WEBVTT 1 00:00:01.300 --> 00:00:02.000 Good morning. 2 00:00:03.700 --> 00:00:07.400 Grace mercy, and peace to you all from God our Father and from our 3 00:00:07.400 --> 00:00:10.400 Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. 4 00:00:11.600 --> 00:00:14.400 I want to introduce you all to a friend of mine. 5 00:00:15.400 --> 00:00:20.900 His name is is Martin Walther, but he likes to go Marty for short. 6 00:00:21.900 --> 00:00:25.400 My friend Marty is a bit old-school you see he likes to write letters. 7 00:00:25.400 --> 00:00:29.800 Of course, he has a cell phone, but letter-writing helps him get his 8 00:00:29.800 --> 00:00:35.200 thoughts onto a page and his feelings out. And his favorite pen pals and 9 00:00:35.200 --> 00:00:36.100 confidants 10 00:00:37.200 --> 00:00:38.400 are his mom and dad. 11 00:00:39.800 --> 00:00:45.300 I have for you today a letter from Marty to his parents, that I want to 12 00:00:45.300 --> 00:00:45.800 read to you. 13 00:00:46.800 --> 00:00:52.300 And as a read this I want you to reflect on Marty's words and how he 14 00:00:52.300 --> 00:00:55.200 feels and see how you might relate to it. 15 00:00:56.900 --> 00:00:57.500 He writes. 16 00:00:58.700 --> 00:00:59.500 Dear, Mom and Dad. 17 00:01:01.100 --> 00:01:03.000 Last time I wrote was the end of summer. 18 00:01:03.900 --> 00:01:07.700 I was so excited to start this new adventure with my new classmates 19 00:01:07.700 --> 00:01:11.600 now that we had finished Greek. The memory of my classmates and I 20 00:01:11.600 --> 00:01:16.600 plunging into the fountain upon completion of our first class is all 21 00:01:16.600 --> 00:01:19.600 but a distant memory for me now. 22 00:01:21.100 --> 00:01:25.600 Now that we are halfway done with this first semester of my first year 23 00:01:25.600 --> 00:01:26.300 at Seminary, 24 00:01:26.300 --> 00:01:29.200 I've learned a lot more than a lot. 25 00:01:30.300 --> 00:01:35.200 At times it feels as though my brain oozes from my ears as wise words 26 00:01:35.200 --> 00:01:39.700 pour out of my professors mouth. A classmate invited me to a pub called Duffy's down the road. 27 00:01:39.700 --> 00:01:42.200 I could tell he needed a break from school. 28 00:01:42.200 --> 00:01:45.000 And if I'm being honest I did too. 29 00:01:46.400 --> 00:01:50.200 When we sat down I noticed Phil seemed exhausted. 30 00:01:51.800 --> 00:01:55.600 We ordered some drinks and chips to share and I asked him the typical 31 00:01:55.600 --> 00:01:59.900 question that would start most of my conversations here at Seminary at 32 00:01:59.900 --> 00:02:00.400 this point. 33 00:02:00.400 --> 00:02:04.400 Which was how are classes going for you? 34 00:02:06.100 --> 00:02:10.699 Phil then looked at me with eyes that seemed unsure and unconfident 35 00:02:10.699 --> 00:02:11.200 and said 36 00:02:12.400 --> 00:02:13.700 I feel burnt out. 37 00:02:15.500 --> 00:02:20.100 Our conversation led to our thoughts and when we first entered the 38 00:02:20.100 --> 00:02:25.100 Seminary. We are so happy and so confident that this was where we 39 00:02:25.100 --> 00:02:27.200 needed to be. But now 40 00:02:28.700 --> 00:02:32.900 after going through our first half a semester Phil and I both felt a 41 00:02:32.900 --> 00:02:37.100 little less confident in our journey to become pastors. 42 00:02:39.700 --> 00:02:40.400 Don't get me wrong 43 00:02:40.400 --> 00:02:45.000 I I love learning and I enjoy the culture here at school, but I just 44 00:02:45.000 --> 00:02:45.500 get tired. 45 00:02:47.300 --> 00:02:51.300 I don't think it's necessarily the classes that make me tired though. 46 00:02:52.600 --> 00:02:53.800 I think I'm tired of myself. 47 00:02:56.300 --> 00:03:00.900 I know you guys always tell me to not compare myself to others, but 48 00:03:00.900 --> 00:03:03.900 it's a strong temptation of mine. 49 00:03:05.900 --> 00:03:10.600 It's hard not to look around and see others at school who seem to have 50 00:03:10.600 --> 00:03:11.600 it all figured out. 51 00:03:13.200 --> 00:03:18.500 And I'm sure they have their own problems, but I have a lot of problems. 52 00:03:20.100 --> 00:03:21.900 A lot of problems with myself. 53 00:03:23.700 --> 00:03:26.900 I don't feel like I'm good enough to be a pastor. 