I Believe in the Resurrection…

by Pastor Edwin Lehmann on September 13, 2024 in Luke 7:11-17

Sermon for the Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity September 15, 2024

Lessons: Luke 7:11-17 Historic Series 24:2461

Theme: “I Believe in the Resurrection of the Body”

“I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Holy Christian Church, the Communion of Saints, the Forgiveness of Sins, the Resurrection of the Body, and the Life Everlasting. Amen.” That is our confession that we loudly proclaim every Sunday. And the part on which we want to dwell today is “I Believe in the Resurrection of the Body.”

I believe that the body shall be raised again to life from the dead. We Christians believe that together. It is the culminating article of faith that we express in the Creed. I Believe in the Resurrection of the Body. We cling to that faith in life, and we rejoice in it at death. How is it that we so strongly believe it when countless others don’t?

We believe it because of texts like this. Indeed, in Jesus’ ministry a bodily resurrection happened four times: here, with Jairus’ daughter, with Lazarus, and with Jesus Himself. Each time these resurrection accounts are filled with pathos and power. They take us down into the darkest depths of sorrow. Then they lift us up to the loftiest heights of joy. They tell of bitter tears. Then they speak of rapturous joy. They are filled with instruction, comfort, and admonition for us. They have excited the interest of artists trying desperately to capture the emotional scenes on canvass.

These accounts are rich texts for a preacher. From them he could preach on the trials and tribulations that God’s children must suffer in life. He could preach on the gracious compassion of Christ to help us in our greatest need. He could preach on the need for Christian friendship, love, and compassion as we walk together through this vale of tears. However, the most obvious truth they teach is that our God has power to raise the dead from the grave. One day it shall be perfected eternally in all who believe in Christ, the Savior. So, we confess: I Believe In the Resurrection of the Body.

I. It is based on the sure foundation of the omnipotent Son of God.

In the eyes of the unbelieving world, this is a most controversial issue. Skeptics question it; scoffers call it impossible. Experience indicates that those who believe the resurrection of the body as impossible far outnumber everyone else. What is the cause of such skepticism and unbelief?

A resurrection, a return to life of a dead body goes contrary to

human reason. Have you ever seen anyone come back from the dead? Even the church leaders of Jesus’ day scoffed at the idea. The Sadducees flat out rejected it.

Once they sought to ridicule Jesus on it by posing a question about a widow who was married seven times. Each husband had died. “Whose wife will she be in the resurrection?” they asked. Jesus told them they had no spiritual understanding of things (Lk.20:27f). Later, after Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, they sought to kill Lazarus again in order to hide the evidence of Jesus’ power at work. They simply would not accept the truth of a resurrection of the dead

Even within the early New Testament Christian Church, it seems like some denied the resurrection of the body. Paul rebuked them in his first Epistle to the Corinthians, saying, “How is it that some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? If there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is pointless, and your faith is pointless too” (15:13f).

Again, when Paul was defending his ministry before the Roman rulers, he referred to Jesus being the first to rise from the dead forever. The governor, Felix, interrupted, “Paul,” he shouted. “You are out of your mind…you are insane” (Ac.26:24). The world in unbelief scoffs. Even among so-called believers the resurrection is denied. To the majority, it is a most controversial issue at best, totally unbelievable at worst. Some will go to great lengths to disprove it.

Years ago, a pastor told the story of a man who was such a scoffer. He was planning on cremation at the time of his death. Now, the Bible does not address whether cremation is permissible or not. But where God does not speak, it depends so often upon the attitude of people whether it is acceptable or not. In this case the man told the pastor, “That’s what I am going to have done when I die. Then a friend of mine will go to the middle of the bridge over the Mississippi River and empty my ashes. Some will go to the Illinois side, some to the Missouri side, and some will go all the way down the Mississippi into the Gulf of Mexico. Then,” the man added slyly, “you don’t think that those ashes will come all together again, do you?” Such a daring attitude is certainly in defiance of God and His ability.

I Believe the Resurrection of the Body to be unquestionable, possible, and most certain! Just look at this lesson. The Lord of Life met death head on and showed His mastery over it.

After the almighty Son of God left Nain’s city gates, did these

people question the resurrection of the body? How could they, after their eyes saw Jesus’ power at work. Sadly, they didn’t go far enough in identifying where that power came from. They only called Him “a great prophet among us.” Jesus is far more than a prophet. He is the Son of God; the second person of the Trinity; much more, the Savior, who delivered us from sin, death, and the power of the devil. How could they not see in this miracle the greater person He was?

It’s so disappointing when people have such evidence before them of the Word of God yet harden their hearts against it. It is plain who He is. At His word, the dead man sat up and spoke. He was alive again through the power of Christ raising him from the dead.

