August 20, 2017. In Matthew 15:10-28, Jesus tells the crowds that what goes into people's mouths does not defile them, but what comes out is what defiles them. Pastor Keith preaches on this text, and challenges us to examine how we deal with those around us who may be different from us. How can we seek commonality and begin to bridge the gaps with others in our communities? *** [Keywords: 2017 Abraham Lincoln Alton Illinois Bible scholars Canaanite women Christ Lutheran Church Confederate statues Crucial Conversations book DNA in common DNA test Father forgive them for they know not what they do Gettysburg Golgotha Gospel Harriet Tubman Jesus died Jesus hung on the cross Jewish rule Matthew 15 Pastor Bill Pyatt Pastor Keith Holste Pastor Mary Hellwig Penny Phoenicia Rahab Rosa Parks Ruth Sidon Susan B. Anthony Tamar Tyre Virginia about 2000 years ago abuzz accentuate differences acts affirmed against odds agree with me and with one another approach approaches toward others arguing as a person as he died authenticity bad portrait based on my history be the people Jesus called us to be better able bite my lip both cried bothering him bridging the gaps bring unity calling came to blows can be learned centuries challenges changed him chapters children's food church council civics comes forward coming from communicate completely ignored her confrontationally congresswomen context costly enterprise crumbs cultures darkness of three hours day when the earth turned dark death dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal deference to Jesus defied laws of the day demonstrations different differently colored skin disciples distance away doesn't come easily doesn't qualify done authentically during that darkness eclipse encounter work enemies evil eye facebook family makeup fears fellow human level female senators finding commonality for our inadequacies foreigner forlorn frenetic gathering gender genealogy give up previous unwillingness goal goes dark goes out of his way great is your faith group ourselves hard fights healed healing of relations heart his blood Canaanite too hold my tongue home hope for yourselves how to avoid how we love with one another how would you describe yourself how you speak with your mouth humble terms hung out in our own skin inclined to forget intense polarity interpret issues not new to our day just to get started kids kneels later times learning curve leaves the area less than three minutes life circumstances lights come back lights turned off like-minded people live and do creative things together live in a time longer look folks in their eyes looked down upon made us one with him making peace master's table meetings mercy mercy on daughter modern human view more open mother nationality negotiate neighbors on my block north not easy to achieve not enemies not friends not like the others not particularly skilled offended offending Pharisees on my street our oneness parted from her parts of the world pays no attention whatsoever peace with ourselves perceive their hearts persistence personality plaintive cry politics praises her faith prescientific times priority pugnacious pulled Jesus aside put on a cross racial sensitivity reach out reach out to others reflects religion respect and appreciation restorative justice risk sake of her daughter scares me scene of many deaths seek commonality self righteous send her away sent to house of Israel separate sermon shoo her away shouting socially engage others society somewhere from there speak stereotype stop to ask each other structured conversation surprised tape my own big mouth shut teasing woman along tell me in your own words tenderly explored terrible incident territory testing her faith that we might be forgiven think and feel those people throw it to the dogs tormented by demon touch his heart truce try to understand unclean uncomfortable in their own skin understanding urge values that are similar views wanted to be neighbors we are all equal week later what they're feeling what you desire what you put in your mouth what you're saying who you are wider national experience willing to learn willingness work work on myself yes you are you are the people you say you are]

June 25, 2017. When you're trying to spread a message to people who might disagree with you, how can do you do it effectively? In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus has some pretty severe things to say. Following him would have taken courage and faith. Pastor Keith's sermon today is on thinking outside the box, living the faith and sharing the message, even when it's not always easy. *** [Keywords: 2017 75 years Antioch Christian causes Christians put in jail Egypt God values us God's support Great Persecution Holy Land I'm right India Jerusalem Jesus knew Jewish John Luke Matthew 10:24-39 Pastor Keith Holste Roman Syria abuse accumulation of wealth and power alternative view always necessary apostle Paul astounded authorities better way big question marks bottom line bringing about change building community building relationship by my action calling followers challenge closeness contentious time context conversation cost him his life costly created and loved by God crown of creation demand demand high price demands of Jesus didn't receive very well directives disregard early Christianity encounters we have encouraging followers of Jesus even when not easy expect resistance facilitate fall back fall short filter follow Jesus forgiveness full meaning of Gospel future get across point of view good of the world great courage and faith hairs on our head hard to believe anyone followed Jesus hard to tell the truth hate help people