Today we’re continuing our message series entitled “Making Sense of Scripture.” Before we press ahead, I’d like to remind us again why we’re doing this series. As Lutheran Christians, we put a very high value on Scripture. We treasure this book. We count it as a great gift. We hold it in very high esteem. In fact, the average Lutheran owns three Bibles!

Yet less than 20% of Lutherans read the Bible outside of church on any regular basis. How can that be? How is it that we can say we value the Bible so much, and yet we read it so little? I don’t think it’s because we would say that we already know it so well. If Lutherans are like the average American, then only 60% of us can name five of the Ten Commandments, 82% of us believe that the Bible teaches that “God helps those who help themselves” (actually, it says just the opposite!) and 12% think that Joan of Arc was Noah’s wife. Seriously!

No, I suspect there are at least two reasons why most Lutheran Christians don’t read the Bible as much as they would like to. First, we can all acknowledge that the Bible is not always an easy book to understand. There are passages that both trouble and confound us, and other passages that leave us wondering what, if anything, they have to do with us.

But second, I think many of us have been led to believe that the Bible just sort of fell straight out of God’s heavenly typewriter, that it’s some kind of divine reference book, and in order to be faithful we have to read it literally. It’s sort of like the popular bumper sticker of a few years ago: “The Bible says it, I believe it and that’s all there is to it.”

Does that mean that, in order to be a faithful Christian, you need to believe that the cosmos was created in six days, and that the earth is about 6,000 years old? Does that mean that, in order to be a faithful Christian, you need to believe that a man named Jonah actually lived in the belly of a big fish for three days? Or that at some point in history God thought it was a good idea that fathers should take their rebellious sons outside the city gates and stone them to death as punishment?

Throughout this series, we’re suggesting that there are other ways to read and understand those passages. Now, that does not mean that if you believe those things literally happened you are unfaithful or wrong. What we’re teaching through this series is that a literal reading of the Bible is not the way Lutherans, or Christians in general, have read and understood the Bible for most of Christian history. Martin Luther and the early reformers certainly didn’t read it that way. We’re not trying to teach some new and radical way of reading and understanding the Bible; we’re seeking to reclaim our own roots. In the process, you’ll find tools and a framework that we hope will set you free to regularly engage with the Bible in ways that fire up your faith and empower you for daily, faithful living.

Today we’re asking the question, “How is the Bible the Word of God?” We frequently refer to this book as the Word of God – and rightly so – but that may be one of the reasons why some people think that the Bible sort of fell out of God’s typewriter, that everything in the Bible is something that God has said. But that’s not what Lutherans mean when we talk about the Bible as the Word of God. In fact, Lutherans and many other Christians talk about the Word of God in three distinct, yet connected, ways.

First and foremost, when we talk about the Word of God, we’re referring to Jesus. In today’s Scripture reading, John puts it this way: “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God … and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” That’s Jesus. Obviously Jesus isn’t a word in the sense that he is somehow letters on a page. By calling Jesus the Word, John is saying that Jesus is the greatest expression of God’s love and intention for the world. John is also tapping into Greek philosophy, in which “word” refers to the creative energy that gave birth to the cosmos and sustains it still. If you want to know what God is like, if you want to know God’s heart and God’s intentions for all of creation, you look to Jesus, the Word of God. Just as God spoke all creation into being, God has spoken the salvation of all creation through his Word, Jesus. Jesus is God’s living Word.

Second, when we talk about the Word of God, we’re referring to the Gospel, to God’s good news for all of creation. Martin Luther was especially fond of this reference to the Word of God. The Gospel is God’s living Word because it is alive with God’s power to create faith in God’s saving love.

And then, finally, when we talk about the Word of God we are indeed referring to this book, the Bible, but not in the sense that these words come straight out of God’s mouth. Notice we don’t call this book the “words of God.” Instead, we call the Bible the Word of God because it bears witness to God and God’s work in the world, especially the saving work of God in Jesus.

So, when we talk about the Word of God, we mean at least three things: Jesus, the Gospel, and the Bible. Understanding how these three things fit together can help us make more sense of the Bible. In order to connect these three things, we need to understand the connection between three words: event, meaning and medium. Put simply: something happens, we assign meaning to it, and then we need a way to communicate it to others. This isn’t as complicated as it sounds. In fact, we do this all the time. Let me give you an example.

