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The Third Sunday in Lent - March 23, 2025 

Theme – Restore  (Watch just the Sermon)

Recap - I began the sermon with a close reading of the verses upon which the sermon was based, Psalm 85:4-7. I mentioned that the word "restore" comes from the same word in Hebrew that we translate as "repent." The idea is to turn back to something better than before this. Indignation was describe as an intentional form of anger from YHWH toward his people--the anger of a parent has particluar purpose: stop what you're doing. The psalmist continues to press this point by asking will this indignation gon on forever. How could it be? The psalmist relies on being made YHWH's people. He's revived them previously and will do so again. It is the steadfast love (cheséd) of YHWH that the Psalmist wants to see. He recognizes that salvation is a gift!

I then transitioned to three examples portrated as images in which restoration occurs according to the Bible. The first one attempts to get at the idea of being kicked out of the Garden and the terror that that moment must have incited in Adam and Eve. They had to rely on the promsie of Jesus in Ge 3:15 for their restoration. The second image recalled Israel's years of slavery in Egypt and that only through YHWH's restoration through the Exodus could they emerge with hope. The third image of restoation was that of a cliffside village in Bethlehem today. I asked you to consider Mary the mother of Jesus in this village–somewhat of a destitute teenage girl with little hope. Then the angel Gabriel appears to her and tells her that the baby she willl virth will save all of creation. She was restored. The fourth image recognizes the present need for restoration now in the Christian Church. I made the point that this is Concordia, too! 

The final image I love: a drawing with a fuzzy tone–seeking to recognzie that God's ways of restoration are not always clear to us. The drawing depicts the Crucifixio of Jesus. This is where restoration has already begun. It is the place for your restoration, too. 

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