Please join us for worship services during Lent and Easter. Midweek Lenten services begin at 7:30 PM on Wednesdays. Supper will be served at 6:30 PM Wednesday prior to the midweek worship service.

Ash Wednesday Worship Service         (February 22 at 7:30 p.m.)
Put Your Sword away!…………………………………………. .John 18:4-11

Midweek Lenten Worship Service #2    (February 29 at 7:30 p.m.)
It’s No Secret! …………………………………………………….John 18:19-24

Midweek Lenten Worship Service #3           (March 7 at 7:30 p.m.)
It’s God’s Plan From Beginning to End!…………………..Mark 14:61,62

Midweek Lenten Worship Service #4         (March 14 at 7:30 p.m.)
Shed No Tears for Jesus! …………………………………….Luke 23:26-31

Midweek Lenten Worship Service #5         (March 21 at 7:30 p.m.)
Glory Be to Jesus! ………………………………………………….John 17:1-5

Midweek Lenten Worship Service #6         (March 28 at 7:30 p.m.)
Our King Is Crucified! …………………………………………..John 18:36,37

Maundy Thursday Worship Service                (April 5 at 7:30 p.m.)
Receive the Blessings of the Cross! ……………………….Luke 22:19,20

Good Friday Worship Service                         (April 6 at 7:30 p.m.)
Jesus Died Willingly!………………………………………………John 19:1-16

Easter Sunday                                                (April 8 at 10:30 a.m.)
Peace and Life Are Yours!……………………………………John 20:19,20

ALL ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND!

Join us for supper before the midweek Lenten services at 6:30

²⁹ As soon as they left the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew. ³⁰ Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told Jesus about her. ³¹ So he went to her, took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them.

³² That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed. ³³ The whole town gathered at the door, ³⁴ and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was.

³⁵ Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. ³⁶ Simon and his companions went to look for him, ³⁷ and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!”

³⁸ Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.” ³⁹ So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.

Dear Friends in Christ,

Well, as most of you know,  it’s Super Sunday today.  A great proportion of our citizenry is focused on the Superbowl that will be played in Indianapolis later this evening.  Much has been happening all week and is happening today also in connection with this game.  Many are having friends over to their home to watch the game together and enjoy food and drink in a party atmosphere.  Stores are trying to capitalize on the whole frenzy by offering pizzas and other snacks at bargain sale prices.  Gamblers are trying to make a profit by placing bets on anything and everything about the game.  There is really no other Sunday like it during the whole year.  That’s why many call it “Super Sunday,” this superbowl Sunday.

The Saturday and Sunday of our text were also super days in the life of God’s people.  Jesus was with them.  When Jesus is with you there cannot be a more exciting experience.  As we learn more about this “normal” weekend in the life of our Lord and his people and hear about the special, yes, the super things that happened during that weekend we will be reminded of the many “super” things that our Lord blesses our lives with day in and day out. Yes, every day with the Lord is a super day!  On this super Sunday let’s consider that as our theme.  Every Day with the Lord is a Super Day.

1.  Every Day with the Lord is a Super Day Because He Heals Our Diseases.

Injuries will certainly be a determining factor in whether this will be a super Sunday for either New York or New England.  When a team loses a key player because of injuries they have to play a backup player.  Sometimes the backup rises to the occasion and does well.  Other times the team is weaker at that position and the other team will try to take advantage of that injury.  A chain is only as strong as its weakest link.

On this super day in the life of God’s people there in Capernaum injuries were a factor in making this a super day in our Lord’s ministry.  Here is what Mark reports happened after Jesus drove the demon out of the man in the synagogue.  ²⁹ As soon as they left the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew. ³⁰ Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told Jesus about her. ³¹ So he went to her, took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them. ³² That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed. ³³ The whole town gathered at the door, ³⁴ and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was.

Simon and Andrew were brothers.  They lived in Capernaum.  Jesus and his disciples may have made Peter and Andrew’s home in Capernaum a kind of base for their ministry.  Their home was also a place that experienced some super events because of injury and sickness.  Jesus healed Peter’s mother-in-law.  She was not able to go to the synagogue that day because of the severe fewer she had, but after Jesus helped her she was completely healed of her fever so that she was able to wait on all the guests at her home. Trials spur us to seek Jesus help; his help spurs us to service.  Note Jesus’ super compassion for the sick.  Note his super power over sickness and disease.  Many more super shows of omnipotence happened on this day.  Mark writes that later that evening, once the report of Jesus’ healing of Peter’s Mother-in-laws fever had spread, “Jesus healed many who had various diseases.”  He also healed many other demon-possessed people that were brought to him at Peter’s home just as he had healed the demon-possessed man at the synagogue that day.  How many miracles did Jesus perform on this day?  How many “super” things did the people see?  Our text says “many,” so many that the “whole town” gathered at the door.  This was indeed a super day in the life of God’s people because of what the Lord did in their midst.

Every day is a super day for us, God’s children, for the same reason.  Because of sin, sickness and disease have also become a burden for God’s children.  Christians also get sick and come down with diseases just like the rest of the world.  Sometimes people question God’s love and ask, “Why does God let his children get sick?” Here is one of the reasons.  The Lord shows his love and compassion to us when he heals us from our diseases.  Every sickness and disease is an opportunity for the Lord’s glory to be revealed (John 11:4).  Jesus tells us this when Lazarus died.  “This sickness will not end in death.  No, it is for God’s glory, so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” Have you had the flu or a cold recently?  Are you experiencing one now?  Did you get over it?  Or have you been healed of a more serious disease?  Were you healed of cancer?  Did you have a surgery that took care of a very painful condition?  God has given us doctors, surgeons, nurses and all the many medicines we have today, but these only work and are a blessing to us because Jesus is working through them.  The Bible is clear where the glory is to go when we are healed.  Psalm 103: 3 says, “Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits – who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases.”  How often has Jesus healed us of our diseases,  Friends?  How often have we forgotten this benefit in our life so that Jesus does not receive the glory?  Every day with the Lord is a super day because he heals us of our diseases.  Give him the glory in your life.  Tell your neighbors what Jesus has done.  Then many will gather at God’s house as they gathered at Peter’s home to see Jesus.  When they do they will also hear how they have been “healed by his wounds” (Isaiah 53), healed from their sins.  Jesus wounds and death on the cross paid the penalty God demanded for our sins.  We were sick with sin and dying, but the blood of Jesus purified us and made us well spiritually.  Now we will live forever.

