Tag Archives: Paul

The greatest Evangelist in the Early Christian Church

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

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

Unknown's avatar Rev. David J. Schreffler 4:44 am on July 29, 2015
Tags: Paul,   

Strength is for Service, Not Status — Rev. David J. Schreffler

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July 29, 2015

“We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves… Welcome one another, therefore, as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of G*d.” Romans 15:1,

“By facing our own faults, we’re able to interact with others. When we see others straying from the faith…we can…try to understand the reason for their drift from the faith. We can address the needs and concerns God reveals to us, instead of condemning them in their weakness and leaving them trapped in their sin. Both Paul and James teach that those strong in courage are to take their courage to the weak. Strength is for service, not status. Each one of us needs to look after the good of the people around us, asking ourselves, ‘How can I help?’” (Rick Warren)

Jesus was always standing up for the last, lost, least and little of his society. Luke is the gospel that tells this aspect of Jesus’ ministry most evidently. In Luke’s gospel, Jesus comes across as the Son of Man — as the champion of the outcast, the weak, and the lost. In Luke’s gospel we have the story of Jesus and his teaching focused on the outcasts of society. It is the gospel of the poor and of social justice. Luke features marginalized people — and people who others would have given up on — like the story of the prodigal son, and the story of the ten lepers.

It seems to me that we, then, as followers of Jesus, should also see a large part of our ministries focused on the marginalized and the outcasts of our society. Who would this be? Who are the marginalized in our society and in our communities? For each one of us, that depends on where we live — and who we see as the outcasts. But we remember that our strength comes, not from ourselves, but from the Holy Spirit. When we are strong in faith, then we have the strength to help the weak: the weak in faith, and the marginalized of the world.

G*d’s Word is a reminder of where our strength comes from, and leads us to live lives of bearing other’s burdens.

Pastor Dave