Everyday Lutherans

Recently I was watching a movie in which a large congregation was gathering together. The pastor within the congregation was speaking about the great work that the people were doing within the church.  Instead of going on and on, the pastor turned the microphone over to the leader of the new group.  The leader began speaking to the congregation about the work they were doing and how simple it was but then turned and said you need to be a part of it too.  God is calling you to do the same thing.  More people needed to join this movement and enjoy the same success and glory that they have enjoyed.  The inspiring speech was great, motivating and yet was so very scripted for the movie it was in. At first, I thought that this movie was great.  The Pastor was encouraging and growing leaders within the congregation gathering everyone to Jesus Christ.  This is what the church should be doing and helping people live out within their life.  The people were ...

There are many conversations and understandings that relate to the Lord's Supper.  Even at the time in which Jesus was sharing the meal with the disciples, they did not fully understand what Jesus was doing and what it all meant.  Truly the meal that they were gathered was a Jewish Seder, a meal that helps the Jewish people remember and be within the history that God saved them from their time in Egypt from slavery and led them to the promised land.  The people wanted to remember the vast power and strength that God displayed to the Jewish people and the Egyptian people. It was this meal that Jesus was celebrating with his disciples.  Yet as Jesus was leading them in this meal of remembrance, when it came to certain parts, he changed the meanings.   When Jesus spoke of the unleavened bread, the bread that was prepared hurriedly to sustain the Jewish people on their journey from Egypt without yeast that would normally cause bread to rise.  Jesus said: "This ...

For some people, Baptism was something that happened when they were an infant.  They do not remember it.  They do not understand what was happening.  For others, they remember the day and event as it was something that they had a part in. Within Baptism, water is used upon the person's body.  Water is one of the most abundant resources upon the Earth and it is something that is vital to our very life.  With this resource that you use within your daily life, God combines God's own Word.  Then God commands us to share and give this gift. In Baptism, God calls us by name to be God's very own child.  As a beloved child of God, you are given forgiveness of sins, delivered from death and the devil, and everlasting salvation to all who believe in this promise of God.   It is not water that does this but God's promise and work on the cross that delivers all that is promised for you directly to you. You do not need to remember the day that the way was plac...

In recent years, I have noticed a growing number of larger congregations. Congregations where there are more programs, more people and more focus on keeping more people caring for the institution that is the building and not really the Gospel.  (Please note, I am not saying that all large congregations fit this but there seems to be a growing trend.)  You may notice the features: Young pastor - cause young pastors can relate to the youth and our church does not have any. Band - cause the old songs do not speak to the people that you are trying to get into your building. Focus on Life - most of the messages, classes and general direction of the congregation is helping people in their physical journey.  Right living and morals are the dominate messages being given.  Less emphasis on Jesus and more emphasis on 'What Scripture teaches us' becomes the language in which we hear more and more with the messages. Now you may be saying but our congregation has some of these th...

I have talked to a lot of people who attend church every so often to not really a whole lot. In one of my most recent conversations, a person asked me, "So, what does a pastor do?" I started thinking of all the daily, weekly, monthly and yearly things that I do and I could have listed them all off , but that would take a very long time. Then there are the things that no one can plan for. How do you tell someone that you live a life of chaos and unknown, and help someone make sense of it??? Here is my attempt. A pastor does many, many things; largely depending on the congregation's size and whether or not there is more than one pastor. If the church is large and there are multiple pastors, then they are specialized into separate fields.  In a one pastor congregation, then he/she does most (if not all) of the following. Depending on where the congregation is located will also determine the work that the pastor will have as a focus or time for travel between p...

38 John said to Jesus, “Teacher, we saw someone using your name to cast out demons, but we told him to stop because he wasn’t in our group.” 39 “Don’t stop him!” Jesus said. “No one who performs a miracle in my name will soon be able to speak evil of me. 40 Anyone who is not against us is for us. 41 If anyone gives you even a cup of water because you belong to the Messiah, I tell you the truth, that person will surely be rewarded. 42 “But if you cause one of these little ones who trusts in me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone hung around your neck. 43 If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It’s better to enter eternal life with only one hand than to go into the unquenchable fires of hell i with two hands. j 45 If your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It’s better to enter eternal life with only one foot than to be thrown into hell with two feet. k 47 And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it ...

38 John said to Jesus, “Teacher, we saw someone using your name to cast out demons, but we told him to stop because he wasn’t in our group.” 39 “Don’t stop him!” Jesus said. “No one who performs a miracle in my name will soon be able to speak evil of me. 40 Anyone who is not against us is for us. 41 If anyone gives you even a cup of water because you belong to the Messiah, I tell you the truth, that person will surely be rewarded. 42 “But if you cause one of these little ones who trusts in me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone hung around your neck. 43 If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It’s better to enter eternal life with only one hand than to go into the unquenchable fires of hell i with two hands. j 45 If your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It’s better to enter eternal life with only one foot than to be thrown into hell with two feet. k 47 And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it ...

The Lord’s Prayer is one of those all encompassing prayers that you can pray whenever you need to.  The prayer was taught to the disciples within the Garden of Gethsemane. However, the prayer is one that embraces Jewish teaching from many of the Old Testament books.  With Jesus giving this prayer to the disciples, we bear witness to full knowledge that Jesus holds of the teaching from God. Even the unique relationship that we have with God now, that he is present among us.  Within this great prayer, there is one line that I would like to focus on for this season.  “forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.” First, we should probably talk about the word trespasses.  We often think of it in the verb form: Enter the owner's land or property without permission.  Yet it is also a noun: A voluntary wrongful act against the person or property of another, especially. unlawful entry to a person's land or property without ...

