Tag Archives: Paul

The greatest Evangelist in the Early Christian Church

Unknown's avatar Rev. David J. Schreffler 4:44 am on June 10, 2015
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Hope Beyond The Grave — Rev. David J. Schreffler

June 10, 2015

“For we know that when this tent we live in—our body here on earth—is torn down, God will have a house in heaven for us to live in, a home he himself has made, which will last forever.” 2 Corinthians 5:1

“Paul is tackling the topic of the Christian hope beyond the grave, and more specifically, what happens to the believer at the point of death. In our culture the subject of death holds a certain fascination as well as repulsion. On the one hand, we try to mask the fact of death with euphemisms such as “he passed on” and “she went to a better place” and with funeral rites such as viewing the body, remarking how well someone looks and placing flowers on the grave. On the other hand, our culture, especially in recent years, has displayed an attraction to the topic of death in the form of accounts of near-death experiences…

God’s intention for the believer is bodily existence, not disembodiment as some would claim. More specifically, those who face physical hardship and suffering as a result of their labors in the gospel ministry are assured that, come what may, a house of God’s own designing (ek theou–from God) awaits them. This house is distinguished in three ways. It is of heavenly versus earthly origin (in heaven). It is a permanent (eternal) as opposed to a temporary structure. And it is assembled by God rather than by human hands (not built by human hands).” The Christian Hope Beyond the Grave, BibleGateway

We can look at the home that G*d is preparing for us in two ways. In John 14, Jesus talks about a mansion, that has many rooms that awaits all of us when we die. Here, Paul is describing something more tangible — that our earthly bodies will no more be our “home”, but G*d will provide an “eternal” if not “permanent” structure for us all. Although what will happen exactly to us once we cross the threshold of death is uncertain, to say the least, we can at least expect the following:

First, through the resurrection we will experience a transformation.
Second, our “house” will involve some form of material existence.
Finally, through the Spirit we are insured continuity between present and future modes of existence.

To go beyond this is to speculate without more justification than what Paul could tell us. But if G*d promises existence beyond this earthly existence, then it will be most certainly true. And we can all wait for that day when Jesus ushers us to our new home.

Pastor Dave

Unknown's avatar Rev. David J. Schreffler 4:44 am on May 23, 2015
Tags: , Paul   

Staying Connected — Rev. David J. Schreffler

May 23, 2015

“One man esteems one day as better as another, while another man esteems all days alike. Let every one be fully convinced in his own mind. He who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. He also who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to G*d…None of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord; so then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s.” Romans 14:1ff

“Wesley regretted that in his eighties he was usually only able to preach two sermons a day every day. Earlier he had often preached four or five times a day. He writes concerning his good health in old age:

May we not impute it as inferior means,
2. to my never having lost a night’s sleep, sick or well, at land or at sea, since I was born?
3. to my having slept at command so that whenever I feel ,m2015myself almost worn out I call it and it comes.
4. to my having constantly, for above sixty years, risen at four in the morning.
 5. to my constant preaching at five in the morning, for above fifty years.” John Wesley (1703 – 1791) “For All The Saints”, volume I

It is apparent that John Wesley lived a life of extraordinary health and well-being, at least according these notes. I wish I might have such a life where I always sleep peacefully, whenever I call upon it, fitfully and restfully. And, I wish I might have the privilege to be able to preach four or five times a day for sixty years. I wonder who was there at his preaching gigs at five in the morning? I look out at our 8:00 am service and wonder sometimes where all the people are.

One of the enduring problems and complaints I hear from older members of the church is how hard it is to get up in the morning and to get moving. On Saturday they are convinced they will make it to worship. But come Sunday morning, the mind is willing, but the body is not. However, there are so many ways to be a part of the worshipping community even if getting to church is a problem. My church has Lay Eucharistic Ministers who visit those who are unable to get out much, giving them communion if they wish, but also visiting — maintaining their connection with the congregation. Another way that the church can maintain those connections is to implement a Stephen’s Ministry program. This ministry is intentional toward visiting individuals for extended lengths of time (three months, six months, nine months) following a significant life event such as surgery, death of a spouse, or other life change.

John Wesley is an example of how, even in our advanced age, we can still be working for Christ and doing the Father’s will. But John Wesley was an extraordinary individual. We never retire from being “workers for the Kingdom of G*d”, but the church needs to help people stay connected. Now, just don’t forget that….. Let me leave you with these words from Abraham Joshua Heschel (1907 – 1972):

“No one eats figuratively, no one sleeps symbolically; so why should the pious man be content to worship G*d symbolically?”

Pastor Dave