What’s it Worth?

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Pastor Horton

July 26, 2026

Imagine stopping by one of those weekend rummage sales on a whim.  And as you are looking around on one of the tables hidden behind some dusty and dated kitchenware, is that one priceless object of immense value to you.  What would that object be?  We might have differing ideas…for me it would be a Michael Jordan autographed rookie card (I don’t know if any autographed rookies of his even exist).  But I would sprint to the car to get my wallet or race as fast as legally allowed to the nearest atm so that I could hurry back and purchase it.  

What about you?  What is worth the most to you?  We may very likely have an answer depending on our situation in the moment.  And, truth be told, our answers may not always hold up what you might expect a believer to answer.  At least that has not been the case over the history of the Bible.  Think for a moment of Korah and the 250 familiar, yet feisty, leaders of Israel who did want power and authority and who did not want to listen to God or to his representative, Moses.  Rebellion brewed in their hearts.  They valued control so much that they stood against the Lord, only to be swallowed up by the ground.  Think for a moment of Saul looking upon David as after God’s defeat of Goliath, women came out and sang “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.”  And Saul’s jealous heart turned into fury “what about me!  I’m the king!  I’m the commander!”  Praise of the people was of the highest worth to Saul.  Think for a moment of Ananias and his wife Sapphira, who together sold a piece of property but that wealth was of greatest worth in the moment.  So they both lied about their greedy actions – and they both died.  Think for a moment of the Apostle Peter in Jerusalem during the time of the New Testament church, when he showed favoritism to certain people over others (and was corrected by Paul).  He had been finding worth in those he publicly associated with.  

The Bible contains a lot of these examples – yet the examples continue on even into our own lives.  We have often misplaced values and chased after those things that have no worth.  Like Korah and friends, we also often place worth onto our own thoughts and opinions as if God should take note and act according to our will.  Like Saul, it doesn’t take much in the classroom, or on the sports field, or in the workplace to be hurt and jealous when someone else gets great praise and acclamation.  Like Ananias and Sapphira, we also tend to find worth in wealth – not in giving to God but in getting for ourselves.  And like Peter, we also often find worth in petty popularity games, rather than showing grace to others.  The connecting line through all these examples is me and it is you and our sinful sight.  We want our own kingdom designed our own way and we chase after comfort, control, approval, and wealth to fill it.  And yet Jesus comes to us today, and raises our eyes to a better kingdom that is ours entirely through him.

To help us better understand worth, Jesus gives to us three parables in our reading concerning the kingdom of heaven…and it’s absolutely essential worth.  Since we have three of them to discuss, it would be worth having a word of reminder: a parable is a type of speech Jesus often uses to help us understand an important point or truth from God.  It’s why we know parables to be an earthly story with a heavenly meaning.  And today, as Jesus speaks about the kingdom of heaven, to what is he referring to?  The kingdom of heaven is not an earthly kingdom with borders, battles, and forced conquest.  Nor is the kingdom of heaven of which Jesus speaks exclusively heavenly operations or inclusive only of believers.  Rather, the kingdom of heaven in today’s comparison is the great realm of gospel activity: the message of salvation in Jesus, proclaimed, believed, and shared.  It is God’s saving work.  It is truth that you know by faith.  And so see yourself today in the kingdom of heaven.

The first parable, “The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid again.  In his joy, he goes away and sells all that he has and buys that field.”  Back in Bible times, people didn’t have the luxury of investing in a diversified portfolio.  Some of their wealth might go into purchasing precious jewels or in buying livestock.  Some of their wealth might be kept on them in case an invading army marches through the land (remember Israel’s location there in the crossroads of the Middle East).  And some wealth might be hidden on the property, in a field, and maybe known only to the owner.  And if he perishes, it stays hidden.  What a find!  Better than a rummage sale score, this man eagerly and joyfully obtains this great treasure.

You have such a treasure with Jesus.  Born into sin – and still plagued by those daily selfseeking desires and misplaced obsessions, what we have in Christ is of the greatest worth – for with him there is forgiveness.  It’s like God breaking open the treasure chest of his eternal word, and we get to marvel at the good news that we have been saved especially since we could not save ourselves.  Instead of seeing shiny goblets and jewels, we get to hold in our hearts the great gospel message.  Instead of hearing the clinking of coins, we get to hear a holy God say, “you are forgiven”, and stand at a casket and hear Jesus proclaim, “because I live your loved one will live”.  To know that Christ acted at the cross to pay for every person’s sin, and gives life and eternity to those who believe, is to know that which is of greatest worth.  Even if a person could possess the entire world itself with all its wealth and wonders, the gospel is still of greater value – because it matters into all of eternity.  But you know, it also matters today.  Because in this message we find our worth to God in the saving work of Jesus.  And that causes us to feel joyful, appreciative, valued, and motivated to live for God.  It helps us reevaluate what is truly worthwhile.

