The Pastor’s Pen
As I mentioned in last month’s Encounter, beginning September 29 and continuing through each of the Sundays in October, I will be preaching a sermon series on five key questions asked by Jesus in the course of his ministry:
“What do you want me to do for you?” (Mark 10:46-52)
“Why are you afraid?” (Mark 4:35-41)
“Why do you doubt?” (Luke 24:35-40)
“Do you want to be made well?” (John 5:1-9)
“Can you see anything?” (Mark 8:22-26)
Those of us who participated in last summer’s work camp trip were invited to reflect on each of these questions in our daily devotions. The questions helped us to dig deeper into the overall work camp theme: “What do you stand for?”
I encourage you to be present for as much of this series as you are able. As we spend time with each of Jesus’ questions, it will give us an opportunity to examine our values, our commitments, and our priorities. In the process, we will be thinking about what it is we stand for, both as individuals and as a congregation. Do we stand for Christ? Do we stand for the mission that he has entrusted to us? Or are we standing for something other than Christ?
As a way of helping us to reflect on all of this even further, the question, “What do you stand for?” will also serve as the theme of this fall’s stewardship campaign here at St. Andrew. If we were to examine closely the ways that we are using what God has entrusted to us – our time, our talents, our treasure – what would that reveal to us about our commitments and priorities? What would it tell us about what it is we stand for? Are our stewardship practices an accurate reflection of what we would like our lives to be standing for, or are there some changes we believe God is calling us to make? During our stewardship campaign, these are some of the questions we’ll be invited to think about. Watch for more information in mailings, in Sunday morning announcements and temple talks, and in the Encounter.
“What do you stand for?” That’s a healthy question for us to be asking ourselves. As we think about that question, both in the sermon series and in the fall stewardship campaign, may we never forget that through Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, he has made it abundantly clear that he stands for us. Jesus stands for us! That’s the best news there could possibly be! What a privilege to be able to live each day standing for him!
See you in worship.
Pastor Selbo
