First Lutheran Church of Little Rock

A. In the Name of the Father…Amen.
B. The Gospel lesson serves as our sermon text for this morning.
C. Grace, mercy, and peace be yours from God our heavenly Father through
our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
D. Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, let us pray:
846 Your Hand, O Lord, in Days of Old
1
Your hand, O Lord, in days of old
Was strong to heal and save;
It triumphed over ills and death,
O’er darkness and the grave.
To You they came, the blind, the mute,
The palsied and the lame,
The lepers in their misery,
The sick with fevered frame.

Introduction

A. A biography is someone’s life story, written by another.
1. The word biography comes from two Greek words meaning “life” and
“writing.”
2. A biography is part history and part novel.
3. Often, we read the biography of a well-known person because of a pivotal
moment or series of events that brought him or her notoriety.
4. The author interprets every fact and anecdote of their subject’s life in
light of that pivotal moment.
B. If someone was writing your biography, what themes would that person
highlight?
1. A common figure of speech used when something bad happens to a person
who believes their life is often marked by bad times is “That’s the story
of my life.”
2. In similar fashion, periods of our lives in where we are plagued by sin,
guilt and shame, or sadness, these times are often referred to as “bad
chapters” or “we are in a bad place.”
3. Are there chapters or places from your past that you might ask your
biographer to leave out?
C. The life of Christ intersected with a Samaritan with leprosy in today’s
Gospel, and that man’s biography took on a whole new theme.
1. For him, like you, Your Life’s Story Is the Story of Your Life in Christ.
I. The Samaritan leper’s life story was perhaps quite bad until today’s
encounter with Christ.
A. We know very few details of this Samaritan’s life, but we can guess they
made for a sad story.
1. Being a Samaritan didn’t just make one a subject of Jewish prejudice; it
meant you grew up with a corrupted religion, a skewed view of God.
A. The Jews despised the Samaritans because of historic betrayals and
heretical beliefs.
B. Here is a brief “biography” of the Samaritans:
1. A people whose Jewish heritage had been adulterated through
intermarriage and whose observance of Judaism was regarded as corrupted.
2. Samaritans descended from Israelites left behind after Samaria’s
destruction (722 BC) and included foreigners imported by Assyrian kings (2
Kings 17: 24– 28, 33– 34).
3. They inhabited the area between Judea and Galilee.
4. They accepted only the Five Books of Moses as authoritative, worshiped
on Mount Gerizim, and rejected Jerusalem as the proper place of worship.
5. Most Jews regarded Samaritans as outside the bounds of the covenant
people and avoided them (Lk 9: 52– 53).
6. Long-standing and deep-seated hostility existed between Jews and
Samaritans.
2. Being ostracized because of one’s ethnicity or lack thereof was bad
enough:
A. And then came leprosy;
B. we don’t know how he contracted it.
C. What we do know is that it meant exclusion from family, friends, a
living, any pleasure.
D. A death sentence while you are very much alive!
3. Now his only friends seem to be people who’d probably hate him—if their
lives weren’t so pathetic.
B. But then there’s this encounter with Jesus.
1. With what little we know about this Samaritan, the whole world knows
volumes about Jesus—and with good reason:
A. miracles,
B. preaching,
C. a perfect life,
D. a death for the sins of the whole world,
E. resurrection from the dead for the whole world.
2. And now this Samaritan leper is also eternally famous:
A. for the miracle Jesus did in his life
B. and for his faith in his Savior.
3. Even the word Samaritan has now become famous rather than infamous:
A. “At the start of the journey to Jerusalem, Jesus and his disciples came
to a Samaritan village that refused to welcome him.
B. James and John were rebuked by Jesus when they wanted to call down fire
to destroy that village (Luke 9:51–55).”
C. But now “the disciples are learning that response to the message of the
gospel breaks down racial barriers.
D. People from the far corners of the earth will sit down at the banquet of
salvation” (Victor H. Prange, Peoples Bible Commentary: Luke, rev. ed. [St.
Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1992, 2004], 191).
II. Your life story would have a very different plot except for Christ’s
entering it.
A. How does your biography read?
1. Is it indistinct, with very few details that no one would bother writing
in a book?
A. Perhaps there nothing in your biography that you are proud of?
2. Maybe you are fearful that there are chapters in your life that might
bring the wrath or scorn of God in the final judgment?
A. Or the scorn of other Christians in this congregation?
3. But how will you see your life when you consider that God is your
biographer?
A. He gave you life,
B. and his Word and work create and sustain saving faith in you.
4. Your biography as a Christian is encompassed in the life, death, and
resurrection of Jesus.
A. Paul declares in Romans 6:3–5:
1. Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus
were baptized into his death?
Rom 6:4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order
that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father,
we too might walk in newness of life.
Rom 6:5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall
certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.
B. The life of the Christian, from font to grave, comes after the prologue
of the person and work of the Savior.
5. The Spirit continues to work faith concerning Christ’s work in your
heart.
A. So now you stand forgiven of all those “bad chapters.”
B. The epilogue of the individual Christian’s life is yet to be written,
but we’ve seen the “spoiler” in the pages of the Gospels.
C. The apostle Paul summarizes it this way:
1. “But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of
those who have fallen asleep” (1 Corinthians 15:20).
Conclusion

