Narnia in Pop-Book Format

As an adult, checking the mail is never as exciting as it was in one's youth. Most adults consider a good day of mail one that includes no junk mail, advertisements, or the dreaded curse word of grown-up life: bills. And yet peering into that mail box still seems, at times, to be a great adventure. Perhaps something unexpected will arrive, a letter from a friend or relative, an early arrival from Amazon, or a completely unforeseen gift. For me, at least, there's always a little bit of child-like wonder in going to the mail box. And so it was that on one such trip to the mail box recently, a happy occasion awaited me, a book in the mail that I did not order. Thanks to my good friend, Rod Zwonitzer at KFUO, Zoe and I received a copy of a pop-up book of C.S. Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia. Not only was this an unexpected gift, but it has continues to bring joy to Zoe each nigh we read itt: "I read dada's book?!" "Yes, Zoe, we can read the book." Here are the pictures of each page along with a few annotations and quotations.

 

This page is Zoe's favorite. The look on her face as she opens it to reveal Aslan's face is exactly that the same as that of the Pevensie children in Lion. Witch, and the Wardrobe, one of awe-filled fear and joyful giddiness. After all, he is not a tame lion. But he is good. And the fact that Zoe comprehends that without having read a page is simply amazing and worth watching over and over again just like reading the book.

 

When Zoe opens the little slide flap containing the White Witch, revealing the wardrobe, she once again perceives that the Witch is bad: "Oh no!" Granted, we've read the Lion, Witch, and the Wardrobe, but even two year olds know that witches are bad. It's like rediscovering Narnia all over again every time the page is opened.

 

For the page depicting The Horse and His Boy, we enjoy taking the reins and riding off into imaginary adventures, moving the pages to mimic the horse's pounding hooves, while I hear Zoe urging me on, "Mo page, dada. I see anuh page." And ever since reading about this particular part of the story, she has taken a greater affinity in riding upon my back up further up our stairs.

The Prince Caspian page has become more fun as we read as well. At first she didn't realize the presence of the animals. But now each detail rarely escapes her attention, right down to the sword, the magical horn, and the bad guy in the middle!

The Voyage of the Dawn Treader has always been one of my favorites (in addition to LWW) and this page certainly does not disappoint. It is fascinating to watch the imagination of a two year old at work as her eyes dart from the mermaids to the people on board the great vessel and then to the secret panel behind which Reepicheep hides.

Second to Aslan, I think Reepicheep (or Reesheep as Zoe says), is her favorite character. He certainly is one of mine just as he was for Lewis as well.

I'm a little surprised that the creators of this pop-up book chose to depict the parliament of owls instead of something from the under land or perhaps the freeing of Prince Rilian. Nevertheless, the owls are an important part of the story, and having Glimfeather soar off the page makes for superb reading with Zoe: "Hoo! Hoo!"

The last and final page, showcases the iconic scene from The Last Battle, where the animals stream through the stable door and further up and further in to the real Narnia. I couldn't think of a better illustration for the eschaton of the chronicles in pop-up format. The vibrant colors, key characters, and vivid imagination are all on display. Our nightly ritual of picking our favorite animals is usually accompanied by the ever-familiar request: "Dada, I read more book?! Gan. Gan. Gan." Apparently Zoe already appreciates a good fairy story, one that does not end but goes on and on, as each chapter is greater than the last.

Lent 4 Sermon: "Three Miracles"

+ Lent 4 – March 30^th 2014 +

Redeemer Lutheran, HB

Series A: Isaiah 42:14-21; Eph. 5:8-14; John 9:1-41

In the Name of + Jesus. Amen.

Seems like everyone in today’s reading has an opinion about who Jesus is.

Some of the Pharisees thought Jesus was a sinner. Other Pharisees thought Jesus was definitely not God, after all he performed signs on the Sabbath. And the blind man thought Jesus was a prophet.

The claim that Jesus is a sinner, according to the Pharisees was a fabrication. They had just tried to stone him at the end of John chapter 8 for claiming to be YHWH in human flesh. Now they tried to discredit the miracle Jesus performed on this blind man.

