Note from our Executive Director: Many thanks to Paul Borg, LCMS pastor and friend of Lutheran CORE, for his report on the recent gathering of the Global Confessional and Missional Lutheran Forum (Global Forum) in Nairobi, Kenya.  This is an international gathering of Lutheran church leaders and representatives of Lutheran reform and renewal communities throughout the world.  Many of them are from Western Europe and Africa.  The NALC was very instrumental in the formation of the Global Forum.  On several occasions the Forum met in conjunction with the NALC’s Lutheran Week.  More recently it has met in Africa.  We are very grateful to hear from Paul about how the Spirit of God is moving mightily in the Lutheran Church throughout the world. 

Pause and ponder with me for just a moment. There has never been a time in all of civilization when so many unbelievers are discovering and embracing the Creator of the universe, Jesus. Never. And because of the financial support of CORE, I was gifted with a wonderful five day opportunity in Nairobi, Kenya, Africa. I lived with, listened to, and learned from many global Christian leaders. They are being empowered and used by Jesus to reach those who do not yet know Him.

Many of us know the statistics of this unique moment of Christian history: a greater number of people are coming to know Jesus as Lord, than centuries past. Therefore, during this week, we sat together, ate together, became friends with each other and prayed with so many of these leaders whom Jesus is using to reach the unreached.

This particular gathering includes close to 50 Lutheran pastors and leaders from 14 different countries. We, in the global North, asked those from the global South, to teach us and be missionaries to us. There were many fascinating revelations that were, in the end, a call back to the basics: the core of sacred Scriptures, the essential act of reaching the lost, and prayer as a constant, life-sustaining heartbeat.

Here are three examples of their encouragement. They lovingly said to us:

1) Hold on passionately to the power and authority of sacred Scriptures. It is indeed “True Truth,” accurate and true as it describes history, life and faith. This is what the missionaries taught us! The Bible brings us out of darkness and evil, into light and into the presence and joy of Jesus. Maybe we simply need to remind you of what you, in the past, had profoundly taught us: Many of you in the North are diminishing that power of The Scriptures. 

2) Ask Jesus for a passionate zeal to reach the lost. May that zeal not be a part of, but the very heart of every breathing moment of life. This is more than reading books and listening to lectures. And always have a couple of unbelievers as personal friends. Those growing relationships with unbelievers empower not only growth in faith but transformation of all of life, both for the Christian and for the one who may not yet know Jesus.

3) Personally talking with our Creator of the universe, Jesus. Consider prayer as more than quick sentences for appropriate occasions. Instead, consider prayer as breathing. That intimate personal conversation becomes life giving, like a courtship with our Creator. Such intimacy results not only in profound joy but also in profound power. Jesus asks us to do what Jesus did. His miraculous life was empowered by His intimacy and continuous prayer with His Father.

Finally, I thank you for your investment in me and the leaders of God’s church. Your generosity has brought about much encouragement, strategic planning and purposeful connection between the Lutheran leaders, globally. Thanks in part to your support, we are bringing forth the Kingdom of God back into the dry bones of the Church. Amen!

“Answering them, He said, “Who are My mother and My brothers?”  Looking about at those who were sitting around Him, He said, “Behold My mother and My brothers!  For whoever does the will of God, he is My brother and sister and mother” (Mark 3:31-35).

The family of God is made up of the redeemed sheep in the fold of Christ.  Jesus says it clearly.  We should not listen to the world which is always trying to label us by this identity or that, but by the One through whom all things have their being.  In Him alone do we live, breathe, and have our being.  Come to and through the One who has redeemed you to be one of His, now and forever.

Lord, clear my eyes to see with simplicity the truth that You have revealed.  Yes, I have my earthly family and You have called for me to love them, but my identity is not there.  You have called me to follow You knowing that You are the Creator who has made me and will make me new with an eternal identity.  Help me to love those around me, but to love You and follow where You lead first.

Lord Jesus, You have come to lead the way for as many as believe.  It is You who knows the way from where I have come to the place where I am going.  Help me to live into the identity which You have always intended and created me to have.  Guide me to give thanks for every circumstance and honor where You have placed me while simultaneously honoring You above all things.  Keep me in my identity as a child of God.  Amen.

Luke 20:27-38 

Script:

Pastor: Good morning boys and girls! Welcome! Let’s say good morning to our friend Sammy. Ready? One, two, three: Good morning, Sammy! 

Sammy: Hey Pastor! What is the special theme this week? 

Pastor: What do you mean, Sammy? 

Sammy: Well, two weeks ago we celebrated Reformation Sunday, and last week we celebrated football Sunday– 

Pastor: No, Sammy. We celebrated All-Saints Day. 

Sammy: That’s what I meant. So we had two big weeks in a row at church. What is the big event or theme this week? 

Pastor: Well, this week we are talking about Resurrection. 

Sammy: Happy Resurrection Day, Pastor! 

