LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 2023, Page 85

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David the Psalmist stated: “The fool says in his heart, ‘There
is no God’” (Psalm 14:1a). Many people in the world deny
the sweetness of the precious Gospel of Jesus Christ and
His saving work for us. Whoever has difficulty believing
that Christ could come from heaven, willingly go to the
cross, recline in a borrowed tomb for three days, and
burst forth in victorious resurrection, and yet be in
heaven, should not worry about it. It may be foolishness
for the world, but for us it is the wisdom of God that
brings hope into our broken hearts and joy to our souls. If
we are considered fools because of believing this, our
foolishness won’t hurt us. We know perfectly well what
we believe, teach, and confess. Because He lives, we know
we will live eternally after we have been delivered from
this foolish world.
May He who is the Wise One continue to make me a fool
for Him and help me wear the badge of honor for His glory
and spread the Gospel to the ends of the world.
Jesus’ love moved Moses to give up Pharaoh’s court to
lead a nation of slaves out of bondage. At first it seemed
to be a very foolish move.
Jesus met with Joshua and told him the foolish plan to
bring down the walls of Jericho.
Jesus met with Gideon and told him He only needed 300
good soldiers—a little army to bring down a mighty foe.
Jesus used a fish to catch up with a foolish prophet of the
world to make him a foolish prophet and learn again,
“God so loved the world.”
Jesus foolishly called twelve unlikely men to follow Him
and His pardoning love changed the world—and our lives
also.
All foolish yet these salvation acts brought forth liberty
and pointed to a greater day of redemption.

The theology of the cross is rich in God’s love although it
leads to the resurrection reality ALL things are yours in
Christ. You are an heir to the kingdom of God. You belong
to Christ and Christ is of God. ALL things—we inherit.
“He is no fool who gives us what he cannot keep for those things
which he cannot lose” (James Elliot, missionary).
Fellow foot washers, washed by the blood of the Lamb,
washed by the magnificent miracle of Holy Baptism,
washed in the good news of the cross and Jesus’
entrapment of death and defeat of death, by the mercies
of Christ continue being a fool and going through God’s
school and be the Spirit’s tool.
I may be a fool in the eyes of the world, but Christ gave
me, and He has given you, His wisdom. We are made wise
by the preaching of Him who is crucified and risen from
the dead. This is the wisdom of God and joy of knowing
that He loves me in spite of my foolishness.
God takes the foolishness of the Gospel to overcome the
foolishness of mankind to bring to us knowledge of His
love. As a result of Christ’s foolishness for us we will
inherit through the gift of faith the whole universe. All
things ARE yours! You belong to Christ and Christ is of
God!
The apostle Paul in another letter wrote: “For I am not
ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation
to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the
Greek” (Rom. 1:16).
The Gospel, the Good News of Christ crucified and
risen, it alone can triumph over every enemy, obstacle,
and fear, and bring us to eternal joy. This is why we
preach Christ crucified! Whatever it costs, stand on it,
hold it fast, believe it, feed on it, savor it, count it more

Jesus, the Temple in flesh, now dwells in us making us
new creations even though we daily sin much—all
foolishness but true!
I am running out of time to act like a fool, but I must tell
you when I am a fool for Jesus it is the most joyful,
delightful, peaceful times in my life. I thought it was so
foolish for me, a man who grew up in Nazareth, to be
chosen to be a prophet, but God surprised me by sending
into my life a godly and beautiful Dutch Lutheran woman
who became a key part of my foolish journey. And now I
am gathered with fellow fools as we contemplate the
measure of the length, height, breadth, and depth of
Jesus’ infinite land exquisite love for us—which
surpasses knowledge—yet there is nothing like it.
Lord, make me to be a fool. Take me through Your
school—the school of the cross.
Convention Sermons

PROCEEDINGS OF THE 2023 (68TH) LCMS CONVENTION | 85