2.  Every Day with the Lord is a Super Day Because He Loves All

Today’s Superbowl will be viewed all around the world.  We witnessed this in Japan often.  Usually we had our Superbowl gathering/party on Monday mornings because of the time change.  I guess that’s another reason why we call it “super.”  Many around the world want to watch the superbowl.

Another reason why this day in the life of God’s people there in Capernaum was super was because our Lord revealed his love for all people.  Yes, every day with the Lord is a super day because he loves all people.  Mark writes, “³⁵ Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. ³⁶ Simon and his companions went to look for him, ³⁷ and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!” ³⁸ Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.” ³⁹ So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.”

Jesus’ love for all is shown in these verses in a number of ways.  It’s early Sunday morning   Our text says that it was dark yet.  Where do we find Jesus.  Not sleeping in on Sunday like many of us like to do.  No, he is out and about in the dark finding a solitary place, a place where he would be alone, where he could pray.

What was he praying about?  Our text doesn’t reveal the content of Jesus’ prayer.  Maybe what follows is an indication of what might have been on our Lord’s mind.  When the disciples find him and indicate that everyone was looking for him, Jesus replies, “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.”  Was Jesus praying for guidance in his mission?  Jesus’ answer to his disciples reveals his great love for all people.  It would have been easy, perhaps convenient, to stay in Capernaum during his ministry.  He was popular there.  He had friends that he could have lived with.  But there were others who needed to hear the good news, others who lived in all parts of Galilee.  Jesus’ love for all is revealed in his many Galilean circuits to preach the good news.  This was the will of his heavenly Father.  “God will have all to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (1 Timothy 2:4)

It’s that will of our heavenly Father, that is reflected in our Lord’s ministry in Galilee,  that is such a comfort to us and also shapes our ministry as a congregation.  The comfort part is this, if God loves all, then we know without a doubt that he also loves us.  “God laid on Jesus the sin of us all.”  (Isaiah 53: 6) Because Jesus died for all, all need to hear of that message.  This shapes our mission as a congregation.  We have a world-wide ministry.  We support mission work not just in our backyards, but all around the world.  Doing this work makes our life here on earth a wonderful life, a life filled with purpose.

Just as many around the world want to see the superbowl, and that’s another reason why we call it super, so also do we call life with Jesus super.  He loves all and wants that love shown also in our lives.  How super it is to be part of this mission and witness the marvelous effect Christ’s love has on people. People all around the world love Jesus and want to know more about him.

 (Share the email from Kato San in Tokyo:  “Hello, Jachie san, How are you? Tonight I got a phone call from Setsuko san from Kesennuma. She met Jesse and had a class in English about the Ten commandments. She was so happy that she could study the Bible in English.  She told me that Nidaira sensei and Jesse shoveled away the snow for her. She was so thankful for them. Her neighbor came and wanted to have an English class for her son. And there were more people who would like to study English conversation. Setsuko san sounded so happy when she was talking to me over the phone. She said this was a very good starting with Jesse. One more thing I have to tell you. This is something different from Setsuko san. A friend of mine has a niece in Sendai and her family suffered from the earthquake. I applied one quilt for her family and sent it to her last Sunday. They were so happy and they could not think to get something like that. And a friend of mine called and said it was so kind to make handmade quilts and send them over here.”) 2-4-12

Every day with Jesus is a super day.  The superbowl comes only once a year and it isn’t always the most interesting game to watch.  The Lord is with us every day.  His mercies are new every morning.  That means that every day is a super day for us followers of the Lord.  No matter what happens.  For as President Zarling reminded us all of in his lecture last Wednesday,  “There is nothing good you and I can do to make the Lord love us more, nor is there any bad thing we can do to make the Lord love us less.  God is love.  We have that continuous, faithful love everyday as an anchor in our lives!  That love is what makes every day with the Lord super!  Amen.

²¹ They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. ²² The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law. ²³ Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an evil^[a] spirit cried out, ²⁴ “What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!” ²⁵ “Be quiet!” said Jesus sternly. “Come out of him!” ²⁶ The evil spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek. ²⁷ The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, “What is this? A new teaching—and with authority! He even gives orders to evil spirits and they obey him.” ²⁸ News about him spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee.

Dear Friends in Christ,

Breaking News!  When you see those words across your computer screen or T.V, screen your attention is diverted from what you were doing to hear or read the message that follows.  This past week some of the stories that merited the words “Breaking News” were stories like the rescue of the two hostages in North central Somalia, the signing of Cecil Fielder by the Detroit Tigers, etc.  Breaking News is often shocking!  Sometimes it’s very happy news, but it can also be sad news as well.  It’s usually news that most, if not all, of the public has an interest in.  It’s news that is certain to be the topic of many a conversation after it airs.  Everyone will have a comment on it.  Has anything ever happened to you or involved you that might have been “Breaking News” in your home or community?

If the technology of our day would have been possible in Jesus day, there’s no doubt that what Jesus did on that Sabbath in Capernaum would have been BREAKING NEWS.  Perhaps the following message would have moved across the screen:  BREAKING NEWS!  JESUS OF NAZARETH IS A MAN OF AUTHORITY!  The news for that day would have highlighted at least two points:  1.   His teaching is with authority.  (vs. 21-22) (His is the final word)  2.  Demons bow to his authority.   (vs. 23-27) (commands)  Let’s take a closer look so that we will see why this breaking news is important for each of our lives.

It was Jesus’ custom to go to the synagogue every Sabbath.  It was the custom of the synagogue to have some teacher, rabbi or scribe expound on a portion of the Scriptures.  Jesus was invited to speak.  Our text tells us, “²¹ They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach.”  You’ll remember that last Sunday we heard that Jesus had called Peter, Andrew, James and John to follow him and become fishers of men.  They were with Jesus.  Capernaum was their home.  Jesus probably went to the synagogue that these men were accustomed to going to.  There may have also been other synagogues that Jesus also went to.  Imagine having Jesus come with you to your church.  What a privilege and honor that would have been to be associated with Jesus.

