Rich was asked to present the message at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Covington, LA on March 21, 2010
LHM and You
Please pray with me:
May the words of my mouth and the meditation of our hearts be acceptable to you – O Lord.
A text for today is found in Psalm 66:16:
Come and listen, all you who fear God; let me tell you what he has done for me.
I bring you greetings from your brothers and sisters at the International LHM headquarters in Saint Louis. They are dedicated to giving you the very best in quality materials, programs and projects to help you reach out with the saving Gospel of Christ to those in your neighbor and in your communities.
It is my joy and privilege to represent them to you this morning.
Permit me to ask a question: What would you do to save a life?
Let me share a story with you:
The couple was married in the church, although she didn’t really have a connection and he hadn’t been active since confirmation. However, they married in the church but soon strayed.
Her coworker invited her to attend Christmas services and she did. Soon she had fallen in love with Jesus. They both attended – even inviting family members. Life was going well for them – she had a good job with prospects of promotion, he was going to school to escalate his career – life couldn’t get any better.
The doctor confirmed what she had suspected – she had a health concern. It was serious. She would need surgery. A date was set and an exam scheduled.
The news got worse – she was pregnant. Her surgery had to be postponed. The baby threatened her life. She was counseled about health risks, dangers and potential results – she could die. Would she consider terminating the pregnancy?
The short answer – no!
Life changed for the young couple. Her health was the main focus. Work hours were curtailed, doctor’s visits being the norm and constant monitoring showed the baby to be active and growing.
Then it happened – suddenly – without warning. She collapsed at work – rushed to the hospital. The news devastating – the baby is killing you – we must take the baby immediately or you both will die.
A few minutes later the baby was born – a boy – weighing only 1 pound and 4 ounces. Momma fought for her life as her son started his fight in the Neonatal intensive care unit. Phone calls were made – family gathered. Prayers lifted up.
Momma improved rapidly – now a decision had to be made – what about the boy?
“We will baptize him – Lewis.” He was now the newest, and perhaps the littlest member of God’s family on earth.
Decisions had to be made for Lewis – those were easy – no matter what the cost, no matter what the inconvenience, no matter how many hours it takes from our schedules – nothing is to be spared to save his life!
Lewis today still demands constant care – around the clock monitoring – but no sacrifice is too great – we will do whatever it takes to help my grandson grow.
What would you do to save a life?
Perhaps this is a trick question – for the answer will rest on whose life you are asked to help save. I cannot imagine a parent who would not sacrifice themselves for their child’s life. Not too many grandparents would turn their back on a grandchild’s need. Husbands and wives would spare nothing for their spouse. There is nothing I would not do to spare my spouse.
Then there are the other family members – family by blood and family by bond. Cousins, nieces, nephews, and the like are just as important as those members of our church family, our work family, our neighborhood family, etc. if our neighbor’s house was on fire; we would rush in and save them, or at the very least, call 911.
Here you experienced how far people would go to help others in need after the hurricane hit. You are very generous and very gracious – giving and receiving aid and comfort.
So, what would you do to save a person’s life?
This is a trick question – for now the life I am referring to is not our earthly life, but eternal life in Christ! How much would you risk t share the Gospel? How much would you confront sin? Would you be willing to confront your family member who has strayed from the faith? Would you bring up the topic of the Bible to your neighborhood bar-b-que? Would you risk humiliation, rejection or worse to share Christ?
Again – I ask you a trick question – for I already know the answer.
Most of the Christian world is like me, too often I have failed to speak up, too often I have looked the other way, too often I have ignored those opportunities I had to instruct, rebuke and share. I get nervous and fearful that I won’t have the words. I do not others poking into my life, so I refuse to get into theirs. I want to be liked and not thought of as weird or different. I feel ill-equipped and ill-prepared to share the Good News, so I don’t.
I have good news for you.
Lutheran Hour Ministries is here to help! Yes, Lutheran Hour Ministries and its projects and programs can help you share the Good News of the Gospel!
The Lutheran Hour radio program is heard on 976 stations in the United States and Canada by over 582,000 listeners per week. In addition, over 2,10o people listen per week online.
The Spanish version of the Lutheran Hour, Para el Camino was launched in December of 2008 and now is heard on 15 stations on the United States as well as being broadcast in Ecuador, Peru and Costa Rica. The web site averages 3,500 unique visitors per week.
Woman to Woman is heard on 292 stations across the United States and has an audience that is 70% secular.
The Men’s NetWork has over 7,000 registered users that represent almost 3,000 LCMS churches (at least one from every state) as well as over 700 non-LCMS churches.
Equipping to Share workshops have trained over 15,500 people in personal evangelism.
JC Playzone averages 28,884 page views each week, generated by 4,953 visits.
