luppnow

Can preach on October 5

--
Pastor Christopher Jackson
Saint John's Lutheran Church

516 Pasadena Drive, Lexington, KY 40503.  Phone and fax:  859-277-6391  Cell: 502-316-2255  Email: revcjackson@gmail.com

http://www.stjohnslex.org    http://bluegrasslutheran.blogspot.com

January Mission Plant Minute

The Bread of Life Mission Plant Minute

January 2008
A monthly article about Bread of Life,
the Lutheran mission plant in
Scott County, Kentucky.

December 17 -- December is an exciting month for us at Bread of Life. Yesterday, we witnessed our first adult baptism at our fledgling congregation. We thank the Lord that He is using us to join people to Christ, as He did in that baptism.

Also, December marks the anniversary of a very special event at Bread of Life. On Christmas Eve, one year ago, we held our first service at the Best Western in Georgetown. There were many questions at that time. Would the Best Western get mad at us for doing a candlelight service? (We never told them we were going to do this.) Would we set off the fire alarm when we blew out our candles? Would more families show up? We were four families planning to do this, and we had advertised the service to the community.

In all, fifty-five people showed up; many new faces were there, many of whom have become regular members of Bread of Life. The fire alarms did not go off, and the hotel did not care about our candles. We were very blessed.

These blessings have continued. Over the past year, our little group of twelve people has more than quadrupled. We have gone from four households to twenty. We now have a storefront to act as a “base” for our ministry. God has richly blessed us, and for this we thank Him.

You can learn more about Bread of Life at: http://bluegrasslutheran.blogspot.com

The Daily Light -- October 4, 2007

The Daily Light – October 4, 2007
Thursday Hymn Meditation: "Lord, Thee I Love with All My Heart" (LSB 708)
A weekday email devotion from Pastor Christopher Jackson
Saint John's Lutheran Church, Lexington, KY
Bread of Life Lutheran Church, Georgetown, KY

Verse 2:
Yea, Lord,'twas Thy rich bounty gave
My Body, soul, and all I have
In this poor life of labor.
Lord, grant that I in every place
May glorify They lavish grace
And help and serve my neighbor.
Let no false doctrine me beguile;
Let Satan not my soul defile.
Give strength and patience unto me
To bear my cross and follow Thee.
Lord Jesus Christ, my prayer attend, my prayer attend,
And I will praise Thee without end.

What does it mean to be a disciple?

Some would say that to be a disciple is to believe the right things.

Others would say that to be a disciple is to serve others.

Still others would say that to be a disciple is to try to lead a pure life.

Unfortunately, many believe that these ways of discipleship are
mutually exclusive. "Service unites, doctrine divides," some say.
Others dive deep into theological thought but ignore service and
piety. Still others believe that it is un-Christian to get too worked
up over what one believes; one should instead strive to avoid sin.

This hymn directs us, however, to a way of discipleship that involves
all these things.

Let us pray: Lord Jesus Christ, lead us in the way of the Cross,
where our minds see your Father's fullest revelation, where we are
empowered for service to others, and where our sin is done away with,
making us pure. Amen.
_________
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The Daily Light -- October 1, 2007

The Daily Light – October 1, 2007
Monday Worship Meditation:  Worship is Christ Centered
A weekday email devotion from Pastor Christopher Jackson
Saint John's Lutheran Church, Lexington, KY
Bread of Life Lutheran Church, Georgetown, KY

 I Corinthians 2:2 (ESV):  For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.

Paul's situation in the church at Corinth was a unique one in which it was necessary for him to confine his preaching wholly to the subject of Jesus Christ's death on the cross, the sacrifice for our sinfulness which has earned for us eternal life when He returns.

While it was unique that he would limit his preaching to this one subject, this makes clear that this subject is the center and goal of all preaching and all worship.

These days it is fashionable to preach about everything but Christ's death on the cross.   Books by popular and much followed pastors tell us that this subject is offensive and puts people off.  Therefore, they say, our preaching and worship should only infrequently discuss what Paul indicates is the center of our faith.  Listen to the sermons that come from their pulpits or stages, and Christ's death is not proclaimed.  Listen to the songs that come from their ensembles, and often only the faintest hint is given about Christ's work on the cross.

May God preserve us and protect us from such things, and by the Holy Spirit cause us to lift high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim, until all the world adore His sacred name.

 Let us pray:  Holy Father, by the power of the Holy Spirit you caused Paul to preach the crucifixion of Christ for the forgiveness of sins.  Make this the center of our worship, that some might be saved.  Through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord.  Amen.

_________

The Daily Light is distributed every weekday.  If you would like to be excluded from the distribution of The Daily Light, please reply to the sender and put "unsubscribe" both in the subject and body.

The Daily Light – September 27, 2007

The Daily Light – September 27, 2007
Thursday Hymn Meditation:  "Seek Where You May to Find a Way" (LSB 557)

A weekday email devotion from Pastor Christopher Jackson
Saint John's Lutheran Church, Lexington, KY
Bread of Life Lutheran Church, Georgetown, KY

Verse 1:

My heart's delight,
My crown most bright,
O Christ, my joy forever.
Not wealth nor pride
Nor fortune's tide
Our bonds of love shall sever.
You are my Lord;
Your precious Word
Shall guide my way
And help me stay
Forever in your presence.

