90 Years of Grace!

September 25, 2016

Pastor Mark F. Bartels

Sermon Text; 1 Corinthians, chapter 2, verse 2

“I determined to know nothing,

while I was with you

except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.”

Sermon Text; Galatians, chapter 6, verse 14.

“Far be it for me to boast

except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ,

by which the world has been crucified to me

and I to the world.”

We pray,

Lord God, Heavenly Father, please bless the words of my mouth, and the meditation of our hearts, through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Amen

Dear fellow redeemed in Jesus. So, it was about fourteen years ago, 2002, when I came home from church, one Sunday afternoon. I probably got home from church around 12:30 in the afternoon. There was dinner around the table, and Sherri and I sat down with the three boys. At that time our boys probably would have been twelve, nine, and seven years old. The boys asked, “What was that meeting about at church?”

I said, “Well guys, Holy Cross voted to relocate.”

They asked, “What does that mean?”

I told them, “Well, it means we are going to build a new church, and a new school some place else.”

They wanted to know why we would do that. So, I tried to explain it, without going into great depth, “Our goal is to reach as many souls, with Jesus, as we possibly can. We believe, in the long term, by moving, we will be able to reach more souls for Jesus.”

As I looked at their faces, one of them in particular looked pretty sad. I looked at him, and said, “You look sad.”
He said, “Yeah.”

I asked him, “Why does that make you sad?”

He said, “I am going to miss our old church.”
I told him it was a long ways off. Then, I looked at him and asked, “What are you going to miss about our old church?”

He thought for a little bit, and said, “I am going to miss the water fountain.”

So, my family gets first dibs on the water fountain!

But, here it is fourteen years later and there are things we are going to miss about this building. Some of us are going to miss the water fountain. Some of us are going to miss the stained glass windows. Some of us are going to miss the pews. Some of us are going to miss the chancel, the pulpit. Some of us are going to miss the organ. Some of us are going to miss the boiler room. Some of us are going to miss the kitchen.

There are a lot of emotions tied up in this building, particularly because of what has happened in this building. In this building, through Word, and Sacrament, the Holy Spirit worked.

       -It could be that your child came to know Jesus for the first time, here in this building at that baptismal font, through the power of baptism.

       -It could be for the first time, here at this communion rail, you had the body of your Savior, and His blood touch your lips, and comfort you, with the forgiveness of your sins.

       -It could be that in one of these classrooms, during an Adult Information Class, you, for the first time, heard that you are saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. It was like the doors of Heaven opened up to you, and you realized,

“I am saved by grace!”

Because of the events that happened in this building, we are going to miss a lot of things about this building.

So, today, the last time we officially worship in this building as a congregation, couldn't come on a better day. Today also happens to be our anniversary, as a congregation, our ninetieth anniversary as Holy Cross Lutheran Church!

When you celebrate an anniversary, one of the things you do with a church anniversary is you look at yourself, as a congregation, and you ask yourself, “What makes this congregation tick?” “What is our DNA?” “What is the deepest thing about this congregation?” “What is it, on which we find all of our joy?” “Where is it, that we put all of our hope?” “What is it that gives us all our confidence?” “What is it that gives us all of our comfort? Where is that found?”

As we look at the history of this congregation, we discover that we don't find our joy, our confidence, our comfort, our security, in a building. We find it in something much, much deeper, much more profound, much more lasting.

We find it in the cross of Jesus Christ.

There are two passages I want to think about today. The first one is from 1 Corinthians, chapter 2, verse 2.

“I determined to know nothing,

while I was with you

except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.”

That is the centrality of the cross of Jesus.

The second passage is taken from Galatians, chapter 6, verse 14.

“Far be it for me to boast

except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ,

by which the world has been crucified to me

and I to the world.”

Again, the centrality of the cross of Jesus Christ.

For ninety years that has been the DNA, the basic, bottom-line make-up of this congregation. September 26, 1926 on Milwaukee Street in a home owned by Styrk and Julia Requie, gathered Pastor Ylvisaker, his wife and five families. That day they organized this congregation The topic came up, “What shall we call the congregation?”

Pastor Ylvisaker had been relatively, freshly graduated from seminary down is St. Louis, Missouri. He had attended a church there, called Holy Cross Lutheran Church. So, he proposed, “Let's call the congregation Holy Cross.”

You see, there it is. From day one, this congregation chose to know nothing except Christ, and Him crucified.

And when the first structure was built, it was a little, white, wood building, on this property. On top of that building was a white cross that was illuminated. You could see it at nighttime, from far away. What was it telling the congregation and the community?

We boast in nothing

except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.

When this sanctuary was built, look at this cross. It dwarfs everything else of art in this building because what are we saying by this cross. In Greek it says, “IC XC NIKA.” In English it means,

“Jesus Christ conquers by the cross.”

