WEBVTT 1 00:00:01.025 --> 00:00:04.125 Grace and peace to you from our great God, in whom there is no 2 00:00:04.125 --> 00:00:05.125 darkness at all. Amen. 3 00:00:07.625 --> 00:00:08.525 Picture of this. 4 00:00:09.025 --> 00:00:13.425 You have just arrived at your new congregation St. 5 00:00:13.525 --> 00:00:15.125 Anonymous Evangelical 6 00:00:15.125 --> 00:00:16.025 Lutheran Church, 7 00:00:16.025 --> 00:00:17.625 any town, Nebraska. 8 00:00:18.825 --> 00:00:21.625 You walk in the front door, iand the first person you see, is this 9 00:00:21.625 --> 00:00:25.425 little old lady who's walking up to you as fast as she can. 10 00:00:26.025 --> 00:00:29.825 And so you think to yourself, this must be Grandma Schmidt. You've 11 00:00:29.825 --> 00:00:33.125 heard the stories already you smile 12 00:00:33.125 --> 00:00:37.725 you give a little wave, but she doesn't she just starts talking. 13 00:00:38.625 --> 00:00:40.325 I've got a question for you. 14 00:00:41.125 --> 00:00:42.825 I don't like Pastor Jones. 15 00:00:44.425 --> 00:00:47.725 Well, two things you think to yourself. First 16 00:00:47.725 --> 00:00:50.425 that's not a question and number two 17 00:00:50.425 --> 00:00:52.825 I don't think this involves me at all. 18 00:00:54.225 --> 00:00:57.325 But before you can say anything out loud, Grandma Schmidt keeps 19 00:00:57.325 --> 00:01:02.025 talking ever since Pastor Jones got here, five years ago. 20 00:01:02.025 --> 00:01:05.725 Everything has been going to hell in a handbasket. First 21 00:01:05.725 --> 00:01:07.425 he changed the communion wine. 22 00:01:07.925 --> 00:01:12.325 Then we started using the bad Hymnal and then he changed the name of 23 00:01:12.325 --> 00:01:13.225 the Luther room. 24 00:01:13.825 --> 00:01:17.025 The adult Bible study room is now the Luther room and the real Luther 25 00:01:17.025 --> 00:01:18.625 Room is now the nursery. 26 00:01:18.725 --> 00:01:20.225 It's unbelievable. 27 00:01:21.725 --> 00:01:22.925 Oh, you believe it. 28 00:01:23.625 --> 00:01:26.525 In fact, Doctor Rockenbach told you this would happen. 29 00:01:29.125 --> 00:01:30.325 You're new in town 30 00:01:30.325 --> 00:01:33.825 and that means people are going to start bringing their problems to 31 00:01:33.825 --> 00:01:34.125 you. 32 00:01:35.125 --> 00:01:37.525 He called it triangulation. 33 00:01:38.425 --> 00:01:41.625 Grandma Schmidt has a problem with Pastor Jones, but she's going to 34 00:01:41.625 --> 00:01:45.625 you instead because she would never think of going to Pastor Jones. 35 00:01:46.425 --> 00:01:49.125 She's going to talk about him but not to him. 36 00:01:50.125 --> 00:01:50.225 Now 37 00:01:50.225 --> 00:01:54.025 thankfully, the a practical Ministry department has prepared you for 38 00:01:54.025 --> 00:01:54.725 this day. 39 00:01:55.025 --> 00:01:56.525 You comb through your mental notes. 40 00:01:56.525 --> 00:01:58.425 You remember what you learned back in introduction 41 00:01:58.825 --> 00:02:00.325 to pastoral Ministry. 42 00:02:00.325 --> 00:02:02.325 You remember what you're supposed to do. 43 00:02:02.925 --> 00:02:05.025 And so you decide whatever you do 44 00:02:05.025 --> 00:02:08.425 you can't let Grandma Schmidt triangulate you into this problem 45 00:02:08.425 --> 00:02:10.025 she has with Pastor Jones. 