The next parable is similar,  45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls. 46 When he found one very valuable pearl, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.”  I can’t help but compare this man to one of those individuals who come through the gym doors in the first wave of the June Jumble Days crowd – each person a treasure hunting specialist looking for particular items of worth.  This man in our parable is a one of them!  He is a merchant and knows what he’s looking for – at least he will know it when he finds it.  He is similar to those who search the world over for different teachings and beliefs.  Sometimes they even extensively church-shop for what is real and relevant.  God’s word is special.  It causes us to stop in our tracks.  The law pulls no punches in convicting us.  The gospel reassures us that God has completed what is needed for our salvation.   Knowing this causes us to give up everything else in this fallen world around us.  Jesus becomes our focus and our joyfilled obsession in life.  We want others to have what we have in Christ.  We want to hold on to what is of greatest worth, for with Jesus we have heaven.

And the third parable, in which Jesus brings home the eternal relevance,   “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered fish of every kind.  When the net was filled, they pulled it onto the shore.  They sat down and gathered the good fish into containers, but threw the bad ones away.  That is how it will be at the end of the world.  The angels will go out and separate the wicked from the righteous who are among them.  And they will throw the wicked into the fiery furnace where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”  The picture of sorting fish, bad from good, was familiar to his listeners and to his disciples.  The lesson?  Not all in the church are there for the correct reasons, or have a saving faith.  God knows and thankfully uses exposure to the gospel to work on converting hearts and bring more to believe.  Hell, however, is a reality, as is the joy of heaven.  This sorting of unbelievers from believers on the basis of faith will happen on the final day.  How then does God give us faith?  Faith comes from hearing the message of Christ – making this message of greatest worth. 

Think about what that means as you live in this realm of gospel work.  What is the greatest gift we can give to our children?  An active and living knowledge of what God has done for them.  We are encouraged to treat the sharing of Jesus and the gifts of forgiveness and eternal life not as some depressing duty but as a delight.  Knowing the value of the gospel, we can even (as said yesterday in our workshop by Mr. Eric Duve) become comfortable with being uncomfortable when sharing Jesus.   Eternity is coming, and every soul matters to our Savior.

And maybe one final parable, since Jesus is on a roll with parables in this chapter of Matthew.  “He said to them, ‘Therefore every expert….who has been trained as a disciple in the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his treasure both new things and old things.’”  What’s next for us?  Imagine that you have been so richly blessed that at your next rummage sale you are able to throw open everything in your house and freely give items away and meet specific needs of those in want.  God’s word is like that.  We have an abundance of riches in its truth.  We have so much love of God’s love to share with others.  We have old and new insights in the storehouse  of his word.  When those we know and love have problems in this sinful place – we can run in again and again and share these priceless treasures of truth with them freely.  “You are going through this?  You need clarity on that?  I’ve got just the thing in the reality of God’s message.”  We can do that for others at our door, in our life, and in our families.  And as one commentator remarked, the more a believer gives away the gospel, the more richly he or she has it!

Dear brothers and sisters in the faith….What is the gospel worth?  Everything!  Because Christ gave up everything for you and for your salvation.  Let’s…Recognize the value of the gospel.  Treasure it’s worth.  Share it freely as Jesus does.  Amen.

“Don’t Confuse Weeds with Wheat”

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“Don’t Confuse Weeds with Wheat” (Romans 1:18-27)

Series: What Makes Christians Different?”

by Pastor Nate Walther

Eight Sunday of Pentecost, 07/19/2026

            Don’t confuse weeds with wheat.  That might sound like strange advice, as if there’s some epidemic of people weeding out fruits and vegetables from their garden instead of dandelions and thistles!  But back in Jesus’ day, a certain kind of weed could easily be mistaken for wheat, especially if it was still some time before harvest when the wheat produced its full head and could be identified.  And there’s truth in that picture for us today as we consider the harvest God wants to get from us.