think higher power hope hopeful graceful side how is this a way to love like Jesus loved how we approach things human beings are not expendable human system hurt our gains idea incur resistance indifference individual inside the box kept listening anyway laxity of faith life changing life is well lived life or death decision live by another standard living certain ways longevity losing track of teachings love of creation loving words major things message can be heard message was compromised more complex picture more friendly most effective way motivates need to move needs ignored new life is ours also normal economics not most effective not most important thing not natural human way not the way not to be exploited not to press message not well received objective one of four Gospels of Jesus our own country outside the box pawns peace and contentment people of God physical persecution plans we make plentiful powerful interest powers of the world pretty severe things promise pushback quality of love radical action received new life refused entry regular power structure religious character resisted sake of all same promise is for us self-serving sensitivity sermon served by what I'm doing share message of way of Jesus sharing small and ordinary things small group so intertwined social structures someone with whom we disagree sparrows speaking the truth speaking up for someone status quo strategy subjects of government suggestions for change take advantage of taken advantage of teachings of Jesus telling people off things we choose to do those who seek their lives for his sake will gain it those who seek their own lives will lose them to be a follower tough to be a Christian truth about himself truth telling truth to power very hard to hear way of world around them was not right way to describe Jesus we have that life weakening in the faith well-being what's in it for me what's in this for the sake of the world words not always easy to hear world needs to be reminded world view worldly values you're doing it wrong you're wrong]

May 14, 2017. On this Mother's Day, Pastor Keith reminds us that the best gifts that parents can give their children are roots and wings. We strive to create strong relationships with our children, share our values with them, and give them a solid foundation to grow, mature, and eventually fly away on their own. It's the same thing as the church grows and changes. Jesus calls us not just to gather, but to be looking outward, to reach out as a congregation, to live actively in love and service to those around us. *** [Keywords: 2017 50 to 80 years later Christian groups Easter season Family Systems God is present Gospel of John Holy Communion I am the way the truth and the life Jerusalem Jesus is at the heart Jesus is present Jesus is with us in Holy Communion Jesus replies Judas Last Supper Martin Luther Mother's Day Pastor Keith Holste Thomas Virginia about him account of last meal actively in love and service adage after the resurrection all the disciples answering questions ascend to the Father before crucifixion being one with Him best gifts parents give children betray body and blood of Christ bread and wine bring Jesus to neighborhood around us call him Lord calls us to have wings can't huddle together change always brings complexity congregation connections we have days before Easter different beliefs different direction different philosophies direction that really matters following him discussed early days in Christian church early disciples facts not so important families eating together family leader family meal family values fellowship focus inwardly follow him for life foundation function well go along with him go out to all the world going someplace good balance good gifts good strong roots goodbyes grounded groups splitting off grow older hard questions hard tension hard time for them he and the Father are one he is about the Father he is the key hear the call heavy conversation not light holy meal how can we know the way how can we know the way to the Father issues plans dreams brought up keep probing last known gathering leader in church leaving the nest life without physical Jesus live in his name live on their own live their lives lively tension looking outward love our children mature may we be rooted in him meal table meals together mission in different ways places mission plan mom in family motivations move around a lot needing to leave them normal family transitions not just to gather on their own other theories our friend Jesus particularly hard meal persecuted persevere in hard situations phrase stuck with me questions aren't so important raised from the dead reaching out to others relationship with Jesus relationship with him roots and wings roots and wings seek sermon share values shared shares significant discussions skills and preparation smother solid base swayed easily symbols take him with us teach the faith temptation theologies things falling apart things hard to hear times getting tense to be a Christian to follow Jesus toppled trouble with Roman authorities trouble with the Jews varying opinions we don't know where you are going we receive him and God well prepared to live what do these things mean what was going on what we believe what's going on whats who has come before us whole world why is all this happening why is this happening why when where whys will not thrive young ones]

