Easter Assumptions

Apr

We all live with a variety of assumptions. Some are silly and some we wish we could ignore: “Red-heads are hot-tempered.” “The only sure things are death and taxes.” “Germans are proud and stubborn.” “Building projects always take more time and money than expected.”

“Early on the first day of the week…” (John 20:1) Mary’s assumption was “Crucified men don’t rise from the dead.” Mary and the disciples assumed the stone stood in their way to care for the assumed corpse of their presumed Christ. But the rock was rolled and the tomb empty! Still, “Crucified men don’t rise from the dead.”

“Living” with her assumption, Mary makes a second assumption: “This man who interrupts my grief must be the gardener; and probably knows where Jesus’ body has been placed.”

“Tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.”

Then… “MARY!” He knew her name! The voice…the inflection…the compassion she had heard before…the grace…the restoration…the authority!

“RABBONI!” New assumption! The Crucified Christ did rise from the dead! His promises are sure!

Like Mary, when the Risen Lord calls us by name, in our Baptism, in the Holy Supper, in the pages of Scripture, His Spirit opens our lives to a whole new world of assumptions. His death on the cross was not cruel circumstance, but cosmic salvation! Jesus was not a poor victim, but a purposeful Victor in God’s battle to purchase people back from sin and Satan!

Susan assumes her marriage is beyond hope. Mary’s hope was renewed as the Risen Jesus called her by name.

George assumes the grief of the grave will forever grind away. Mary’s grief was turned to gladness as the Risen Jesus called her by name.

Tony assumes he’ll never beat the bottle or drop the drugs. Mary was possessed by her past until the Risen Jesus called her by name.

Cheryl assumes this life is all there is, and then the funeral. Mary was left with a bag of embalming spices when the Risen Jesus called her by name.

Jan assumes she is insignificant. Mary felt alone and abandoned until the Risen Jesus called her by name.

Dominic assumes his sin is too sinister. He’s too deep and can’t get out. Mary saw the cross in the context of an empty tomb as the Risen Jesus called her by name.

What assumptions are you “living” with?

Thanks be to God that He in His grace gives us a new assumption through the cross and empty tomb as He calls us by name in our Baptism.

Posted By Robert E. Kasper read more

A Family Obligation

Mar

Paul writes in his letter to the Romans, “And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you. Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation …” (Romans 8:11-12a NIV).

Paul was writing to Christians in Rome. They lived surrounded by other Romans who lived according to the flesh, ruled by their sinful natures. One need only peruse the historical record of the rise and fall of the Roman Empire to gain an understanding of how a Roman’s sinful nature played out in daily life. And surprise of surprises there are striking parallels with American society today, as we find ourselves living in what is accurately being called the post-Christian era.

The other consideration to note is that the Christians in Rome had received little if any instruction in the Christian faith. Paul, by means of this letter to them, attempts to fill that void in anticipation of his future visit. So, the implication is that the average Roman Christian’s Christian beliefs were entangled with secular Roman philosophy, and/or were quite infantile and so easily swayed. That seems similar to many American Christians today.

This letter from Paul is a revelation from God to people who have the Holy Spirit inside. It is a word to all believers who have new life in Christ. In my mind that raises the question, “Do I want to keep this new life in Christ and so live in the blessing of the resurrection to eternal life?” What believer with the Holy Spirit inside would say no? Paul says then we must not live our lives giving in to our sinful nature. We should “put to death the misdeeds of the body” (v. 13) which will destroy our life in Christ.

There is one added feature that plays in to this death blow to the misdeeds of the body. It is a necessary feature because without it, our own sinful natures rule and we are worldly and live without God. So we take ourselves to hell which is living without God eternally. This feature is a major feature. In fact, it is the enabling power that brings about life in Christ—the Holy Spirit inside!

That is what makes Christians different from everyone else—the Holy Spirit inside. That is also what makes us a family, members of the body of Christ. All of us with the Holy Spirit inside are part of the larger family of believers scattered over the face of the earth. The unity that we share is that the Holy Spirit has led us to see Jesus. He is God’s son, who although perfect, suffered the penalty of a sinful nature, which He did not have, by dying on the cross. The result is that He is our Savior because He has appeased the wrath of God toward sinners and provided forgiveness; and, by His resurrection, shows His victory over sin, death, and the devil.