Certainly Jesus is a prophet. But he’s more than a prophet as the blind man finds out in John 9. Reminds me of something C.S. Lewis wrote in Mere Christianity:

I’m trying to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about him: ‘I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept his claim to be God.’ That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would be either a lunatic – on a level with the man who says he is a poached egg – or else he would be the Devil of Hell…Either this man was, and is the Son of God: or else a madman or something worse…He simply did not leave the option of being a great human teacher open to us. (C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity, Book 2, chapter 3, p. 52.)

The same is true for the kinds of miracles and signs Jesus performed. Jesus is more than a prophet; he is the Son of Man, Messiah, Savior, Abraham’s son yet Abraham’s Lord. His signs and miracles are like those big orange signs on the 405 that shout out to us: “Turn here. This is the right way. Look and see, this is who Jesus is. This is what he’s going to accomplish in Jerusalem!”

And in this morning’s readings there are (at least) three miracles. The first one is obvious.

There was a man born blind. We’re not told why. Jesus won’t answer that question even though it gnawed at the disciples as much as it gnaws at us too. It wasn't his parents’ sin. It wasn't his sin. But he is going to use it. All we’re told is that God is going to do something good; He’s going to make good out of bad, which happens to be His specialty.

So Jesus spits on the ground. Like a potter, Jesus kneads the mud and saliva and anoints the man’s eyes with wet clay. It’s Genesis all over again. God made man out of mud in the beginning. Jesus takes the mud and restores.

And when the Pharisees ask him how he received his sight, he simply says: He put mud on my eyes, and I washed, and I see. 

Jesus’ healing of the blind man opens our eyes to the kind of Savior and Messiah he is, not a conjurer of cheap tricks, but God of God, Light of light, very God of very God, the Messiah whose coming Isaiah foretold:

And I will lead the blind
in a way that they do not know,
in paths that they have not known
I will guide them.
I will turn the darkness before them into light,
the rough places into level ground.
These are the things I do,
and I do not forsake them. (Isaiah 42)

Jesus does as Isaiah foretold. The blind receive their sight. But Jesus had a greater miracle in mind for this man. After the Pharisees failed attempts at launching a successful Spanish Inquisition against Jesus, they kick the beggar out of the synagogue. But Jesus finds him.

“Do you believe in the Son of Man?”

“And who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?” replied the man.

“You have seen him, and it is he who is speaking to you.”

“Lord, I believe.”

There it is. Did you hear it? That was the second and greatest miracle Jesus gave to this man. Faith. For the blind man and for you…the eyes of faith are your ears. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of Christ.

And here’s one of the great ironies in this story. The man born blind saw Jesus for who He really was while the Pharisees who watched Jesus like a hawk were completely and utterly blind to their Lord and Messiah though he stood and spoke to them face to face.

To the Pharisees, Jesus looked like a liar, a lunatic, and a lowlife sinner like his associations.

To the man at first he appeared to be nothing more than a prophet.

To the world and our sinful flesh Jesus seems weak and lowly, especially as he hung dead on the cross, the very moment John says was his greatest hour. But this is precisely how our Lord works: unexpectedly, opposite from our sinful ways.

We would expect the Pharisees to be blessed; what with their religion, piety, and all. We expect them to truly believe. But they don’t. It’s the opposite. The blind man truly believes Jesus.

This is the second miracle. And the third is like it.

Jesus saves us by these same backwards, opposite, hidden-in-the-cross-ways. He rode into Jerusalem a midst great joy, knowing the sorrow and suffering that awaited him. The most precious thing to him is to dwell with sinners and rescue us by His death on the cross. Where we flee from death, Christ embraced it; he went willingly for that blind man, for the Pharisees, for you.

Seeing is not believing. The man’s eyes worked, but he needed Jesus’ word to believe. And yet believing is seeing. The Pharisees did not believe, and even though they could see the miracles Jesus did, they would not believe.

But we’re no better; there’s a little Pharisee in each of us too. We’re not the good guys in the story. We do the same self-serving, prideful things they did: question Jesus; doubt his promises, close our eyes and ears to Jesus’ teaching. We’re liars, convinced we can see clearly while our sin has so blinded us to the point that we think darkness is light.