A. Solomon, who wrote Ecclesiastes, says:
1. “Of making many books there is no end” (12:12).
2. Some years ago, an interviewer asked the author of a recent biography of
Winston Churchill, “Why write another book on Winston Churchill?”
3. He acknowledged that there were well over a thousand biographies about
Churchill!
4. Here is a fun fact: It has been said that in most libraries, books by
and about Martin Luther occupy more shelves than those concerned with any
other figure except Jesus.
5. As John noted, “Now there are also many other things that Jesus did.
Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could
not contain the books that would be written” (John 21:25).
B. The Gospels, a type of biography, are reliable, historical accounts of
so many of those events in Jesus’ life and ministry.
1. Above all, they are a record of the “Good News” of his life, sacrificial
death, and resurrection for the salvation of the world.
2. They were written with a purpose.
3. Luke said that he sought to write an “orderly account” of Jesus’ life
and work “that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been
taught” (Luke 1:3, 4).
C. On the other hand, we don’t know much about the Samaritan who had
leprosy in Luke 17.
1. We don’t have a detailed biography—only this short episode.
2. It is only part of a column on a single page.
3. But it is a remarkable event—and what Jesus said about the man and his
faith is incredible.
D. Jesus commends the faith of a Samaritan leper who alone gives thanks for
his healing.
1. Every day God’s mercy extends to the unworthy— including you and me.
2. We give praise to Him, who bore no grudge toward you and me but came
from heaven to save us all.
E. Thanks be to You, O God, as we go our way, that our very lives are made
whole by Jesus each and every day. Amen.
F. Let us pray:
3
O be our great deliv’rer still,
The Lord of life and death;
Restore and quicken, soothe and bless,
With Your life-giving breath.
To hands that work and eyes that see
Give wisdom’s healing pow’r
That whole and sick and weak and strong
May praise You evermore.
Text: Public domain
I. The peace of God, which transcends all understanding, guard your hearts
and minds in Christ Jesus.

J. In the Name of the Father…Amen.

A. In the Name of the Father…Amen.
B. The Epistle reading serves as our sermon text for this morning.
C. Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God our Father and our Lord and
Savior Jesus Christ, Amen.
D. Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, let us pray:
• 725 Children of the Heavenly Father
1
Children of the heav’nly Father
Safely in His bosom gather;
Nestling bird nor star in heaven
Such a refuge e’er was given.

2
God His own doth tend and nourish;
In His holy courts they flourish.
From all evil things He spares them;
In His mighty arms He bears them.

