Baptized Into Christ

In my previous post I shared what the Bible says Jesus saves us from.  But Jesus doesn't just save us  from those things, He also saves  for  a purpose. For what does Jesus save us? Jesus saves you for self-sacrificial love and humble service to others. (Philippians 2:3-13) Jesus saves you for serving out your vocation of wife. (Colossians 3:18) Jesus saves you for serving out your vocation of husband. (Colossians 3:19) Jesus saves you for serving out your vocation of child. (Colossians 3:20) Jesus saves you for serving out your vocation of parent. (Colossians 3:21) Jesus saves you for serving out your vocation of worker. (Colossians 3:22) Jesus saves you for serving out your vocation of employer. (Colossians 3:23) Jesus saves you for praying and praising God together with other Christians. (Colossians 3:16) Jesus saves you for doing the good works He has prepared for you. (Ephesians 2:10) Jesus saves you for the resurrection from death to life eve...

I hesitate to write about things like this, because after all, I'm really not an expert.  However, as a pastor I see things that Christians do with social media that I know are not helpful and at times very destructive.  So...here are some basic guidelines, certainly not directly from God, but absolutely guided by the Word of God. 1. Don't post something that puts someone else down. I mean it.  Don't do it. As tempting as it is to get a dig in at your (teacher, friend, spouse, co-worker, family member, political opponent, etc.) taking personal shots at them online is not constructive and by doing so you do not present yourself in a positive light. If you have legitimate political difference, want to point out where a politician is mistaken, or something like that, go ahead.  But remember that we are at all times to give respect and honor to elected officials (and I think the same could be said of those running for office).  You don't have to like them, but...

Many people imagine the Christian life as similar to a child on a swing.  When you are young you need the help of dad, a push, in order to swing.  However as a child learns to pump his or her legs and swing without the push, so the mature Christian becomes stronger and stronger and less dependent upon God. The swing analogy is not Biblical. Rather, the Christian life is much more as if each Christian is a top that is dependent upon God to spin.  The top cannot spin itself, it is dependent upon someone to spin it.  To mature as a Christian is not to learn to become stronger and less dependent upon God, rather it is to recognize your weakness and utter dependance upon Christ for all things.  You never become strong enough to be self reliant, rather you become less and less self reliant and more and more Christ reliant.

It's been an ongoing phenomenon for years, the exercise gadget that is aimed at addressing one area of your body; The Thighmaster , the Ab Roller , and the list could go on.  These products promise results on a particular area of your body.  Thinner thighs, tigher abs, etc. The problem with this targeted approach is...it doesn't really work.  If you want six pack abs, you're going to have to eat a lean protein, lower calorie diet and exercise the other areas of your body to burn calories too.  If you want thinner thighs, you're going to have to ditch the doughnuts and hit the treadmill. Overall changes, exercising your entire body, changing what you are fueling your body with, those are the only ways to have the desired results; a targeted area without the changes simply won't produce the results. Its much the same in the church.  Take evangelism for example; If we want to have a congregation that is active in evangelism, we can't just focus on evangelism, b...

Who is St. Paul’s Lutheran church for?   What kind of a church is it? Those are questions that our members might encounter or even have asked themselves.   What's the answer?   Here are some of my thoughts, though certainly incomplete, it should get you headed in the right direction. Who is St. Paul’s for? (Yes, I know that this is a grammatically incorrect way to ask the question, but it's how people speak.) -               It’s a church for you if you are a broken sinner.   Because the church is Christ’s church, we welcome sinners who are struggling and we are here to love you, support you, and be there for you. -               It’s a church for you if you are married, single, or divorced.   Because the church is Christ’s church we affirm the Biblical teaching that marriage is a wonderful blessing and...

The Second Commandment You shall not misuse the name of the Lord of the Lord your God.   What does this mean? We should fear and love God so that we do not curse, swear, use satanic arts, lie, or deceive by His name, but call upon it in every trouble, pray, praise, and give thanks. The First Petition of the Lord's Prayer Hallowed be Thy Name.   What does this mean?   God’s name is certainly holy in itself, but we pray in this petition that it may be kept holy among us also. How is God’s name kept holy?   God’s name is kept holy when the Word of God is taught in its truth and purity, and we, as the children of God, also lead holy lives according to it.   Help us to do this, dear Father in heaven!   But anyone who teaches or lives contrary to God’s Word profanes the name of God among us.   Protect us from this, heavenly Father! The Second Commandment and the First Petition of the Lord’s Prayer go hand in hand.   Both, ultimate...