπων γενόµενος καὶ σχήµατι εὑρεθεὶς ὡς ἄνθρωπος 8 ἐταπείνωσεν ἑαυτὸν γενόµενος ὑπήκοος µέχρι θανάτου, θανάτου δὲ σταυροῦ. 9 διὸ καὶ ὁ θεὸς αὐτὸν ὑπερύψωσεν καὶ ἐχαρίσατο αὐτῷ τὸ ὄνοµα τὸ ὑπὲρ πᾶν ὄνοµα, 10 ἵνα ἐν τῷ ὀνόµατι Ἰησοῦ πᾶν γόνυ κάµψῃ ἐπουρανίων καὶ ἐπιγείων καὶ καταχθονίων 11 καὶ πᾶσα γλῶσσα ἐξοµολογήσηται ὅτι κύριος Ἰησοῦς Χριστὸς εἰς δόξαν θεοῦ πατρός. 12 Ὥστε, ἀγαπητοί µου, καθὼς πάντοτε ὑπηκούσατε, µὴ ὡς ἐν τῇ παρουσίᾳ µου µόνον ἀλλὰ νῦν πολλῷ µᾶλλον ἐν τῇ ἀπουσίᾳ µου, µετὰ φόβου καὶ τρόµου τὴν ἑαυτῶν σωτηρίαν κατεργάζεσθε 13 θεὸς γάρ ἐστιν ὁ ἐνεργῶν ἐν ὑµῖν καὶ τὸ θέλειν καὶ τὸ ἐνεργεῖν ὑπὲρ τῆς εὐδοκίας. 7 7 Philippians 2:1-13, The Greek New Testament, opp. cit.