The Grapevine: From The Pastor'S Desk

THE GRAPEVINE
BEAUTIFUL SAVIOR
LUTHERAN CHURCH - LCMS
5851 NEW YORK AVE
ARLINGTON, TX 76017
MONTH OF NOVEMBER, 2018
FROM THE PASTOR'S DESK: his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses,
according to the riches of his grace, which he
Once this newsletter hits your hands, many of lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making
you will have already cast your (early) ballot for known to us the mystery of his will, according to his
many elected positions in federal, state, and purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for
local politics. The rest of us will do it on the 6th. the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things
in heaven and things on earth.
This mid-term election season has been
particularly long and filled with commercials, In him we have obtained an inheritance, having
debates, and commentary that you’ve certainly been predestined according to the purpose of him
heard. But as long as you’ve considered who who works all things according to the counsel of his
you would choose to cast a vote for in this will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ
election, it calls to mind another election. This might be to the praise of his glory. In him you also,
one has nothing to do with politics or television when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of
commercials, but it has everything to do with your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed
you. with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee
of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it,
It’s serendipitous that the church year ends to the praise of his glory. – Ephesians 1:3-14
when election season roles around. During
election season, the church is thinking of many Notice how Paul teaches us to bless God because
3 SPECIALTY COFFEE
things, but especially DRINKS
the return TOinKEEP
of Christ His He chose us even before the world was created!
YOU WARM | 2
second advent and also our eternal election. He predestined us to be adopted and to be called
Yes, you are elected, chosen, by God. The Bible His sons! He has chosen us for forgiveness and life
uses the word “elected” to describe how you are and salvation! This election of you by God is good
set apart by God. He has chosen you to receive news! It is right to thank and praise God that He
His grace and mercy. Paul writes to the chose you, even before your birth.
Ephesian Christians and to you about this
comforting act of God: However, this is sadly considered a scary point of
Christian doctrine for some. Many Christians,
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus perhaps even you, ask, “If God predestined me for
Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every salvation, does that mean that He chose to
spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as condemn non-believers to hell?” On the surface,
he chose us in him before the foundation of the this may seem like a challenging question, but one
world, that we should be holy and blameless that’s easily answered even if the answer causes
before him. In love he predestined us for adoption further challenges to our fallen reason. Scripture
to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according never says that God creates people for
to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his condemnation, or that He desires them to be
glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in condemned. 1 Timothy 2:4, in fact, says the
the Beloved. In him we have redemption through opposite: “[God our Savior] desires all people to
be saved and come to the knowledge of the In other words, Satan tempts you to ask
truth.” To go beyond what Scripture says about questions about election that God doesn’t
eternal election is to guess and speculate, but answer in Scripture in order to plant seeds of
not with God’s authority. We know that God has doubt about God’s love and goodness.
chosen believers to receive His inheritance, and
we know that God desires all sinners to be However, you can and should be certain that all
saved. those who believe in Christ have been chosen by
God and receive His gifts of life and salvation
What about those who don’t believe? We don’t now and forever! Rest in Christ’s peace, as it is
know, and we don’t say anything beyond what His death and resurrection that call you holy
Scripture says. and blameless.
Drawn from Scripture, the Formula of Concord IHS,

