Lutheran Church of the Redeemer

On Friday September 29th at 7:00 PM a new season of the St. Cecelia Series begins with an eye on the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation.  The Schola Redemptoris will be joined by instrumentalists to present a selection of hymn tunes created by Martin Luther, re-imagined by Renaissance and Baroque composers.  Music of Schein, Praetorius, Handel, Pachelbel, and Walther.  All are welcome and admission is free.

More about the St. Cecilia Series:

The St. Cecelia Series is a recital series directed by  Kristen Hansen, organist-choir director at Lutheran Church of the Redeemer. Each month this year the series brings a new program of solo, chamber, and choral music to the city of Columbus.  Past St. Cecelia recitals have included the dedicatory recital of the newly-installed Reuter pipe organ by James E. Bobb of St. Olaf College, performances of Bach cantatas, solo recitals for horn, voice, and others, and a choral concert by the Schola.

The Schola Redemptoris is a select group of professional, trained musicians who sing frequent services for the St. Cecelia series, often in the style of the Anglican musical service of Evensong. The Schola varies in numbers from five to around fifteen depending on the musical needs. Founding members of the Schola include Mark Dermer and James Turner.

The choir of Lutheran Church of the Redeemer is a mixed choir made up of amateur singers from the congregation and music students from Columbus State University’s Schwob School of Music. The choir rehearses weekly and sings in Divine Service usually twice each in a variety of choral styles following the liturgical calendar.

*I am indebted to Bo Giertz’s devotional book, “To Live With Christ”, for the some of the thoughts and some sentences in this sermon. – Rev. Eric Estes

Sermon Text:  Matthew 18:21-35 (ESV)

²¹ Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” ²² Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.

²³ “Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants.^[g] 24 When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents.^[h]25 And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. ²⁶ So the servant^[i] fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ ²⁷ And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. ²⁸ But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii,^[j] and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.’ ²⁹ So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ ³⁰ He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt.³¹ When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place. ³² Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. ³³ And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ ³⁴ And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers,^[k] until he should pay all his debt. ³⁵ So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”

Sermon Text:  Matthew 18:1-20 (ESV)

Who Is the Greatest?

18 At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” ² And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them ³ and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.⁴ Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

⁵ “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, ⁶ but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin,^[a] it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.

Temptations to Sin

⁷ “Woe to the world for temptations to sin!^[b] For it is necessary that temptations come, but woe to the one by whom the temptation comes!⁸ And if your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life crippled or lame than with two hands or two feet to be thrown into the eternal fire. ⁹ And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into the hell^[c] of fire.

The Parable of the Lost Sheep

¹⁰ “See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven.^[d] 12 What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? ¹³ And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. ¹⁴ So it is not the will of my^[e] Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.

If Your Brother Sins Against You

¹⁵ “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.¹⁶ But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. ¹⁷ If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. ¹⁸ Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed^[f] in heaven. ¹⁹ Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. ²⁰ For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”

Matthew 16:21-28 (ESV)

Jesus Foretells His Death and Resurrection

21 ^pFrom that time Jesus began to show his disciples that ^qhe must go to Jerusalem and ^rsuffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on ^sthe third day be raised. 22 And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying,“Far be it from you, Lord!⁵ This shall never happen to you.” 23 But he turned and said to Peter, ^t“Get behind me, Satan! You are ^ua hindrance⁶ to me. For you ^vare not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”

Take Up Your Cross and Follow Jesus

24 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him ^wdeny himself and ^xtake up his cross and follow me. 25 For ^xwhoever would save his life⁷ will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 26 For ^ywhat will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or ^zwhat shall a man give in return for his soul?27 ^aFor the Son of Man is going to come with ^bhis angels in the glory of his Father, and^c then he will repay each person according to what he has done. 28 Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not ^dtaste death ^euntil they see the Son of Man ^fcoming in his kingdom.”

In October of 2016 Redeemer Lutheran Church hosted Columbus State University’s Baroque Consortium for a performance of the essential selections from Handel’s Messiah.  Directed by Dr. Kristen Hansen, Redeemer’s Director of Music, we are glad to share these four movements that are related to Lent and Easter.  You can listen to the entire performance by clicking here.

23 Quartet: All We Like Sheep

39 Chorus: Hallelujah

40 Aria: I Know That My Redeemer Liveth

47 Chorus: Worthy Is The Lamb

Lutheran Church of the Redeemer is honored to support the work of our Synod as it seeks to serve the church throughout the world.  One way we participate in doing this is by supporting the clergymen and their families who have been called to serve others outside our country.  Join us this Sunday, April 2nd, at 9:00 AM as we have a live video chat with Pastor Chuck Ferry and his family.  If you would like to learn more about the Ferry family visit lcms.org/ferry.