But this was not a resurrection to eternal life, for this young man of Nain, Jairus’ daughter, and Lazarus all passed through death again, as we all shall. But Christ who passed through death for us, to conquer it and rise again, has promised that there will come a day at the end of time “when all who are in their graves will hear the voice of the Son of God and will come out” (Jn.5:28). Either they will rise through faith to eternal life with God, or they will rise to suffer eternal condemnation through their skepticism, doubt, and unbelief.

I Believe in the Resurrection of the Body. This glorious truth centers in the Person of Christ, our Savior. He is its foundation; His is the power that secures it. All depends on Him who said, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though He dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die” (Jn.11:25). Because He demonstrated that here at Nain and especially on Easter morning with its greater significance, we Christians will say without a shadow of doubt with Job (19:25f), “I know that my Redeemer lives and that at the end of time He will stand…and in my own flesh, I will see God. My own eyes will see Him.”

I Believe in the Resurrection of the Body, based on the sure foundation of the omnipotent Son of God. This is most certainly true.

II. Such faith is the strongest source of comfort and power for life.

This is such a simple account. Even children in Sunday school learn it. But also see it as most profound upon which one of the highest points of your present faith is based. This is not just about your future. This is also about your present, being a strong source of comfort and power for Christian living day in and day out.

Your daily happiness hangs on this. Pity the one who does not see it.

This raising of the young man to life again was a source of comfort to his mother and friends that day. It would seem as though that was a main reason for Jesus’ raising him from the dead. For as He approached the sad funeral procession, Jesus’ heart went out to the sobbing widow, now bereft also of her only son. Alone in the world, how would she survive? Seeing her great anguish, Jesus kindly approached and encouraged, “Stop your weeping.” Without another word to her, Jesus raised the boy to life again and made a point of handing him back to his mother. What a comfort for her!

The sure hope of the resurrection of the body at the end of time has ever been a source of strong comfort to believers. Most if not all of you have experienced it at the present death of a loved one. For you in faith, death is not the end. You are convinced of that beyond measure for that is God’s promise to you in Christ. And that undeniable truth enables you to go on day after day living your life in Christ with the hope of greater things that lie ahead. Certainly, those truths help you meet the challenges of each new day in this world, even though you may not consciously think of it

And if I Believe in the Resurrection of the Body, my own body, after the Lord draws my soul to Himself in the passing from this present life, I will certainly want, out of love for my Savior, to exercise every care as possible not to use this body or its members in the service of sin. Furthermore, as even these people at Nain did not remain silent about what had taken place, so we ought not be silent either. Rather, in unwavering faith, we praise God for the eternal life that will be ours, yes, is even ours now, and for the future reuniting of our souls and bodies with Him above. We will share that with others, even as Paul did when he wrote to his friends in Corinth (1:15:52), “At the last trumpet…the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For this perishable body must put on imperishability.” And again, Paul wrote, “We eagerly await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables Him to bring everything under His control will transform our lowly bodies to be like His glorious body” (Phlp.3:21). And again, “We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in Him…And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore, encourage each another with these words” (1Thess:4:14f).”

I Believe in the Resurrection of the Body and the life everlasting. God grant it to us in faith, for Jesus’ sake. Amen.

Zion Lutheran Church of Springfield

4717 S Farm Rd 135 (Golden Avenue)

Church phone: 417.887.0886 Pastor’s cell phone: 417.693.3244

www.zionluthchurch.com

The Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity September 15, 2024

“How wide and long and high and deep His love is….He is able to do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine. To Him be the glory forever.” Eph.3:18,20,21

Welcome: The family of Zion welcomes you as we worship the Lord today. We encourage children to worship with us. However, if you need to leave with your child, there is a nursery room to the right as you exit the sanctuary. The rest rooms are located in the hallway between the sanctuary and the fellowship hall. Visitors, please sign our guest book to the right, just outside the sanctuary. We’re glad that you are here and pray that through our worship the Lord grants you peace.

U p o n E n t e r i n g G o d’ s H o u s e

“Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I call to You all day long. Indeed, You, Lord, are good and forgiving and abounding in mercy to all who call to You. Turn Your ear, O LORD. Answer, for I am poor and needy” (Psalm 86).

W h a t T h i s S u n d a y i s A b o u t

God’s Power and Christ’s Love Give Comfort, Strength, and Patience in Trials. Singleness of heart leading to undivided trust and faithfulness is what the Lord looks for in His people. Such trust is like that of the birds of the air who know that their Creator will take care of them.

Yet, our walk in the present, led by the Spirit, is not trouble-free. We will have our share of trials and troubles. That is reality in a sin-filled world. Therefore, as you walk in the Spirit, see that all your comfort, strength, hope, and patience to endure does not arise within you of yourself. It lies in God’s power and the love of Christ that reaches out to His people in their need and draws them in safety into His Kingdom.