Introduction

A. There is something powerful and nearly sacred about holding someone
else’s hand.
B. Picture these scenarios in your mind:
1. a new parent holding the tiny hand of their newborn son or daughter;
2. a teacher holding the hand of a timid kindergarten student as they cross
the parking lot;
3. a brave teenager reaching out their hand to help someone who has fallen
or been hurt in competition;
4. a young but nervous couple holding hands for the first time on a date;
5. an excited man and woman standing before their pastor on their wedding
day, hand in hand;
6. an elderly but tired man holding the hand of his beloved wife of many
decades;
7. a family holding the hand of their loved one as he or she passes from
this life to eternal life.
C. Today is LWML Sunday.
1. As you may be aware, “LWML” stands for “Lutheran Women’s Missionary
League.”
2. It is an auxiliary organization of our Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod
and has members throughout North America.
3. Working “hand in hand” with the LCMS and other organizations within the
LCMS, they seek to bring Christ to the nations and the nations to the
Church.
4. Truly, they are a missionary organization, sponsoring mission efforts
reaching people around the world as well as here in the United States.
5. They do that with their mites they give, small offerings that together
help more people hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
6. For decades, the LWML has given a strong witness to how God’s love holds
each of us.
7. Thanks be to God through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the LWML
continues to walk “hand in hand” with the Church and her people!
D. As we celebrate LWML Sunday, let us consider the two questions raised by
the apostle Paul in Romans 8:31:
1. “What then shall we say to these things?
2. If God is for us, who can be against us?”
E. Notice the main person, the subject. It is God.
F. This is clearly taught in our text from Romans 8.
1. Sometimes it is tempting to think that our success depends on one of
three things:
A. our grip,
B. our hold,
C. or our heroism.
D. It may be subtle, but it’s a very slippery slope in our lives.
E. Thoughts of self-dependence or “thinking of ourselves more highly than
we ought” can open the door to believing we are the main people in God’s
narrative.
F. But the apostle Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit, gives a different
perspective.
1. He makes it quite clear that God’s everlasting love holds us.
2. When we are insufficient, He is all-sufficient.
G. Jesus is for us and with us, therefore we have no fear of condemnation.
H. Jesus is for us and with us, therefore we have no fear of separation.
I. Jesus is for us and with us, therefore we have certainty of victory.

