Pastor Augie’s Blog

“For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—“ (Ephesians 1:4-5)

The following illustration really struck me.  It is by Pastor Mark Cares, www.truthinloveministry.net.  He writes:

I like to tell story of little Orphan Andy.  Andy lived in an orphanage. His greatest desire was to be adopted and become part of a family.  This is what he thought about every night before he went to sleep.  One day a couple came to the orphanage and told Andy that they were thinking of adopting him but they wanted to take him home for a month to see how it would work out.  After the month was up they would decide if they would adopt him.  Andy went home with them and tried to be on his best behavior but every night he couldn’t help but wonder if he was good enough.  Talk about a stress filled month!  Let’s say however that this couple, instead of waiting for a month to make a decision, had come to the orphanage and told Andy that they had already adopted him.  The papers were signed.  He was their son.  Imagine the joy Andy would feel.  Imagine how he would show his gratitude by trying to be the best he could be.  He would act even better than in the first scenario because he wouldn’t have the pressure of having to work to be accepted.

Many people are under tremendous stress wondering if they are ‘good enough’ to be acceptable to God.  Some days, when they’ve been having a good stretch of reading their Bibles, going to church and/or doing certain good deeds for the Lord, they feel that God is pleased with them.  But other days, their sin convicts them and they feel like God wants nothing to do with them.  What a roller-coaster, and what a burden! 

The truth is, none of us can ever behave well enough to earn God’s favor.  As Christians, we are like Andy in the second scenario.  We try to please God, yes.  However, we do this not to become accepted by God but rather because we know that God has already accepted us through Jesus.  The Bible tells us that we are already his adopted sons and daughters through Christ (Eph. 1:4-5). 

This may seem like a subtle distinction, but make no mistake.  This difference in our understanding of God’s love and Christ’s salvation is transformational in how we live, love and behave.  As we understand that we have God’s love and favor regardless of what we do, we are filled with an inexplicable joy, peace and contentment.  And as we realize that we are God’s sons and daughters and bear His Holy Name, we are motivated to love and serve the Lord out of gratitude, not compulsion.  My prayer is that you experience God’s gift of grace for yourself.

Connecting People to Jesus,
Pastor Augie

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Ephesians 6: 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Pastor Augie talks about a positive way to view challenges that may come your way!

Click Here to Hear Audio (821 Kb, 2 min. 20 sec.)

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Pastor Augie & Rachelle summarize their recent trip to St. Louis with PLI (Pastoral Leadership Institute). Pastor Augie shares his highlight segment from the conference - “Movement vs. Structure.” Rachelle shares her highlight - “Spiritual Warfare”

View this video directly in GodTube (larger image size): http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=3a29d1821f1e8430b6f8

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“You are the salt of the earth. …You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.” (Matthew 5:13-14)

Have you ever had ‘one of those days’ – perhaps as a parent, as a teacher or in your workplace?  You know what I mean… a day when everything seems to be challenging you… or an entire season that seems like one step forward and two steps backward?  It’s times like that when you find yourself asking the question – “why am I doing this?”  Maybe you even ask a friend or your spouse, “tell me again – why did we decide to do this?”  It is times like that which test your resolve, your determination and your motivation.

Is it any surprise that ministry is challenging?  Why wouldn’t it be?  Anytime that we, as Christians, attempt to do the Lord’s work, we are stepping out on the battlefield.  On that battlefield, Satan is our opponent; and he will stop at nothing to try and defeat us.  And if he can’t defeat us, he’ll try to defer us, delay us and distract us.  Distraction is perhaps one of his most powerful weapons.  If Satan can take our minds and our hearts off of our God-given goals, then he has a foothold by which to begin chipping away at our effectiveness.  Once the enemy has succeeded at distracting us, then he can move on to discouraging us.  To avoid being delayed, distracted, discouraged and otherwise “derailed” by Satan, we need to regularly ask ourselves the question, “Why are we doing this?” and so return to our God-given purpose.  We need to remind ourselves the motivating and driving force behind our efforts, otherwise “when the going gets tough” as they say, we may lose heart.  

