Dale Critchley 11/19/05

Dale Critchley 6/4/2018

Children’s Sermon Catechetical point: How many of you like to wait when someone’s coming? Well, someone is coming. Jesus is coming to take us to His new creation. Message: We don’t know when He’s coming, but we know we get to go with Him. Why do we get to go with Him? †

Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

Text: (Matthew 25:1-13) "Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be like ten virgins, who took their lamps, and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. Those who were foolish, when they took their lamps, took no oil with them, but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. Now while the bridegroom delayed, they all slumbered and slept. But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Behold! The bridegroom is coming! Come out to meet him!’ Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. The foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise answered, saying, ‘What if there isn’t enough for us and you? You go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’ While they went away to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. Afterward the other virgins also came, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us.’ But he answered, ‘Most assuredly I tell you, I don’t know you.’ Watch therefore, for you don’t know the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.

In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen.

I. Introduction A. Roughly 1/3 of all people alive today consider themselves Christian B. But among those billions, an alarming number don’t really know what “Christian” means 1. Most people define Christian as “moral” 2. Or “Believing in God” however you define “God” 3. Or simply, “A member of a Christian congregation” a) Of course, having your name on the books doesn’t make you a member of a Christian congregation b) That’s what excommunication is: acknowledging that someone has already removed himself from membership by rejection of the teachings or practices of the congregation C. But Christianity is all about Jesus 1. And Jesus is not about making us moral 2. He’s all about eternal life 3. And the only way to eternal life is through faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord 4. Not church membership or attendance or even good works

II. "Then the kingdom of the heavens will be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. A. It’s important with parables to not allegorize 1. We don’t want to try to assign each part of the parable to something Page 1 of 4 Dale Critchley 6/4/2018 2. Instead, look at the main point of the story B. In this case, it’s all about waiting for the bridegroom 1. Just as the virgins, or bridesmaids, were waiting for the bridegroom 2. We are waiting for Jesus 3. We don’t know when He’s coming, so we need to be ready

III. But five of them were fools, and five were shrewd. For the fools took their lamps; they didn't take oil with them. A. To understand this, you need to understand what a lamp looked like in Jesus’ day. 1. If you’d take a clay bowl and curve in the sides on one end to form a spout, you have a lamp—no lids or fancy gold spouts like Aladdin’s lamp 2. So since it was open at the top, you couldn’t carry much oil in it if any or you’d spill it 3. And even when full, you might have to refill it as often as every 15 minutes B. If we were to update this parable, we could give it many names 1. “The parable of the guys you haven’t seen in church since confirmation” 2. “The parable of the people who think the Book of Life is a photocopy of our mailing list” 3. or “The parable of those who come to church but leave their thoughts at home or any number of other places.” C. Foolishness is the opposite of wisdom 1. And the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom 2. So the foolish are those who don’t even fear God, don’t recognize His power & majesty, much less trust and love Him for His grace 3. So the fools are those simply without faith

IV. But the shrewd took oil in vessels with their lamps. A. Who are the shrewd? Those with faith B. And how do they keep their lamps lit? 1. Hide it under a bushel? No! 2. Don’t let Satan <> it out 3. The Gospel light that is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path is kept lit by hearing and reading the Gospel! a) Not just reading the Bible through every year b) But meditating on it, contemplating it c) Reading God’s Word with love and devotion d) Treasuring the message the way Mary treasured God’s Word from the shepherds and God’s Word in the manger C. And in the darkness of a fallen world, that light is of absolute importance 1. God’s Word alone can keep you from stumbling onto sin 2. God’s Word alone can keep reveal to you the enemies that seek to harm your soul 3. And God’s Word alone can send those enemies back to the darkness to keep you from harm

V. But the bridegroom delaying, they all became drowsy and slept. A. So it is with faith B. It continues to burn even as we sleep and as we continue on with business as usual

of 4 Dale Critchley 6/4/2018 C. And even as you work in your daily callings, that light of God’s love continues to shine through you 1. When you hold a child with a broken toy or a broken heart, God’s love shines through 2. When you go to work and make your boss’s job easy by doing your best at your job, the soothing light gives comfort in the darkness 3. When you joyfully set aside your “rights” for the benefit of your spouse’s joy, the cross of Christ that you carry is evident

VI. But in the middle of the night, a clamor began: 'Hey, the bridegroom! Come out to meet!' A. And when Jesus returns, this is how He’ll come—suddenly B. When you’re busy with your day-to-day life, fulfilling the vocations God has called you to C. There will be no warning, so be ready at any time 1. And being ready is simply having faith 2. God makes us ready through His Word and sacraments 3. He is keeping you prepared as you hear the message of Salvation today 4. He made Lauren ready this morning by washing sin out and faith in

VII. Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. A. Now, you can trim your lamp with all kinds of good works 1. And the outward appearance may be just fine 2. But without the oil of the Spirit, your wick won’t burn B. But with the oil of the Spirit, you can look to your works with joy 1. Not because they’ve earned you anything 2. But because God accomplished these great things and chose you to be His vessel 3. And because they are all that remains once your sin is washed away

VIII. But the fools said to the shrewd, 'Give to us from your oil since our lamps are going out.' A. But when Jesus comes back, it’s too late then 1. They had no use for the Gospel beforehand 2. The Spirit had no priority in those days 3. But at Jesus’ return, those who rejected that gift will be desperate for salvation 4. But on that day, faith ceases and is replaced by sight 5. Either joy, or finally fear

IX. But the shrewd answered, saying, 'No, lest there's not enough for us and you. Rather, go to the dealers and buy for yourselves.' A. This is not to say we need fear sharing our faith B. But on the last day, the time for sharing is past C. Too late is too late

X. But in their going away to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him into the wedding, and the door was shut.

of 4 Dale Critchley 6/4/2018 A. The foolish try to work their way in, to buy their way in with good works 1. And if you could be perfect, this would be a great idea 2. But you can’t, so it’s not B. So when they showed up with their good works, it did them no good whatsoever C. They still didn’t get in

XI. And later, the other virgins came, saying, 'Lord, Lord, open for us!' A. Lot’s of people know of Jesus 1. They think of Him as a teacher or “The God of those Christians” 2. Or more likely, they see Him as a lawgiver B. But knowing about Jesus is not the same as saving faith 1. We are saved by faith, not knowledge 2. And while knowledge is important to faith, 3. It is neither essential (Lauren has faith without knowledge today) nor the goal a) Knowledge by hearing the Word of God certainly aids faith—faith is strengthened as we learn of our Savior’s love b) Knowledge of God’s Word also enables us to fight off the Devil, the world, and our own sinful flesh 4. But in faith, we don’t just know about Jesus—we know Jesus

XII. But He answered, saying, 'Truly I say to you, I don't know you.' A. No worse words could ever be spoken 1. But it’s a horrible reality 2. On that last day, over 4.5 billion people, just of those alive right now, not counting the many more billions who have already been judged, will hear Jesus say this to them B. But those who have heard Jesus’ voice and know their shepherd 1. Including you 2. Including those whom you have told about Him that they may know Him 3. Including those who have seen your light shine 4. And thank God, many who have seen your sin and still believed in spite of you

XIII. Therefore, watch, since you don't know the day nor the hour." A. Be prepared for His coming B. Believe that Jesus Christ is in fact your Lord and Savior C. Be assured that He has paid for your sin on the cross and forgiven you all of them D. Know that He loves you, that He has conquered death. E. And have faith that Jesus Christ, our crucified and risen Lord and Savior, will come soon to give you eternal life in Jesus’ name. Amen. Now the peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.