46 00:02:10.425 --> 00:02:12.125 It's a petty dispute after all 47 00:02:12.125 --> 00:02:16.225 and so you're going to nod understandingly, walk her down the hall 48 00:02:16.225 --> 00:02:19.925 help her set up, a meeting with Pastor Jones, wash your hands of the 49 00:02:19.925 --> 00:02:22.425 situation and go about your busy day. 50 00:02:24.125 --> 00:02:28.125 But once again, Grandma Schmidt has more to say. As she tells you that 51 00:02:28.125 --> 00:02:32.325 she's already talked to the elders about this, and two of them agree 52 00:02:32.325 --> 00:02:32.925 with her. 53 00:02:33.725 --> 00:02:37.025 So, do three members of the Altar Guild, the fourth grade teacher and 54 00:02:37.025 --> 00:02:39.225 five participants in the Bible Breakfast 55 00:02:39.225 --> 00:02:39.825 Bunch. 56 00:02:41.625 --> 00:02:43.725 Some of them say they might even transfer 57 00:02:43.925 --> 00:02:46.225 if Pastor Jones doesn't change his ways 58 00:02:47.925 --> 00:02:49.925 and others say they might just stop giving. 59 00:02:51.925 --> 00:02:54.625 Grandma Schmidt does have a question after all. 60 00:02:55.625 --> 00:02:57.025 It's an implied question. 61 00:02:58.825 --> 00:02:59.825 Are you with us? 62 00:03:00.925 --> 00:03:01.925 Or are you with him? 63 00:03:03.925 --> 00:03:05.925 Introduction to pastoral Ministry 64 00:03:06.225 --> 00:03:08.225 could not prepare you for this after all. 65 00:03:08.725 --> 00:03:12.425 This is triangulation, but it's not just triangulation. 66 00:03:12.925 --> 00:03:16.425 This is an intricate web of dysfunction. 67 00:03:18.525 --> 00:03:19.425 Picture this. 68 00:03:20.925 --> 00:03:23.125 You have just arrived in St.Louis. 69 00:03:23.625 --> 00:03:27.525 You are the newest member of the Concordia Seminary Community. 70 00:03:28.125 --> 00:03:31.125 It seems like a vibrant welcoming place 71 00:03:31.125 --> 00:03:33.225 and for the most part, it is. 72 00:03:34.425 --> 00:03:39.125 You're excited to be here after years of praying and waiting. 73 00:03:40.725 --> 00:03:41.325 But pretty soon 74 00:03:41.325 --> 00:03:46.525 you start to notice some things and maybe your excitement dissipates. 75 00:03:47.225 --> 00:03:51.325 The first thing you notice is that everyone is exhausted. 76 00:03:52.225 --> 00:03:54.925 The first years are overwhelmed by the workload. 77 00:03:55.825 --> 00:03:58.625 The second years are just trying to hang on, trying to get to 78 00:03:58.625 --> 00:03:59.425 vicarage. 79 00:03:59.925 --> 00:04:03.325 The Deaconess students are tired of having to justify their presence, 80 00:04:03.325 --> 00:04:06.625 anywhere on campus. Half the fourth year 81 00:04:06.625 --> 00:04:07.125 students 82 00:04:07.125 --> 00:04:10.125 wish they were back at vicarage and the other half asked wish that you 83 00:04:10.125 --> 00:04:12.325 would never ask about their vicarage again. 84 00:04:13.925 --> 00:04:16.225 The Faculty all have way too much to do. 85 00:04:16.625 --> 00:04:19.825 So does the staff. The Advancement and Admissions 86 00:04:19.825 --> 00:04:24.425 Departments are working long hours to boost the endowments and 87 00:04:24.425 --> 00:04:26.025 enrollment of the Seminary. 88 00:04:27.325 --> 00:04:29.025 But that's not the worst part. 89 00:04:29.825 --> 00:04:30.925 The worst part 90 00:04:31.325 --> 00:04:35.625 is that exhausted people tend to have a lot of grievances. 