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July 3 Worship

6/27/2016

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Jesus sought to establish a movement in bringing the kingdom of God to us.  He enlisted twelve individuals who would spend three years learning from him and actually carrying out his ministry. However, he realized that more workers would be needed - in addition to the twelve.  This brings us to our Gospel reading this Sunday, which will be the focus of my message. We have these words in the opening:

"After this the Lord appointed seventy others and sent them on ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he himself intended to go.  He said to them, 'The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.  Go on your way.  See, I am sending you out like lambs into the midst of wolves. Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals; and greet no one on the road.'"   Luke 10:1-11, 16-20

We would note what is stated regarding the folks these seventy are to reach. There are people ready to receive their message!  What is needed are the people to do the harvesting.  It might mean watching for cues given by the unchurched folks you might come across.  They might be indicating that they are searching or are trying to heal some pain in their lives.

Jesus is also very straightforward in commissioning them.  They would be sent out as "lambs into the midst of wolves."   We in going out will experience opposition and dislike for our message.  This apparently is all part of the territory.  Yet, we will be met with success since we have the Lord behind us in what we do.

Take further note that we are to travel lightly.  What might this mean for us today?  Is there a lot of baggage that we carry in conversing with the unchurched or in presenting our faith?  I know we can get into some strong theological arguments, but I think Jesus is saying here that we are present ourselves (and our message) in as simple a way possible that will not confuse those with whom we speak.

I would ask you to imagine yourself as one of these 70 being sent out into today's world.  How would your present yourself?  Then, too, I would ask you to be praying that on a larger level, the Lord of the harvest will be sending out those wanting to do mission work overseas or in a special ministry within our own country.  The harvest is plentiful!

Pastor Marty
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June 26 Worship

6/20/2016

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All of us need to make priorities in our lives.   Our priorities become important when church and faith enter the picture.  We must decide what is most important in terms of what we value.  This Sunday's message will focus on the Gospel reading (Luke 9:51 - 62)) where there is the call to committed discipleship.  

Here is a segment of the reading for consideration:

As they were going along the road, someone said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go."  And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head."  To another he said, "Follow me."  But he said, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father."  But Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God."  Another said, "I will follow you, Lord; but let me first say farewell to those at my home."  Jesus said to him, "No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God."   Luke 9:57-62


This degree of commitment might seem to show insensitivity to our daily responsibilities.   After all, we do want to respect family even when it comes to doing a member's funeral!   What Jesus is indicating is that we must realize the importance of doing the Lord's work.  We are called to be followers of Jesus and are entrusted with a mission.  If we continually get sidetracked by one obligation after another, we will fail to do the Lord's work.  Can you imagine any business thriving if the owner had low expectations of his or her employees?  All kinds of excuses could be made!
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I believe what the words of Jesus highlight for us is to understand the high level of commitment expected of us in following our Lord.  We have the most important mission in the world to do.  It needs our full attention.

I would ask you to seriously ponder these words as you prepare for worship this Sunday.

Pastor Marty
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June 19 Worship

6/12/2016

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The Gospel reading for this Sunday is based on Jesus going to the country of the Gerasenes and being met by a demon-possessed man.  Jesus removes the evil force within this man and the man then witnesses to what Jesus has done for him.  Here is the beginning of the story:

"Then [Jesus and his disciples] arrived at the country of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee.  As he stepped out on land, a man of the city who had demons met him.  For a long time he had worn no clothes, and he did not live in a house but in the tombs.  When he saw Jesus, he fell down before him and shouted at the top of his voice, "What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?  I beg you, do not torment me" - for Jesus had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man.  (For many times  it had seized him; he was kept under guard and bound with chains and shackles, but he would break the bonds and be driven by the demon into the wilds.) Jesus then asked him: What is your name?" He said, Legion: for many demons had entered him. They begged him not to order them to go back into the abyss. Luke 8: 26-31

It can happen to any of us.  We get stuck in our own lives with some destructive habit or addiction.  We yearn to be free.  We may try the best of our efforts to free ourselves, only to discover we aren't making any progress.  Maybe with Jesus' help things can be turned around for us.

Why is this so critical that we do get turned around and not linger in our bad habits or addictions?  It is because unless we do so, we don't have the freedom to give ourselves completely to be in the Lord's service.  We not only are hindered from having the abundant life, but we are less capable of really being fully present to be serving the Lord.

I would ask you to assess your own life.  Is there anything which is holding you back from fully being in service to your Lord? If there is, you can ask for Jesus help.

Jesus cast out the demon in this man and he was free to witness for the Lord.  You may want to read the full reading in Luke 8:26-39.  May God's blessing be in your preparation or worship this Sunday.

Pastor Marty


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June 12 Worship

6/6/2016

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As we look at Jesus' public ministry, we would find how he often takes the limelight and addresses the crowds.  At other times, he would simply withdraw from the public eye in order to be alone and have time for prayer.

This Sunday we come to one of the special times when Jesus has been invited by a Pharisee for dinner and he graciously accepts the invitation.  It is what transpires here that captures our attention. 
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During Jesus' time there, a woman comes unexpectedly and brings along her jar of ointment.  She is weeping and goes directly to Jesus and bathes his feet with her tears.  She then kisses his feet and anoints them with ointment she has brought.  The Pharisee is up in arms and says to Jesus that if Jesus were aware of who this woman really is (a sinner), he would not have permitted her to do what she did. Jesus' response came in the form of a parable.  Here it is:

"A certain creditor had two debtors; one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty.  When they could not pay, he canceled the debts for both of them. Now which of them will love him more?"   Luke 7:41-42

The answer ought to be obvious.  I like the way that Jesus often gets his point across by using a parable.  The reason the woman showed extravagant love was because she realized how much she had been forgiven.  Now you and I might say we don't have a bad reputation - at least I hope not - and yet have we really considered how much we have offended God with our sins - those we are aware of and those for which we have no knowledge, yet are known by God?

I would invite you to consider the words of this parable and also look at your own life.  Where do you stand in your devotion and love for your Lord?  Do you realize how much Jesus has forgiven you? My message on Sunday will have us see the intersection of this story with our own lives.

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

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    Pastor Marty Pauschke

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