adopted by God we share what we have received grace given to all Sermon Grace to you and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

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1 Pastor David J. Risendal facebook Dave Risendal Twitter: drisendal Saint Peter Lutheran Church 9300 East Belleview Avenue Greenwood Village, Colorado voice: 303/ fax: 303/ ADOPTED BY GOD The Second Sunday of Christmas (Year A) January 5, 20 Lessons Jeremiah 31:7- or Sirach 24:1-12 Psalm 7:12-20 or Wisdom of Solomon 10:15-21 Ephesians 1:3- St. John 1: [1-9] Almighty God, you have filled all the earth with the light of your incarnate Word. By your grace empower us to reflect your light in all that we do, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. adopted by God we share what we have received grace given to all Prayer of the Day Sermon Grace to you and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Ephesians is the tenth book of the New Testament. In the two verses that precede today s second lesson, it is identified as a letter the Apostle Paul wrote to Christians who were living in the Greek town of Ephesus. We don t know much about what occasioned this letter. It may have been written to the Christians in Ephesus. More likely, it was a circular letter sent to a number of towns in the area and the copy that ended up in our Bible was the one found in Ephesus, so the name remained attached. It may have been written by the Apostle Paul himself, or it may have been written by one of his followers, as an attempt to honor him. We don t know much about the background to this letter, but we do know this: It is a letter that speaks of the great and powerful love of God; a love which brings Jews and Gentiles together in faith; a love which gives all who believe a strong foundation in Jesus Christ. 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 Second Sunday of Christmas Year A (January 5, 20) 2 For the Apostle, God s love isn t just a philosophical or theological concept. It is a life-changing reality. I m sure most of you know Paul s story: how he was one of the bright, young, ambitious leaders in the first century Jewish community; how he was deeply offended that people in his day thought of Jesus as the Son of God; how he aggressively chased down members of The Way (his name for the Christian church), so he could throw them in jail before they had a chance to convince others of their beliefs; and most importantly, how Paul met the Risen Christ on the road to Damascus an experience that completely transformed Paul s understanding of God, and what God is up to in this world. From that moment on, the Apostle Paul would spend the rest of his life trying to put into words the difference Christ made for him. Like, for instance, in this lesson from Ephesians, that speaks in such rich ways about adoption. As Paul put it, God chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him in love. And God destined us for adoption as children of God through Jesus Christ. Chosen in Christ; adopted as God s children; united with God and with each other in Christ. I love this image of what it means to be a child of God. There were plenty of people in Paul s day, and there are plenty today, who think the life of faith is all about living according to some sort of a Godly standard. In days gone by we were encouraged to abstain from drinking, dancing and playing cards. (Right?) These days it may have to do with embracing a certain set of doctrines, or promoting a certain set of social values, or spending time and energy on a certain number of charitable causes. Paul knew better. He spent the better portion of his early life trying to live up to a Godly standard, and he failed miserably. The harder he tried, the more aware he became about how far short he was falling. Paul never knew what it meant to live in faith until Christ took hold of him, chose him, adopted him, and graced him with an irrevocable place in God s family. That s the way adoption