Pastor: Not quite, Sammy. It’s not really a feast day or a holiday or a celebration. We are having worship together during ordinary time. 

Sammy: Pastor, these times are anything but ordinary. Have you read the newspaper lately? Watched the news? 

Pastor: Let’s get back to our topic for today: Resurrection. Boys and girls, what does “resurrection” mean? 

[Allow time for responses] 

Sammy: These are great answers.  

Pastor: Jesus did rise from the dead. But we also look forward to our resurrection. 

Sammy: What do you mean, Pastor? 

Pastor: One day, Sammy, after we die, we are going to wait for Jesus to come back. When he comes back, the dead will rise and will see his glory. 

Sammy: Is that going to be a scary day? Like a Halloween day? 

Pastor: No, it’s going to be like Easter Sunday. 

Sammy: Oh I love Easter! We get to sing Alleluia songs to God and there’s an egg hunt and Bartholomew the Bunny comes to worship.  

Pastor: That’s the spirit, Sammy. There’s nothing scary about resurrection. Jesus says, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me will not die, but will have eternal life.” That’s a gift from God. 

Sammy: Yes it is. 

Pastor: Let’s pray. Boys and girls, will you please fold your hands and bow your heads? Dear Jesus, thank you for resurrection. Thank you for your gift of new life. Thank you for your love. Amen. 

Sammy: Bye, everyone! 

Pastor: Bye, Sammy! 

“Then His mother and His brothers arrived, and standing outside they sent word to Him and called Him.  A crowd was sitting around Him, and they said to Him, “Behold, Your mother and Your brothers are outside looking for You” (Mark 3:31-32).

We are born in a time and place.  We are born into a family.  There is deep connection with this world.  Some see their identity in family.  Others in position or status.  Others still make up their own idea of what their identity is.  Who are you?  You are a child of the Most High God, created in His image, made with great purpose, born in a fallen world, but offered redemption through God’s only-begotten Son who showed up in time and place.

Lord, the world tells me to choose my identity.  It is telling me all kinds of things.  If my skin is one color, it tells me that my identity is tied to that.  I am told that my identity is tied to my age, financial status, circumstances, or lineage.  I have bought into these lies and sometime espoused them.  Open my eyes to see that You have offered me an eternal identity in You by grace and through faith.

Lord Jesus, You were alone in the world because You spoke and declared that our identity is in the legitimacy of our Heavenly Father.  You looked to Him alone and followed as He directed You.  Help me to see through the fog of this age in order to know that my identity is as a child of the One who created all things including me.  You are the Redeemer and You have cleared the way for my eternal identity.  Help me to live as one whom You have made me to be.  Amen.

“Truly I say to you, all sins shall be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they utter; but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin” – because they were saying, “He has an unclean spirit” (Mark 3:28-30).

The Holy Spirit must be the One who leads from the inside out.  Whoever will not listen to the Holy Spirit will be doomed to be guided by the rebellious spirits of this age.  Our sins will be forgiven if we walk the path of salvation made possible through Christ.  Do not be led by the spirit of this age, but by The Holy Spirit of the Triune God.  Only through the Holy Spirit’s leading will you find true life.

Lord, never let me deny Your Holy Spirit.  Though I may sin too many times, help me understand that I must be under Your guidance.  Humble me to see the wickedness of this age and instead abide in You knowing that You will abide in me.  I do not need to know the mysteries of the ages, but I do need You to be the One who leads me each day of my life.  You are the Creator of life and apart from You there is no life.  Help me to live in You.

Lord Jesus, the path has been made level and You have come to lead me in the way of everlasting life.  Help me to see the obstacles of this age.  Help me to not fall into the pits and traps of the wicked one.  Lead me not into temptation.  Keep me from ever blaspheming against Your Holy Spirit.  I may not know where that line is, but You do.  Keep me far from that place so that I may humbly learn how to follow You in all of my ways.  Amen.

“But no one can enter the strong man’s house and plunder his property unless he first binds the strong man, and then he will plunder his house” (Mark 3:27).

Satan has been bound by the Lord.  He is unable to do anything without permission.  Who is in charge?  The Lord is.  In this age, He has allowed free will for His sake and we see what has come of it.  More important to us is one: the Lord is Lord of all, and two: this world is a mess; and the Lord has come to rescue those who will follow Him and be lifted out of the division and lies of this age.

Lord, I have caused my share of division.  There are things that need to be divided like sin from righteousness, but I cannot discern this.  Only You can discern what is true.  Lead me to be shrewd as a serpent, yet remain innocent in Your goodness.  Guide me in the power of Your Holy Spirit to humbly walk the life of faith which You have set before me.  Teach me so that I may understand with more clarity the reality of this age.

Lord Jesus, You have come to take me from sinfully exercising my free will for my sake, to learn to be obedient to all that You have commanded.  Guide me, Lord Jesus, in the way I need to go and help me this day to be discerning, seeking out where I am able to bring unity to Your bride, the church.  Through all things, be the One who guides me, for I cannot see clearly, but You can.  Lead me in the way of righteousness.  Amen.

