4G Faith: How's Your Connection?

2 Corinthians 5:19 “In Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us.”

How’s your connection? In the 21st century, we have a much greater capacity to be connected to people than ever before in history – through the World Wide Web and mobile technologies with 4G satellite networks – while at the very same time our modern existence can be incredibly isolating. We stand on street corners, in restaurants, or in our homes connected to a global network of information and communication at the touch of a screen and yet struggle to relate to the people living next door or sitting across from us. Furthermore, if you have ever had a dropped call on your mobile phone or waited in a long line at an automated airport check-in kiosk, then you know that technology is limited in its ability to create connections.

There is one, however, with whom our connection is never lost and to whom our calls never get dropped. While technology and modern life fail to fulfill our need for connection, God’s capacity for connection is limitless. In fact, God will stop at nothing – not even death on a cross – to make a connection with us and reconnect us to each other. God’s loving intention in creation, which was affirmed and fulfilled in the death and resurrection of Jesus, is for us to experience a connection greater than the latest satellite technology. We were reconciled to God through Christ to live a life of deep and trusting connection to God and to one another, a life of 4G Faith!

We were created for connection and in Christ we have been made new to carry, to a world in desperate need, the true, meaningful connection God is dying to provide. As the apostle Paul says, we are ambassadors of Christ entrusted with a ministry of reconciliation, or ‘reconnection.’ This is why we Gather. It is how we Grow. It’s our reason for Giving and our motivation to Go! Because God’s capacity for connection is limitless, God’s pursuit of us is relentless, and God will stop at nothing to connect and reconnect us to God and one another. So how's your connection?

Chris

Working Yourself Out of a Job

Moses’ father-in-law said to him, ‘What you are doing is not good. You will surely wear yourself out, both you and these people with you. For the task is too heavy for you; you cannot do it alone.  Exodus 18:17-18

Have you ever felt overwhelmed in a task and not known where to turn for help?  Have you ever been unwilling to ask?  Well, you’re not alone.  Even Moses found himself overwhelmed with his task of serving as judge for the people and felt like he had to do it all himself.  When he finally turned to his father-in-law, Jethro, he got a little dose of reality and a lot of sound advice. Jethro told Moses, “Let them sit as judges for the people at all times; let them bring every important case to you, but decide every minor case themselves. So it will be easier for you, and they will bear the burden with you. If you do this, and God so commands you, then you will be able to endure, and all these people will go to their home in peace.” Moses took the advice of his father-in-law and things went a lot better after that.

The task of ministry is too heavy for us to do alone. When the bulk of responsibility is carried by a few, people are likely to wear out just like Moses. The wisdom of Jethro is just as pertinent today as it was then. By involving many, many people in the tasks of ministry, the burden is light and the joy of shared purpose is great. Sharing the heavy load of ministry strengthens communities, inspires individuals, and enables God’s servants to endure over the long haul.

I will never forget a nugget of wisdom that my first supervisor in ministry shared with me. “Ministry is about constantly trying to work yourself out of a job.” This was not the most welcome wisdom at the time because I had just started my first job as a youth director. As I continued in ministry, however, I discovered what that phrase really means. As we teach others the job we’re currently doing – working ourselves out of one role – our job shifts into more of an overseer, leader, or developer. We will always have a ‘job’ in ministry, but it is constantly changing as we involve and equip others to share the load with us.

In my role as pastor, I am constantly thinking about ways to ‘work myself out of a job’ by teaching and involving others in ministry. That is, I believe, what ministry is all about. Moses learned it from Jethro and Jesus modeled it for his disciples. In going about ministry this way, I have discovered that God always seems to find more – and different – work for me to do.

Whether you are just now considering sharing your gifts or you have been a committed servant on multiple committees for decades; whether you have loads of time and are longing for volunteer opportunities or you are able to offer one hour a month; I invite you to join with all the many gifted members of our faith community in sharing the load of ministry so that the joy of serving will endure in this church for another 84 years.

Peace in Christ,

Pastor Chris Steubing

Newest Sermons Uploaded

Friends in Christ,

Sorry for the delay in updating the blog. I was out on vacation during part of June and I'm just now getting caught up on uploading sermons.  

This past Sunday at Hope we had a healing service.  We reflected on the power of Jesus' touch to heal and participating in an anointing for healing. Everyone received the sign of the cross on their foreheads, where we were first marked in our baptism, and heard the words "Receive this oil as a sign of the forgiveness and healing in Jesus. Amen."

In the gospels and the book of Acts, we learn how healing was a primary function of Jesus’ ministry as well as that of the apostles. The blind and deaf, lepers and lame, and those dealing with every physical affliction under the sun came to Jesus for healing. Those he touched received even more than they imagined. The proclamation of salvation accompanied Jesus’ acts of healing encompassing the forgiveness and reconciliation of the kingdom of God. People were healed, not only in body, but in heart, mind, and spirit as well which extended from each individual to an entire world in need of healing. 

I pray that in these hot and long days of summer you too may take a moment to reconnect with the healing power of Jesus for your life.

Peace and Healing be with you.

Pastor Chris Steubing

Gospel Reflections - Mark 3 - week of June 5th

Mark 3:35 “Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.”

          Things had started to heat up in Capernaum as word about Jesus’ healings and preaching spread throughout the region. He was gaining lots of friends as well as enemies. Jesus’ mother and brothers came to see him as he was speaking to a crowd, but rather than go to greet them, he used it as an opportunity to teach and assert his resolve to follow God’s will even when it increased his vulnerability. Just a short while earlier, his family members had attempted to stop Jesus from going out to the crowd because they had heard some horrible rumors people were beginning to spread about him. In response to his family’s pleadings, the Lord implies to his listeners that doing God’s will, rather than being related by blood, is the mark of true kinship.