            Our sermon text provides an example that hits home for Christians living in the Madison area. I didn’t have to look hard for this topic, it’s right there connected to our regular, three-year set of readings that samples the entirety of the Bible’s teachings: homosexuality. Having just completed “pride month”, it’s the kind of thing that lots of people excuse: “this is how God made me, and there’s nothing wrong with love!”  It’s also the kind of thing that lots of churches excuse: “the problem with homosexuality in Bible times was that it was practiced in a loveless way, and it was associated with idolatry.” 

            The only problem with those excuses?  As we return to our sermon text, it’s clear God does not excuse it.  To be fair, God does talk about idolatry in verse 23, but notice how it’s something that leads to such sins in verse 24.  That tells us this isn’t a matter of guilt by association where “it’s only a problem if it’s practiced lovelessly”; rather, it’s a matter of cause and effect where “one bad thing leads to another.”  In fact, there’s no other way to interpret it when God goes on to call homosexuality in verse 26 a “disgraceful passion”, where “natural relationships” are given up.  To put it in another way, what we’re talking about today isn’t a case of “this is how God made me” but the opposite.  God is the one who calls it “disgraceful”.  God says it goes “against nature.” God calls it an “indecent act” that earns a “penalty.”  Those aren’t words the Bible ever uses to describe God’s good creation. They are words the Bible uses to describe sin. And anyone who says otherwise is equally perverting God word. 

            Dear brothers and sisters in the faith, there’s no doubt about it: homosexuality is sin. God doesn’t make people this way—just like he doesn’t make someone violent or impatient or an addict—the fall into sin led to all of this.  Which makes it equally sinful to downplay it or excuse it.  It’s one of the surest signs of our fallen world: that mankind celebrates this today, that they confuse weeds with wheat. 

            Yet it’s only one example of idolatry that people place before the Lord.  How often do people place other created things and what they want above God and his will?  Because the sixth commandment isn’t just about hot-button issues like homosexuality or transgenderism.  Just because a young Christian couple consisting of one man and woman is sleeping together outside of marriage does not somehow make it sanctified.  So also, whether it involves the sixth commandment or any other commandment, what might someone place above the will of the creator?  How often do we also worship and follow other things as idols, rather than the Lord?  How often do we likewise confuse weeds with wheat?

            That’s the real problem here.  Where we are so quick to pin problems only on certain people or certain situations—So you just need a special month to bring awareness to the matter, that will finally solve it! But at best the issues are never solved, and at worst the approach is totally misguided (as it is in this case)—No, the real problem runs deeper with all people.  You and I deserve just as much penalty from God for sins that run just as contrary to his will.  Finally, what makes us different as Christians?  Do we realize, by nature and because of our sin, the answer should be nothing. 

            It’s why only one answer will do: the answer perfectly found in God’s plans to save the world through his Son.  Think of how Jesus didn’t just do what would have been easiest, or what he wanted to do, or what would have felt good.  He followed his Father’s will to the end, even though it meant death on a cross where he suffered hell.  For every time we have committed sin or excused sin, for any time we have raised an idol above God and what he wants, Jesus suffered for that too.  It’s why we can ask that question again, what makes us different as Christians?  And although the answer should be nothing, because of Jesus and through faith in him, the answer is actually everything.

By the way, as we think of what Christ was willing to sacrifice to save us from God’s judgment which we heard about in each of our readings, it is all reflected so well in God’s plans in the sixth commandment.  In the end, we’re not prudes as Christians.  Sex itself isn’t the issue.  That’s why God had to label this is a “disgraceful” passion, because there is such a thing as a good passion!  But that doesn’t automatically excuse every passion.  Case in point, when it becomes all about getting what you want and what feels good, that’s idolatry.  But anything can be a good thing if it’s about getting what God wants and it leads to good things for others.  Likewise, when this is found in the right context – where kids whom God uniquely gives by this union will benefit from having mom and dad both be there for them, where husbands and wives are meant to sacrifice for each other and be there for each other until death parts them – can you see how reserving this gift for marriage will serve those purposes? On the other hand, every other sexual sin ultimately works against God’s plans to build up the family and the blessings he wants to protect there.

