What Goes On In Here Doesn’t Stay In Here

October 21, 2018

Please remember to bring your Commitment Card with you to worship this Sunday as we conclude our Stewardship Campaign, Because of God’s Great Mercy.

Today’s gospel starts with disciples obsessing over who’s number one, which leads Jesus to say something about God’s take on importance and power.  Here Jesus makes it explicit that the reversal of values in God’s community is a direct challenge to the values of the dominant culture, where wielding power over others is what makes you great.

Lately, it’s fashionable for churches to look like mini-malls.  Those churches see themselves as competitors in the bazaar.  They offer boutiques to attract a variety of consumers – most are former regulars at churches now closed or resistant to change.

Of all the things institutions, organizations and retail outlets don’t do well, two stand out.  These are, reinventing themselves, and going out of business, or dying.  As Lutheran Christians, we’re committed to preaching the Gospel boldly and administering the sacraments rightly.

At our 9:30 A.M., Sunday worship, in prayer, Word, song, sermon and Meal, we’ll rediscover the institutional, organizational and commercial things we do are put in the service of the church’s mission to call, gather and equip us (as disciples) in here, so we can be witnesses (as apostles) of God for us, in the crucified and risen Jesus Christ, out there.

Pastor Jeff