“If a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand.  If Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but he is finished!” (Mark 3:25-26)

Meditate upon division and how the world uses it to gain control.  The Lord does not seek to gain, for it is all His.  God does not manipulate to control.  Those opposed to God do, and being opposed to God is what the word Satan means.  Yes, it is the devil, but it also the whole rebellion of this age.  This age cannot stand, and it is finished.  The Lord is One and He will make His bride, the church, one.

Lord God, You are the God of unity.  The rebellion of this age is disunity.  Help me to see how division is used to manipulate and how You seek to unite us so that together we may see the harmony in the diversity of Your creation.  You implanted Your image in us and created us to be Yours.  Open our eyes to see the truth of these things so that we may live out life as You created it to be lived.

Lord Jesus, You say it plainly, but I often do not hear.  Satan has been seeking to divide Your house throughout this age of rebellion.  Bless me as a peacemaker that I would seek unity and not disunity through the guidance of the Holy Spirit.  Keep me from the tricks of the wicked one and lead me in the light of the Gospel to humbly walk in the way that You have set before me.  Amen.

“And He called them to Himself and began speaking to them in parables, “How can Satan cast out Satan?  If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand” (Mark 3:23-24).

No, this was not Abraham Lincoln who said this first, but Jesus.  This is a simple piece of logic, reasoning, and thinking which tells us a simple truth.  It also tells us that Jesus is fully in control and does not need to use trickery to convince anyone of anything.  He says. “Come to me and I will make of you what the Father has always intended.”  The real miracle is that although the church has been divided, yet it still stands because the real church, of the truly faithful, is one with the Lord.

Lord, You prayed that we would be one even as You and the Father are One.  Help me to live in harmony with those around me.  Help me to confront those who are divisive, for You have stated clearly that division is not from the Father.  Help me learn what it means to be a peacemaker and follow as You lead.  Teach me to hold fast to what is right and true.  Keep me from being divisive.

Lord Jesus, I do not know how to do these things.  You must teach me.  Bring me to the state of being humble, like a child, so that I willingly accept Your teaching.  There is so much I do not know and You, who know all things, are the One who must lead me.  Help me to be one who seeks to unite Your fellowship and keep divisiveness far away.  Lead as You will Jesus, and help me learn how to faithfully follow You.  Amen

The scribes who came down from Jerusalem were saying, “He is possessed by Beelzebul,” and “He casts out the demons by the ruler of the demons” (Mark 3:22).

I suppose if someone wanted to put on a show, this might be something they would think of without really thinking.  You cannot do evil and hope it will come to good.  Evil always perverts the good.  It cannot be the other way round.  The wicked rules by absolute conformity.  The demons know their place.  An army does not take out its front lines to impress the enemy.  This statement shows the absurdity of the hatred against the Lord.

Lord, teach me to think so that I can see through the absurd remarks that are spoken by those who reject You.  Guide me so that I do not listen to those who would lead me astray.  Help me to be led by You, who speaks the words of everlasting life.  Let the words of my mouth and the thoughts of my mind be pleasing to You, the One who saves.  Teach me how to think and then help me have good words to say.

Lord Jesus, You are the One who rescues.  You did this at the cost of Your own body given on the cross.  You did not use parlor tricks or cleaver speech, but came openly proclaiming the truth of the Father’s love.  Lead me the way You know I need to be led, and help me to see through the stumbling blocks of this age so that I may grow to be more like You each and every day.  Abide in me and teach me to abide in You.  Amen.

“And He came home, and the crowd gathered again, to such an extent that they could not even eat a meal.  When His own people heard of this, they went out to take custody of Him; for they were saying, “He has lost His senses” (Mark 3:20-21).

God has lost His senses?  That’s straight from the pits of hell.  Yet, how many times do each of us argue with the Lord?  Perhaps disagree is a softer word, but it’s the same.  The Lord is Lord of all and He has promised to work all things together for good to those who love Him.  The pride of this age makes it difficult to do the one thing that is needed for our journey of salvation and that is to completely submit to the Lord.

Lord God, take me far from the pride that is in my heart.  Kill the pride.  I have my opinions, which I deem facts, which color my thoughts.  Let Your thoughts become my thoughts, and in the pattern set by You, Lord, teach me to look to You for all things.  Be the One who guides me all the days of my life.  Lead me to become like You, no matter what those around me say.  Help me to hold fast to the hope I have in You.

Lord Jesus, for our sake You endured the derision of those who thought they knew better.  You have called for us to stop keeping up appearances and instead live authentically with You leading us in the way of salvation.  Lead me, Lord, and confront me when pride raises the old Adam.  Create in me a new life that submits to You in all things.  You must lead the way from sinfulness to holiness.  Lead me, Lord Jesus.  Amen.