That is the DNA, the makeup of this congregation. When you walk out of this building, there is a cross at the end of the hallway. We call it “The Orvick Cross”, donated by former Pastor George Orvick. It reminds us, whether you are coming in, or going out, it is the cross of Jesus Christ on which we are founded, on which we are built, and on which we find our confidence.

That is why we begin every service with the sign of the of holy cross, and say,

“In the name of the Father,

and the Son,

and the Holy Spirit.”

That is why we end every service with the sign of the holy cross, as we say The Benediction.

The cross is the foundation. It is the center of what we are, as a congregation.

When we moved, we had the opportunity to petition the city to name a street. Our leadership said, “Let's ask the city if we can call the street “Holy Cross Way”, because we choose to boast in nothing except Christ, and Him crucified.

What is it about Christ, and Him crucified, that is the basic, bottom line DNA, and make-up of this congregation? Why do we hold that so dear? Why is that our foundational building of everything? Why would we celebrate, and boast in some Man, beaten, bloodied, and dead on a cross? That seems so counter-intuitive to say, “That is what I glory in, that Man dead on a cross.”

It is because of what the cross of Jesus Christ tells us. The cross of Jesus Christ really tells us two things.

The first thing it tells us is something we don't like to hear, but we need to hear it. The second thing it tells us is the absolute greatest news in all of the world.

       -The first thing the cross of Jesus Christ tells us is the bad news about just how sinful we are. Bottom-line, the cross of Jesus Christ tells you there is no amount of religious effort, no amount of spiritual stamina, no amount of cleaning up of your life that can somehow earn God's favor. There is nothing, except Christ, and Him crucified, that can earn the favor of God on your behalf. That is how fallen, and sinful we are. We cannot save ourselves. We all need to know that.

There once was a pastor who was preaching to his congregation about how deeply fallen we are, all of us, as sinners. He quoted this passage from Genesis, chapter eight.

“Every inclination of man's heart is evil,

even from his youth.”

After the church service, there was a young man who stopped the pastor, and said, “Pastor you are wrong. You are wrong! You interpreted that passage wrong. We are not that bad.”

The pastor looked at the young man, and said, “I didn't interpret the passage. I just read what the Bible says. Every inclination of man's heart is evil, even from his youth.” That pastor looked at the young man, and said, “You know, if we could open up your heart right now, and we could put it out on a table, all of the contents of what is in your heart, and everybody here could see it, and they could really see everything you have ever thought, and even your most dear loved ones could see the thoughts you have had about them, you would slink away from this building. That is how sinful each of us is.”

We, as a church, for ninety years have spoken The Law, and pointed out sin. On a day like today, it is important, for each of us, as we are about to leave this building, to consider in our own hearts, (because we all have sinful hearts), The Law.

Some of us, as we leave this building, may have worries about what is going to happen at our new spot, our new facility. “Is everything going to be OK?” But, you know what? That is a sin. Worry is a sin. Worry is lack of trust in God.

Some in this room maybe struggling with authority. Thinking, “What in the world were the elders, the church council, the voters, and the pastors thinking, when they voted to relocate, and leave this beautiful building?” You may be in your heart rebelling against authority. That is a sin.

Some us of us in this room may be having far more emotion about a building, than we have ever, ever, ever had about the thought of one, lost soul being saved for Jesus. That shows a lack of love for our neighbor.

If I am talking to you, good. I hope I am. Because, if I am talking to you, that means you are a sinner just like I am. That means

you are the one Jesus came for.

That is the message of the cross.

Jesus said,

“I didn't come for the righteous.

I came for the unrighteous.”

Jesus said,

“I didn't come for the healthy.

I came for the sick.”

Jesus came for sinners. That is the message of the cross.

The message of the cross is that God loves you so dearly, YOU! He loves you so dearly. He knows that no amount of religious effort on your part, no amount of spiritual stamina on your part, no amount of cleaning up on your life on your part could ever, ever make you right with Him. So, God demonstrates His own love for us in this.

“While we were still sinners,

Christ died for us.”

That is the message of the cross.

The message of the cross is that God loves you so dearly that He put your sin on His own Son. And the blood, the Bible tells us, the blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanses us from all sin. That is the message of the cross.

There is no greater news, no greater news to know: that there is no amount of religious effort, no amount of spiritual stamina, no amount of cleaning up my life that is required. We know nothing except Christ and Him crucified. It is because of the blood of Jesus, the Bible says. The blood of Jesus justifies us. It is because of what Jesus did on the cross, that God looks at you, He points at you, and says, “I see no sin in that man. I see no sin in that woman.” Wow! God looks at you, and says, “You are, in my eyes, just, because of what my Son did for you.” God looks at you for Christ's sake and says, “You are my friend. I am reconciled to you, because of what my Son did for you.”

That is the message of the cross.

       -That is what we have taught.

       -That is what we have preached.

       -That is what we will continue to preach.

       -That is what we continue to speak.

