This weekend we continue our journey through Epiphany as we draw closer and closer to Ash Wednesday and our Lenten preparation as we approach Easter.

This weekend Pastor Troup is preaching on the Epistle lesson from 1 Cor. 9. Paul takes some time in 1 Corinthians to explain how his sole focus is gospel proclamation. He goes to the people who need to hear the Gospel. He doesn’t water it down or change God’s Word to accommodate the people. He share’s God’s condemnation for sin as well as His forgiveness through Christ. Paul shares the message with the people where they are. As Christ comes to us, to save us, Paul brings the message down to the people in their circumstances to know the peace that only Christ brings.

The message Paul proclaimed is the one we still proclaim today. Christ doesn’t demand that you perfect yourself in order to be saved. Instead, he who knew no sin became sin so that by His grace through faith you are made perfect through Christ (2 Cor 5). In the gospel, you have no reason to boast because it’s not about you. Christ has done the work and God gives eternal life to you for the sake of Christ alone.

Take a look through the service folder as you prepare for this weekend’s service. If you have any questions, please feel free to let us know.

Blessings on your day!

Service Folder

IssuesEtc Digs into the liturgy

The Son of God, Christ Jesus, Makes Us a New Creation

The Lord alone “is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth” (Is. 40:28). He “sits above the circle of the earth” and “stretches out the heavens like a curtain” (Is. 40:22). Yet, His almighty power is demonstrated chiefly by His mercy and compassion. “He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength” (Is. 40:29). The only begotten Son of the Father, the very Word by whom all things were made, becomes flesh and takes all the poverty and weakness of our sin and death upon Himself, bearing it in His body to the cross. As He dies for us there, He also raises us up, a new creation, in His resurrection from the dead. Thus, by the preaching of this Word, He heals “many who were sick with various diseases,” and He casts out “many demons” (Mark 1:34, 39). And His preaching continues through those whom He has sent, who are “entrusted with a stewardship” to “preach the gospel” (1 Cor. 9:16–17). Thus, we are set free by the Word of Christ, and we exercise our freedom in loving service to others.

Published by pastordemski