Out text says that the people who heard Jesus “were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law.”  What did they mean when they said that Jesus was one who taught “with authority?”  We have a clue with the words, “not as the teachers of the law.”  When they taught the people,  the teachers of the law usually quoted past rabbis and their commentaries to interpret the law.  Often their lessons focused on what particular legalistic regulations that portion of the Law demanded the people do.  They felt that it was their calling to uphold the traditions of Judaism, traditions that often became like a millstone around the necks of the people.  Listen to how Jesus himself describes their teaching in Mark 7:9,13:  “You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions! …¹³ Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that.”  The teachers of the law delighted themselves on the minute points of external etiquette they burdened the people with while at the same time neglecting the real truth of God’s Word and what God was trying to accomplish through the people.  For example:  God commanded “Remember the Sabbath Day to keep it holy.”  The teachers of the Law were more concerned about what moment of the day the Sabbath began and ended and what you could or could not do during that Sabbath then they were concerned about the purpose God gave the Sabbath.  For that reason they made rules like how many steps you could take on the Sabbath before you would be working and breaking this commandment.  They totally missed the point that the Sabbath was a shadow of Christ.  As they were getting needed rest for their bodies God wanted them to worship so that they would be reminded of the spiritual rest or relief that the Messiah would someday bring to them when he suffered and died for them and earned forgiveness for them before God for their sins.  These teachers of the law focused on the Law and totally neglected the gospel.

Jesus’ teaching, both the content and method, was totally different.  Jesus always proclaimed the Gospel of God.  He quoted no experts, but proclaimed the good news on his own authority.  Jesus was the final authority on God’s love!  His is the final word!  He is the one who in word and deed reveals to us the undeserved love of God for sinners.  No wonder that Jesus could speak authoritatively about God’s love.  For he is God and God is love.  You and I are experts on ourselves, aren’t we?  We know our deepest feeling and attitudes in our hearts.  Jesus did too and not only spoke truthfully about his love, but also lived that love perfectly.

As we deal with our loved ones at home or our neighbors and friends or our fellow church members here at Our Savior whose message and method of communication do we promote, the teachers of the law or Jesus’?   Do we focus on God’s love toward us and let that love motivate us to love God and our neighbor back in thankfulness?  Do we always find opportunity to speak of that love to our children and friends?  Or are we more like the teachers of the law.  We focus on the law.  We constantly remind our loved ones of what they should be doing or not doing and become angry with them when they don’t.  Do we seem to focus on punishment instead of forgiveness?  Have we filled our lives with traditions that we have done so often that we now think that they are commands from God?  Listen to Jesus, he speaks with authority.  He says, “I am the way, the truth and the light.”

Jesus demonstrated his authority in another way on this day – through his miracles.  Our text tells us about one that Jesus performed right inside the synagogue that day.  2.  Demons had to bow to his authority.  We read, “²³ Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an evil^[a] spirit cried out, ²⁴ “What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!” ²⁵ “Be quiet!” said Jesus sternly. “Come out of him!” ²⁶ The evil spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek. ²⁷ The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, “What is this? A new teaching—and with authority! He even gives orders to evil spirits and they obey him.”  Mark calls it an “unclean spirit.”  Luke calls it “a demon.”  A demon had possessed this man.  He screams at Jesus saying, “What do you want with us?”  The Greek here could be paraphrased, “Leave us alone!”  The plural “us” may refer to more than one demon or to the man and the demon.  Notice the fear of the demon.  He fears Jesus!  He fears Jesus because he knows who he is, “The Holy One of God.”  The devils know what many humans do not know and will not acknowledge.  The demons know that God has power over them and can destroy them.  They have already been punished by God.  Note also that the demon is in church.  Even though the demon has spoken the truth, Jesus is the Holy One of God, Jesus will not accept this confession from a demon.  Who will believe a follower of the Father of lies,  Satan.  So Jesus shows his authority and power over the demon by exorcizing him from the man.  Jesus said, “Be quiet!” (be muzzled)  “Come out of him.”  The demon must leave the man, but tries to harm the man as he leaves.  Wherever devils are there will be destruction, but only if Jesus allows it.  Jesus authority was evident!  Listen to the eyewitness’s words.  “He even gives orders to evil spirits and they obey him.”

Jesus once again shows us that he is God by demonstrating his almighty power.  He demonstrates that power by showing that the demons, who are more powerful than man, must obey him.  Jesus is God.  He had to be, to be the “Holy One of God.”  For every man is born sinful.  Jesus had to be the Holy Son of God in order to live the sinless, perfect life God demanded of man and man’s substitute to be an atoning sacrifice for the sins of the world.  Jesus had to be God so that his precious blood would be a ransom that would redeem the whole world.  He was God.  Therefore the Scriptures tell us that his blood covered all the sins of the world.  Your and my sins were also covered by Jesus’ blood.  God has forgiven us and the whole world because Jesus’ blood purifies us and all people of every sin.

The devil is still active today, friends.  He even comes into church often.  Recently a brother in the ministry told me about one of the saddest events of his ministry.  He witnessed, and had to intercede in, an argument between two members of the church in the church narthex before the church service.  The devil was there, you can be sure.  He may even be possessing people today although we don’t identify many such cases.  Perhaps the trouble is with us.  We fail to recognize Satan prowling around in our church like “a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”  But we can be sure that Satan still tries to undermine the Scriptures and its teachings wherever he can.  He still tries to do anything he can wherever he can to bring disunity into the church.   He wants us to focus on the law and forget the gospel.  Ultimately, all false doctrine and practice, all cults, pagan religions, science that rejects Scripture are the works of the devil.  These things attack us on all sides.  They cause fear and make us all sad.  But, remember this, we have one more powerful than the devil, whose word is more powerful than the screams of the devil.  Jesus, the Holy one of God, who is almighty, is our refuge and strength!  He is our ever-present help in time of trouble and  need.  When he speaks, the demons must listen.  When he acts, his will is done.  And “his will is that all be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth.”