I. Jesus is for us and with us, therefore we have no fear of condemnation.
A. Paul writes in our text for this morning:
1. “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be
against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all,
how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?” (Romans
8:31-32).
B. What things is Paul talking about?
1. Paul has just acknowledged that God has done everything for our
salvation.
2. Therefore, how should we respond?
3. God IS for us.
4. Since God is for us, how should we respond?
5. Paul continues with these words:
A. Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.
Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died – more than that, who
was raised – who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for
us.” (Romans 8:33-34)
C. Why did Jesus die?
1. To pay for our sins!
D. Why was he raised?
1. The Father accepted this payment; in other words, the check has cleared!
2. It didn’t bounce and it was not found to have insufficient funds.
3. He died so we might live.
E. Jesus is now interceding for us, fully engaged in the battle for us and
with us.
1. Corrie ten Boom once said: “There is no pit so deep, that God’s love is
not deeper still.”
2. Think about this personally, in your own life.
3. Who of us in the past week has been perfect?
4. On the other hand, how many of us have thought, said, or did things we
would later regret?
5. Or, have you spoken to a loved one in a tone you wish you could take
back?
6. Have you ever been divisive in any way?
7. Yes, to all of the above.
F. The law is convicting because the law shows us exactly where we have
sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.
1. The pit is pretty deep…but God’s love is deeper still.
2. His arm is long and able to rescue us; indeed, his stretched-out arms on
the cross of Calvary DID rescue us.
3. Those same arms were made alive again as Jesus was raised from the dead.
4. Jesus is for us and with us.
5. Even though Satan wants to accuse and condemn you, the action of Jesus
is evident – and the result is clear: we have no fear of condemnation.
G. The important mission of LWML shares this life-saving and life-giving
truth with the world.
H. For 80 years now and still going strong, through LWML, Gospel seeds have
been sown.
I. The Holy Spirit is at work!
J. With no fear of condemnation, we turn to our second point:
II. Jesus is for us and with us, therefore we have no fear of separation.
In your mind picture again, the image of hands joined together. God will
not let go of your hand!
A. Our sermon text continues with these words:
1. “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or
distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As
it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are
regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”
2. No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who
loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers,
nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth,
nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the
love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:35-39)
B. Did you notice what Paul does not say in this text?
1. He does not say that life will be free of challenges and difficult
circumstances.
2. He does not say that distress or danger will not happen.
3. In fact, he writes in great detail elsewhere (including 2 Corinthians)
about his own experience in facing these challenges.
C. We know this from our own experiences as well.
1. Each of us could make a list of our own struggles of daily living.
2. What would your list look like?
3. What would you include?
4. Who would you include?
5. In many ways, you might feel like that so much is stacked against you
right now.
6. But God declares you righteous (Romans 8:33) and loved in Jesus (Romans
8:39).
7. Our assurance comes from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
D. Our Lutheran Women in Mission have served many people for many years,
whose lives seem out of control.
1. But God is always the one in control, and by His Holy Spirit, has chosen
to use them and all of us to serve others in love.
2. God is love.
E. With no fear of separation, we come to our third point:
III. Jesus is for us and with us, therefore we have certainty of victory.
A. That victory is made yours personally through the gift of your baptism.
1. St. Paul says earlier in Romans 6:4:
A. “We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that,
just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too
might walk in newness of life.”
B. Here is a simple equation:
1. God’s Word + water = Baptism
2. Baptism equals victory:
A. victory over sin, death, and the power of the devil.
B. We are more than conquerors; we are super-victorious!
C. The great hymn of the Reformation says this well:
LSB 656:2
With might of ours can naught be done,
Soon were our loss effected;
But for us fights the valiant One,
Whom God Himself elected.
Ask ye, Who is this?
Jesus Christ it is,
Of Sabaoth Lord,
And there’s none other God;
He holds the field forever.
Text: Public domain
B. Our victory is not secure because of our hold on Christ, but by His hold
on us.
1. We are more than conquerors because He holds tightly to us.
2. Therefore, we may live each day, including today, confidently trusting
in Jesus.
3. As a baptized child of God, remain in His Word.
4. Be reminded of your identity as a victorious one in Christ.
5. Rely on His grace and mercy.
6. How have your been saved? By grace through faith.
7. And respond to His call.
8. Like Isaiah the prophet, may we enthusiastically say: “Here am I! Send
me.” (Isaiah 6:8b).

Conclusion
A. During my last year at seminary, Frances and I were often “wined and
dined” by various groups at the seminary as well as those from the Synod.
B. One of those groups that fed us very well the whole time we were there
at seminary was the Fort Wayne LWML.
C. Whether it was through helping with the Food Bank and the Clothes Closet
on campus, sponsoring a student with gifts, the LWML was instrumental in
helping the students get through their years of seminary.
D. At the banquet that was held in honor of the graduates who were set to
graduate and receive their first call in April, one of the statements made
at that banquet still rings loud and clear in my mind: when you get to the
parish you have been called to, do not forget the ladies of the LWML!!
E. To the ladies of the LWML here at First Lutheran, thank you for your
hearts and hands that have shared the Gospel with many around the world.
F. Lutheran Women in Mission:
1. Thank you for responding to the call of Jesus.
2. Thank you for your example and encouragement to each of us.
G. May our God continue to hold all of us in His love, the love of God that
is found in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.
H. Let us pray:
• 725 Children of the Heavenly Father

3
Neither life nor death shall ever
From the Lord His children sever;
Unto them His grace He showeth,
And their sorrows all He knoweth.

4
Though He giveth or He taketh,
God His children ne’er forsaketh;
His the loving purpose solely
To preserve them pure and holy.
Text: Public domain
I. The peace of God, which transcends all understanding, guard your hearts
and minds in Christ Jesus.

J. In the Name of the Father…Amen.