Pastoral Care - Life Together: A Gift of God
In our final weeks of Preparation and Prayer for the Convention of General Synod, we look forward to our ongoing life together as LCANZ …
- We lament and we repent of the ways we have wrongfully allowed disagreement to disrupt our life together in Christ.
- Gathered around the Word, living in our baptism, and sharing at the Lord's table, we turn toward one another and recognise our brothers and sisters in Christ.
- We celebrate together our hope in Jesus Christ, who continues to guide and bless us.
Preaching with boldness and power
by Norma Koehne
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
He witnessed to them from morning till evening, explaining about the kingdom of God, and from the law of Moses and from the prophets he tried to persuade them about Jesus (Acts 28:23b).
Read Acts 28:17–31
I love those words from the general prayer of the church that say, ‘Give us faithful pastors to preach your word with boldness and power’. In this passage, we have the example of one who was not afraid to do so. Even though his message was rejected by the Jewish church leaders in Jerusalem, and he was arrested and sent to Rome, Paul did not give up on his fellow Jews. He still hoped to bring them to faith in Jesus.
So, in Rome, he invited the Jewish leaders to hear what he had to say. Many others came as they had heard from relatives and friends back home about this new ‘sect’ and were curious to find out more. Paul did not ‘badmouth’ the people in Jerusalem who had had him arrested. Rather, he used the whole of the Old Testament to show them that Jesus was the Messiah who had first been promised to Adam and Eve and had been spoken about by the prophets. By showing how Jesus had fulfilled all the promises in the Old Testament, Paul hoped to persuade them that Jesus was their promised Saviour. Can you imagine today having a preacher so enthralling that you would listen to them as they preached from morning to evening?
When some would not believe, he had the boldness to rebuke them with the words of Isaiah, ‘You will be hearing and never understanding, you will be ever seeing, but not perceiving’ (Isaiah 6:9).
In the church today, we need to be aware that so much of our message is strange, one could say alien, in our society. Sin and grace, God’s wrath and love, Jesus atoning death, living a servant life – all these are difficult concepts. We must beware of ‘dumbing down’ our saving message, but rather, like Paul, preach it with ‘boldness and power’.
Lord, we thank you for those faithful pastors who preach your word with boldness and power. Help us all to be prepared to confess our faith boldly to those around us without fear. Amen.
Norma grew up in Koonibba SA. She was a teacher at Concordia College in SA and then served in various roles in Papua New Guinea with her husband. Returning to Australia, Norma worked as an International Student Advisor and, after completing a PhD, worked in administration at the University of Divinity. She has been privileged to serve the LCA on the General Church Board, the Seminary Council, and as president of Lutheran Women of Victoria and Lutheran Women of Australia. Currently, she is happily retired.
The ultimate/perfect servant
by Norma Koehne
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all (Mark 9:35b).
Read Mark 9:30–37
I often wonder at the meaning of the term ‘public servant’. It should mean people who work for the good of society as a whole. However, it is often characterised by those pushing and back-stabbing to gain the best position, to be the greatest.
Unfortunately, the disciples of Jesus were not immune to this impulse. Jesus gives them a subtle object lesson by taking a small child and telling them that one so small and of no apparent value is to be welcomed just as he is accepted.
Surprisingly, before the disciples argued about who was the greatest, Jesus had told them that he would suffer, die, and be raised after three days. Truly, he, who was the first – the Son of God – became the last, suffering a shameful death and paying for our sins with even greater suffering as he was separated from his Father for our sake. Having done this, he became the greatest of all.
Philippians 2:5–11 shows this most clearly:
Have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in the very nature of God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death – even death on a cross! Therefore, God exalted him to the highest place and gave him a name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
God, give me this servant's mind. Amen.
Norma grew up in Koonibba SA. She was a teacher at Concordia College in SA and then served in various roles in Papua New Guinea with her husband. Returning to Australia, Norma worked as an International Student Advisor and, after completing a PhD, worked in administration at the University of Divinity. She has been privileged to serve the LCA on the General Church Board, the Seminary Council, and as president of Lutheran Women of Victoria and Lutheran Women of Australia. Currently, she is happily retired.
by Jonathan Krause
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
The islanders showed us unusual kindness. They built a fire and welcomed us all because it was raining and cold (Acts 28:2).
