Tag Archives: Holy Spirit

The third person of the Trinity and the work of G*d in this world – it is the Holy Spirit that builds faith

Unknown's avatar Rev. David J. Schreffler 4:44 am on June 14, 2015
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The Weed You Cannot Control — Rev. David J. Schreffler

June 14, 2015
Sunday

“He also said, “With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable will we use for it? It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes the greatest of all shrubs, and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.” Mark 4:30-32

“What if the key to reading the parable of the mustard seed were to understand what a peculiar seed it actually is? The things about mustard seeds, you see, is that while some varieties were used as spice and others medicinally, in general they were considered at the very least pesky and often somewhat dangerous. Why? Because wild mustard is incredibly hard to control, and once it takes root it can take over a whole planting area. That’s why mustard would only occasionally be found in a garden in the ancient world; more likely you would look for it overtaking the side of an open hill or abandoned field. Looked at this way, Jesus’ parable is a little darker, even ominous. As John Dominic Crossan puts it:

The point, in other words, is not just that the mustard plant starts as a proverbially small seed and grows into a shrub of three or four feet, or even higher, it is that it tends to take over where it is not wanted, that it tends to get out of control, and that it tends to attract birds within cultivated areas where they are not particularly desired. And that, said Jesus, was what the Kingdom was like: not like the mighty cedar of Lebanon and not quite like a common weed, [more] like a pungent shrub with dangerous takeover properties. Something you would want in only small and carefully controlled doses — if you could control it (The Historical Jesus, pp. 278-279). Mission Possible, David Lose, June 10, 2012 (DearWorkingPreacher)

We spend so much time in the church trying to control everything. We want to control the service: the noise and the temperature and the time and the length of it all. We want to control the ministry: the places, the people, the frequency, and the cost. And here we are trying to control everything while Jesus says that the Kingdom of G*d is like something that cannot be controlled, will spread to places no on wants it, and that it will attract people we do not necessarily want. The question becomes, then what are we to do about it?

The answer sounds simple enough, but it is not easy to implement — and that answer, at least in my opinion is “trust the Spirit”. “So, Pastor Dave”, you may ask, “What is so difficult about that?” Well, the Spirit is unpredictable, uncontrollable, unexpected, and unbelievable — and yet it is the Spirit that builds faith, and drives ministry and worship. And, building faith, and doing ministry is not always simple. We have tried and tested models through which many are still trying to build faith (like traditional bible studies and Christian Education models) that don’t seem to be working anymore. Perhaps the Spirit is trying to tell us that we need to step out of our box of understanding and trust the Spirit to try some new models. This would also apply to doing ministry.

Trust the Spirit. How can you Trust G*d today to allow you to step out of the box and try something new?

Pastor Dave

Unknown's avatar Rev. David J. Schreffler 4:44 am on June 5, 2015
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You Can’t Lose Your Ticket — Rev. David J. Schreffler

June 5, 2015

“A man once gave a great banquet, and invited many; and at the time for the banquet he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, “Come; for all is now ready.” But they all alike began to make excuses. So the servant came and reported this to his master. Then the householder in anger said to his servant “Go out quickly to the streets and to the lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and maimed and blind and lame… For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste my banquet.” Luke 14:16-18, 21, 24

Why is it that the Kingdom of G*d is described as a banquet and a party that no one wants to come to? Several times Jesus uses this description about the kingdom of G*d, and so an explanation is needed. I would say that the Kingdom of G*d is a great party – this is a description that we have about the Kingdom of G*d several times in the New Testament. And, of course, Jesus is inviting everyone to come to the party. So what is Jesus saying through this parable?

Well, first Jesus is telling this story to a group of Pharisees and their friends, and he was commenting on how they decided to sit at a party. He asked them if it wasn’t better to humble oneself rather than look to puff up one’s ego and take a seat of honor. And then Jesus wants to make another point – still about their sense of entitlement and egocentrism. So he tells another story, and in this story people make excuses why they can’t come to the party — “I have to go see some property I bought”, and “I have bought some cows that I need to see.” Notice the excuses are mostly about stuff they have purchased — material things that keep them from the party. They have more important things to do then to show hospitality and proper protocol.

Now of course, we know that a lot of people make excuses why they cannot come to church, why they do not like organized religion, and why they prefer to sleep in on Sunday morning and not come to church. They think living the Christ-like life is possible spending Sunday morning in bed, or on the golf course. And so by telling the parable Jesus is attempting to show how difficult it is to live the Christ-like life. Yes, heaven is a party — but the ticket to get into the party requires three things: faith, grace and love. To believe, to trust in the promises of Christ gets you the ticket: it comes wrapped in the grace of G*d and Jesus Christ. But to activate the ticket or to get the “full value” requires love — loving G*d and loving your neighbor.

Now, there are a lot of people who will disagree with me, and say I am not a good Lutheran Pastor, because what I just said sounds like works — not Grace. So let me clarify. Jesus said very clearly there are only two things we have TO DO, that we are commanded TO DO: love G*d and love our neighbor. Trusting in the promises of G*d gets us the ticket — Grace “insures” its full value — and love activates it — both the love of Christ, and our love of Christ. Grace is the insurance policy on the value — knowing that we don’t always value this wonderful invitation to the heavenly party — and knowing we often fail, like those in the parable. You decide if I have spoken the truth, or crossed the line into works.

Pastor Dave