The hymnal is something that you find in nearly every church.  As one enters into the worship area of the sanctuary, a person finds the hymnal that contains liturgy, hymns (songs) and even important teachings of what the congregation believes in their understanding of the church, God and the individuals.  Within these books, people are able to learn the songs that shape their faith, begin to wrestle with important questions of God and their relationship, but also having a connection between the church and their home. For hundreds of years, people would memorize the parts of the service that were repeated over and over again, it was these parts that shaped their faith and understanding of God.  For they were on their minds and they were able to reference them as they worked, talked with others, and reflected upon their life. For hundreds of years this was the foundation of faith formation.  Then came the arrival of the printing press and also the Reformation.  On...

This question was raised by a confirmation student. While I wrestle with this question, it is one that all people wrestle with. There are evil things that happen all around our life. A fire will destroy someone's home, a flood will destroy farm lands and the death of a loved one. These are all terrible things that happen within the world around us. Yet is God the one who causes these events? I would argue that God does not however, God has the power to stop them. This is quite the distinction. For the original cause did not come from God, such that we know. For God knew the difference between good and evil. This was something that God did not intend for us to know. Yes God created us, happy, healthy and enjoying the world around us. It was not until we disobeyed God and learned the difference between good and evil that suffering truly began. For the punishment for disobeying God is death. However, God had mercy on us. Instead of killing us out right, God allowed us to l...

Have you ever wondered what the purpose a sermon is suppose to be? I mean this man or woman is standing up there, talking to a crowd of people.  What gives them the authority?  Why do they talk and talk about things that don't necessarily make sense or interest me?  What's the point? I have a confession to make, when I was growing up, I was that kid who did not always pay attention during the sermon.  It would not hold my attention.  I would either look at the stained glass windows, draw on the bulletin or there were some Sundays that I would actually do the head bang. (You know that time when you are trying to stay awake but are fighting falling back to sleep and your head falls down and whips back up. If you don't know what I am talking about, go to your next service and sit in the back and look around more than likely there will be one.)  Sadly this is still the case, although not when I am preaching.  For even when I hear some preachers, I still be...

Within the world there are many religions. A religion "is  a   set   of   beliefs   concerning   the   cause,   nature ,  and   purpose  of   the   universe,   especially   when   considered   as   the   creation  of   a   superhuman   agency   or   agencies,   usually   involving  devotional   and   ritual   observances,   and   often   containing   a  moral   code   governing   the   conduct   of   human   affairs. or  a   specific   fundamental   set   of   beliefs   and   practices   generally  agreed   upon   by   a   number   of   persons   or   sects:   the   Christian  religion;   the   Buddhist   religion.  Each one has it's own understanding a...

Ever wonder about those really big questions about life and the Bible.  Well I had another theologian ask the question: " without saying the person is going to hell, "why do I need to do what the Bible says?".  This question really intrigued me so I simply gave answer and a small conversation followed, and here it is.   My Answer: Well this answer may use different words depends on the situation that the person is in and their age: You do not need to do what the Bible says, however, by studying the Word of God, we are able to hear what God has done for us and understand how it is that we are called into this world.   The theologian replied with:  The question on my mind is that Christians ought to live a certain way, and the problem with society is that most believe in Jesus but do not feel compelled to do anything or change the way they live. Thus, the Bible tells us we ought to do these things. As you  put it "how we are called into this world." Being cal...

How true this is.  I mean we should be ready to go out into the world and spread the good news of Jesus Christ into the world.  However, one thing that did strike me about this is we are already IN the world.  We are already in the world and have relationships with people so instead of getting ready, how about we actually do.  I realize just being in church does not make a good Christian, I have heard that excuse a number of times.  However, dwelling in the very Word of God is something that nourishes your soul and fills that whole that you have been trying to fill within your heart.  Walking with one another in a community is important, it is for you and for the other person.  And yes even that person who is walking with you in faith, well they are not "ready". For they are a sinner just as much as anyone else is, which is why we need God's grace and mercy. Anyone who thinks that they are "ready" or think that they have generally scares me and I think...

The Future of American Religion | Via Meadia : I have seen a lot of the same articles.  Not that they are the exact same but their message is the same.  While I agree that the culture has changed. I think that the basis is still the same. People are looking for a genuine relationship with not only a community but also with God. I think that we need to get back to a wholistic approach to be Christians. That we realize that every part of our life has to do with our Christian journey. So while the "old ways" are not going to look the same. I think that we can learn a great deal about them so that while we are cutting off the fat from the meat, we are not throwing away a lot of the good meat along with it. I mean if we continue to talk about how we are shrinking and the church needs to change or it will die.  Then we begin to grasp for anything that draws people.  However, more often than not, these messages display that we are not being faithful and placing our tr...

Yes I am that guy who will take this wonderful cartoon and turn it into an article for my blog because I think that both are needed.  This is truly a great cartoon and one that speaks volumes.  (I often enjoy the work from www.reverendfun.com if you have not done so you should definitely check them out.) They are right, there is an app for everything that you could ever want.  Although this is not necessarily what they had in mind.  Technology as a whole is moving so quickly and the church is not really catching up. In fact, I have seen some church that have not changed a thing and actually they are fairing better than some of the congregations that have tried to put together various ministries within the web.  I recently went to a conference and they told us that we should all have webpages for our church.  It should be simple and clean cut and most important of all accurate with current information.  One of the biggest things that I have seen is tha...