Read Acts 28:1–16
There’s a lady I know who came to Australia as a refugee from Vietnam.
She arrived on a boat, huddled with family members, at a time when Australia open-heartedly welcomed in those who had lost all.
(I know there’s a political conversation these days about that subject, but let’s leave that to the side.)
The lady was resettled in Tasmania. When the plane arrived, she only had light clothes after coming from the tropical heat. As she and her fellow refugees stepped off the plane into their new life, there at the bottom of the steps was a group of volunteers, waiting for them with army blankets to ward off the cold.
The love in that kindness brings me to tears.
It takes me back to a refugee camp I visited in Ethiopia on the border with Somalia. The main building was a corrugated iron hut. On it was taped a sign that said, ‘Welcome’. Then, the first words each refugee heard were: ‘Welcome. You are safe now. This is your new home. We will take care of you.’
In Poland, where church communities welcomed families fleeing as refugees from Ukraine, instead of calling the people refugees, they called them guests.
It can be hard to be kind. Those who need our kindness may not always be neat and tidy or easy to care for. These people may need more than we feel we can give. Perhaps that is why kindness can often seem ‘unusual’.
Yet, as Christians, we are often called to live in a way that is unusual and makes no earthly sense. To unfold an army blanket. To build a fire. To offer shelter. When we do, just like those islanders, we can take heart from what Paul (a survivor of the shipwreck and seated at the fire the islanders built) said:
‘Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it’ (Hebrews 13:2).
Thank you, Jesus, for your unusual kindness to me and your love that took you to the cross – for me. I am so blessed by the comfort of your grace. Thank you. Amen.
Jonathan lives south of Adelaide with his wife Julie. Blessed by children and grandchildren, Jonathan enjoys reading and writing, walking by the beach, and watching Collingwood win. Author of many devotion books, Jonathan is the Community Action Manager for the Australian Lutheran World Service (ALWS).
by Jonathan Krause
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
So the soldiers cut the ropes that held the lifeboat and let it drift away (Acts 27:32).
Read Acts 27:27–44
Do you ever get tired of all those ‘super’ ads on TV?
You know the ones, where they compare two people and show how the ‘smart’ one can get much more money than the less nice-looking one?
These ads pitch money as security.
And yes, you and I do need to plan carefully. But do we need to live in fear so that money drives all our decisions? That’s something we Christians wrestle with. In following Jesus, we know we are called to serve the poor, be prepared to give away everything and put our neighbour first … Yet the world teaches us that money is safety and security and that the more we get, the safer we will be. It’s made out to be our lifeboat in stormy seas.
When Paul tells the sailors that the only way to save their lives is to cut the lifeboat and let it drift away, it’s a huge step of faith for them to follow that instruction. In the same way, it can feel a huge step for you and me to purposely cut ourselves from the lifeboat of money and the safety and security it seems to offer.
I don’t have an easy answer on how to do that.
I think God gives us wisdom, responsibility and opportunities. We are blessed to be able to bless. It’s not so much what’s in the super account; it’s what’s in our hearts. I recall a widow I met in Bangladesh who begged for rice each day to survive, yet when she had a few cents, she gave it to help ‘the poor people’. I shared her story in a magazine, and that widow’s example inspired a teenager in Australia to change her career plan and become a social worker instead, so she, too, could help ‘the poor people’.
You know your life. Is there a lifeboat you can let go of so you can be close to the One who promises to be with us through life’s stormy seas?
Jesus, you know how I hold on to things I think will protect me and put my trust in things that will let me down. Help me let go of those fake lifeboats and simply hold on to you. Amen.
Jonathan lives south of Adelaide with his wife Julie. Blessed by children and grandchildren, Jonathan enjoys reading and writing, walking by the beach and watching Collingwood win. Author of many devotion books, Jonathan is the Community Action Manager for the Australian Lutheran World Service (ALWS).
by Jonathan Krause
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me. Nevertheless, we must run aground on some island (Acts 27:25,26).