91 00:04:36.725 --> 00:04:40.025 They may not have the power or the energy to solve their problems 92 00:04:41.225 --> 00:04:43.125 but they're going to complain about them for sure. 93 00:04:44.625 --> 00:04:47.825 And pretty soon, you start sounding a lot like Grandma Schmidt too. 94 00:04:49.325 --> 00:04:52.825 You talk about your neighbors, but not to them. 95 00:04:54.025 --> 00:04:59.125 I wish Chapel were different that professors class is useless. 96 00:04:59.925 --> 00:05:02.825 I can't believe we're still supposed to be wearing masks. 97 00:05:03.525 --> 00:05:06.425 I can't believe that our mask policy doesn't include the most 98 00:05:06.425 --> 00:05:08.425 populated buildings on campus. 99 00:05:09.825 --> 00:05:12.825 I can't believe he's going to be someone's Pastor someday. 100 00:05:15.725 --> 00:05:19.225 In reality, Grandma Schmidt is not the reason, Dr. 101 00:05:19.225 --> 00:05:22.325 Rockenbach needs to teach us about triangulation. 102 00:05:23.825 --> 00:05:24.425 I am 103 00:05:26.225 --> 00:05:26.825 and you are. 104 00:05:28.225 --> 00:05:32.725 Because when you talk or you tweet about your first and second person 105 00:05:32.725 --> 00:05:36.425 problems, in third person terms, you begin to spin a web of 106 00:05:36.425 --> 00:05:39.525 dysfunction that will eat you alive. 107 00:05:41.925 --> 00:05:42.625 And pretty soon 108 00:05:42.625 --> 00:05:45.225 everything is going to hell in a handbasket. 109 00:05:46.225 --> 00:05:50.625 And you begin to take your eyes off Christ because your hope becomes 110 00:05:50.625 --> 00:05:53.425 just that things will get a little bit easier 111 00:05:53.425 --> 00:05:58.325 in the short term. Your big dreams of serving in our Lord's church at 112 00:05:58.325 --> 00:06:03.225 any cost, have been replaced by self-serving prayer requests 113 00:06:03.925 --> 00:06:06.625 that everything that bothers you would just go away. 114 00:06:09.325 --> 00:06:15.125 If in Christ, we have hope in this life only, we are of all people 115 00:06:15.125 --> 00:06:17.025 most to be pitied. 116 00:06:19.625 --> 00:06:20.425 Picture this. 117 00:06:21.625 --> 00:06:24.425 You are a faithful Christian in ancient. 118 00:06:24.425 --> 00:06:25.025 Corinth. 119 00:06:25.925 --> 00:06:29.925 You don't have much by today's standards, but you have a home and you 120 00:06:29.925 --> 00:06:33.925 believe in Jesus and you belong to a moderately prominent 121 00:06:33.925 --> 00:06:34.825 congregation. 122 00:06:36.425 --> 00:06:38.025 Your name is Chloe. 123 00:06:38.825 --> 00:06:41.925 Now, you're not as old as grandma Schmidt, but you have way more life 124 00:06:41.925 --> 00:06:46.525 experience than a seminary education ever could provide. And you're 125 00:06:46.525 --> 00:06:50.525 normally not one to complain, but you look around at church and 126 00:06:50.525 --> 00:06:53.325 everything is going to hell in a handbasket. 127 00:06:54.525 --> 00:06:57.125 Everyone at church has a different favorite preacher. 128 00:06:57.825 --> 00:07:01.225 Some have turned the Lord's Supper into an all-you-can-eat buffet and 129 00:07:01.225 --> 00:07:02.425 others get nothing. 