To that end we pray: “Lord of compassion and mercy, we cry to You daily for the strength we need. Lift us up in the forgiveness of our sins, Give us patience in every need. Heal our spirits that we may endure in faith and serve You faithfully in singleness of heart and mind all our days; for Jesus’ sake we pray. Amen.”

T h e W o r d o f G o d f o r T o d a y

(The Lessons of the Day are from the Historic Pericope Series of the Christian Church.)

The Old Testament Lesson: Job 5:17-26

In the midst of painful suffering, Job is reminded that God’s arm rescues and heals His people, sometimes through severe hardship. The words were true, but the spirit in which Job’s friend spoke them was not born of the Gospel. Find your comfort and confidence in the Gospel.

The Epistle Lesson: Ephesians 3:13-21

Christ dwells in the heart through faith. Paul, the prisoner for Christ, pours out his heart in a tender prayer for the Ephesians, asking for the Spirit to strengthen them and him in their sufferings. Words cannot express his confidence in God’s grace to uphold him.

The Gospel Lesson: Luke 7:11-17

Jesus raises a widow’s son from death. With compassion Jesus reaches out to a widow in her need, mourning the loss of her only son. With power that goes beyond anything of this world, the Lord of Life raises him from the dead, providing comfort and strength of faith to her.

O u r P r a c t i c e o f H o l y C o m m u n i o n

Out of deep love for the truth of God’s Word and precious souls, we follow the practice of Close Communion in our congregation. This has been the practice of Christians for centuries and reflects the Bible’s teaching on unity of faith in the reception of the Supper (1 Cor.10:17). It does not judge a person’s heart but anticipates agreement in that which God says. Since we do not wish to put anyone in the position of declaring such agreement with us before study in the Word is possible, we ask that only those who are communicant members of this or another Wisconsin Synod or ELS congregation come to receive the Sacrament.

The Organist: Jane Rips The Preacher: Pastor Edwin Lehmann

Point to Ponder: “Surely, when Christians die, nothing evil happens to them. For when they fall asleep and pass on, just that blessed hour has come for which they have prayed throughout their lives when they said, ‘Deliver us from evil’…. We should rejoice with them. We should sincerely thank God that they have come so close to the realization of their hope, whereas we, who remain on earth, still have so far to go to attain it and must first endure many dangers.”

– Martin Luther on Actually Thank God for the Death of Christians

Outline of Our Worship

The Preparation

Opening Thoughts on the Service

The Entrance Hymn: #614

Order of Worship: The Service: Setting Two with Holy Communion: page 172-180

Prayer of the Day

The Ministry of the Word

Job 5:17-26

Ephesians 3:13-21

Gospel Acclamation: God’s Word p.179

Luke 7:11-17

Sermon Hymn: #833

Sermon: Luke 7:11-17 I Believe in the Resurrection…

The Nicene Creed pg.180

Our Response to the Word

Prayer of the Church: pg.182

The Offering

The Lord Blesses Us

Preparation for Holy Communion Hymnal page 182-187

(Visitors: Please read above regarding Holy Communion)

Consecration and Distribution

Distribution Hymns: #661 & 811

Thanksgiving & Blessing Hymnal: middle of page 187

Closing Hymn: #450

Silent Prayer

The Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity – Historic Series

Old Testament Lesson: Job 5:17-26 – A “Friend” Corrects Suffering Job.

¹⁷Consider this: How blessed is the man whom God corrects! Do not reject the discipline of the Almighty! ¹⁸For though he may inflict wounds, he also bandages them. Though he may strike, his hands also heal. ¹⁹From six calamities he will rescue you. In seven no harm will touch you. ²⁰In famine he will redeem you from death, and in battle he will redeem you from the power of the sword. ²¹You will be hidden from the lash of the tongue, and you will not be afraid of devastation when it comes. ²²You will laugh at devastation and hunger. You will not be afraid of the wild animals of the countryside, ²³because there will be a covenant between you and the stones in the field, and the wild animals will be at peace with you. ²⁴You will know that your tent is secure, and when you inspect your property, you will find nothing missing. ²⁵You will know that your offspring will be many, and your descendants will be like grass from the earth. ²⁶You will come to the grave at a ripe old age, like a stack of sheaves that is gathered in season.

Epistle Lesson: Ephesians 3:13-21 – Paul Prays for His Friends’ Faith.

¹³So I ask you not to lose heart because of what I am suffering for you, because it is your glory. ¹⁴For this reason I kneel before the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, ¹⁵from whom the entire family in heaven and on earth receives its name. ¹⁶I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he would strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner self, ¹⁷so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. Then, being rooted and grounded in love, ¹⁸I pray that you would be able to comprehend, along with all the saints, how wide and long and high and deep his love is, ¹⁹and that you would be able to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled to all the fullness of God.