Left to ourselves and our sins we’d be lost forever in darkness and condemnation. But the Lord doesn't leave you to yourself. Jesus comes to you blind beggar though you were. He does not reject you, Pharisee though you were. Jesus doesn't let you sit in darkness. There’s room at his table for us Pharisees and beggars. Jesus finds you. Forgives you. Loves you unto death.

You see, more than one blind man receives his sight in today’s reading. What Jesus did for the blind man he also does for you. He opens your eyes to see his suffering and death on your behalf. He opens your eyes to his mercy for you. He opens your ears to hear his word. He opens heaven to you in Holy Baptism. And he opens your mouth to feed it with his own body and blood.

The Pharisee and the blind beggar, the sinner…that’s what you were. Past Tense. At one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.

As we confessed this morning. I justly deserved your temporal and eternal punishment. Deserved…past tense.

But what you deserved is not what you receive. The death you deserved, Jesus died for you. The punishment you had coming, he bore for you. The sin that blinded you, covered Jesus in death and darkness. Jesus became the Pharisee and the sinner for you. And you receive mercy, life, salvation, and a new identity. Jesus finds you. Jesus performs the greatest miracle for you too.

“Awake, O sleeper,
and arise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.”

Jesus gives you this third and greatest miracle of all. New life. Redeemed. Rescued. Restored. Reconciled to God. Resurrected from the dead. Life for you…all in Jesus’ Name.

And though you can’t see him now, at least not as the blind man saw him, Jesus is your Light of the world too. The Light of the world continues to shine forth to you in His word of forgiveness, in your Baptism, in His Supper. Jesus speaks to you and in hearing Him you see Him through the eyes of faith, the Light that has been shining on you and on the whole world. Jesus is the Light of the world, the Light no darkness can overcome.

Today we hear Him, and with the man born blind we confess Him: “Lord, I believe.”

And just like the blind man, Jesus sends you to your own pool of Siloam. Go and wash. You are baptized. You are cleansed. Your eyes are opened and fixed on Jesus Crucified and then turned to your neighbor’s need. Jesus sends you from the font to your neighbor with the Word of Christ upon your lips.  

                       

In the Name of + Jesus. Amen. 

Lent 3 Sermon: "Living Water"

+ Lent 3 – March 23^rd, 2014 +

Redeemer Lutheran, HB

Series A: Exodus 17:1-7; Romans 5:1-8; John 4:5-26

Note: As I went looking for images to display with this sermon, I stumbled across a number of icons of Jesus and the Samaritan woman at Jacob's well. As you look at the iconography posted below here look for the common theme in shape and design of the various wells portrayed. It's no coincidence that they look like baptismal fonts, one even being cruciform in pattern. After all, the waters of the font are teeming and surging for us with the living water of Christ's eternal life poured out on the cross.

In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

It was the middle of the day – the 6^th hour by Jewish reckoning - yet she walked in darkness. She came for well water; but she found living water. She came to quench her thirst; she found the cleansing of her sin. She came to Jacob’s well; she found one who is greater than Jacob, Jesus, the source of living water.

Give me a drink.

Of course our Lord was thirsty. He was weary. It was high noon. But Jesus was interested in more than a cup of cool water from this Samaritan woman. He was there for her.

The Samaritan woman said to him, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria?”

John’s little parenthetical note reminds us that the Samaritans were outcasts and outsiders. Most Israelites saw them as heretics and half-breeds (Harry Potter fans, think mudbloods or muggles). But again, Jesus wasn’t most Israelites. Jesus talked with Samaritans…just as he shared a table with tax collectors and sinners. 

Jesus came for outcasts and outsiders – like that Samaritan woman…like you and me. Jesus comes for those whose hands and hearts dirty and filthy with sin. Not the righteous, but sinners.

For the Son of Man came to seek and save the lost.

Christ dwells with sinners. Christ came to find that Samaritan woman, and to take her sin upon himself, to take it all the way to Jerusalem, to the cross. Christ came for you too, to take your sin all the way to his death.