It is that message that is preached from the pulpit. Unless you hear that message, you cannot come to faith. Unless you hear that message, you cannot be saved. Unless the Holy Spirit works through that message, you cannot believe in Jesus, as your Savior.

       -It is not this pulpit that has converted anybody. It is the message of the cross that has come out of this pulpit that the Holy Spirit has worked through. God says,

“My Word will not return to me.

My Word will not return to me void.

It will accomplish the purpose

where onto I send it.”

The Bible says,

“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow.”

It is The Word that has brought the message of the cross.

       -That baptismal font never brought anybody to faith. But, it is The Word and the water that were used at that baptismal font. The pastor made the sign of the holy cross over the little child, and said, “Receive the sign of the holy cross upon your forehead, and upon your heart, signifying you have been redeemed by Christ, the crucified and risen Savior.” When the pastor applied water and said, “I baptize you in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,” little souls were brought to faith.

       -That Communion Rail never, never gave anybody the body and blood of Christ. It is the Word that was connected with the bread and the wine that delivered to you, as your possession, the very body and blood that died on the cross, 2,000 years ago, guaranteeing your sins are forgiven.

That is the DNA of this congregation. That is what we are built on. That supersedes any building.

You know how many buildings this congregation has worshiped in? I want you to think about this, and ask yourself, “What has endured through all of this?”

       -In 1925, before this congregation was officially formed, there was a home, here on the east side of Madison, owned by a man by the name of John Hansen, or Hans Hansen. In that home, Sunday School classes were held to reach out to the community. I don't think anybody in this room knows where that home was, or if it is even standing. That home is gone from our institutional memory. But, the cross of Jesus Christ endured.

       -Next, there was a building called The Flat Iron Building. It was a place called Union Corners, where Winnebago and East Washington met. That intersection has changed so much that The Flat Iron Building where Sunday School was held, that building is gone. The building is gone, but the message of the holy cross endured.

       -Then there was a church built on this property. It was a white church. That building is gone, but the message of the Holy Cross endured.

       -Grade School was started in 1927, the basement of that little, white church. That basement is gone, but the message of the cross endured.

       -School then met over on North Street, in a building owned by East Side Evangelical Lutheran Church. That building is not a church, anymore. But, the message of the cross endured.

       -Then, the school met down on Spaight Street, with six other churches in a building called Madison Lutheran School. That building is gone. It is a parking lot now. But, the message of the Holy Cross endured.

That is the DNA of this congregation. This is a congregation founded on the One thing that endures, and lasts. It is also the DNA to reach out, as we look back at the past. Thank God for faithful forefathers with the saving Gospel Message.

But, this cross isn't just for us. We want to take it to our community. How do you do that, as a Bible believing church? It has been the DNA of this congregation to do it in a particular way. The passage says,

“Far be it for me to boast,

except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ,

to which the world has been crucified to me,

and I to the world.”

That is talking about a dramatic change. The cross changes us, dramatically. The world is crucified to us. That means the world doesn't really like to hear the message of the cross. So, how do we take the message of the cross to a place like Madison, Wisconsin, which maybe doesn't really want to hear it, that much?

Well, here is what the DNA of Holy Cross has been for year. While the world may not care much about the cross, the world does love their children. Moms and Dads love their kids. They want their kids to be safe. They want their kids to be nurtured. They want their kids to be loved. They want their kids to grow. They want their kids to learn.

For ninety years, whether it was at John Hansen's house, somewhere here on the east side of Madison, or at The Flat Iron Building where Sunday School was held, or in the basement at the little, white church where school was held, or over on North Street where school was held, or over on Spaight Street, where school was held, or over here in this building, where school was held, or over on Holy Cross Way at Kid's Crossing, where we have an Early Learning Center and a school there, we gave parents what they wanted. A safe, nurturing, loving, environment where their children can learn and grow, and in the process we gave them what they needed.

What did they need?

They needed Jesus.

They needed the cross.

That message of the cross changed little hearts, and it changed little lives. We know this.

If you cannot preach like angels.

If you cannot preach like Paul.

You can tell the love of Jesus.

You can say He died for all.

Little children took that message home, and parents became interested in hearing about the message of the cross. That is our DNA.

We have work to do, as a congregation. Let's put our shoulders to the plow. As we go to our new site, our goal, our goal as we leave this building is to understand there is something bigger than a building. That is the great privilege of knowing the cross of Jesus Christ, clinging to the cross of Jesus Christ, and taking that cross of Jesus to those who don't know Him, yet. That is who we are, as a congregation.

So, next week, I hope you are all there. We are going to be in a gym. There won't be any pews. There won't be any organ. There won't be a pulpit. There won't be any stained glass windows. But, there will be a drinking fountain! And, I know, I know we are going to continue to say,

“Far be it for me to boast,

except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ,

by which the world has been crucified to me

and I to the world.”

Amen

God bless Holy Cross!