Time. It shapes and structures (and in many ways controls) the rhythm and pattern of our lives. From our first breath, time forms the framework on which our lives are hung. Time isn’t just about watches and clocks and history books – it’s about birthdays and graduations and anniversaries – and, eventually and inevitably, obituaries. Time is precious and every second of every single human life is precious for one reason: it’s one chance we have to come to learn about and believe in Jesus and be saved. As precious as time is, it’s also the one thing in life none of us can stop or control or store up. It slips away. It gets spent. Sometimes it’s wasted. And once it’s gone, you can never get it back. In general – unless you’re at work or school – how you use your time is up to you…it’s all about personal preference. And while that may be fine in everyday life, it can be disastrous when it comes to the life of the Church. If the way we spent our limited time here was up to you or me, we might spend it all talking about football or politics or movies or the best way to use the leftovers from Thanksgiving or some other subject that might be interesting but is spiritually irrelevant. That’s why we thank God and the believers who have gone before us for developing and passing down to us the gift of the Christian church year. Not only because it helps us make the most of the time we spend here each week together, but because it helps us keep the main thing the main thing. What is the main thing? Jesus is. Jesus and his redemptive work for us is at the heart of every Christian’s life – and, therefore he is the heart of the Church’s life. And so, today we are going to take a deeper look at the Christian church year and how every season of it keeps us focused on Christ – his work for us, his words to us and his work in us.

Advent – Christ’s Coming Micah 5:2

The first season of the Christian church year is Advent. Advent means: “coming.” During the season of Advent we wait and watch for three “comings” of Christ. 1) We wait for his coming in the flesh – Christmas. These four weeks remind us that OT believers waited roughly 4000 years for God to send the promised Messiah. Today, while many people are simply waiting for a few days off of work or some presents, we are waiting for a Savior from sin. 2) Jesus comes to us today in Word and Sacrament. The Savior who once came in lowliness as a helpless baby still comes to us in the seemingly ordinary means of grace: the Word, Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. 3) Finally, we look for Jesus to come again in glory at the end of time. In Micah chapter 5, we are reminded how God chooses to reveal his mercy and his power most often in humble ways: most importantly, by becoming one of us in lowly, insignificant Bethlehem.

Micah 5:2 - 2But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, from you, will go out the one who will be the ruler for me in Israel. His goings forth are from the beginning, from the days of eternity.

Hymn 1 The Advent of Our King (st. 1-2, 4-5)

Christmas – Christ’s Incarnation John 1:1, 14

In the Northern Hemisphere, Christmas comes at the darkest time of the year – just 4 days after the winter solstice (the shortest “day” of the year). This timing is fitting, given that Jesus was born into a world of darkness, a world of sin, despair, loneliness and hopelessness. Into this world, Jesus came to bring light. Certainly all children brighten the lives of their families – but this baby came to lift the gloom of sin that hung over the whole world – because this was no ordinary baby, this was the Son of God. Christmas is what sets Christianity apart from all other religions because on Christmas God became one of us, flesh and blood. Why? Only as true man could Jesus take our place under God’s law and die; only as true God could he live a perfect life and take our burden of sin to the cross to pay for it. Christmas proves that Jesus is true man – he was born of a woman. Christmas proves that Jesus is true God – he was conceived by the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:35). In simple but profound words, John describes the mystery and majesty of Christmas.

John 1:1, 14 - In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 14The Word became flesh and dwelled among us. We have seen his glory, the glory he has as the only-begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Hymn 36 A Great and Mighty Wonder (st. 1-2, 4)

