It has been a pleasure to meditate with you over “the sign of Jonah” (Matthew 12:39) as we have studied this wayward prophet in our series The Gospel According to Jonah. One of the things that has struck me in studying this book of the Minor Prophets is the way God’s grace in Jonah’s life so often has a dark character to it. I wonder – are you comfortable with the “dark grace” of God?
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Ok, so this is more than a little embarrassing. But its better than the actual paper, which had some crack in the title about me “assuming” the pulpit. Don’t they know me? I don’t assume anything.
The Garner Leader ran a story about my family and I coming to town and getting going at Zion. You can read the full interview that was conducted here. If you want to read the rest of the article, you’ll have to go over to the website and subscribe, as the whole article isn’t online (boo!).
Seeing this mug on the front page of a newspaper (did I mention the size of Garner?!) is a little disconcerting. (Please, no cracks about seeing my picture in the Police section. The chief of police worships with us.) It was an enjoyable experience, but it left me wondering: who knows how to interview a pastor better – the pastor or the interviewer? I can think of all sorts of interesting questions to put to theologians, but the question is if they would be interesting to anyone else. In this case, isn’t the interviewer the generalist, yet a specialist at interviewing?
We have enjoyed our time with you this summer, and now as we turn toward autumn all sorts of new activities will be starting at the church. Pioneer Club, New Life, Confirmation, Bible studies… there is a lot to keep everyone busy! Of course, the fall also means that we will be electing new officers and leaders in various new capacities – consistory, Sunday school teachers, and Bible study leaders, etc. So what ties all these things together? Spiritual gifts!
Spiritual gifts are what the Holy Spirit gives to believers to empower and enable them to serve in the life of the church. 1 Peter 4:10 – 11 says, “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another… whoever speaks, speak as if you were speaking the oracles of God; whoever serves, serve in the strength God supplies, that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ.” Sometimes the topic of spiritual gifts can become divisive, but this passage clearly shows that we are to use our gifts from the Spirit to serve the body of Christ to the glory of God!
Spiritual gifts are one of the things that Jesus purchased by His blood in His death on the cross (Ephesians 4:7 – 11). The Spirit of Christ then distributes those gifts as He pleases through the body of Christ, the Church (I Corinthians 12:11). All believers – whether young or old, new Christians or mature in the faith – are given spiritual gifts. You don’t need to have a special experience or be a certain kind of Christian to receive spiritual gifts. Simply trusting in Jesus supplies you with everything you need! In fact, God commands all Christians to zealously seek the highest gifts (I Corinthians 14:1).
So what gift do you have? There are several lists of gifts mentioned in Scripture: Romans 12:6 – 8; I Corinthians 12:8 – 10; 12:29 – 30; and Ephesians 4:11. They range from gifts as technical as apostles and pastors to as common as “helping” (I Corinthians 12:28) and “speaking the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:2, 15). And don’t forget how important the “fruit” of the Spirit are; they’re yet another manifestation of the Spirit’s gifting in our lives (Galatians 5:22 – 23)! All believers are gifted and empowered by the Spirit to serve the body of Christ.
So as we prepare for this fall kick-off season, be praying about how the Holy Spirit has equipped you to serve your brothers and sisters in Christ. Pray that we would elect those whom the Spirit has gifted for that type of service. Encourage people to use the gifts that you see evidence for in their lives! Do you have questions about what gifts you may have? Do you know where you would like to serve but have questions about how your gifts fit in at Zion? I’d love to talk with you about how the Spirit is at work in your life!
I’m excited to serve with you in this upcoming year, and I’ll be praying that – as we go forward as a church – the Lord would send His Spirit in power on Zion to guide us forward with all of the gifts that we need for service and ministry. If we serve in the strength that He provides, it will keep us dependent on our God, so that He may receive all the glory!
Praying that we would serve one another with our spiritual gifts,
There have been a spate of articles and books lately documenting the current difficulties when churches attempt to be relevant.
CNN: More Teens Becoming Fake Christians
WSJ: The Perils of ‘Wannabe Cool’ Christians
There’s also this gem:
Dear Zion,
Thank you so much for all of the prayers and support you have shown us as we have welcomed our son, Aidan John Lund, into the world! It has meant so much to us that you – our future church family – would be so considerate, loving, and encouraging. From the bottom of our hearts… thank you!
With our newest addition to our family, I’ve been thinking a lot about being a dad to my son, and what fatherhood means. I was struck by how the Apostle Paul spoke about fatherhood in a prayer that I have been praying for you all at Zion from Ephesians 3:
“For this reason I bow my knees before the Father (πατέρα), from whom every fatherhood (πατριὰ) in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith- that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” – Ephesians 3:14 – 21
We say that the First Person of the Trinity is the Father, because He is the Father of the Son, Jesus Christ. We know that we can call upon God as our Father, our Abba, because He is a perfect Father to His Son, Jesus Christ. This is how Jesus taught us to come to God in the Lord’s Prayer: “Our Father, who art in heaven…” But what amazes me in Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians, is that for the Ephesians to know the full, rich, deep and fulfilling love of God, they need to know of God as their Father. It is not just any God who gives them love, power, and glory – it is the Father of Jesus Christ.
You see, it is not enough for me to know that God is a Father. It’s not even enough to know that God is the Father of Jesus. I need to know that through faith in Jesus Christ, God is now my Father also! When Jesus “dwells in us by faith,” we are adopted into the heavenly family (Romans 8:15 – 17). Jesus becomes our Elder Brother (Hebrews 2:14 – 18), and we have become children of God (I John 3:1-2).
I don’t know about you, but I am immensely encouraged to be reminded that I have none other than the Almighty, the Ancient of Days as my tender Abba, my Father. I’m reminded that my Father knows my needs before I know them (Matthew 6:32 – 33), that He will answer my prayers in Jesus’ Name (John 15:16), and that He will bring me to Himself (I Peter 3:15). I have been and will be a flawed, imperfect father, but every fatherhood and family in heaven and earth derives from our Heavenly Father (Ephesians 3:14 – 15).
O Zion, I pray you will know the deep, deep love your Father has for you! May you be filled with His fullness, with a love that surpasses knowledge! I’m praying Ephesians 3 for you!
Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think,
Dear Zion,
Greetings in the Lord! Samantha and I were overjoyed when the Consistory informed us that you all as a church had decided to call us to come to Zion for me to serve you as your next pastor. I never thought I could be so excited to move to Iowa! We eagerly await the day when we can share with you in detail all the many ways we have seen the Lord work to make this come to pass.
I was so excited when Rev. Beaty selected II Peter 3:18 to encourage you all: “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.” This has always been something of a life verse for me, and there is nothing I want more Continue reading
Brian J. Lund 