The final verses of our text tell us why this would have been breaking news in our day.  ²⁷ The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, “What is this? A new teaching—and with authority! He even gives orders to evil spirits and they obey him.” ²⁸ News about him spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee.   We also need to spread the news about Jesus quickly!  Souls that are dying and need to hear of Jesus’ love depend on it.  The people in our text had no telephones, telegraphs, newspapers or radios, and yet this breaking news spread quickly, far and wide, by word of mouth.  Shall it be said about us some day that we had all of these marvelous tools of technology, radio, internet, tv, etc. and yet the neighbor next door to us has not heard about Jesus from us.  Are we ashamed of Jesus so that we muzzle our own mouths and the good news is not spread?  Are we too lazy  that we do not want to take the time or effort to utilize the technology for the Lord, or are we too greedy that we don’t want to spend the money to promote Christ?  Jesus is a man of authority!  He has authority over us too, friends.  He is the Head of the church!  When he says, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation,” he is speaking with authority to us his followers.  We must obey him.  His love compels us.  Woe to us if we don’t do what he says, in love.  For then we shall also some day hear his voice speak with authority, “Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.”  Then by his authority we will have to go away to eternal punishment.  When Jesus speaks we must listen!  We listen though, not because we fear his punishment, but because he loves us and has come to give his life as a ransom for our sins!  And because he has done that for our neighbor too!

BREAKING NEWS! JESUS IS A MAN OF AUTHORITY! :  His teaching is with authority.  (vs. 21-22) (His is the final word)  Demons bow to his authority.   Does your friend know what Jesus did that day in the synagogue there in Capernaum?  TELL HIM!  Amen.

Colossians 4

Last Sunday, in connection with chapter three of Colossians, we talked about the section entitled, “The Table of Duties” in Luther’s Catechism.  Paul reminded the Colossian wives, husbands, children, fathers and employees of what their duties were as Christians.  He continues that reminder in chapter 4 by reminding the masters (employers), that is, those who have authority over other people, of their duties before God.  He says, ¹ Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair, because you know that you also have a Master in heaven.

Paul reminds the Colossians that the Lord himself keeps his eye on the conduct of “masters” (someone who has authority over people) of men towards their employees.  The Lord is looking to see if these masters (employers) treat (“continuously show yourselves to be just and fair”) their employees with the same justice and fairness (equality) that the Lord himself treats them and all his creatures.  If employers always did this, there would be no labour problems.

It’s a two-way street though, isn’t it.  Remember what Paul said to employees in chapter three: “Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to win their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. ²³ Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, ²⁴ since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. ²⁵ Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there is no favoritism.”  God is watching both employer and employee.  He expects that both equally carry out their responsibility in everything.  He expects them to do their duty with sincerity in reverence to the Lord.  He expects that they give their all and do it as if they are working for the Lord himself.  When they approach their work in this way, the Lord himself will see to it that they receive their proper reward.

Sometimes we want to retaliate against an unjust and unfair employer.  You don’t make a right with two wrongs!  Employees ought to do what is right even if their employers are unjust or unfair.  God will correct the wrong that employees suffer at the hands of their employers.  You can count on it because God said, “Vengeance is mine.”  Likewise, employers ought to continue to do what is just and fair for their employees even though those employees don’t always carry out their responsibilities perfectly.  God will bless employees according to the way they carry out their duties.  They will not prosper if they are not sincere workers who give their all for their employer.  God himself will see to that.  So both employer and employee are not to first look at each other and judge how their employer or their employee is doing and then act accordingly, no Christian employees and employers ought to first look at the Lord and see his perfect justice and fairness and then act accordingly toward their employee or employer.

How has the Lord treated us.  Not as our sins deserve!  The Psalmist said, “³ If you, O LORD, kept a record of sins,
O Lord, who could stand? ⁴ But with you there is forgiveness; therefore you are feared.”  God has treated each one of us with grace, undeserved love.  He has forgiven our sins.  That love is the same love employers and employees are to imitate in their relationship toward one another.  Wow!  What an office or factory atmosphere that would be if all knew their Lord and practiced that kind of love toward one another.

Paul gives the Colossians other instructions for the welfare of their congregation.  Other activities that will be most beneficial for their congregation in the future include a devotion to prayer, considering how their actions as a congregation come across to outsiders, watching the way they speak with one another and with others outside the faith.

Here’s what Paul wrote first about prayer: ² Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. ³ And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. ⁴ Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should.

Pray continually prayers of thanksgiving.  Don’t fall asleep in watching for the many blessings you should be thankful for.  Pray also for the spread of the Gospel.  Pray for opportunities to proclaim the mystery of Christ. A mystery is something that can only be known through the revelation of God.  Remember what Jesus said to Peter after Peter confessed his faith with the words, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”  (Matthew 16:16)  “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven.”  (Matthew 16:17)  Pray for opportunities to tell people that Jesus is the Christ, and that through Jesus God reconciled the world, us, to himself.  Pray for opportunities to tell people that Jesus is God’s Passover lamb, sent to die so that with his shed blood God would pass over our sins, forgive them.  Pray that Paul might have an open door to preach this mystery even behind closed doors (prison). Pray not just for opportunities to proclaim this mystery, but to proclaim it clearly.  Paul was never satisfied with his preaching, he was always looking for ways to speak the gospel in ways that his hearers would understand.

Let the year 2012 be a year that we put Paul’s advice into practice in the area of prayer.  Before we ask God for this and that, let’s flood his throne with prayers of thanksgiving.  Then when we ask him for things, let’s focus on the spiritual.  Let’s ask His help for our mission.  Let’s pray for many opportunities to share the Gospel.  So that we share it clearly, let’s ask God to send the Holy Spirit to reveal it to us and to give us the words to say when we have the opportunity to speak.  Let’s look at every experience in life, good or bad, as an opportunity to share the reason for hope that we have in Christ.

Another activity that will be beneficial for the Colossian congregation’s future is to be concerned about how their actions come across to outsiders.  “⁵ Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.”  Opportunities to share the Gospel will be hindered if by our actions we turn our audience off and close doors to them.  It takes wise walking to win people to Christ.  Paul buys up the time, that is, he takes advantage of the time that God has given him, making the most of every opportunity to lead people to Christ.  Every chance we have to serve outsiders is a wise use of our time and may lead to an open door for the Gospel down the road.