Epiphany – Christ’s Appearing John 2:11

You’ve probably heard the song The Twelve Days of Christmas (partridges and pear trees and so forth). But do you know where that song came from? It resulted from the fact that the better part of 2000 years the Christian church celebrated Christmas for 12 days, from December 25 to January 5. January 6, then, marked Jesus’ Epiphany, literally his “appearing” or “unveiling.” The church celebrates two “appearances” of our Lord. 1) First, He appears as the Savior of all people, not just the children of Israel. This is recognized when the Magi – those mysterious Gentiles from the East, come to Jesus’ home to worship him as their king (Matthew 2:1-12). 2) The second appearing is the revelation of Jesus as the powerful Son of God. On Christmas, Jesus appears in deep humility: born in a manger, wrapped in strips of cloth, acknowledged only by farm animals and shepherds. But during Epiphany, Jesus’ true nature as the Son of God is revealed by his baptism, his authoritative preaching and his powerful miracles. Epiphany will have served its purpose in our lives when what happened to the disciples happens to us:

John 2:11 - 11This, the beginning of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed in Cana of Galilee. He revealed his glory, and his disciples believed in him.

Hymn 90 The People that in Darkness Sat (st. 1-2, 4-5)

Lent/Holy Week – Christ’s Suffering and Death Isaiah 53:5-6

Lent, the season that stretches from Epiphany to Easter, is 40 days long, beginning with Ash Wednesday and concluding with the Holy Week festivals of Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. For Christians, the season of Lent is a time to meditate deeply on Christ’s suffering and death for our salvation as well as a time in which to concentrate on the continuing importance of confessing our sins and finding forgiveness in our Savior’s cross. The darkness of Lent is the reason for the light of Christmas – the eternal Son of God took on our human flesh and blood so that he could bleed and die for our sins. In Lent we see God’s eternal plan of salvation worked out in human history as the Lamb of God suffers as our substitute. In Lent we stand with Isaiah at the foot of the cross and confess:

Isaiah 53:5-6 - 5but it was because of our rebellion that he was pierced. He was crushed for the guilt our sins deserved. The punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. 6We all have gone astray like sheep. Each of us has turned to his own way, but the Lord has charged all our guilt to him.

Hymn 113 Upon the Cross Extended (st. 1, 5)

Easter – Christ’s Resurrection 1 Corinthians 15:17, 20

Easter is the climax of our annual journey with Jesus. On Good Friday our Savior’s lifeless body was laid in a grave. It left unanswered questions: Is he the Son of God or a delusional madman? Are our sins forgiven or are we still guilty before God? Will we ever see our loved ones who have died again? What will happen to us when we die – will we rise again or will our bodies turn to dust and stay that way? Do the Word and Sacraments matter at all? Easter answers those questions. When the disciples returned to the tomb early on Easter Sunday morning they found it empty. Later, the risen Savior appeared many times to dispel their confusion, doubts, and fears (1 Corinthians 15:1-11) – to tell them and show them that he had risen. Easter removes any hint of uncertainty regarding our faith, our forgiveness and our future. Easter proves that Jesus is God’s Son, he is our Savior, our sins are forgiven and our future is in heaven. Paul lays out the truth of Easter simply and beautifully in 1 Corinthians 15:

1 Corinthians 15:17, 20 - 17And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. 20But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.

Hymn 145 Jesus Lives! The Victory’s Won (st. 1, 5)

Ascension – Christ’s Coronation Ephesians 1:22-23

For 40 days after his resurrection, Jesus appeared to his disciples to convince them that he had indeed conquered sin, death and the devil once and for all. They needed to be certain because he had appointed them to serve as his witnesses to the world once he was gone. At the end of those forty days, he ascended out of sight into heaven. But though he was gone from their sight, he did not leave them alone, he promised them: surely I am with you always until the end of the age (Matthew 28:20). That same Jesus is still with us today, reigning at God’s right hand, where all authority in heaven and on earth [have been given to him] (Matthew 28:18). Today, as we live and witness for our Savior – as we carry out his commission to go and gather disciples from all nations by baptizing them…and by teaching them to keep all the instructions I have given you (Matthew 28:19-20), Ascension reminds us that we go with the assurance of his presence and his power that he controls all things and rules the universe for the good of his church…for the good of believers like us.