In the forgiveness provided by Jesus, we are family and by Paul’s words instructed that we have an obligation—to the Holy Spirit. What does that mean to you? Consider that until next month.

Update: This series is continued with Sanctified Living: Because We Are Saved

Posted By Richard J. Wolfram read more

Is God in Your Future Plans? Cont'd

Jan

Man looking off into the distant mountains

The 3rd Common Mistake

James writes in chapter 4:17, “Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.” The 3rd mistake to be aware of is procrastination (see others below). Let me illustrate by the following that I read somewhere:

Procrastination is my sin, it only caused me sorrow.
I know I ought to change my ways, in fact I will – tomorrow.

Remember that strategic planning process I spoke of in the December blog? Ministry planning that is done with God in the mix of it, through Word and prayer, might be outstanding. However, if the resulting plan sits on a shelf and is not ever implemented because of procrastination it is worthless.

While it’s true that people of all ages procrastinate, my observation is that teens seem to do it best. I am not sure why that is. While you can procrastinate in all there is to do in life, when you know the good to do and don’t do it, that’s sin. So, one can do absolutely nothing, and sin.

Jesus told a story about talents. The master gave one talent to one man, five to another, and ten to another. He left and came back sometime later. The first two men had doubled the master’s money, while the third had buried his in the ground. The master said he could have at least invested it so as to get interest on it. He said, “You wicked servant!” Why? What had he done wrong? The servant's sinfulness was in doing nothing at all.

The Solution

The solution to procrastination is like the Nike ad says, “Just do it,” with an emphasis on today and an attitude that looks to extend God’s love that you have freely received to someone else.

James focuses on numerous things to do in terms of living a Christian life and it’s important to keep them in the proper context as it relates to future plans. Why should we do what we do? Because of the Gospel, the good news of what Jesus has done to save us. He did everything in terms of salvation. When it comes to being saved there is nothing more for us to do. But that is not the end of the story. We now live in the expectation of the new world Jesus is preparing, and by faith we are his agents to help prepare others for it. Our future plans should encompass that.

Common Mistakes Blog Series:

Photo courtesy fredthechicken via Flickr

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Regarding Intentionality

Jan

A couple helps an elderly gentleman across a busy street

Intentionality

My mother often told me, “If you are going to get in trouble, get in trouble for trying to do something right.” That was pretty good advice 40+ years ago; and I think it’s pretty good advice today.

Her point, and mine, is about INTENTIONALITY, or, “doing stuff on purpose.”

I am constantly amazed by the number of times I "get in trouble" without even trying. I injure a family member, friend, or co-worker with words, lack of words, actions, or lack of actions, without any intent to cause harm. Sometimes, just showing up can cause a problem…or not showing up! Set aside the fact that some people, sometimes, are just plain “difficult” personalities; and we are still left with the reality of un-intentional “trouble”. (In no way am I advocating that “sins of omission” are less damning than “sins of commission”. Sin is sin! I’m just talking about the day to day “stuff we step in” when it comes to relationships.)

Applied to the Church

Apply this to the Church’s ministry, and in particular to leaders in the Church, i.e. pastors, teachers, DCE’s, and other staff or lay leaders; and there will be plethora of illustrations for this “troubling truth”. We’d like to think that there is a little more grace in the church, but often the opposite is true…especially when it comes to leaders. The Apostle Paul and our Lord Jesus experienced fickle folks and gossipy groups. Why should we expect anything different?

But here’s the rub: The testimony of Scripture is that the Apostle Paul and the Lord Jesus (especially Jesus) lived their lives with INTENTIONALITY. (We could widen the scope to include Moses, David, Nehemiah, all the prophets – my favorite example is Amos – Luther, and other reformers whom God used at various times and places.)