April 2, 2017. Jesus tells us that the new life he brings is something not just to be believed in or confessed, but to be experienced. Where have we seen new life in Jesus around us? Pastor Keith preaches on how the story of Jesus giving new life to Lazarus is central to the Gospel of John. This word of life, this resurrection sighting, was an organizing principle for the early Christians. How do our lives today hinge on this Jesus who gives new life? *** Transcript *** We begin in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen. Our gospel today comes from the exact middle of John's gospel, and that's important for several reasons. One of them is that, given the way that literature was interpreted then, especially by the Jews, the middle was the main thing. It provided the organizing principle for the whole writing. So in our lesson today about Lazarus and Jesus, it's like a hinge. The whole book of John turns on this story. Before this, Jesus is going about teaching and performing miracles. This is the seventh and last, and most significant, miracle or sign leading up to his death and resurrection. But from here on out everything changes, as you can tell from those few verses I just read. Now he will soon be headed for Jerusalem for his last days. It seems like this particular story was included in the Book of John, in this important place, because it reflected the position of life of those who were hearing this gospel read. John is thought to have been written somewhere between the year 80 and 100. This is a time when the Romans were still in control. John is thought to have perhaps written this in hiding on the island of Patmos, as he was in exile from the Romans. This is a signal to us that this is written for a people for whom a choice for Jesus was just as risky as the choices Jesus had to make as he came to Bethany to do this deed. It was a risky place to be. Throughout the past few months, we've been mentioning the movement of Jesus in the early days of his ministry. He would go from Nazareth, to the River Jordan, to Capernaum, and each of these had significance because of the politics that was around. Each was an important place, a place for a reason, because he needed sanctuary or safety in a certain place. Now he's called to Bethany, for Lazarus, just a couple of miles from Jerusalem. He hesitates to go. There are many interpretations of this, but the strongest argument to me is that it means his final commitment to go to the cross. As our reading ended in these verses I just read, how the giving of life to Lazarus meant that the authorities would begin the process of arresting Jesus so they could put him to death. So the readers, the original audience of the Book of John, didn't think this was just an interesting story about Jesus doing a phenomenal thing. To be in his predicament is where they were in life. The movements they would make, the places they would go, would put their lives in danger. How could they live out the life of Jesus in their day and in their place? Would they go into exile? Would they leave home and go to another place? Would they stay and be quiet, or would they stay and be obvious about their illegal faith? Would they take steps like Jesus did which would put them in danger? And as they made movements they would be asked tough questions like Jesus was. They would need to answer in sensitive ways, as Jesus did. They would on occasion say what they believed. Martha is seen as confessing her faith as a Christian, on her own day, but as the model of the person who could speak the faith of the church. "I know that my brother will rise again in the resurrection on the last day." It's a confession of faith. She believes in the resurrection of the body. And, "Yes Lord, I believe that you are the messiah, the Son of God, the one coming into the world." She's the model Christian — and a woman at that — who speaks at the outright summary confession of who Jesus is and what Jesus is about, the most important place in the Book of John: in the middle of it. This is the key thing to know. Her sister Mary is a little different. Just as we in our day say we have different preferred spiritual modes, and just as maybe some of us are more left-brained and some of us are more right-brained, some of us have logical statements of faith, and that's kind of how we see our faith, like in statements like the Creed. Others of us are more creative about it and think of our faith in different ways. Maybe we're more like Mary, who wanted to be near the Lord, we know. She wanted to sit by his side when he was at their house. But at this time she expresses her faith by saying, through her tears, "If you'd been here Lord, Lazarus would not have died." Meanwhile here, just as every action of Jesus was provoking comment and reaction from the other religious authorities and people, we can guess that those early Christians in the days of John were provoking actions from religious authorities also and from the governmental authorities. People were reacting to them. To accept the new life that Jesus brings is not a neutral thing. It provokes reaction. We will ask ourselves: will we, as Mary and Martha did, remain firm in our faith that Jesus is the one who brings life? I said earlier that this main, middle story of John was the organizing principle of his whole gospel. This life that Jesus gives is the organizing principle for us as Christians. It was at the core of Martha's pivotal confession of faith. And so it was a main thing in the lives of those early Christians who lived in risky times. Can we say that this word of life that was there for Martha and for them is our organizing principle for life? Does our life hinge on this Jesus who came to give life, and did this to such a degree that he was willing to die for our sakes so that we might have life? That's really what happened here in this story. Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, and the response of the authorities was the plot to kill him. Because in their view if he kept on doing these life-giving things, everyone would believe in him and the Romans would come and destroy their buildings — which indeed happened. The high priest declares it's better for one man to die than for the nation to be destroyed. We have to acknowledge that often, the world prefers things the way they are rather than to have new life. People like the positions they are in. They like the way things are around them. They often resist the changes that would mean fuller life for more people. Bringing new life and changing the status quo so often meets resistance. What Jesus tells the people to do in the story with Lazarus, he says, "Go, unbind him and let him go." That seems to be a word that Jesus gives to all of us who live by his command and by the life that he brings. It's a challenge for us to see where life is bound in the world and not being lived freely and fully. Where can lives be unbound so that the new life Jesus brings can come and give that new life? Where do we see that in our worlds? How can we be the ones who bring and allow the life-giving word of Jesus, through both words and actions, so that those who are bound can be freed to have and enjoy what Jesus wants all people to have? This might be with individuals who are bound up, or with groups of people small or large who, due to physical or mental or economic conditions are stuck in a place that's not fruitful, and with encouragement and leadership and assistance might be able to break forth into a new place in life. Kind of related to this idea, it's been pointed out that so often when we talk about new life in the context of the resurrection, that it's kind of a subject of something that is to be believed in, something we confess in the creeds. It's something which really can't be comprehended. But what Jesus is saying here is that it's really something to experience. A person came up to a friend of ours who was preaching, and preached in such a way in her sermon that when people came out to greet her at the end, one woman said, "That was a resurrection moment." The person that heard the words of the preacher through the work of the Holy Spirit, so she felt new life had come to her at that moment — she had had, we might say, a resurrection experience. Lazarus was raised from the dead by Jesus to have a new life. It wasn't something he believed in, or just said, "I believe" (in the words of the Apostles Creed) "that Jesus is risen from the dead and I will be raised one day." He received the new life, and Lazarus was able to live it. So the new life God gives us in Christ is more than just something we believe in for after death, or more than something we try to comprehend and make theological explanations about. The resurrection word we hear, just as Lazarus heard the words, "Lazarus, come out," is a word of promise to us, that calls us out to live in a new way: in the light of Jesus. It's not a theory, it's not an ambiguous promise, but it's real. It's a relationship with God that's lived out in the present. New life given to us by Jesus. In recent weeks we've heard how this has shown up in the lives of people as Jesus has encountered them. A few weeks ago we heard about the woman at the well in conversation with Jesus. Resurrection came to her and she had new life. Last week we heard of a man born blind who was healed by Jesus and came to new life in Jesus. Lazarus heard his name called out, and rose from the tomb and came out. In baptism, God has called us to new life. He has unbound us and freed us to live new life in his name. Resurrection isn't about just what happens after life. It starts already, and it's about living our lives in faith, that we have already been called out to live this kind of life every day. Sometimes with the youth we talk about: where have you seen God today? Where is a God sighting in your life? We discuss, for they have seen God active in their lives. Maybe we should think in terms of "resurrection sightings." Where have we seen the new life of Jesus in our lives or around us? When has Jesus said to us, as he said to Lazarus, "Come out?" And now that's given us new life, and has shown up as a resurrection sighting in our lives — as we live in ways that show this life that he has given, not only to Lazarus, but to us. But this isn't easy work to do. As Jesus found out, as the disciples found out, as the early Christians found out, there is resistance all around. It's hard work living resurrected lives. And so we need strengthening to do that. We need the nourishment of the Lord's meal to keep it up. We give thanks to God for the new life we have in Jesus, as we receive the bread and wine of this meal. We pray that God strengthens us to live as ones unbound and freed by Jesus. And as we receive this meal we cherish the company of fellow resurrected ones, as we receive the meal together to go out and live lives of resurrection. And this morning we're so happy that seven new of our young children will receive this meal with us. They'll join this fellowship of resurrected ones. Having been baptized already they have this life, and they can join with us be this band of people sharing the Lord's risen presence, as he promises us resurrection as well. Amen. *** Keywords *** 2017, Christ Lutheran Church, Webster Groves, sermon, podcast, transcript, Pastor Keith Holste, John 11:1-45, first communion