states this very well for us:
Pastor Odom
Thus far a Christian should occupy himself [in
meditation] with the article concerning the
eternal election of God, as it has been revealed in
God's Word, which presents to us Christ as the OPEN HOUSE &
Book of Life, which He opens and reveals to us by
the preaching of the holy Gospel, as it is written LUCIAFEST
Rom. 8:30: Whom He did predestinate, them He
also called. In Him we are to seek the eternal
election of the Father, who has determined in His
eternal divine counsel that He would save no one
except those who know His Son Christ and truly
believe on Him. Other thoughts are to be
[entirely] banished [from the minds of the godly],
as they proceed not from God, but from the
suggestion of the Evil Foe, whereby he attempts
to weaken or entirely to remove from us the
glorious consolation which we have in this
salutary doctrine, namely, that we know
[assuredly] that out of pure grace, without any Pastor Odom and his family invite the
merit of our own, we have been elected in Christ congregation of Beautiful Savior to an open
to eternal life, and that no one can pluck us out of house on December 9th from 3-5 p.m.
His hand; as He has not only promised this
gracious election with mere words, but has also
Swedish and Finnish sweets, glügg, and
certified it with an oath and sealed it with the
coffee will be served. St. Lucy (Sankta Lucia
holy Sacraments, which we can [ought to] call to
mind in our most severe temptations, and take in Swedish) will even make an appearance
comfort in them, and therewith quench the fiery around 4:00!
darts of the devil. (Formula of Concord,
Epitome, IX:13) Where: 5111 Yucca Ct. in Arlington
When: Sunday, December 9th from 3 - 5 p.m.
A Monthly Note From the LC-MS Stewardship As you can see, what the Bible commands about our
Ministry: stewardship can sting. It’s law, and the law shows
our sins. It calls us to repentance.
Sometimes people don’t like it when pastors talk
about stewardship. For some, it hits too close to The law is meant to expose and accuse for the sake
home. It is easier to talk about bad people in of showing us Christ and His fulfillment of the law. If
Washington, in history, or overseas than it is to think first-fruits, sacrificial giving has you squirming, that’s
about what our daily life in Christ is supposed to the point.
look like – how we are supposed to love our
neighbor. In Mark’s account of the feeding of the 5,000, Jesus
took the disciples’ five loaves and two fish and
The fact that we don’t like hearing about blessed them. It was nothing among so many, but, of
stewardship certainly means we ought to face it. course, it was plenty. Jesus makes something from
Here are a few simple and practical realities. nothing.
God calls us to first-fruits, sacrificial giving. This
means we should give off the top. A wise idea would Mark doesn’t say that all the disciples gave Jesus all
be to set a percentage of our income as a deliberate the bread they had. It is quite possible some of them
gift for the work of the Church and give that first. We held something back. But even if they did, that didn’t
write the check to the Lord’s work in the Church stop Jesus from blessing them. Jesus makes
before we pay the mortgage or pay for our medicine something out of nothing.
or pay for anything else.
He, who fed His people in the desert with Manna
We don’t pay for all the stuff we need, and think we every morning, doesn’t need their bread. But they
need, and then give from what is left over. That is need to give it. And what they give, however little it
the first-fruits idea. It is hard because we think we might be, however grudgingly they do so, He blesses
need all sorts of other things first. But that is the it.
point of “sacrificial.”
He not only blesses those whom He feeds with it, but
First-fruits, sacrificial, generous giving – that’s the He blesses them, the givers – not just in that they
way. We shouldn’t fool ourselves into thinking that wind up with (a basket full for each loaf) but that
we’ve out-given God’s goodness or that we’ve given they learned to trust and rejoice in Him.
plenty.
The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away. The Lord
We might be tempted to think so but consider – no gives abundantly or asks us to fast. We do not know
one in the Church has given plenty because no one what will happen. Blessed be the Name of the Lord.
has given all. No one has died for his sins. Only the He does all things well and works all things together
sinless Son of God did that. for good. The disciples don’t give their bread to
Jesus because it is a good investment. They give it
Or, as St. Paul said, bringing the Good News of Jesus because He is good, they love Him, and they trust
into the discussion of our giving to support the Him. Let us go and do likewise.
Lord’s work in the Church:
“I say this not as a command, but to prove by the

M.O.S.T.
earnestness of others that your love also is genuine.
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
MINISTRIES
that though he was rich, yet for your sake he THE BOX IS BACK IN THE
became poor, so that you by his poverty might NARTEX
become rich” (2 Cor. 8:8-9). TO COLLECT EYEGLASSES!
PRAYER COMMITTEE
If you would like to be a
member of the Prayer
Committee, or find out what
it’s all about, please let me
know. Blessings, Elaine Barber

The Grapevine: From The Pastor'S Desk

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

The Grapevine: From The Pastor'S Desk

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

The Grapevine: From The Pastor'S Desk

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

THE GRAPEVINE

Drawn from Scripture, the Formula of Concord IHS,

“I say this not as a command, but to prove by the

You might also like