Christian Fellowship

Do not neglect to meet together for encouragement.

"And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching." Hebrews 10:24-25 NRSV

We gather together to worship God. As we hear the word and receive the Sacrament, the love of God fills us to overflowing. That overflow pours out into the community around us.

Yet, as we reach out to the community around us with the love of God, there are times that we can be emptied pretty quickly. St. Paul warned in this second letter to the Corinthians (6:14) not to be unequally yoked with unbelievers. That does not mean that we should shun unbelievers; for how will they know the love of God if we do not share it with them? However, it does mean that we should make time to gather together with other believers not just at worship, but as often as possible so that we have the opportunity to encourage and support one another in our faith.

May God bless the fellowship of all the saints.

God's Peace - Pr. J

P.S. This was just a reminder to our local community to remember to join us at our back to school picnic in September to fellowship with your brothers and sisters in Christ.

Families Reconciled in the Lord

For Parents.

Ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath, but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Eph. 6:4.

For Children.

Children, obey your parents in the Lord; for this is right. Honor thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise: that it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth. Eph. 6:1-3.

http://bookofconcord.org/smallcatechism.php

 



It is said that blood is thicker than water. What exactly does that mean, anyway? For many it means that we are to stand by and support the lifestyles and actions of family no matter how dysfunctional it gets. For some it might even mean lying for a family member in order to keep them from being incarcerated. Key words in Martin Luther's admonition to obey your parents are the words "in the Lord." God always is the highest authority in our lives. He is our heavenly Father. If He says not to do something, don't do it. If He calls you to do something then just do it. Parents should never provoke or encourage their children to do something that is wrong in the eyes of our Father in heaven.

 

Family is an awesome gift from God. Families make mistakes. They hurt one another. If the family would turn to the Lord they could and would find a way out of the messes that they have wandered into. In turning to the way of the Lord we can find forgiveness and reconciliation. Family is a very good thing. However, we also know that there are times when parents can become so dysfunctional; provoking their children to wrath, encouraging them to do hurtful things to themselves and others; encouraging them to not follow in the ways of the Lord. What is a child to do?

 

Sometimes, even though the parents have done all they could to bring up their children in the way of the Lord, children will turn against their parents, as well. What is a parent to do?

 

For the parents and children who find themselves in these situations and alone without family, don't stop praying for each other that you might all be reconciled in the Lord. Remember, too, that you are a child of God. There is a blood that is thicker than blood and that is the blood of Christ that was shed for you. Our heavenly Father is always with you to support and encourage you in the way that you should go.

 

God's Peace - Pr. J

Hebrews 10 - Gather Together

Hebrews 10 NIV


Photo of a Maundy Thursday Service. Although, some may
consider too much joy at Worship inappropriate; at Zion, we
encourage God's children of all ages to gather together to
worship and serve the Lord that they might know the
peace and joy that only He can give.

During Holy Week this year I was told by a couple of people that people today just don't care to go to church anymore and that it doesn't mean that they are not Christians. You can be a Christian and not gather together with other Christians. Oh, yeah? How is that really working for you? Do you actually know the peace and joy that comes from a relationship with God and with our brothers and sisters in Christ? Do you live in the reassurance that God is with you or do you live in turmoil, chaos, drama? The author of Hebrews writes: "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching." (vs 24-25) Why not give yourself the opportunity to be encouraged by other Christians in your journey of faith?
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Decades ago, I figured out that if I did not attend public worship at least once a week to worship God and to receive Him in the Word and Sacraments I would become a very ugly person by the end of the week. So ugly, in fact, that I could barely stand myself. I am a sinner. I need to hear what the Lord has done for me and for all people. Without Him I can do nothing good. If I avoided corporate worship; gathering with other Christians to hear God's Word and being reassured that I have been redeemed by the blood of Jesus, the world would see how sinful I can really be. I don't think anyone really wants that.

The gathering together of Christians encourages each of us present to continue in "The Way." Christians are not islands unto themselves. We are joined together by the blood of Christ. We are one in Christ. So what would make anyone think that a Christian can live and continue in "The Way" without the rest of the Body?

I pray that you will consider gathering with the Christians at your local place of worship the next time they meet so that you can be reassured that you are a beloved child of God; a child born, by the blood of Christ who loves you and gave himself for you. 

God's Peace - Pr. J

2 Timothy 4 - Preach The Word No Matter What

2 Timothy 4 NIV

Monastery at Valaam, Russia

Paul is anticipating his death and so closes this letter to Timothy encouraging him to come quickly to even while he gives Timothy instruction on ministry. "Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage with great patience and careful instruction," he writes. (vs 2) 

Just as the many deserted Jesus in his last hours, Paul finds that many have deserted him. He warns Timothy to especially watch out for Alexander who did him great harm. There are those who have and will turn their ears away from truth and turn aside to myths. They will listen only to what will please their itching ears. They will come up against you for proclaiming the truth. Keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all duties of your ministry. (vs 3-4)

It is not easy to proclaim the message of God in Christ Jesus. There will be many who will want you out of their lives, even dead. They do not want to hear the truth. The Word of God, is after all, a two-edged sword: one edge to stab the conscience; the other to heal the wounded soul. Be aware of those who would attack you for the truth. But, do not worry unduly about them for God is with you and for you. With patience, continue to proclaim the good news to all who would hear.