February 12, 2017. In Matthew 5:20-37, Jesus warns us that we cannot enter the kingdom of God unless we exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees. Pastor Keith talks about how righteousness isn’t just about adding up all the right actions, but about being in right relationships — with God, with those we love, and within the Christian community. Righteousness was a difficult concept for Martin Luther until he realized that God has already done everything so that we can be in perfect relationship. When we come to God every week, he helps us avoid temptation, to reconcile, and to make peace. *** Transcript *** We look at this text from Matthew as we begin in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. We hear a gospel like today's and it sounds pretty difficult. Jesus says that unless we exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, we cannot enter the kingdom of God. That's pretty hard on its own. But then he gives examples, and none of us find ourselves very clean as we hear that long list of things that doesn't just talk about actions, but what goes on in our mind as well. The scribes and Pharisees had dedicated themselves to keeping every little bit of the law. They said that it was important that everyone keep all of them. They had 613 extra ones -- the Talmud -- that bolstered the Ten Commandments and the other things that were in the Old Testament. So they were really into keeping all these little laws about the things that you're supposed to do, and to keep the Jewish faith and to be a good Jewish person. And so all that was going on. But Jesus says that's nothing compared to what I expect from you. To be more righteous than that is a very tough assignment. And Jesus goes on and says how they weren't even keeping the law very well, because he takes into account the motives and what goes on in the mind and the heart, besides what is written. It sounds very impossible. We know how we seem to innately kind of want to shrink the law, make it to a size that's manageable. We can shrink it to say "I won't steal," and so we don't steal. Or we say "I won't commit adultery," and we don't commit adultery. We find areas where we think we can keep it and we say, well I've done okay in these areas. Maybe that's good enough when I'm measured against the rules. But then we hear Jesus describe this process, and it's very unnerving. We wonder how we can ever be saved if all of our inner motives and our desires or temptations are condemning us -- let alone the small parts of the holy law that we break each week. How can we or anyone have a chance? This is what drove Martin Luther nearly crazy for quite a while in his life. When he was a monk, his confessor said he was spending way too much time in the confessional booth, and way too much time up at night feeling sorry and feeling convicted by his sins. How could he ever enter heaven, he wondered. He couldn't control his thoughts. He would think of something bad, and he would go back and have to confess it. And as soon as he'd do that the thoughts would enter his mind again, and it would start all over again. He never found peace in this period. And some believe he damaged his health permanently by the stress he put himself through in this time when he could never find peace, because he just knew he was always convicted by this word of Jesus. But through his study of scripture, Luther began to see the forgiving love of God. He began to see it wasn't a matter of being perfect or of having no hope, or being perfect in heart and mind and action, and then having to be condemned forever. He began to see that God in Jesus had come to save him and everyone from this problem. There was a way for him to have righteousness that exceeded that of the scribes and the Pharisees. There was a way to have peace with God. And it could change all those human relationships too, that Jesus was so concerned about. Jesus had said unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you are condemned. When we look at the Old English word of "righteousness" it literally means "right-wise" or "right way" or "right relationship." Its early true meaning wasn't to center on adding up all the rights and wrongs in a person's life. It was a measure of relationship. That's what Jesus is getting at here: being in a right relationship with God. When you're in a right relationship, you don't focus on the little actions and the words and the rules, and make them the main thing. Rather, you focus on your love for God or for the other person, and their love for you. And you act in ways that are loving for them. You do that automatically. You don't go to the rule book and say, I'm supposed to be doing these things for that person. You love them. You love God. And you do the things that naturally flow from that. When we have this right relationship with God, we are one with God. And indeed then, our righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, because we are in a loving relationship with our God and our thoughts and our actions are redeemed by God. We will naturally then live out what is best for the relationship. Then it's not so much that we have to do certain things, but we get to do the best things for the relationship. But Luther figured out finally that it wasn't all up to him. It had all been done for him by God in Christ. Jesus knew what all happened with people. That's why he could name all those temptations and things that people do. He was willing to take all those things upon himself, keep them all upon himself, and die with all those things. And when he did, a righteous or right way relationship with God became possible. He died with all those things and he rose, and with that God brought forgiveness to us and gave us righteousness. That is a right way of being with God. We began to be in a good relationship with God. We began to