St. John's Lutheran Church

Scripture Reading - Colossians 1:24-2:5 oikonomia: the implementation of Jesus’ Mission on earth oikos + nomos = oikonomia oikos: an extended family nomos: management, law, principle, or system Reminder: denial & sacrifice to your own well being for the sake of someone else’s benefit is oikonomia at its best Christ in you is real hope for others: Will you let your life be a life-changer for others? To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me. (Colossians 1:29). My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ. (Colossians 2:2).

Scripture Reading - Ephesians 1:1-14 oikonomia: the implementation of Jesus’ Mission on Earth Reminder: denial & sacrifice to your own well being for the sake of someone else’s benefit is oikonomia at its best oikos + nomos = oikonomia oikos: an extended family nomos: management, law, principle, or system The English word economics comes from the Greek word oikonomia. God’s economy (His stewardship plan) continues to move through the local church family unit In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will (Ephesians 1:11).

Scripture Reading - Luke 16: 1-15 Common ways oikonomia (“stewardship”) is translated into English: Caretaker, Manager, Custodian, Ambassador, Warden, Guardian oikonomia: the implementation of God’s plan on earth oikonomeo: the execution of God’s plan on earth (verb) oikonomos: the person actually doing God’s plan on earth Dishonesty to your own well being for the sake of someone else’s benefit is oikonomia at its best. “The master commended the dishonest “steward” because he had acted shrewdly...I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings” (Luke 16:8-9). oikonomia (“stewardship”) 101...try this and watch: When during the day can you be dishonest (read: injustice, inconvenience, sacrifice) to yourself so that someone else would benefit?

Scripture Readings - 1 John 3:1-3; Matthew 5:1-12 -It really is true that we get to know people by their actions. -That is why when most people think of saints they think of people who act in a particular way…people who are exceptionally caring and selfless…people who sacrifice a great deal so that others might have better lives. -The saints we remember this weekend are all the people of God…saints because of what God has done for them in Jesus to save them from sin and give them life in His Kingdom! -Today we remind ourselves that as children of God we are now called by God to live every day as His saints in this world. -As saints we realize we are steward managers of everything God gives us and how we use the time He gives us every day will give evidence we are His children. -On a day we remember the saints who have preceded us to God’s presence, we pray that God might use us as He used them for us!

Scripture Readings - Galatians 1:6-10; 1 Corinthians 1:10-17 The Reformation Tension over the last 500 years: 1. Standing on Grace, Faith, & Scripture Alone Getting the right things right I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel--which is really no gospel at all...But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned!... I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned! (Galatians 1:6-9) 2. AND Pursuing Unity Having hearts that cause the least division possible I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought. (1 Cor. 1:10)

Scripture Reading - Romans 11:33-12:2 Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable His judgments, and His paths beyond tracing out! “Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been His counselor?” “Who has ever given to God, that God should repay them?” For from Him and through Him and for Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever! Amen. Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God-- this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is--His good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 11:33-12:2)

Scripture Reading - Matthew 15:21-28 The need for Bible translation in 2017 7,100 636 3,874 180 million The call to Botswana 2.1 million people, 31 languages The hard words of Jesus How do we respond? The Bakgalagari people Who are the marginalized in your life? There are marginalized people all around us, just like Jesus’ day. However, they can be hard to recognize if your eyes aren’t open. Are you looking? How can you lift them up? What do these people need? How is God calling you to respond to the words of Jesus? How is He calling you to respond to the example of Jesus? Get out there people of God!

Scripture Reading - Galatians 5:1-26 The basic life of a Christian is summed up in two words “Loved and Sent” In Galatians 5, Paul tells us that our lives are either: In our sinful natures “If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.” Galatians 5:15 Or in the Spirit “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” Galatians 5:22-23 The Challenge: You are Sent Live a life in the Spirit. Now. “Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.” Galatians 5:25

Scripture Reading - Matthew 18:1-9 Let’s talk about “sin” “Sin” is not simply bad behavior. “Sin” is when these arrows get crossed and confused. “If anyone causes one of these little ones-- those who believe in me-- to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to stumble! Such things must come, but woe to the person through whom they come! (Matthew 18:6-7) Crossing & confusing the arrows scares the children. Stop scaring the children! Uncrossing the arrows...for the children! Stop asking “am I okay with God?” (You are!) Start asking “am I okay with my family member, friend, ____________?” (you might have some work to do)

Scripture Reading - Romans 8:31-39 The basic life of a Christian is summed up in two simple words: Loved and Sent Our Idea of Love Is demanding, seeks fault, and is fickle God’s Love Is Forgiving: “He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all.” (Romans 8:32) Is Transforming: “We are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” (Romans 8:37) Is Steadfast: “neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39) God’s love makes you who you are, and nothing will ever change that.

