Faith Matters  has been created for dialouge opportunities among the Faith Community within our congregation and with others who visit our web site.   Each week on our web site we feature in our study guide a Sermon Synopsis for the week of worship we have just completed along with a study guide for the liturgical lessons for the next week.    We welcome questions and thoughts about these study guides but also about matters that cross our daily lives and how they relate to God's Living Word.  Welcome! Visit our website at www.joinusinworship.com

We hope to be able to use this format to discuss sermons following Sundays and also as we post them on the study guide of the web site. Do you have questions? Post them to our Pastor Wolff and he will post an answer!

I’m off topic for just a note. I was thinking that the Lutheran Church & OSLC are both going thru periods of change. I just returned and I have had the opportunity to use the “Cranberry” Service book. I think the book is great, but to keep the weight down (my opinion) they decided to have common items like the creeds, etc. printed in just one place. Thus when you go thru any of the services you are going back and forth thru the book. Here at OSLC we have a printed form. We also have guests from out of town. Some of them may have been using the Cranberry service book and are not sure just what we are doing. They are similar, but for some reason they don’t seem the same. Kathy mentioned a while back that (I think) we are doing service #10? And she was going to introduce us to some of the other settings and may even combine some?
As I was paging thru the printed service I noticed two blank pages. I was wondering if we could put some Committee notices in those pages, maybe some explanation of long range plans, etc. & perhaps we could tell our guests what setting we are doing and that we have signed up for the “online” worship guides?

Lisa, your thoughts are similar to mind. We can't predict the sensing of the drawing near of the kingdom, so I want to be careful about my next statement. That said, I am praying that our interrelationship with people from the weekly rentals will give us a sense that the reign is drawing near rather than we just having a "good feeling" about what is being done. Does that make sense?

Gary, your comments may be off the topic, but they're important. And, with a little stretch, they may connect. I think we all hope that there will be a sense of the reign of God while we worship. A good understanding of what is happening may help that. The challenge we have is that, many time, we don't know if we'll have extra pages. That's determine right before printing time. However, something could be prepared and ready for printing, if such space arises. I'll talk to Bonnie about that. Gary, we all want good communication. That's what you're asking for.

Very often I find it interesting to see my own message develop over the time that I prepare it. In the feeding of the 5000, I wanted to compare the reign of humanity versus the reign of God. Yet, want rose to the surface was Jesus' need to have the disciples work. This had me thinking of the National Church's words for this period of time, "God's work, our hands." That seemed to me to be the strong message that I heard myself. What did you hear as God engaged you in scripture this week?

Well certainly you readers out there if you have not visited the new elca.org you should. I find the God's Work, Our Hands to apply in simply every move and decision I make within the day. We are his vessle here -he works through us - -for people to see Christ they need to see Him in us - -that is crazy big to consider - - it is FULLY written in our purpose state to be Sent. Do you see Christ in others - I am absolutely sure I do! Where did you see God on the Loose this week? I can recognize Him now when I see Him or the Spirit as It becomes known to you - - He is my friend. Now to address the reign of humanity verses the reign of God - --well if we switch the words of we have the Kingdom of God verses the Kingdom of Humanity. We all live between those two places I guess. We strive to serve the Kingdom of God, we know the Kingdom of Humanity serves flesh, material, that which cannot go with us, but the Kingdom of God serves love and grace and things that don't go away , only through His grace can we even receive it - -the kindgom is always near...... yet how do we experience it fully.....do we only know that in eternity........I keep thinking I CAN experience that here the closer I get to living in His will, then the closer to His Kingdom I am. I do feel like now I can understand what it means when we discuss the Living Word - -because as we grow in Christ His Word grows in us ....I just still feel so challenged by what the Kingdom of God really is......If one of the confirmation kids asked me what would I answer..........such a challenge. Teach us Pastor!!! The more we know the more we can better share the Good News and the word. Its really most compelling.... Jump in readers :-))

It was a joy and priviledge to share in Christian Fellowship at our Picnic on the Grounds August 16th. MANY people stayed and helped to clean up and I can't thank you enough. What a joy to share with all those folks --Thanks to all who participated in any way!

You know, Lisa, when we experience 30, or so, people come together, with very little consideration of who one is, how their connected, see people come from all walks of life, and after sharing a meal (isn't it interesting how much that happe ns in scripture) coming together to sing outside, in front of God and everyone, sharing their faith through song to the world -- I think we sense the reign of God drawing a little bit near.

