Simply Grace

Invitado especial: Pastor Juan Cabezudo de la Iglesia Luterana Evangélica Peruana

Gracias a pastores: Misael, María Rojas, María Santa Cruz

Los que escuchan el verbo de Dios son bendecidos.

Misael: Hechos 1:15-17

María: 1 Juan 5:9-13

Wes: Juan 17:6-19

Juan: San Lucas 24:44-53

Sermon May 9, 2021

Pastor Wesley Menke, with recognition to the theological work of Bishop Ismael Laborde of the United Evangelical Lutheran Church of Cuba, Lutheran Synod.

Grace Lutheran Church

Did you hear the news? A woman was recently ordained as a bishop in the Lutheran Church of Cuba. When I read this news story it kind of made my head hurt. First of all, I didn’t know that there was the free exercise of religion in Cuba. I was led to believe that the freedom of religion was not permitted in Cuba. Secondly, I was surprised to find out that the Lutheran Church is growing in Cuba, but so much so that they have multiple bishops in addition to pastors, and that now one of those bishops is a woman. Bishops are pastors to the pastors. And we all know that women make great pastors. Why is that? Because the same skills you need to be a mother, are what you need to be a pastor. Furthermore, the skills that you need to be a bishop, or a pastor, or a mother, also happen to be the same skills you need to be a Lutheran. 

So I let my curiosity run wild a little bit. I sent a message to the Lutheran Church of Cuba to say hello. I wanted to know more about the Lutheran Church in Cuba. So I was put in contact with Bishop Ismael Laborde. Bishop Ismael is a man, and not the person obviously who had just made international news. But he was the one who responded to my message and so we found a little time to talk. I wanted to know what it was like to lead a church in Cuba. Was there a lot of persecution?

The bishop was very direct. His answer was, “No.” The biggest problem for the Lutheran church in Cuba isn’t religious persecution. It is confusion as to what it means to be Lutheran. “There are many currents within Christianity,” the Bishop Said. There are many different churches: evangelical, Catholic, pentecostal, and more. We have to teach people why being Lutheran matters. I thought about this problem, and I realized that I too can relate, and I think you can too! With so many churches out there, why be Lutheran? 

There are four key concepts for Lutherans. Bishop Ismael calls these “code words.”

Theology of the CrossSaved by Grace through FaithTwo KingdomsLaw and Gospel

Theology of the Cross

Some of the flashy churches out there preach something called “prosperity gospel.” This is the belief that if you believe in Jesus, and follow the 10 commandments they you will be showered with financial blessings. This is a lie. Jesus showed us the power of God by suffering on a cross. He said that there is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. Therefore Lutherans don’t seek God in the halls of power, but among those who are suffering. People experiencing suffering are closer to Jesus as when he suffered. You won’t find God in comfort, power, or wealth. You will find God in discomfort, weakness, and poverty. This sounds a lot like the love of a mother. Mothers are constantly giving sacrificial love. That is the Theology of the Cross. 

Saved by Grace through Faith

Some people are attracted to a religion because they want to be told what to do.  They are looking for a rulebook to follow. There are religions out there that will do that for you. They will tell you exactly how to live your life. How to think on e

Grace Lutheran Church

Thank you for studying: June, Loretta, Sandy, and Pastor Wesley

We study the readings for the sixth Sunday of Easter year B, 2021

Acts 10:44-48 , Psalm 98, 1 John 5:1-6, John 15:9-17

Invitado especial: Obispo Ismael laborde

https://www.facebook.com/Iglesiaevangelicaluteranacubana

Gracias a Misael, Nathan, y Wesley

Presentación de “Cuatro códigos de la teología luterana”

Estudio para el sexto domingo de pascua

Hechos 10:44-48

Salmo 98

1 Juan 5:1-6

Juan 15:1-8

Sermon May 2, 2021

Pastor Wesley Menke

Grace Lutheran Church

When I was a student at the seminary there was another student from the southeastern United States. One day there was a lot of noise outside the classroom. Workers were cutting down the trees. The new student from Southern California said. I am from the southeastern United States. We have trees everywhere. There are quite a few trees, and we never cut them down. But here it is more like desert. You don’t have many trees. So why are they always cutting down the few trees they have? 

Have you never paid attention that he is right? We are always cutting down the trees. Especially on Euclid Avenue. Teams of workers come and go and never end up cutting down the trees! Just the other day they were picking the lemon crop from Scheue’s orchard on 21st Street. And after the harvest? They pruned all the trees not gently. No. With a terrible machine they cut and covered all the trees in line. Because? Because the owner of the garden knows: to have more harvest, more lemons. 

Jesus said: I am the vine, you are the branches. The one that does not produce will be cut off. The one that does produce, will also be cut in the form of pruning. It is not an option to be cut. It is necessary to grow. 

