Grace and peace to you through Jesus Christ, in whom we are united in word and thought. Amen.

Ephesians 1:15-23 For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, ¹⁶ I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. ¹⁷ I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. ¹⁸ I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, ¹⁹ and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, ²⁰ which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, ²¹ far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. ²² And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, ²³ which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

Dear heavenly Father, Lord of the Church, we humbly thank you that you have bought us with the blood of your dear Son, our Savior. We thank you that you have given us the privilege of being made your children through faith in Christ. We also thank you for the responsibility you have given us to be workers in our Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod with you. Continue to lay your blessings upon our church and church body. Grant us unity of spirit. Give us increased awareness of opportunities to build up your kingdom. Finally, we ask that you redouble our zeal to work while it is day before the night comes when no man can work. Hear us and help us and bless us for Jesus’ sake. Amen.

This last week I had to serve jury duty. On Tuesday I went to the courthouse at 12:30 pm. I sat in a big waiting room with about 140 other potential jurors. I sat there till 2:30. Then at 2:30 we finally went over to the courtrooms across the street. We sat there for another hour. I was thinking what a waste of time. I was thinking about all the work I could be doing. I was missing Lydia’s 2^nd birthday. I thought of the other people who were missing work and missing pay. Although, I’m pretty sure that I was the only one who was using that time to write a sermon.

When we finally went into the courtroom, the judge explained the purpose of a jury trial was to work together with 11 other jurors to provide a fair trial for defendants and victims. When I learned that I could have sat in the jury box for a man charged with some extremely serious charges, I realized that my attitude was all-wrong. All the time I felt I was wasting that day was really all-worthwhile. I could have been chosen to decide the guilt or innocence of a complete stranger.

Today we are celebrating Synod Sunday. Sometimes as members of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod we may think that being a part of the Synod is a waste of time. It may seem to be a drain on our budget. We may not see the purpose of being part of the WELS.

If that is our attitude, then we are all wrong. Today I want to discuss with you the blessings and benefits of our Synod. The word "Synod" means "walking together." We walk and work together with Jesus as we proclaim to friends, family, and complete strangers that we are guilty of terrible sins. We also proclaim Christ Jesus’ innocent blood. What we are doing together is extremely worthwhile.

The first part of walking with Jesus is praying for all who walk with him. Paul writes to the Ephesians, "For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers." Paul was overjoyed to hear how the Ephesian congregation had received the gospel with faith and works of love. What a joy for me to hear about Faith in Radcliff, Kentucky – my former congregation. One family that my wife had been working on for over 5 years finally visited our church when I had only two or three Sundays left there. They continued to worship at Faith after we left. Recently their whole family of five were baptized and joined the church. That’s exciting!

I’m sure WELS people in our area know what happened at Epiphany in our past. Now they are hearing about all the work we are doing here in the present – averaging 40 in Bible study, having 29 people join the church in a 9 month period, and now we have 15 more people in our adult confirmation class. They are happy for us. We, too, are happy when we hear about the thousands who have been brought to faith this past year in our WELS world mission fields. We are filled with joy to know that our Synod demonstrates the love for our Lord through countless ministries of mercy, disaster relief, education and counseling.

Paul says, "I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers." Paul reveals his unselfish devotion to the gospel. He knows all blessings come from God, not from himself. Paul was the instrument of God’s blessings to the Ephesians, yet he can’s stop thanking the Source of those blessings. We, too, remember that all of our blessings in this congregation and church body come from the good and gracious Lord of the Church. We are the instruments of his blessings. We continue to thank him for the privilege and responsibility of caring out work together in his kingdom.

As we carry out this work, we do as Paul did – we pray. Paul said, "I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better." Too often too many of our prayers are only "gimme" prayers. Paul didn’t just ask for things, he gave thanks to God in his prayers. This day of Walking Together is a day of thanksgiving for us, too. We thank God for all the blessings he gives us in our Synod so that we may know him better through the Spirit of wisdom and revelation.

Our Synod is able to provide us with ministries, missions, materials, and ministers that we would never be able to provide for ourselves as a single congregation. The Synod has provided materials: hymnals, catechisms, a Forward in Christ magazine and Meditations devotion book. The Synod has provided ministers: young people preparing for the ministry at our preparatory high schools, studying at Martin Luther College in New Ulm, Minnesota, to continue their training as pastors, teachers, or staff ministers. Then the pastors go on to Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary to complete their training. Without the Synod where would we receive theologically trained pastors and teachers for our church, school, and area Lutheran high school? Our Synod provides us with missions and ministries to start home missions, foreign missions, disaster relief, youth rallies, evangelism and musician workshops, prison and nursing home ministries, ministries to deaf or mentally disabled and so much more.

When I was at the Seminary I learned about a retired gentleman in Menomonee Falls who, every day, would take out his Synod directory and pray for each pastor, teacher, missionary, church, and school. What an awesome privilege and responsibility to be praying for his Christian brothers and sisters. We, too, can follow his and Paul’s example of praying for all who walk with Jesus in our Wisconsin Synod.

