Ready for church + this 4th Sunday after Easter: “Cantate”. The table is set. The candles burning and BR Klassik is playing Hector Berlioz: “Messe solennelle” (Donna Brown, Sopran; Jean-Luc Viala, Tenor; Gilles Cachemaille, Bassbariton; Monteverdi Choir; Orchestre Revolutionnaire et Romantique: John Eliot Gardiner) – and I thought that was just of the kittens in “Aristocats“. Sorry 😉 Well, there will be some Bach for us – snobs & buffoons alike – later!

It´s the most beautiful day. And we´ve got great expectations for the Divine Service. The Lord himself is hosting us with His gracious gifts and He´s got bags full of those up his sleeve.  Just take those hymns and psalms, those lessons, promises and stories, the heavenly food – and then He lets us bathe, recover and come to rest in His loving presence. Oh, He´s not called “Immanuel” (God with us!) for nothing. He wants to dwell right here with us – since the beginning. All His doing is aimed at that – casting out the demons, evil spirits, curses, sin, death and devil – cleaning out His temple and dwelling place – and entering in with His favorable Spirit and bounteous gifts of life, blessing, healing and grace. Having us rejoice, praise and thank Him for His merciful goodness and loving care, which is like that of both dearest mothers and fathers.  

The sermon takes up this theme of “Immanuel” – and takes it through the various stages suggested by today´s lessons. The first step will be the recap of the old king´s stories – Saul, David and Solomon – and how God takes up this royal institution of his people, which was initially quite contrary to His divine intentions and ways, and forms it into something, that serves His people best – in the building of the temple (Solomon), in the psalms of the Shepherd king (David) and even in curing the suffering despot again and again in his depression, in dark times and keeping him from executing murderous plans.  Not just by music, but also by company of the “good shepherd” – perhaps a forerunner of what we would call “mutuum colloquium fratrum” – and the office of the keys & confession/absolution.

Secondly, we look at our Lord Jesus Christ, who came to live in His own – and take up His rightful place and sovereign reign in the holy temple – as a baby, as a 12 year old and then as grown-up man – until He pulls down the curtain in the temple – opening up the Holy of Holies for all –  granting free access to our heavenly Father in heaven: He with us and we with Him. One big happy family!

Lastly, Colossians 3 will help us to come to bringing it closer to home. We´ll be encouraged to live together as God´s people – siblings all, willing to bear each other’s wrongdoings and shortcomings, just like our good Father and His Son – our brother – do too.  Willing to forgive. Loving, being thankful, reprimanding kindly and admonishing those, who need it too. Having God´s Word dwelling with us richly and wisely – with Psalms, praises and spiritual songs. Loving God and our neighbor – doing what comes before us – all in IX our Lord and God.

He himself gives the cue for the ending in today´s gospel reading – reprimanding those, who don´t want to receive Him as their Lord and King, when He enters triumphantly into Zion and God´s own special city – Jerusalem – here on earth: ““I tell you, if theykeep silent, the very stoneswill cry out!” (Lk.19,40). We don´t want to fall into the trap of rejecting our Lord and Savior – the triune God – glory be to Him always + Rather, we call on our God “Ein reines Herz, Herr, schaff in mir… Dir öffn ich, Jesus, meine Tür, ach komm und wohne Du bei mir; treib all Unreinigkeit hinaus aus deinem Tempel und Wohnhaus.” (Heinrich Georg Neuß, 1703) as we join the singing praises of those holy crowds:

When to our world the Saviour came
the sick and helpless heard his Name,
and in their weakness longed to see
the healing Christ of Galilee.

That good physician!  Night and day
the people thronged about his way;
and wonder ran from soul to soul,
`The touch of Christ has made us whole!'

His praises then were heard and sung
by opened ears and loosened tongue,
while lightened eyes could see and know
the healing Christ of long ago.

Of long ago: yet living still,
who died for us on Calvary's hill;
who triumphed over cross and grave,
his healing hands stretched forth to save.

His sovereign purpose still remains
who rose in power, and lives and reigns;
till every tongue confess his praise,
the healing Christ of all our days.

(Words © 1984 Hope Publishing Company, 380 S Main Pl, Carol Stream, IL 60188)

Here´s an outline of my German sermon 2. Chr.5,2-5.12-14:

Singet dem Herrn ein neues Lied, denn er tut Wunder. (Psalm 98)

1. Gott ziehet ein mit Jauchzen, seine Herrlichkeit/Gnade/Frieden erfüllt das Haus.  
   • Will unter uns wohnen – Stiftshütte (Zelt), Tempel – Immanuel
   • Einmütig singen die Leviten – wie mit einer Stimme – unisono
   • „Er ist gütig, und seine Barmherzigkeit währt ewig“ – Gott loben das ist unser Amt!
   • Singet dem Herrn, den er tut Wunder!
2. Böser Geist ängstete Saul: „Haunted house“ – Besessen!
   • Nahm David die Harfe. So wurde es Saul leichter und es ward besser mit ihm, und der böse Geist wich von ihm. (Musik)
   • Brüderliches Gespräch (muttuum colloquium fratrum): Gespräch unter Männern!
   • Beichte: Sündenbekenntnis und Sündenvergebung!
3. Das große Wunder ist IX, der Mensch wurde – unter uns wohnte – und unser Bruder wurde – Er hat uns gerettet, erlöst & selig gemacht!
   • Seine Geschichte mit dem Tempel
     • Zur Beschneidung
     • Als 12 jähriger
     • Als Mann: Austreibung
     • “Reißt diesen Tempel nieder und in 3 Tagen will ich ihn wieder aufbauen…”
     • Kirche als Leib IX. Er das Haupt wir seine Glieder… Kol.3 lesen.
   • In der Nacht da er verraten ward,
     • hat er für die Seinen gebetet, dass keiner verloren ginge…
   • Am Kreuz
     • hat er für uns Sünde, Tod und Teufel – alle bösen Geister & Mächte – für uns besiegt (Da zerriß der Vorhang im Tempel – und wir/alle haben Zugang zum Allerheiligsten)
   • Nach seiner siegreichen Auferstehung
     • hat er die Seinen gesammelt und ihnen Glauben, Friede und Hoffnung in seiner Schöpfung, Erlösung und Heiligung geschenkt.
   • Dieser Gott ist nun unter uns mit seiner Gnade und Herrlichkeit. Denn bei seiner Himmelfahrt hat er verheißen: Siehe ich bin bei Euch alle Tage.
     • Wo er einkehrt, da kehrt der Heiland ins Haus – mit seinem Geist und Gaben (Zachäus)
     • Im Geist & Wahrheit lässt er sich finden: Nachtmahl, Tauf und Wort
     • Taufe: Exorzismus & gleichzeitig Geistbegabung: Nimm hin das Zeichen des hl. Kreuzes und nimm hin den Hl. Geist
     • Konfirmation: Geist Zuspruch! (Agende)
     • So hat das neue Leben mit Christus für uns angefangen und seinen Lauf genommen: Kolosser 3.
     • Abendmahl: Tischgemeinschaft mit Gott und allen Heiligen…
4. Das ist des dreieinigen Gottes Tun von Anfang an:
   • Schaffen, retten, erlösen, heilen & selig machen.
     • Darum sollen wir ihm singen und seinen Namen preisen:
       • Schöpfer, Retter, Erlöser, Heiliger, Seligmacher…
   • Sonst werden die Steine schreien (Architektur/Baukunst – Kriegsende/Kirchen)
   • Kolosser 3,12-17 Vorlesen.

Gottesdienstübersicht