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.​​​