Ephesians 1:22-23 - 22God also placed all things under his feet and made him head over everything for the church. 23The church is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

Hymn 169 Alleluia! Sing to Jesus (st. 1, 3)

Pentecost – Christ Sends the Holy Spirit Acts 2:32-33

Pentecost is derived from the Greek word meaning 50. 50 days after his resurrection Jesus sent the promised Holy Spirit to his disciples accompanied by amazing signs and wonders. The disciples desperately needed the Spirit’s power and guidance because they were to be witnesses of Jesus’ resurrection throughout the world – but, as they proved in the days following Jesus’ resurrection, they were often paralyzed by fear, they were often slow to believe and hesitant to speak. Paul explains the Spirit’s power and purpose in 1 Corinthians 2: what we received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we might know the blessings freely given to us by God. We also speak about these things, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in words taught by the Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:12). In other words, Jesus didn’t send the Holy Spirit primarily to perform signs and wonders, Jesus sends the Holy Spirit so that we would know and believe the Gospel – and have the courage to share it. In Acts 2, Peter embodies the power and work of the Holy Spirit by his clear and fearless proclamation of the Gospel:

Acts 2:32-33 - 32“This Jesus is the one God has raised up. We are all witnesses of that. 33So, after he was exalted to the right hand of God and after he received the promised Holy Spirit from the Father, he poured out what you are now seeing and hearing.

Hymn 183 Holy Spirit, Light Divine (st. 1-4)

Sundays After Pentecost – Christ in the Lives of His People Romans 12:1

The Sundays after Pentecost might be summed up in one word: “therefore.” One of my seminary professors told us that whenever you see that word in the Bible, you should ask yourself “what’s it there for?” That word appears often in Paul’s letters. He frequently uses it to form a bridge between the so-called doctrinal and practical parts of his letters. “Therefore” invites us to look back at all God has done for us in his mercy; it reminds us that God chose us to be his own, washed us in the blood of his Son and keeps us in faith by his Holy Spirit. “Therefore” also asks us to look at our own lives and ask that uniquely Lutheran question: what does this mean? What does all that God has done for me mean to me and for my life? Paul gives us the answer. While in the OT believers offered a lamb to the Lord as a sacrifice at the beginning and ending of each day, we offer ourselves, our bodies and souls, our working and studying and parenting – even our eating and drinking – everything we do (1 Corinthians 10:31) – to the Savior who died for us so that we should no longer live for ourselves, but for him who died for us and was raised again (Galatians 2:20). In other words, during the Sundays after Pentecost, the seed of faith the Holy Spirit planted in us through the Gospel of Jesus is watered and fertilized so that it might grow and produce fruit. Paul puts it this way:

Romans 12:1 - Therefore I urge you, brothers, by the mercies of God, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice—holy and pleasing to God—which is your appropriate worship.

Hymn 462 Oh, that the Lord Would Guide My Ways (st. 1, 4)

End Time – The Christian Waits for Christ’s Return Revelation 22:20

The last four Sundays of the church year are sometimes referred to as the season of End Time. This season reminds us that our time in this world is not all that there is, that we are eagerly waiting for Jesus to return to make all things right, to punish unbelief with the never-ending fire of hell and to deliver believers, once and for all, to the endless glory of heaven. Since perhaps no part of Christian doctrine is more misunderstood and falsely taught today than the doctrine of the end times, we also take special care during this season to understand what God himself has revealed about the signs and nature of the end of time – instead of relying on the dreams and opinions and predictions of mere men. When we understand what God wants us to know about the end, whether we are looking to the end of the world or the end of our own lives, we will look forward to being reunited with all the believers who have gone before us – including those believers we dearly loved – and, even more important, we look forward to seeing Jesus face-to-face. Therefore we pray: Come, Lord Jesus. (Revelation 22:20)

Revelation 22:20 - 20The one who testifies about these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!

Hymn 214 Jerusalem the Golden (st. 1, 4)

Sermon Blog

A New Year with Jesus: A Walk Through the Christian Church Year - November 27, 2022