For the 2nd Sunday after the Epiphany, the three proposed readings are 1 Samuel 3:1-20; 1 Corinthians 6:12-20 and John 1:43-51. Chosen to preach on is 1 Samuel 3:18, “Then Samuel told Eli everything, and hid nothing from him. And he said, ‘It is the Lord. Let Him do what seems good to Him.’”
The boy Samuel hears someone calling him three times and goes to the priest Eli who finally realizes it is the LORD calling the young boy. When Samuel replies, “Speak, for Your servant hears,” the LORD reveals that He will judge the house of Eli forever due to the wickedness of his sons. It is not that they simply disregarded the form of worship which God had established but such disregard indicated their unbelief.
What is so interesting is Eli’s response to hearing from Samuel the words of the LORD. “It is the LORD. Let Him do what seems good to Him.” This is said in spite of the revelation from the LORD that for Eli’s own children there would be no atonement by sacrifice of offering forever.
How many of the members of the congregation may think that for them there is no atonement for their sins? This sermon is an opportunity to make the clear L&G distinction between sin and unbelief. While there has been an atonement for everyone’s sin, there is no atonement for unbelief. In fact, it is the only unforgivable sin.
The sermon can also touch on the importance of worshipping according to God’s directions rather than what we feel to be more user friendly and welcoming to visitors. While psychology and sociology may hint at steps to take to make people more comfortable in the pew, only the Word of God can produce a comfort in them in regard to their relationship with God.
We no longer need to hear the voice of God coming to us in the stillness of night for we have His sure and inerrant Word and Sacraments. It is the only means that He now comes to us. We listen to no inner voice or dream. For the Word of God is sufficient and in light of 2 Timothy 3:16 results in a complete child of God who by grace through faith believes in Jesus Christ.
Name:Tom Baker
Pastor Tom,
I was struck with the Law/Gospel dynamic at Acts 15 in light of David’s prayer, cited at Psalms 86.
Acts 15,
Act 15:1 But some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.”
and
Act 15:5 But some believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees rose up and said, “It is necessary to circumcise them and to order them to keep the law of Moses.”
Here is a portion of David’s prayer indicating unbelief was not on the table for him but a more sure word that he must have believed in when praying this prayer:
Psa 86:1 A Prayer of David. Incline your ear, O LORD, and answer me, for I am poor and needy.
Psa 86:2 Preserve my life, for I am godly; save your servant, who trusts in you–you are my God.
Psa 86:3 Be gracious to me, O Lord, for to you do I cry all the day.
Psa 86:4 Gladden the soul of your servant, for to you, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.
Psa 86:5 For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you.
Psa 86:6 Give ear, O LORD, to my prayer; listen to my plea for grace.
At Acts 15, after these wonderful words of Peter, James then cites Amos 9. Amos indicates what “follows” the belief of the fallen one, King David:
Act 15:7 And after there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe.
Act 15:8 And God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them, by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us,
Act 15:9 and he made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith.
Here is a portion of what James spoke. What is most significant for me in these words are these “and I will restore it”:
Act 15:13 After they finished speaking, James replied, “Brothers, listen to me.
Act 15:14 Simeon has related how God first visited the Gentiles, to take from them a people for his name.
Act 15:15 And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written,
Act 15:16 “‘After this I will return, and I will rebuild the tent of David that has fallen; I will rebuild its ruins, and I will restore it,
Act 15:17 that the remnant of mankind may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles who are called by my name, says the Lord, who makes these things
Act 15:18 known from of old.’
This chapter in Acts has so much meaning when you consider your blog as one is learning the importance of making proper distinctions between Law and Gospel.
We need the “Law” established.
We need the “Gospel” proclaimed.
It doesn’t get any simplier than that!
Michael
Eureka, Ca.