130 00:07:02.725 --> 00:07:06.025 This is cause spiritual but also physical harm. 131 00:07:07.625 --> 00:07:10.225 Others are beginning to question whether they should have listened to 132 00:07:10.225 --> 00:07:12.525 that, Paul guy at all. 133 00:07:13.325 --> 00:07:16.625 And if that weren't enough, there's members of this congregation suing 134 00:07:16.625 --> 00:07:20.125 each other. And if that weren't enough, there's one guy who's having an 135 00:07:20.125 --> 00:07:21.525 affair with his stepmom. 136 00:07:22.225 --> 00:07:23.225 Even the Romans 137 00:07:23.225 --> 00:07:27.525 look at this church at this dysfunctional situation with horror. 138 00:07:29.325 --> 00:07:34.025 And so you send word to Paul, he is at Ephesus now, but you know him 139 00:07:34.025 --> 00:07:37.225 well enough from his lengthy, stay in Corinth a while back. 140 00:07:38.925 --> 00:07:40.225 You are desperate. 141 00:07:41.725 --> 00:07:43.125 Is this triangulation? 142 00:07:44.525 --> 00:07:49.725 Maybe, but it's also your best chance to call the church back to 143 00:07:49.725 --> 00:07:50.525 faithfulness. 144 00:07:51.625 --> 00:07:54.825 And then one day you receive a letter from Paul. 145 00:07:55.025 --> 00:07:58.925 And so you open the letter with haste and as you begin to read this 146 00:07:58.925 --> 00:08:04.025 letter from Paul, you recognize that he is modeling, Christian 147 00:08:04.025 --> 00:08:09.425 reconciliation because Paul does not triangulate the problem further. 148 00:08:09.925 --> 00:08:11.625 He names names. 149 00:08:12.025 --> 00:08:14.125 He addresses the sin of the Corinthians 150 00:08:14.325 --> 00:08:20.525 head-on. He calls them to repentance and he affirms this message that 151 00:08:20.525 --> 00:08:23.625 he has received from God and has been proclaiming to them from the 152 00:08:23.625 --> 00:08:24.825 very beginning. 153 00:08:25.625 --> 00:08:30.925 It's a message that dysfunction is not the way of Christ. Division is 154 00:08:30.925 --> 00:08:35.725 not the way of Christ. Dissension is not the way of Christ. 155 00:08:36.825 --> 00:08:41.025 The way of Christ is crucifixion and resurrection. 156 00:08:41.925 --> 00:08:46.825 And that's why Paul writes this letter, because Paul knows that you 157 00:08:46.825 --> 00:08:47.825 need Jesus 158 00:08:47.925 --> 00:08:54.725 just as much as he does. Jesus refuses to be separated triangulated 159 00:08:54.825 --> 00:08:57.025 from his body, the church. 160 00:08:58.625 --> 00:09:03.025 Because while Paul was still breathing threats and murder against the 161 00:09:03.025 --> 00:09:08.825 Church of Jesus Christ, Jesus himself, stepped in and he said, Paul 162 00:09:08.825 --> 00:09:11.925 why are you persecuting me? 163 00:09:13.825 --> 00:09:18.625 An attack against the church is an attack against the very body of 164 00:09:18.625 --> 00:09:19.225 Christ. 165 00:09:20.525 --> 00:09:23.425 Especially when that attack comes from within. 166 00:09:25.025 --> 00:09:29.325 And Paul cannot and will not sit idly by and let the church suffer by 167 00:09:29.325 --> 00:09:30.325 her own hand. 168 00:09:31.925 --> 00:09:33.325 He is a minister of Christ 169 00:09:33.325 --> 00:09:35.525 so he does what Christ would have him do. 170 00:09:37.125 --> 00:09:42.925 He reminds us all of God's commands and God's promises and it all 171 00:09:42.925 --> 00:09:48.725 meets here, here in 1st Corinthians, chapter 15, where Paul affirms 172 00:09:49.025 --> 00:09:52.125 the blessed reality of the Resurrection. 