So I’m thinking…and please track with me…I’m thinking my mother was right! “If I’m going to get in trouble, get in trouble for trying to do something right.” Stated more clearly, “get in trouble for trying to do some right thing!” The challenge then becomes to prayerfully discern what the right thing is and seek to do it INTENTIONALLY. I’ve read in numerous places that the difference between “leadership” and “management” is that leadership seeks to do the “right thing,” while management seeks to “do things right.” (Both have value, but I am advocating in this rumination for leadership in our personal lives and in the life of the Church.)

Trouble With Avoiding Trouble

My observation of most people and many (if not most) ministries is that they would be best described as a pinball. They simply bounce from one bumper to another with no real sense of direction or purpose. It is a life of reaction rather than response. I’m not suggesting that we go out and look for trouble as we aggressively seek to intentionally do the right thing; but my observation is that seeking to avoid trouble is just as troublesome…and then one has to live with failure to do the right thing…unintentionally.

What if we took some direction from Scripture? Paul says, “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ” (I Cor. 11:1). Again Paul writes earlier in the same letter, “Be imitators of me” (I Cor. 4:16). Paul described his life as “Pressing on toward the goal…to lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus laid hold of me” (Phil. 3:12, 14). The Apostle lived out his life in Christ with great intentionality! He encouraged his fellow Christians to do the same. He didn’t do it “so that” God would accept him, but “because” God had already accepted him by faith in the accomplished work of Jesus Christ.

God's Intentionality

What about the Lord Christ? God surely demonstrated intentionality when sending His Son into a sin-soaked world. How often have we heard sermons declaring God’s long-range plan of salvation, reaching back to Genesis 3:15 and pressing forward through people and places, prosperity and poverty, priests and prophets, punishment and promise? And the inspired shorthand is simply, “When the time had fully come, God sent forth His Son, born under the law, to redeem those who were under (the curse of) the law” (Galatians 4:4).

We cannot read the Gospels without identifying the intentionality of Jesus as He goes about His ministry of teaching, healing, praying, confronting, and forgiving. And his death on Calvary’s cross? What made that crucifixion different from the thousands before and after by Roman hands was His sinless INTENTIONALITY! Already in Matthew 16, after the confession of Peter, “Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things…and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.” He even calls Peter “Satan” for trying to keep him “out of trouble” in His effort to do the right thing!

And after His resurrection, what does Jesus say to His disciples and all Christians? “As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you” (John 20:21). “Go, make disciples of all people groups, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you” (Matt. 28:19). “This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness will be preached in His name to all nations…” (Luke 24:46-47). “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you; and you will be my witnesses…” (Acts 1:8).

God’s intention in Christ was to redeem the world; and in particular, to redeem me from the slavery to sin, death, and Satan. His intention for me is now to live with intentionality…to try to do “some right thing.” That “some right thing” is to be His Spirit-empowered witness of His intention in Christ for all people.

Christ-Centered Intention

Stay with me now. What would happen if life was lived with Christ-centered intention?

If I loved my wife intentionally?
If I parented with intention?
If I spoke to the bank teller with intention?
If I used my time with intention?
If I greeted my neighbor with intention?
If each local congregation planned ministry with intention?
If every service of worship was planned with intention?
If every lesson plan in the classroom was done with intention?
If every email or text had intention?

You are free to add to this list as it serves your rumination and life in Christ.

Now before me is a choice in this New Year, 2012. I am fully aware that it is impossible to “stay out of trouble.” Therefore, by God’s grace in Christ and in the power of the Holy Spirit, I choose to get in trouble for doing “some right thing.” I pray that other Christian brothers and sisters will join me in such “trouble-making” as we live with Spirit empowered INTENTIONALITY. I believe God will bless His Church as we reflect His intentions for the world in Christ Jesus.

Photo courtesy Ed Yourdon, Flickr

Posted By Robert E. Kasper read more

That Leads Us to the 2nd Common Mistake

Dec

Picking up on November’s theme “Is God in Your Future Plans”, let us consider another common mistake that is made.

James 4 says, “Why you don’t even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes (v. 14). As it is you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil” (v. 16). What is the common mistake we make? Presuming about tomorrow. Taking it for granted. Thinking we are in control.

