Messiah Lutheran Church and School

Saturday, September 25

Good morning everyone,

It might be raining outside, but Wisconsin is still basking in the sunshine of victory!  Last night the Brewers clinched the division championship and are on their way to the playoffs.  It feels great to win.  Everyone loves to be on top.

But it’s that very thing which makes following Christ so hard, because He tells us that we are not going to look or feel like winners when we walk with Him.  It will be just the opposite.  He says, “Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all” (Mk. 10:43-44).  St. Paul described his life of following Jesus: “We go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated…When we are cursed, we bless…When we are slandered, we answer kindly. Up to this moment we have become the scum of the earth, the refuse of the world” (1 Cor. 4:11ff.).  Sounds like a “losing” lifestyle, doesn’t it?  Who would ever want that? Why would anyone follow the Lord if that is what they can expect?

Following Christ does mean looking like a loser in the eyes of the world, but the Lord assures us that by faith in Him we gain far more than we lose. We may lose earthly advantages and comforts. We make sacrifices in order to worship the Lord, support His work in the congregation, and work with fellow believers to spread the gospel in other parts of the world.   We may have to put up with harsh comments about our beliefs and various other forms of ridicule, but we gain the life that never ends, the life Jesus won for us by His suffering and death on the cross. Our guilt was put on Jesus and buried with Him. Just as He rose from the grave in victory, so we have been raised to new life. “Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life” (Rev. 2:10). In Jesus we win by losing. Praise His saving name!

In tomorrow’s sermon text (Matt. 16:21-26) the Lord elaborates on this paradoxical truth that we save our lives by losing them for Him. In Bible class we will continue our study of Hosea. The public school confirmation class meets at 12:15.

See you tomorrow,
Pastor

Saturday, September 10

Good morning everyone,

In some ways this is a very ordinary weekend.  We all have our lists of activities and chores to take care of.  But at the same time, we as a nation are observing the 10th anniversary of 9/11.  The memories hurt.  The unprovoked terrorist attacks were devastating, especially to those who lost loved ones.  But is there any bright spot in the tragedy, any hope?

The Lord tells us that suffering, sadness, and death all come because of sin.  We see that throughout history from the sin of Adam and Eve to Cain’s murder of his brother Abel right up to the wars and terrorism of our own day.  Jesus says it will be that way until His return in judgment.  Still, there is real, solid hope, even in the face of sin’s curse on mankind.  Our hope is in our loving God, who sent His Son to take sin’s curse upon Himself.  “He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities” (Is. 53:5).

By faith in Christ we have hope.  Our sins are forgiven and we enjoy peace with God.  Even in hardships and other trials we have hope, for the Lord promises that He will make good come out of tragedy.  “We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him” (Rom. 8:28).  If God could make good come from the evil plans of Christ’s enemies which led to His crucifixion, we can be sure He can turn every evil plan and circumstance into a blessing for His people.  We will look to our hope in Christ tomorrow as we commemorate the anniversary of 9/11 in our service.  The sermon text is Lamentations 3:19-24.

Note that we begin our fall schedule tomorrow: Services at 8:00 and 10:45 a.m.  Choir at 9:15.  Sunday School at 9:30, and adult Bible class at 9:45 a.m.  Parents of SS children are asked to meet in the church at 9:30 for information on the SS curriculum, and how they can use it throughout the week in teaching their children more about the Savior’s love.  Sunday School teachers will be installed during second service.

Saturday, September 4

Good morning everyone,

“What would you do for a Klondike bar?”  Remember the commercials?  People, at least on TV, were willing to do some pretty ridiculous things just to get an ice cream bar.  What would you do?  Where would you draw the line, and say, “No, I’m not that hungry!”  What are your limits?

A far more important question is, “What would you do in the name of love?”  It depends, doesn’t it?  If it involves a family member, close friend, or fellow believer, we might be willing to do quite a bit and make great sacrifices for the sake of the person we know and care about.  On the other hand, our limits might be much lower when it comes to a total stranger.  Human nature limits love for others: how much, how long, how often, how great.  Peter once asked Jesus, “How often do I have to forgive my brother, up to seven times?”

God, however, sets a much different benchmark for love.  He says, “I have loved you with an everlasting love” (Jer. 31:3).  It’s unlimited in its scope and in how much it is willing to do.  It’s breathtaking!  “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son” (Jn. 3:16).  No one is excluded.  God loves all people to the extent He was willing to sacrifice all–even His holy Son–for sinners, so that all are now pronounced just and righteous before Him.  When that love is received by faith, it has a profound effect in the heart.  It creates and strengthens love for the Lord and for others.  A believer’s love resonates in harmony with God’s unlimited love.  “We love because He first loved us” (1 Jn. 4:19).

St. Paul writes of love, even in the face of rejection, in the text for tomorrow (Rom. 9:1-5).  We look forward to rejoicing in God’s unlimited love, and we pray that His love will work a greater and deeper love within our hearts, both for Him and for all others.

Yours in Him,
Pastor

Holy Communion will be celebrated at both services tomorrow.  We are still on the summer schedule: 8:00 and 9:30 a.m. services.  The fall schedule begins next week, Sept. 11.