Acts 17:1-3 After Paul and Silas* had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three sabbath days argued with them from the scriptures, explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Messiah* to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, ‘This is the Messiah,* Jesus whom I am proclaiming to you.’
Paul went into a synagogue in Thessalonica and for three straight sabbath days used the scriptures to proclaim the message that Jesus is the Messiah. He proclaimed a message that an executed criminal was the Messiah that these people had been waiting for. And he used their own Bible, on their own holy days, in their own holy building, to do it.
Takes a bit of moxie. Takes quite a bit of the Holy Spirit. And if the Holy Spirit can call and empower Paul to do this... do you think maybe the Holy Spirit can inspire you to invite your neighbor to worship with you? I wonder.
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
For more information about all of the ministries of All Saints, visit http://www.allsaintspalatine.org To share your story or your responses to this devotional, visit http://aslcdevotions.blogspot.com Worship with us this weekend at 5 pm Saturday or 9 am Sunday.
Friday, August 20, 2010
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
ASLC Devotions -- Wednesday
Psalm 32:7 You are a hiding-place for me;
you preserve me from trouble;
you surround me with glad cries of deliverance.
It's the summer blockbuster season at the movies. One type of movie that comes out a lot in the summer is the big suspense, slasher movie. "I Know What You Did Last Summer." "Night on Elm Street." I've never really liked that kind of movie. But I have an image in my head of what they're all basically like. Someone is running screaming at the top of their lungs away from someone "out to get them." Trying desperately to reach the safe place. Maybe it's a closet. Maybe it's the police station. Who knows.
I've never had a slasher chasing me. Have you? But I know what it's liked to be stalked. By fear. By self-doubt. By worries. By a lack of enough. Maybe you have too.
But we've got a hiding place more effective than any closet or police station. God is our hiding-place. And God is stronger than anything that might be chasing you.
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
For more information about all of the ministries of All Saints, visit http://www.allsaintspalatine.org To share your story or your responses to this devotional, visit http://aslcdevotions.blogspot.com Worship with us this weekend at 5 pm Saturday or 9 am Sunday.
you preserve me from trouble;
you surround me with glad cries of deliverance.
It's the summer blockbuster season at the movies. One type of movie that comes out a lot in the summer is the big suspense, slasher movie. "I Know What You Did Last Summer." "Night on Elm Street." I've never really liked that kind of movie. But I have an image in my head of what they're all basically like. Someone is running screaming at the top of their lungs away from someone "out to get them." Trying desperately to reach the safe place. Maybe it's a closet. Maybe it's the police station. Who knows.
I've never had a slasher chasing me. Have you? But I know what it's liked to be stalked. By fear. By self-doubt. By worries. By a lack of enough. Maybe you have too.
But we've got a hiding place more effective than any closet or police station. God is our hiding-place. And God is stronger than anything that might be chasing you.
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
For more information about all of the ministries of All Saints, visit http://www.allsaintspalatine.org To share your story or your responses to this devotional, visit http://aslcdevotions.blogspot.com Worship with us this weekend at 5 pm Saturday or 9 am Sunday.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
ASLC Devotions -- Tuesday
Psalm 32:1 Happy are those whose transgression is forgiven,
whose sin is covered.
Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Martin Luther wrote in his Small Catechism that "we ask in this prayer that our heavenly Father would not regard our sins nor deny these petitions on their account, for we are worthy of nothing for which we ask, nor have we earned it. Instead we ask that God would give us all things by grace."
We ask that God would not regard our sins, that our sins would be covered. God indeed does cover our sins. God puts a blanket over our sin and hides it from God's own eyes. God pretends that God can't see our sin. For our sake. As a gift. Nothing we deserve, but everything God does. Indeed, we are happy!
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
For more information about all of the ministries of All Saints, visit http://www.allsaintspalatine.org To share your story or your responses to this devotional, visit http://aslcdevotions.blogspot.com Worship with us this weekend at 5 pm Saturday or 9 am Sunday.
whose sin is covered.
Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Martin Luther wrote in his Small Catechism that "we ask in this prayer that our heavenly Father would not regard our sins nor deny these petitions on their account, for we are worthy of nothing for which we ask, nor have we earned it. Instead we ask that God would give us all things by grace."
We ask that God would not regard our sins, that our sins would be covered. God indeed does cover our sins. God puts a blanket over our sin and hides it from God's own eyes. God pretends that God can't see our sin. For our sake. As a gift. Nothing we deserve, but everything God does. Indeed, we are happy!
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
For more information about all of the ministries of All Saints, visit http://www.allsaintspalatine.org To share your story or your responses to this devotional, visit http://aslcdevotions.blogspot.com Worship with us this weekend at 5 pm Saturday or 9 am Sunday.
Monday, August 16, 2010
ASLC Devotions -- Monday
Jeremiah 23:32 See, I am against those who prophesy lying dreams, says the Lord, and who tell them, and who lead my people astray by their lies and their recklessness, when I did not send them or appoint them; so they do not profit this people at all, says the Lord.
Maybe you are not as concerned as Jeremiah and others in the Bible seemed to be with trying to separate true prophets from false prophets. It's not something that keeps me up at night. But we do wonder how do we recognize God's voice when we hear something? How do we know if we're following God's voice or just our own whims and desires? We don't have the burning bush experiences or the voice in our dreams, generally. So how do we know?
I like something in this verse as a measure: "they do not profit this people at all." So if you're trying to figure out whether something is God's will for your life or just your own, try out these questions: does it profit you? Is it good for you? Also, God says through Jeremiah that it should profit "this people" PLURAL. So... is the thing good for the community and not just you? If the answer to either of these questions is no, you can be sure it's not God's voice. It's not a definitive test, but some questions that point us in the right direction.
