Sermon Sandwich
Sermon Sandwich—How do Believers gain Underserved Joy?
Trinity Church, 1589 Hwy 174, Edisto Island, SC 29438
www.trinityedisto.com 843-869-3568
14th Sunday after Pentecost, September 11, 2022
Holy Communion - Renewed Ancient Text; 2019 BCP, p.123
Luke 15:1-10 Sermon Notes
How do Believers gain Underserved Joy?
Joy - chara - joy, delight, gladness, jubilation, cheerfulness.
Happiness comes from the World and the happenstances of life. Joy flows from our relationship with Jesus.
The Gospel is the Good News of the Cross and Resurrection of Jesus Christ by which we become the Righteousness of God.
1. Recognize that we have been Rescued
Luke 15:4 -“What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost, until he finds it?
Luke 15:8 - “Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it?
The utter lostness of Humans is on display - the sheep and the coin can do nothing to help in their rescue.
Ephesians 2:1ff - And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, ... 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved (Eph. 2:1ff)
The Doctrine of Original Sin. It is Article 9 of our 39 articles.
“Original Sin standeth not in the following of Adam, (as the Pelagians do vainly talk;) but it is the fault and corruption of the Nature of every man, that naturally is engendered of the offspring of Adam; whereby man is very far gone from original righteousness, and is of his own nature inclined to evil, so that the flesh lusteth always contrary to the Spirit; and therefore in every person born into this world, it deserveth God’s wrath and damnation. …” (p.775-6, 2019 Book of Common Prayer)
Ex - Story of Rescue on Black Creek
2. Repent - Think again, think a new heavenly thought.
Luke 15:7 - Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.
Luke 15:10 - Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
Repentance continues on for the life of a Believer. Why? Because we continue to Think again, think a new heavenly thought, have our minds renewed, gain the Mind of Christ.
Ex. Time in Heaven
Rejoice - synchairo - rejoice with, enjoy with, take part in joy, congratulate, laugh.
Rejoice is a verb, it’s what we do with Jesus.
Luke 15:6 - And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost.’
Luke 15:9 - And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin which I had lost.’