Stewardship Central - March 2nd

Transfiguration: Luke 9:36 - "And when the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone." 
Moses and Elijah point to Jesus, speak about Jesus and His sacrifice, and then are happy to fade into the background. They know that what we need is Jesus. With our eyes focused on Him and Him alone, the rest of our lives comes into focus. He is primary, all else secondary. When that order is right in our lives, things truly fall into place. Or as Jesus Himself said, "Seek first the kingdom of God...and all these things will be added to you" Matt. 6:33.

Stewardship Central - February 23rd

Luke 6:30-31 - "Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them." 
Is it really possible to live like this? Would it really work to be so open-handed and generous? Our conscience often reminds us of our failures, and the lord knows our frailty, that's for sure! But a life of faith is a life lived in imitation of Jesus - and every follower of Jesus knows that yes, indeed, it is better to give then receive.

Stewardship Central - February 2nd 

Presentation of Our Lord and Purification of Mary/Candlemas
Luke 2:24 - "[They went] to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, 'a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.'" 
Throughout the Old and New Testaments, God gives us the pattern of proportional giving. If you look at Leviticus 12, you'll see that the sacrifice for purification was either a lamb or a pair of birds if the family had no means to buy a lamb. God calls us to give in proportion to how He has blessed us - and of course Jesus sets the pattern by giving not only a portion, but His all.

Stewardship Central - January 26th

1 Cor. 12:16- "And if the ear should say, ' Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,' that would not make it any less a part of the body."
The Lord has called each of us individually and given each of us unique gifts. He has made our whole lives holy in our Baptism and has called us to live together in the church, His body. You are a part of that body, and that body needs you and the gifts the Lord has given you. This is your holy calling from the Lord.

Stewardship Central - Dec. 29th

Luke 3:21- "Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying..."
We know why the people were baptized, but why was Jesus baptized? He didn't need repentance or forgiveness. The answer is that He did it for us. The reason God sent His Son into the world is to fulfill all righteousness for us, to do what we could not do. The whole of Jesus' life, everything He did and said, was one great offering to the Father in our stead to fulfill all righteousness for us. With our righteousness fulfilled in Jesus and given to us in Baptism, our hearts now overflow with thanksgiving and praise.

Stewardship Central - Dec. 29th

Luke 3:21- "Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying..."
We know why the people were baptized, but why was Jesus baptized? He didn't need repentance or forgiveness. The answer is that He did it for us. The reason God sent His Son into the world is to fulfill all righteousness for us, to do what we could not do. The whole of Jesus' life, everything He did and said, was one great offering to the Father in our stead to fulfill all righteousness for us. With our righteousness fulfilled in Jesus and given to us in Baptism, our hearts now overflow with thanksgiving and praise.
Nov 17th, 2024

Stewardship Central 

Hebrews 10:14- "For by a single offering He has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified."
Our Lord Jesus has provided the one offering for sin. What we offer to the Lord is not a sacrifice for effort. Rather, what we give to the Lord's work in the church is a thank offering, a sign of our dependency on God and all He has given us.
Oct 20th, 2024

Stewardship Central 

Mark 10:29-30 - "Jesus said, ' Truly. I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the Gospel, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life." 
This is Jesus' encouragement for every faithful disciple - let it encourage you today.
Oct 20th, 2024

Stewardship Central 

Mark 10:29-30 - "Jesus said, ' Truly. I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the Gospel, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life." 
This is Jesus' encouragement for every faithful disciple - let it encourage you today.
Oct 13th, 2024

Stewardship Central 

Hebrews 3:18-19 -  "And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who were disobedient? So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief."
Unbelief leads to disobedience -that is, every sin expresses the opposite of faith. True and living faith guides us into the Lord's way and the Lord's plan. And when we fall into sin it's because we are not trusting the Lord's goodness and provision.
Oct 6th, 2024

Stewardship Central 

Mark 10:6 - "But from the beginning of creation..."
In recent years our country, alone with most (formerly) Christian nations of Europe, have lost their way when it comes to marriage. We have ignored the fact that it is God who created us. We always go off-the-tracks when we forget that He made us and that everything good in this world comes from His hand. In big things and in small things, in the life of a nation or the life of an individual, things go dreadfully wrong when we ignore the Creator's design for family and life.
Sept. 15, 2024

Stewardship Central 

Mark 9:45 - "And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell."
So what is causing us to sin? Lust? Greed? Fear? Better to cut it off! We need the Lord's help to do this - and you are in the right place this Lord's Day to receive that help through Word and Sacrament! 
Sept. 15, 2024

Stewardship Central 

Mark 9:24 - "Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, 'I believe; help my unbelief!'"
Haven't we often felt like this! And notice that Jesus does not throw the man out because of his weakness of faith: He still has pity, and He still blesses us and calls us to a deeper faith, as He did to the disciples in the boat on the storm-tossed sea. How does our faith grow? By hearing the Word of God. What does our faith lead to as it grows? A godly life lived in thanksgiving to our Lord.
August 18, 2024

Stewardship Central 

Ephesians 5:6-7- "Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not become partners with them."
The wrath of God is a real thing, and we would do well to reflect on this. We want to stay away from anything that would take us away from the Lord. As Mary replied to the angel Gabriel, "I am the handmaiden of the Lord, may it be to me according to your word" (Luke 1:38). We are the Lord's servants; therefore we cling to His Word.
August 11, 2024

Stewardship Central 

Ephesians 4:28- "Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need."
God gives us honest work to do so that we can be a blessing to others. That's how so many of God's blessings go: He gives to us so that we in turn can be a blessing to others. He graciously calls us into the midst of His own work in the world.
August 4, 2024

Stewardship Central 

Ephesians 4:1- "I Therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called."
The callings we have from the Lord are our "vocations." Here Paul talks about our vocation as Christians. We are called to be His people and reflect His love, generosity and peace within the church.
July 28, 2024

Stewardship Central 

Amos 7:8- "And the LORD said to me, 'Amos, what do you see?' And I said, 'A plumb line.' Then the Lord said, 'Behold, I am setting a plumb line in the midst of my people Israel; I will never again pass by them.' " 
In the book of Amos, the Lord condemns the people for their lack of kindness, charity and generosity toward the weak and lowly. God takes great offense at this because His activity toward us is built on kindness, charity and generosity. He wants us to respond in kindness, charity and generosity.​​​