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SERMON NOTES
Saturday/Sunday, July 20/21, 2024 – Pastor Kischnick
THEME: “He Himself Is Our Peace” TEXT: Ephesians 2:11-22
INTRO. 12 days going abroad, leaving the country > Canada: It’s like this whole other country! Laugh: signs in km/hr. and French, moose crossing signs, not raccoons/possums but porcupines/beavers, sit-down restaurants all have “poutine”.
TEXT: Paul – Gentiles were “excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise.” GENTILES = most of us. Once far away, through C. Jesus we are brought near. “For He himself is our peace.” No longer strangers and foreigners! Peace w/ God & others.
I. THE OLD COVENANT WAS EXCLUSIVE
ILLUST. I am from German Lutheran community. 360* – all German Lutherans but one > “die Frempten” – strangers and outsiders.
A. God chose Abraham to bring blessing to all the nations of earth.
1. Israel to be the “womb” from which Messiah would spring.
2. Other nations did not know God/his Word/his Law.
B. They were outside the Covenant.
1. Without hope and without God and his Truth.
2. Most were hostile toward Israel. The “Weird Nation”.
II. JESUS MAKES ONE FROM TWO
ILLUST. Prince Kolubah > African Immigrant Fellowship: Sudanese, Congolese, Liberians, Kenyans, Somalians, Nigerians, Ugandans, Zambians, Rwandans, etc. Different tongues, dress, food, customs, yet all praising God through his Son, Jesus. Very different, yet one in spirit.
A. Jeus is our peace with GOD.
1. Our sin covered by his blood.
2. Brought into “the very household of God” – family.
3. Truly made “brothers and sisters in Christ.”
B. Jesus is our peace with OTHERS.
1. The “dividing wall of hostility” is removed by his blood.
2. No more male or female, Jew or Gentile, Greek or barbarian,
Luth. or Catholic, Orthodox or Protestant now One in Christ.
ILLUST. Robbyn Siebert – “This is my friend, Mary – my sister by choice.”
C. No room for prejudice:
1. Christ died for ALL. 2. We are all sons & daughters of the King!
CLOSE: REALIZE that today all around the world, people have come to churches? They came with different languages, clothes, customs, music, skin color, but with one accord – to worship God through his Son, Jesus Christ. Different, yet one body. “He himself is our peace.”
PRINTABLE PDF: SNJULY21.PDF
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WATCH THE ENTIRE ROAST! CHECK IT OUT HERE. https://www.facebook.com/GraceLutheranChurchNA/videos/331850621504079/
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My Dear Friends in Christ,
A heartfelt word of appreciation to you for your love, your gifts, your kind words, the luncheon, the video, the barrel of monkeys, the ape-filled chocolate kiss, the flowers, the “Tiny Bruce” song, the Tiny Bruce that’s in my office and creeps me out, and 30 years of your partnership in the Gospel. There’s nowhere else I’d rather have been and no people I’d rather serve. I am privileged to be your pastor, and I love you all!
I thank God every time I remember you in my prayers…” and I pray for your continued health in faith and in life.
Pastor K. – Psalm 16:8