²⁰Now to him, who is able, according to the power that is at work within us, to do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine, ²¹to him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen.

Gospel Lesson: Luke 7:11-17 – Jesus Raises a Young Man from Death.

¹¹Soon afterward Jesus went on his way to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd were traveling with him. ¹²As he was approaching the town gate, there was a dead man being carried out, the only son of his mother. She was a widow, and a considerable crowd from the town was with her. ¹³When the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not cry.” ¹⁴He went up to the open coffin, touched it, and the pallbearers stopped. He said, “Young man, I say to you, get up!” ¹⁵The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother.

¹⁶Fear gripped all of them, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has arisen among us” and “God has visited his people!” ¹⁷This was reported about him in all of Judea and in all the surrounding countryside.

Calendar & Announcements for Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church

Today

Sept.15

Monday

Sept.16

Tuesday

Sept.17

Wednesday

Sept.18

Thursday

Sept.19

Friday

Sept.20

Saturday

Sept.21

Next Sun.

Sept.22

9:00 am

Divine Worship Service

with Holy Communion

online -Facebook

10:15 am

Fellowship & Bible Study

Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity

6 pm

Elders, Trustees, & Church Council Meeting

No Midweek Bible Class

9:00 am

Divine Worship Service

online – Facebook

10:15 am

Fellowship & Bible Study

Seventeenth Sunday after Trinity

A Brief Bible Study on God’s Word for Today

The Son of God shows His great compassion and power in the face of death. There are many trials that confront us in life. None is greater than that of death. But the Son of God has power over death. On the last day He promises that He will raise us all and give to all who trust in Him eternal life in His heavenly Kingdom.

The Gospel Lesson: Luke 7:11-17 (the answers are found below)

What made the funeral Jesus and His disciples happened upon especially sad (v. 12)?
What did Jesus say after He touched the funeral bier (v. 14)?
What things did Jesus show by these words?

Those We Remember In Our Prayers: Greg Miller; William & Laurie Moon; Libya, (Jodi Milam’s granddaughter); Barbara Long; Norine Richardson; Melissa Morlock-Jaeger; Liz Lisenby; Barbara Long; the family of Robbie Woessner (Bob and Geri’s son) whom the Lord called to Himself this past week; Pastor Roger Neumann from Oskaloosa, IA, recovering from open heart surgery last week; Jean Carol Hobson, under hospice care.

Divine Call Sent At the joint call meeting of Zion and Peace 3 weeks ago, Pastor David Karow was selected to whom our seventh call for a pastor has been sent. He is 53 years old and presently serves St. John’s Lutheran Church, Rock Springs, WI. He and wife Christie have 3 children, ages 25,23,20. Only one is presently at home. Keep Pastor Karow and family in your prayers over these weeks as he prayerfully considers where the Lord would have him serve in His Kingdom.

By God’s Grace Moving Forward – The food pantry outside ministry box is now in operation where those in need may stop to pick up items. Now we need to provide the resources. If you are able to help with food donations, please deposit non-perishable items in the yellow box in the narthex.

– In October we will seek to reach out in nearby neighborhoods with a Thursday morning women’s Bible study. Letters and door hangers are being assembled.

– Once again, we will help in preparing meals and seeking to bring encouragement to residents at the Ronald McDonald House on the south side. In a week or two we will let you know how you can help. May God bless our outreach efforts.

Church Office Help We are looking for someone who is able to help in the church office with bulletins and other office needs. Dee may not be able to continue as our assistant in this. If you could help, please see pastor or Dee for more info.

Upcoming Services and Events

Monday-Tuesday, September 23-24 – MN District Southern Conference Pastor’s study conference in Dardenne Prairie, MO

Friday, October 4 – Ronal McDonald House evening meal

Saturday, October 12 – LWMS Fall Rally at Peace, Marshfield, registration starts at 9:30 am until 2:30 pm

Saturday, October 19, 2-6:30 pm – Renaissance/Reformation Festival at Faith LC, Carthage, MO (more information to follow)

The Week in Review

Last Sunday Worship: 28; Bible Study: 14; Midweek Bible Class: no class this week; Offerings: $1,296.

Next Sunday’s Lessons:

17th Sunday after Trinity: Proverbs 25:6-13; Ephesians 4:1-6; Luke 14:1-11 (Historic Pericope Series)

Answer to Today’s Gospel Lesson Brief Study:

The funeral was especially sad because the young man who died was the only son of his mother, a widow. She had no one to take care of her any more. It’s no wonder a large crowd from the town was following the body.
Jesus said, “Young man, I say to you, get up.”
By this He showed a) His compassion, b) His own personal power—He doesn’t need to call on someone else for power—and c) His power to raise all the dead on the last day.