Gather
Dear friends in Christ, the first part of our mission focus is Gather. When we regularly gather together we are greatly blessed. First of all, we are blessed for we are doing what God created us to do and desires of us. Since the beginning of time mankind has found a need to gather to worship God. Noah, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and a countless number of others spent time in worship. After the Israelites came out of Egypt God called them to build a tabernacle and there God would meet and bless His people. Later a permanent temple was built. After Jesus walked this earth the Lord instructed the early Christians to gather together regularly. In fact, in Hebrews 10:25 it says this, “Let us not give up meeting together as is the habit of some, but let us encourage one another and all the more as we see the Day approaching.” As the final Day of the return of our Lord draws near, God desires not that we skip church but that we gather together regularly, weekly, (1 Corinthians 16:2) and be of an encouragement to one another.
Secondly, when we gather for worship we ourselves are greatly blessed. We are blessed as we hear to spoken Word of God read and preached upon. We are blessed as we are able to witness the sacrament of Baptism and the miracle God works in someone’s life. We are also blessed as we are reminded of this great miracle the Lord has worked in our life through our baptism. We are blessed as we receive the sacrament of the body and the blood of Christ, something we cannot receive at home or online. We are further blessed as we hear the words of Absolution spoken to us for there we receive the forgiveness of all our sins (John 20:22-23) which Jesus carried to the cross for us. (John 20:22-23) When we gather for worship we are blessed though the hymns and songs that are sung. This holds true whether we are familiar with that day’s particular hymn or not. Because through the Word and music God speaks to our soul and to others as well. Furthermore, God is praised and it is a pleasing sound to Him. We are blessed to join with our fellow believers and pray as the body of Christ. For where two or three are gather there our Lord was with us (Matthew 18:20). We are also blessed by one another. We are blessed to see that there are other like-minded believers. We are not alone in this secular and dark world we live in. When we gather with other believers their presence can be of an encouragement to us. Furthermore, we can be encouraged in our conversations with one another, the Christian fellowship we enjoy, and in being able to be a part of a growing relationship with another believer.
Thirdly, when we gather regularly to worship together, the blessings we have received are also blessings we are able to pass on to one another. When you are present in worship this is an encouragement for others as well. You serve others simply by your presence as it is an encouragement for someone to see that you too are there and they are not alone in this dark secular world. Others are blessed by your conversations, your words and actions of welcoming one another. People can be greatly blessed when you engage them in a conversation and show a friendliness and a welcoming encouragement toward them. Even as we are blessing to others in this way we too can grow through these experiences. There is always something we can learn from someone and there is always something others can learn from us.
Gathering regularly for worship is a great blessing. However, if we are not present then we lose out of many of these blessings in our own life and instead of others being encouraged by us they will be discouraged on account of our absence, if we do not gather together. We may be tempted to spend our time and energy one something else in this world but “what good is it if we gain the whole world and yet forfeit our own soul. (Matthew 16:26). Do not let the cares and the worries of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth distract you and chock out the great gift of faith that God gives (Mark 4:18-19). For our faith in Jesus is truly the greatest gift we have ever been given. For it is only through faith in Jesus and what He has done for us, that the gate of heaven will stand open for us.
Indeed, we look forward to seeing you in church. Come and be blessed and be a blessing to others. Gather together with us regularly for here you receive and share the gifts of eternity with one another.
Pastor Schoenfeld
Something Everyone Needs to Know
“All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23
Ever since Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit (Genesis 3) every human being has come into this world as a sinful being. Our sin separates us from God. Left to ourselves we would perish for eternity in hell (John 3:36 & Hebrews 10:26-27).
“For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16
God loves you so much that He came into this world as a human being (Luke 2:1-20). Jesus, the Son of God, lived a perfect life for you (Hebrews 4:14-16), suffered and died upon a cross for you (John 19), and rose from the dead for you (Luke 24). Now our risen Lord will forgive your sin (1 John 1:8-9) and grant eternal salvation to you if you believe in Him.
“Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved…” Acts 16:31
When God blesses you with a living faith in Jesus you will have a place in heaven. Such salvation comes not by our works but by grace through faith in Jesus (Romans 3:28; Ephesians 2:8-10).
“And He died for all, that those who live, should no longer live for themselves but for Him who died for them and was raised again.” 2 Corinthians 5:15
Now as those who have been given the gift of heaven we live no longer just for ourselves but to serve God and our fellow human beings. (Ephesians 2:10)
Pastor Schoenfeld