Questions husbands sometimes ask: What's for supper? Where's the TV remote? Do these ___ go together?? The first two questions are basic. The last might need some explanation. It's like when getting dressed, and I put on that tie and shirt -- but then around the corner comes the fashion expert. She takes one look and says, Are you serious? Are you really going to wear that tie with that shirt and those slacks? To this I respond, Ah . . . so they don't go together? That what you're saying??

Long ago in the church of Corinth people were doing things that just didn't go together, not wardrobe' things - spiritual things. Now the issues in Corinth were a range of bad behavior including prostitution and incest. God wanted them to know that some things just don't go together for Christians and so in 1st Corinthians 6 the Apostle addresses the issue of sexual immorality. The Word of God is crystal clear. God's gift of sex is to be enjoyed only within marriage; only between husband and wife. Therefore when people choose to use sex outside of marriage they disobey and dishonor God.

God's gift of human sexuality and its 6th commandment safe guard are broadly abused in our time. No matter what anyone says, no matter what attitude prevails our culture these do not go together within the life our Holy God wants to give. Prostitution and incest back in Corinth: The concerns of our time form an expanding list including broken relationships, broken marriages, depression, disease, fatherless children, abortion, pornography, devaluing of life, declining spirituality among people young and old, and more. Today some blame much of this on the so called 'sexual revolution' of the 60's. We know better. In the beginning God's creational design and gift of marriage for one man and woman was very good. But when they fell into sin immediately these came under attack. And so one way or another all families deal with problems related to the abuse of God's good gift and the commandment that protects it.

Question is: How are we dealing?

• Are we praying for mercy and repentance?
• Are we seeking God's wisdom to know when to 'speak up' and when to 'be silent'?
• Or are we allowing ourselves to be silenced for the sake of 'not causing trouble'?

Jesus said, You have heard it said that you shall not commit adultery. But I say to you that anyone who looks on a woman to lust has already committed adultery in his heart. It's very human and all too easy to excuse this or that sin, to think that it's not as bad as another. While the consequences of some sin are exceedingly greater than others . . . consider the cost. This cost of adultery, the price and burden of all sin was borne by our Savior on the cross. Sin made us slaves of the devil and deserving eternal death. But Christ has paid the price on our behalf; forgave all our sins and won eternal life as he suffered, died, and rose from the dead. You were bought with a price. It needs to be said, sins against the sixth commandment, like every other are forgivable. But when people willingly engage in breaking God's command, what they need to hear is this: You shall not commit adultery. And then in loving concern ask them:

• How are you lifting up God's Word and the cross of Christ in and by your life' choices?
• And how will your 'choice' promote the gospel within family, our church, even within the world?

The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by His power. The church's proper evangelical work is to proclaim the reconciliation of the sinner to God in the death of Jesus Christ 2 Cor. 5:18 -19. Therefore honor God with your body. Using your body to honor God. Now that goes together!

Last September in the newsletter I took up our constitutions preamble sub-points. This month I will address the third point: WITNESS TO ALL PEOPLE, But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. Acts 1.8

Several years back Rev. Matthew Harrison illustrated how the church lives and works together with three phrases; the first of which was WITNESS. As the people of God, brothers and sisters in Christ, in all we do Christ is at the center, sustaining us, keeping us focused on our mission. This will never change. Our Lord in Acts 1 had gathered his disciples one last time. Jesus charged them and all his people to bear brave witness to what they had seen, heard, and touched. Bearing witness (Luther said) is nothing but God's Word spoken by angels or men, and it calls for faith.

Bearing brave witness happens in many different ways. One day a preschool teacher was teaching the children about heaven. For those of us who grew up in the church, heaven is a basic truth; heaven is where Jesus is and where He has prepared for us. But try to imagine hearing about heaven for the first time. What would that be like? After hearing about heaven one of the preschoolers exclaimed, Teacher! I'm gonna go home and tell my mom all about heaven!

Each and every day in our preschool and classrooms, each and every week in worship, Sunday school, catechism, and bible study the Gospel of Christ is 'witnessed'. We do this by simply retelling the Word of God. Along with prayers, songs, and conversation we bear witness to the greatest story ever told. Our Lord Jesus once spoke of laying up your treasures in heaven. The word treasure in Greek is 'thesaurus. A thesaurus is a treasure of words. And there it is, the real treasure we have to offer is Christ the Word made flesh, our priceless treasure.

This year at Zion our board of evangelism is taking up a program called, Every One His Witness. Every One His Witness is designed to help Lutheran Christians witness. By teaching and training we will put sound doctrine into practical action for sharing Christ in our everyday lives. The Gospel of Christ is our greatest treasure.

This year at Zion let's lift up the Gospel of Christ. Let's witness!