What wise actions on our part as a congregation toward outsiders will further the kingdom of God in our area and elsewhere?  Opening our doors to the AA and other groups certainly is one way we can create positive impressions about our church.  The opportunities we have to get to know people and they us certainly gives us the opportunity to share the gospel when we have gained their trust.  We are sending quilts to Japan to help in the relief effort.  I hope to let the radio and the newspapers know about this work, not to toot our horn and brag, but to let people know that this is a congregation that loves others and wants to help those in need just like our Lord does.  Maybe that message will lead others to say, “Here is a church that is not just focused on themselves, but one that is focused in helping others.  I want to be associated with that effort.”  Maybe that will open a door and give us an opportunity to share the gospel.  What we do as a congregation in this area of wise walking is what each of us must also do personally in our lives.  Let your neighbors see your love.  Serve them and the Lord with gladness.  Live in peace and harmony with one another.

Remember that your neighbor isn’t just seeing what you are doing, but he is also hearing what you say.  Therefore Paul says, “⁶ Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.”  Conversation that is full of grace is conversation that puts a loving construction on everything, conversation that sees the good, that communicates our delight and pleasure in things.  When we are talking about our neighbor to say positive things about him, speak well of him.  When we are talking about things to talk about the blessing God gave us through it.  God wouldn’t let what has happened to us happen if it were not to be a blessing for us.  Let our conversation reveal that we see the donut not the hole in everything, the glass half full, not always only half empty.

Paul also says that our conversation is to be seasoned with salt, that is, it is to be wholesome conversation that preserves relationship even as salt is a preservative.  Maybe another word we might use to explain what Paul is talking about here is “tact.”  Speak with love and tact.  Such speech will create peace within and outside of the church.  It will strengthen the unity we have with one another and lead others to desire to join that unity.

Let the year 2012 be a year in which each of us strives to build each other up, encourage one another with this kind of conversation.  And when we must address sinful things, let’s also then “speak the truth in love.” God has given each of us to one another to help us on the road to heaven.  What an important and serious responsibility that is.  Heaven forbid that we would use careless, loveless words and conversation that might lead to someone stumbling in their faith or to outsiders turning their backs to our congregation because of the lovelessness they have heard of.  Help us in this way, Lord, that we always give consideration to the words we speak before we speak them.  May we always ask, Are the words I am about to speak going to be a demonstration of grace with the result of preserving my relationship with the people who hear those words.  To accomplish that I will have to be slow to speak.  I will need to take time to measure my words,  take time to hear the Holy Spirit’s words of advice.

In the last words of chapter 4, the final greetings of Paul, Paul himself practices what he preaches.  His words are in grace and words that preserve the unity of the church with the bond of peace.  His words are wholesome words that help to preserve the relationship of brothers and sisters in the faith.  ⁷ Tychicus will tell you all the news about me. He is a dear brother, a faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord. ⁸ I am sending him to you for the express purpose that you may know about our^[a] circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts. ⁹ He is coming with Onesimus, our faithful and dear brother, who is one of you. They will tell you everything that is happening here.

¹⁰ My fellow prisoner Aristarchus sends you his greetings, as does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas. (You have received instructions about him; if he comes to you, welcome him.) ¹¹ Jesus, who is called Justus, also sends greetings. These are the only Jews among my fellow workers for the kingdom of God, and they have proved a comfort to me. ¹² Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured. ¹³ I vouch for him that he is working hard for you and for those at Laodicea and Hierapolis. ¹⁴ Our dear friend Luke, the doctor, and Demas send greetings. ¹⁵ Give my greetings to the brothers at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house.

¹⁶ After this letter has been read to you, see that it is also read in the church of the Laodiceans and that you in turn read the letter from Laodicea.

¹⁷ Tell Archippus: “See to it that you complete the work you have received in the Lord.”

¹⁸ I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you.

What’s in a Name?

God’s Amazing Grace
Revealed in Some Amazing Names!

presented by President Mark Zarling
from Martin Luther College

Four dates this winter at Our Savior in Strongsville and around the country.

• January 18 – God Most High (Genesis 14)
• January 25 – God Almighty (Genesis 17)
• February 1 – The Eternal God (Genesis 21)
• February 8 – The LORD Provides (Genesis 22)

Each Wednesday night for four consecutive weeks, the class will be presented at 7:30 PM Eastern Time. Congregations throughout the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod will take part in this online Bible Study. Each class will last about an hour. There will be times when Professor Zarling will be lecturing as well as times when local congregations can hold discussions on their own. You will also be able to send in questions/comments via chat.

All are welcome to attend this study. Come to Our Savior’s Wednesday evening Bible class at 7:15 PM to participate. The class will be streamed in our fellowship hall for four weeks of Epiphany.

If have any questions, you may contact Pastor Hieb by phone at 440-234-6595 or by email.

The Gaijin Tadaima

Lives continue to be touched in Japan after the tsunami.

We continue a labor of love and compassion for those in Japan. The ladies of Our Savior hard at work sewing and quilting. Now with more pictures.

Colossians 3

(Set your hearts and minds on things above)

No doubt you’ve already spent some time contemplating what you’d like to see happen in the new year.  Maybe you’ve set some goals for your physical wellness and have looked into a membership for a local health center.  Perhaps you have some family events you’re planning for like a wedding or a trip during the year.  Many of us have some hopes also in our businesses or our jobs.  What do I have to do to be more profitable or what adjustments do I have to make so that my the paycheck meets my monthly budget?  Or maybe I’m doing okay with my budget, but need to make some decisions concerning the extra cash I have to spend.

Have you given some thought to what you would like to see happen in your spiritual life this new year?  Paul’s words in the first verses of chapter three certainly provide a wonderful goal for all of us.

¹ Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. ² Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. ³ For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. ⁴ When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Set your hearts and minds on things above!  On Christ, on eternal life which has been guaranteed to us by the resurrection of Jesus. Christ will come back again someday to take us to be with him in heaven.  When we came to faith in Christ, it is like we already died.  Christ died as our substitute.  He died our death.  Baptism connected us to him so that now our sins are paid for and we are connected to Christ, Paul says, “Hidden with Christ,” in God.  In the new Sherlock Holmes movies several times throughout the movie Sherlock camouflages himself by wearing clothing that is the same as the design on the wallpaper or the same design as the couch.  Then when he stands against the wall or sits on the couch you aren’t able to see him.  He’s hidden!  Through Baptism we put on Christ as we attain forgiveness and holiness.  With our new Robe of righteousness we are hidden in Christ.  Because of that Robe God no longer sees our sins.  We are saved from his judgment!

