Jesus säd siene Jinja derch een Jlikjnis, daut see emma bäden sullen un nich mootloos woaren.

- Lukas 18:1  

Jesus tells the parable of the persistent widow so his disciples will always pray and never give up. The widow has almost nothing going for her: no husband, no son, no lawyer, no money, no power, and an unjust judge who does not fear God or care about people. Her persistency is the one thing she has, and she keeps coming with the same request: “Grant me justice.” The unjust judge finally gives her justice because she is wearing him out, but God is not like that judge.

God does not need to be talked into caring for his children. Christ uses the crooked judge to show that his people must demonstrate determination in faith. Prayer is expected in the life of a Christian, because Jesus says not “if you pray,” but “when you pray.” Christ himself gives the example by praying in the critical moments and in the everyday moments, even giving thanks before meals.

Prayer is communication with a good Father who loves his children and wants relationship with them all the time. God calls for praise, confession, thanksgiving, and petitions, because he wants his children to talk to him and hear from him through his Word and Spirit. Prayer grows as believers grow, yet childlike honesty must not be lost along the way. Children say things like they are, and honest prayer comes to God with that same open heart.

Prayer must never be exhausted. The widow’s repeated coming pictures a faith that does not quit after one request, one disappointment, or many years of waiting. Christ’s question at the end of the parable brings the matter home: when the Son of Man returns, will he find faith on the earth? Persistent prayer becomes an ongoing demonstration of faith, not a passive religious act. Prayer is active ministry, prayer until something happens, and a life of continuing to ask, seek, and knock.

Prayer is also effective. James says that the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective, and God’s children are called to pray with confidence in his promises. Christ says, “Ask and it will be given,” “Seek and you will find,” and “Knock and the door will be opened.” God answers in the right time and the right place, according to his will, but his children must pray seriously, with all their heart, believing what he has said.

Forgiveness belongs right in the middle of prayer. Christ says that anyone standing in prayer while holding something against another person must forgive, so that the Father may forgive. Prayer is not magic for trouble; prayer is the connection to God, the source and supply of every need. Prayer therefore needs an intentional time and place, removal of distractions and sin, right motives, faith, persistency, and grace-filled prayer for the church and its leaders.

De Tiet kjemt, un es aul hia, daut jie woaren vestreit woaren, een jiedra fa sikj, un woaren mie auleen loten. Oba ekj sie nich auleen, de Voda es bie mie.

- Johanes 16:32

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. The text does not mean that a person should have a weak spirit or no joy. Poor in spirit means coming before God knowing there is nothing good enough to bring as payment for entrance into his kingdom. Human goodness, giving, tithing, fasting, and helping needy people all have their place, but none of them can make a sinner right with God.

The Pharisee and the tax collector show the difference between spiritual pride and spiritual health. The Pharisee comes with a list of all the things he has done right, while the tax collector can barely look toward heaven and simply asks for mercy. Jesus says the tax collector goes home justified, because he knows his need. God’s mercy, grace, forgiveness, and unconditional love through Jesus are what make a person righteous.

Peter’s response to the huge catch of fish shows what poor in spirit can look like in real life. Peter does not stand there bragging about his big break, but falls at Jesus’ knees and says, “Go away from me, I am a sinful man.” Sin can leave a person feeling like a trash can, unworthy even to pray or say God’s name. Jesus meets that kind of person with an invitation, not rejection: come to him with the heavy burden, because he came to seek and save the lost.

Peter’s life also shows what God can do with someone who knows he has nothing to boast about. Peter leaves behind the greatest catch of his life to follow Jesus, and God later uses him for great things. Humility becomes the healthy way to live in God’s kingdom, because God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble. Jesus himself gives the pattern by serving his disciples and washing their feet.

A healthy spirit needs regular nourishment just as the body needs food and the mind needs good input. Jesus calls himself the bread of life, the one who feeds the spirit. Jesus also invites weary and burdened people to walk right beside him, not somewhere way back in the caravan. His yoke becomes light when a person stays close enough to have a real relationship with him.

