“They Devoted Themselves”
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord
Jesus Christ. Amen. Our text is from today’s reading in the second chapter of Acts,
recording the faithfulness of the first Christians: “They devoted themselves to
the apostles’ teaching, and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to
prayer.” A few years ago Reader’s Digest related some unusual and amusing—but
true—tombstone epitaphs. The great singer Bing Crosby wrote his own
epitaph, which says simply: “He was an average guy who could carry a tune.”
A New York dentist’s tombstone amusingly rhymes: “Stranger tread this ground
with gravity, dentist Brown is filling his last cavity.” The tombstone of
the famous cartoon voice Mel Blanc features his most famous line: “That’s All
Folks.” Perhaps the most well-known amusing-but-true epitaph is really
found in Georgia on the gravestone of a hypochondriac: “I told you I was sick.” My great-great-grandparents, Johann and Katherina Windler, were
pioneers at Block Corners in 1865, and members of this congregation when Trinity
was founded in 1868. But, in 1870, at the age of 43, my
great-great-grandmother passed away, and her body lies in the first row of our
cemetery. The Bible verse on the side of her tombstone is nearly worn off,
but I made a rubbing of it last week and figured out it is from 1st Corinthians,
chapter 15. I wonder if it refers to some debilitating illness she had, to
die at such a young age: “The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised
imperishable; it is sown in brokenness, it is raised in glory; it is sown in
weakness, it is raised in power.” I spent a few hours reading and translating, as best I could, the
lovely inscriptions in the mostly German front part of our cemetery. Many
of them are familiar Bible verses and hymns. “I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you, O
Lord, make me dwell in safety.” [Psalm 4:8] “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord.”
[Revelation 14:13] “And we know that God works all things together for
the good of those who love him.” [Romans 8:28] “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the
shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me.” [Psalm 23:4] “I am the resurrection and the life; he who
believes in Me shall live, even if he dies.” [John 11:25] “For me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”
[Philippians 1:21] “I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is
better by far.” [Philippians 1:23] “The dead in Christ will rise.” [1
Thessalonians 4:16] “The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus
Christ our Lord.” [Romans 6:23] “My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation
comes from him.” [Psalm 62:1] “All his saints are in his hand.” [Deuteronomy
33:3] “Come, you blessed of my Father, inherit the
kingdom prepared for you.” [Matthew 25:34] There was one hymn verse I struggled with, but when I finally figured
most of it out, and then located in my grandmother’s old hymnal, I discovered
she had it marked as one of her favorite hymns: I have overcome life’s crosses, [Evangelical Lutheran Hymn-Book (1927), #529,
st. 3] What a beautiful testimony those epitaphs are to the Christian faith of
our pioneer forebearers. Our text is, in a way, also a beautiful epitaph,
for another group of pioneers, spiritual pioneers. A beautiful epitaph
testifying to the faith and devotion of the first generation of Christians, the
pioneers of the Christian faith itself: “They devoted themselves to the
apostles’ teaching, and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to
prayer.” “They devoted themselves” to the “apostle’s teaching”—the Word of God;
“they devoted themselves” to the “fellowship”—assembling together for worship;
“they devoted themselves” to the “breaking of bread”—another name for Holy
Communion; “they devoted themselves” to prayer. “They devoted themselves;”
a beautiful epitaph testifying to the faith and devotion of the first generation
of Christians. But what about us? What do you think would be an appropriate
epitaph for our generation? How about this: “They devoted themselves—to
themselves.” Not like the first Christians; devoted to the apostles’ teaching, to
the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer. But rather, the
epitaph for our generation: “They devoted themselves—to themselves.” St. Paul says in 2nd Corinthians, “He died for all, that those who live
should live no longer for themselves, but for him, who died for them and rose
again.” Jesus died for you, to pay for all your sin; for his sake you are
forgiven. Jesus rose again, and because he lives you also will live with
him in heaven. Jesus gives you his Holy Spirit, who works faith in your
heart to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved. And with the help
of the Holy Spirit, you will respond to Jesus’ love for you by living no longer
for yourself, but for him; by being devoted no longer to yourself, but to him,
who died for you and rose again. Like those first Christians, who “devoted themselves to the apostles’
teaching,” you will be devoted to the Word of God, coming to hear his Word read
and preached on in worship, studying his Word in Sunday School and Bible Class,
and reading and meditating on his Word in your own private devotions. As
St. Paul says in Colossians, “Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly.” Like those first Christians, who “devoted themselves” to the
“fellowship,” you will be devoted to fellowshipping together with your fellow
believers here in this house of God. As the book of Hebrews says, “Let us
not give up meeting together.” Like those first Christians who “devoted themselves” to the “breaking
of bread,” you will be a regular, frequent guest at the “breaking of bread” here
at this table of the Lord. As Jesus says, “This do in remembrance of me.” Like those first Christians who “devoted themselves” to prayer, you
will take it to the Lord in prayer, as St. Paul says in Philippians, “Do not be
anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with
thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to the
fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer.” What is it that
motivated those first Christians to devote themselves to Jesus? What is it that
motivated our own pioneer forebearers, in the midst of the enormous struggles
they faced settling here in this wilderness, to so faithfully devote themselves
to Jesus? What is it that motivates you also to devote yourself to Jesus? Today is Good Shepherd Sunday. “I am the Good Shepherd,” Jesus
says. “And I lay down my life for the sheep.” You will devote yourself to
him because your Good Shepherd devoted his very life to you. “He died for
all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for him, who
died for them and rose again.” Devote yourself, not to yourself, but to
him, “to the apostles’ teaching, and to the fellowship, to the breaking of
bread, and to prayer.” Then that simple epitaph for the first generation of Christians, and
for our pioneer forebearers, will also be fitting for us: “They Devoted
Themselves.” Return to Top | Return to Sermons | Home | Email Church Office
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