God's People Gather: What Does the Church Do?

We have learned what the Church is: all believers of all time, everywhere. We have heard why the Church gathers: to rejoice in God’s goodness. We have heard where we will find the Church: where the Gospel is proclaimed in Word and Sacrament. Today, we listen to our God as he teaches us what the Church is all about. What is the Church supposed to do? Proclaim the Gospel to all people so that all may be members of the Church and adopted into God’s family!

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God's People Gather: What is the Church?

Since Adam and Eve were created in the garden of Eden, believers have gathered together. God’s people gather. It is not a question: God’s people gather? Nor is it a command: God’s people gather! It is simply a statement of fact: God’s people gather. This is just what they do. Over the next several weeks, we are going to look at the blessing of being able to gather with fellow believers, and look at the multitude of blessings God’s brings to our lives because God’s people gather!

Today, we are going to see that church is much more than a building or the activities that go on there. Church is a precious gift from God — a safe-haven from all that can harm us, a place where we find purpose and meaning for our lives. And as we see the blessings God gives, the Church will be something that we will dearly cherish as God’s people.

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God's People Gather to Rejoice in God's Grace

Since Adam and Eve were created in the garden of Eden, believers have gathered together. God’s people gather. It is not a question: God’s people gather? Nor is it a command: God’s people gather! It is simply a statement of fact: God’s people gather. This is just what they do. Over the next several weeks, we are going to look at the blessing of being able to gather with fellow believers, and look at the multitude of blessings God’s brings to our lives because God’s people gather!

This week, we see that God’s people gather regularly to rejoice in God’s grace, that is, to rejoice in all our God has done for us and gives to us as we gather! Let us rejoice in the blessing of being able to gather together!

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Reset: Resetting Efficiency

Once something becomes habit, it’s easy to forget why we started doing it in the first place. The same goes for our spiritual habits. It’s important for individuals and churches to regularly reassess what they’re doing and why they’re doing it.

This week Jesus helps us reset our definition of efficiency. Efficiency is defined as getting the maximum results with the minimum amount of wasted time, effort, or energy. The problem with that definition is that we tend to measure only the results we can see, which often leads us to conclude that something is a waste of our time or attention. Thankfully, Jesus shows us how what often seems inefficient is the most effective in his kingdom. Because he has done all things well, we can joyfully seize the opportunities to serve others that he gives us.

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Reset: Resetting Righteousness

Once something becomes habit, it’s easy to forget why we started doing it in the first place. The same goes for our spiritual habits. It’s important for individuals and churches to regularly reassess what they’re doing and why they’re doing it.

This week Jesus helps us reset the source of our righteousness. A wide variety of seemingly strange habits can be explained by our universal need for righteousness. Seeking righteousness in things that we do isn’t a habit we even need to develop—it’s part of our nature. Instead, it’s a habit that needs divine intervention to break. Thankfully, Jesus' words not only help us do that. They also develop a new habit that is truly strange—finding our righteousness only in him.

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Sound Bites: "Have I Not Chosen You?"

Reporters and writers are often looking for sound bites—short, attention-grabbing statements they can turn into a headline. When Jesus spoke—whether to massive crowds or just his closest followers, he didn’t give them unsatisfying samples of his divine wisdom. With his words, he always aimed to leave his hearers full. This week we hear Jesus confront us with the difficult truth that we can only satisfy the hunger of our souls with o

ne thing. Jesus’ words force us to choose between life with him or life without him. However, because his words are full of life and the Spirit’s power, this choice is really no choice at all. By offering his blessings fully and freely to all, the most important choice—Jesus’ choice—has already been made.

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Sound Bites: "Stop Grumbling Among Yourselves"

Reporters and writers are often looking for sound bites—short, attention-grabbing statements they can turn into a headline. When Jesus spoke—whether to massive crowds or just his closest followers, he didn’t give them unsatisfying samples of his divine wisdom. With his words, he always aimed to leave his hearers full.

This week we hear Jesus warn us against trusting our own expectations for what will fill our souls. There’s a universally-accepted common sense that governs life in this world. To that common sense, what Jesus offers our hungry souls appears to be foolish. That foolishness, however, is in fact God’s wisdom. It cannot be accepted by the spirit of this age but must be revealed by the Spirit of God.

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Sound Bites: "Do Not Work for Food that Spoils"

Reporters and writers are often looking for sound bites—short, attention-grabbing statements they can turn into a headline. When Jesus spoke—whether to massive crowds or just his closest followers, he didn’t give them unsatisfying samples of his divine wisdom. With his words, he always aimed to leave his hearers full.

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Sound Bites: "Take Courage"

Reporters and writers are often looking for sound bites—short, attention-grabbing statements they can turn into a headline. When Jesus spoke—whether to massive crowds or just his closest followers, he didn’t give them unsatisfying samples of his divine wisdom. With his words, he always aimed to leave his hearers full.

Reporters and writers are often looking for sound bites—short, attention-grabbing statements they can turn into a headline. When Jesus spoke—whether to massive crowds or just his closest followers, he didn’t give them unsatisfying samples of his divine wisdom. With his words, he always aimed to leave his hearers full.

This week we hear Jesus feed us with words that give us courage. Jesus assures us and demonstrates to us that his presence never leaves our side, no matter what waves might surround us. If we have our eyes fixed on him, we can have courage no matter the storm.

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Sound Bites: "You Give Them Something to Eat

Reporters and writers are often looking for sound bites—short, attention-grabbing statements they can turn into a headline. When Jesus spoke—whether to massive crowds or just his closest followers, he didn’t give them unsatisfying samples of his divine wisdom. With his words, he always aimed to leave his hearers full.

This week we hear Jesus feed us with words that give us purpose. It’s easy to think that the goal in life is to accumulate as much wealth, possessions, and property as we can in order to use these things for our own enjoyment. Jesus teaches us that God blesses us richly so that we can be richly generous toward others. In doing so, we serve as his own hands as he provides for his creation through us.

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Sound Bites: Consider the Source

Reporters and writers are often looking for sound bites—short, attention-grabbing statements they can turn into a headline. When Jesus spoke—whether to massive crowds or just his closest followers, he didn’t give them unsatisfying samples of his divine wisdom. With his words, he always aimed to leave his hearers full.

This week we consider the source of the sound bites we are consuming. By comparing himself to a shepherd who tends a flock of sheep, Jesus makes it clear that his interest in all that he does—including what he says—is our good. In contrast to other voices who seek to lead and influence, our good shepherd wants us to follow him, not for his gain, but for ours.

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Foundation: God's Word Helps Us Carry Our Crosses

We have heard the past weeks how in God’s Word, we have comfort and strength for our sufferings and even death. God now gives you and me the privilege of sharing the comfort and strength God gives in his Word with others. But, that will bring its own challenges and hardships. It isn’t always easy to share God’s Word with others. Other times, we won’t be treated well when we tell other about you. God’s Word continues to strengthen us and gives us to courage to share our Savior!

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