So, why are we doing this?  Why are we building a Christian church in Queen Creek?  Quite simply, because the community NEEDS us!  That’s right – whether they know it or not, we have what they need – God.  I recently read an article that was pointing out that we no longer live in a “church culture.”  That means that on average, people no longer see the church as a relevant part of their life – they have little use for it.  The article posits that we cannot wait for people to “accidentally find us” (because they aren’t looking).  Instead, our role is to “bring light into a culture that is growing dimmer and dimmer.”  We are doing this because our Lord charges us to be the salt and light of the earth!  (Matthew 5:13-14).  We may have challenges in ministry.  We may even have obstacles in front of us.  But the Lord has made his call on our life clear – to pervade our world with the message of the Gospel.  We cannot shrink back from the task he has given us – too many people are counting on us! 

Connecting People to Jesus, Pastor Augie

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“Your faith has saved you; go in peace” (Luke 7:50)  

There is often discussion about the apparent contradiction between the apostles James and Paul.  Paul says that we are saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9), and James seems to say that a person is saved by works - “You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone” (James 2:24).  Well, Jesus weighs in on the matter too, when he says to one woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace” (Luke 7:50).  This woman was a known sinner - clearly not someone justified in what she has done, except in this one sense… Her faith prompted her to come weeping in repentance before the Lord, even washing His feet with her tears.  In this sense, I believe her ACTION (or deeds) demonstrated her FAITH.  It was her faith that moved her to action, but it was her faith that came first.  Which is why Jesus says “Your faith has saved you.” Even James is careful to say in the same verse where he extols good deeds, that Justification involves faith.  Clearly any living faith will be expressed by deeds.  The fault happens when someone attempts to take either extreme - works without faith, or faith without works.  A good deed not grounded in faith is not a good deed at all, and a living faith that demonstrates no fruit is not thinkable either.  Faith and works are both alive and well in the life of the believer.  There is no contradiction here.

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Scripture: “And do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’” (Matthew 3:9)

Observation: John the Baptist is preparing the way for Jesus. He is chastising a group of Pharisees and Sadducees who were snooping around. His warning is sharp – “there is wrath that is coming, but your stature in society and your lineage as Jews will not save you – only fruit bearing repentance will!” John tells them in no uncertain terms – you will not be saved simply because you are a Jew (having Abraham as your father).

Application: Today, Christians struggle with the fact that the Jews are God’s “chosen and loved” people. But does that mean that they have a guaranteed salvation simply because they are Jews and descendents of Abraham? This verse makes unequivocally clear – that the answer is NO. Salvation is granted only to those who repent of their sins and believe in the name of Christ – the Lamb of God for whom John is preparing the way.

Prayer: Father, thank you that I need not be a descendant of Abraham to inherit eternal life. Thank you for saving me through the birth, death & resurrection of your Son, Jesus! Amen.

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Scripture: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17)

Observation: As we know, Paul is writing to the Corinthian congregation. This is a congregation that has really struggled with Christian living. As Lutheran Christians, we understand that our behavior does not earn us salvation. We call this JUSTIFICATION by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9). However we are also careful to make the distinction that, just as this text says, as Christians we are new creations. Paul even says in verse 21 that we literally “become the righteousness of God.” We recognize that now that we have Christ dwelling within us, we are dead to sin. And while we may live in this world, we do not live for this world. Consequently we strive each day to become more like Christ… “compelled” by His love (verse 14). In this way we live out the fact that we are a new creation - and as such we have a new identity in Christ. Now our deeds are not driven out of compulsion or fear, but rather because the Lord lives and works through us. We call this SANCTIFICATION.

Application: I continue to struggle with what it means to live the Christian life. I understand that my works do not earn my favor with God. However I must recognize that wherever I go I bear the name of Christ. Are my actions demonstrating the fact that I am a new creation? How can I live no longer for myself, but for him who died for me and was raised again? (Verse 15).

