mattschuler.tumblr.com

[mattschuler]

First thoughts on Being Lutheran

I wanted to share some first thoughts I had after reading Trevor Sutton's book Being Lutheran. I'll be writing a review for Concordia Theology. Look for that soon.

Who will save us?

Many years ago, there were a couple of people walking away from their capital city, dejected and defeated. Less than a week before, they were striding into the city, hopeful and shouting hosanna, literally save us now, as their teacher, Jesus, rode in triumphantly to change their lives and the world forever. As they walked away, a stranger started walking with them and invited them to share their story. “We had hoped he was the one,” they explained about their teacher but he had been delivered up to die, crucified just three days earlier. Their hosannas became whispers. He was supposed to save them and was slaughtered.

It’s amazing how the more things change, the more they stay the same. In our country and in our communities people are still shouting hosanna. They’re looking for salvation and they’re shouting save us now.

In his book, Being Lutheran, A. Trevor Sutton writes, “a meaningful relationship has the power to change your entire life.” For the two walking on the road, seeing the stranger with open eyes revealed their redeemer. Jesus was not dead. Jesus is alive. Sutton shows us how we can speak with certainty about the world around us because Jesus has revealed his love, grace and forgiveness in His Word and sacraments.

“Being Lutheran,” Sutton says, “is actively confronting new challenges.” We don’t run away from the culture or our community because it got hard to talk about Jesus. We live in a world seeking meaning. Being Lutheran means pointing people to the one who gives life its definition.

But like all people, we have a problem with thought, word and deed. Sutton says, “it is possible to think as Lutherans, yet never act as Lutherans,” but also that “it is possible for us to act as Lutherans, yet never think as Lutherans.” The challenge comes in merging thought, word and deed in “theologically informed practice, biblically based behavior, and godly action.” Being Lutheran is deeply theological and deeply practical. It’s filled with wisdom and insight that has stood the test of time and practical application for the daily lives of Jesus’ disciple.

Where we see vivid actions alongside vivid teachings of Jesus, is where the true church is found. When we center ourselves on Jesus as he has been revealed to us, it is the foundation of authentic community that lasts for eternity. In Jesus, we’re connected to the past and to the disciples who act as a cloud of witnesses for us. We’re also connected to the future, our Gospel proclamation a signal for future believers that grace and love are found in Jesus.

Sutton’s work is a shot in the arm for the drowsy disciple, because he repeatedly points the reader to the Redeemer in a refreshing way. “Being Lutheran is ultimately about following Jesus. We go where Jesus goes, we listen when Jesus speaks, we trust when Jesus promises, we learn when Jesus teaches. And we live because Jesus lives. This is what it means to be Lutheran.”

[mattschuler]

Just spent 35 minutes watching “Life at Play” by Jamin Warren. Connecting the Christian faith with the realities of everyday life. (via bird.com)

[mattschuler]

Where would you put Jesus? A thought-provoking video from St. Luke's in Ann Arbor.

[mattschuler]

"If you are in Christ, you are sent--quite rightly sent--to make disciples. You are sent to help others become formed into the life of Christ through baptism, and through teaching. Make sure in all your life that's what you're doing. You have been sent. So go! Go with great confidence! Knowing that you go at God's own urging and at Jesus' own command. You go because you have been sent. Sent to do Christ's work. Sent to make disciples."

- Joel Biermann

[mattschuler]

The Power of In-Person

I love social media. I love that by reading updates on Twitter I can connect with people all around the world, and in my local community. I think churches should utilize social media for the advance of the kingdom, and that there are ways that we can use it effectively on Sunday mornings. But there are certain things social media can't do.

Jilliene Helman is the Co-founder and CEO of Realty Mogul, a real estate crowd-funding marketplace. She wrote at Entrepeneur.com, Why No Amount of Social Media Can Ever Equal Meeting Face to Face.

