Dear Christian friends:

With my sermon this morning I must speak about two things: Your confirmation and my farewell. It may seem that they are two different ideas, but not really. The verse which I have chosen as my text is good for you of the confirmation class and my farewell words to all of you.

What does a pastor wish when he says farewell to his flock? As I see you today: you of the confirmation class, you older members and you children of Sunday School I have one chief wish or hope. I hope to see you again. You say fine, we hope to see you again on vacation or visit. Yes that would be fine, but that is not what I mean. I hope to see you again in heaven everyone of you.

That was Paul's wish when he had to leave his church at Thessalonica. He writes to them, "What is our hope, our joy or crown of glory? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?"

So I say also, my hope, my joy my glory is seeing you with Jesus on Judgement Day. Paul loved his church members at Thessalonica. He was their pastor; they were his sheep. Paul did not love money or worldly things. His hope was not getting rich or having a good time for himself. His hope was his flock.

In verses seven and eight he writes to them, "But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children: So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us." Paul loved his church members as a mother loves her children. He was ready even to die for them to help them stay with Jesus.

I doubt if I have loved you, my sheep, as well as Paul loved his sheep, but I have tried to love you as Jesus does and to show you His great love and care for you. His great love and care for you during these past fourteen years. I loved you and lived and worked and traveled for you so that you will be with Jesus on Judgment Day and not with Satan and the unbelievers. Sometimes I had to scold etc. but for your good!

On Judgment Day, if I see you with Jesus, I will be very pleased about my fourteen years work here. For these past years you have been my hope, my joy and glory. You maybe thought that I didn't care for you especially when I had to warn or correct you, but even that I did for your good so you would not love money or the world, but love Jesus and trust only in Him.

Now my hope is not yet fulfilled. It is not yet Judgment Day and you are not yet in glory with Jesus. You of the Confirmation Class are now only beginning. You may have many temptations and dangers on the way, before Jesus comes on Judgment Day.

When you choose a husband or wife that is a danger time. We have lost some of our members through marriage. A Christian may get married to a non-Christian. The non-Christian interrupts the Christian and for the spouses sake the Christian stops going to Church and may give up faith in Jesus.

Another danger is temptation of riches and worldly pleasures. That may interrupt your attending church. Now you are young and strong, but one day you will be old and sick. You may think God does not love you.

Wars and destruction also are times of danger. How can you live through all these temptations and troubles and stay faithful until Jesus comes again?

Paul couldn't preach and keep them anymore, so he sent another young minister, Timothy. So I now must leave you and I will not be here to preach to you and encourage you as your shepherd. But we are calling another minister to come who will substitute for me.

Listen to him when he preaches of Jesus your Savior. And when he travels here to give the Lord's Supper, don't be gone. Be here, eat and drink the body and blood of your Lord that you will not be proud and self-righteous, but humbly trusting only in the crucified One for your right and peace with God.

Paul says, "Ye are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation." God's power or Spirit comes to you through His Word and Sacraments. Use them and you will be with Jesus when He comes on Judgment Day.

Amen.