“Who are my mother and my brothers?” And looking at those who sat around him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.” (Mark 3:33-35)

It’s just the way he was, to say something really piercing to make a point and then act paradoxically with uncompromising grace. We might expect Jesus, the perfectly sinless Christ, to go back home after his talk and explain how he didn’t really mean it the way it sounded because he, of course, would always honor his mother, right? We don’t, however, hear anything about Jesus backtracking in this encounter. Nothing would deter him from going public with his message…not the risk of getting hurt, not even pressures to comply with the will of his earthly family. From the perspective of his mother and brothers, this wasn’t just about his reputation anymore. This was about keeping their son and brother safe. For Jesus, though, it was a defining moment for his mission. His life was not about playing it safe. God’s will was his guide. God’s intentions alone were his objective. He would tell the truth at all costs.

Thanks be to God that Jesus remained true to his mission so we could know the truth of God’s redeeming love. Thanks be to God that we are now the next of kin because of Jesus’ faithfulness. May the one who remains steadfast in his purpose give you strength to do the same.

In Christ, Pastor Chris Steubing

World Conquerors

I John 5:3-4 “For the love of God is this, that we obey his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome, for whatever is born of God conquers the world. And this is the victory that conquers the world, our faith.”

            Do you consider yourself a conqueror? According to the author of 1 John, you should! You have been born of God and whatever is born of God conquers the world. We have victory over all things through our faith in Jesus Christ. Nothing at all, no evil, no trial, no circumstance, no suffering is too great for you – world conqueror! So, bring it on world!

Now, that being said, I believe the misuse and misinterpretation of this verse has introduced a great deal of suffering into our world. The image of a ‘conqueror’ has a violent origin and there are many examples throughout history, continuing to this day, of Christians using violence to dominate others in the name of God. This, of course, is a great tragedy for the gospel. You see, inherent in the argument of 1 John is the usurpation of the violent image of ‘conquering’ so ubiquitous in the 1^st century world and our own for the sake of the gospel’s message of love. Religion’s use of power to dominate others in the name of ‘conquering the world for Christ’ completely misses the theological insight of John that our victory comes through love.  It is the love of God that leads us to obey his commandments and it is love that ultimately conquers the world, not through power or domination, but through suffering and sacrifice so clearly demonstrated on the cross.

The gospel transforms the violent image of the cross, a horrible tool of torture and empirical conquering, into a symbol of God’s victorious love. It is God’s love that wins. It is God’s love that conquers the world. As people of faith in Jesus, the power to conquer all things is ours, to be sure, but it’s a different kind of conquering than the world has ever known.

Lord Jesus, lead us in lives of obedience to your commandments so that, through our suffering and sacrifice, the world would be conquered by love. Amen.

Caring Conversations: The Hospitality of Faith

Over the last several weeks, in worship at Hope we have been making a home for faith. In our home we have a nursery where we are cradled and nurtured into faith - that is baptism - there is a dining room table where we are able to taste and see that the Lord is good - that is devotions - there is interior decorating which adds living color to our faith - that is rituals & traditions - and now this week, we're looking at somewhat of an intangible aspect to faith homemaking...HOSPITALITY.  Hospitality has to do with creating a welcoming space for those who live in a home as well as for guests. In a life of faith, caring conversations, taking time to listen to others, to sit knee to knee and walk shoulder to shoulder with our brothers and sisters in Christ, creates a welcoming space for faith to be nurtured and trusted relationships to develop.

An explanation of Caring Conversations from Vibrant Faith Ministries (www.vibrantfaith.org) follows:

“Caring conversations express an interest in others: their hurts, their joys, their concerns and dreams, their values and faith.  Caring conversation requires time to be available to listen and to share.  Congregations are encouraged to help families and individuals identify the holy ground of their lives where precious, caring conversations take place and where lives are strengthened and nurtured by the love and mercy of God through the support, guidance and genuine interest of others.”

Has a trusted friend listened to you in a difficult time? Has a parent celebrated with you in a time of great joy? Has a brother or sister in Christ prayed with you at the loss of a loved one? All of these are ways that we experience God's grace through caring conversations. This week, take time to reflect on the ways that caring conversations have encouraged you and contributed to your faith? Join the conversation by sharing your story on this blog!

In Christ,

Chris Steubing

Making a Home For Faith

Greetings in the name of the Spirit of Hope!

During the season of Lent at Hope Evangelical Lutheran Church, we are exploring the many ways that living a life of faith is like making a house into a home. Just as it takes intentional care and tending of the relationships and needs of the people that live in a house to really be able to call that place a home, it takes intentional tending of our relationship with God to make our daily lives hospitable environments for faith to grow. Each week we're exploring a different faith practice that contributes to nurturing faith in daily life.

Week 1 - Baptism: The Nursery of Faith
Week 2 - Devotions: Setting the Table for Faith
Week 3 - Rituals & Traditions: The Interior Decorating of Faith
Week 4 - Caring Conversations: The Hospitality of Faith
Week 5 - Service: The Chores of Faith

I am committed to the ideal that every sermon matters. Engaging in participatory preaching is one way to invite you to make the Sunday sermon matter to your Monday - Saturday life. This Lenten season, I invite you to share how you practice your faith with me and others? How do you make a home for faith in your daily life?

Thanks for blogging!

In Christ,

Chris