173 00:09:53.525 --> 00:09:55.825 If in Christ, we have hope in this life only 174 00:09:55.825 --> 00:09:58.225 we are of all people most to be pitied, 175 00:09:58.225 --> 00:10:03.625 he writes. In other words, if your hope ends when you die, your hope is 176 00:10:03.625 --> 00:10:05.025 no hope at all. 177 00:10:05.625 --> 00:10:09.025 If life is short, and then you die and there's nothing else. 178 00:10:09.025 --> 00:10:10.625 Go ahead, keep spinning 179 00:10:10.625 --> 00:10:12.225 your web of dysfunction. 180 00:10:14.725 --> 00:10:17.525 But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead. 181 00:10:19.225 --> 00:10:22.125 The first fruits of all those who have fallen asleep. 182 00:10:23.625 --> 00:10:29.525 And that makes all the difference in the world in this world and in 183 00:10:29.525 --> 00:10:31.325 the life of the world to come. 184 00:10:33.825 --> 00:10:34.625 Picture this. 185 00:10:35.825 --> 00:10:40.225 You are your sinful self one part Grandma Schmidt. 186 00:10:41.325 --> 00:10:41.825 One part 187 00:10:41.825 --> 00:10:44.925 disillusioned seminarian. One part 188 00:10:44.925 --> 00:10:45.425 faithful 189 00:10:45.425 --> 00:10:46.825 Chloe of Corinth. 190 00:10:47.925 --> 00:10:52.225 And you were caught up in this web of dysfunction here in the church. 191 00:10:53.025 --> 00:10:56.725 This one, holy Christian Apostolic church 192 00:10:56.725 --> 00:11:00.525 that so often seems to embody none of those adjectives. 193 00:11:02.025 --> 00:11:03.425 You have been hurt here. 194 00:11:04.925 --> 00:11:07.225 And you have hurt others here. 195 00:11:09.025 --> 00:11:12.625 But because of the death and the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 196 00:11:12.825 --> 00:11:15.825 dysfunction does not get the final word. 197 00:11:17.025 --> 00:11:20.625 Because while you were still stuck in your trespasses, while you were 198 00:11:20.625 --> 00:11:25.425 still triangulated from God by your sin, Jesus, humbled himself to be 199 00:11:25.425 --> 00:11:30.025 born into this very web of dysfunction. Day by day 200 00:11:30.025 --> 00:11:34.725 He showed you what it looks like to live differently to pursue 201 00:11:34.725 --> 00:11:41.025 reconciliation instead of retaliation to seek the cross instead of 202 00:11:41.025 --> 00:11:41.825 comfort. 203 00:11:42.925 --> 00:11:48.625 Defines your life by losing it. And at the proper time knowing full 204 00:11:48.625 --> 00:11:51.625 well, that you could do none of these things on your own. 205 00:11:52.625 --> 00:11:58.925 Jesus Christ, chose your life over his in order to reconcile you to 206 00:11:58.925 --> 00:12:00.325 your heavenly Father. 207 00:12:01.925 --> 00:12:06.925 He destroyed this deathly web of dysfunction on his cross to preserve 208 00:12:06.925 --> 00:12:07.625 his one 209 00:12:07.625 --> 00:12:10.425 Holy Christian and Apostolic Church. 210 00:12:11.425 --> 00:12:15.725 The triangulation of sin does not get the last word because death 211 00:12:15.725 --> 00:12:17.325 does not get the last word. 212 00:12:18.425 --> 00:12:19.625 By his resurrection 213 00:12:19.625 --> 00:12:24.225 Jesus paves the way for all the faithful to rise to new life in him. 214 00:12:25.225 --> 00:12:29.725 If in Christ, we have hope in this life only we are of all people most 215 00:12:29.725 --> 00:12:30.625 to be pitied. 