Membership at St. Paul Lutheran

Adult Information Classes are designed to teach newcomers about the basics of the Christian faith from a distinctively Lutheran perspective. This 10 week course will cover such topics as, "The Bible", "The Ten Commandments", "Holy Baptism", "Holy Communion" and more. While many will take this class toward membership, the most important thing is developing a life-long love and pattern of worshipping Christ.

Friends who are already members of another LCMS congregation are to contact their home church and request a "Letter of Transfer" to St. Paul. They are then encouraged (but not required) to take Pastor's Adult Information Class for refreshment through the Word and relationship building.

This Week's Sermon

Authority

The Great Word
 

You don't hear too much about leprosy anymore, but recently the disease made headlines. A movie entitled, The Pirates! Band of Misfits, set to open in theaters on April 27, touched a nerve of the British organization “LEPRA HEALTH IN ACTION.” In a funny, if shocking, scene in the trailer, the pirate captain acrobatically swings onto a ship, unsheathes his sword, and announces that he plans to plunder the ship's gold. “Gold? Afraid we don't have any gold, old man” a sailor tells him. “This is a leper boat.” And then - THUNK - his arm falls off.

LEPRA HEALTH IN ACTION took offense, commenting, “Leprosy is not an easy disease to catch, it is curable, those affected should live within mainstream society and no, limbs don't just fall off. Not even for comic effect.” I'm sure that such is the case today. And I'm quite certain that if you or I have ever been in the presence of someone suffering with the disease of leprosy, it's quite possible that we didn't even know it! But such was not the case in Jesus' day...or even one thousand years earlier, when General Naaman, the mighty man of valor, was so afflicted.

Our Bible story begins by introducing this commander of the Syrian king, General Naaman, who is held in high favor and lets us know that despite his greatness, he has one serious flaw...leprosy! Next we learn that on one of the Syrians raids, they had captured a young Israelite girl and she serves Naaman's wife in their home. This little slave girl would have had every reason to despise her captors. They had stolen away her freedom and taken her far from her family and home. But instead of becoming embittered, this little child seeks to help. “Would that my lord were with the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.” And with that promise, Naaman tells his king and his king sends a letter to Israel's king with many gifts and Naaman himself so that Israel's king might see to it that Naaman is cured. But when Israel's king gets the letter, he proves to be both faithless and clueless. Apparently he has no idea of what the little slave girl back in Syria knows - that there is a prophet in Israel. So the prophet Elisha calls on the king and has Naaman sent his way. And now the story gets really fun!

One commentator I read from wrote, “I like to picture Elisha living in the Ancient Near Eastern equivalent of a run-down looking mobile home out in some overgrown field somewhere. Today you would not expect the presidential motorcade to come roaring up to such a trailer in the middle of nowhere replete with police motorcycles, flashers flashing, sirens blaring, Secret Service cars, and the presidential black limo itself.”

But that's kind of what we see in 2nd Kings 5: Elisha lives in some dumpy little hole in front of which suddenly roars up Naaman's whole entourage of horses and chariots. There was probably a trumpeter to herald Naaman's arrival and servants who rolled out the red carpet for him to walk upon. But then - just as Naaman walks up to Elisha's front door... it opens just a crack and some lowly servant peers out over top of the door's security chain to tell Naaman to go to the river to wash seven times! Then, no sooner does Elisha's servant say this than he quickly closes the door!

What an insult! What a slight! This guy is a five-star general. Naaman is the one who is supposed to send intermediaries to people, not the other way around. Naaman holds council with kings! Surely, he thought, Elisha would come out and do something spectacular! But instead Naaman gets dismissed without even seeing the prophet and is told to take a bath in a muddy river, which was sure to infect his open sores! Now Naaman was a mighty man of valor. He was afflicted with leprosy. And he was filled with pride. The general's problems were more than skin deep. And because of that pride, Naaman is ready to travel all the way back to Syria in a huff! If it weren't for some lowly servants, that's just what he would have done and he might never have been cured. But instead they speak up saying, “My father, it is a great word the prophet has spoken to you; will you not do it? Has he actually said to you, 'Wash and be clean?'” Translation - could it really be that easy?! So Naaman gets off his high horse and gets into the water seven times according to the Word of God and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child and he was clean.

It is a great word that is spoken to Naaman. It is a Word connected to an action that promises a really great result!

But as I mentioned earlier, Naaman's pride is a huge problem. And as a result, he almost missed out! Pride may also be a problem for you. Whether you're reading and believing your own press clippings or simply have an inflated ego, your pride may be a real stumbling block to a cure that God would otherwise provide!

But if you are to seek that cure and submit to that cure, then you must become like Naaman ultimately becomes. For God is not interested in his mighty acts of valor, nor the honor of horses or the splendor of chariots. Naaman is so great that he has unlimited resources and two kings that are trying to help him. But ultimately, Naaman finds salvation only in becoming like a little child. And what this text teaches is a theme that is found over and over and over again in the books of Samuel and Kings: salvation is found only in God as God lifts up the lowly.

First it was Hannah, the mother of Samuel, who suffered torment from her rival and who desperately wanted a son. And God lifted her up! Next it was David, chosen to be king, yet the last among seven brothers. He went out to face a giant twice his size, but God exalted David and honored him in victory. Then it was Solomon, who became king after his father. And when God asked what he wanted, Solomon asked for wisdom...“for I am only a little child and don't know how to govern this great people of yours.” And God gave Solomon wisdom to govern like no else had ever had!

God brings this salvation also to you. It is a theme with our God throughout the Scriptures. God lifts you up out of your lowliness. And He does it with a great word! In your baptism, the word of God flowed through those waters and made them a powerful washing to cleanse you from every sin and every stain. Your baptism has brought you forgiveness and the promise of belonging to God forever! Like the servants of Naaman, we sometimes marvel thinking, “Could it really be that easy?” We come to Him, sometimes having been humbled, knowing that we're lowly and in need of the lifting up that only Jesus can bring. And in our baptism, in the absolution and in the supper at His Table, a great word is spoken. A Word that delivers on what it promises and lifts us up!

Both Matthew and Luke tell us of a Centurion in Capernaum who comes to Jesus with the request that Jesus heal his servant. For this servant was highly esteemed by the soldier. But when Jesus started to come, the Centurion tells Him, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word and my servant will be healed” (Matthew 8; Luke 7). Jesus marveled at the man's response and claimed that He had not seen such faith even in all of Israel. And then Jesus “said the word”, and the servant was healed from that very hour.

It is a great word that God gives. His Word always accomplishes what it promises. It brings salvation and lifts up the lowly - even you! Amen.