Your Faith Journey - Finding God Through Words, Song and Praise

This is special music presented by Christopher Lewis today at the service at Faith Lutheran Church in Okemos, Michigan

Figuring out what is ultimately important and putting that first ~ that's the challenge of the Gospel. And nothing is more important than living into the Kingdom of God, wherever you are, when it comes near. Sometimes when we discern that God’s kingdom is near, the faithful thing to do is to drop everything and sit still and listen – like Mary. Other times when we discern God’s presence, the faithful thing to do is to get busy, to take on all of the organizational drive, ability and passion we can muster and work like Martha.

Fortunately, Jesus comes daily to beckon us anew to sit at his feet. As God’s people, we connect with God’s mission here first, at the feet of our Savior. Then, bound together as Christ’s Body, we go into the world, a world that will likely crucify us as it did him, to serve the ones who are broken, disconnected and as lost as we seem to be. This is the blueprint for everything we do together as God’s people. We come together at Jesus’ feet to sit and learn for a time.

Then we go out united with Jesus in Baptism and Communion, fed by his living, life-giving word, to live, not as ourselves, but as Christ. You see, it is not about hearing or doing, it is about hearing and doing that makes us faithful disciples. The good news is that when we sit down and eat our fill of the life-giving Word of God, when we have been nourished at this table, we will also be ready to put hands and feet, hearts and minds to work.

So, as I think about my relationship with my sister, I have begun to realize that I was not necessarily “right.” We both were doing necessary things. But, as we live into the dream of God, maybe I need to allow the Word to move me into greater areas of service and, just maybe, she needs to take a little time to become refreshed by God’s life-giving Word.

Figuring out what is ultimately important and putting that first ~ that's the challenge of the Gospel. And nothing is more important than living into the Kingdom of God, wherever you are, when it comes near. Sometimes when we discern that God’s kingdom is near, the faithful thing to do is to drop everything and sit still and listen – like Mary. Other times when we discern God’s presence, the faithful thing to do is to get busy, to take on all of the organizational drive, ability and passion we can muster and work like Martha.

Fortunately, Jesus comes daily to beckon us anew to sit at his feet. As God’s people, we connect with God’s mission here first, at the feet of our Savior. Then, bound together as Christ’s Body, we go into the world, a world that will likely crucify us as it did him, to serve the ones who are broken, disconnected and as lost as we seem to be. This is the blueprint for everything we do together as God’s people. We come together at Jesus’ feet to sit and learn for a time.

Then we go out united with Jesus in Baptism and Communion, fed by his living, life-giving word, to live, not as ourselves, but as Christ. You see, it is not about hearing or doing, it is about hearing and doing that makes us faithful disciples. The good news is that when we sit down and eat our fill of the life-giving Word of God, when we have been nourished at this table, we will also be ready to put hands and feet, hearts and minds to work.

So, as I think about my relationship with my sister, I have begun to realize that I was not necessarily “right.” We both were doing necessary things. But, as we live into the dream of God, maybe I need to allow the Word to move me into greater areas of service and, just maybe, she needs to take a little time to become refreshed by God’s life-giving Word.

Today at Faith Lutheran Church, Elliot and Gwynne Kadrofske performed special music within the service with Gwynne played on flute and Elliot on Cello as they performed Air From Suite 3 by Bach.

Today at Faith Lutheran Church, Elliot and Gwynne Kadrofske performed special music within the service with Gwynne played on flute and Elliot on Cello as they performed Air From Suite 3 by Bach.

As we think about this past week, the question for each of us is who is your neighbor and who are you called to serve and be present to as neighbor? Who has been neighbor to you? Jesus Christ has been neighbor to you. The crucified one has been neighbor to you. Have you felt God’s mercy make your own heart merciful, compassionate and loving? Then in your heart you will know what this means: Go and do likewise!

As we think about this past week, the question for each of us is who is your neighbor and who are you called to serve and be present to as neighbor? Who has been neighbor to you? Jesus Christ has been neighbor to you. The crucified one has been neighbor to you. Have you felt God’s mercy make your own heart merciful, compassionate and loving? Then in your heart you will know what this means: Go and do likewise!

We have been called as a community of people, not individuals, a community of people to share with those around us in the greater community the good news of God’s love, grace, healing and peace. And, we do not work alone. Our mission is a shared mission. We work together as the community of Christ and our hope and welfare is inextricably linked to that of those around us. Participating in this Jesus mission means working and living together in intimate community, becoming vulnerable and giving up our need to control. And, quite frankly, that kind of vulnerability makes this work a lot more fun because it is all about what God is doing and has done and it is not about us.

We have been called as a community of people, not individuals, a community of people to share with those around us in the greater community the good news of God’s love, grace, healing and peace. And, we do not work alone. Our mission is a shared mission. We work together as the community of Christ and our hope and welfare is inextricably linked to that of those around us. Participating in this Jesus mission means working and living together in intimate community, becoming vulnerable and giving up our need to control. And, quite frankly, that kind of vulnerability makes this work a lot more fun because it is all about what God is doing and has done and it is not about us.

Special music from the Soprano and Alto Choir of the Faith Lutheran Church in Okemos, Michigan.