LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 2013, Page 69

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Convention Sermon

❺ “Washed to Witness to a Weary World”
1 Peter 2:9 • Monday Midday

By the Rev. Gregory P. Seltz, Speaker, The Lutheran Hour
65th Regular Convention of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod | July 22, 2013

But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation,
a peculiar people, so that you might declare the praises of Him who
has called you out of darkness and into His marvelous light.

P

resident Harrison, vice-presidents of the LCMS,
delegates, fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, grace, mercy,
and peace to you in the power of the words of the One who
has rescued and redeemed us all. Amen.

We get to “come up out of those grace-giving waters of Baptism!
We get to live refreshed lives in this weary world … for those God
brings into our lives!

Would you agree with me?

I loved the image at the end of the song. There’s a guy underwater,
sinking fast, on his last breath. Suddenly, a strong arm reaches
through the water, grabs him, pulls him up. As he emerges with
water pouring off his body, he gasps for breath, gulping in. Suddenly,
he’s alive again. He can smell the flowers again. He can feel the sun
on his face again. He can live again for others.

We are living in weary times, my friends, are we not? And it’s not
just the Church that is weary in this world, but people in general
are weary—weary from the grind of life, weary from the worries
of today.
There is weariness throughout the country, even throughout the
world.
Secular utopian dreams are being shattered.
Arrogant leaders still are speaking like confident sirens, luring us
into dangerous spiritual waters.
George Orwell’s 1984—a dystopian novel, not utopian—was only
a few decades off.
This is the weary world we live in. No, that’s not right. This is the
world in which we are alive! Our text says our lives don’t ultimately
depend on what’s going on around us in this world; rather, our
lives depend on who Jesus Christ is and what He has done for us
through His cross and resurrection.
We are alive in this world. Our Baptism has poured out God’s
grace into our lives. We are washed clean to witness of Him to a
weary world.
Peter says it straight: because of Jesus Christ, you are a chosen
generation specifically called, washed, and baptized to declare
the deeds of Him.
And that’s the point, isn’t it? We are that people for a reason, for
a purpose.
We’ve been washed and refreshed for a purpose!—to declare Him,
to witness of Him!
C o n v e n t io n se r m o n s

I just saw a music video of a song by Rascal Flatts called “Changed.”

We Lutherans get that … and there’s even more. We know intimately
what those waters mean in the power of God’s name. Refreshed,
called, empowered to testify of Him!
One of my joys as The Lutheran Hour speaker is traveling around
the country, visiting our churches and people, teaching and talking
about that baptismal grace.
What makes our message so special? What makes our witness so
unique? It’s not about us. It’s about Christ and His Gospel. We
proclaim a grace that comes all the way to where sinners are—
through words, water, bread, and wine—so you can know for
sure that Jesus is talking to you, is forgiving you, is blessing you!
We are alive in this world, up out of the waters of His baptizing
us, to witness to a weary world.
I’ve been a pastor in Tampa, in New York City, in Los Angeles, and
now wherever they send me. I’m not fooled by the bravado of the
world. That bravado covers brokenness. It covers weariness. And
we know what all that feels like.
So I’m challenging you to be ready to be that “washed witness”
to a weary person, because life breaks people down. Sin breaks
people down. Guilt breaks people down, and they don’t need …
a pat religious answer … or a political policy … or even the best
advice of other sinners.
2 0 1 3 C o n v e n t io n P r o c e e d i n g s

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