We can’t predict what tomorrow will bring. All we can do is make guesses, and that’s certainly not an exact science. It really does point out our need to depend on God. That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t make plans, but our planning should be with the right motives in a Godly context. We have the privilege to talk with God about our plans and our decisions and know that we can listen for His response through His Word.

Besides, our lives are like mist, James says (vapor, steam, breath) … here today, gone tomorrow.

The solution?

Make the most of today for the Lord. Live one day at a time. Don’t presume that tomorrow will be just like today or that you will live to be 100+. Remember the saying, “Life is what happens to us while we’re planning something else.” Face the future by trusting in God. He knows the future and He cares for and loves each one of us, enough to die for us. Remember, not one sparrow will fall to the ground apart from the will of our Father (Matthew 10:29).

Common Mistakes Blog Series:

Photo courtesy alykat via Flickr

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Is God in Your Future Plans?

Nov

Planning Ourselves

Consider what we find in the 4th chapter of James, focusing in on verses 13-17. Remember that James is writing to a Christian audience and so, presupposes that they have faith in Jesus… and are saved. The bottom line for James is that since his hearers are Christians, they will naturally reflect vital Christian lives.

"Now listen, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.' Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, 'If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.' As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil. If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them" (James 4:13-17, NIV).

That gets our attention, doesn’t it?

It should apply to all of us who also have saving faith in Jesus. James says to all of us earlier in chapter 4, “submit yourselves, then, to God.” Place yourself under God in order to do His will and obey His Word, and His Word alone. I might add that each of us needs to do this effectively and definitely, once for all. If you haven’t already, why not now?

I say that because many Christians seem to hedge their bets. They are, to use James' word, "double-minded." They have a desire for the world and all that Satan offers them through it, all the while thinking that they are holding on to God.

The result of that is they don’t use their personal, God-given, kingdom building gifts. What could be more tragic than love that goes unused, than generosity kept to oneself, than friendship unshared? What’s more wasted than a gifted person who has no commitment toward those gifts – who squanders them or doesn’t use them at all?

A Common Mistake & Its Solution

In this text, James gives counsel to us as God’s people about how we live for the future, more precisely how we should live as people with a future. His approach is to call to our attention three common mistakes that we can make concerning our future in order to help us avoid them.

I'd like to focus on the first mistake and a solution to it.

Mistake - Planning Without God

James writes, “Now listen, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money'" (James 4:13).

Let’s stop right there. What’s missing?

In my work I spend a lot of time helping congregations to develop ministry plans. Regardless of the process, or the resulting plan, if the members of the congregation are not in the Word, they won’t have success.

That, as James points out, is the first common mistake–planning without God. We all know people who love the Lord with all their heart, but when it comes to planning their future – family, education, career – they are practicing atheists. How can we say "I believe in Jesus," yet not give him any say in our future as we make plans? After all, we are God’s, with the Holy Spirit inside. Everything we do involves God.

Solution

So, the solution to this first mistake is to include God in everything. Talk with God about your retirement, about your plans to go to school, about your plans to get married, to remain single, about your business, a career change, your investments. God cares about everything we do. As James says we ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that" (James 4:15).

You might be interested to know that for hundreds of years Christians used to write the initials D.V. at the end of their letters. They would sign their name and then write D.V. (Latin – Deo Valente – Lord willing.) I think we ought to resurrect that phrase and use it today as a reminder to ourselves that God is part of our lives and future. (Lord willing)

Common Mistakes Blog Series:

Photo courtesy fredthechicken via Flickr

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How to Develop a Stewardship Culture

Oct

Field with the word stewardship written in the clouds

As defined, stewardship is "the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one's care." How does this play out in our churches? How can we develop stronger cultures of stewardship within our congregations?

"The vision for stewardship in The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod is that the stewardship culture in every congregation would be one where every professional church worker, every man, women, and child would know that they are God’s steward by His grace, live as His disciples, and manage the gifts He entrusts to them with joy and generosity—all so that His purposes would be accomplished and His mission enhanced." (source)

Faith Aflame: 360 Degrees

To help churches affect change in their congregations, the Faith Aflame: 360 Degrees program was established.

