LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1977, Page 101

Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

⤓ Download .txt · copy text

100 SUNDAY MORNING SERMON

new freedom which we have when we accept Jesus
Christ as Savior and Lord. The apostle then goes on to
say that peace and mercy comes to them who live
according to the rule which he had just expressed. The
whole number of Christians receive this peace and
mercy, which is God’s grace, which is on them in Jesus
Christ, our Savior.

“That We May Grow” depends on the seriousness
with which we believe, teach, and confess the Gospel of
Jesus Christ, Savior and Lord. This will be reflected in
the spirit in which we present, discuss, and accept the
resolutions before this convention. It depends on the
seriousness with which we accept our role as the sent
ones of God, the seriousness with which we accept the
challenge of being God’s mission to get the Word of
reconciliation out to all the world—and in particular to
one another in the deep humility of submission to the
message of grace. “That We May Grow” depends on the
seriousness with which we realize the fact that we are
Christ’s mission to all the world to proclaim Jesus Christ
as Savior and Lord to our neighbors, kinsfolk,
associates, and people beyond our land; it depends on
the serious loving care with which we approach other
Lutherans and other than Lutheran Christians with the
message of our loving Savior; it depends on the
seriousness with which we seek the salvation of all
levels of society, rich and poor, healthy and sick, famous
and little known, major and minority groups; it depends
on our compassion for the total needs of our fellow
human beings; it depends on ourhumble realization that
all of this is the mission of every Christian.

“That We May Grow” calls for nothing but that we

Black Centennial Sermon

Grace be unto you and peace from God, our heavenly
Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

The text chosen for our meditation on this festive
occasion is recorded in 1 Cor. 16:5-9, and it reads as
follows: “I shall come to Corinth after passing through
Macedonia—for I am traveling by way of Macedonia—
and I may stay with you, perhaps even for the whole
winter, and then you can help me on my way where I go
next. I do not want this to be a flying visit; I hope to
spend some time with you if the Lord permits. But I
shall remain at Ephesus until Whitsuntide, for a great
opportunity has opened for effective work, and there is
much opposition.” Here endeth the text.

Fellow Worshipers of Our Lord:

The emblem of the Black Lutheran Centennial
contains both a sentence and a phrase. Both appear to
be slogans or mottoes and seem to evoke opposite
responses. Underneath the shield is the sentence ‘We
have come.” And on a scroll across the center of the
shield are the words from the Great Commission, “Into
all the world.”

The words “We have come” are from the Black
National Anthem and invite us to reflection. The

glory in the cross of Christ, that we rejoice in the good
news that Christ was given over for our sins and raised
up again to get us right with God, that Jesus is enough
for our sins and not for ours only but for the sins of the
whole world, that God was in Jesus getting the world
right with Himself, not charging the world with its sins
and giving to us the Word that gets us right with God,
that God so loved the world that He gave His only-
begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him should not
perish but have everlasting life.

There is no sweeter message on earth than the
message that tells us that we have a freedom which
Christ has prepared for us through His life, through His
suffering, and through His death. There is no sweeter
word in all the world than the word “Jesus.” How often
have we thought of the sweetness of that word and have
expressed it in one way or another?

How sweet the name of Jesus sounds
In a believer’s ear!

It soothes his sorrows, heals his wounds,
And drives away his fear.

It makes the wounded spirit whole
And calms the troubled breast.
’*Tis manna to the hungry soul
And to the weary rest. Amen.

The good Lord bless you very much as you go about
the task of laying the plans for growing in the name of
Jesus Christ. Amen.

The peace of God which passes all understanding
keep your hearts and minds through Jesus Christ.
Amen.

Oliver R. Harms, D.D.

Dr. Richard Dickinson

ability to reflect is a precious gift from our Lord. We
cannot adequately evaluate nor fully appreciate our
present state or condition until we can view it m
historical perspective. Simply stated, we might ask the
question: How can I appreciate where I am until I know
where I have been? There is no better time to pause and
to reflect than at a centennial celebration such as this.