"The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you all." (vs 22)

God's Peace - Pr. J

Colossians 2:1-8 Pray For All People

Colossians 2:1-8 NIV 
St. Paul was not just concerned for the people immediately around him. He prayed for and encouraged everyone. He was concerned that all people's heart would be encouraged and united in love; that all people might know the mystery of God. He was concerned about the false prophets who had or might sneak into the church; turning people from Christ to human tradition and spiritual forces of this world for their lives and salvation.

Each day, as I read the world-wide news I am reminded of how great our need is to pray for and encourage all people who would follow Jesus; not just those within our own congregations and community. There are many whose very lives are in danger for daring to proclaim the mysteries of the Gospel. We must also pray for and sometimes, as God leads us, even confront, with the truth, those who teach falsely so that they eyes and minds and hearts might be opened to know and proclaim the truth.

May God protect us all from fine-sounding arguments and worship in Spirit and truth.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Acts 20:1-6 Mission Field Is Large

Acts 20:1-6 NIV
The mission field is large. It is where you are. It is all around you. It is world-wide. There was an awful lot of area for those first disciples to cover; a lot of people to reach. Paul spent his ministry trying to reach all of them with the Good News of the Kingdom. After encouraging the disciples who served with him in Ephesus, he left them and set out to encourage others with the Good News of the Kingdom.

I was in a small group not long ago when the question was asked what we should do if our attempts to share God's peace with someone are rebuffed. Here is the answer that I hear from scripture: shake the dust off of your feet; shake the dust out of your clothes (Mark 6:10-12, Acts 18:6); and thank God that for the blessing of peace that has returned to you (Matthew 10:12-14) even as you move on to share the Good News with someone who needs and will hear it. The mission field is; after all, quite large. Sharing the Good News is a win/win for those who share it. If it is received, we have gained a brother or sister. If it is not, we have the peace of God which we have tried to bless others with. Do not fear to share the Good News. Do not be afraid to be rebuffed. The Lord is with you. His peace is a blessing to you.

The mission field is large. There are still a lot of people to reach. Our mission is not something that happens just in the sanctuary of our churches where we feel safe. Our mission will take us out into the world sharing the Good News of the Kingdom in Christ Jesus and encouraging others in the faith.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Psalm 150 - Praise Ye The LORD!

"Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the LORD." Psalm 150:6 NIV

 

Here ends our reading of the Psalms, at least for this blog.  Tomorrow we begin with the wisdom found in the book of Proverbs. One day at a time, one chapter at a time, God is leading us through His Word and we give thanks and praise for the opportunity to get to know Him better in this manner.

 

Without the word passed down to us through so many generations, we would not know of his acts of power, of his greatness.  We would not know all that He has done for us and for all humankind in His generous acts of creation and re-creation.

 

So here's the question for you this morning: How many of your friends and neighbors; how many of your family members do not know the stories of what God has done for them? And... if they don't know what He has done; then what is there for them to believe? Share the stories of all that He has done for you so that they, too, might believe. May God help us to continue encourage future generations to hear and read His word so that all might turn to Him and praise Him in His sanctuary; praise Him in His might heavens. (vs 1)

 

Praise ye the LORD!

 

God's Peace - Pr. J

Psalm 9 - Thank the Lord and Sing His Praise

"Thank the Lord and sing his praise; tell everyone what he has done."  Remember these words?  We use to sing them all the time in worship.  The words of the psalm today remind us that we are to lift high our thanksgiving and praise for this God who has saved us from our enemy (sometimes our enemy is us!).  I think that I also remind people quite often that we have much reason to thank the LORD and sing His praise and and encourage you all to tell everyone what he had done.

God has been tremendously good to us.  Yesterday, at worship, we heard our third and final stewardship talk for this month.  The first one was on creation and recycling - a project a couple of our members at Zion have taken on.  The second stewardship "table talk" was on stewardship of Word and Sacrament, by me.  And... the third one was on tithing.  This one on stewardship of finance was actually a testimony on how God has worked in and blessed one of our member's lives. It was a few moments of thank the Lord and sing His praise. It was a time of sharing with the congregation of all that God has done for them.  He and his wife are two of the most faithful people in all areas of stewardship, that I know.  I am most grateful that he spends so very much time on stewardship of the Word, as he studies the word of God and shares the Word faithfully with others as he expresses His thankfulness for all that God has done in so many ways.

I thank the Lord and sing His praise; for He has sent us many faithful witnesses to share the good news of the kingdom with us and many around us. 

May God grant that we should at all times and in all places remember who our God is and give Him thanks and praise, extolling all that He has done for us.  (I know that you have had God work in miraculous ways in your lives - share those stories with others - that they may hear and believe!)

God's Peace - Pr. J