June 19, 2016 Sermon

Messiah Lutheran Church Podcasts

"The Only Way to Win is to Lose"

Today we celebrate Father’s Day. There are a lot of things that we’ve learned from our fathers. Fathers teach their children the value of hard work. Christian fathers share God’s Word and their faith with their children. And fathers…they also share their competitive spirit and teach their children about winning.

Winning and competing are note everything in life – but they are important aspects of life. Maybe it was a board game, or out on the field or the court, we do everything we can to win.

Don’t we try to win at everything still today. We compete with our co-worker so that we might get the raise. We compare ourselves to others. We compete with a brother or sister – we can’t let them win – can’t let them beat us. We try to win in so many aspects of our lives that when Jesus tells us – “The only way to win is to lose” – it doesn’t sit well with us.

Today’s gospel lesson speaks to winning and losing when Jesus talks about what it means to bear earthly crosses. “²⁴ For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it.” We know that life is no game – but what Jesus tells us is so very important not only for this life, but for the life to come. Let’s consider Jesus’ words under the theme – “The Only Way To Win Is To Lose!”