works, you know. An adoptee doesn t earn the right to be adopted. An adoptee isn t welcomed into the family because some high personal standard has been met. Adoption is the act of embracing someone, with all the strengths and faults they bring to the table, and making a permanent place for them in the family. I love this image of adoption from Ephesians, as we consider what it means to belong to God s family. All of this makes me think of Jackie Turner. My family and I were introduced to her by the television program CBS Sunday Morning. Born to a mother she never met, and a dad she wished she hadn t, Jackie took out an advertisement on Craig s List one year, looking for a mom and dad she could rent for the holidays. She just wanted to brighten their lives for a moment, and have her own life brightened a bit. Take a look at this brief video for a look at what happened after Jackie posted that ad. Link here for the story of Jackie Turner: A powerful story about a young woman who, in the midst of her own brokenness, realized what was missing in her life. She was longing for life-giving relationships that could become part of her wholeness. Even though she hadn t grown up with these kinds of relationships, she had a sense for how important they could be, and how much they could add to life. I love the sense of hope that runs through this clip, as you imagine what her next Christmas might be like with the woman she now calls her mentor. But even more, I love the fact that the story turned out so differently from how she first imagined it. Not only did she find some of what she had been missing in having a family to share the holidays with her. She also found out that there are many others like her who feel lost and alone especially when the Christmas season rolls around. Understanding how much this new gift of family would mean to her, she became passionate about making it possible for others to experience the same

3 The Second Sunday of Christmas Year A (January 5, 20) 3 gift. Understanding how these relationships would ground her in a love that her life had long been missing, she made it possible for others to experience this same love. In this rent-a-family story Jackie Turner has now become both a recipient and an agent of love and grace and acceptance and companionship. It sounds just a little bit like the Apostle Paul, doesn t it? Paul writes that God chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him in love and destined us for adoption as children of God through Jesus Christ. Paul experienced first-hand what it means to be adopted, by Christ, into God s family. It means that grace is freely bestowed upon us. It means that we are redeemed that we are rescued from the consequence of our sinfulness. It means that the mystery of God s will is made known to us. It means that we have obtained an inheritance. It means that we are marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit. This is how Paul writes about the love of Christ that adopts him into the family of God, and the many ways it has blessed him. And here is how Paul lives it: from the moment he meets Christ until the moment he dies, he spends every waking hour trying to help others have the same experience with Christ. The gift of adoption given to the Apostle Paul becomes the driving force of his life. It grounds him in a peace and a joy that he has never before experienced. It drives him to help the people of his day and you and me experience that same peace and joy. Do you see how this changes him? In the first part of his life, as he is striving to please God, he is consumed by the desire to punish those who believe differently than he does. In the second part of his life, as he is transformed by God s adopting grace, he is consumed by the desire to help others experience this same grace, and be welcomed by God. This seems like a pretty good model for the life of faith, doesn t it? And a pretty good image for what our congregation s mission statement is all about. We are all welcomed into the love of God adopted as children of the promise, just as we are. And we are all sent into the world, to invite others into an experience of Christ s love. With the Apostle Paul, and Jackie Turner, let s be on the lookout this week for ways that we can do just this David J. Risendal, Pastor Gospel Lesson; English Text 2 [ 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being 4 in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. 