Imagine that you’re single and you go out on a date. You’ve gone on lots of dates before, but by the end of the evening you sense that this one is special. The conversation flows easily. You both feel so at ease. You’re amazed at how much you have in common. By the time you get home later that evening, you just can’t shake this feeling that this might be “the one.” The next day, you write a quick email to your best friend, who happens to be out of town on business, to tell her all about your date and your sense that this is someone very special.

Now, in this scenario, the date was an event. And because of your experience on that date, you assign meaning to that event. It was such a remarkable event that it rose above other dates and you dare to believe that this person you were out with is someone very special. And when that happens – when we experience an event and assign it meaning – we frequently look for a way, for a medium, to communicate it to others.

In this scenario our medium for communicating was an email. Event, meaning, medium. See how they fit together? Now let’s apply them to the Word of God.

Jesus’ life, death and empty tomb were an event. They happened in time and space. Lots of people experienced Jesus. They heard him teach and they watched him die. Some people quickly forgot all about him, but others did not. Their experience with Jesus was so extraordinary that they assigned meaning to him. They dared to believe that Jesus was no ordinary man. They proclaimed that he was, in fact, God in human flesh. He was the light and the life of the world. Naturally, they couldn’t keep this to themselves. This faith of theirs was so powerful, so life-changing, that they needed ways to communicate it to others. And so some, like Paul, preached. Others, like John, wrote.

John’s Gospel is a medium to communicate the meaning of Jesus for the whole world. Our Scripture reading for today isn’t merely a reporting of historical events, nor is it something that fell from God’s typewriter. It is John’s confession of faith that, in Jesus, God is doing something profound, and profoundly wonderful, in the world. And by writing this Gospel, this confession of faith, John is inviting us into the story. John believes, as do we, that it isn’t about the words on the page, but about what God chooses to do through these words in the lives of people just like you and me. John himself says this very thing at the end of his Gospel. He tells us what his purpose for writing this is: “Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.”

If we read the Bible like an encyclopedia that can be intellectually grasped, then we’ll read it for little more than information. We’ll study it, memorize it, be confused and bored by it, and remain largely unchanged. But when we begin to understand that this book is the Word of God, filled with the power of the Holy Spirit to not only point us to Jesus but invite us into the ongoing story of God’s saving work in the world, then this becomes more than a book. It becomes a means by which God speaks into our lives. It becomes a means of a living conversation between us and God. It becomes a means through which God confronts us, changes us, empowers us, inspires us and includes us in God’s ongoing work in the world.

We don’t worship a book; we worship the One to whom this book gives witness, the One who meets us in its pages, the One who is the Light and Life of the world.

*From the book   by David J. Lose “Making Sense of Scripture.”

And here is the link to the finished project!

My Brother’s Keeper

February 13th – the day before Valentines Day

Meet Singles with good Values in a safe Environment – join us for St. Lukes Sunday Service at 11 am and afterwards for Sweets and Refreshments – bring your single relatives or bring yourself if you are single – and maybe some of us will meet a Valentine ! Better than online dating – and safer – because God will be watching over us . Would be lovely to see some new faces and meet some new people – so mark the date

Sunday Feb. 2oth    Blessing of Pets / Animals

bring your caged or leashed pets or a picture of the pet you want to be blessed – we are looking forward to meet your furry loved ones for a Blessing starting at 11 am with a short service for the two legged ones – hope to see you all – and paws up

New Beginnings

As we have celebrated the Birth of Jesus and rung in a New Year

we are all about new beginnings.

Most of us have made one or the other new years resolution -

• • • to lose weight,
    • to be more on time,
    • to call Mom more often
    • and such -

the power of intention is great at this time.

And if we could keep this energy up, change would most likely really happen.

As it is, daily life gets in the way of our best intentions.

We have to understand that change is a daily conscious effort.

As is walking with God and having God to be truly in our life, as the main and best part.

It is us who have to change our way of thinking in order to create a new beginning,

a new “us” -

it has to start on the inside and then spread to the outside.

Back in the days of Jesus wine was stored in animal skins, sowed together into pouches.

Jesus said “you can not pour new wine into old wine skins”

meaning we have to look at the way we live life -

if there is an old wine skin we need to create a new one before we pour new wine

Which = new resolutions into it.

God is not at all limiting us

he wants to grant us a great and fulfilled life -

it is us who often times limit God.