Audience:

Pastors, Professional Church Workers, Congregational Leaders

Purpose:

To provide a stewardship event for stewardship leaders in Michigan District congregations so that they might have a greater awareness of their own stewardship life and provide meaningful stewardship education in their congregations.

Goals:

Attendees will …

1. Understand that the Gospel is what makes stewardship distinctively Christian in content, in method, and in motivation.
2. Have an appreciation and understanding of what it means to be God’s steward.
3. Have an appreciation and understanding of the stewardship role of the church in participating in God’s mission.
4. Be encouraged to model and teach stewardship in their congregation.
5. Be provided fundamental and practical tools to begin implementation of a strategy for stewardship education in their congregation.

Assumptions:

1. That individual Christians struggle relating stewardship to all of life.
2. That congregations struggle in intentionally providing whole life, year round stewardship education.
3. That congregations struggle in funding their mission and maintaining their facilities.
4. That congregations struggle at getting people actively involved in service.
5. That congregations struggle to maintain adequate compensation and care support for their professional church workers.

Benefits:

1. Congregations operating from a perspective of abundance rather than scarcity.
2. Congregations experiencing a renewed mission focus.
3. Congregations receiving increased funding for God’s mission.
4. Congregations having renewed ability to identify and mobilize resources.
5. Congregations availing themselves to effective stewardship resources.
6. Christians are experiencing the joy of a stewardship life “Following Christ.”

Process:

Four Components:

Theological
Missional
Transformational
Practical

Basic Structure:

Faith Aflame: 360 Degrees is a stewardship education process. Materials are available for stewardship events that will take place over a six year period. Each event will include the following:

A Bible study begins each session.

Two stewardship questions are asked to get the participants thinking about the issues presented.

A teaching time is provided where the leader focuses the attention of the participants on the stewardship issue.

A time for small group discussion is provided so participants have an opportunity to react to the material presented and respond to specific questions regarding a stewardship issue.

A stewardship prayer is provided as well as a listing of the Biblical Stewardship Principles. Definitions and quotes are provided in boxed sidebars to give further information.

More Information

If you would like more information please contact me at the Michigan District Office at 734-213-3237 - visit the Faith Aflame webpage

Photo Courtesy nist6ss via Flickr

Posted By Richard J. Wolfram read more

What is Your Choice?

Sep

Are you a Christian? Are you a Disciple? Are you a Steward?

"A Christian is a child of the Holy Spirit, an heir of eternal life, a companion to the holy angels, a ruler of the world and a partaker of God’s divine nature. He is a wonder of the world, a terror of Satan, an ornament of the church, a desirable object of heaven with a heart full of supplications and with hands full of good works." - Martin Luther

A disciple is simply "one who follows Christ and learns from him.” “What we do as Christians is always secondary to, and a result of, who we are as children of God. Our actions flow from our attitude, an attitude of trust in Jesus Christ." - Robert Kolb

A steward is a child of God who realizes his/her role in life as a partner, a trustee, a manager, a caretaker or temporary custodian of gifts that belong to God. The Christian steward receives God’s precious gifts gratefully, manages God’s precious gifts carefully and responsibly, shares God’s precious gifts with others generously, and returns God’s precious gifts joyfully with increase. – Faith Aflame 360 Degrees, Year One

Personal Spiritual Discipline

When we talk about our identity as Christian stewards it presupposes that we are Christians and disciples. It also implies a level of personal spiritual discipline with law/gospel implications.

PERSONAL: 1) Of, pertaining to, or concerning a particular person; individual; private

SPIRITUAL: 1) Pertaining to the spirit or soul, as distinguished from the physical nature. Ruach (Hebrew) - pneumatic embrace, God embraces me and I tune in to His will (that impels me to action/Gospel imperative). I choose to bear fruit (good works/active righteousness/sanctification).

DISCIPLINE: 1) Training to act in accordance with rules; drill 2) Activity, exercise, or a regimen that develops or improves a skill (something you do).

TWO FORMS OF DISCIPLINE

Imposed discipline: Do it or else (there will be consequences if you don't - law oriented). In the military, that's where basic training begins.

Self discipline: I do it because I want to. I have learned to do it (it's second nature – Gospel oriented).