What’s the stupidest thing you’ve ever done? That is. What is the decision you made that resulted in something that tortures your mind every day? If you could go back in time to change your decisions in order to prevent something from happening, you may find that this terrible thing cannot be avoided. 

It is arrogance to think that we can change the course of life. Consider Jesus. He did no sin, but suffered a death on the cross. How is this fair? That’s not fair. He had to suffer because it was his destiny. 

Perhaps the most difficult thing you have ever experienced in your life is not the result of your actions. You don’t have the power to change it. It’s not your fault. The thing that happened to you is not your fault. The thing that happened to you is not your fault. 

Do you remember that the branch that does not bear fruit is what? Chopped up. And the branch that does produce fruit is what? Also cut. You do not know if the adversity you have is because you are good or bad. You cannot decide if you are going to be cut. If you haven’t felt the pain of losing, then good luck. You will feel it. 

The Ethiopian eunuch knew the pain of being cut. What a price to pay. He was an official of the queen. I imagine they were close and intimate. But not so intimate. This intelligent and educated man was reading the holy scriptures in his carriage. Maybe he was a Jew because he was in Jerusalem for the Passover. He was isolated and alone when he approached Felipe. A cut man without issue. He is reading words that speak of a suffering servant of the Lord who was also cut off from his offspring. Philip says that this is Jesus who died at a young age. But Jesus rose again. And his disciples were his offspring. They are made brothers and relatives by the Holy Spiri

Grace Lutheran Church

Thank you for studying: Ingrid, June, Loretta, Mark, Sandy, and Pastor

We study the readings for the fifth Sunday of Easter year B, 2021

Acts 8:26-40 , Psalm 22:25-31, 1 John 4:7-21, John 15:1-8

Textos para el quinto domingo de pascua año b

Hechos 8:26-40 Wesley

Salmo 22:25-31 César

1 Juan 4:7-21 Nate

Juan 15:1-8 

Oración Final, Juan Leyva Cabezudo

April 25, 2021, Pastor Wesley Menke

Have you ever felt a pain in your heart? How many songs are there with the theme of heartache? It can be caused by a difference between what you want and what you have. Also the heart feels bad when there is a difference between the words you say and your actions. You can hurt not only your own heart but also the hearts of others. This is called hypocrisy. 1 John 3: 16-24 says that our love is not only in words, but is demonstrated in deeds. 

The solution to this problem is: change the words. Works and facts are difficult to change. Words are much easier to change. But words have much more power to change and motivate actions. The pen is mightier than the sword. So if you want to change your actions first change your words. Do not abandon words for hypocrisy. No. Change your words to change your way of thinking and ultimately your actions. 

In the holy gospel according to John 10: 11-18 Jesus says, “The sheep listen to my voice.” Once upon a time, a youth pastor started serving a church in the country. In this church there was a family of ranchers. There were sheep on his ranch. ” The head of the ranch, who was a member of the church and also a dad with youth, invited the youth pastor to the ranch for a field trip. After exploring the entire ranch, the chief told the shepherd, “It is time for the sheep to eat. So yell at them ‘food’ to come. ” The pastor yelled, “Food!” But the sheep did not pay attention to the shepherd. The rancher said, “Louder!” And the pastor tried several times without results. Finally the rancher said to the youth pastor, “Look. A) Yes.” And in a whisper he said, “food.” And immediately all the sheep started running to the rancher. They ran very fast. The rancher said, “The sheep listen to my voice. You are not a shepherd of these sheep. You are the pastor of my children and the youth of the church. They are going to listen to you. Please use the power of your voice with care. ” Words have the power to motivate and change actions. 

Jesus Christ is our good shepherd. He has power in his voice to guide us. Psalm 23 describes the process of being led by God. Jesus guides us through the calm waters and makes us rest in green pastures so that we don’t eat too much either. Our pastor God guides us on the paths of justice. I love justice. I am glad to know that God guides us on the paths of justice. But where do the paths of justice go? The psalm says: although I walk through the valley of the shadow of death. What thing! Following the path of the Lord implies that we do not avoid the valley of shadow, on the contrary the path of justice crosses the valley of the shadow of death. You cannot follow the Lord without entering or crossing this valley. 

God does not call us to a path without giving us help. The psalm says that we are not afraid because God protects us. Your rod and your staff infuse me. God protects us and helps us precisely because following the path of justic

We cannot live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God! That is why we study the Bible. 

Thank you for studying: Ingrid, June, Loretta, Mark, Sandy, and Pastor

We study the readings for the fourth Sunday of Easter year B, 2021

Acts 4:5-12, Psalm 23, 1 John 3:16-24, John 10:11-18

Hechos 4:5–12, Marsha

Salmo 23, María

1 San Juan 3:16–24, Misael

San Juan 10:11–18, Cesar

Oración Final Wesley

Cuarto domingo de pascua

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