Scripture Reading - Ephesians 2:1-10 The basic life of a Christian is summed up in two simple words: Loved and Sent Loved by God But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions--it is by grace you have been saved. (Ephesians 2:4-5) For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--not by works, so that no one can boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9) Sent to Others For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2:10)

Congratulations to 24 of our students who are confirming their faith in the Lord Jesus today! Scripture Reading - John 15:1-17

Scripture Reading - Ephesians 2:11-22 Be the Church! Remember: 1. The church isn’t a destination, it’s who you are. 2. Who are you building up and encouraging? 3. You are at your strongest as a Christian when you live covered in grace and holding on to hope. Where God builds a church, the devil builds a chapel. -Martin Luther The mark of a great church is not its seating capacity, but its sending capacity. -Mike Stachura The Church has left the building! Built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the chief cornerstone. In Him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in Him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit. (Eph. 2:20-22)

Scripture Reading - 2 Corinthians 4:1-18 The church, the people of God, are strongest and most effective when we live: Covered In Grace We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that His life may also be revealed in our mortal body. (2 Corinthians 4:10-12) “The church is not a museum of saints but a hospital for sinners.” –Brennan Manning, Ragamuffin Gospel. And Holding On To Hope Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)

Scripture Reading - Acts 11:19-30 and 13:1-3 The Biblical Pattern For Growing a Pastor: Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch (Acts 11:25-26). While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off. The two of them, sent on their way by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus. (Acts 13:2-4) Antioch = a training ground (St. John’s) Cyprus = sent to a future destination (TBD)

Scripture Reading - I Thessalonians 5:1-28 You are the church. The church is you. The church is not a destination. The church is who we are. “There’s nothing like the local church when the local church is working right” - Bill Hybels Why does the local church exist? He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with Him. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. (1 Thessalonians 5:10-11) A question for us as the church leaves the building: Who are you encouraging & building up this week?

Scripture Reading - I Corinthians 12:12-31 You are the Church. The Church is you. The Body of Christ = The Church Notice: Paul uses the human body as an analogy for the church, not a building. Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body-- whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free--and we were all given the one Spirit to drink...As it is, there are many parts, but one body. (1 Corinthians 12:12-13) The body of Christ is: 1. Exponentially stronger together, but incredibly weaker when divided. 2. Significantly stronger when our individual and unique gifts are more fully realized.

Scripture Reading - John 21:1-14 Keeping it Real with Joy and Thanksgiving. Dare to Compare: Peter at John 21 vs. Luke 5. Peter’s two responses indicate in those the three years Jesus impacted him in amazing ways. It is my prayer, that when you are asked the question, “who are you” that you always have a different answer. Let those around you impact who you are. Let God continue to develop you, daily. Never be afraid to cast off the past to embrace a brighter future. There is something special about the disciples sitting around a fire with Jesus after the resurrection. Something true, something living, something authentic. People of St. John’s, thank you for making ministry real for me and my family. You welcomed me around the fire, embraced me, and allowed me to grow.

Scripture Readings for the Seventh Sunday after Pentecost - Romans 8:12-25, Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43 Living In A Time Of Waiting -As we wait for God to act it often seems like no matter how hard we try….how much we pray… things seem to keep getting worse. -Isaiah compares this way of living to the way a farmer lives—totally dependent on God for the means of life…but never sure how or when God will intervene. -Our lives of faith are lived with the same trust as the farmer who plants his seeds in the spring with only the promise that though those seeds will die they will grow again to harvest! -Paul is not advocating a blind hope because our hope is in a God Who time and again has exercised His dominion in a creation otherwise filled with futility. -For Christians hope is the same as security. We know that whatever happens, we are upheld by our ultimate security—God’s love for us!

Scripture Reading - Romans 6:1-15 Living wholly in Freedom, under Grace The Roman Christians lived in a world without freedom, but Paul’s letter to them shows them that they are, indeed, under grace. ...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by His grace though the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. Romans 3:22-24 How should we live in light of our freedom/grace? Living in such a way that promotes life: Therefore, do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires... because you are not under law, but under grace. Romans 6:12-14 The whole life of the Christian should promote life in how we take care of ourselves so that we can better impact the lives of others. Honor your freedom and your grace because we all know that both required great sacrifice.