Balancing when to show up and how to be judicious with my time has been one of the hardest trial-and-error challenges of running a startup. Entire industries exist to help people connect virtually, but I find there's never a substitute for a real-time conversation that ends with a firm handshake.

She's absolutely right. We can retweet and fav with simple clicks, but giving someone in-person encouragement can reach them on a personal level previously unfelt by an internet connection. Read Helman's full post and  ask yourself "How am I reaching people?"

[mattschuler]

Hashtags, Church and Technology Hurdles

78p.tv has some good ideas for creating the best hashtag to use for your church. You can read the full list and reasons here.

Keep It Short ... Make It General And Reflect Your Church ... Do Not Date Your Hashtag ... Put It At The End Of The Message ... Promote it

I'd add a couple things. When I was at St. Peter's I tried to launch the hashtag as a discussion. It wasn't successful because there were hurdles that I crashed through instead of jumping over.

First, the congregation wasn't prepared for it. There was a lack of familiarity with Twitter, and that led to the hashtag being more of a "nice 'techy'-thing the vicar did" than anything substantial. Even though my hashtag fit the five rules, the people weren't engaged. 

Second, the worship space lacked internet connectivity. If the place you gather is a place where cell signals are lacking, you need to have a way for people to connect. If your worship space is small, and there are only a few people connecting, you may be able to function with one connection point. But if it's larger and you have many people hoping to connect, then you're going to want to make sure there's adequate wi-fi coverage with multiple connections. 

Interactivity in the church service is rising, with churches like The Point Knox actively encouraging worshippers to text questions. If we can engage people where they are technologically, then we can engage them where they are spiritually.

[mattschuler]

I preached on Hebrews 11:32-34 in my final sermon at St. Peter's and how we are made strong from weakness.

[mattschuler]

The Post-Post-Apocalyptic Detroit

‘We want to have an impact on the community, by putting money into it, repairing it, not sticking on a Band-Aid.’

There's a fantastic piece of journalism in the New York Times Magazine on the future of Detroit. You can read it here. There is hope for the city. There are people who want to see it thrive and come alive. 

[mattschuler]

"Surrender" by Angels & Airwaves is on repeat today.

[shencomix]

We go forward.

image

twitter | facebook

[mattschuler]

I preached this weekend on the faith God gave Abraham. Abraham’s faith was based on the full truth of who God is and what God does.

[mattschuler]

Speaking of Jesus

Some thoughts on the sending of the Holy Spirit in Acts 2:1-21 and the Apostle Peter's speaking of Jesus. My sermon from this morning's service in Jonesville

I was watching TV the other day and saw a commercial for the World Cup. As it zooms around the globe, you see people from tribe and tongue focused on one thing. There is no event in the world like the World Cup. All around the world people are gathered together to watch, and to cheer their country on.

This happens in a similar manner in our lives. We gather together with friends, family and loved ones around events that matter to us. Birthdays, graduations, baptisms, weddings. Our sons or daughters competing on the field, on the court, or on the stage. We gather to watch and to cheer.

There are a lot of people coming together in our text today as well. When the day of Pentecost arrived, we read in verse one the disciples were all gathered together in one place, and in verse five there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven who had gathered in Jerusalem. 

They gathered because it was the time for a Jewish feast. Pentecost was not a new event for the Jewish people. In fact, they had been celebrating what is called the “Feast of Weeks” for thousands of years—since Moses came down from the mountain with the Ten Commandments.

But this Pentecost was different than any that had come before it. At this Pentecost, the Holy Spirit himself came to dwell forever in the hearts of all who follow Jesus. Martin Luther writes about the gift of the Holy Spirit, “What are all the other gifts together compared to this gift, that the Spirit of God himself, comes down into our hearts and dwells in us, rules, guides and leads us!”

