All Saints' Sunday - November 2, 2025 (pdf Slides) - To follow the slides with the service, click on the words "pdf Slides." It will open a new tab. Follow the slides as the service streams below. You may also open two windows to view the slides and service at the same time.
The M3 - Monday Morning Mail for All Saints' Sunday
Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; 1Jn 3:3
“Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” Mt 18:3
But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. Rm 1:12-13
In yesterday's sermon I focused on what it means to be a child of God. I noted the three verses above at the start of the sermon, one from the Apostle John, one said by Jesus and recorded by Matthew, and one from the Apostle Paul. That all three authors reference being a child of God demonstrates its importance for your understanding of what it means to be a child of God.
I then showed an image of treehouse as a means to tell a story of my childhood. It was not a true treehouse but more or an elevated fort. I recounted how my father built it for me, and that in the process of digging its post holes he cut the power lines to our side of the street. I also showed an image of the field surrounding Dutch Creek, which was directly behind my fort. This field fueled my imagination as a kid, helping me to envision the Native Americans coming to attack me. I resisted in my fort, of course. I noted with an aerial image that there was a pond in this field that proved to be a wonderful place to explore and further my adventures in the "wild west" of my childhood.
The next image was a pie chart that identified some of the characteristics of being a child–in my case playing in my fort. Each of these characteristics is yours now, too, as a child of God: Curious, Aware, Trusting, Wonder, Adventurous, and Home. Because your salvation is secure by virtue of of Jesus' atoning death and recreating resurrection, you may are curious about his creation, particularly other people. Because Jesus has won salvation for you, you are aware that history is moving towards His day of redemption, when he will make all things new. Like children with their loving parents, followers of Jesus trust that he is present and active in their lives. This leads to a sense of wonder, recognizing that God is still up to doing his work in this present life as it moves to his second advent. The final couplet is adventurous-home. You are called to live adventurously in your faith-life, knowing that Jesus is with you with along the way. Wherever that may lead, you also know, like children, where your home is. Jesus is your home and will always welcome you home.
I ended the sermon by quoting Martin Luther's explanation to the first petition of the Lord's prayer:
"With these words God tenderly invites us to believe that He is our true Father and that we are His true children, so that with all boldness and confidence we may ask Him as dear children ask their dear father.”
Enjoy being a child of God!