Read Acts 27:9–26
I am no sailor.
I once got seasick on a houseboat on a lake while we were still attached to the wharf.
And I’ve never been on a cruise. Not only am I scared of going cabin-crazy from being confined, but I worry I will eat too much, exercise too little, and come home twice the man I was when I set sail.
So, I don’t know how I would go on a boat in a storm.
And if some smart fella stood up and told me to have courage, as Paul did in the Bible reading, I’m not sure I’d want to listen. Especially when he said in the next breath that we were going to be shipwrecked even if we did exactly as commanded!
What is courage anyway?
I’m not sure that it means you’re not scared. Your greatest courage is when you are scared – but you carry on anyway. (Those of us blessed to be Collingwood supporters know that feeling well – we are always scared we’ll lose, especially when it comes to finals, but we have the courage to keep hanging in there anyway!)
I don’t know what your life is like right now.
Maybe the cost-of-living crisis or high mortgage interest rates are causing you stress. Perhaps you’re worried about a loved one or have lost someone dear to you. Maybe the black dog of depression is barking at your ankles, or the chill of loneliness is wrapping icy fingers around your heart.
We shouldn’t be surprised. The storms will come. We may even run aground and suffer in ways that feel unfair or overwhelming.
That’s when we need the courage to hold on to our faith. Maybe it’s by our fingernails. Perhaps we feel too weary and worn to hold on a moment longer. That’s when we lift our eyes to Jesus, focus only on him, and – rather than holding on – let ourselves be held.
That takes true courage. I pray that for you.
Lord, you know me. You understand the life I lead, the challenges that confront me, the joys that delight. I know no life goes by without storms. Give me the courage to hold on to you. Amen.
Jonathan lives south of Adelaide with his wife Julie. Blessed by children and grandchildren, Jonathan enjoys reading and writing, walking by the beach and watching Collingwood win. Author of many devotion books, Jonathan is the Community Action Manager for the Australian Lutheran World Service (ALWS).
by Jonathan Krause
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
Then Agrippa said to Paul, ‘Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?’ (Acts 26:28)
Read Acts 26:24 – 27:8
Do you ever get scared of your phone?
Especially around five in the afternoon, when a strange number pops up on your screen. Or rings and rings on the landline while you’re trying to get dinner ready.
You know it will be someone who wants to sell you something.
They pretend they have a connection with you by mentioning your power bill or credit card or a deal too good to be true that they don’t want you to miss out on.
If you make the mistake of being polite and then give them the chance to continue, your next 10 minutes are lost. They have a script with a tailored answer for any question or comment you might make. They pretend they’re your friend, and you’d like to believe them … but, in the end, you know they’re only out to make a profit from you.
They’re trying to persuade you to buy something you don’t want … or didn’t want until they convinced you that you did – or desperately needed it or would be left behind if you didn’t have it.
Do you find it interesting that King Agrippa suggests that if Paul had more than a ‘short time’, perhaps Agrippa could be won with words?
Paul is a brilliant orator, so perhaps he could.
For me, I’ve always understood faith to be the gift of God through the Holy Spirit. Faith may come in a flash (perhaps in a blinding light like it did with Paul himself) … or it may take a lifetime. A death bed. A tragedy. The good news is through the bad news.
So, I don’t think I can write anything in these devotions that will persuade anyone of anything.
All I can do is share my experience and journey and pray the Spirit may use that to touch someone – or may not.
What do you think? Persuaded?
Lord, today, I open my heart to you. Lay myself bare. Stop my talking so I can hear whatever you want to share with me and follow wherever you want to lead. I’m in your hands. Amen.
Jonathan lives south of Adelaide with his wife Julie. Blessed by children and grandchildren, Jonathan enjoys reading and writing, walking by the beach and watching Collingwood win. Author of many devotion books, Jonathan is the Community Action Manager for the Australian Lutheran World Service (ALWS).
by Jonathan Krause
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
Then Agrippa said to Paul, ‘You have permission to speak for yourself’ (Acts 26:1a).