“And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.” (2-4)

This sending of the Holy Spirit was the fulfillment of a promise that Jesus made to his disciples before he died. And consider how the the disciples changed over the course of the last 50 days. The disciples go from hiding in an upper room for fear the Jews would kill them, to boldly proclaiming the name of Jesus. Obviously, the events of the last 9 weeks had impacted them greatly. They had seen Jesus alive! Now, they received the Holy Spirit Jesus had promised to them. There is a boldness to the disciples that wasn't there when Jesus was laid in the tomb. This is the first time anyone has publicly proclaimed Jesus as risen form the dead and savior of all.

“And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans?  And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language?” (6-8)

At this Pentecost, God removed a barrier that had been in place since the Tower of Babel. “Its name was called Babel, because there the LORD confused the language of all the earth. And from there the LORD dispersed them over the face of all the earth (Gen. 11:9) At this Pentecost, men gathered from around the world were hearing the Word of God preached to them in their own language.

Verse 12, “And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?”  But others mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.” But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words.” (12-14)

Peter went from casting his nets with his brother three years before, to preaching to thousands of people who had gathered to see what was going on. And Peter was able to preach Jesus is the Christ because it was revealed to him by our Father in Heaven and the Holy Spirit.

Peter boldly proclaimed Jesus’ resurrection because he talked with Jesus face-to-face. Jesus appeared to his disciples multiple times before he ascended into heaven and Jesus came to Peter personally on the shores of the sea of Galilee to forgive Peter’s betrayal and restore him to his position as an apostle. And in this moment, Peter has a chance to share the Good News publicly for the first time.

Peter is preaching to people who very likely were not present when Jesus was crucified. These people may not have shouted, “Crucify Him!” They may not have mocked Jesus while he hung on the cross, but their sins and ours are directly responsible for his death. Through our actions and our attitudes we are responsible for the death of Jesus. And Peter is preaching to them and to us a sermon of repentance and of the forgiveness of sins.

Peter begins by correcting the crowd in verse 15, “These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It's only nine in the morning! No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel.” (15-16)

Just as God’s righteous forgiveness is found in the resurrection of Jesus, it is also found here at Pentecost. Because Peter knows Jesus is risen, he can proclaim forgiveness for all. Because Peter has received and known the righteousness of Christ, he reassures all who hear him that they can receive forgiveness and a new start in baptism and the Holy Spirit.

“‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy… And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (17-18, 21)

This Greek verb σωθήσεται is a great verb. It means, “shall be saved.” In this word we are rescued from death. We are preserved and protected and blessed in safety forever. No matter who you are, no matter what you’ve done, or will ever do, you have forgiveness through Jesus Christ when you call upon his name for the forgiveness of sins. Peter recognizes that though the prophet Joel wrote these words hundreds of years before, they are fulfilled only in Jesus Christ. And now, from this day of Pentecost to the final day of our Lord, everyone who calls on Jesus shall be saved—Men, women, Jew, Gentile, old, young, you and me. Jesus gives us life.

[mattschuler]

Let's start calling "Net Neutrality" what it really is: "Preventing Cable Company F**kery" This video makes more good points on the issue than anything else I've seen. Nothing is more important for the 21st century than "Preventing Cable Company F**kery."

[mattschuler]

I preached on the unity of the Disciples in Acts 1:12-26 at Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church in Bean Blossom, Indiana. 

[mattschuler]

How does it feel when you meet someone who loves something you love? Amazing, right? I preached on Matthew 28:16-20 this week at St. Peter's and the passion God has for us, revealed in the person and work of Jesus.

[mattschuler]

In Luke 24:13-35, we see Jesus join the two disciples on the road to Emmaus. Jesus teaches them and us how to read the Bible. Genesis through Revelation, every story whispers His name.

[mattschuler]

While Jesus was being crucified, he prayed to his Father to forgive you of all of your sins. He took your sins upon himself and was separated from the Father—forsaken. He offered his spirit into the Father’s hands, and by his death he gives you life, now and forever. My sermon from Good Friday.