Blog Archives

August 7 Worship

7/27/2016

This thing that we call "faith" can be a nebulous thing. It can mean a lot of things to a lot of people. It can be very vague or it can be quite specific. However, this Sunday I would like to explore the meaning of faith in greater depth as I draw on a great chapter of faith in the Bible. It is from Hebrews 11 and here is an excerpt:

"Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Indeed, by faith our ancestors received approval. By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible. By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to set out for a place that he was to receive as an inheritance; and he set out, not knowing where he was going." Hebrews 11:1-3, 8

How does this sound to you? How much are you a modern day Abraham? How much do you listen for God's leading. Would you be willing to launch into something new that God might be calling you to do even though you don't know where you are headed? I realize how much we live by security and today would not cherish getting into anything that might be a risky venture. For sure, we would rather play it safe.

Yet, Abraham obeyed God. Faith therefore has a connection to the God of heaven and earth, where there is such a strong conviction that one is ready to gamble on where God might be leading. One really cannot do otherwise.

So, how is it in your life. Does your faith involve a trust in where God might be leading you? This Sunday my message will explore this aspect of faith in greater depth. May God's blessing be upon your meditation of these words and your preparation for Sunday worship. The full text of the reading is Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16

Pastor Marty

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July 31 Worship

7/21/2016

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Each day we are confronted with a very the task of deciding what kind of clothes to wear. It will, of course, depend on our activity for the day. If it's off to work, it will be one kind of clothing; if it is outdoor work, another kind of clothing will be worn. This image of clothing is what the apostle Paul uses as he wrote to the Christians in Colossae. Here is part of the text which will be the basis of my message.

"But now you must get rid of all such things - anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive language from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have stripped off the old self with its practices and have clothed yourselves with the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of its creator. In that renewal there is no longer Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free; but Christ is all and in all!" Colossians 3:8-11

This is a call to be the new person that Christ has made us to be. In essence, we are to live differently in the world from the unbeliever. On the one hand we do show what it means to live the new life that Christ has brought to us. On the other hand, we do make the world to be a better place by living the ways Jesus had espoused for us.

In addition, I believe that in "putting on" this new self, we are a witness to the world for Jesus Christ. If we do not live differently, how can we demonstrate what it means to be a follower of Christ? We can say all that we want about Jesus, but we also have to walk the talk.

I invite you to reflect on your own life and see how much public witness you do give to Christ by how you live. You may want to read the entire passage which is Colossians 3:1-11. May God's blessing be upon your preparation for worship this Sunday.

Pastor Marty

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July 24 Worship

7/14/2016

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How often do you pray? Have you ever been really passionate about praying for something that you desperately wanted?

As we look at the Gospel reading for this Sunday (Luke 11:1-13), we notice how Jesus wanted to emphasize the fact that we can and ought to be persistent if we really want something! After giving his disciples a model prayer (what we refer today as The Lord's Prayer), he told a story. What if you needed some extra food because company is coming. You would go to your neighbor and ask. It is your persistence that motivates your neighbor to respond and give what you need.

Following this story Jesus then spoke these words to his disciples:

"So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for a fish, will give a snake instead of a fish? Or if the child asks for an egg, will give a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" Luke 11:1-13

Prayer can be an adventure of a sort. In prayer we are not only asking, but searching and knocking in order to get what we desire. Have you ever looked at prayer as being a journey? Maybe it is in the very act of praying that some new insight will come to you. Jesus' words here are an invitation for us not to be hesitant about bringing our requests before God. If we are persistent, God can be persuaded to grant what we desire.

I would hope that in your preparation for this Sunday, you would seek to reflect on what you have been praying for and how often you do pray for what you want. May God's blessing be upon your reflection and worship this Sunday.

Pastor Marty

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July 17 Worship

7/11/2016

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Distractions - don't we feel the effect of them in our lives. We plan to get something done at home and another projects pops up from what we originally started to do. In the end, we don't accomplish what we set out to do. In other words, we have lost our focus and what is important.

Today's Gospel reading presents us a situation where Jesus makes us all the more aware of what can distract us from what is most important in life. Here is the Gospel reading:

"Now as [Jesus and his disciples] went on their way, he entered a certain village, where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to what he was saying. But Martha was distracted by her many tasks; so she came to him and asked, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me." But the Lord answered her, 'Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her.'" Luke 10:38-42

Martha felt that her preparations were more important than what Mary herself was doing. Have you ever gotten yourself so bogged down with doing things (necessary and unnecessary) that you had no time for prayer or reading Scripture? We find the challenge today in the many different things that life demands of us. Can we still make time to sit at the feet of Jesus and learn from him?

I might say that this text is calling us to look at our priorities. Have we lost sight of the "one thing that is needful?" We all have only 24 hours in each day and must find that time to be with the Lord. I would ask you to consider your own priorities and time management as you prepare for worship this Sunday.

Pastor Marty

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July 10 Worship

7/3/2016

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This Sunday brings us to the story of the Good Samaritan. It is probably all too familiar to us; but for this Sunday I would invite you to dig deeper into the ramifications of this story Jesus told. It's interesting that it wasn't told just as a part of addressing the crowd to give more information about the kingdom of God. What prompted his telling of it was that he was approached by a lawyer, and this man wanted to know what was necessary to inherit eternal life. Here is part of the text...

"But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, 'And who is my neighbor?' Jesus replied, 'A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. So, likewise, a Levity, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan while traveling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, 'Take care of him; and when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend.' Which of these three do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?' He said, "The one who showed him mercy.' Jesus said to him, 'Go and do like wise.' Luke 10:25-37

It's all about being a neighbor to someone in need. Since Jesus told this story from the viewpoint of the Samaritan helping a Jew, it invites us into how we are willing to help those who are different from us. The Samaritans and Jews had a long running history of hostility. They would not worship in the same place.

Now in our country with such diversity, we are encouraged to consider how we respond to those who are different from us. We all have to come to grips with our feelings and attitudes. Others we might dislike, but what happens when a need is presented to us?

Therefore, Jesus invites us to consider to whom you and I are neighbors. I would ask you to contemplate the living out of this parable in our own day. May God's blessings be upon your preparation for this Sunday's worship.

Pastor Marty

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August 7 Worship

July 31 Worship

July 24 Worship

July 17 Worship

July 10 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

August 7 Worship

July 31 Worship

July 24 Worship

July 17 Worship

July 10 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

July 10 Worship