When you choose God (third use of the law, or active righteousness) it is because He first chose you (gospel), and then enabled you (by working faith in you) to choose Him (sanctification), or not. That's the choice!

"But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord" (Joshua 24:15 NIV).

The choices we make as disciples and stewards are related to our personal core values, our bedrock beliefs, those things we would die for. How passionate are you for Jesus and the Gospel? Would you choose to die for him? If "yes" is your answer it translates into action (active righteousness), which is being about the Father's business. That business involves your relationship with God, with yourself, with your neighbor, and with creation. That is what being a steward is all about. It means that you are about the task of helping to prepare people to live with Jesus in the new world He is preparing and will bring when He returns in glory. That is the new heaven and new earth where "all is forgiven, all is free, and all is restored." - Pete Steinke

Photo Courtesy: bsabarnowl on Flickr

Posted By Richard J. Wolfram read more

Family Ministry

Sep

It Starts at Home

Everyone knows the importance of "family." "Family" brings to mind many memories. For many, it is where love is first experienced; where values – the difference between right and wrong – are first learned; and where there are feelings of safety and acceptance and being "at home." And, in the Christian home, family is the place where we heard about Jesus and God's love for us, the place where Jesus is seen and the Gospel is lived. Families should be that kind of place – a place where children learn to fold their hands and bow their heads and talk to God. A place to learn Bible stories. A grace place. A home where Jesus lives.

Many people, unfortunately, never had the chance to experience that kind of home. For them, the word "family" brings memories of arguments, fear, violence, and tears. Families are not always the safe, grace place as they should be. Jesus does not live in many children's homes today.

How to Respond to Today's Culture

The culture of the day no longer embraces God's values. Many families are buckling under the pressures and burdens of everyday life as they face significant struggles in communication, sexuality, finances, and faith. Many are expressing concern about the crumbling foundations of the home in today's society. Today's families need help.

You share that concern. Your reading of this article confirms that you desire to be a partner in building stronger homes – homes solidly based on Jesus Christ and His Word. How does the church, and how can you, respond? Several things come to mind…

1) By faithfully proclaiming and teaching the truths of Scripture in a culture that does not know or understand that truth regarding marriage and the family.

The Genesis 2 and Ephesians 5 picture of the divine institution of marriage between one man and one woman mutually submitting to, and loving, one another is modeled after Christ's love for the church and the church's submission to Christ her Lord. God's intention for the relationship between parent and child and the Deuteronomy 6 picture of the home being the center of faith formation and teaching.

2) By faithfully proclaiming and teaching the truths of Scripture in a culture that does not know or understand that truth regarding sin and grace.

The Genesis 3 account of the fall gives the backdrop for the turmoil we face. It's a recurring theme: rebellion, repentance, and return. The rebellion is all too clear. And we, the church, God's people, have a wonderful message that God has reconciled and restored us: "God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them" (2 Corinthians 5:19 NIV). The restoration is complete. We now know how to live and love in the family: "This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us" (1 John 4:10a NIV). And that message, through Word and Sacrament, we must clearly proclaim and apply in our ministry to families.

3) Prayer

Remember the admonition of James: “You do not have, because you do not ask God" (James 2:2 NIV), and "The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective" (James 5:16b NIV). Pray for the Lord's blessing upon the marriages and families of those you serve. Encourage them to pray as well for their own marriage and family, asking God to forgive them for their sins and failures as spouses and parents, seeking His mercy through their Savior Jesus Christ. Pray for God's guidance to those who serve congregations in family ministry.

4) Share with my office

Family ministry needs within your congregation or community – or you personally – which could be addressed. Also share what you have learned in ministry to families in which you could share with other congregations to strengthen their ministry ("best practices").

5) Encourage attendance in the Family Life Ministry program of study at Concordia University Ann Arbor

Identify and encourage those with gifts in ministry to families – parents, children, youth, couples, etc. – to pursue preparation for ministry as a Director of Family Life, or other church worker.

