Blog Archives

June 5 Worship

5/30/2016

We would note throughout Jesus' ministry the many miracles he performed. Aside from healing people afflicted with blindness or leprosy, we also find him bringing people back from the dead. It happened with Jairus' daughter, with Lazarus, and now in this Sunday's Gospel it is with the son of the widow of Nain.

Jesus apparently was showing that he has come to show victory over death. It is the same victory that will come to you and me because of our faith in Jesus.

However, I would have you note the dynamics that are contained in this story of the widow's son. We have these words:

"When the Lord saw her, he had compassion for her and said to her, 'Do not weep.' Then he came forward and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, 'Young man, I say to you, rise!' The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother." Luke 7:12-13

We realize that he not only saw the plight of this widow (and son), but he also had a deep feeling - compassion. I wonder how many of us, if we do notice those who are hurting throughout our world have feelings toward them. This might be a barometer as to whether or not we are in touch with those who are living on the edge of our society. The word "compassion" means to "suffer with." By having compassion are entering into the life of another person who is hurting.

Jesus went a step further. He actually did something. This I believe would invite us to have sensitivity toward those around us. We might not be able to bring someone back from the dead; yet, we can find a way to be of help to someone who is hurting. This is all about being a follower of Jesus in our world today.

I invite you to read the story in its entirety which is contained in Luke 7:11-17 in preparation for your worship this Sunday.

Pastor Marty

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May 29 Worship

5/23/2016

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I finish my sermon series this Sunday by focusing on how the Holy Spirit can give direction to our lives. We often are in situations where we face major decisions and are trying to figure out what to do. Here is where it is helpful to lean on the Holy Spirit's guidance. As you read through the book of Acts you do find how the Spirit is directing the lives of those early disciples.

In Acts 15, for instance, we read about the council convened in Jerusalem regarding admitting Gentiles into the faith. Jewish believers in Christ felt that circumcision was necessary for Gentiles to enter into the Christian faith. After some deliberation here is the response:

"We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who themselves will tell you the same things by word of mouth. For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to impose on you no further burden than these essentials..." Acts 15:28

The decision reached was that the Jewish ritual was not necessary, but we notice that the Holy Spirit was involved in this decision. It might be helpful to pray for the Spirit's influence as we do face major decisions in our own lives. We know that we will have a compass that we have that will keep us aligned properly and living in God's direction.

I would invite you to reflect on how often you do rely on the Holy Spirit in your own life as you prepare for worship this Sunday.

Pastor Marty

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May 22 Worship

5/16/2016

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My message this Sunday focuses on the Holy Spirit as one who will lead us into all the truth. There is much we have to learn about Jesus and his work. We cannot learn do this on our own. God empowers us through the work of the Holy Spirit. Jesus even told his disciples that they couldn't bear to learn everything about him right at the moment of his presence. We have these words of our Lord as recorded in this Sunday's Gospel:

"I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come." John 16:12-13

Yes, our lives are dependent on the Spirit. The Holy Spirit will help us along in our Christian growth. The Spirit makes us to be knowledgeable about the matters of God and to shed light on the dark places in our lives. The Spirit will show us what equates to being in the right relationship with God.

We can trust the Spirit because what is conveyed to us will not be apart from what Jesus wants to communicates to us. These two "persons" are working hand-in-hand. Everything coming to us is about God's way of life that is desired for us.

This Spirit will also have a role outside of us believers. The Spirit will lead those outside the faith into the truth of God. We have these words just before our text regarding the Spirit: "And when he comes, he will prove the world wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment.." John 16:8

This is why I believe we need to pray for the Holy Spirit to guide us into understanding Scripture. In the pages of Scripture we enter into God's realm of life and apart from the Spirit, we cannot really make sense of what we read.

I would ask you to reflect on these passages of Scriptures in preparation for worship this Sunday.

Pastor Marty

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May 15 Worship

5/9/2016

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With this Sunday, Pentecost, I begin my sermon series on the Holy Spirit,. We would note that those disciples who had been waiting for the promised Spirit, really experienced the Spirit's outpouring on that day. So powerful was the Spirit on this festival day that those disciples could speak in other languages. Here is part of the text:

"Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. Amazed and astonished, they asked, 'Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language?.....in our own native languages we hear them speaking about God's deeds of power." Acts 25-8, 11

Yes, the Holy Spirit served to be an instant teacher for those believers to enable them to speak in foreign languages. However, notice here that it was not just in foreign languages, but that they were speaking boldly God's deeds of power!

When we read further in Acts in regard to this event, we discover that Peter is the spokesperson and addresses the crowd. This Peter, who formerly had denied the Lord, is now boldly speaking on behalf of Jesus Christ,. Think of the change that came over him. As a result of his proclamation some 3,000 people came to faith on that day.

Think now about your own life. Do you believe that the Spirit has given confidence to you in your own life to speak about Jesus to others? I realize sometimes we are a bit timid or we are afraid of how we will be received. We need to realize that we have the Spirit's power behind us and also that the Spirit will work in the lives of others who hear our words.

So, I would ask you to contemplate this event of the Holy Spirit and how you can be a spokesperson for the Lord.

On May 22 I will be speaking on how the Holy Spirit will guide you into all the truth and on May 29 I will be speaking on how the Holy Spirit can give you direction in your life.

Pastor Marty

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May 8 Worship

5/2/2016

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This Sunday we observe the Ascension of Our Lord. The date for this celebration would really be Thursday, May 5. So, this Sunday we pause to consider this important event in Jesus' life. Have you ever wondered what it would be like if Jesus had just stayed here on earth? Would we have more Gospel writings or less Gospel writings?

In God's timing we discover Jesus leaving this earth. We have these words recorded by the writer Luke in Acts:

"In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commandment through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. To them he presented himself alive after his passion by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days, and speaking of the kingdom of God. And while staying with them he charged them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which he said, "you heard from me, for John baptized with water, but before many days you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit."

So when they had come together, they asked him, "Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?" He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth." And when he had said this, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven." Acts 1:1-11

The thirty-three plus years on earth was enough time for Jesus to fulfill the mission that he had come to do - bringing in the kingdom of God and through his death and resurrection bring eternal life to us.

We would note that even though he was leaving, he did entrust his followers with a task. They would be his witnesses to the end of the earth! Yes, we have been given our orders to bring the kingdom of God throughout our world. I realize that some congregations have been able to support missions overseas and also to do mission trips abroad. I believe that each congregation also has to look at the mission field within one's own backyard. It's all about getting to know the people and also their needs and interests as well as their lifestyle. How can the Gospel be contextualized in reaching these folks?

I invite you to contemplate the task Jesus has given us in being his witnesses. May God's blessing be upon your reflection as well as your worship this Sunday.

Pastor Marty

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June 5 Worship

May 29 Worship

May 22 Worship

May 15 Worship

May 8 Worship

I invite you to reflect on these words of Scripture in preparing for worship.

Archives

ELCA Metropolitan Chicago Synod Augsburg Fortress The Hills Chamber of Commerce

June 5 Worship

May 29 Worship﻿

May 22 Worship

May 15 Worship﻿

May 8 Worship

I invite you to reflect on these words of Scripture in preparing for worship.

Archives

ELCA Metropolitan Chicago Synod Augsburg Fortress The Hills Chamber of Commerce

May 29 Worship

May 15 Worship