Copyright 2005 St. Paul's Lutheran Church
Dear friends in Christ,
Last month I encouraged you to walk TOGETHER in the ministry we share. This month I would like to encourage you to examine your own personal walk, to see if your faith life is as together as it can be.
In a very contemporary translation of the Bible called "The Message", the following words of St. Peter are provided as a form of encouragement.
"Don't lose a minute in building on what you've been given, complementing your basic faith with good character, spiritual understanding, alert discipline, passionate patience, reverent wonder, warm friendliness, and generous love, each dimension fitting into and developing the others.
With these qualities active and growing in your lives, no grass will grow under your feet, no day will pass without its reward as you mature in your experience of our Master Jesus." 2 Peter 1:5-8
Of course a contemporary or relevant understanding of God's Word is important for all of us who consider it to be the power of God for our salvation. However, many of to day's interpretations of God's Word fall short because they are taken out of the context of the culture and setting in which they were first given. In a "so called" attempt to contemporize the Word outside of this context, many Christian denominations are forsaking the Word entirely and following blindly after the world.
God's Word continues to speak to the world in a relevant and consistent manner. This message encourages us to grasp hold even stronger to the truths of scriptures. The cultural setting in which they were given do not disqualify those words as antiquated or old fashioned as some would lead us to believe. Just the opposite, understanding the culture and geographical settings in which the Word was related, aids us in knowing its full and complete meaning.
St. Peter encourages us to add to, our build on our faith as though it were but a piece in a much larger puzzle. To this puzzle other qualities or attributes should be added in order to make the picture or witness of our faith clear to the world that is seeking the church that is truly relevant. To add these qualities, is to add maturity and purpose to our continued existence in this world.
In order that we might grow in our personal faith and the ministry we share together, a new Bible study will be offered called "Faith Lessons". This study will examine the various teachings of the Bible from a cultural and geographical perspective. This study is intended to help us envision the original context of God's Word so that we may more accurately understand and apply the scripture to our present circumstances. The study will feature a video tour of the Holy Land and description of various sites of importance.
Please join us for this study on the first and third Tuesdays at 6:30 PM at St. Paul's, Colon. or Wednesdays, beginning June 22, at 9:00 AM at St. Paul's, Centreville.
May God bless us as we seek to draw closer to Him. TOGETHER! God will do great things.
Your Pastor,
David Grimm
Last month I encouraged you to walk TOGETHER in the ministry we share. This month I would like to encourage you to examine your own personal walk, to see if your faith life is as together as it can be.
In a very contemporary translation of the Bible called "The Message", the following words of St. Peter are provided as a form of encouragement.
"Don't lose a minute in building on what you've been given, complementing your basic faith with good character, spiritual understanding, alert discipline, passionate patience, reverent wonder, warm friendliness, and generous love, each dimension fitting into and developing the others.
With these qualities active and growing in your lives, no grass will grow under your feet, no day will pass without its reward as you mature in your experience of our Master Jesus." 2 Peter 1:5-8
Of course a contemporary or relevant understanding of God's Word is important for all of us who consider it to be the power of God for our salvation. However, many of to day's interpretations of God's Word fall short because they are taken out of the context of the culture and setting in which they were first given. In a "so called" attempt to contemporize the Word outside of this context, many Christian denominations are forsaking the Word entirely and following blindly after the world.
God's Word continues to speak to the world in a relevant and consistent manner. This message encourages us to grasp hold even stronger to the truths of scriptures. The cultural setting in which they were given do not disqualify those words as antiquated or old fashioned as some would lead us to believe. Just the opposite, understanding the culture and geographical settings in which the Word was related, aids us in knowing its full and complete meaning.
St. Peter encourages us to add to, our build on our faith as though it were but a piece in a much larger puzzle. To this puzzle other qualities or attributes should be added in order to make the picture or witness of our faith clear to the world that is seeking the church that is truly relevant. To add these qualities, is to add maturity and purpose to our continued existence in this world.
In order that we might grow in our personal faith and the ministry we share together, a new Bible study will be offered called "Faith Lessons". This study will examine the various teachings of the Bible from a cultural and geographical perspective. This study is intended to help us envision the original context of God's Word so that we may more accurately understand and apply the scripture to our present circumstances. The study will feature a video tour of the Holy Land and description of various sites of importance.
Please join us for this study on the first and third Tuesdays at 6:30 PM at St. Paul's, Colon. or Wednesdays, beginning June 22, at 9:00 AM at St. Paul's, Centreville.
May God bless us as we seek to draw closer to Him. TOGETHER! God will do great things.
Your Pastor,
David Grimm
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