Following Jesus Archives - Faith Lutheran Church, Wesley Chapel

Kurt Steinbrueck May 17, 2021

Blog Following Jesus, suffering, Taking Up Your Cross

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Following Jesus

“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it.” – Mark 8:34-35

When you were first told about following Jesus, how was it described?

In the Gospel reading, Mark 8:27-38, the passage has several great things that happen.

We hear a little of what people thought about Jesus.
We have Peter’s confession of who Jesus is (The Messiah / Christ).
Jesus tells the disciples of the suffering and death He would face.
Jesus describes what it means to follow Him.

That last one can be pretty challenging. Jesus doesn’t describe a life of ease, free from pain.

Often times when we talk about following Jesus to others, we focus on the positives. We talk about love, peace, and hope. We talk about forgiveness. We talk about finding meaning in life.

To be sure, all these things are true, but they aren’t the whole truth.

Jesus describes a life that will include suffering, maybe even losing our lives. He describes it as taking up a cross and He doesn’t mean to put on a pretty, gold necklace. I don’t know, maybe we shy away from this part because we don’t think the slogan will sell well:

“Know Jesus, Know Persecution. No Jesus, No Persecution.”

The truth is that following Jesus can be difficult and downright dangerous at times. Maybe if we were open about that people who start to suffer wouldn’t be so quick to feel like God abandoned them.

Not Just Words
One of the amazing things about Jesus, though, is that He isn’t asking anything of us that is more than He is willing to do Himself. Right before He talks about us taking up our cross, He tells the disciples that He will be taking up a cross, literally, and giving His life for us.

So great is His love for us! When we suffer, He hasn’t abandoned us, He walks with us. Also, we are reminded that death isn’t the end with Jesus. The suffering is temporary. Jesus would rise again in 3 days and we, too, will be raised with Him to eternal life.

Dear Lord,

You suffered and died for me. Give me the courage to suffer for You and, when suffering comes, remind me that You are there with me and never leave me. As I speak to others about Jesus, help me to be open about what that really means as well as to talk about the suffering You endured for us.

Amen.

In Christ’s Service,

Pastor Kurt

If It Doesn’t Hurt, You’re Probably Not Doing It Right

Kurt Steinbrueck October 5, 2020

Blog Following Jesus, Obedience, Serving the Lord

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If It Doesn’t Hurt, You’re Probably Not Doing It Right

If It Doesn't Hurt, You're Probably Not Doing It Right

“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” – Matthew 5:11-12

When was the last time you suffered for Jesus?

Earlier this year, I was doing a diet and exercise regimen with the help of someone who has competed in fitness competitions. Because of covid we couldn’t go to a gym. So, she would just tell me what to do and I was supposed to do it at home. The next day she would always ask me. Are you sore from your workout?

More than once I said, “Not really.”

She would always respond with,

“If you’re not sore, you’re not doing it right.”

Working Out Our Faith
When Jesus calls us to follow Him, He calls us to a counter-culture life. We are to serve others instead of ourselves, practice self-discipline, resist temptation, love the unlovable, and speak and live by the truth of God’s Word. That can lead to some very uncomfortable situations and difficult sacrifices. It can even lead to pain and suffering.

However, we don’t like pain and suffering. Kind of like my workouts, we tend to do enough to feel like we are doing something, but not so much that it will actually hurt. Then we can pat ourselves on the back, without much sacrifice or suffering. How much good does that do, though?

For You and For Others
Jesus warns us that there will be suffering. We will have crosses to bear. This suffering does nothing for our salvation. That’s entirely accomplished by Christ. However, the suffering is good both for us and for those around us.

For us – We grow in our faith as we face hardship and suffering in Christ’s name. We learn to trust. Instead of just reading about it, we truly experience God’s strength, provision, and comfort.
For others – We show the love of Christ to them. We live out God’s Word instead of just talking about it. They can see and hear Jesus in our witness.

Jesus suffered for you. He didn’t go halfway. He went all the way…to the cross. Because of our faith in Him, the world will hate us as it hates Him. It will mock us like it mocked him. It will rejoice in our failures and despise our successes.

We can rejoice, too.

We can rejoice as we see God at work in our lives. We can rejoice as we see God at work in the lives of those around us, broken lives healed, spiritually dead people brought to life. We can rejoice in God’s forgiveness when we do fail.

Yes, we can rejoice even in our suffering for we know God will never leave us nor forsake us. He will bring us through every valley, even the valley of the shadow of death, and He will reward us in heaven.

So, let’s step out in faith. Let’s live differently. Let’s live boldly. Let’s live for Him who died for us.

Dear Jesus,

You gave everything for me. Give me the strength and courage to live for You, not going halfway, but giving my all. When I fail, help me to trust in Your grace. Grow me in my faith and may others come to know you through my witness.

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

Following Jesus

Following Jesus

Following Jesus

If It Doesn’t Hurt, You’re Probably Not Doing It Right

If It Doesn't Hurt, You're Probably Not Doing It Right

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