 “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.”

There are two kinds of water. Well water and living water. Well water takes work. Every day she came to the well. Every day she lowered the rope and hoisted up the water. Every day she carried the water on her head back to town. Work, work, work.

Not so with living water. Living water moves freely from its source to you. You do nothing, the water does everything. It’s pure gift. Faith is like living water - we, like the Samaritan woman, are at the receiving end. And living water always has a source – like Portland and Mt. Hood. Jesus is our Source of living water; the stream was opened at His death when water and blood flowed from His side to supply the Sacraments. And a fountain of forgiveness flows from Calvary to you in Baptism and the Supper. 

“Sir, you have nothing to draw water with, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob? You bet he is! But, like the Jews always claiming Abraham as father, Samaritan pride kicks in. He gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did his sons and his livestock.”

Jesus has something better than well water to give her, living water from a well that goes deeper than Jacob’s well.

Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again…

That’s how it goes with well water. It’s repetitive. She’d be back again tomorrow at the same well, same time, for the same water.

But whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.

Woah! Now that’s some high quality H2O. Never thirst again?! Sir give me this water, so that I will not be thirsty or have to come here to draw water. No more buckets. No more balancing water jugs on the head. No more walking in the hot sun. But of course, that’s not what Jesus has in mind. He’s speaking about heavenly things, eternal things.

So Jesus moves the conversation a little closer to home.

“Go, call your husband, and come here.” Problem is, she has no husband.

“You are right in saying, ‘I have no husband’; for you have had five husbands, and the one you now have is not your husband. What you have said is true.”

Jesus’ word of Law does its work. She dodges Jesus’ words and tries to change the subject. Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet. 

We’re no different. The Law exposes, convicts, and kills and we try to avoid, pass blame, and run for our life.

But where you and I see a meaningless question about where to worship - in Samaria or Jerusalem – Jesus directs the conversation back to who he is and what he’s doing in Jerusalem.

The hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. ²² You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews.

This is what sinners do: we worship in ignorance. Our hearts are idol factories. And no amount of well water or work is going to keep us alive. Salvation is not in our hands and neither was it in the Samaritans’ hands. Salvation is from the Jews, says Jesus. So, what does that mean?

 “The hour is coming and now is. Now is. Now in her hearing. Now also in yours. Now with Jesus standing there in front of her. The time now is when true worshippers, including you, will worship the Father in Spirit and Truth.” 

Jesus isn’t speaking of some kind of abstract new-agey spiritual gibberish. Spirit and Truth should be capitalized. Jesus is talking about the Trinity. True worshippers of the Father worship the Father in the Holy Spirit and in the Truth, namely Jesus the Son: the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through the Son. No one comes to the Son except by the Holy Spirit. 

Jesus has been leading the Samaritan woman – and us– upstream to this final word.

 “I know that Messiah is coming.” Jesus said to her, “I AM, the one who is speaking.”

Behold, someone greater than Jacob is here. Jesus uses God’s divine Name: I AM…YHWH. Jesus is saying that He is the God of Abraham in human flesh. And He is to be worshipped in Spirit and Truth.

And for the Samaritan woman that’s really the beginning of the story. She leaves her water jug and runs home telling her friends and neighbors about this guy “who told me everything I ever did and might actually be the Messiah.” And the whole town went to meet Jesus and believed Him too, all because of this sassy Samaritan with a messed up life who met Jesus at Jacob’s well one day at high noon and started talking about living water.

But of course this story isn’t just about a Samaritan woman. Jesus is your living water too.

“Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did.” 

He really knows everything we’ve done? Everything? Yes. Every sin. Every commandment broken. Every spot, blemish, and wrinkle. Admittedly this is terrifying…until you find out that Jesus loves you like he loved the Samaritan woman. For though he knew her sins, every one of them, and though he knows our sins – everything we’ve ever done or failed to do – he loves us anyway. Each one of those sins – the Samaritan woman’s and yours and mine – are paid for on the cross.