216 00:12:32.325 --> 00:12:35.525 But if indeed Christ, Jesus has been raised from the dead. 217 00:12:35.725 --> 00:12:38.825 If indeed the resurrection changes everything. 218 00:12:38.825 --> 00:12:41.425 Then Jesus has changed you too. 219 00:12:42.425 --> 00:12:44.825 He has buried your sin in his tomb. 220 00:12:45.025 --> 00:12:49.725 He has gone to Hell handbasket and all to declare victory over sin and 221 00:12:49.725 --> 00:12:51.125 death for you. 222 00:12:52.125 --> 00:12:55.825 He emerges from the grave victorious for you. 223 00:12:57.825 --> 00:12:59.125 Brothers and sisters 224 00:12:59.125 --> 00:13:07.225 this Resurrection is our hope. It is a hope that transforms and defines 225 00:13:07.225 --> 00:13:08.125 our lives. 226 00:13:08.725 --> 00:13:12.225 It is a hope that calls us to live according to this Resurrection 227 00:13:12.325 --> 00:13:13.025 promise. 228 00:13:14.025 --> 00:13:20.625 To live lives of reconciliation and gentleness and sacrificial love. 229 00:13:22.125 --> 00:13:25.725 To lay down our petty grievances and follow Jesus. 230 00:13:26.725 --> 00:13:28.725 Especially when we don't feel like it. 231 00:13:31.025 --> 00:13:32.725 So what does this look like in practice? 232 00:13:34.525 --> 00:13:36.925 Once more please picture this. 233 00:13:38.625 --> 00:13:40.325 You are Onesimus. 234 00:13:41.625 --> 00:13:46.725 You are away without leave from the household of Philemon, a prominent 235 00:13:46.725 --> 00:13:48.925 Christian who very likely mistreated 236 00:13:48.925 --> 00:13:49.325 you. 237 00:13:50.325 --> 00:13:52.225 And in response, you mistreated him. 238 00:13:53.425 --> 00:13:58.025 You ran away to Paul seeking liberation from Philemon, but instead you 239 00:13:58.025 --> 00:14:02.725 found something far greater. You found the liberation of the Gospel of 240 00:14:02.725 --> 00:14:04.125 Jesus Christ. 241 00:14:05.125 --> 00:14:08.925 It's a liberation that calls you to do the unthinkable. 242 00:14:10.525 --> 00:14:15.025 To reconcile with your estranged master in love. 243 00:14:16.125 --> 00:14:21.425 To resurrect a dead relationship because of the blood of Jesus Christ. 244 00:14:23.225 --> 00:14:28.025 And so Paul sends you back to Philemon and Paul promises to repay 245 00:14:28.025 --> 00:14:29.925 whatever you owe Philemon. 246 00:14:31.225 --> 00:14:35.425 And he tells Philemon to do the right thing too. Not to treat you 247 00:14:35.425 --> 00:14:37.125 anymore as a slave 248 00:14:37.125 --> 00:14:40.325 but as a fellow brother in Christ. 249 00:14:41.625 --> 00:14:47.925 Because the free person is a slave to Christ and the slave is free in 250 00:14:47.925 --> 00:14:48.625 Christ. 251 00:14:51.325 --> 00:14:54.925 Today, we commemorate Onesimus and Philemon. 252 00:14:56.325 --> 00:15:03.325 For a short time estranged enemies in the flesh, but now and always 253 00:15:03.325 --> 00:15:06.725 together brothers in Christ, Jesus. 254 00:15:08.125 --> 00:15:12.825 Onesimus and Philemon show us that the resurrection indeed does lead 255 00:15:12.825 --> 00:15:16.825 to reconciliation and what a beautiful promise that is. 256 00:15:18.425 --> 00:15:24.925 My friends, your sins are forgiven because Jesus is risen go and be 257 00:15:24.925 --> 00:15:29.125 reconciled in the name of our resurrected Lord and Savior, Jesus 258 00:15:29.125 --> 00:15:29.725 Christ. 259 00:15:30.725 --> 00:15:31.225 Amen.