International Ministries offices provided Bible Correspondence courses, referrals to local churches as well as proclaiming the Gospel message through culturally appropriate media and materials. Last year there were 568,888 responses to the International Ministry programs.
Devotions are delivered daily to over 36,040 subscribers.
So now you can ask me the critical question – so what?
The Lutheran Hour radio program offers opportunities to nurture your churched community and also reach the unchurched community in your neighborhood.
International Ministries offers opportunities to engage your congregation in worldwide Gospel outreach
Men’s NetWork provides resources to grow your men’s ministry
Woman to Woman will help you engage your women in ministry
The Internet ministries of Lutheran Hour Ministries touches all ages right at their computer
The trainings and booklets will equip for outreach and provide information and comfort in a hurting world.
Lutheran Hour Ministries provides you with tools, trainings and opportunities to reach out with the Gospel message in a way that is non-threatening and non-confrontational.
What did God do to save your life?
What an awesome God we have – in that while we were yet sinners, He sent His Son to pay the price for our sin, to suffer our punishment, to experience the separation we deserve and He didn’t.
God so loved each one of us – in spite of what we do or don’t do – that He gave His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to stand in our place. But Jesus not only took our sins on Him, He took them to the cross. Ah, but not only to the cross, but to the grave! In the grave our sins were buried – then He rose from the dead! Because He did – we will! We have eternal life because of Christ – not for what we do, not for who we are, not for our works, but because of His Father’s love for us – individually, by name.
Whom would God have saved? – yes, all people!
Yet, how can they believe if they do not hear, and how can they hear if they are not told and who will tell them?
What would you do to save a person’s life?
Would you share the Good News of the Gospel? Lutheran Hour Ministries stands ready and willing to help you share this Good News.
We pray:
Lord, In sin we were conceived, in sin we live. While we are yet sinners, You sent Your Son to die for us, to be buried for us, to rise for us. Thank you.
Use us, Lord, to be the words of eternal life to those in our family, our community, our world. Where we can’t go, bless the efforts of our church, our Synod and of Lutheran Hour Ministries as they boldly proclaim the Gospel message in our homes, across the street and around the world as they “Bring Christ to the Nations…and the Nations to the Church.”
Lord, for Your strength, Your words, Your courage, we ask. In all things let us show You to all those who meet us.
In Your name we pray
Amen.
May the peace of God which passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, Amen.
May the words of my mouth and the meditation of our hearts be acceptable to you – O Lord.
A text for today is found in Psalm 66:16:
Come and listen, all you who fear God; let me tell you what he has done for me.
I bring you greetings from your brothers and sisters at the International LHM headquarters in Saint Louis. They are dedicated to giving you the very best in quality materials, programs and projects to help you reach out with the saving Gospel of Christ to those in your neighbor and in your communities.
It is my joy and privilege to represent them to you this morning.
Permit me to ask a question: What would you do to save a life?
Let me share a story with you:
The couple was married in the church, although she didn’t really have a connection and he hadn’t been active since confirmation. However, they married in the church but soon strayed.
Her coworker invited her to attend Christmas services and she did. Soon she had fallen in love with Jesus. They both attended – even inviting family members. Life was going well for them – she had a good job with prospects of promotion, he was going to school to escalate his career – life couldn’t get any better.
The doctor confirmed what she had suspected – she had a health concern. It was serious. She would need surgery. A date was set and an exam scheduled.
The news got worse – she was pregnant. Her surgery had to be postponed. The baby threatened her life. She was counseled about health risks, dangers and potential results – she could die. Would she consider terminating the pregnancy?
The short answer – no!
Life changed for the young couple. Her health was the main focus. Work hours were curtailed, doctor’s visits being the norm and constant monitoring showed the baby to be active and growing.
Then it happened – suddenly – without warning. She collapsed at work – rushed to the hospital. The news devastating – the baby is killing you – we must take the baby immediately or you both will die.
A few minutes later the baby was born – a boy – weighing only 1 pound and 4 ounces. Momma fought for her life as her son started his fight in the Neonatal intensive care unit. Phone calls were made – family gathered. Prayers lifted up.
Momma improved rapidly – now a decision had to be made – what about the boy?
“We will baptize him – Lewis.” He was now the newest, and perhaps the littlest member of God’s family on earth.
Decisions had to be made for Lewis – those were easy – no matter what the cost, no matter what the inconvenience, no matter how many hours it takes from our schedules – nothing is to be spared to save his life!
Lewis today still demands constant care – around the clock monitoring – but no sacrifice is too great – we will do whatever it takes to help my grandson grow.
What would you do to save a life?