Jesus dives head first into the cesspool of our sin and soaks up all our lies, false witness, stealing, lusting, coveting, gossiping, hate, and lovelessness and drowns it all in living waters of Holy Baptism. All because Jesus barged into the sludge of guilt, sin, and death that we’ve dammed up in order to break us free from death and release the living waters of eternal life upon us

Remember that it was at the 6^th hour that Jesus hung on the cross for you, enduring the scorching heat of God’s wrath for our sin. And now, at this hour Jesus floods us with forgiveness, a deluge of divine goodness and mercy. Jesus comes today, just as he did for that Samaritan woman, and sits beside us, here at this well, in His word, at His altar with His living water.  

No more well water for you. Jesus has something better: a refreshing stream of life and Spirit from Him to you. Living, Holy Spirit-ed water bringing you the new birth from above, making you a new creation, joining you to Jesus’ death and life. This isn’t water you work for, it’s water that works for you, a washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit.

Jesus’ living water flows downstream from the cross to you. 

This is why Jesus comes to you as he did the Samaritan woman, to save sinners. Sinners with messed up lives that are beyond cleaning up. Lives like that Samaritan woman who was probably reminded of her messed up life every day on the walk to Jacob’s well, where the men stared at her and the women gossiped behind her back. 

That is, until she meets a Jewish rabbi who dares to ask her for a drink and offers her living water of eternal life, free of charge. For the Son of Man did not come into the world to condemn the world but in order that the world, that this Samaritan woman, that you and me, would be saved through Him.

 “While we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person – though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die – but god shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for you. 

Are you thirsty? Then come and drink. There is a spring of living water flowing from Jesus’ cross to you. Do you wish to worship God in Spirit and Truth? Then you have come to the right place. For where Baptism, Body, Blood and Word are, there Jesus is, and the Spirit, and the Father, and there His true worshipers are.

“Blessed are you who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for you shall be satisfied.

In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Aslan's Living Water

Two women went looking for water. One was younger and the other was older. One went into the wood and the other to the well. One was from Narnia the other from Samaria.

Yet, these two women, Jill Pole and the Samaritan woman, have more in common than they do in contrast  Both had sinned. Both came face to face with the Lion who could not be tamed. Both were lost, thirsty, and alone. Both could find only one stream that would satisfy. Both received more than they expected. 

"If you're thirsty, you may drink."

...she had seen its lips move this time, and the voice was not like a man's. It was deeper, wilder, and stronger; a sort of heavy, golden voice. It did not make her any less frightened than she had been before, but it made her frightened in a rather different sort of way.

"Are you not thirsty? said the Lion.
"I'm dying of thirst," said Jill.
"Then drink," said the Lion.
"May I - could I - would you mind going away while I do?" said Jill. "Will you promise not to - do anything to me, if I do come?" said Jill.
"I make no promise," said the Lion.
"Do you eat girls?" she said.
"I've swallowed up girls and boys, women and men, kings and emperors, cities and realms," said the Lion.
"I daren't come and drink," said Jill.
"Then you will die of thirst," said the Lion.
"Oh dear!" said Jill..."I suppose I must go and look for another stream then."
"There is no other stream," said the Lion.

It was the coldest, most refreshing water she had ever tasted. You didn't need to drink much of it, for it quenched your thirst at once. (C.S. Lewis, Silver Chair, p. 556)

“If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.” 11 The woman said to him, “Sir, you have nothing to draw water with, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water? 12 Are you greater than our father Jacob? He gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did his sons and his livestock.” 13 Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again,14 but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” John 4.

You also have come to the streams of the great Lion, where living water flows freely from his side to you in the font. There is no other stream. There is no other well. For there is no need of any other. This Lion of the Tribe of Judah gives you true living water. Take and drink and live forever. Water is life. Jesus is your living water, from Samaria to all the ends of the earth, even to eternal life.

