WEBVTT

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Please be seated.

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Grace, mercy and peace

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be to you from God, our heavenly Father and our Lord Jesus Christ.

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Amen.

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Our text is a selection from the pericope just read.

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Preach the word be instant in season out of season reprove rebuke,

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exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine. For the time will come

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when they will not endure sound doctrine, but after their own lusts,

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shall they heap to themselves teachers having itching ears. And they

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shall turn away their ears from the truth and shall be turned to

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fables.

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This is the Word of the Lord.

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Today, we get to celebrate the life of a significant figure in early

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American Lutheranism. Henry Melchior Muhlenberg, or as he was known

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to his parents, Heinrich Melchior Muhlenberg

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Many accomplishments could be listed by this pastor and preacher. Early

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on, he was an ardent opponent of slavery

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and this while serving in Georgia. He was an ardent pietist who took

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seriously the condition of the believers under him.

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And he worked to ensure that Lutheranism prevailed in both Georgia and

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Pennsylvania where there were questions in the congregation's about

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being Lutheran.

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Although he was open to discussions and even preaching opportunities

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with Presbyterians and Anglicans.

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He created liturgies and worked on hymnody.

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His most significant achievement however, was his vision of a

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synodical polity that would advise and consent, but would not actively

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interfere in the lives and work of its pastors, unless asked by both

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parties to do so.

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This in turn became a model for American Lutheran Churches, including

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our own Missouri

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Synod.

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Furthermore, this is important to us, he took the teaching of the book

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of Concord seriously.

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But I would like to focus on one thing not commonly presented nor

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known about Muhlenberg which fits with our text.

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That sets him apart from others who came to America from German

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Lutheran groups.

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He immediately even in transit across the Atlantic Ocean, as a very

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young pastor did

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everything he could to learn the English language.

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So that he could communicate the gospel, not just to Germans but to

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those who spoke English.

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This is in contrast to the practice of the early, Missouri Synod

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some 90 years later, where it was said that there was enough to do with

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Germans. And where it took several Generations in two world wars to

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more fully, make the transition to English.

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Now, to be fair, I think CFW Walter had a good point when he said

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that, I can't really do theology

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well, in English

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so I'm not going to try.

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He also had another good point when he set up an English Synod,

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because he did want to reach people in English and kept it away from

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the factious German Lutheran's.

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So that was a good thing to do.

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This makes a good example for consideration of our text.

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That we should be ready at all times and in all places to bring the

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good news of Jesus Christ to whoever needs it.

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Now, as we consider these matters and ponder them, seriously, we come

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to understand that there are times when we don't want to talk about

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Jesus.

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When we, perhaps even act ashamed of our Lord and savior. Where we

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have not taken missed opportunities in our lives

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and to our shame, we have allowed things to get away from us.

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That should be addressed and spoken.

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And I'm sure if you search around your experience you will find

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there are times when you probably should have said something to

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somebody about Jesus and you probably neglected to do so.

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We don't always rise to the occasion.

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Sometimes we sin.

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We really cannot use the excuse that somebody else will get around to

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it, although God will save his elect and I'm sure that is true.

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We cannot be the Pharisee or the Levite who passes by on the other

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side of the road when the person needs help.

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If we do this, we sin.

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For all these things, there needs to be repentance and a plea for

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mercy.

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Oh Lord, have mercy upon us.

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And in these things, we need to be conscious of the forgiveness that

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we have received from Christ Jesus

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our Lord

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so, we may also console others with that same forgiveness.

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When I was

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in Boy, Scouts as a youth, there was a motto.

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Be prepared.

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We got prepared by learning various skills, building fires, tying

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knots, making camp,

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pitching tents, first aid,

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cooking, swimming, hiking, orienteering and other neat things to do

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around the woods.

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The point is that there was really no life need at this moment for

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this training. At the moment

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it was learned.

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I certainly didn't learn First Aid by making myself injured but later

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on many occasions, it came in really handy.

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And this is how we need to consider our opportunities to bring the

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good news of Jesus Christ to others.

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This is how we need to consider our text.

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Our text is inviting us to be prepared.

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To be ready.

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To learn scripture.

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To practice and exercise communion.

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To remember our baptisms.

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To forgive and be forgiven.

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To live in Christ.

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We also need to remember

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we do none of this ourselves that comes from Christ Jesus, but when we

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are new in Christ, we two are active in the work of the Gospel.

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Our Salvation is not through these works, but saved people

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nonetheless, do good works.

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We need to prepare for the pressures and necessities of the Gospel,

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when times are easy,

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So that when times become difficult, we are ready with that comfort and

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grace of our Lord

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Jesus Christ.

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The good news of his sacrifice and resurrection for us as sinners.

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Whenever and wherever that need arises, we must be ready to give that

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good answer at all times and in all places. And that is why we are here

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now at the Seminary to learn,

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to impart and yes, also in some cases to support others

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in what they do.

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That that knowledge and that skill set, that is needed to promote

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Christian faith and the kingdom of God in the hearts and minds of

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believers.

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Is able to be worked out throughout the years here.

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And yes, as good Lutheran's we know we are 

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inadequate to this task.

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Sinners, who are unworthy.

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We do things imperfectly

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and yet God wants us to do the imperfect things imperfectly.

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He wants to come in and consecrate and fill in the gaps and perfect

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our imperfections.

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He wants to make our lives about loving each other

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and about caring for each other.

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And about caring about the neighbor.

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And in so doing we get to love our God through our neighbor.

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And yes, as unworthy unequal people God provides what we need.

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And we will be forgiven and empowered to do things that are beyond

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ourselves alone

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but are simple for God to do.

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Through his gracious and powerful word of love faithfully applied by

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his servants, in the field of this world.

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May God have mercy and accomplish his tasks through us.

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Amen.

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And now may the peace of God that passes all understanding

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keep your hearts and minds in Christ

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Jesus

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our Lord and Savior.

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Amen.