As we think of God’s blessings – whether that’s in the sixth commandment or any other commandment that we struggle with – how might that make a difference in our lives?…   First, we repent of our own sin and live our lives differently!  If God has truly pardoned these same sins and made such a difference for us in eternity, we want to live our lives differently here on earth!… Then, unlike our world that condemns anyone for not sharing in their viewpoint, we do things differently there as well.  To be clear, we still condemn sin.  That’s just saying what God is saying, and there is nothing wrong with that, don’t let anyone tell you there is!  But even more ardently, we do what God did for us and share forgiveness for that sin as we seek to rescue a soul, and we continue to love them.  It’s why you don’t disown a child for cohabitation, a friend for homosexuality, or anybody else for any other sin.   Sure, you talk to them and warn them about their sin, but then you love them more than anybody else.  That includes those who affirm their sin!  As Christians we should be better friends and do more for those caught up in sin than those people who say their sin is OK!

Like Jesus said in our Gospel, we live as wheat among weeds.  We don’t rip ourselves away from others at risk of tearing them up.  We live peacefully with those around us.  So much so that we may even look like those around us at times, but as people closely examine your fruit they will be able to see that you’re different.  In other words, it’s OK if people glance at you and don’t immediately think “Christian!”  We don’t have to wear our faith on our sleeves like that.  But what’s not OK is if people get to know you and they’d still never know you’re a Christian.  So speak and act according to the truth, but don’t feel like you have to rain down fire and brimstone on them. That day will come, but God will worry about it.  You and I only need to concern ourselves with being wheat in his fields.

Or, perhaps an example we can relate to a little more than weeds which look like wheat is the example of salt & sugar.  Think of how the two can look exactly the same, but once you get a taste of them you realize they are completely different! (You’ll know that if you’ve ever confused cups of salt for cups of sugar in a cookie recipe!)  Similarly, even as you and I share strong viewpoints in a world of strong viewpoints, they should taste something sweet that comes from us.  They realize that both sides have their viewpoints, their thoughts of what’s right and wrong.  But where one side attacks me for not sharing in their viewpoint, the other still loves me even while disagreeing with my viewpoint. 

That’s what we’re talking about today.  It’s  heavy stuff, but we need to hear it.  If we don’t, Satan will try to convince us that it’s ok, that God’s wrong on this one, just like he’s convinced people in many other places.  Only he won’t stop sowing weeds there.  He’ll eventually try to get you to doubt everything God ever told you, including that you’re a sinner who needs a Savior, and that only Christ will do. To be clear, he’s done that elsewhere too… So don’t confuse weeds with wheat.  Just like it would be foolish to confuse the two in your garden, the same danger is possible here.  It doesn’t change just because something looks good or sounds loving on the outside.  The world’s ways and God’s ways are completely different.  One promises a good life here, but really fails to deliver.  (Those political initiatives never work!)  But the other delivers eternal life, and through it a better way to live here.   It’s just one more example of what makes Christians different… any why that’s such a good thing.  Amen.

Psalm 118

/in /by

Pastor Nate Walther

17 I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord… 22 The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone. 23 This was the Lord’s doing; It is marvelous in our eyes. 24 This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it. (Psalm 118)

Perhaps those words made you do a double take.  It’s not that the words are unfamiliar, we hear them every year in church, but usually we hear these words around Easter.  So why now?

Why not!  The thing about these words is that they weren’t written on Easter either – they were written nearly thousand years beforehand.  Granted, they picture the certain victory that God provides to us over the grave.  They make it clear that this victory is found in the “stone which the builders rejected”, Jesus!  And they highlight that it is entirely a work of the Lord and not a matter of our own works (or lack thereof). 

But if you read the remainder of the Psalm—and take some time to do so during the week—the Psalmist talks about all the pressure he faces from life and from people around him, replete with references like being “hard pressed”, “surrounded” and “swarmed like bees”, or “chastened severely”.   He doesn’t quite describe a festive occasion to celebrate. Yet, still, he proclaims Easter joy…  Why?

It’s because Easter makes every day a day on which we can proclaim, “This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it!”  Because of Easter, every day has hope.  Because of what Jesus accomplished at the cross & empty tomb, we know that every problem will be resolved – even the problems we cause by our own sin.  Because he is our cornerstone, God has built for us an eternal structure that will withstand every storm we face.

It’s not just true on Easter.  It’s true every day of our lives. It’s true every Sunday, which is why we treat every worship service like a mini-Easter Sunday, filled with references to forgiveness, resurrection, and new life.  It’s true even on random weekdays in July.   It’s true if you’re sick & suffering today, and equally true if you’re enjoying a day of vacation with family and nice weather. 

So—in reference to our recent Pentecost series—say it out loud!  (Maybe it would even be a good idea to get into the habit of saying this every morning when you wake up to properly ground yourself…)  “This is the day the lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.”