do those things and live in those ways that God wants us to do, because God sees us now as little Christs, people wearing Christ around with us. God cares for us, and we know that we have someone in God whom we can trust and love, rather than someone we need to fear and try to placate all the time and live despairing that we will never do enough to please God. Jesus accomplished the way for us to live right-wise, in a good relationship with God. In many ways it's like how we see marriage. That is, we love the person that we're married to, and have a good relationship with them. Because we love them, we do things for them. We live for them. We want them to flourish in life. We want them to be satisfied. We want them to have happiness. We don't go around with a rule book saying I need to do this or that to please my spouse. Because we know them and love them, we do what will build them up. Our relationship comes first, and the words and the actions follow. Jesus is saying that when it gets turned around, then the relationship's pretty much gone. When we focus on doing the right little things and not on the relationship, we're going the wrong direction. We may be doing okay on this small scale doing some of the correct things. But if we do it without the relationship things like Paul says, or like a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal, they're empty. They are noises without meaning. The love needs to be there. We know how we don't always keep the love in the relationship right, and we wander off. We do things wrong. We focus on the little things rather than the relationship. We start to feel that things aren't right and we know that we need to find our way back. We may need to step back and think about where we are with God, with those we thought we loved, and with those in our Christian community. Jesus uses that example in our lesson today. Two people have forgotten the good relationship they have in Jesus. They go to make their offering at the worship service, but they don't like each other as they do make their offering. Jesus says stop, go and make peace with the other, and then come back and bring the offering. Jesus isn't interested in money that isn't given in love. When we share and make the peace in our worship, that is what we're doing. We're making God happy by showing our love for our Lord. We're restoring our faith relationship so we can be in good relationship as we stand before the Lord. So sometimes we do need to step back and evaluate where we are in a relationship, whether with Jesus or with someone else. We need to mend that relationship to be right with that person. Then we can proceed into a right relationship with God. It doesn't work to say we love God but not to love those who are around us, especially fellow ones in Christ. There are right times to make reconciliations, to heal wounds, and to do what's necessary to make things right with others, so that we can be in a right relationship with God. Peter Steinke is a Lutheran pastor, but also a psychologist. He's written a number of books on things that make healthy people and healthy congregations. He notes that relationships often get into trouble when they get fearful and anxious, and the people in the relationships begin to pull into themselves, become more self-centered, and less open to what's happening around them. For good health he says it's good to keep an outward focus and be engaged with the world around. And the same, he believes, is true for congregations. When congregations become self-centered and self-oriented they don't do so well. They get ingrown and tend to fight among themselves. But when congregations look outward, work together to do mission and projects outside themselves, they do things together and it builds up the spirit of oneness and enthusiasm for mission, looking outward rather than inward. The temptations are always there. There are always temptations to look inward, to focus on the small things instead of the relationships we are a part of, to think about ourselves and to ignore or harm those who are around us. We find these temptations in our relationships, especially when we aren't feeling very good about ourselves. We find these temptations in our communities of faith when we lose sight of the mission we all have as God's family, and think more about how things are with me. And we're tempted to do it as a country or even as the world, as people in countries draw back into individualism and tribalism rather than thinking of the whole world as having the potential to be a whole world wide community. We come together here every week because we know how easily we forget and go back to our old ways. So we come here every week to be reminded that it isn't about us, but it's about us and our Lord. Just like in our human relationships, we can get sloppy sometimes and don't care for them very well. We need to come every week to be strengthened in our relationship with our Lord. We receive the good word of God's love. We receive the meal that God offers us. It's a meal of reconciliation. We make our peace. We make our offering. We can offer ourselves because God has made that peace with us, and declare that we are at one with God. God has done everything so that we can be in a perfect relationship. Because of God we can have and live with righteousness -- even righteousness that exceeds that of the scribes and of the Pharisees. Amen. Now may this peace of God which passes all understanding keep our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen. *** Keywords *** 2017, Christ Lutheran Church, Webster Groves, sermon, podcast, transcript, Pastor Keith Holste, Matthew 5:20-37