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
For more information about all of the ministries of All Saints, visit http://www.allsaintspalatine.org To share your story or your responses to this devotional, visit http://aslcdevotions.blogspot.com Worship with us this weekend at 5 pm Saturday or 9 am Sunday.
Maybe you are not as concerned as Jeremiah and others in the Bible seemed to be with trying to separate true prophets from false prophets. It's not something that keeps me up at night. But we do wonder how do we recognize God's voice when we hear something? How do we know if we're following God's voice or just our own whims and desires? We don't have the burning bush experiences or the voice in our dreams, generally. So how do we know?
I like something in this verse as a measure: "they do not profit this people at all." So if you're trying to figure out whether something is God's will for your life or just your own, try out these questions: does it profit you? Is it good for you? Also, God says through Jeremiah that it should profit "this people" PLURAL. So... is the thing good for the community and not just you? If the answer to either of these questions is no, you can be sure it's not God's voice. It's not a definitive test, but some questions that point us in the right direction.
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
For more information about all of the ministries of All Saints, visit http://www.allsaintspalatine.org To share your story or your responses to this devotional, visit http://aslcdevotions.blogspot.com Worship with us this weekend at 5 pm Saturday or 9 am Sunday.
Friday, August 13, 2010
ASLC Devotions -- Friday
Hebrews 10:39
39But we are not among those who shrink back and so are lost, but among those who have faith and so are saved.
Be Bold! (Be bold!) Be Strong! (Be strong!) For the Lord thy God is with thee!
With a campfire refrain, the strumming of guitars and scream-singing campers, we lifted our voices with the admonition to be bold! and to be strong! Indeed, we are not those who shrink back. We are, instead, the ones who are bold and strong because we know that God is with us.
We know that God is with us. We have faith that God is with us. What a powerful statement that can carry us through our lives, no matter the trouble and tribulations that we might face. So, go ahead, be bold. Be strong.
Peace,
Pastor Jenn
39But we are not among those who shrink back and so are lost, but among those who have faith and so are saved.
Be Bold! (Be bold!) Be Strong! (Be strong!) For the Lord thy God is with thee!
With a campfire refrain, the strumming of guitars and scream-singing campers, we lifted our voices with the admonition to be bold! and to be strong! Indeed, we are not those who shrink back. We are, instead, the ones who are bold and strong because we know that God is with us.
We know that God is with us. We have faith that God is with us. What a powerful statement that can carry us through our lives, no matter the trouble and tribulations that we might face. So, go ahead, be bold. Be strong.
Peace,
Pastor Jenn
Thursday, August 12, 2010
ASLC Devotions -- Thursday
Hebrews 10:35-36
35Do not, therefore, abandon that confidence of yours; it brings a great reward. 36For you need endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.
Often scripture talks about faith as a race to be run and won, or a fight to be fought. Endurance is lifted up as something of value, and I don't disagree. Sometimes living a life of faith can be difficult, though that statement feels horribly trite from a middle-American perspective. When, really, have we ever been persecuted because of our faith?
But there are still times in our lives when we must draw from the deep well of confidence, not in ourselves, but the confidence that we have in our Lord, and the promises that God has made to us.
Peace, and confidence, to you.
Pastor Jenn
35Do not, therefore, abandon that confidence of yours; it brings a great reward. 36For you need endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.
Often scripture talks about faith as a race to be run and won, or a fight to be fought. Endurance is lifted up as something of value, and I don't disagree. Sometimes living a life of faith can be difficult, though that statement feels horribly trite from a middle-American perspective. When, really, have we ever been persecuted because of our faith?
But there are still times in our lives when we must draw from the deep well of confidence, not in ourselves, but the confidence that we have in our Lord, and the promises that God has made to us.
Peace, and confidence, to you.
Pastor Jenn
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
ASLC Devotions -- Wednesday
Psalm 89:1-2
I will sing of your steadfast love, O Lord, forever;
with my mouth I will proclaim your faithfulness to all generations.
I declare that your steadfast love is established forever;
your faithfulness is as firm as the heavens.
One of the (many) things that I love about worship is that we sing together as a congregation, all of us. Whether our voice is sure and strong, or it warbles a bit and strays from the tune, our voices rise, praising the Lord. The psalms are the songs of scripture, and the steadfast love of God that Psalm 89 references carries many of the songs that we sing.
This summer at All Saints we have had the opportunity for "hymn sings," and I have enjoyed hearing the favorite hymns that people have requested. The next time you're in worship, sing out, sing loud, sing with the passion that comes from praising God. Our song is proclamation, and our song is our witness to God's faithfulness and work in our lives.
Peace,
Pastor Jenn
I will sing of your steadfast love, O Lord, forever;
with my mouth I will proclaim your faithfulness to all generations.
I declare that your steadfast love is established forever;
your faithfulness is as firm as the heavens.
One of the (many) things that I love about worship is that we sing together as a congregation, all of us. Whether our voice is sure and strong, or it warbles a bit and strays from the tune, our voices rise, praising the Lord. The psalms are the songs of scripture, and the steadfast love of God that Psalm 89 references carries many of the songs that we sing.
This summer at All Saints we have had the opportunity for "hymn sings," and I have enjoyed hearing the favorite hymns that people have requested. The next time you're in worship, sing out, sing loud, sing with the passion that comes from praising God. Our song is proclamation, and our song is our witness to God's faithfulness and work in our lives.
Peace,
Pastor Jenn
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