ST. JOHN'S MISSION STATEMENT
As the body of Christ, we strive to make disciples of all, focusing on the next generation, through growing...UP in God's Word and Sacrament
OUT into the community by caring for physical and spiritual need
TOGETHER in fellowship to build lasting relationships in Christ
Memorize it! Get used to it! Live it! It is YOUR mission statement as a member of St. John's Lutheran Church!!!
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DEVOTION: 1 Corinthians 15:12-19
12 Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. 15 We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If in Christ we have hope[a] in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.
Have you ever said or heard someone else say, "Believe in yourself." Or, "You just have to have faith in yourself." While this statement is usually used to cheer someone up or to give someone confidence, here's what happens....you fail, I fail, everyone fails. So, if we believe in ourselves and we fail it is a false belief, isn't it? I can't trust myself all the time, because I know that I am a weak and sinful human being. To trust and believe in myself is just foolishness. I can't and I won't do it.
There is something and someone so much more sure, trustworthy, reliable, and believable than me. It is Jesus Christ and His resurrection from the dead. He died on the cross just like He said He would. He rose from that death three days later just like He said He would. He always keeps His promises. I don't. He has already defeated sin, death, the devil, and hell, not me. He is God! I am not.
Doesn't that relieve the pressure? Doesn't that get the load of performance anxiety and the stress of success off your back? It sure does or me. It makes me keep things in perspective and gives me relief to know that the success of the church and my own success as a pastor is not based on my performance but on God's will! I know that when tons of visitors come to church, join, and become active, that it is not my doing, it's God's. And I know that when there are times that the church isn't growing as fast as I'd like, it's no one's fault either. It is just the ebb and flow, the life of the church. The tide comes in and the tide goes out. The sun rises and sets. The wind blows where it wills and no one knows where it comes from and where it goes. Correction: GOD KNOWS!
Instead of believing in yourself why don't you today believe more and more in the resurrection instead? Believe that just as Christ died and rose again you too will die and rise! Live in that fact and the trustworthiness of the love and grace of Christ!
Prayer: Lord God, keep me from trusting too much in myself. Make me to trust more in You instead so that I may live in real peace. Amen.
As the body of Christ, we strive to make disciples of all, focusing on the next generation, through growing...UP in God's Word and Sacrament
OUT into the community by caring for physical and spiritual need
TOGETHER in fellowship to build lasting relationships in Christ
Memorize it! Get used to it! Live it! It is YOUR mission statement as a member of St. John's Lutheran Church!!!
____________________________________________________________________________________________
DEVOTION: 1 Corinthians 15:12-19
12 Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. 15 We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If in Christ we have hope[a] in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.
Have you ever said or heard someone else say, "Believe in yourself." Or, "You just have to have faith in yourself." While this statement is usually used to cheer someone up or to give someone confidence, here's what happens....you fail, I fail, everyone fails. So, if we believe in ourselves and we fail it is a false belief, isn't it? I can't trust myself all the time, because I know that I am a weak and sinful human being. To trust and believe in myself is just foolishness. I can't and I won't do it.
There is something and someone so much more sure, trustworthy, reliable, and believable than me. It is Jesus Christ and His resurrection from the dead. He died on the cross just like He said He would. He rose from that death three days later just like He said He would. He always keeps His promises. I don't. He has already defeated sin, death, the devil, and hell, not me. He is God! I am not.
Doesn't that relieve the pressure? Doesn't that get the load of performance anxiety and the stress of success off your back? It sure does or me. It makes me keep things in perspective and gives me relief to know that the success of the church and my own success as a pastor is not based on my performance but on God's will! I know that when tons of visitors come to church, join, and become active, that it is not my doing, it's God's. And I know that when there are times that the church isn't growing as fast as I'd like, it's no one's fault either. It is just the ebb and flow, the life of the church. The tide comes in and the tide goes out. The sun rises and sets. The wind blows where it wills and no one knows where it comes from and where it goes. Correction: GOD KNOWS!
Instead of believing in yourself why don't you today believe more and more in the resurrection instead? Believe that just as Christ died and rose again you too will die and rise! Live in that fact and the trustworthiness of the love and grace of Christ!
Prayer: Lord God, keep me from trusting too much in myself. Make me to trust more in You instead so that I may live in real peace. Amen.
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