Een Mensch plont sienen Wajch, oba de Har bestemt wua hee jeit. - Spricha 16:9

Jesus grounds the whole call in Matthew 28 by saying that all authority in heaven and on earth belongs to Him. Jesus then tells His followers to go, make disciples, baptize them, and teach them to obey everything He commanded. The church exists today because a small group of men received what Jesus taught, carried it forward, and faithful people kept carrying it forward through every generation.

The first step is reaching people with the gospel wherever life takes a Christian. Baptism follows genuine faith, marking the point where an old life lived in the flesh ends and a new life in the Spirit begins. Acts shows this pattern clearly when those who accepted Peter’s message were baptized and three thousand were added in one day.

Teaching gets wide very fast because “everything” Jesus commanded includes, well, everything. Scripture is God-breathed and useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that God’s servant can be equipped for every good work. Sound doctrine requires healthy and accurate biblical truth, and anyone who wants to teach well must also remain a student of God’s Word. God’s Word belongs at the beginning of the day, giving the heart something stronger than problems, bad news, and anxious thoughts to meditate on.

Titus pictures discipleship as life speaking into life. Paul calls older and wiser believers to help others grow in self-control, sound faith, love, patience, wisdom, integrity, and speech that cannot be condemned. A Christian life should leave no room for hypocrisy, where one kind of behavior appears among church family and another kind appears elsewhere. Older men, younger men, older women, and younger women all need godly mentorship, especially those who have grown up without healthy examples close by.

One-on-one discipleship carries a special weight because pain, struggles, hurts, and needs are not easily unpacked in front of a group. A trusted person keeps confidence from becoming damage and gives encouragement that helps another person stand. The church needs to make sure nobody is left out and that each person has someone able to walk alongside them.

Equipping supplies people with what they need to fulfill their particular work. Gifts differ, so resources differ, whether the work involves teaching children, serving through cooking, supporting missions, or another calling. Multiplication then carries faith forward, first into families and then into the next generation. Jesus remains with His people to the very end of the age, so discouragement must not pull their eyes away from Him. Like Peter on the water, faith begins to sink when it stares at the commotion rather than at Jesus.

Deept an en dän Nomen von däm Voda, von däm Sän un von däm Heiljen Jeist.

- Mathäus 28:19b

Baptism is a picture of a changed life—a point where the old is left behind and a new life of following Christ begins. In this message, Pastor Johnny Marten looks at Jesus' command in Matthew 28:19 and explores what baptism represents throughout Scripture.

From Noah and the flood, to Israel's journey from slavery to freedom, to the baptism of Jesus and the events of Pentecost, we see how God uses these moments to point toward transformation and new beginnings.

This message was shared as part of a special baptism service celebrating 10 individuals who publicly declared their faith in Jesus Christ and their desire to follow Him.

As we celebrate with those being baptized, we are also encouraged to continue growing in our own relationship with Christ and to pray for and support those beginning this next step in their walk with Him.

Dan got nu no de Velkja von de Welt un moakt an to Lieelinja,

- Mathäus 28:19a

Jesus didn't simply call us to believe in Him—He called us to follow Him and to help others follow Him too.

In Matthew 28:18–20, Jesus gives His followers the Great Commission: “Go and make disciples of all nations.” In this message, Pastor Johnny Marten looks at what it really means to make disciples and how Jesus modeled discipleship through relationships, time, teaching, encouragement, and love.

Discipleship isn't simply a program or something that happens inside a church building. We are called to meet people where they are, build relationships, share what God has done in our lives, and walk alongside others as they grow in their faith.

Pastor Johnny challenges us to keep our spiritual eyes open and pray, “God, is there someone You want me to disciple?”

We all need someone to help us grow, and we all have someone we can pour into.

Scripture References:

Matthew 28:18–20

Matthew 4:18–22

Mark 16:15

1 Thessalonians 5:14

John 1:1–3