The Door
Hi kids. Did mom or dad ever tell you to be careful and not break anything? My grandson David was told to be careful with a baseball and bat in their back yard. HIs parents told him not to break anything. David faced away from their house and hit the baseball. But the last time David swung at the ball he hit it foul, behind him, and it broke the bathroom window!
We know we are not to break things, right?
Today I want you to break something. Would you like to do that for me? Does that sound like fun, to break something? Great then here is what we will break. We will break ground for our new church!
I want each of you to turn a shovel of sand. We call that “ground breaking.” This is a sign of a new start.
It is a reminder to us that God takes us with our sin and breaks the sinful person we are. God takes the dirt we are and He turns us over. He makes us new. Thank you!
John 10:3-4
To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.4When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.
John 10:7-9
So Jesus again said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.8All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them.9I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.
Grace to you…
May 18, 1980 Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church in Onalaska WI was officially declared a congregation in the LCMS.
That was 31 years ago. My math says 1612 Sundays God’s people have worshiped here. 1612 weekends you have sung hymns, confessed sins, received forgiveness and offered prayers and praises to God. During that time you called four pastors to administer the sacraments and lead in worship; Rev Barrie Henke, Rev Lionel Skamser, Rev. David Wiist and me. During those 31 years you were also served by several vicars and vacancy pastors as well as dedicated commissioned ministers such as DCE ANNE Gonzalez.
During the past 31 years many people have learned about Jesus who loves them and gave His life for them. The pastors have baptized many, confirmed many, married many and from here others have found eternal peace.
SoTH grew quickly, like a teenager. You were very busy and very active. You helped missions in Tomah, West Salem and La Crescent, and then followed a time of maturing.
All the while one thing remained constant. Even though there have been several pastors, several vicars and commissioned ministers, only One Voice was heard; only One Shepherd was followed. We know the Good Shepherd is Jesus. His voice is the One voice here that the people of SoTH follow.
We are here today because of Jesus. When we remember the anniversary of SoTH we are honoring Jesus. How does Jesus the Good Shepherd lead His people?
At the time Jesus walked the earth in Palestine, the custom of shepherds there was not to herd the sheep in front of them. They did not drive the sheep the way we picture cattle driven by cowboys.
Shepherds in the time of Christ typically lead their flocks. They called the sheep. The sheep recognized the voice of the shepherd and followed that voice. It was the voice that led them to green pastures and fresh water. It was the voice that kept them safe from harm. It was the voice that led those before them. It was the familiar voice of the shepherd who lived and walked among them.
Perhaps some of you remember the Shirley Temple movie, “Heidi?” In the movie the sheep responded to the shepherd’s voice. Actually Shirley tried to imitate the shepherd who yodeled for the sheep. The sheep did not follow her. It was not the familiar voice of the one the sheep trusted to bring them to fresh pasture.
As we consider the words of the Gospel lesson John 10:3,4,7-9 In verses 3 we read that:
Jesus is the gate keeper..
The sheep hear His voice. We are the sheep.
He calls us by name.
Verse 4:
He leads and we are to follow Him
We also know His voice- we know the One who says “I love you.” The One who says, “I forgive you.”
7: Jesus alone is the door- He alone controls access to eternal life.
8 where do others lead? Right off the cliff the others lead the way to death destruction and hell.
Only Jesus leads the way to heaven.
9 Who is Jesus?
Jesus is the door
Jesus is the way to heaven
The way to freedom
The giver of life to the fullest
Here God’s people have gone in and out of this house of safety for 31 years. Here Jesus loves you as you are.
Here Jesus feeds you by his word.
Here you learn to know God’s love and forgiveness
Here the worst of sinners find forgiveness
Here those who despair find hope.
The anxious find peace
The hurting find comfort
Here the same Jesus who gives His life as a ransom for sinners is revealed.
Here Jesus opens the door
Calls you by name’ and
Bids you to follow Him to His Father’s heavenly home-
To our Father’s home.
Do you realize how unique the voice of Jesus is? People worship many gods. What other religion sacrifices its god for the people?
What other faith has a god who comes to make the creation a child of god? There is none. Jesus is unique. Jesus alone gives Himself for us. The Creator gives Himself for His creation. The Creator make us into God’s children. The creator turns us over and makes us new.
For those reasons we say that:
Jesus is the only door to heaven.