Tag Archives: GRACE

Unknown's avatar Rev. David J. Schreffler 4:44 am on August 18, 2015
Tags: GRACE, ,   

The Ordinary Becomes Extraordinary — Rev. David J. Schreffler

 

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August 18, 2015

“On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” And leaving the crowd behind, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. Other boats were with him. A great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him up and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm. He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?” Mark 4:35-40

“…in a boat on the sea of Tiberias, the Redeemer rose and rebuked the storm. Was the miracle merely a proof of His divine mission? Are we merely to gather from it, that then and there on a certain day, in a certain obscure corner to the world, Divine power was at work? It is conceivable that a man might credit that miracle: that he might be exceedingly indignant with the naturalist who resolves it into a natural phenomenon — and it is conceivable that very man might tremble in a storm. To what purpose is that miracle announced to him? He believes in G*d existing in the past, but not in the present; he believes in a Divine presence in the supernatural, but discredits it in the natural; he recognizes G*d in the marvelous, but does not feel Him in the wonderful of every day: but unless it has taught him that the waves and winds now are in the hallow of the hand of G*d, the miracle has lost its meaning.” Frederick W. Robertson (1816 – 1853)
Sermons, “For All The Saints” volume II, (p. 359)

It is true that we all must work to see G*d as active in our lives every day, not just reflect on G*d’s work in the past. It is hard to see how Jesus performed a miracle 2000 years ago, and the impact that same miracle has on each one of us right now. When the people of the 1st century gazed upon a miracle by Jesus, it was truly an act of G*d, or the Devil. When we see something miraculous happen before us today, we are more likely to say “it was done with smoke and mirrors” or “it is some act of illusion” — rather than to say “thanks be to G*d”.

My friends, even today, G*d can act through the ordinary to do extraordinary things. Every Sunday when the bread and wine are consecrated in Holy Communion, we believe that G*d is “bodily in, under and through the bread and wine” — G*d is doing the extraordinary through ordinary bread and wine. It is being streamed to us live right at that moment — it is not a memorial — G*d comes to us and into us through that act of Communion. And if G*d can act through ordinary bread and wine, who is to say that G*d cannot do amazing things through ordinary you and me? We are fed on bread and wine by an amazing G*d — so let’s get going doing amazing things in the name of the Lord.

Pastor Dave

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

The Mercy Rule — Rev. David J. Schreffler

 

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August 6, 2015

“For God has consigned all people to disobedience so that he may show mercy to them all. Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how fathomless his ways!” Romans 11:32-33

“The Mercy Rule is God’s plan for disobedient sinners to know that our only hope is his endless mercy. Paul puts it this way, “God has bound all people over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all.” All. Without condition. Kristen Talbot won a spot on the U.S. speed skating team in the 1994 winter Olympics. To be an Olympic speed skater she had to stay on a rigid practice and training schedule; any interruption threatened her chance for a gold medal. Yet that’s exactly what Kristen did when, only weeks before she was scheduled to compete she donated bone marrow to her critically ill brother. During an interview she said skating and the Olympics are important, but not as important as helping others. She went on to compete in the Olympics and came home without a medal. That’s The Mercy Rule. Who needs your mercy? Make it more important.”
“The Mercy Rule” (gracedowntown website for Grace Lutheran Church,
Milwaukee, WI)

Many of us know something about a mercy rule in sports. Sometimes it is called a “ten run rule” where, if a baseball or softball team scores 10 runs more than their opponent by a certain inning, the game ends immediately. Sometimes it comes in the form of a team taking one or more players off the field once they have scored five more goals than the opposing team. The Mercy Rule is put into effect to bring about more parity among teams — to even the playing field, so to speak.

G*d’s mercy rule is not that different, because it also evens the playing field. Because of G*d’s mercy, we all have the chance for eternal life — people may think they are better than others, but G*d’s mercy comes equally to all, no matter who thinks they are better, have done more, or are more righteous. Thank goodness for G*d’s Mercy Rule, or we all would be losers.

Pastor Dave