LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 2007, Page 88

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88

CONVENTION SERMONS

said, “I got a phone call at 10:13 last night, sir.” I asked who
she was leaving in St. Louis. She answered, “My husband
Stanley, 10-year-old son, Dillon, and 11-year-old daughter,
Jordan, sir.” She talked about her life, her childhood, her family, her anxieties, her fears, her hopes, and her dreams. I
thought she was coming to grips with her fears when she said
her brother-in-law had just returned from Iraq two weeks
earlier. But then she added, “He came home in a casket.”
Whaddya’ say to Jeri Kelly, a 26-year-old wife and mother
of two children who was on her way to serve her country at
war in a far away place, leaving behind her home, her family,
her life? Whaddya’ say?
These real life stories are reminders to me of the power
and relevance of the theme of this convention: “One Message—Christ! His Love Is Here for You!” We have a
response for the “Whaddya’ say?” situations in the lives of
those we know or meet, including ourselves. We have a response for a world full of people who are facing real issues
of life and death every day, experiencing fear, anxiety,
loss, trauma and tragedy, wondering whether there really
is life after death and where those they love are spending
eternity. We have a response that can be abbreviated
quite simply in this phrase: “One Message—Christ! His
Love Is Here for You!”
We in the LCMS are blessed, privileged, and challenged “vigorously to make known the love of Christ, by
word and deed, within our churches, communities, and the
world.” The One Message we have for this task is the message of “Christ” and “His Love.”
Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the apostle John
addresses the person and work of Christ, focusing specifically
and powerfully on the power of God’s love, made known to
mankind in the person of Christ. The One Message we receive
and proclaim is God’s love for the whole world, fulfilled in the
crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension of Christ. God showed
His love among us through Christ, whom He sent into the
world as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Love is not that we
loved God—that was not possible, because in our sinful nature, we are spiritually blind, dead, and enemies of God. Love
is that God loved us—that’s not comprehensible, but it is very
real because of God’s grace in Christ.
The power of the One Message of Christ’s Love is that
this love, unlike what the world defines as love, is not selffocused or self-satisfying. Christ’s love is self-sacrificing.
The Greek word agape means just that—love that is not
self-serving, but self-giving, love defined in that memorable passage in John 15:13: “Greater love has no one than
this that he lay down his life for his friends.” That’s precisely
what Christ has done for us on Calvary’s cross—not only for
us, but also for all the people of the whole world. His death
on the cross assures us of life, with abundant blessing here
on earth and perpetual blessing someday in heaven.
So where can this love be found? It is given solely by
God’s grace in Word and Sacrament–sola gratia—“without any merit or worthiness in us.” Out of His mercy and
grace, God looks with favor on our lives and forgives our
transgressions through Christ. God’s gift of love in Christ,
totally undeserved, is real!
Yet, people in the world too often are “looking for love
in all the wrong places.” Many people, young and old alike,
2007 Convention Proceedings

look for love fulfillment in many and various ways, only
to be left empty-hearted following failed self-serving relationships, vaporized chat room connections, and shattered
dreams so delusional and unrealistic that they could only
be portrayed and realized through fantasy in a movie or
TV soap opera. Many turn their lives toward things they
believe might fill the void—accumulation of bigger, better,
and faster possessions; overeating; excessive drinking; or
abuse of controlled or uncontrolled substances—all to no
avail. Whaddya’ say to folks who are “looking for love in
all the wrong places?” Whaddya’ say?
We have “One Message—Christ! His Love Is Here!”
• Christ’s love is here—in God’s holy, inspired, inerrant,
infallible Word, bringing hope, comfort, and assurance
in time and for eternity.
• Christ’s love is here—in the Sacrament of Holy Baptism,
that “special washing of regeneration and renewal in the
Holy Spirit,” sealing us with God’s promise of new life
in Christ.
• Christ’s love is here—in public worship, as we confess
and repent of our sins of commission, omission, and no
mission, and receive God’s full and free forgiveness in
Christ.
• Christ’s love is here—in the Sacrament of Holy Communion, in which we receive the very body and blood of our
Lord Jesus, in, with, and under the common earthly elements of bread and wine, for the forgiveness of our sin
and assurance of life eternal.
• And Christ’s love is here—in the mission and ministry
of individuals, congregations, schools, institutions, organizations, and auxiliaries of the LCMS, all of whom are
called to focus on proclaiming “One Message—Christ! His
Love Is Here for You!”
On Monday, August, 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina, the
costliest and one of the deadliest hurricanes in the history of
the United States, struck the Mississippi and Louisiana Gulf
Coast. Nearly every levee in metropolitan New Orleans
breached as Hurricane Katrina passed east of the city, subsequently flooding 80 percent of the city and many areas of
neighboring parishes for weeks. Over 1,800 people lost their
lives in Hurricane Katrina and in the subsequent floods.
On Friday, May 4, 2007, in Greensburg, Kansas, 95
percent of the town of 1,500 was destroyed and the other
5 percent severely damaged by a category E-5 tornado with
estimated winds of 205 mph. Ten people lost their lives.
Everyone in town lost their homes and virtually all their
possessions. Our LCMS congregation, Peace Lutheran
Church, was reduced to two big piles of rubble.
Whaddya’ say to folks who lost their homes, their possessions, their loved ones, their jobs, their church, their
hopes for the future as a result of such horrific storms?
Whaddya’ say?
“Christ’s Love Is Here!” In response to such disasters,
millions upon millions of dollars have been received for assistance through the local, regional, and national relief
agencies of our Synod. Thousands upon thousands of volunteers from congregations and districts of the LCMS
have contributed, and are still contributing, hours upon