We set our hearts and minds on Christ and the life he gives us, including the gifts that he gives us which we cannot make or purchase, gifts like forgiveness, love, peace, and thankfulness.  True believers will not make earthly things, like earthly prosperity, popularity and pleasure more important than Christ and the gifts he died to attain for us.  But what does it mean “to set our hearts and minds on something?”  The Greek literally says, to seek the upward things, the things that are above, the main one being Christ himself who is seated at the right hand of God.  In other words, Christians will make as their primary concerns in this world the things that Christ considers most important in life.  Their goals, values and decisions will always reflect a conscious heavenly-mindedness.  What goals would Jesus want me to make for the new year?  What values does Jesus want me to demonstrate in this world this year and always?  What decisions would Jesus want me to make in the new year.  I always dreaded the new year in Japan because I knew that most of the Japanese would decide to make decisions for their life for the new year.  What I experienced in Japan is that often young Christians would make changes that showed clearly that they had not set their hearts and minds on things above.  Maybe they decided to move, but where they moved to made it difficult to go to church and Bible Class.  They had not thought about the spiritual consequences of their move, only the earthly benefits.  Have you already made decision for this new year which reveal that earthly things are more important in your heart than what Christ thinks is best for you?  What have those earthly things done or what can they do for you in comparison to what Christ has done for you?  He is the way the truth and the life.  Nothing can compare in value to Christ.  When all else fails in life Christ stands.  He rules. So you have a very serious physical condition.  Are you going to sink all your time and money pursuing earthly remedies?  Or are you going to go to Christ first in prayer.  Of course, we will make use of the medical means that Christ has provided us with, but do we put Christ first as we are doing that being careful not to offend him as we go from day to day seeking a cure.  In the end, it’s not the medicine or the chemo or the radiation that heals us, it is Christ who heals us, the Bible says!  Why should he heal us if we put our trust in any and every other god and things out there that people toss at us as life rafts to us.  When we do that we are not fearing, loving and trusting in him above all things.  No, just the opposite, we are offending Him.  What happened to the people that did that with the golden calves at Mount Sinai.  God judged them.  They perished!  Seek the upper things!  Seek Christ!  When you do, you will want to worship him at his house, read, hear, and believe his Word, pray to him in every time of need.  Follow Him.  He is your Good Shepherd who gave his life for his sheep.

(Out with the old, in with the new)

When you set your heart and your mind on things above, on Christ, you are going to be motivated to do a little house cleaning.  Maybe the first week of the new year you have been doing some house cleaning already.  Some new decorations received at Christmas led to the disposal of some old ones.  What did you keep?  What did you throw away?  I noticed that one of my neighbors disposed of a bunch of fake poinsettia branches yesterday.  I wouldn’t have any trouble doing that either.  On the other hand, I find it impossible throwing away those old decorations which remind me of the real reason for the season.

Spiritually, we also have some heart-cleaning to do.  In this year again let throw out the old and focus on the new.  Paul reminds us what the old is that we need to get rid of and what should replace the old in our hearts and lives. (vs. 5-17)

(The old that we need to get rid of)

⁵ Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. ⁶ Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. ⁷ You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. ⁸ But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. ⁹ Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices ¹⁰ and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. ¹¹ Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.

(The new we need to bring into our life and practice this new year)

¹² Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. ¹³ Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. ¹⁴ And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

How can I make this change in life?  What empowers me to do this?  Paul tells us…

¹⁵ Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. ¹⁶ Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. ¹⁷ And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

(Carry out your duties)

Every time we do something in life we have an opportunity to give thanks to God, but each of us has certain duties from God through which we have the specific opportunity to give glory and thanks to God.  If you are a husband, or a wife, a father or a mother, or a child or a employee or an employer, God in his Word tells you what he expects of you in the new year.  He tells you what kind of life he will bless.  Here are your duties.

¹⁸ Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.

¹⁹ Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.

²⁰ Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.

²¹ Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.

²² Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to win their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. ²³ Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, ²⁴ since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. ²⁵ Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there is no favoritism.

When you were in confirmation class you might recall a section in Luther’s Small catechism titled the Table of  Duties.  These statements remind us of what Christ expects of us in our various stations of life.  They are what Christians who set their hearts and minds on Christ want to strive for in the new year.  God grant that we hear the voice of our Savior through them and with thanks in our hearts seek to do his will in the new year.

(Reading of the Table of Duties)

Colossians 2

¹ I want you to know how much I am struggling for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally. ² 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, ³ in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. ⁴ I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments. ⁵ For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit and delight to see how orderly you are and how firm your faith in Christ is.

What Paul said:   More than likely Paul had never met most of the believers in Colossae, Laodicea and surround areas.  But that didn’t mean that he wasn’t interested in them.  Just the opposite, he says, “I am struggling for you…”  He says his purpose is to encourage them and help them so that they would remain united in love.  For this to happen Paul knows that he must teach them about Christ, “in whom are hidden all the treasure of wisdom and knowledge.”  Were some looking for a additional, mysterious knowledge, a special wisdom that would give them complete understanding and the full richness of blessings that would come as a result of that knowledge?  Christ is it.  Therefore Paul’s purpose is to share Christ with them and help them see that in Christ they already have the greatest wisdom there is to have, that they already have complete understanding. 

Things I want to leave behind in the old year: The sins in which we, too, have been drawn away from Christ by all sorts of attractive thoughts and words.  False teachers that preach a Theology of glory are very attractive, but this does not agree with the Theology of the cross that Jesus taught.  When I have had a hard time accepting the cross I am carrying as a believer I need to repent of that sin.  If I find comfort and peace in the cross of Christ so that I display it around my neck or on the lapel of my suit jacket, then I ought also find joy in the cross I carry for Christ.  It is evidence of the unity I have with him.  What sins did Paul’s words in 2:1-5 remind you of that you want to repent of and leave behind in the old year?

