Monthly Archives: April 2015

Unknown's avatar Rev. David J. Schreffler 4:44 am on April 14, 2015
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Good Soil – Rev. David J. Schreffler

April 14, 2015

“Therefore, get your minds ready for action by being fully sober, and set your hope completely on the grace that will be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed. Like obedient children, do not comply with the evil urges you used to follow in your ignorance, but, like the Holy One who called you, become holy yourselves in all of your conduct, for it is written, “You shall be holy, because I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:13 – 16

“Many people would gladly be G*d’s witnesses when everything goes according to their wishes. They like to be Holy, as long as their devotions are not too much of a burden; they would be happy enough to experience great fervor and profess their faith openly, if only there were no distress, no grief, no drudgery involved. Once, however, they know the terrors and temptations of spiritual darkness, as soon as they no longer experience the emotional comfort of G*d’s closeness, and feel forsaken within and without, they turn back and they are no witnesses at all. All men desire peace and they look for it in all kinds of ways and places. Oh, if they only could free themselves of this illusion, and learn to look for it in tribulation. Only there is born abiding peace, lasting peace that will endure; if you look for it elsewhere, you will fail miserably.” Johannes Tauler (1300 – 1361) Sermon 21 “For All The Saints” volume III (P. 1086)

When we think of the followers of Jesus, we think “What a joy it must have been to be in the presence of Jesus”. How quickly or conveniently we forget that most of the twelve original disciples died for their relationship with Jesus and the ministry they tried to establish in His name. Their closeness with Jesus did not bring them everlasting, outward peace. Even when they were originally called by Jesus, they did not go on to easy lives filled with roses and sunshine. The disciples experienced the length and breadth of fear, terror, doubt, questioning, arguing, and loneliness. But we have to believe that each of the disciples found the peace they were hoping for – in the midst of all of the trouble and doubt – their hope was in Jesus, strengthened by the presence of the Holy Spirit.

Some people, when they experience the first sign of trial or tribulation in their lives, they turn away from G*d because they believe that faith brings only comfort and peace. They are like the seed that is planted in shallow soil, once they are inflicted with the heat of the day, their faith withers and dies. The Grace of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is most fully understood when the soil in which it is planted is good. If it is Good Soil, if it is planted in soil that has been enriched by G*d’s word, presence, love, mercy and grace, then the tribulations and the heat of the day will not whither the believer, but it will have the same reaction of the refiner’s fire – it strengthens us for all tribulations.

Pastor Dave

Unknown's avatar Rev. David J. Schreffler 6:52 am on April 13, 2015
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Room — Rev. David J. Schreffler

April 13, 2015

“Let not your hearts be troubled; believe in G*d, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And when I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.” John 14:iff

“When He referred to the many mansions (rooms) in His Father’s house, He may have been intending rooms–places where those who had been associated together on earth may be gathered together; but He may be rather intending stations–stages in that long ascent of life that shall extend through the ages of ages. It is at once a contradiction and an explanation, for it combines the ideas of rest and advance–a life of achievement, where the tent is pitched, a life of possibilities, where it is being for ever lifted.” John Watson (1850 – 1907) A Sermon
“Continuity of Life” in The Mind of the Master “For All The Saints” volume III (P. 1080)

It is the ongoing conversation and the impetus for many questions for members of the congregation – “What will heaven be like?” The text from John 14:1 and following is one of the texts we often use in funerals, for it helps us form some idea of what heaven “might” be like. What better image could Jesus give us than a place of many rooms – since we all have rooms in our lives that have given us some comfort and peace.

When I was a kid, I used to have those emotional days where one thing or another would bother me, so I would do like a lot of kids do, I would retreat into my room. There was something really comforting about sitting in my room, having some time alone, where I could collect my thoughts, listen to some music, escape from my siblings, etc. In John’s Gospel, we are told that Jesus is preparing a room for us – but it will not be a room of solitude – it will be a room of presence – where we will be surrounded by the presence and the love of G*d. As I often say in a funeral homily, G*d is preparing a room for us like the expectant parents lovingly prepare a room for the newborn child. It is a room prepared for life – and the presence of love.

Pastor Dave