6) Consider a financial gift to support family ministry

Recognizing the need and the opportunity, consider a gift to support the Concordia Center for the Family being formed at Concordia University, Ann Arbor to provide advocates, support, encouragement, training, and resources to strengthen ministries to families. If you know someone who is able to consider giving such a gift, refer them to my office.

7) Take a stand

In parliamentary procedure, a "division of the house" is a form of voting method in which votes are cast not by a voice vote or written ballot or electronic voting, but by a rising vote, where the one voting literally stands to indicate their position in favor or in opposition of the matter at hand. It seems to me that it's time to take a stand.

There is a spiritual battle being waged today that impacts families and parents and children and youth and adults. The battlefields include the influences of society, websites, media, social media, friends, life circumstances, and world situations.

Families need what your congregation has to offer: God's Spirit working in Word and Sacrament to strengthen them for the battles they face (which Jesus has already won for them) and empower them to pass on the faith to the next generation.

Will you take a stand?
Will you speak for family ministry?
Will you seek to strengthen marriages?
Will you model the faith in the family of faith?
Will you equip parents to teach their children?

Building Strong Families

Congregations, like yours, can do much to build strong, Christ-centered families. It does not matter what type of families are in your church. Be they single parent, step, traditional, or, for that matter, any other form of household. All family types need strengthening and equipping to face the attacks of today's world and the onslaught of Satan, who continues to wreak havoc against the basic building block of society: the family.

Ministry to families is more than a program or event or even a series of events. It certainly includes these things, but at its heart, it is a matter of the heart – it is a concern, and emphasis, and attitude – toward families – and toward ministry to families with Word and Sacrament, that they may be the grace places God intends them to be, where Jesus is seen and the Gospel is lived in and through His children, as His love and will is, to paraphrase Deuteronomy 6, constantly "upon your hearts. Impress[ed] upon your children. Talk[ed] about when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Carried with you and seen in you and constantly before you."

Prayer for Family Ministry

St. Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians seems to be an appropriate prayer for us in the ministry to families that we share and the ministry to families that is carried out in your congregation and in congregations throughout the Michigan District and The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod:

"For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen" (Ephesians 3:14-21 NIV).

God grant it in our congregations and ministries, for Jesus’ sake.

Amen.

Photo Courtesy: m!les on Flickr

Posted By Galan Walther read more

Body Language

Aug

Timmy & His Lord's Treasury

At church on Sunday Morning as the offering plate is passed, little Timmy puts in a couple of coins. They represent 10% of his weekly allowance. It’s an activity he was taught by his parents since he was little. They gave him a little bank called his Lord’s treasury. Any time he received money, he put 10% of it in his Lord’s treasury to give to Jesus on Sunday at church. His parents also modeled that for him and shared with him their steward stories.

Timmy’s parents were taught about giving to the Lord by their pastor and congregation. Their pastor helped them to understand biblical stewardship principles as they apply to a believer’s response to God for his love in Christ. He shared his own steward story with them. The congregation modeled for them these principles, as they gave at least 10% of their offerings to their District/Synod, because they were part of the body of Christ called LCMS and were walking together with other congregations. They also gave to support a missionary.

The District they were members of sent at least 10% of their receipts on to Synod to support the Lord’s work of national and international ministry. They were modeling for their congregations a Biblical stewardship pattern.

Parts of the Body of Christ

The Biblical pattern of first-fruit/sacrificial/percentage/systematic/all giving very much aligns with the body language talk of 1 Corinthians 12. We all are part of the body of Christ. This belonging says that we need each other. No one part of the body can say to another I don’t need you. That’s not an option!

Suppose a part of the body, your little finger, wanted to be supportive of itself. So it cut itself off–draining its life-giving resources. There are two outcomes: One, the pinky dies, and two, the body is weakened. The body needs the pinky and the pinky needs the body for good health’s sake.

The Synod needs her districts as the districts need Synod. The districts need congregations as congregations need districts. Congregations need workers and families as workers and families need congregations. We belong to each other; the family of Christ called the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod.

Further Discussion

What does our body language say to each other, to those beyond Synod, and most importantly to the Lord?
What can you personally do to make it more positive?

Photo Credit: bbrown6

Posted By Richard J. Wolfram read more

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