Lenten Midweek Sermon: "For All the Young Dudes and Gals"

Midweek Sermon - Lent Pulpit Exchange 2014

Small Catechism Table of Duties: Youth

1 Peter 5:1-11

Note: For the sixth year in a row, Redeemer is participating in a Lenten midweek pulpit exchange with fellow LCMS churches in the Southern California area. Each previous year the midweek sermon series has covered each of the six chief parts of Luther's Small Catechism. Having completed the 6th chief part last year, this year we're focusing on the Table of Duties and the doctrine of vocation. All of this culminates in a Catechism Convocation for the people on May 10th, 2014. You can find out more information by going to www.smallcatechism.com. This year's guest speaker list includes Rev. Dr. Rod Rosenbladt, among other notable local pastors in the LCMS. It is a joy to share this pulpit exchange with my brothers in the Office and our sister congregations. This year I was chosen to preach on the section of "youth" from the Table of Duties. Blessed Lent to you all. And stay Lutheran, my friends.

In the Name of + Jesus. Amen.

In the 60’s the mantra was: Don’t trust anyone over 30. Maybe we could adjust that to 32 in my case. Today the mantra has changed: Don’t trust anyone.

What a contrast to Peter’s words…

Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you…

At first you might think this text has nothing to do with the youth in particular. It sounds as if Peter is giving the same instructions to youth as he would to any other member of the body of Christ.

And you’d be right. That’s exactly what Peter is doing. Certainly Peter specifically mentions those who are younger in the faith, but the context of 1 Peter 5 is bigger than one age demographic. That’s because the Christian doctrine that Peter is teaching is bigger than one age bracket.

Peter’s word choice clues us in. When Peter uses the word “elder”, he’s using one of several New Testament words for pastor. And when he mentions the flock of God, he’s referring to the Christian Church. Pastor and parishioners, Christ’s shepherds and His flock. That’s the wider context here: the body of Christ and how we relate to one another. We’re all in this text. Whether you are youth, were youth, somewhat (or barely) remember your youth, or will be youth someday soon – we’re all members of the same body. Peter has something to say to all of us no matter what vocation - station in life - we find ourselves in.

To the pastors he writes: “Shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.”

Notice that Peter doesn’t treat the youth of the Church any different than the rest of his congregation. And he teaches the pastors and people who read and hear this letter to approach the youth in the same manner.

Peter tells the church that the youth need shepherds. Sadly, American Christianity has spent decades giving the youth of the church everything but shepherds: they’ve been fed a steady diet of emotionally and subjectively manipulative bible studies and worship services; they’ve been offered theological junk food and moralistic animated talking vegetables; they’ve heard plenty of gimmicks but not enough Gospel.

The youth don’t need a salesmen to bait and switch them into believing Christ’s word and sacraments. They need a shepherd who will deliver Christ’s wholesome, life-giving water, word, body and blood to them at the pulpit, font, lectern, and altar, in bible class, youth group, or in casual conversation.

Now, don’t get me wrong. It’s not bad to have fun activities. The youth need that just as much as the rest of us. But that’s not all they need. Pizza is great but it isn’t the Gospel. Fun isn’t going to anchor and sustain their Christian faith when they have a rough day or week at school, or when a friend commits suicide, or a family member is diagnosed with terminal cancer.

Peter is teaching pastors and the church to give the youth what they really need: a steady diet of spiritual meat and potatoes, not junk food, even when that may sound more appetizing; the solid food of the Scriptures, the Catechism, the hymnal.

And though we may think they speak a different language (texting and whatnot), we should never dumb-down our teaching or water down worship. Our Lutheran youth are smart and they love Lutheranism; we just need to give it to them, early and often.

The youth I spend time with know that the church should look and sound different than the world they see on Facebook, Netflix, or the their iPhones. They know the difference between Disney Land and the Divine Service. Our youth are smart and they want to be Lutheran, but like us, they need to be fed.

St. Peter wants pastors to shepherd the flock and churches to lead our fellow members of the flock to the still waters of the font and to the table overflowing with Christ’s bodied and blooded promises.

Peter wants the church to give our youth a faith they can grow into, not out of.