The readings for Sunday noted that as the reign of God draws near, all people are accepted and welcomed into God's house of prayer. I know I am challenged with that. I also hear some people say that when they walk into God's house, they feel unwelcomed. Of course, that can be their own perception. What do think the challenge is for us to assist in having the reign of God draw near?

Is the work of the "church" important? What is the work of the church?

The work of the church is to spread the news of what Christ did on the cross. I think that is the bottom line - - and I think sometimes we make the mistake of thinking we get to just bathe in His light of salvation, but that is not what God calls us to do, He calls us to go make disciples of all nations, and that can only be done through the gifts of love and faith.

So the work of the church would be to share, express, give love at all times to all people that they too might come to know the love of Jesus, the work of the church is to exercise the gift of faith and we do that by Believing when we hear Him calling.

Of course the work of the church is important, but it really can only come from the complete inside core of the individuals who then make up the Body of Christ. The ability of the church to do its work comes from that inner core (inner relationship with Christ) of the individuals who make up the Body's inner core. If that core is based on Love, Faith, Thanksgiving in response to what Jesus Christ has given us then that core will do the work and reach outside themselves to find ways to boldly share the love of Jesus Christ to all people.

Sin enters in when we lose our concentration on what is important - when the relationship suffers and we don't stay as intimate as God desires us to be with HIm - -when we step aside from a complete love relationship like that of a marriage from Jesus, when our eyes, heart, mind are centered on Him we clearly know and feel His presence and we respond in such a way.

When we ask the Holy Spirit to come to us to make this love and faith active, it surely does.

In the above comment - -we are all welcome in God's House, There is clearly no distinction with God-Galatians sure makes that clear and it is throughout scripture everywhere.

Ellen reminded us last night and will today in her message that although humans may point out distinctions, In God's eyes and heart there is no distinction. ALL P

The basis of Jesus' ministry is summarized in his initial words when his ministry began, "The kingdom of God draws near, repent and belive." Another way of saying that would be, "The reign of God draws near, change your way of thinking and believe." How can we change our way of thinking? Is it easy to do so? Why should we change our thinking since we are Christians already?

As you explained in your sermon-it takes the church- all of us working together to support and help each other to improve as Lisa says “our concentration on Jesus Christ.” It also helps to do works as James says. Not that that is the goal, but that constitutes our expression as disciples of Jesus- to spread his word to all people. The opportunity to do more things together as a congregation strengthens each of us. We all recognize we have different gifts and when we work as a group those gifts multiply such that the resulting outcome becomes greater than the collective gifts of each of us. The other magnificent event that occurs is that in the working thru of the “project” each of us draws a little insight into God’s work. We feel closer to God and that amplifies Lisa’s point of concentration- that concentration becomes easier and the more events the more repetition of that feeling (understanding) results in less concentration and more natural feelings and thoughts about Jesus and his desire for us here in the reign of God

Martin Luther initiated a concept called,"On Being a Theologian of the Cross." He said that those who practice the "Theology of Glory" call evil good and good evil. Those who understand the "Theology of the Cross call it what it really is." Does this make sense? Does this help us understand what the cross is all about?VGAU

Well I think the theology of Glory is a way of saying that it is thought that things rest of man or human's wisdom --but that the theology of the cross is that all knowledge and truth lies in what happened on the cross - -and in that understanding God's grace ........in the glory end we would rely on our own knowledge of god which would be quite limited to how we would truly find god at the foot of the cross -- -god comes to us there. It makes sense in the same way that Luther finds in scripture that we cannot be saved by our good works but by Faith Alone and that Faith comes to us from God - -it too is a gift, not something we can fathom on our own. I certainly can't pretend to understand all the cross is about - - -but when we sit at the foot of it we have a clearer experience of what happened there ......

We all want God's grace, or do we? Grace is acceptable when it is fair, can be calculated, and is understandable. What if it isn't? Do we still want to be channels of God's grace?

I have come on here two times now trying to put into words the miracle of God's Grace and how powerful it is and how when you have received it and know it - -- can you go back from there? and not want to be a channel of it? certainly we are tested - - when our human tendencies get in the way of that free flowing love like a river......... gary, julie b - --others - - - -share what God's Grace is to you......or even maybe experiences where we experienced God's Grace most.......I always knew I was loved by God - that was communicated very early on to me. But I sure did not act like someone God would be offering free flowing love to - abusing his guidelines and trying to live on my own - - yet everytime as I came to Him he opened just opened his arms and brought me in further until it could no more be denied.......and as you finally absorb that then that is where you live in response because you want others to experience that very grace you were offered over and over and continue to be.... Altho I behaved outside the Fold He kept loving me right back in......

