In Nomine Jesu
Sermon
ROSES, RINGS & REJOICING
I suppose the custom of playing innocent tricks on the bridal pair is universal. I don't know if you will get by without anything being done in a joking way on your wedding day, but I heard a story of one wedding where, as the bride and groom knelt before the altar for the vows, a restrained echo of giggling could be detected throughout the church. A member of the wedding party had painted in big white letters on the soles of the groom's shoes, the letters H E L P.
Now of course, when we speak about the theme of our text, "Our HELP is in the Name of the Lord," we do not mean it in the sense of the joke intended by the prankster who painted the word "help" on the soles of the groom. We are dead serious, when we say this afternoon to you, ____ and ____ , you need Help to make a good marriage!
1. "Help" may not be the usual things we think of when hearing a wedding address. We would go along with the idea that the very reason all our friends and family are present on this special day of ____ and ____ is to rejoice with them, to support them in their decision to begin life together as husband and wife. Our presence assures them that our prayers and good wishes accompany them as they, standing before God's altar, make their vows of faithfulness to each other and to their God.
But in our day and age, there is a tendency to go it alone. To consider oneself master of his/her own destiny. In marriage many try to do that very thing. They try to build a future of happiness on everything or anything except the "One Thing Needful." But the statistics of failure in marriage bear out the fact that they are trying to build a home without the help they need most.
2. We need help. In life that is true. In moments of crisis, of decision, the wise person is thankful if there is a person to go to for advice, for help in whatever area of life that help may be needed.
And spiritually, that certainly is true. We are not self-made people. We are not masters of our own destinies. In fact, when it comes to our spiritual condition by nature, if we are honest with ourselves, we will have to admit that alone, we are in trouble. The Bible says, "The soul that sinneth it shall die." "The wages of sin is death." "There is not a just man on earth that doeth good and sinneth not."
Thankfully, in this respect, there is a way out. God is our very present helper. He loved us so much that he sent his own Son, "that whoever believes in him, should not perish, but have everlasting life." "He made him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might have the rightness of God in us." Good Friday testifies to the extent of that love for us. Easter seals it, and the Ascension of our Lord and Pentecost prove to us that we are not alone — that our God is very much alive, and with us, in the Word and Sacraments.
3. The words of Scripture before us say, "Our help is in the Name of the Lord who made heaven and earth."
Help is available to us in our gracious God. The same God who got us out of the greatest trouble known to man, the problem of our sin-filled hearts, promises to be present with us in all areas of life, including the task of building a new home.
The important thing is for us to recognize our need for help in this undertaking. Some have tried to go it alone, to trust in their own ability, in their bank account, in their own personalities. And yet, when the chips are down, when the wind blows, the problems arise, where is their help? "Our help is in the Name of the Lord!"
My hope and prayer for you, ____ and ____ , is that this will be your motto, your prayer from the very beginning of your marriage. Your love for each other is strong. And that is good. But remember how the devil works. He can change the picture from sunshine without a cloud in the sky to a real devastating blizzard.
Don't be too secure, too proud to admit your need of help. And remember our Lord's blessed promises, "Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out." If you live in a relationship with Jesus as your Savior and constant Companion in good weather, when bad weather comes, you will not hesitate to say, "Our help is in the Name of the Lord." Amen
— Max Zschiegner
Hope Lutheran Church
Highland, Illinois
Now of course, when we speak about the theme of our text, "Our HELP is in the Name of the Lord," we do not mean it in the sense of the joke intended by the prankster who painted the word "help" on the soles of the groom. We are dead serious, when we say this afternoon to you, ____ and ____ , you need Help to make a good marriage!
1. "Help" may not be the usual things we think of when hearing a wedding address. We would go along with the idea that the very reason all our friends and family are present on this special day of ____ and ____ is to rejoice with them, to support them in their decision to begin life together as husband and wife. Our presence assures them that our prayers and good wishes accompany them as they, standing before God's altar, make their vows of faithfulness to each other and to their God.
But in our day and age, there is a tendency to go it alone. To consider oneself master of his/her own destiny. In marriage many try to do that very thing. They try to build a future of happiness on everything or anything except the "One Thing Needful." But the statistics of failure in marriage bear out the fact that they are trying to build a home without the help they need most.
2. We need help. In life that is true. In moments of crisis, of decision, the wise person is thankful if there is a person to go to for advice, for help in whatever area of life that help may be needed.
And spiritually, that certainly is true. We are not self-made people. We are not masters of our own destinies. In fact, when it comes to our spiritual condition by nature, if we are honest with ourselves, we will have to admit that alone, we are in trouble. The Bible says, "The soul that sinneth it shall die." "The wages of sin is death." "There is not a just man on earth that doeth good and sinneth not."
Thankfully, in this respect, there is a way out. God is our very present helper. He loved us so much that he sent his own Son, "that whoever believes in him, should not perish, but have everlasting life." "He made him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might have the rightness of God in us." Good Friday testifies to the extent of that love for us. Easter seals it, and the Ascension of our Lord and Pentecost prove to us that we are not alone — that our God is very much alive, and with us, in the Word and Sacraments.
3. The words of Scripture before us say, "Our help is in the Name of the Lord who made heaven and earth."
Help is available to us in our gracious God. The same God who got us out of the greatest trouble known to man, the problem of our sin-filled hearts, promises to be present with us in all areas of life, including the task of building a new home.
The important thing is for us to recognize our need for help in this undertaking. Some have tried to go it alone, to trust in their own ability, in their bank account, in their own personalities. And yet, when the chips are down, when the wind blows, the problems arise, where is their help? "Our help is in the Name of the Lord!"
My hope and prayer for you, ____ and ____ , is that this will be your motto, your prayer from the very beginning of your marriage. Your love for each other is strong. And that is good. But remember how the devil works. He can change the picture from sunshine without a cloud in the sky to a real devastating blizzard.
Don't be too secure, too proud to admit your need of help. And remember our Lord's blessed promises, "Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out." If you live in a relationship with Jesus as your Savior and constant Companion in good weather, when bad weather comes, you will not hesitate to say, "Our help is in the Name of the Lord." Amen
— Max Zschiegner
Hope Lutheran Church
Highland, Illinois
