Tag Archives: Paul

The greatest Evangelist in the Early Christian Church

Unknown's avatar Rev. David J. Schreffler 4:44 am on August 19, 2015
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Sharing Out of Our Abundance — Rev. David J. Schreffler

 

 

imageAugust 19, 2015

“After there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “My brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that I should be the one through whom the Gentiles would hear the message of the good news and become believers. And God, who knows the human heart, testified to them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he did to us; and in cleansing their hearts by faith he has made no distinction between them and us. Now therefore why are you putting God to the test by placing on the neck of the disciples a yoke that neither our ancestors nor we have been able to bear? On the contrary, we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.”
Acts 15:7-11

“But let not, brethren, let not this any longer be; and when matters of universal interest and more pressing necessity bring us together, let us not be divided by things earthly and insignificant: I mean, by wealth and poverty, by bodily relationship, by enmity and friendship; for all these things are a shadow, nay less substantial than a shadow, to those who possess the bond of charity from above. Let us preserve this…and none of those evil spirits will be able to enter in, who cause division in so perfect union; to which may we all attain by the grace and loving-kindness of our Lord Jesus Christ…”    John Chrysostom (344-407) “For All The Saints”, volume II (p. 364)

John Chrysostom, Archbishop of Constantinople, was an important Early Church Father. He is known for his preaching and public speaking, his denunciation of abuse of authority by both ecclesiastical and political leaders, the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, and his ascetic sensibilities.

The Eastern Orthodox and Byzantine Catholic churches honor him as a saint and count him among the Three Holy Hierarchs, together with Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzus. He is recognized by the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church as a saint and as a Doctor of the Church. Churches of the Western tradition, including the Roman Catholic Church, some Anglican provinces, and some Lutheran churches, commemorate him on 13 September. Some other Lutheran churches and Anglican provinces commemorate him on the traditional Eastern feast day of 27 January. The Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria also recognize him as a saint.

“Consider how [Jesus Christ] teaches us to be humble, by making us see that our virtue does not depend on our work alone but on grace from on high. He commands each of the faithful who prays to do so universally, for the whole world. For he did not say “thy will be done in me or in us”, but “on earth”, the whole earth, so that error may be banished from it, truth take root in it, all vice be destroyed on it, virtue flourish on it, and earth no longer differ from heaven.”

This is a quote from John Chrysostom on his teachings on the Lord’s Prayer. He was concerned with how the rich might use their resources for the purpose of caring for the poor. He saw the danger of wealth and how it could divide people instead of being used to care for others. It is a teaching that is so needed in our world today — how we should look to share out of our abundance instead of stashing away our resources in bigger and bigger barns for our use alone. When we share out of our abundance, we are just beginning to make this world just a little bit more like heaven.

Pastor Dave

Unknown's avatar Rev. David J. Schreffler 4:44 am on August 11, 2015
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A Good Foundation — Rev. David J. Schreffler

 

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August 11, 2015

Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? 1 Corinthians 3:16

“Paul is writing to the Corinthian church–a church in conflict. Some are claiming to be followers of Paul, others are claiming to be followers of Apollos, a skilled preacher much admired in the early church. In other words, some are still linked to one former pastor, some are still linked to another. Paul counsels them to grow up. “Who is Paul?” he asks. “Who is Apollos?” Paul plants, Apollos waters, but it is God who gives the growth.

Then Paul compares the church to a building. He himself laid the foundation at Corinth, now another is building on that foundation. The foundation, of course, is Christ, and that is all that matters. Then Paul adds, “Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s spirit dwells in you? If any one destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him.” In this context, we can see that God’s temple is the church. WE ARE THE TEMPLE OF THE LIVING GOD. What does that say to you?”  Ron Newhouse, “Daily Devotions” (website devotions)

In my neighborhood, we have a house that is having a problem with their foundation. The foundation of a house is what the house stands upon. If the foundation becomes faulty, the house is in danger of shifting, moving, and at the worst collapsing. Water seems to collect around the foundation of this house, which then weakens the soil, and thus weakens the foundation. Now the walls of the foundation are in danger of collapsing in upon themselves — and if they do, the house will collapse.

When we live without Jesus as the foundation of our lives, we live in the danger of our lives collapsing in upon us. There are a lot of forces that are putting pressure on our lives each and every day, and if we do not have Christ as the sure foundation, then when the forces become too great, we run the risk of our lives collapsing in futility. But when Jesus is our sure and present foundation, when we shore up our lives with Christ’s unconditional love, unconditional mercy, and unending Grace, nothing, nothing will be able to shake our foundation. Oh the storms will still rage around us, but the love of Christ is greater than any storm.

Pastor Dave