How do you think we can give to the nation what is the nation's in concert with giving to God what is God's?

Sorry to change the conversation, but I wanted to be sure to thank Lisa for an outstanding four weeks of Thursday evening worship services. I was absolutely thrilled last night as she read her story inviting each child by name to take up a bible and join Christ. The whole four weeks fit so nicely. Starting with salt and flavor and moving to the light of the world- I can still see the candle lit smile on Desireas’(sp) face. Then the third week we were admonished to get rid of all that “bad stuff” in the pumpkin so the light of Christ could be seen in our faces and actions followed by last night’s “fishers of men” story. Just a tremendous blast off for OSLC's FIN program.

Gary, I wonder if you were experiencing the grace of God

Thank you Gary for your thots on Thursday worship. I can honestly say I have felt God at work....when Tyler wanted to pray for us and light candles and the smile on desiree's (sp again) face was incredible when she heard HER very own name called. I have done that in Sunday School and kids can feel it more personally then. I loved the version of Fishers of Men that Kathy and Bonnie did - God was at work through it all, to end with Pastor's patient prayer was a delight. The Holy Spirit is alive in all of it and a joy it is to experience for sure. I am reading Pastor's Question - - With God as the creator it is easy for me to have the vision of everything being God's first we are simply giving back to him as we serve and give and so it feels very natural to me to do so. What is the nations? I struggle....................so gonna have to think on this one.......offer more to us in thoughts.......

This is always a challenging question. I believe we give to the nation thru taxes, etc. Now that is in keeping with Christ’s message of rendering unto Caesar that which is Caesars & unto God that which is God’s. As you say Lisa, it is easy to understand what is God’s but…I have come to the conclusion that if I am responsible for doling out what God has given me and if I understand Christ’s message then I give to the govt that which is theirs, support my family and tend to the needs of the disadvantaged.

I agree Gary --it is clear scripture gives us this instruction........and as Christians we strive to do so.......how do we get the "nation" to realize what the "nation" has is God's first....I just get lost in the decisions the nation makes where I have to wonder where is God in that? I know you and most who are reading this probably wonder that.....as Christians do we have a responsibility to work more often in a civic capcity instead of staying comfortable in our own churches..do we have a responsibility to continue to be in scripture to try to learn how God wants us to respond to national issues....probably......this conversation could go on forever couldn't it!! :-))) we have many Christians in office and leadership.... then the theology comes into action.......????? HELP! is there an answer to any of it - I always think the real answers are in the basics - -which for us again is God's Word in scripture and the gift of Faith we must apply that God will lead us into discernment if we indeed ask him to. We have to ask and have faith every day - every hour.......... no answers here - just more questions!!!! Have you all read the new study questions for All Saints Sunday - -or weekend if you attend saturday service - - -:-)) You can read the new lessons and study guide questions on the Study Guide - under resources - on www.joinusinworship.com.

These comments are interesting. Adding my two cents, I think that whatever we give, we first look at the gifts the Holy Spirit has provided us. We also need to look at our commitments -- family, church, neighborhood, etc. Because everything belongs to God, we do need to give what God has given us to such things as taxes -- that's being responsible. Not everything is clear cut, though. What else can we give? I think that each of us has to determine that for ourselves, with help, insight, and discernment from the community. For example, I find myself having a passion for hope that we as a nation can come together. I do not have the "connections," such as national leaders. However, as drop (not a drip) in the ocean, I can speak for diversity and unity reminding myself and others that, as God's children, we need to hear and listen to one another, even when perceptions, perspectives, and values are different. Perhaps "giving to the Emeperor" can also mean "giving to the world."

I think the Beatitudes, as reflected in Sunday's message has much to do with our response to FIN. The question is, can we expect to experience the 8th and 9th Beatitudes?

Lisa,
Just some administrative notes about the web site. Is it in your plans athat a person can connect to the blog from the website. I don't know if I did it right but, I cklicked on the blog feed at the top of the page and was wisked away from SLC.
Also on the info about me- could we include SS hours and that we have SS for kids as well as adults?
Thanks