Christ’s Church – Planter, Pastor, Preacher

Christ’s Conquest Confirmed and Announced

So consequential is the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead to the Christian faith that the Apostle Paul says that were it not true, then we have believed a lie, our faith is worthless, we should be pitied, and we remain condemned in our sins, eternally unforgiven.[2] If the gospel is good news, absent the resurrection, it’s the worst news ever. “But in fact,” Paul goes on to say, “Christ has been raised from the dead” (1 Cor. 15:20), a witnessed fact in history and a glorious testimony to the power of God.

Rich toward God

Have you ever had a conversation with someone only to realize they weren’t really listening? Maybe it was the way they responded or a question they asked, but whatever the case, they heard you speaking, but they were not listening. Maybe you just want to say: Did you hear a word I said? I wonder if Jesus felt the same way, after teaching on the weighty matters of the eternal consequences of a right or wrong confession and the unforgivable sin, only to be met with some man in the crowd blurting out, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me” (Luke 12:13). Did he even hear a word Jesus said?

The Joy of Serving Christ

You now know this, and in this revelation is your joy! Do you see it? Do you know it? Then, rejoice and share it. For, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see!” (Luke 10:23).

Greatness Defined

Greatness for the Christian then is defined as Christ-like humility, humbling ourselves before God and others. Jesus said, “he who is least among you all is the one who is great” (Luke 9:48c). And what he said he lived, that we might live through him.

A Gospel Ministry

This is how Christ builds his kingdom, through the faithful preaching of the Word and sacraments, through the diverse use of our gifts in service, and through our tithes and offerings. It sounds remarkably ordinary, and it is, but God has chosen what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; what is weak to shame the strong; what is low and despised to build Christ’s church, that in it and through it he might be glorified. All glory be to Christ!