Perhaps this is a trick question – for the answer will rest on whose life you are asked to help save. I cannot imagine a parent who would not sacrifice themselves for their child’s life. Not too many grandparents would turn their back on a grandchild’s need. Husbands and wives would spare nothing for their spouse. There is nothing I would not do to spare my spouse.
Then there are the other family members – family by blood and family by bond. Cousins, nieces, nephews, and the like are just as important as those members of our church family, our work family, our neighborhood family, etc. if our neighbor’s house was on fire; we would rush in and save them, or at the very least, call 911.
Here you experienced how far people would go to help others in need after the hurricane hit. You are very generous and very gracious – giving and receiving aid and comfort.
So, what would you do to save a person’s life?
This is a trick question – for now the life I am referring to is not our earthly life, but eternal life in Christ! How much would you risk t share the Gospel? How much would you confront sin? Would you be willing to confront your family member who has strayed from the faith? Would you bring up the topic of the Bible to your neighborhood bar-b-que? Would you risk humiliation, rejection or worse to share Christ?
Again – I ask you a trick question – for I already know the answer.
Most of the Christian world is like me, too often I have failed to speak up, too often I have looked the other way, too often I have ignored those opportunities I had to instruct, rebuke and share. I get nervous and fearful that I won’t have the words. I do not others poking into my life, so I refuse to get into theirs. I want to be liked and not thought of as weird or different. I feel ill-equipped and ill-prepared to share the Good News, so I don’t.
I have good news for you.
Lutheran Hour Ministries is here to help! Yes, Lutheran Hour Ministries and its projects and programs can help you share the Good News of the Gospel!
The Lutheran Hour radio program is heard on 976 stations in the United States and Canada by over 582,000 listeners per week. In addition, over 2,10o people listen per week online.
The Spanish version of the Lutheran Hour, Para el Camino was launched in December of 2008 and now is heard on 15 stations on the United States as well as being broadcast in Ecuador, Peru and Costa Rica. The web site averages 3,500 unique visitors per week.
Woman to Woman is heard on 292 stations across the United States and has an audience that is 70% secular.
The Men’s NetWork has over 7,000 registered users that represent almost 3,000 LCMS churches (at least one from every state) as well as over 700 non-LCMS churches.
Equipping to Share workshops have trained over 15,500 people in personal evangelism.
JC Playzone averages 28,884 page views each week, generated by 4,953 visits.
International Ministries offices provided Bible Correspondence courses, referrals to local churches as well as proclaiming the Gospel message through culturally appropriate media and materials. Last year there were 568,888 responses to the International Ministry programs.
Devotions are delivered daily to over 36,040 subscribers.
So now you can ask me the critical question – so what?
The Lutheran Hour radio program offers opportunities to nurture your churched community and also reach the unchurched community in your neighborhood.
International Ministries offers opportunities to engage your congregation in worldwide Gospel outreach
Men’s NetWork provides resources to grow your men’s ministry
Woman to Woman will help you engage your women in ministry
The Internet ministries of Lutheran Hour Ministries touches all ages right at their computer
The trainings and booklets will equip for outreach and provide information and comfort in a hurting world.
Lutheran Hour Ministries provides you with tools, trainings and opportunities to reach out with the Gospel message in a way that is non-threatening and non-confrontational.
What did God do to save your life?
What an awesome God we have – in that while we were yet sinners, He sent His Son to pay the price for our sin, to suffer our punishment, to experience the separation we deserve and He didn’t.
God so loved each one of us – in spite of what we do or don’t do – that He gave His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to stand in our place. But Jesus not only took our sins on Him, He took them to the cross. Ah, but not only to the cross, but to the grave! In the grave our sins were buried – then He rose from the dead! Because He did – we will! We have eternal life because of Christ – not for what we do, not for who we are, not for our works, but because of His Father’s love for us – individually, by name.
Whom would God have saved? – yes, all people!
Yet, how can they believe if they do not hear, and how can they hear if they are not told and who will tell them?
What would you do to save a person’s life?
Would you share the Good News of the Gospel? Lutheran Hour Ministries stands ready and willing to help you share this Good News.
We pray:
Lord, In sin we were conceived, in sin we live. While we are yet sinners, You sent Your Son to die for us, to be buried for us, to rise for us. Thank you.
Use us, Lord, to be the words of eternal life to those in our family, our community, our world. Where we can’t go, bless the efforts of our church, our Synod and of Lutheran Hour Ministries as they boldly proclaim the Gospel message in our homes, across the street and around the world as they “Bring Christ to the Nations…and the Nations to the Church.”
Lord, for Your strength, Your words, Your courage, we ask. In all things let us show You to all those who meet us.
In Your name we pray
Amen.
May the peace of God which passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, Amen.