This verse uses several images for the relationship of Christ and the Christian.  Christ is our greatest treasure.  Christ is our love.

One who has a great treasure will go to great lengths to keep it with him and not lose it, spending much time, effort, and money to guard it.  One who has a great love will strive to stay in that love, spending huge amounts of money and doing otherwise outlandish things in the process (like dancing, singing, writing sappy poetry, etc.)

Christ, however, is a treasure and love that is different.  For, unlike earthly treasures and love, we do not have to strive to keep Him.   Rather, Christ keeps us with Him by His Word.  He does the work.  His Word is the guide that keeps us forever in His presence.

Let us pray:  Dear Jesus Christ, keep us always in your Word, that we may live in your love forever.  Amen.
_______

The Daily Light is distributed every weekday.  If you would like to be excluded from the distribution of The Daily Light, please reply to the sender and put "unsubscribe" both in the subject and body.

Re: The Daily LIght -- September 17

The Daily Light – September 26, 2007
Wednesday Bible Passage Meditation:

"Worship, an Encounter with Christ"
A weekday email devotion from Pastor Christopher Jackson
Saint John's Lutheran Church, Lexington, KY
Bread of Life Lutheran Church, Georgetown, KY

 

Luke 16:9 (NIV):  I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings

This verse comes from one of the more confusing Bible passages:  the parable of the shrewd manager.

 

If you recall, this manager had the bills of his master's clients marked down in order to gain their good favor, ensuring that he would be taken in and maybe even employed once he was fired by his current master.  This parable makes more sense when we understand that this man made his money not by salary but on the markup of the goods lent so that he was not taking money from his master but rather taking a pay cut, a pay cut that would pay off in the future.

 

The Christian life is one of sacrifice.  Our life comes from sacrifice, the sacrifice of Christ's life.  Therefore, it is not surprising that we are called to sacrifice, to live lives of moderation and devotion to God rather than extravagance and self indulgence.

 

In the end, this is a small price to pay for the great reward that awaits.

 

Let us pray:  Holy Father, as your Son gave up all things to live a life of obedience to you and service to others, so also we pray that you would have us embrace your call to us, that we may enjoy the fruits of eternal life.  Through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord.  Amen.
 

The Daily Light

I will be attending a conference from Tuesday through Thursday, and thus I will be unable to post the Daily Light for these days.

--
Pastor Christopher Jackson
Saint John's Lutheran Church

516 Pasadena Drive, Lexington, KY 40503.  Phone and fax:  859-277-6391  Cell: 502-316-2255  Email: revcjackson@gmail.com

http://www.stjohnslex.org     http://bluegrasslutheran.blogspot.com

The Daily LIght -- September 17

The Daily Light – September 17, 2007
Monday Worship Meditation:  "Worship, an Encounter with Christ"
A weekday email devotion from Pastor Christopher Jackson
Saint John's Lutheran Church, Lexington, KY
Bread of Life Lutheran Church, Georgetown, KY

Acts 2:42,46a (ESV):  "And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers . . . . And day by day, [they were] attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes."

The introduction in Lutheran Worship, the "blue hymnal" begins with the words "God speaks, and we listen."

What this is saying is that worship is primarily sacramental.  In other words, worship is primarily God's gift to us of His Word, Jesus Christ, the crucified and risen Savior, whom He gives to us through the reading and exposition (sermon) of the Holy Scriptures and the Sacraments of Holy Baptism, Absolution, and the Lord's Supper.  In worship, Jesus Christ is present among us, bringing healing of soul and body, the forgiveness of sins.

 

This is an important reminder to us of the true meaning of worship, because very often we make worship about us. Usually, we think of worship as our gift to God of adoration and praise.  And, we certainly do adore and praise God in worship.  However, this comes out of gratitude for what God gives to us in worship, His Son.

 

In Acts 2, we see that this was the emphasis of the Apostolic Church.  Having just received the sacrament of Holy Baptism, they studied the Apostles' teaching, what would become the New Testament.  They studied the Old Testament at the Temple.  They broke bread together, an expression which means that they received the Lord's Supper together.

 

This should be an important reminder to us, because too frequently we value worship not for the presence of Christ through Word and Sacrament, but we rather value it for other reasons such as sentimentality, excitement, energy, etc.  Let us turn away from such impulses but rather look to Christ, our Lord and Savior, the King of all Creation, who comes to us personally and communally in the worship of the Church, His bride.

 

Let us pray:  Holy Father, in the time of the Apostles, your Holy Church devoted itself to prayer, Holy Communion, and the study of the Holy Scriptures.  We pray that we might be devoted to these things so that in worship we would joyfully meet your Son, through whom we pray, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.  Amen.

 

--
Pastor Christopher Jackson
Saint John's Lutheran Church

516 Pasadena Drive, Lexington, KY 40503.  Phone and fax:  859-277-6391  Cell: 502-316-2255  Email: revcjackson@gmail.com

http://www.stjohnslex.org    http://bluegrasslutheran.blogspot.com