Faithful living Archives - Faith Lutheran Church, Wesley Chapel

Kurt Steinbrueck November 13, 2020

Blog Faithful living, jesus

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Walking in His Footsteps

Walking In His Footsteps

“But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.” – 1 John 2:5-6

How well do you walk in the footsteps of Jesus?

Faith in Jesus isn’t just a “get out of hell free” card. It is life-altering. More accurately, it is life-giving.

A New Creation
In Christ, we are a new creation. The old is gone and new has come. The Holy Spirit lives within us. This does not happen without changing us.

Slaves to Sin
Before Christ, we were slaves to sin. We couldn’t help but to sin. That’s why insisting your friend who doesn’t believe in Jesus should follow God’s Law won’t work. Without Christ, we are bound to sin.

Now, Slaves to Jesus
For those who believe in Jesus, however, we are slaves to Christ. No, we will not live perfect lives, but we will begin to walk more like Jesus did.

As the Holy Spirit works in us we are transformed and the fruit of the Spirit begins to show (love, joy, peace, goodness, kindness, patience, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22). We walk like Jesus because His Spirit lives within us.

When we fail to walk in His steps, His Spirit leads us to repent and be forgiven.

So, let us strive to walk as Jesus did. When we fail, let us confess our sins knowing that God will forgive our sins and purify us of all unrighteousness.

Dear Jesus,

Thank you for sending Your Holy Spirit to dwell within me. Thank You for cleansing me of my sin and making me new. Help me to walk more like You.

Amen

In Christ’s Service,

Pastor Kurt

Kurt Steinbrueck July 22, 2020

Blog Endurance, Faithful living

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Running Free

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” – Hebrews 12:1-2

Have you ever run an endurance race?

If you’ve ever run an endurance race, you know that it is a challenging endeavor. It takes training, proper equipment, encouragement, and mental focus to run well.

The life of a Christian is compared to an endurance race several times in the Bible. The endurance referred to is keeping the faith. Faith is a gift and salvation is assured for all who have faith. So, we are warned not to give up the faith and walk away from the salvation that is ours. There will be struggles and temptations along the way, thus it’s a spiritual endurance race.

Much like a physical endurance race, there are certain things that can help us with our spiritual endurance race which God has provided:

Encouragement – Not only do we have our brothers and sisters in the church, but a history’s worth of witnesses to the goodness and salvation of God.
Untangle – It’s hard to run with strings and cords wrapped around to trip us. God can free us from being entangled in sin. Prayer, confession, Scripture, and help from others in the church are very helpful.
Unburden – Can you imagine running with a 100 lb weight tied to you? Jesus has cut the burden of the Law and works righteousness so that we can run freely in grace.
Focus – Christ gives us a new mind to think of the things of God rather than those of the world. He also provides many things to help keep you focused, like prayer, Scripture, worship, etc.
Look to the Goal – Distractions and pain will come. Keep your eyes on Jesus. He created (authored) your faith and He will perfect it to the end.

So, lace up your running shoes. It’s a good race and a great prize for finishing. Jesus will run it with and give you the strength to finish. I’ll see you on the race track…and at the finish line.

Heavenly Father,

It is by Your grace that I have been entered into this race of faith and it is by Your grace that I will finish it. Encourage me, free me from sin, give me the rest of grace, and help me to always stay focused on You, the author and perfector of my faith. Keep me in the faith until I cross that finish line.

Amen.

In Christ’s Service,

Pastor Kurt

Kurt Steinbrueck November 26, 2019

Special Posts 21 Days of Prayer, Faithful living, Faithfulness, Following Jesus, Obeying God, prayer, psalms, The Lords Prayer

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21 Days of Prayer – Day 20

21 DAYS OF PRAYER - DAY 20

Heavenly Father,

Great is Your faithfulness, O God. Even when we fail, You are faithful. We praise Your Name and lift You up, along with Your angels. May Your praise never leave my lips for You, alone, are worthy of all honor and power and glory, forever and ever.