My year 2012 bucket list:  Carrying a cross for Christ is often labor-intensive work and .  If the Lord in his grace lets me live another year, I’d like to use that year too…struggle for other people so that they will be encouraged by what Christ has done for them and united in Christ with other believers.  I want to keep on growing in my knowledge of Christ and how he is complete wisdom.  I want to watch more carefully so that I am not deceived by fine-sounding arguments that Satan uses to destroy the truth.  (i.e. The doctrine of Tolerance today.  Does Christ really want us to be tolerant of all despite what they preach?  God wants us to be loving, but also to speak the truth in love.  When we do this we can expect trouble.  But this is exactly what Jesus endured and says we will too.)  What do Paul’s words motivate you to put on your bucket list for 2012?

Freedom From Human Regulations Through Life With Christ

⁶ So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, ⁷ rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

⁸ See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.

⁹ For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, ¹⁰ and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority. ¹¹ In him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature,^[g] not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ, ¹² having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.

¹³ When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature,^[h] God made you^[i] alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, ¹⁴ having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. ¹⁵ And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.^[j]

What Paul said:  “Seeking guidance and security from creation rather than from the Creator will end in disaster.  Remember all of creation has been corrupted by sin.  Created things, as good as they may be, are no substitute for God.  He gives us the forgiveness of sins in Jesus Christ.  In baptism we have been raised up as a new creation.” (ESV Lutheran Study Bible)

Things I want to leave behind in the old year:  The times I’ve forgotten who I‘ve become through the grace of God and what I have, namely, forgiveness of sins, with the result that my thanksgiving was not overflowing in my life,  the times I let human traditions put Christ far down in my list of priorities, the times I have forgotten the great triumph I have in Christ which led me to fear my enemies, the times I was not satisfied with Christ and thought there was something better out there to fulfill my life.

My year 2012 bucket list:  To see that in Christ I have all the fullness I need for life.  To see more and more every day the many and great treasures I have by grace alone through Christ.  To find comfort and peace in his divine power which is so evident in his triumphant resurrection.  To use every day to give him glory with my thoughts, words and deeds.  To see and use every day as an opportunity to thank and to pray, serve, obey and confess my Lord as my glorious Lord and King.

¹⁶ Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. ¹⁷ These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ. ¹⁸ Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you for the prize. Such a person goes into great detail about what he has seen, and his unspiritual mind puffs him up with idle notions. ¹⁹ He has lost connection with the Head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow.

²⁰ Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules: ²¹ “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!”? ²² These are all destined to perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings. ²³ Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.

What Paul said: The Christian faith should not and will not be replaced by man-made religion.  Over the centuries, many have claimed to have found a substitute for Christ and his free forgiveness. Other philosophies like rationalism, evolutionism, socialism and postmodernism have ideas that often seem quite impressive and the lifestyles they conceive become extremely popular.  But these waves of man-made religion always come and go and  end up breaking apart upon God’s truth in Jesus who is the same yesterday, today and forever. (Hebrews 13:8)

Things I want to leave behind in the old year: The sins in which I lost connection with the Head because I listened to and sometimes followed the thinking of people whose philosophy about life is different from what Christ tells me in his Word.  When you get sick everyone has a remedy, but there is only One that can heal our diseases.  It’s Christ.  It behooves us then to live a life and do the things that please Christ.  If we don’t why should we expect Jesus to hear our prayers and answer us with healing.

My year 2012 bucket list:  Search the Scripture to see how everything centers in Christ. To always remember the proper use of the law in my life, that is, to make me conscious of my sin and need of a Savior and to say thanks to God for the blessings I have received from him and through him.  To never use the law as a way to earn God’s forgiveness.

Akemashite Omedetoo Gozaimasu!  Congratulations for opening up a new year.  God has given us this new year to do the things he has planned for us.  We can count on his forgiveness and his faithfulness no matter what we do.  That makes the new year a wonderful year to look forward to no matter what.

Chapter 3, next week

Colossians 1

¹ Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, ² To the holy and faithful^[a] brothers in Christ at Colosse: Grace and peace to you from God our Father.^[b]

When Paul was working in the city of Ephesus during his third missionary journey a man by the name of Epaphras came to know and believe in his Savior.  He took the Gospel message back to his home and established a small congregation in the city of Colossae and also other house churches in other surrounding cities. Now the young churches he planted and was nurturing are being threatened by false teaching and false belief which is directing these churches’ members away from Christ and his work to themselves.  Epaphras goes to Rome to seek Paul’s advice and help.  Paul is under house arrest in Rome, waiting for his trial before Caesar but is able help by writing the letter to the Colossians to address the situation there.  God uses Paul, Timothy and Epaphras to establish and sustain the truth and love of Christ in their hearts.

As we approach the end of 2011 we are reminded of God’s richest blessings to us this past year.  He has preserved us in the faith.  He has kept us focused on the truth and love of Christ in our hearts and in our worship here at Our Savior.  To do this he has used many Epaphrases, Pauls and Timothys in our lives.  You were blessed with a pastor and a church council that was focused on the Gospel.  Other Christ-focused brothers and sisters in Christ helped with teaching Sunday School and Bible Class.  Don’t forget the many teachers that spoke to you through the “WELS Connection,” “Forward in Christ,” and “Meditations.”  But above all, remember that it was God working through all these messengers, who has preserved his Word among us.  Many in other denominations and, we also in our congregation, are tempted by false teachings, tempted to doubt God’s clear Word, but the Lord has preserved us in the faith through the work of the Holy Spirit who comes to us through the faithful preaching and teaching of the Word and the proper administration of the Sacraments.  As we enter a new year we pray, “Lord, again in 2012, keep us steadfast to your Word.”

Thanksgiving

³ We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, ⁴ because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all the saints— ⁵ the faith and love that spring from the hope that is stored up for you in heaven and that you have already heard about in the word of truth, the gospel ⁶ that has come to you. All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and understood God’s grace in all its truth. ⁷ You learned it from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our^[c] behalf, ⁸ and who also told us of your love in the Spirit.

