FaithBtown LCMS

Martin Luther penned these wonderful words: “I have held many things in my hands and I have lost them all, but whatever I’ve placed in God’s hands, that I still possess.”

Many times when we consider evangelism, we think about going out and placing pamphlets and other items in the hands of the people. But maybe we have it all wrong. Maybe the best evangelism is putting as many people in God’s hands as possible.

Who can you place in God’s hands today? The disciples realized that in God’s hands, food was multiplied. This is true of people in God’s Kingdom as well.

Take time - in prayer, in conversation, and maybe even in bringing someone to worship next Sunday - but take the time to put the valuable resource of people in God’s hands - knowing that in His hands they will never be lost again.

After a meal, does your family pray Psalm 136:1, “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever”?

That short prayer is not just a reminder to say “thank You” to God, who provides daily bread for our bodies. It also repeats why God provides, specifically, because of “His steadfast love.” In fact, if you pray that entire psalm, it lists the many ways God provides for all our needs of body and soul.

The rich Hebrew word translated “steadfast love” reflects not only God’s general attitude but also His mighty acts and deeds to provide for His people’s entire lives and well-being. Jesus’ provision of food for the people in the wilderness (Matthew 14) as well as “our daily bread” call to the mind of faith His ultimate gift of love, the forgiveness of our sins. As the prophet Isaiah speaks of the “rich food” God provides “that your soul may live” (Isaiah 55:2–3), so the humble Meal of bread and wine in the Sacrament of the Altar causes us to remember the greatest work of our Lord’s steadfast love on the cross. At the altar, we receive the very substance of God’s steadfast love that enlivens and strengthens a steadfast faith that will endure until we are welcomed to the great and promised heavenly feast of eternal life.

Join us tomorrow as we worship and learn together. Worship is at 8 or 10:30am, or 5pm. Classes for all ages meet at 9:15.

We invite you to memorize Ephesians 4:29 with us this week.

Memorizing Scripture is a valuable practice for Christians, even in a digital age. Join us each week as we hide God's Word in our hearts.

Learn more at lcms.org/memoryverse.

We look all around us and question the value of “things.” How can it all be worth so much?

In our daily experiences, we are accustomed to the value of “things” being driven higher and higher. And then we look at the things of God - His Word, worship, music, water, bread, wine - and they all look pretty ordinary. But in God’s Kingdom, these are the pearls of greatest value because they reveal His love and presence with us.

We need wisdom from the kingdom. If someone doesn’t tell us what something is truly worth, we would never know. That is why it so important that we tell the world about the true treasures found in the things of God. How will they ever know if we don’t tell them?

Let someone in on the pearls and treasures that you know in the wisdom of God.

Classic infomercials famously told us, “But wait; there’s more!” in a maneuver to get us to buy. But there’s nothing wrong with you that something from an infomercial can fix.

That is not to say there is nothing wrong with you; there most definitely is. Your sin hurts you and others. Death is a sinner’s birthright. You are in the devil’s crosshairs. But the solution isn’t for sale. It is the free grace of Jesus Christ, won at a price as He offers His life for yours. In Him, you have victory over sin.

But wait; there’s more! In Christ, death and darkness are defeated enemies. No matter the evils you face, you are more than a conqueror, held securely in the love of Christ, who conquers for you.

Join us tomorrow! Worship is at 8 & 10:30am, and 5pm. Sunday school classes for toddlers through adults meet at 9:15.

Our Lord continues to teach us about His kingdom. We need this teaching because it is literally “right side up” from our world turned “upside down” by sin.

In His Kingdom, the weeds and the wheat will grow together until He comes again for the final harvest. Knowing this fact to be true, we don’t pray that God will remove all evil from this world (as we far too many times lament and often times pray for God to do), but instead, we earnestly pray to join His mission to overcome evil with His saving love, His grace and mercy, and His Word that never returns empty (remember last week’s message?!).

Pray for eyes to see the world as Christ does: as an opportunity for mission and to see every moment as one of grace that God has given us to be about His saving work. Let us pray that as God’s people, we remain firmly built upon the Rock so we may serve as His witnesses shining forth in the wheat field among the weeds so they may see the Light.

Join us in worship tomorrow at 8 or 10:30am, or 5pm.
Bible study and classes for ALL ages meet at 9:15am.