Prayer: Father, thank you for showing me in your law the sin that I have left behind, and the sins that no longer define me. Thank you also for Jesus Christ. Not only is he my savior from sin, but he is my example for living in a way that is pleasing to you. Help me live less for myself, and more for you. Amen.

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Scripture - “He will not let your foot slip - he who watches over you will not slumber.” (Psalm 121:3)

Observation - The Psalmist begins this psalm with the words “I lift my eyes to the hills - where does my help come from? … my help comes from the Lord… maker of heaven and earth!” The psalm writer is in some sort of trouble. We don’t know what it is. Maybe he’s gazing off to the hills looking for help? Or maybe he’s actually CLIMBING the hill? … either way - the source of the help is clearly God; none other than the maker of heaven and earth! This verse says simply - If you have a problem, God’s powerful enough to take care of it. After all - he made the heavens and the earth! And this promise is valid at any hour. God does not sleep! He’s watching over you and making sure you are guarded and safe!

Application - I woke up early today. I couldn’t sleep. (Possibly too much Halloween chocolate?) And even though I’m awake, I am still drowsy and sluggish. This helps me appreciate just what it means that God is always awake and active … even when I am sleeping. Even when I’m not awake, he’s watching out for me. I can be confident that He will keep me from all harm (v. 7).

Prayer - Lord, I feel attacked and weary sometimes. Satan does not want me to press on. Thank you for always guiding my step and protecting me even while I sleep and am not awake! Amen.

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Scripture: “Now the Bereans were of more noble character then the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness to see if what Paul said was true.” (Acts 17:11)

Observation: The apostle Paul is on his third missionary journey. He’s gone from Philippi, to Thessalonica and is now in Berea. Just prior to this, in Thessalonica, the Bible tells us that he reasoned with the Jews in the synagogue, using the Scriptures to explain that Jesus is the Christ; and that he had to suffer and rise from the dead (Acts 17:2-3). However the Jews in Thessalonica largely did not receive the message, though some did and so did many God-fearing Greeks. Paul and Silas were asked to leave the town – actually run out of it by a mob riot started by the Jews. In Berea, however, they were different. The Bible tells us that they were of more noble character. What made their character noble? … they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day. The Bible is telling us that we would do well to eagerly examine the Scriptures daily. In them, we will find Truth.

Application: I must admit, I don’t always receive the message with great eagerness. Often the message of the Bible reveals to me my sin. And sometimes I’m just plain lazy. I get caught up in the variety of other pursuits in my life and I don’t devote time daily to be in the word-much less to do so eagerly. This verse is reminding me that Bible reading is not a chore, but that it contains the message of life and salvation. I need to approach it eagerly every day.

Prayer: Lord, restore to me the joy of your salvation. Renew in me a hearty desire and eagerness to visit you in your Word and to receive the message with gladness. Amen.

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Scripture: “He made no distinction between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith.” (Acts 15:9)

Observation: A lot is going on here and a lot is being said. The bottom line is that this is a watershed moment for the early Christian church! The majority of new believers in Christ were Jews (converted Jews)…. but not all! The Jews themselves sent Peter to preach to the Gentiles. … And what they prayed for happened! The Gentiles heard the message and came to Faith Praise the Lord! … now what?! They (some of them) reverted to what they once knew-the Law. And so, they called for the circumcision of the new Gentile converts in adherence to the law of Moses. But Peter set them straight. He made it clear that the same Gospel that converted them, set them free from the Law! They were saved, and their hearts purified, by faith alone!

Application: This phrase:”saved by faith” is a mantra in modern Evangelical Lutheran teaching and theology. But we can miss it so often. We fall back into our ways of trusting our works. However our works, no matter how sanctified (or even commanded by God), cannot save us. Our hearts are made pure through faith alone.

Prayer: Father, help me not to judge others by my standards of sanctification… you don’t. Remind me again that all the stains of my sin are washed pure by faith in the work of your Son Jesus! Amen.

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