Peter’s words also remind me of an episode of the cartoon show King of the Hill …

The episode is called Reborn to be Wild. And really the whole thing is a great commentary on the superficiality shallowness of popular trends in American Christianity. But one of the best lines comes at the end of the episode. Hank Hill’s son, Bobby, has just come home with Hank from Messiah Fest – a rather extravagant contemporary Christian concert. Now, this is the culmination of a series of events that has Hank concerned about Bobby’s faith. And here’s why. Hank and Bobby pull back into the driveway. Bobby is upset. And Hank takes him to the garage to show him a box tucked on the top of a shelf. He pulls out a beanie baby, a digital pet, and a picture of Bobby in a Ninja Turtles outfit. “Oh that was lame; I look like such a dork,” exclaims Bobby. And then Hank brilliantly replies…“I know you think the stuff you’re doing now is cool but in a few years you’re gonna think it’s lame; and I don’t want the Lord end up in this box.”

As parents and fellow members of the body of Christ, as a pastor – we want what’s best for our youth. It’s true at home: home: clothing, food (and lots of it if they’re teenagers), water (yea that too), love, and anything they need. And it’s no different at church, although it’s infinitely better. Christ’s Church is a shelter from the storm of sin, death, and the devil that surround our youth daily. They’re washed in holy Baptism, clothed in Christ. They’re fed in the Holy Supper; the one meal where your youth can’t eat you out of house and home. This is their home. Because the best way for our youth to grow up Lutheran, stay Lutheran in high school and college, return to Lutheran churches when they have families and little Lutheran babies of their own – is to give them 200 proof Lutheranism.

Everything our youth need is right here in the Scriptures, right here in our Lutheran confession, right here in the Divine Service, in the hymns, and prayers. These are the best things we can spend our time and energy giving to our youth.

Like Hank Hill taught us, the best way to shepherd our youth is to point them to the God who is bigger than any passing trend, whose promises will outlast today’s fads as sure as they outlasted grunge rock, flannel shirts, and the 90s. We point them to the God who is bigger than their emotions and struggles, whose love goes deeper than their lowest days and higher than their best days ever. We point them to the God who wore diapers like us, crawled like us, and yes, was a youth and a teenager like us. But with one major difference.

Christ had no teenage rebellion. Jesus kept the 4^th Commandment, honoring his earthly parents and his Heavenly Father. He listened obediently to the Word of God in the temple at age 12. In all of life’s little things and especially in the big things - the suffering, bleeding, dying, submitting to the Father’s will – He did all of this for you. All so you could be children of the heavenly Father. Jesus was the perfect youth, the perfect Son, the perfect Savior for you.

And this is why he says to the youth in 1 Peter 5: Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

Youth, I know these aren’t easy words to hear. We don’t like to hear that someone is in authority over us – not at school, not at home, not at church. But let’s be honest. There’s a reason Peter calls us all the flock of God. We’re sheep. And sheep wander; we go astray; we sin. And sheep can be dumb. I know I did a lot of dumb things as a teenager.

We need a shepherd. So, God gave us parents. As much as we might grumble about their rules or groan when they embarrass us, we need them. They’re God’s gifts to us. Their vocation is to love, care, and provide for us.

We also need pastors – no matter how old we are; and no matter how old your pastor is for that matter. It’s easy to wander off into greener spiritual pastures; the devil loves to snatch off the young. So God sends pastors to our youth. It’s your pastor’s vocation to deliver Good Shepherd Jesus to you, his flock in water, word, body, and blood.

We live in humility towards one another because Christ lived in humility on our behalf.

Jesus is the perfect, obedient Son for all of us wayward, rebellious children. And by His death, you are reconciled with your heavenly Father; you are brought back into the family tree. You are adopted by God’s grace in Christ. You are heirs of heaven. God’s own child I gladly say it. I am baptized into Christ.

Therefore, cast your worries, your cares, your sin and your death all on him…for He cares for you. It’s as true for the youth as it is for all of us. After all, we’re all youth under the care of our great and Good Shepherd Jesus.

Let us pray…

Shepherd of tender youth,

Guiding in love and truth

Through devious way;

Christ, our triumphant king,

We come your name to sing

And here our children bring

To join Your praise.

LSB 864:1

In the Name of + Jesus. Amen.