This is a sermon that I preached at Kramer Chapel on campus at Concordia Theological Seminary on May 10, 2012 during my work for LCMS Rural and Small Town Mission. The days following the vicarage and call services are always full of excitement on the campus of our seminaries as students get ready to leave. This text and sermon seem appropriate for all of God's people, but especially for those who are preparing for a new phase of life or transition. May God bless us as we "remain" in Christ.
In
Nomine Jesu
John 15:4-7 Abide in me, and I in you.
As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine,
neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches.
Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart
from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does
not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches
are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7 If
you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will
be done for you.
Of the countless commencement addresses that I
have heard over the years, the best line ever came from the great philosopher Rodney Dangerfield
at the end of the corny 80’s movie “Back to School.” Rodney said, “as
you go out into the world my advice to you is...don't go! It's rough out there.”
This is the time of year that fourth
year students are ready to go. They’re ready
to go on to their first call. They’re
ready to head out from the seminary and put into practice what they have
learned. Second year men are excited
about going on vicarage and being able to get a feel for parish ministry. Professors are also ready to go – teaching
courses across the country, travelling to teach at seminaries around the world,
speaking at conferences and seminars.
Deaconess students are likewise ready to begin internships and calls and
apply what they have learned to the lives of people. First year guys – well, they don’t have
anywhere. But for the most part, most of
you are ready to go. But Jesus’ word,
like Rodney’s is don’t go, but remain.
Christ bids His
people to abide or remain in Him and to remain in His words. You may be excited about excited about the
call or vicarage assignment. You may be
filled with anticipation for some sort of opportunity for service to the people
of God in the coming weeks or months.
But the reality is that you can’t do anything. You can’t grow a church. You can’t save a church. Congregations may have the same kind of
excitement that you do associated with your arrival. They may be expecting anything from a savior
to the a proverbial shot-in-the-arm. But
the reality is that you will arrive as the same poor, wretched, miserable sinners
with feet of clay that you were when you first set foot on campus. No seminary class can beat that out of
you. But even though you go to places
like Barney, North Dakota, our Lord bids that you still remain and abide in
Him.
The beginning point
for a life in Christ and service to Christ is by Christ abiding and remaining
in us. The life that began at the font
continues on as Christ remains with you through His Holy Word and His precious
Body and Blood. The location in which
you remain is really of no great consequence at all. However, Christ bids that you remain.
For though you are
sent by Christ to serve His church, your need remains. It is only through abiding in Christ and His
Word and Sacraments abiding in you that Christ brings forth the fruits of
faith. The connection to the vine is the
means by which Christ brings forth fruits of faith as you serve. You can’t produce anything on your own. But remaining in Christ means that He works
through you and even in spite of you for His holy purposes. You may be a proclaimer and teacher of
Christ’s Word, but there never is a time where you cease to need to be a hearer
and student of this Word. So as you
go…remain. Remain in Christ and may His
Word remain in you.
There are days when
it will be rough out there. There are
days when it will hard and difficult.
There are days when the saints won’t be so holy and the hearers won’t be
so eager to hear. And there will be days
when serving Christ feels like more of a burden than a joy, when you’re
wondering why God put you hear of all places and how long before you can get
out. And Christ’s Word to you is
remain. Remain in Christ and may His
Word remain in you.
Soli Deo Gloria
Rev. Dr. Lee Hagan
CTS Kramer Chapel
May 10, 2012
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