We belief and at the same time doubt -

will God really hear our prayers,

will there be answers

and then we make up our mind one or the other way -

therefore often not leaving room for God to work things his way.

New Beginnings means that we have to open up our mind,

that we are willing to think differently,

that we look around without preconceived notions or old prejudices

that we are willing to let new things come in and change our way of thinking

or looking at the world.

The power of attraction and change is such

that we often times don’t attract what we want, but what we are.

So let’s have a good look at what we are getting from life and then backtrack.

Is this what we wanted - is this what we think is beneficial ?

If not, there could be two things at work -

• • one is God and his amazing ways, which we often times don’t understand at the time they happen.
  • The other is that we have to change in order to attract different things.

We mostly believe that things have to change in order for us to change,

believing that if something good really happens we will be happy and content.

But it is the other way around,

we need to be happy and contend in order for good things to happen.

God is waiting for us to make the first step – he is always with us,

but it is our life and we need to take initiative (also Free Will).

We need to show God that we are ready -

ready for him to work miracles in our life’s -

if we are in this way aligned with him

change will flow in a more steady and natural way and will continue to flow.

Most good intentions and solutions of new beginnings fail

because they don’t take root in daily life.

It is like eating or exercise -

• • • if you would only eat once a week you would be very hungry -
    • if you only exercise once a week you will not have a dream body -
    • it is daily effort.

The author of a wonderful book about successful people and what makes them successful

discovered through many in detail interviews that their achievements did not come by accident.

Famous musicians practiced 1000′s of hours before (and after) becoming famous,

all of these people dedicated many hours to their work on a daily basis -

so new beginnings and truly walking with God and in God’s Grace

will take time and willingness on our part too.

We need to find time daily: joyful and ready -

• • • ready with anticipation of meeting God in wonderful ways,
    • open to his teachings,
    • open to grow,
    • open to accept that Jesus came to live with us and sacrifice his life for us, so our life could be better, richer, more fulfilled.

We need to reach out to others and as a community and family,

help each other to find and see these new ways and new beginnings

and remind ourselves and each other that this is a daily effort.

I would love for us as a church family to pick one new beginning,

in which we all can participate,

and then monitor this and update each other and see it grow and take life.

This will strengthen our bond and will show us how to grow and change together.

Please bring in your ideas about a new beginning project and let’s figure out

how we can start, nurture and grow it and see a sense of change and achievement.

Let’s all have a wonderful New Year and many wonderful New Beginnings – in our own lives and in the world at large.

And with God – let our spiritual life and our willingness to walk with God

grow every day and get stronger – let us be role models for others.

Let us be the best we can be, so others will want what we have and do

and then we can tell them about God and his wonderful ways.

Let’s believe in new and deeper ways,

let’s have a renewed sense of Faith and Hope.

Let’s give ourselves new wine skins and be open to see the world and each other with new ideas.

Let’s tell our family and loved ones how much we do appreciate them

and let’s go the extra mile in all our new beginnings.

This is a time where the whole world needs change

so let us do our part,

let us be willing to do a little extra -

so God can do all the extra things he has in store for us.

Happy New Ways and Happy and Successful new beginnings.  Amen.

They hymn which was to be sung right after the sermon was/is:

This is a day of new beginnings

Unknown writer:

This is a day of new beginnings,
time to remember and move on,
time to believe what love is bringing,
laying to rest the pain that’s gone.

For by the life and death of Jesus,

God’s mighty Spirit, now as then,

Can make for us a world of difference

As faith and hope are born again.

Then let us, with the Spirit’s daring,
step from the past and leave behind
our disappointment, guilt, and grieving,
seeking new paths, and sure to find.

Christ is alive, and goes before us
to show and share what love can do.
This is a day of new beginnings;
our God is making all things new.

In Faith we’ll gather round the table

To taste and share what love can do

This is a day of new beginnings

Our God is making all things new!

As we are now celebrating

the Birth of Jesus

and his Life on Earth

let’s ask ourselves

“what is the meaning of Jesus being born as a human being?”

It’s not so we can have

a Holiday with food

and gifts and loved ones -

it is certainly a part of it

because every birth

should be a celebration

but the true meaning of

Jesus being one of us for a time

is much deeper

and much more profound.

God gave us his only son, Jesus,

so we could learn and grow

and see him as a role model

and as our redeemer.