Next, we also know the hope as we walk in Jesus’ Word. Paul continues, "I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe." Paul desires that the Ephesians know the hope to which they were called. People in our world are living without hope.

I have counseled people who have endured adultery in their marriage, rape while on spring break, had an abortion before she was a Christian, cut her arms to punish herself, tried to commit suicide in her kitchen, been addicted to alcohol, and more. Where do these people go for hope? Where do they find strength to keep on living? I love this verse for use in counseling: "I pray … that you may know the hope to which [Christ] has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints." I remind people that Jesus personally called them by name to enjoy his glorious inheritance in heaven. We are nothing. We deserve nothing. We are worthless, useless, and sinful. Jesus gives us value. He gave his life for us. He demonstrated his love for us. He won heaven for us. I remind these people just to hang on, trust in Christ, and their heaven is waiting for them when this world of tears and pain is over.

That is the hope to which we were called. Missionary Dan Kroll who works in our WELS mission in Zambia tells the story of Mr. Samakayi, an elderly gentleman who was part of their small church in Miputu, Zambia. Mr. Samakayi had fallen ill with tuberculosis. When Pastor Kroll visited him at his home he was encouraged by his spiritual condition, which was in sharp contrast to his obvious physical condition. Mr. Samakayi said to him, "I got some tablets and hope to get four more today [for his TB]." "Mostly, I just want to go to heaven. I’m not afraid of anything because I know that Jesus died for me – I just want to die now and go to be with him." "Whatever God decides is best."

What a confession of faith! "Whatever God decides is best." This is why we do mission work. This is why we spread Christ’s gospel in our neighborhoods and in our foreign mission fields. God’s Word gives hope to our otherwise bleak, depressing lives. Mr. Samakayi, like the people I have counseled, like all of us, have been called by Jesus to this glorious hope. Jesus called us to faith. We had nothing to do with it. It wasn’t left up to us. Jesus came to us. We heard his voice calling to us over the breaking waves of our baptismal waters. We heard his voice calling to us over the demonic voice of our sinful nature. We continue to hear his voice over the glitter and glitz of the world. We look forward to hearing his voice one day calling us out of this world of tears and pain so that we may enjoy the riches of his glorious inheritance in heaven. We can enjoy it along with the apostle Paul and Mr. Samakayi. We know the hope to which we were called as we walk in Jesus’ Word.

We also walk together as part of Christ’s body. I’m not sure if all of you know about the many struggles we are enduring right now as a Synod. Chief among these struggles is a serious financial problem that has forced us to call home foreign missionaries, discontinue opening new home missions, and not have schools or churches for new teachers and pastors coming out of the seminary and MLC.

Our Synod’s financial problem is really our problem. We are the ones who are stingy with our offerings. The average WELS member gives less than 3% of his/her income to the work of the Lord. Many other denominations see their members giving in excess of 5 or 10% of their income in offerings.

Our Synod has also seen membership in our churches steadily decline in recent years. Again, this membership problem is really our problem. We have to confess that we have loved the ways of the world more than the ways of the Lord. We have trusted in our power, wisdom, and strength instead of trusting in the Word of God. We have been sluggish, lazy, thoughtless and cold. We have been unwilling to personally share the gospel. We have been unwilling to budget money toward congregation and synod evangelism efforts. The Synod’s shortfalls are really our shortfalls.

What can we do about these problems and deficiencies? Nothing. At least we can’t do anything about them. But God can. Paul encourages us, "[God’s] power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way."

In these verses, Paul is explaining that a victorious Christ who sits at his Father’s right hand is not a dull theological concept. He is alive and well and working everything for the good of his Church. Jesus lived, died, rose, and ascended for the good of his Church. That means that even when we face difficulties and setbacks in our church body, he works them out for our good.

For example, shortfalls in our Synod budget gives us the opportunity for a special offering like some of you have been adding to the offering plate already. Not having enough churches or schools for young pastors and teachers means new and creative ways to use God’s called workers. Calling missionaries home means that our foreign missions have to learn to support themselves and develop their own national called workers. We don’t want setbacks or difficulties. But when they happen, never doubt that Jesus is in control.

I’m not much of a walker. Personally I think it’s boring. But walking becomes interesting and appealing if I am taking a walk with my wife or with my family. We walk together. God’s Word and Sacraments, his love and forgiveness makes our walk with him and with each other interesting and appealing. We walk together in our Synod as a family.

One question I am asked by many non-WELS people is, "What’s the difference between … Lutheran and Catholics or Lutherans and Baptists or WELS and Missouri Synod. Before I explain any differences, I like to point out the unique oneness, unity, and harmony we enjoy in the WELS. Other Christian denominations do not enjoy this unity. The Catholics are discussing whether their new pope is liberal or conservative. Episcopalians debate if having a gay bishop leading them is appropriate. The ELCA is discussing whether homosexuality is a sin or not. When the WELS meets in convention, we discuss ministry. By God’s grace, we aren’t arguing about God’s doctrines. Those are set. Now we discuss applying those doctrines to our ministry. What a blessing to be a part of a united Synod – a family that prays together, works together, and walks together. Amen.

May the peace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all as we work and walk together. Amen.