Tag Archives: Fear

Unknown's avatar Rev. David J. Schreffler 4:44 am on December 6, 2015
Tags: Fear, , ,   

The Weak and the Small — Rev. David J. Schreffler

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December 6, 2015
Sunday

“…the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. He went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah, “The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth; and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’” Luke 3:2 – 6

“Luke begins his story by making the outrageous claim that God is at work in the weak and small – babies and barren women and unwed teenage mothers and wild-eyed prophets and itinerant preachers and executed criminals – to change the world. And, to be quite honest, God’s not done yet. God continues to work through unlikely characters today – unpopular teens and out-of-work adults and corporate executives and stay-at-home parents and underpaid secretaries and night-shift workers and police officers and volunteer baseball coaches and even burned out preachers – to announce the news of God’s redemption. It’s a promise, as I said, that’s easy to miss, but when we hear it – and even more – when we see it taking place in our own lives – it changes us along with the world.” (David Lose, Dear Working Preacher, A Promise That’s Easy to Overlook, December 02, 2012)

It is easy to fall into the belief that G-d only works through the powerful, the popular, and the precise. The scriptures are filled with all kinds of broken and sinful people through whom G-d does amazing things. But somewhere along the line we started to believe that G-d only speaks through the prophet and priest, and not through the homeless and the imprisoned. Some of my most G-d-filled moments have been sitting with people who are just trying to get through life.

John, the son of Zechariah, was as ordinary as they come. Yes, he wore outrageous clothing, and yes his diet was unusual, but let me reassure you, in the first century, there were a lot of “interesting” people out and about. There were zealots trying to convince people to fight against the Roman occupation. There were others living out in the desert, hoping to find G-d in their own way. And there were those who claimed to be the long awaited Messiah. The people ask John if he is the One they were hoping would come to save the people. He made it clear he was not, he was just there to prepare the way of the Lord.

All throughout the scriptures, G-d has selected ordinary people (like Amos, a dresser of Sycamore trees; and Joseph, the dreamer) to be G-d’s messengers. You and I, we are part of a Great Cloud of Witnesses – a long line of ordinary Joe’s and Jane’s called to share the story.

Pastor Dave

Unknown's avatar Rev. David J. Schreffler 4:44 am on October 20, 2015
Tags: Fear, ,   

Enter Through the Narrow Gate — Rev. David J. Schreffler

 

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October 20, 2015

“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road is easy that leads to destruction, and there are many who take it. For the gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life, and there are few who find it. Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorns, or figs from thistles? In the same way, every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will know them by their fruits.” Matthew 7:13-20

“…it is abundantly evident from Scripture, that those who are truly gracious are under the government of the meek and benevolent spirit of Jesus Christ, and that this disposition is essential to the nature of saving grace, and is the proper spirit of true Christianity. We may therefore conclude, without hesitation, that all truly Christian affections are attended by such a spirit; and that this is the natural tendency of the fear and the hope, the sorrow and the joy, the confidence and the zeal of every true Christian.” Jonathan Edwards. (1703 – 1758) A Treatise on Religious Affections, “For All The Saints”, volume II (p. 967-968)

“For the gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life…” One of the things I have been preaching on recently is how hard, how difficult the way of the cross is for the followers of Christ. Recently we read the scripture where Jesus gives one of his central teachings: “If you want to become one of my followers, you must deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow me.” I believe that the road to life has been accomplished for all who have accepted the challenge of following Jesus, in one manner or another. And in choosing to “remember” Jesus in our daily lives, we are not led down a road of pure gold, but onto one of the most difficult and challenging paths that we could imagine. Faith does not lead to a guarantee of a happy life with few problems. In fact, when we hear Jesus say that “The first will be last and servants of all”, we realize that the kingdom of G*d does not reward according to the world’s standards. In fact, when the disciples are overheard arguing among themselves who is the greatest, Jesus realizes he has a lot more to teach them about true greatness.

The gate is narrow and the road is hard….yes Jesus has done all that needs to be done, but there are plenty of narrow gates and hard roads for all of us. Don’t listen to the false prophets of our times who preach that true faith will lead to full pockets and full bellies for those who believe. There are plenty of believers who have empty pockets and hungry bellies – but they have a heaping amount of grace and blessings.

Pastor Dave