If the world were to go to the doctor for its 2020 check up … what would the doctor say?
Wildfires, hurricanes, missiles launched in the Middle East, the death of Kobe Bryant, impeachment, COVID-19, stock market crash, quarantine, unemployment, racial tensions, peaceful protests and destructive riots, political gridlock and election campaigns … our inbox and social media posts have all revealed something about us, our neighbors, our country and our world.
In Jesus … the Worst of the World is Met with the Best of the Triune God
2020 has revealed a world that is sick, torn apart and ravaged by sin, death and the devil. We struggle with …
- a languishing faith
- a loss of hope
- a lack of love
In days like these, where and to whom shall we go? What is the cure? Where is the healing?
The good news is that in the person and work of Jesus we receive all of the gifts that only the Triune God can give! He not only gives life eternal but faith, hope and love for today! Through baptism and a life of repentance we are connected to the person and work of Jesus. We belong to Him! The power of sin, death and the devil have been defeated.
In Jesus, the world is redeemed, restored and reconciled. We not only survive in this world, by God’s grace, we spiritually thrive. He superabundantly gives to us …
- a vibrant and active faith for today
- a sure and certain hope for tomorrow
- a selfless and sacrificial love each day for the neighbor
In Jesus, the worst of the world is met with the best of the Triune God. In Jesus, and the gifts that He gives, all things are made new!
A Call to … Repent! Receive! Rejoice! (and repeat)
Beginning Thursday, October 22nd I’d like to invite you to start a journey that will teach you how to live, not just a day, but a life of repentance – a life spent receiving and rejoicing in all of the gifts that only the Triune God can give.
Here’s the itinerary and some next steps:
- Ten Days of Preparation and Examination Using the Ten Commandments (starts Thursday, October 22nd).
- A Day Set Aside to Repent, Receive and Rejoice in the House of God (East Bethlehem Lutheran Church has set aside Sunday, November 1st)
- A 12 week course, process and experience called The Receptive Life that will help you learn where to find and how to receive all of the gifts that only the Triune God can give.
If you’d like to learn more about the Ten Days of Preparation, the Day of Repentance, Reception and Rejoicing in God’s House and The Receptive Life course, process and experience you can click on the button below. The link will direct you to an Overview, Introduction and a Video Sequence series.
We belong to Christ!
As Martin Luther was fond of saying …
The devil is called the master of a thousand arts. But what shall we call God’s Word, which drives away and brings to nothing this master of a thousand arts with all his arts and power? The Word must indeed be the master of more than a hundred thousand arts.
Large Catechism, Preface (12), Concordia: The Lutheran Confessions: Second Edition
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