@ Jesu Juva @
A Celebration of the
25th Anniversary of
Hebrews 13:20-21;
Dearly beloved:
Today marks a unique milestone in the life and ministry of Divine Shepherd Lutheran Church. Twenty-five years ago this week Pastor Huxhold and a small group of Lutherans founded this congregation. They had dreams and aspirations. They were dedicated and hard-working. And yet, our founding pastor and members rightly recognized that what brought this House of God into existence was not ultimately them, but rather our gracious Triune God. Perhaps the Psalmist says this best when he writes: “Unless the LORD builds [this] house, they labor in vain who build it” (Psalm 127:1).
Yes, it is the Lord who built this House and it is the Lord
who still preserves this House. In fact,
the
very reason we exist as a congregation is found in our name:
In a nutshell, Divine Shepherd exists so that the Good Shepherd’s voice may be proclaimed to the lost sheep of this community. And just who are these lost sheep? These lost sheep are you and me and everyone in this community. The prophet Isaiah once wrote, “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way” (Isaiah 53:6). Those are some pretty harsh words, aren’t they. All we like sheep have gone astray. Not some of us. Not just criminals and murderers and abortionists and terrorists. All of us. All we like sheep have gone astray. It’s not very flattering being a sheep, is it. I grew up on a farm and we raised sheep. And let me tell you, sheep are dumb animals. If one sheep squeezes his way through a hole in the fence and finds danger on the other side, the other sheep will follow right behind. Now, doesn’t that describe us at times, as well? Like sheep, we also desire to fit in, to be liked by the crowd, to do things that are acceptable to our family, our neighbors, our friends … often times without considering just where it is they might be leading us.
Even worse, though, is the fact that sheep are subject to
attacks by predators from which they cannot defend themselves. The same is true of us. The devil—that Satanic wolf—wants to ravage
us with his lies, tear us apart with false teachings and beliefs, and remove us
from the safety of the Shepherd’s green pastures. That is why Jesus warns: “Beware of false
prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous
wolves” (Matthew
Knowing that we cannot defend ourselves from the Satanic
wolf, our heavenly Father sent into our midst one like us: a Lamb—a Lamb who is
also our Shepherd. Saint Matthew tells us: “When He saw the
multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and
scattered, like sheep having no shepherd” (Matthew
As you can see, dear Christian
friends, your Divine Shepherd loves you so much that He died so that you
could live. You and I are the ones who
should be led to the slaughter. We are
the sheep who have gone astray. Not
Jesus. We are the ones who fail to love
God with all our heart, soul, strength, and mind. Not Jesus.
We are the ones who fail to love our neighbor as ourselves. Not Jesus.
And yet, out of His great love for us, our Lord Jesus took upon Himself
our punishment and died our death. In
spite of our wondering away from the flock, in spite of our sinful rebellion,
in spite of our sheepishness, the Good Shepherd still forgives us and leads us
back into His fold. That is love at its
best. That is love that only a merciful
Shepherd can bestow. That is the love
that Jesus demonstrates to you when He says, “My sheep hear My
voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.
And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall
anyone snatch them out of My hand” (John
Wow! You shall never perish. Neither shall anyone snatch you out of Christ’s hand! Isn’t that incredible! You have a Divine Shepherd who calls you by name, a Divine Shepherd who works amazingly selfless acts of love and devotion in and through you, a Divine Shepherd who forgives and loves you!
In short, that is why we are here today and every Lord’s Day. That is why our forefathers founded this congregation twenty-five years ago. Here at Divine Shepherd our gracious heavenly Father, through His life-giving Spirit, bestows upon us the holy life, suffering, death, and resurrection of His only-begotten Son. Jesus Christ is why this congregation was founded. Jesus Christ is why this ministry has continued to be a consolation to both young and old. Jesus Christ is why Divine Shepherd remains a beacon of hope, a rock of stability, a crown jewel in this neighborhood.
And lest you ever forget why Divine Shepherd exists, simply lift up your hearts and raise up your eyes to the cross above this altar. In this cross you see a shepherd’s crook, which serves as a constant reminder that Christ Jesus is the Good Shepherd who gave His life for the sheep, for you, on Calvary’s cross.
In an age when the Word and
Sacrament ministry of Holy Scripture is no longer seen as relevant, in an age
when the agendas and programs of unfaithful pastors replace the proclamation of
Christ, in an age when plays and entertainment and gimmicks replace our Lord’s
life-saving Gospel, it is good and godly for us this morning to acknowledge and
give thanks for the twenty-five years of grace that our Lord Jesus has so
graciously bestowed upon our beloved congregation.
And so, we give thanks to God this day for twenty-five years
of our Lord speaking to us His holy Word, for
twenty-five years of our Savior pouring on us His life-giving Baptism, for
twenty-five years of our Redeemer feeding us His holy body and precious
blood. His voice is what it’s all
about. Never forget that, dear brothers
and sisters in Christ. Never forget
that…
·
The Lord is your
Shepherd. In Him you shall not want, for
His Word supplies all your needs.
·
He maketh you to lie
down in green pastures—in pews where you are given rest by the Gospel preached
into your weary hearts.
·
He leadeth you beside
still waters—those peaceful waters of Holy Baptism, where your sins, which are
as scarlet, are made as white as snow.
·
He restoreth your soul
through Holy Absolution, and leadeth you in the paths of righteousness even as
He calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies you in the one true faith.
·
Yea, though you walk
through the valley of the shadow of death, you will fear no evil, for your Good
Shepherd is with you—the rod of His Word and the staff of His Sacraments, they
comfort you.
·
Your Shepherd prepares
a Sacramental table before you in the presence of your enemies; He anoints your
head with the oil of forgiveness, and the Chalice of His life-giving blood
runneth over into your mouth here at His table.
·
Surely goodness and
mercy shall follow you all the days of your life; and you will dwell in the
house of the Lord forever—for the house of the Lord is the Body of Christ, the
Church. And in the Body of your Good
Shepherd, you, His sheep, are safe forever from the fangs of the Satanic Wolf.
Twenty-five years of God’s grace behind us. Countless years still to come. May we take them one Lord’s Day at a time, always heeding and following the voice of our Divine Shepherd. After all, by hearing His voice, by taking to heart His Word, by following Him as our Shepherd, by remaining in the green pastures of His Church, we will be saved!
“May the Lord
our God be with us, as He was with our fathers.
May He not leave us nor forsake us”
(1 Kings 8:57).
In the name of the Father and of the @ Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
20 October 2002
The Rev. Paul G. Mumme, Pastor
Divine Shepherd Lutheran Church, Bolingbrook