Read Acts 26:1–23
I sometimes get a bit grumpy with Paul. Yes, his ministry is amazing. His conversion is a miracle. His suffering for his faith is immense. That’s not what I get grumpy about.
It’s his way with words. Read a verse or two of Romans or his response to King Agrippa here, and straight away, you can see Paul has a lot to say. And he can say it in a way that those of us who stumble over words or wrestle with shyness can only admire. (Or get grumpy at!)
Speak for yourself.
What an invitation! When was the last time you had someone ask you to share what you believe or sit across the table from you and listen as you declared what’s in and on your heart?
It doesn’t happen too often, does it?
And if you did receive that invitation, what would you say? Where would you start?
Perhaps you could look to Paul for guidance. But when I do, I feel like a tongue-tied nincompoop instead. Paul argues the case for faith in a logical, precise, well-reasoned way. He quotes history with authority, shares his Boys’ Own story of the blinding light on the road to Damascus and provides the classic before and after story of his transformation.
Not all of us have such rich stories to share or the confidence to speak them out loud, let alone in a king's court.
So, what do we do?
Right about here, I could give you the stock phrase to pray, and it will all turn out all right. That’s true, but perhaps it may also make it too easy. I know it does for me. If I did only that when preparing a chapel for school, a message for church or a presentation for Australian Lutheran World Service, I think I’d fall in a heap.
Instead, I read and research, prepare, practise, explore, and edit …
… Then get utterly nervous and spend more time in the loo than looking forward to sharing!
So, please forgive me for getting grumpy with Paul. I hope you may extend as much grace to me when asked to ‘speak for yourself’ as God does with us all.
Father, when I read about Paul, I sometimes feel very small and low. Help me instead to be inspired and excited about what you can do in the lives of people like me. Amen.
Jonathan lives south of Adelaide with his wife Julie. Blessed by children and grandchildren, Jonathan enjoys reading and writing, walking by the beach and watching Collingwood win. Author of many devotion books, Jonathan is the Community Action Manager for the Australian Lutheran World Service (ALWS).
by Jonathan Krause
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? (Mark 8:36)
Read Mark 8:27–38
That’s the trouble, you know.
You work and work to get and get and get … and everything is lovely, and you’re having a wonderful time … and then real life sneaks up on you and smashes you in the head.
You lose a loved one. You are disappointed at work. You make a mistake you can’t get past.
Someone lets you down. Someone uses you up. Someone isn’t who you thought they were.
Suddenly, a hole opens up inside you. A yawning gap you thought you had filled with things that promised happiness. Success. Admiration.
Do you know that feeling?
The darkness of that hole can settle over you. It is infecting every day with gloom so that it’s hard to see light anywhere. Even a grandchild’s smile can struggle to find its way through.
Read further in today’s Bible reading, and you might be disappointed Jesus does not offer a quick, easy fix. (If Jesus were a TV salesperson, he would have spun a whole series of promises with an easy payment plan and a set of steak knives if you got in quick.)
But, no, what Jesus says is this: ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me’ (verse 34).
We’re not used to being asked to deny ourselves.
It’s the opposite. Each day, we’re pummelled with products to make life easier. You may feel challenged that receiving the gift of faith doesn’t guarantee a whole array of earthly benefits.
What we do know for certain, though, is that whatever happens in our lives, we are not alone.
So, if a hole of fear, despair, shame, loneliness, heartbreak, grief, or loss opens up inside you (as it will), hold on to the promise that you can turn to Jesus and be sure that hole will be filled with hope.
And that’s worth a whole lot more than the world.
Lord Jesus, you know me inside and out. You know my hurts and hopes, my faith and fears. Complicated, aren’t I? Give me the strength to see my whole world in you. Amen.
Jonathan lives south of Adelaide with his wife Julie. Blessed by children and grandchildren, Jonathan enjoys reading and writing, walking by the beach and watching Collingwood win. Author of many devotion books, Jonathan is the Community Action Manager for Australian Lutheran World Service (ALWS