Jesus took on our sins,

so we could and can start over,

our sins forgiven,

and with the Birth

and Life of Jesus,

God is showing us

how unconditional his love

for us is.

This birth signifies hope

for all of Humanity

that we can raise up

to a more spiritual life,

that we can care more

for each other

than for our possessions,

that we can be more gentle

more loving

and more compassionate with

each other.

Jesus was not born

into a rich family

and his life on earth

was not filled

with earthly possessions.

It was filled with Love

which he gave freely,

and with teaching us

to care more

for the soul

and the heart and the other.

It was filled with love

for all -

the saint and the sinner,

often times

even more so for the sinner.

The saint is already

a part of God’s kingdom,

it is the sinner

that needs to be taken care of

and lead back to God

through Jesus.

This was the life

and work

of Jesus -

to see us all,

to recognize us all

and to tell and show us

our heavenly Father’s love

and concern.

Let’s for a moment

imagine to be there -

as Jesus is being born.

Let’s imagine Mary’s Joy

and anticipation

about this baby,

given to her by God.

As they are searching

for a place to stay

and the last inn keeper

is turning them away

because he has no room

all that is left

is a manger/barn.

But it’s warm there,

there is hay

and there is the calming

presence of the animals.

And Mary and Joseph

being in high spirits

and completely trusting

in God’s ways – are calm

• knowing all is well

as it should be.

And then

baby Jesus is born

and there is this light

and peace

over the world

and this is the very beginning

of change

and of God being amongst us

through his son Jesus.

Imagine,

if this would happen today

and we could be there,

witnessing the wonder

of all of it.

It would of course,

play out very differently today,

probably with a lot of media coverage.

Would we do better today

in recognizing

the true meaning

of this incredible gift

God gave us -

Are we doing better?

Are we understanding

that God wanted us

to bond more with him,

with each other,

with our soul,

With our spirituality?

To understand

that this is a wonderful opportunity -

a life changing opportunity

for All of us -

All we need to do

is accept it -

to allow God and Jesus

into our life’s

and our hearts and souls

so he can change our life’s

to the better.

God wants us to be happy

he wants us

to have a a good life -

we are not made to dwell in troubles and problems

• we are made to enjoy

The/that wonderful world

God gave us.

There are so many wonderful things,

such miracles

every day

we just need to take the time

to see them.

Maybe walking like Jesus,

if there is that possibility

of walking,

slowing down a little

and not being totally submerged

into our technical world

with computers,

cell-phones,

e-mails and such,

It would open up

that wondrous world for us again.

That, along with taking time

• time for ourselves,

our friends and neighbors

and loved ones.

Most peoples complaints

are about the lack of time.

Which is interesting – because we have so many gadgets that do our work,

compared to old times

that we should have

so much more time.
But we fill this time

not with time for each other

and so we grow distant.

Let the birth

and life of Jesus

be a reminder on a daily basis,

to go back to more basic ways -

ways of connecting with God,

ways of taking more time

for prayer,

ways of taking more time

with and for other people,

ways of finding our own

true meaning in life.

Time to listen to God

and see what he wants from us,

how he wants us

to live our life

and time for a daily prayer

of Thanksgiving

Because of Jesus

showing us the way,

taking on our sins,

being willing to be among us

(God with us: Emanuel),

teaching us,

helping us.

And let us see tonight,

the baby,

laying in his crib,

innocent,

trusting in

his heavenly father

and his earthly parents

and the wonder and miracle

of it All.

Let our hearts and souls

be light with joy

and let us see the light

that has come into the world.

Let us use this gift

of the Birth

and Life of Jesus

on a daily basis

and not just every Sunday

for an hour

when we are at church

and during our morning

or night prayers -

let Jesus walk

with us and next to us

every day during all we do.

Let his light and love

shine upon us and through us

let it flow out to other people

in our thoughts

and actions and intentions.

Let’s welcome God

into daily life

and let’s show it

by what we do

and how we react to others.

It is easy to say I do -

but it is through our every day actions

that we show

that we have taken the words

to heart

and they come alive (like Frosty did)

through all the things we do.

Let the birth

and life of Jesus

be a gift to us

that we open up anew

every single day

and through opening it over and over again

bring change to our life’s

and the life’s of our loved ones

and in that way

change the world

the way God intended it to be changed

by giving us his only son.

Finally let’s

say with all our hearts

and with much joy

Happy Birthday baby Jesus!