Pastoral Message
(for members and friends of)
Geeseytown and Newry Lutheran Churches
3rd Sunday after Pentecost
June 21, 2020
We begin by remembering:
Everyone therefore who acknowledges me before others, I also will
acknowledge before my Father in heaven, but whoever denies me before
others, I also will deny before my Father in heaven. (Matthew 10:32-33)
Let us pray:
Teach us, good Lord God, to serve you as you deserve, to give and
not count the cost, to fight and not to heed the wounds, to toil and not to
seek for rest, to labor and not to ask for reward, except that of knowing that
we do your will, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
Scripture: Romans 6:1-11 & Matthew 10:24-39
Thoughts from the Pastor:
These two scriptures talk about the cost of discipleship and
remembering that we were buried and raised with Jesus in baptism. As I
sat down thinking about these two scriptures, I can remember how I started
out discovering what being a disciple of Jesus Christ was all about in your
life, in the church, and with my friends. One day I answered the phone and
my pastor asked me if I would be the chairperson for evangelism in the
church. I thought for a moment and then I told my pastor, I have no idea
what evangelism is all about and how you do it. My pastor told me not to
worry about it because she just needed a name to put on the church
papers for the conference. At that time in my life the thought of evangelism
really turned me off because I had some bad experiences with people
standing on a corner handing out salvation papers also called tracks.
One lady told me after I refused to take on her tracks that I was on
my way to hell. Actually what she said to me did not surprise me. And the
reason why is because I had other clergy (not Lutheran) tell me I was going
to hell because I refused to attend his church and believe in their teachings.
Judging a person’s faith is not evangelism or an example of being a
disciple.
My friends, first this is not what Jesus wants us to do with our faith in
him and God. Evangelism really means sharing the good news of what God
did in sending Jesus Christ into this world with salvation for sinners. Being
a disciple of Jesus Christ begins with sharing your faith journey with Jesus
and God another person. One critical point in sharing your faith journey is
the ability create and have a trusting relationship with another person. We
always need to remember each one of us has a different faith journey. The
Holy Spirit is within our hearts guiding and directing our lives in many
different ways.
I forget who told me how they shared their faith with others, but I can
remember what they told me, “I just tell a person that I have attended my
church all my life and I believe in Jesus and God, and I know through
various experiences in my life that they are with me and helping me.” This
person was acknowledging Jesus to others. And they did it with a plain
simple manner without judging someone and they did not judge anyone.
Looking at verse 32, we see that Jesus wants us to acknowledge him
before others. People have different experiences in life and have
encountered Jesus and God in many ways. In other words, faith journeys
can vary in many ways with people. When you share your faith with others
remember the Holy Spirit is within you guiding and directing you. Consider
this faith- sharing opportunity to be a blessing from God for you and the
other person. Whether they believe in Jesus and God from your faith story
is a decision between them and Jesus and God. Jesus only asks us as a
disciple of his to acknowledge him to others.
Yours in Christ,
Pastor Henry