God's Word is the Answer

Grace to you and peace from God, our Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. I'm taking a break this month from the liturgy articles because I feel the need to emphasize something from recent Scripture readings at Church.

We had some rather powerful readings on Sexagesima Sunday. First, the Lord spoke through the prophet Isaiah: "For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it" (Isaiah 55:10-11).

Then we heard from Hebrews: "For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart" (Hebrews 4:12).

Finally, we heard our Lord's first parable, the Parable of the Sower, giving us opportunity to reflect even further on the power of God's Word. Between telling the parable and then explaining it to His disciples, per their request, Jesus says, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear (St. Luke 8:8).

God's Word is living and powerful! God's Word does what it says! It accomplishes the saving purpose for which He sent it. Do you believe this? Do you recognize and rejoice in the power of the God's Holy Word? This is a HUGE question that impacts Christian life and growth and is at the heart of many, if not ALL of our congregation's challenges. God gives us a stark reminder that He grows His kingdom. He grows the Church. He grows us. I think we so easily forget that and we turn to figure out the right program or gimmick that will do the trick, increase attendance and offerings.

If you truly believe the Truth, if you recognize God's life-giving Word as the most important thing in your life, imagine the change that the Lord will work through you. When you recognize and rejoice in the power of the plain Word of God, the Word by which God created in the beginning, the Word that became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:1-14), the Word that is still preached among us today, there's no limit to what God will do. It will change everything! That's the ultimate answer for "dying" churches. It's the living and powerful Word, the living voice of Christ that speaks forgiveness and life to all who hear it.

It opens ears. It opens mouths. It opens hearts. It opens up a spirit of generous giving and service. It drives you to the Lord's house regularly to receive His gifts. And really, not "it," but "He," that is Jesus! You, my beloved brothers and sisters, have a promise from God that HE will work through this almighty and powerful Word. This is what drives my ministry as your pastor. I am nothing without the Word, without the Word made flesh.

It's no secret that attendance has dropped over the years. It's no secret that we struggle with faithful Christian stewardship. After all, we were prepared to take out a loan if we had to in order to cover expenses from 2013. And it's not the first time we've been behind in the budget. Just a couple of months into my time at Zion there was a budget meeting to discuss cuts and cuts were made, staff cuts were made, as happened again the next year and the next year. What's the answer to growth in stewardship, growth in worship attendance, reaching the lost, bringing life where there is death? It's the Word!

When we received our 2013 giving statement, Clarion and I decided to actually calculate at what percent we were contributing. Our proportionate giving for 2013 was at 7% of our combined income before taxes. I'm actually not very proud of that number, even though the Old Adam in me wants me to make it something of which to boast. It's not fully reflective of the blessings God has given my family. God calls me to lead by example as your pastor. That's why by God's grace, we've stepped it up to 8% this year and have a workable plan to continue that increase each year, beyond 10%. What drives this? Clarion and I consider what we do give (yes, even the tuition on top of that 8%!) as an investment in the ministry of the Word at Zion. It's God's powerful Word, doing what it does, that drives our practice. It's the same thing that drives us to teach our children the faith and also sustains Clarion in the pew with three young children who are learning our liturgy.

Doctrine and life go together. They are intricately interwoven. That's why I cringe when I hear someone say that doctrine isn't important. That's so NOT true to Scripture. What I believe, especially with respect to the power and efficacy of God's Word is what shapes me to be who I am, as a Christian and as a pastor. It has fostered Christian growth, although I'd be hard pressed to measure it. I am, after all the chief of sinners. I am the chief sinner at Zion. I'm even the chief sinner in Staunton. But it's the same amazing Word that confronts me in my sin, calls me to repent, and beckons me to the Lord's altar for forgiveness, forgiveness in His Word, forgiveness in Christ's body and blood. That same powerful Word opens my ears gladly to hear more. It opens my mouth to speak. It opens my heart to care. It opens my eyes to see all of God's blessings so differently in my life and how they can give glory to Him as I make use of them. God calls me to be an example to you by what I preach AND by how I live. I need to take that more seriously. Please pray for me!

So how does God's living and powerful Word affect you? What's your story? How can Jesus impact your stewardship? How can He impact your view of Zion and what you say about our church and school, especially when you interact with each other and with those whom you don't see regularly in the pew? I pray that God's Word, what it offers, gives and does, according to God's promise, will impact you incredibly. Pray for that, dear Christian! His Word has the power to move you beyond the externals of "boring" worship, stale sermons, the pastor you don't care for, seeing the same sinners in the same pews, or throwing a few bucks in the plate, to see the incredible beauty of what is taking place in your very midst and to respond to it in faith.

I'm no razzle-dazzle preacher. You know that. In my four years among you, I've made no secret of that. That's because it's not about me. It's about Jesus. I speak with His authoritative and powerful Word and that's that. Aside from that, I'm a poor, miserable sinner who takes refuge daily in Jesus, the Word made flesh, who suffered, died and rose for me and who did the same for you. GOD'S WORD IS THE ANSWER! In His Word, in Jesus, there is so much life, even where there appears to be so much sin and death. Keep that before you as we journey together into Lent and then to the true joys of Easter. Open your ears this Lent. God will do what He promises to do. His saving work will thrive!