I confess that I have not always lived according to Your commands. I have not been Your faithful disciple nor followed Your teachings. I have not loved You with my whole heart and I have not loved my neighbor as myself.

(take a moment to reflect on the past day and confess your sins.)

I am sorry for my sins and pray for Your great mercy. For the sake of Jesus Christ, please forgive me of all my sins.

Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer:

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name,
Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us;
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever.

Amen

Prayer of the Day:

Dear Jesus,

All Your ways are good. You are holy and righteous, loving and gracious, wise and pure. Help me to desire to learn Your commands and follow them faithfully, trusting that they are always the best choice. When I get proud and feel my ways are better, remind me that You are God and I am not. You are creator and I am Your creation.

When we follow Your ways, we do so not only for our benefit, but for the benefit of those around us. As we follow Your commands we love each other with a true love. We serve as Your hands and feet, providing for the needs around us according to Your will. May I bring glory to Your name and do good works that those who do not know You would praise You.

Lord, I cannot follow Your commands without Your Spirit working in me to will and work according to Your good pleasure. Be with me. Fill me with Your Spirit and grow in me the fruit of the Spirit that I may joyfully live a life of faith and love.

Be with Faith Lutheran Church. Make Your presence known among us. Be our head as You are the head of the church. Teach us, guide us, and direct us that we may, together, teach Your Word correctly and faithfully and show true love and compassion for each other and those outside the church.

Fill us with Your Spirit and give us the gifts used in ministry. To faithfully be Your church we need all the parts of the body to serve in their function and work together. Show us our gifts and help us to serve with sacrificial humility according to the gifts You have given us. Where we lack gifts, bring us new people to join our body and walk with us.

Through all our service and proclamation of Your Word, may You be glorified and may many come to receive salvation in You.

Amen.

The Psalms:

The Psalms have long been considered the prayer book of the Bible and have been used as prayers by countless Christians over the centuries. So, we join them in this practice and pray a Psalm.

Psalm 27

1 The Lord is my light and my salvation—
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life—
of whom shall I be afraid?

2 When the wicked advance against me
to devour me,
it is my enemies and my foes
who will stumble and fall.
3 Though an army besiege me,
my heart will not fear;
though war break out against me,
even then I will be confident.

4 One thing I ask from the Lord,
this only do I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life,
to gaze on the beauty of the Lord
and to seek him in his temple.
5 For in the day of trouble
he will keep me safe in his dwelling;
he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent
and set me high upon a rock.

6 Then my head will be exalted
above the enemies who surround me;
at his sacred tent I will sacrifice with shouts of joy;
I will sing and make music to the Lord.

7 Hear my voice when I call, Lord;
be merciful to me and answer me.
8 My heart says of you, “Seek his face!”
Your face, Lord, I will seek.
9 Do not hide your face from me,
do not turn your servant away in anger;
you have been my helper.
Do not reject me or forsake me,
God my Savior.
10 Though my father and mother forsake me,
the Lord will receive me.
11 Teach me your way, Lord;
lead me in a straight path
because of my oppressors.
12 Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes,
for false witnesses rise up against me,
spouting malicious accusations.

13 I remain confident of this:
I will see the goodness of the Lord
in the land of the living.
14 Wait for the Lord;
be strong and take heart
and wait for the Lord.

(Take a few minutes to add your personal prayers, now.)

Conclude your time of prayer with either Luther’s morning or evening prayer, depending on what time of day it is.

Luther’s Morning Prayer:

I thank you, my Heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen.

Luther’s Evening Prayer:

I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have graciously kept me this day; and I pray You to forgive me all my sins where I have done wrong, and graciously keep me this night. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the wicked foe may have no power over me. Amen.

In Christ’s Service,

Pastor Kurt

Faithful living

Walking in His Footsteps

Walking In His Footsteps

Running Free

Running Free

21 Days of Prayer – Day 20

21 DAYS OF PRAYER - DAY 20

Faith Lutheran Church in Wesley Chapel, FL serving Lutz, Zephyrhills, Land O’ Lakes, and New Tampa, FL