Tag Archives: Paul

The greatest Evangelist in the Early Christian Church

Unknown's avatar Rev. David J. Schreffler 4:52 am on April 6, 2015
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The Cross – Rev. David J. Schreffler

April 6, 2015

“Not only this, but we also rejoice in sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance, character, and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. (For rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person perhaps someone might possibly dare to die.) But God demonstrates his own love for us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:3 – 8

“Neither the accumulated wisdom of all the earth and the skies, nor languages, the Church Fathers, and daily reading of the Holy Scripture, nor immense learning and eloquence make a good theologian or pastor if the cross is not added. Through the cross, G*d purifies, cleanses, strengthens, and perfects the light of His true knowledge, of true faith in Christ, of true understanding of the divine promises, proper prayer, hope, humility, and all the virtues which He has first planted in the heart through the Word. Accordingly we should equip ourselves for the Cross, which is just as necessary for those who wish to serve the Church as air and food are for the maintenance of the body…How can a person be able to understand the Gospel or teach it to others if he himself has not experienced the power of the Gospel in the midst of sorrows and trials?” “A Meditation on the Cross” David Chytraeus (1531 – 1600) “For All The Saints” volume I p. 990

One of the best preachers I have ever heard it Joel Olsteen. He is a great preacher, but his message is not always one I can believe – and that is because of my life experiences. What do I mean? Well, Pastor Olsteen is a believer in the “Prosperity Gospel” – a theology that if we have strong enough faith, good things will fill our lives, especially prosperity. I wonder how this gospel message would have been heard in 1931 America, in the midst of the Great Depression? I wonder how this message would have been heard in the era of the Dust Bowl? I agree with David Chytraeus that a person most fully experiences the power of the Gospel when we are experiencing the trials and tribulations of our lives. Why? I have found that the difficulties of my life have taught me more about myself, and my faith, than any period of prosperity. When everything is good, I tend to allow other things to take away my attention and focus on G*d. When times are tough, and I am struggling, I more fully realize my need for G*d. I have found what Paul says to be true: suffering produces endurance, which eventually leads us to hope. If my life was all roses and sunshine, I might only hope in myself, or hope in the “things” that make my life good. When I am suffering, my hope is in what rescues me from the suffering – and ultimately, what rescues me from suffering is G*d, through Jesus Christ. Christ suffered for me – so that when I suffer, I am connected to Christ, and rescued by Christ.

Pastor Dave

Unknown's avatar Rev. David J. Schreffler 4:48 am on March 28, 2015
Tags: Paul   

Running the Race of Faith – Rev. David J. Schreffler

March 28, 2015

“Do you not know that in a race all the runners compete, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it.” 1 Corinthians 9:24

“...If you believe that G*d is about your path, and (spies) out all your ways, then take care not to do the least thing, not to speak the least word, not to indulge the least thought, which you have reason to think would offend…Suppose that a messenger of G*d, an angel, to be now standing at your right hand, and fixing his eyes upon you, would you not take care to abstain from every word or action that you knew would offend him? How much more ought you to be, when you know, that not only a holy man, not an angel for G*d, but G*d himself, the Holy One…is inspecting your heart, your tongue, your hand, every moment!” John Wesley (1703 – 1791) “For All The Saints” volume I (p. 913-914)

There’s an old Jerry Seinfeld comedy routine where he says: “When we watch the Olympics, and we see the people who win medals, you have to feel bad for the person who comes in second. The person who comes in third can think “Well at least I got something.” The person who wins can say “Hey, I won the race”. But the person who comes in second must be receiving the second place medal thinking “Great, I….. almost won.” Some people joke that coming in second is like “kissing your sister”. Paul is comparing our race with life and faith as “a race where we are competing for a prize”, but not second, or third, or fourth, or even last place. John Wesley is saying that in life and faith, we should not settle for just doing the least….like “At least I go to church on Easter”, or “At least I give a dollar in the offering plate”.

If our faith life means anything to us, we tell others how important it is by how we approach it. One of the interesting changes I have noticed in how we award medals in sports are the “participation trophy” and the “last place trophy”. In many youth sports like baseball and soccer, we give trophies to children just for participating in a sport. And, some golf tournaments I have played in give a trophy for the last place team. I believe in a G*d that will welcome even the believer who comes in last place – but I do not believe that G*d wants a relationship with us where we run the race of faith hoping to get the last place trophy – or the participation trophy. G*d is waiting for us to run the race of faith to win it – putting everything, our whole selves into it. We all will not approach the race of faith with the same skill set, or the same energy level, or even the same training. But, we all can run the race of faith with determination to do all we can with the gifts G*d has gifted us.

Pastor Dave