54 00:03:26.900 --> 00:03:30.200 I don't have a strong devotional life. 55 00:03:30.200 --> 00:03:34.500 Some guys have read the Bible multiple times through and I haven't 56 00:03:34.500 --> 00:03:35.500 even finished it once. 57 00:03:37.200 --> 00:03:41.200 I even still find myself with sinful thoughts and gossip about my own 58 00:03:41.200 --> 00:03:41.800 classmates. 59 00:03:44.100 --> 00:03:46.200 And now I find myself embarrassed. 60 00:03:48.000 --> 00:03:49.700 I'm embarrassed of myself. 61 00:03:49.700 --> 00:03:51.500 I'm just tired of it. 62 00:03:53.400 --> 00:03:57.300 I'm not I'm tired of not practicing what I preach. 63 00:03:59.200 --> 00:04:00.900 I'm tired of being 64 00:04:02.000 --> 00:04:02.600 a hypocrite. 65 00:04:06.200 --> 00:04:10.700 I still want to be a pastor so I don't I hope it don't worry you both. 66 00:04:10.700 --> 00:04:13.000 It's just I wonder if 67 00:04:13.900 --> 00:04:16.100 I wonder if there was ever a Pharisee. 68 00:04:17.500 --> 00:04:20.500 Who heard Jesus tell them that they were hypocrites 69 00:04:22.500 --> 00:04:23.500 and changed? 70 00:04:25.600 --> 00:04:28.900 Because I just want to practice what I preach. 71 00:04:33.000 --> 00:04:35.600 Well, don't worry too much about me. 72 00:04:35.600 --> 00:04:39.000 I'm currently making a plan for my personal development 73 00:04:39.000 --> 00:04:40.900 so hopefully I can work on some of these things. 74 00:04:40.900 --> 00:04:45.200 You just worry about getting that big turkey for when I come home in a 75 00:04:45.200 --> 00:04:45.800 couple weeks. 76 00:04:45.800 --> 00:04:49.600 Thanksgiving could not come sooner. 77 00:04:49.600 --> 00:04:52.200 Love your son. 78 00:04:53.400 --> 00:04:54.000 Marty 79 00:04:59.100 --> 00:05:00.800 I don't think you have to be 80 00:05:02.500 --> 00:05:04.400 a first-year Sem student, 81 00:05:05.200 --> 00:05:07.000 to relate to Marty here. 82 00:05:07.900 --> 00:05:11.600 To relate to that feeling of embarrassment and guilt. 83 00:05:13.100 --> 00:05:18.300 Of being a hypocrite or not practicing what you preach. 84 00:05:20.500 --> 00:05:25.600 Of not living up to expectations whether that be expectations others 85 00:05:25.600 --> 00:05:30.000 have on us or our own expectations of ourselves. 86 00:05:33.500 --> 00:05:34.800 And God's expectations 87 00:05:37.100 --> 00:05:38.300 are crushing. 88 00:05:40.400 --> 00:05:43.000 How could we ever live up to that? 89 00:05:43.000 --> 00:05:48.800 We are constantly failing miserably everyday of every hour of every 90 00:05:48.800 --> 00:05:53.200 minute we fail at the expectations that God has for us. 91 00:05:54.700 --> 00:05:59.100 Even pastors and seminary professors are not perfect. 92 00:05:59.100 --> 00:06:01.100 We all fail at this. 93 00:06:03.900 --> 00:06:09.300 Sure, we love to preach. Many of us could stand in a Pulpit and preach 94 00:06:09.300 --> 00:06:12.900 the entire day and we would be fine with it if we could get away with 95 00:06:12.900 --> 00:06:12.900 that. 96 00:06:15.300 --> 00:06:16.800 But to put it in the practice 97 00:06:19.000 --> 00:06:19.900 is difficult. 98 00:06:20.600 --> 00:06:22.500 We know the Bible. 99 00:06:22.500 --> 00:06:24.100 We know the theology. 100 00:06:24.100 --> 00:06:25.400 We know the Commandments. 101 00:06:25.400 --> 00:06:27.700 It's easy to preach what we know. 102 00:06:29.800 --> 00:06:31.600 It's difficult to practice. 103 00:06:31.600 --> 00:06:35.500 The Ten Commandments are a short list and many of us 104 00:06:35.500 --> 00:06:38.900 if not, all of us have memorize them and even memorize Luther's 105 00:06:38.900 --> 00:06:39.900 response to them. 106 00:06:41.600 --> 00:06:43.800 They are far far 107 00:06:45.100 --> 00:06:47.300 from easy to practice. 108 00:06:49.100 --> 00:06:50.400 They're darn near impossible. 109 00:06:55.100 --> 00:06:58.400 And the more we preach what we don't practice. 110 00:07:00.300 --> 00:07:06.200 The more the words in our mouths grow sour and bitter like aging milk. 111 00:07:07.500 --> 00:07:10.000 And we grow tired of ourselves. 112 00:07:13.500 --> 00:07:17.600 And at a Seminary that's constantly reminding us of what the 113 00:07:17.600 --> 00:07:20.900 expectation is of what a pastor is. 114 00:07:20.900 --> 00:07:23.300 What a pastor looks like. 115 00:07:24.500 --> 00:07:27.400 We begin to grow more and more tired of ourselves. 