Paul knows the problems that are threatening the congregations in and around Colossae.  But even though he knows this he still finds reason to give thanks to God.  His word of thanks here is an opportunity to review the gospel message.  The world around us has no hope at all to offer us. On our own we are lost and condemned.  We cannot live the life God demands, a holy, perfect life.  But God in his grace, through Christ, gives us a sure and confident hope for the future. “Because he (Jesus) lives, we also shall live” and enjoy pleasures forevermore in heaven with Him. When this good news was preached to the residents of Colossae and others around the world many came to faith and are showing that faith by living a life of thankful love.

Paul’s words help us to be thankful on this evening on which we close another chapter of our life, the year 2011.  There were many problems this past year.  Good, fulltime jobs are still scarce!  Too many lost their homes again this past year.  The economy still has not recovered as we had hoped.  Many have trouble just putting food on the table.  And yet, God’s blessings are very evident among his people.  His grace is new every morning. We don’t deserve it, but God forgives us every day for Jesus sake.  We don’t deserve it, but God has allowed us to live another year to be his witnesses to the World even though we weren’t the best witnesses we could have been this past year.  We didn’t deserve it, but God has not only given us what we need for body and soul this past year, he has given us much more, so that we can give gifts of love for the spread of the gospel and help our neighbor in his basic needs in life.  I’m very thankful for the gifts of love you have shared with your church this past year because it is evidence that “this gospel is bearing fruit and growing (also among you), just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and understood God’s grace in all its truth.” (v. 6)  Your response to the needs of the Japanese earlier this year and to your congregation’s President this past month to prayerfully consider raising your weekly support for the church has shown your faith and love.  You truly do understand God’s grace in all its truth!  Thank you, Lord, for these blessings!

Prayer

⁹ For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. ¹⁰ And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, ¹¹ being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully ¹² giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you^[d] to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. ¹³ For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, ¹⁴ in whom we have redemption,^[e] the forgiveness of sins.

Epaphras’ visit and report to Paul led Paul to thanksgiving on the one hand, but also to pray for God’s help in their behalf on the other hand. They needed God’s help.  False teachers were distorting the gospel with the addition of ideas that were not from God.  First of all, they were in pursuit of a new knowledge, a secret, profound knowledge, beyond what Christ taught in the Gospel.  Note Paul’s warning in 2:8.  Remembering that “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” Paul prays that God would “fill them with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding.”  Everything that God wants us to know, that we need to know for a fulfilled life here on earth and to get us to our heavenly mansion is in God’s Word, the Bible.  No other philosophy has anything to add.  No new knowledge is to be expected.  Secondly, false teachers, while not denying Christ, were teaching that Christ was not enough.  There was more that man had to do to add to what Christ had already done to be saved.  Therefore they stressed various demands concerning food, drink, festivals, new moons and Sabbaths.  Note Paul’s warning in 2:16. This distortion of the gospel lead Paul to remind the Colossians of what God had done for them through Christ in his prayer.  ¹³ For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, ¹⁴ in whom we have redemption,^[e] the forgiveness of sins. (vs. 13,14)  We have complete forgiveness of sins already by what Christ has done for us.  Nothing else is necessary.  When we understand this then we have the perfect motivation to live a new life, a life that is different from the rebellious life we lived before, a life that is in accordance with God’s will.  We have the motivation to live that kind of life joyfully, willingly.  And so Paul prays, ¹⁰ And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, ¹¹ being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully ¹² giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you^[d] to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.

Paul’s prayer gives us plenty of thought as we ponder the approaching new year.  What do I want to accomplish in the new year?  What do I want to strive for?  The answer to those questions will lead us to our own prayers.  God’s Word is full of wisdom for this life.  Above all, his gospel, which is foolishness to the world, is wisdom. (1 Corinthians 2:6-16)  Only true believers have this wisdom because it has been revealed to them by the Spirit. We will want to pray that God help us grow in this wisdom and be content in what he reveals to us even when all of our questions are not answered or when some elements of that wisdom can only be apprehended by faith, because God said it.  Secondly, remembering that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom I will ask God to help me honor him in the new year.  Lord, help me to live a life worthy of you.  Help me to please you in every way!  Lead me to see the opportunities to do good all around me.  Help me to know what is good. Strengthen me to endure with patience and endurance what it is you want me to do.  And while I’m doing it, help me to be joyful.  Above all, help me to remember that everything I do is a thankful expression to your grace in Christ, not something to elevate myself in your eyes or the eyes of the world.  And may all I do in this new year be a light leading people to see Christ.

The Supremacy of Christ

¹⁵ He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. ¹⁶ For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. ¹⁷ He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. ¹⁸ And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. ¹⁹ For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, ²⁰ and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

²¹ Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of^[f] your evil behavior. ²² But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation— ²³ if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.

At this time of the year, many write articles in the newspaper and on the internet giving their opinion on whether or not the previous year was a good or a bad year and what to expect in the new year.  Believers in Christ see every year as a good year, a time that we experienced God’s grace and look to the future with great joy and expectation.  We look at things this way because of Christ.  Who he is and what he has done and continues to do for us.  He made us with a purpose and preserves us according to his plan of salvation.  He is the one who holds all things together for the good of his church and for our personal salvation.  Our hope for the year to come is based on the fact that our loving Lord is true God and he has put us in a right relationship with himself.  We are no longer enemies of his who fear his wrath and judgment.  No, we are reconciled to him through his shed blood on the cross.  He bought us at a price that we might live with him everlasting righteousness, innocence and blessedness.  In the new year He will do all that is necessary to further that goal.  Only when we forget these truths taught by our Lord in His holy Word and follow after other gods and man-made teachings threatening us today will we fear the future.  When Christ is supreme in our life every year is good!  Next year will be too. 

So let us rejoice tonight!  Rejoice in what Christ has done for you.  Rejoice because God has made you his child by faith in Jesus and kept you in this true faith.  Rejoice in the part he has given you in his plan.  There is no greater calling in life than to share the gospel and help people see the true wisdom that really is right for this world and the next.  Rejoice in the struggles, the cross you bear.  For it means you are a partner with Christ.  Yes, this evening rejoice with Paul and Paul did…

Paul’s Labor for the Church

²⁴ Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church. ²⁵ I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness— ²⁶ the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints. ²⁷ To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

²⁸ We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. ²⁹ To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me.

We’ll continue with chapter 2 tomorrow.  Amen.