6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. 8 He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. 9 The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.] 10 He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. 12 But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father s only son, full of grace and truth. 15 (John testified to him and cried out, This was he of 2 A list of Bible lessons for the coming weeks is available at

4 The Second Sunday of Christmas Year A (January 5, 20) 4 whom I said, He who comes after me ranks ahead of me because he was before me. ) 16 From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17 The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father s heart, who has made him known. 3 Gospel Lesson; Greek Text: 1:1 Ἐν ἀρχῇ ἦν ὁ λόγος, καὶ ὁ λόγος ἦν πρὸς τὸν θεόν, καὶ θεὸς ἦν ὁ λόγος. 2 οὗτος ἦν ἐν ἀρχῇ πρὸς τὸν θεόν. 3 πάντα δἰ αὐτοῦ ἐγένετο, καὶ χωρὶς αὐτοῦ ἐγένετο οὐδὲ ἕν. ὃ γέγονεν 4 ἐν αὐτῷ ζωὴ ἦν, καὶ ἡ ζωὴ ἦν τὸ φῶς τῶν ἀνθρώπων 5 καὶ τὸ φῶς ἐν τῇ σκοτίᾳ φαίνει, καὶ ἡ σκοτία αὐτὸ οὐ κατέλαβεν. 6 Ἐγένετο ἄνθρωπος, ἀπεσταλµένος παρὰ θεοῦ, ὄνοµα αὐτῷ Ἰωάννης 7 οὗτος ἦλθεν εἰς µαρτυρίαν ἵνα µαρτυρήσῃ περὶ τοῦ φωτός, ἵνα πάντες πιστεύσωσιν δἰ αὐτοῦ. 8 οὐκ ἦν ἐκεῖνος τὸ φῶς, ἀλλ ἵνα µαρτυρήσῃ περὶ τοῦ φωτός. 9 Ἦν τὸ φῶς τὸ ἀληθινόν, ὃ φωτίζει πάντα ἄνθρωπον, ἐρχόµενον εἰς τὸν κόσµον. 10 ἐν τῷ κόσµῳ ἦν, καὶ ὁ κόσµος δἰ αὐτοῦ ἐγένετο, καὶ ὁ κόσµος αὐτὸν οὐκ ἔγνω. 11 εἰς τὰ ἴδια ἦλθεν, καὶ οἱ ἴδιοι αὐτὸν οὐ παρέλαβον. 12 ὅσοι δὲ ἔλαβον αὐτόν, ἔδωκεν αὐτοῖς ἐξουσίαν τέκνα θεοῦ γενέσθαι, τοῖς πιστεύουσιν εἰς τὸ ὄνοµα αὐτοῦ, 13 οἳ οὐκ ἐξ αἱµάτων οὐδὲ ἐκ θελήµατος σαρκὸς οὐδὲ ἐκ θελήµατος ἀνδρὸς ἀλλ ἐκ θεοῦ ἐγεννήθησαν. Καὶ ὁ λόγος σὰρξ ἐγένετο καὶ ἐσκήνωσεν ἐν ἡµῖν, καὶ ἐθεασάµεθα τὴν δόξαν αὐτοῦ, δόξαν ὡς µονογενοῦς παρὰ πατρός, πλήρης χάριτος καὶ ἀληθείας. 15 Ἰωάννης µαρτυρεῖ περὶ αὐτοῦ καὶ κέκραγεν λέγων οὗτος ἦν ὃν εἶπον ὁ ὀπίσω µου ἐρχόµενος ἔµπροσθεν µου γέγονεν, ὅτι πρῶτος µου ἦν. 16 ὅτι ἐκ τοῦ πληρώµατος αὐτοῦ ἡµεῖς πάντες ἐλάβοµεν καὶ χάριν ἀντὶ χάριτος 17 ὅτι ὁ νόµος διὰ Μωϋσέως ἐδόθη, ἡ χάρις καὶ ἡ ἀλήθεια διὰ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ ἐγένετο. 18 Θεὸν οὐδεὶς ἑώρακεν πώποτε µονογενὴς θεὸς ὁ ὢν εἰς τὸν κόλπον τοῦ πατρὸς ἐκεῖνος ἐξηγήσατο. 4 First Lesson; English Text: 31.7 For thus says the Lord: Sing aloud with gladness for Jacob, and raise shouts for the chief of the nations; proclaim, give praise, and say, Save, O Lord, your people, the remnant of Israel. 8 See, I am going to bring them from the land of the north, and gather them from the farthest parts of the earth, among them the blind and the lame, those with child and those in labor, together; a great company, they shall return here. 9 With weeping they shall come, and with consolations I will lead them back, I will let them walk by brooks of water, in a straight path in which they shall not stumble; for I have become a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn. 10 Hear the word of the Lord, O nations, and declare it in the coastlands far away; say, He who scattered Israel will gather him, and will keep him as a shepherd a flock. 11 For the Lord has ransomed Jacob, and has redeemed him from hands too strong for him. 3 St. John 1: [1-9] 10-18, 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. John 1: [1-9] 10-18, The Greek New Testament, Aland, Kurt, Black, Matthew, Martini, Carlo M., Metzger, Bruce M., and 4 Wikgren, Allen, ( 1983, Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft Stuttgart).

