Seeds of Faith November 27, 29

The end is near! Will it be chaotic? Dark? What will bring it to an end? You say I need a Savior now. What good will this Jesus do for me? After all, He just started some religion of good teachings 2000 years ago. How will that help me now at the end?

If all that were true, then you would be right. But this is Jesus our Savior… from Colossians 3

“For by [Jesus] all things were created, in heaven and on earth… all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together…. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things… making peace by the blood of his cross.”

That makes a world of difference at the end.

These Seeds of Faith have been sown by St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Bridgeport, NE. I’m Pastor Allen Strawn.

Seeds of Faith, Thanksgiving

Stop! Before you carve that turkey. Put that fork down! Fold your hands and bow your heads. On this day of National Thanksgiving it is easy to be thankful for the food on the plate and the family that is there to share it with you. But before you say grace and move on, hear God’s Word through Paul to Timothy:

“First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people… This is good and pleasing in the sight of God our Savior.”

Yes that is right, all people. Those government officials that you want to vote out of office. That schoolyard bully. Our nations’ enemies. Pray for them. This is good and pleasing to our Savior Jesus for He gave His life for them as well. Give thanks for that good and perfect gift!

These Seeds of Faith have been sown by St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Bridgeport, NE. I’m Pastor Allen Strawn.

Seeds of Faith Nov 15 &20

The temperature is getting colder. The leaves are falling. Harvest is done or almost done. Wars and worldly strife. Broken families. Wildfires, earthquakes, and hurricanes that tear the world apart and take life.

What do all of these things have in common? They tell us a change is about to take place. Unfortunately the change isn’t as tame as fall turning into winter. But it is just as obvious. When we see all the pain, suffering, and death, Jesus says then we know that the Kingdom of God is near.

But for those who are in Christ, they need not fear all of the calamity. Jesus says, “Heaven and Earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.” His words of promise and salvation are for all who trust in Him. When you are in Him, eternity is yours.

These Seeds of Faith have been sown by St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Bridgeport, NE. I’m Pastor Allen Strawn.

Seeds of Faith Nov 8-13

A talking bush? Really? You don’t say, Moses. It was on fire and it never burned up? Right. Tell us another tall tale. Oh that bush gave you a message that God has seen our suffering under the heavy handed Pharaoh of Egypt and now he’s going to do something about it.

We can imagine why Moses was uncertain about bringing this message to the Israelites. It seems ridiculous.

So God took Moses’ fears and sealed them off with God’s own personal name: Yahweh. The one who IS. The God of their forefathers.

As we live out our lives in our own personal Egypts of sin, suffering, and death, Christian’s lives are sealed with the personal name of God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. That name makes us his own, for it is sealed in His own Son’s death and resurrection.

These Seeds of Faith have been sown by St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Bridgeport, NE. I’m Pastor Allen Strawn.

Seeds of Faith, All Saints

We have all seen those commercials that advertise the latest cleaning products. “Get’s out dried in stains, wine, and even blood.” Blood is something to be cleaned out, not cleaned with. But John writes in Revelation 7:

“They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the lamb.”

The blood of the Lamb, Jesus, is the greatest detergent of all. It cleanses every filthy stain of sin from our life. Jesus delivers that cleansing blood to us through water and word, bread and wine.

For this we rejoice for those whose robes have been washed in the blood of the Jesus; who’s trust was in the true Christian faith and now rest from their labors in death.

But, lo, there breaks a yet more glorious day;

The saints triumphant rise in bright array;

The King of Glory passes on His way.

Alleluia!!

These Seeds of Faith have been sown by St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Bridgeport, NE. I’m Pastor Allen Strawn.