Sermon Tone Analysis

confession

For those sins we have committed against you – some with a high hand, some unintentional, some simply from living among sinful men – and yet all is unclean before you.

We confess that.

Forgive us, we pray, as we face our sins squarely and mourn.

We place our only hope in the perfect sacrifice of Christ, and cling to his promises – cleanse us.

Wash us free.

Remind us of our baptism, that our sins are washed away, separated from us as far as the east is from the west.

Assurance

Scripture

Prayer

Gracious father

We thank you that you remember that we are dust, that we also fade and die like the flowers of the field.

But even though this life is fleeting and fades away, your are our rock; your word is forever settled in the heavens, and we are safe in you and in your love for us.

Teach us then to number our days, and hallow and magnify your name.

Teach us to exalt you.

To declare your marvelous works to the universe.

Teach us that even though we are weak, you are strong.

Even though we are fading, you are eternal.

Even though we age and falter and stumble, you are a rock and your promises never fade away.

Father we long for your kingdom.

We long to be faithful citizens of that kingdom, so govern us by your word and spirit that we might submit ourselves to you more and more.

Bless the proclamation of your word today.

Destroy the works of the devil, and everyone who seeks to overthrow your word.

Destroy the false shepherds leading your people astray, and raise up in their place faithful men to proclaim your word, so that we might not be confounded.

That we might be firmly established in faith and patience as we wait for the fullness of thy kingdom.

We thank you for your provision for us, and pray that you will continue to provide what is necessary for our bodies, that we might render those bodies as living sacrifices to you.

Give health, we pray.

For all of those suffering from the ailments of living in a cursed world, we do not even know how to pray, so we leave it in your hands.

Grant patience, faith, and trust – that even when our bodies fade, we might look to you and not falter in this cursed world.

Give health to Jessica and to Roger, Bud and Hugo, and Steve.

Be merciful to Ronda and give her doctors success in treating her.

Father, we pray that you would give us a fragrance of life and draw your people in, wherever they might be.

May we be a light in the darkness and hope in despair.

Send your light and send peace.

Keep our feet free from wandering and our tongues from sinning against you.

How often we travel this world with the dust on our feet, the infirmities that still cling to us, the warfare of the flesh – and so we cling to your promises.

Not by works which we have done, for they are all defiled by sin – but by your grace we are saved.

Thank you for the blood of Christ that washes away all of our sins.

Thank you for your love and your care and your faithfulness to each of us over this past year.

There have been many snares.

Many difficulties.

Many hard issues.

There have been anxious worries, restless nights, loneliness and fears – but you have walked with us through them all.

And you have never left us.

Teach us then to be kind and generous, forgiving and loving.

Open our hearts wide that we might be good children of our heavenly father, patient, kind, forgiving, forbearing – that the world may see that we serve a holy and just and merciful Father.

And Father, the world, the flesh and the devil assail us without ceasing.

Lift us on our feet; clothe us with your armor – your word and your spirit, faith and hope – that we might make firm stand against our enemies.

Gather the wandering and the outcast; forgive those who have gone astray; give strength to the weak, patience to the sick; health to the bones; courage to the fearful; deliverance to the captive; freedom for the oppressed, and peace to the unquiet heart

And together

Text

Sermon

In April of this year, I preached on the triumphant entry from the gospel of Matthew.

The first thing to remind ourselves of is that Jesus entered riding on a colt.

This was a profound statement of Jesus as the rightful king of Jerusalem, worthy of honor.

No one rode into Jerusalem.

Everyone, from Alexander the Great to the peasants, walked.

Also, riding into Jerusalem on a colt was a reminder to the last king to do so - Solomon.

David put his son Solomon on a colt to put his stamp of authenticity on his choice of heir.

All Jerusalem understood that.

Mark tells us that Jesus entered while all Jerusalem welcomed him as the king.

But then he went into the temple, looked around, saw that it was getting late, and went back to Bethany to stay at his friends’ home.

The cleansing of the temple took place the next day.

The reason I am pointing this out is here:

Jesus is indeed the rightful heir to the throne of David.

He is the king of kings and Lord of Lords.

He was received as king, he did not correct any of them.

He accepted their praise and worship as a king, and he chose to make a huge statement when he rode into Jerusalem.

But he is a king unlike any other.

Even the Romans, who would have been very aware of the commotion at the East Gate, watched him and understood that he was not a threat.

At least not a threat in the traditional sense of the word.

But he was the prince of peace.

Isaiah spoke of the king in these words.

The prince of peace.

And at his birth, the angels sang, Peace on earth.

Here in his entry as the king of kings, the crowds sing “Peace in heaven”

Peace

The concept of peace in the bible is far greater than simply the cessation of hostility.

It, of course, includes that - but so much more.

It means wholeness, soundness, harmony, contentment.

It means to fit in, to be accepted.

To be loved and to love.

To know and to be known.

To live in harmony, each part fitting together, glorious diversity blending together into beautiful unity.

It is when the barn is full and the children are in bed and the wine is opened and you are sitting on the porch with your spouse and the snow starts to fall on Christmas Eve...

It is when your enemies have lost their power and can no longer touch you, when the cold and frost are safely outside and the fire is crackling and you have plenty of wood for the winter.

It is when your work pays off and your efforts prosper, your crops grow and multiply 100 fold, and the aphids are under control.

It is what we all long for.

It is how we were created.

It is the garden without the thorns and thistles, love without the shame, companionship without the blameshifting, walking with God without being afraid of his voice, no fear of death, or the futility of life, or the uselessness of riches, or the vanity of youth and beauty.

Peace is when we walk with God without fear.

Peace is when we have communion with one another without fear and without condemnation.

Peace is when our bodies are fit and healthy and contented and calm, our stomachs aren’t in knots, our sweat isn’t pouring down, our hearts aren’t racing.

We aren’t afraid of threats, our traumas are healed, our tears are wiped away...

It is what we all long for.

And on this earth, we can find glimpses.

We can do things that bring about a shadow of this peace.

We can eat healthy and exercise.

We can breathe and learn to quiet our thoughts.

We can go to therapy to learn how to deal with trauma.