5 The Second Sunday of Christmas Year A (January 5, 20) 5 12 They shall come and sing aloud on the height of Zion, and they shall be radiant over the goodness of the Lord, over the grain, the wine, and the oil, and over the young of the flock and the herd; their life shall become like a watered garden, and they shall never languish again. 13 Then shall the young women rejoice in the dance, and the young men and the old shall be merry. I will turn their mourning into joy, I will comfort them, and give them gladness for sorrow. I will give the priests their fill of fatness, and my people shall be satisfied with my bounty, says the Lord. 5 Second Lesson; English Text: 1.3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4 just as he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him in love. 5 He destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace that he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace 8 that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and insight 9 he has made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth in Christ, 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. 11 In Christ we have also obtained an inheritance, having been destined according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to his counsel and will, 12 so that we, who were the first to set our hope on Christ, might live for the praise of his glory. 13 In him you also, when you had heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and had believed in him, were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit; this is the pledge of our inheritance toward redemption as God s own people, to the praise of his glory. 6 Second Lesson; Greek Text: 1:3 Εὐλογητὸς ὁ θεὸς καὶ πατὴρ τοῦ κυρίου ἡµῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, ὁ εὐλογήσας ἡµᾶς ἐν πάσῃ εὐλογίᾳ πνευµατικῇ ἐν τοῖς ἐπουρανίοις ἐν Χριστῷ, 4 καθὼς ἐξελέξατο ἡµᾶς ἐν αὐτῷ πρὸ καταβολῆς κόσµου εἶναι ἡµᾶς ἁγίους καὶ ἀµώµους κατενώπιον αὐτοῦ ἐν ἀγάπῃ, 5 προορίσας ἡµᾶς εἰς υἱοθεσίαν διὰ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ εἰς αὐτόν, κατὰ τὴν εὐδοκίαν τοῦ θελήµατος αὐτοῦ, 6 εἰς ἔπαινον δόξης τῆς χάριτος αὐτοῦ ἧς ἐχαρίτωσεν ἡµᾶς ἐν τῷ ἠγαπηµένῳ. 7 Ἐν ᾧ ἔχοµεν τὴν ἀπολύτρωσιν διὰ τοῦ αἵµατος αὐτοῦ, τὴν ἄφεσιν τῶν παραπτωµάτων, κατὰ τὸ πλοῦτος τῆς χάριτος αὐτοῦ 8 ἧς ἐπερίσσευσεν εἰς ἡµᾶς, ἐν πάσῃ σοφίᾳ καὶ φρονήσει, 9 γνωρίσας ἡµῖν τὸ µυστήριον τοῦ θελήµατος αὐτοῦ, κατὰ τὴν εὐδοκίαν αὐτοῦ ἣν προέθετο ἐν αὐτῷ 10 εἰς οἰκονοµίαν τοῦ πληρώµατος τῶν καιρῶν, ἀνακεφαλαιώσασθαι τὰ πάντα ἐν τῷ Χριστῷ, τὰ ἐπὶ τοῖς οὐρανοῖς καὶ τὰ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς ἐν αὐτῷ. 11 Ἐν ᾧ καὶ ἐκληρώθηµεν προορισθέντες κατὰ πρόθεσιν τοῦ τὰ πάντα ἐνεργοῦντος κατὰ τὴν βουλὴν τοῦ θελήµατος αὐτοῦ 12 εἰς τὸ εἶναι ἡµᾶς εἰς ἔπαινον δόξης αὐτοῦ τοὺς προηλπικότας ἐν τῷ Χριστῷ. 13 Ἐν ᾧ καὶ ὑµεῖς ἀκούσαντες τὸν λόγον τῆς ἀληθείας, τὸ εὐαγγέλιον τῆς σωτηρίας ὑµῶν, ἐν ᾧ καὶ πιστεύσαντες ἐσφραγίσθητε τῷ πνεύµατι τῆς ἐπαγγελίας τῷ ἁγίῳ, ὅ ἐστιν ἀρραβὼν τῆς κληρονοµίας ἡµῶν, εἰς ἀπολύτρωσιν τῆς περιποιήσεως, εἰς ἔπαινον τῆς δόξης αὐτοῦ. 7 5 Jeremiah 31:7-, 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). 6 Ephesians 1:3-, 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). Ephesians 1:3-, The Greek New Testament, Aland, Kurt, Black, Matthew, Martini, Carlo M., Metzger, Bruce M., and 7 Wikgren, Allen, ( 1983, Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft Stuttgart).