Savior Divine Lutheran Church
Connect with us!
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Pastor's Message
    • Map
  • Worship
  • Prayer Ministry
  • Community Life
  • Learning
  • Missions
  • Staff

August 31 Worship

8/24/2014

0 Comments

 
Have you ever felt like you could really be honest with God?  I mean, when you are frustrated and fear that you haven't been given a fair shake in life, you can really tell God how you feel?  I believe there are times when we do need to vent our anger.  It may be a bold move for you to move in this direction.

This is what Jeremiah does in our text for this Sunday, which come in the form of a lament.  Here are his words in speaking to God:

"In your forbearance do not take me away; know that on your account I suffer insult.  Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart; for I am called by your name, O Lord, God of hosts.  I did not sit in the company of merrymakers, nor did I rejoice; under the weight of your hand I sat alone, for you had filled me with with indignation.  Why is my pain unceasing, my wound incurable, refusing to be healed?  Truly, you are to me like a deceitful brook like waters that fail." Jer. 15:15-18

Jeremiah had delighted in God's word and the task to which he was assigned as a prophet.  However, his own people were now turning against him.  He felt that God was like a "deceitful brook," having betrayed him.  Jeremiah vents his frustration to God!

There are times when I think we do need to pour ourselves out to God.  We need to be honest with God and tell God how we really feel.  Have we been faithful to God and yet feel that we aren't making headway in our work for God?  Taking the time to lament can be healthy for us and keep us in a "connected" state with God.

God assures Jeremiah that he would be like a "fortified wall of bronze."  Jer. 15:20   He can still remain strong.  We also can have the same assurance that we can stand firm as we do the Lord's work and that it will bear fruit in time.

In preparation for this Sunday, I would invite you to reflect on Jeremiah's words and ask yourself how openly you have been with God about your own feelings of being a Christian. I hope you have experienced the joy that comes with faith in Christ, but if you have had discouraging times, considering telling it to God.

Discipleship Questions for Reflection

Are you going through a trying time now where you are frustrated in living as a Christian and need to speak honestly with God?

What from Scripture might assure you of God's continuing presence with you in your life?





0 Comments

August 24 Worship

8/18/2014

0 Comments

 
What is your concept of worship?  Is it confined to merely Sunday morning activity?  This Sunday offers us a way to look beyond this day of the week to all of our activity from one Sunday to the next.  This idea is brought out in the apostle Paul's letter to the Romans.

"I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship."  Romans 12:1


Paul lays down for us the fact that everything we do for God's glory can be considered our worship.  He says here to present our bodies as a living sacrifice.   The reference to our physical nature ought to make us pause and consider how much we do take care of our ourselves.  The reason is simply this:  The better physical shape you are in, the better you can offer yourself as a "sacrifice" to God.

For instance, imagine if you don't get your proper sleep.  Maybe you stay up watching TV late into the night and you wake up the next day feeling tired.  You may not be motivated to serve someone else or you may not be able to make high quality godly decisions that are so important for yourself as a person of faith.

Then, Paul continues in this letter:

"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God - what is good and acceptable and perfect."  Romans 12:2

In offering our bodies as a living sacrifice, we need first to get it right with our minds.  We need to focus on what God would desire of us in order to lead a holy life.  There are so many temptations to conform to what this world offers - the carrot stick resides in so many places.  However, will you be different?  Will you stick out from the crowd.  Will you be a God-pleaser?

I invite you to reflect on these words from Romans in preparation for Sunday's worship. 

Discipleship Questions for Reflection

Is there some area of your health that needs attention- like exercise, sleep, or nutrition, that would give you more energy to be in service to your Lord?


Look at what has been attractive to you from our culture that goes counter to God's ways?
0 Comments

August 10 Worship

8/4/2014

0 Comments

 
How is it for you in terms of finding quiet time - that is, time for being alone with God?  I struggle with it even being at home with noise from neighbors or hearing lawnmowers from the landscaping crew, or the sirens of emergency vehicles.  However, it is times of silence that can be very precious for us in our relationship with God.  I want you to consider this from our lesson for this coming Sunday regarding Elijah's experience with God.

"Now there was a great wind, so strong that it was splitting mountains and breaking rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the LORD was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake: and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of sheer silence."....Then came a voice to him that said,"What are you doing here, Elijah?"   1 Kings 9:11-13


While God may have been present at other times in very dramatic ways, it is here in a time of silence that God speaks to Elijah.  The prophet only needs to listen.  There was a very important message that came for him. The situation was that Elijah was ready to give up on his work; he even wanted to die.  HIs life was in danger from Ahab's wife, Jezebel.   Elijah goes into a sulking mode and hides out in a cave.

I'm sure you have had moment of despair in trying to live faithfully in today's world.  Amid your own witness, you don't seem to make an impact. As a result, you get easily discouraged.

I believe we also need to find the space in order to have quiet time with God and put ourselves into a listening mode.  Have you been able to find such a place?  If not in your home, maybe a park or some setting in nature might work for you.


In preparation for Sunday's message, reflect on these verses from the text.

Discipleship Questions for Reflection

How much have you been able to find quiet moments in order to focus entirely on God?

Have you ever had a thought come to you as you sat quietly and you felt it was God's leading?


0 Comments

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

    Picture
    Pastor Marty Pauschke

    Archives

    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013

    RSS Feed

ELCA   Metropolitan Chicago Synod  Augsburg Fortress  The Hills Chamber of Commerce