116 00:07:29.000 --> 00:07:30.500 When we don't practice them. 117 00:07:32.600 --> 00:07:33.600 And we begin to think 118 00:07:35.500 --> 00:07:40.500 and question ourselves, and we end up looking to the heavens and we ask 119 00:07:40.500 --> 00:07:40.700 God. 120 00:07:41.900 --> 00:07:43.600 What am I doing down here? 121 00:07:47.800 --> 00:07:49.800 Should I even be a pastor? 122 00:07:57.600 --> 00:07:58.400 And then we get 123 00:07:59.700 --> 00:08:01.200 to a place in our text today. 124 00:08:04.100 --> 00:08:07.900 A place where Jesus turns to the crowd and his disciples 125 00:08:09.600 --> 00:08:12.000 and reminds them and reminds us. 126 00:08:13.900 --> 00:08:20.200 That we aren't teachers nor are we fathers for there is one Father in 127 00:08:20.200 --> 00:08:22.700 heaven and there is only one teacher. 128 00:08:24.600 --> 00:08:28.700 That is Jesus Christ God incarnate in the flesh. 129 00:08:30.700 --> 00:08:33.299 Who lives up to the expectations 130 00:08:34.299 --> 00:08:35.600 and shows us 131 00:08:36.900 --> 00:08:41.400 that he practices what he preaches. And he takes it so far 132 00:08:42.400 --> 00:08:44.800 to preach his own death. 133 00:08:46.400 --> 00:08:48.400 And follows through with it on the cross. 134 00:08:51.400 --> 00:08:58.200 And on the cross he fulfills the promise of forgiveness of sins. And in 135 00:08:58.200 --> 00:08:59.100 that forgiveness 136 00:09:00.400 --> 00:09:03.000 forgives even us. 137 00:09:04.500 --> 00:09:07.800 Forgives even us who are hypocrites. 138 00:09:13.700 --> 00:09:15.300 Christ forgives us 139 00:09:17.600 --> 00:09:24.200 even though we feel constantly and we are always preaching and we're 140 00:09:24.200 --> 00:09:25.400 not practicing it. 141 00:09:25.400 --> 00:09:27.200 He's still forgives us. 142 00:09:28.600 --> 00:09:29.900 And he still redeems us. 143 00:09:31.700 --> 00:09:35.700 And he gives us then the power through the Holy Spirit 144 00:09:37.900 --> 00:09:40.600 to practice what he calls us to do. 145 00:09:42.500 --> 00:09:44.200 What is it that he calls us to do? 146 00:09:45.600 --> 00:09:50.100 It's not to be these great teachers who are called fathers who look like 147 00:09:50.100 --> 00:09:51.500 they have it all figured out. 148 00:09:56.300 --> 00:09:58.000 He calls us simply 149 00:09:59.100 --> 00:09:59.900 to serve. 150 00:10:06.500 --> 00:10:11.400 If Marty got a response from his parents after this letter. 151 00:10:12.500 --> 00:10:16.600 Usually it was from Mom with a nice and neat handwriting and then 152 00:10:16.600 --> 00:10:20.000 maybe two to three pages long. But I'd like to think that 153 00:10:21.200 --> 00:10:24.800 instead this time dad responded. 154 00:10:26.500 --> 00:10:27.800 Dad the man of few words. 155 00:10:30.000 --> 00:10:34.000 But I'd like to think that Marty's dad would respond similar to how the 156 00:10:34.000 --> 00:10:40.000 father God the Father would respond to us in times of feeling guilty 157 00:10:40.000 --> 00:10:42.400 and not feeling like we live up to expectations. 158 00:10:45.400 --> 00:10:47.400 I'd like to think Marty's dad would write. 159 00:10:48.700 --> 00:10:49.500 Dear Marty. 160 00:10:52.000 --> 00:10:53.900 Just serve. 161 00:10:55.600 --> 00:10:56.500 Love Dad. 162 00:10:59.100 --> 00:10:59.900 Just serve. 163 00:11:02.000 --> 00:11:04.700 And that's how I leave you all today. 164 00:11:06.600 --> 00:11:11.100 To not focus on ourselves and our shortcomings and how we fall so 165 00:11:11.100 --> 00:11:12.400 short of expectations. 166 00:11:14.500 --> 00:11:14.900 No. 167 00:11:16.100 --> 00:11:17.100 Focus on Christ 168 00:11:18.900 --> 00:11:21.300 Focus on Christ and how he has fulfilled. 169 00:11:23.100 --> 00:11:29.000 And he has fulfilled the promise that he gave to forgive you and I our 170 00:11:29.000 --> 00:11:32.200 sins and forgive us of our hypocrisy. 171 00:11:33.900 --> 00:11:36.700 And then to give us his power. 172 00:11:39.000 --> 00:11:40.300 To just serve. 173 00:11:42.900 --> 00:11:46.100 May the peace which surpasses all understanding keep your hearts and 174 00:11:46.100 --> 00:11:48.000 your minds in Christ Jesus our Lord. 175 00:11:48.000 --> 00:11:49.500 Amen.