LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 2007, Page 89

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CONVENTION SERMONS
hours of time and energy to help re-establish devastated
areas, rebuilding homes and churches and lives. Congregations open their buildings and their arms to receive
those who have become homeless. Christ’s love is here! It
is made known in His Word and is being manifested
through His people with this message in their service and
on their lips.
Christ’s love is here! It is here in accord with His
promise. It is here for all who call upon His name. His love
finds expression in and through our lives. So how about
your life? How’s your faith and love in Christ? Is it strong
and sure? Or weak and wobbly? Is the presence of God
and His love in your life real, personal, and meaningful? Is
His love finding expression in your life? Or is God a handy
but far away presence, to be consulted only in time of despair, depression, death, or even much less serious need
or want? Is His love here?
We must confess that we have not always lived or loved
as if Christ’s love is here. We lay bare our souls as we confess that we “are poor miserable sinners.” We confess to
God that we “have sinned against [Him] in thought, word,
and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left
undone. We have not loved [Him] with our whole heart;
we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We justly
deserve [His] present and eternal punishment.”
But then we hear those precious words of absolution:
“Almighty God in His mercy has given His Son to die for
you and for His sake forgives you all your sins. As a called
and ordained servant of Christ, and by His authority,
I therefore forgive you all your sins in the name of the
Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” And we
remember once more the “One Message—Christ! His Love
Is Here for Me!”
All this is a simple but strong and sincere reminder
that as Christians we have “One Message—Christ! His
Love Is Here for You!”:
• Assuring you in moments of doubt and disbelief;
• Upholding you in times of trial and temptation;
• Embracing and empowering you for mission and ministry.
For that empowerment, John clearly focuses his Spiritgiven words. “This is love: not that we loved God, but that he
loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.”
He also writes, in the 19th verse of this same chapter, “We
love because He first loved us.” His love compels us and propels us to proclaim the light of Christ’s love to all who live in
the darkness of doubt and disbelief.
Non-believing people of the world are wondering and wandering in their effort to discover love, meaning, and acceptance, often turning to movements or groups based on beliefs

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absolutely contrary to what we in The Lutheran Church—
Missouri Synod believe, teach, and confess. For 160 years, we
in the LCMS have firmly believed and proclaimed the truth of
God’s love in Jesus Christ, expressed so clearly in the words of
Jesus himself: “For God so loved the world that He gave His
one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into
the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through
Him.” (John 3:16-17)
We have ONE Mission—to be ABLAZE!—on fire with the
love of Christ—our hearts burning within us in seeking the
lost for Christ with the power and presence of the very Spirit
of God in our lives, on our lips and in our labors! We proclaim
ONE Message, that Jesus Christ alone is the only Savior of
the world! We are ONE People, united by God’s love in Jesus
Christ through His work within us in Word and Sacrament!
So whaddya’ say? As best I could from the back seat of a
taxi in Chicago traffic, I explained to Brad the grace of
God, His promise to us in Holy Baptism, and the assurance of His promise of eternal salvation to those who accept His gift of faith in Christ. As we arrived at O’Hare, I
asked Brad if I could pray for him. He readily agreed, so I
prayed right there in the back seat of a taxi at O’Hare airport, with horns blaring behind us, for a measure of the
peace of Christ that passes all understanding. When I told
Brad about my change of plans that morning and my decision to call All Star Cab, I said, “I really don’t know why
I was in your cab this morning.” Brad said, “I know why,
Pastor Kieschnick. I needed to hear the words of comfort
that you shared with me.”
So whaddya’ say? As best I could from seat 10-B on
American Airlines, I shared with Jeri Kelly in seat 10-A
the love of God in Christ, His assurance that He will never
leave us nor forsake us, and His promise, “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” (John 11:25–26). When I told Jeri that I was originally scheduled for the 5:25 flight but had boarded this 4:25
standby flight, I said, “I really don’t know why I was on
your flight this afternoon.” Jeri said, “I know why, Pastor
Kieschnick. I needed to hear the message of assurance that
you shared with me.”
So whaddya’ say? In times of such “divine appointments”
that God sends your way, remember these words—the theme
of this 63rd Regular Convention of The Lutheran Church—
Missouri Synod: “One Message—Christ! His Love Is Here for
You—For Me—For the World!”
The peace of God that passes all understanding keep your
hearts and minds through Christ Jesus! Amen!
Gerald B. Kieschnick, President

2007 Convention Proceedings