Word of God Archives - Faith Lutheran Church, Wesley Chapel

Kurt Steinbrueck November 7, 2020

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Faith Comes by Hearing

Faith Comes By Hearing

“How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?” – Romans 10:14

When did you first believe in Jesus?

Michael was out at recess talking with some of the other kids. He told the other kids that he and his family were driving to Hawaii on vacation next summer.

“What? Are you stupid?” one of the kids replied, “You can’t drive to Hawaii. It’s an island.”

One of the teachers overheard what was being said and came over.

“No. Michael isn’t stupid.” She said. “He just didn’t know that you can’t drive to Hawaii.” She took out her phone and pulled up a map. “This is Hawaii, Michael. It’s way out in the ocean. Your family will probably be flying there. Does anyone know what ocean surrounds Hawaii?”

None of the kids spoke up.

“It’s the Pacific Ocean.” the teacher said. “None of you knew that until I told you, but now you know. Next time one of you doesn’t know something, how about someone takes the opportunity to share that information with that person rather than calling that person stupid.”

In our Bible passage for today, Paul asks the obvious question.

How are people supposed to believe the Gospel if they have never heard it?

“Faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” – Romans 10:17.

What a wonderful day it was when you heard the message that Jesus died to save you and that, just as He rose again, you too shall rise to eternal life with Him. It was through the hearing of this message that the Holy Spirit worked in your heart to give you faith.

Tomorrow is Sunday and we have the great opportunity to gather together to hear God’s Word. Let’s not take that for granted.

The Great Privilege
We have this wonderful message, this treasure, and we get to share that message with others so they, too, can hear and believe! What a great privilege!

“As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!’” – Romans 10:15

Who can you tell?

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for sending someone to tell me about Jesus and creating faith in me through the hearing of Your Word. Thank You for all those You have sent to preach the Gospel throughout the world. Help me to also be one who shares Your Word with others so they may hear and believe.

Amen

In Christ’s Service,

Pastor Kurt

Kurt Steinbrueck September 29, 2020

Blog holy spirit, Spiritual Truth, Word of God

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Lost in Translation

“The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.” – 1 Corinthians 2:14

Have you ever tried to explain something about God to someone and they just don’t can’t get it?

The other day Melissa and I were looking at some books to get our daughter. One of them was about how to make good choices in your tween years. I read some of the reviews on Amazon and was taken aback by one of them.

In the description of the book, it was very clear that the author was a Christian and that the concepts in the book were based on her faith. The first few reviews were 5 stars. Then there was a 1-star review.

Why 1 star?

Here’s my version of their review…

I thought this book was just about making good decisions, but the author brings religion into it. I don’t think you should bring religion into how to make choices.

They Just Don’t Get It
My first thought was, “Wow! I don’t think this person understands the concept of religion. Of course, someone’s religion is going to affect how they make good choices.”

Today’s passage makes it clear that this really shouldn’t surprise us. Natural man (those without the Holy Spirit) just cannot understand the ways of God. It’s like trying to explain something to someone from a completely different culture with a completely different language.

The Great Translator
It’s only by the power of the Holy Spirit that we understand God’s Word. He reveals the truth to us. That’s what Jesus means when He tells Peter after Peter confesses Jesus as the Messiah,

“Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven.” – Matthew 16:17

So, as we read God’s Word, we pray that the Holy Spirit will open our hearts and minds and reveal the truth to us. As we share the Gospel with non-Christians, we pray that the Holy Spirit would reveal that Gospel truth to that person and give them faith.

Don’t be surprised when those outside the faith don’t get it. They can’t. Rather, pray that God’s Word would be shared with them and the Holy Spirit bring them to faith so they might understand.

Holy Spirit,

Open my heart and mind to receive and understand Your Word. Teach me Your ways and show me Your path.

Amen.

In Christ’s Service,

Pastor Kurt

Kurt Steinbrueck July 14, 2020

Blog Word of God

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By Every Word

“But he answered, ‘It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’’” – Matthew 4:4

What sustains you day to day?

The passage in Matthew 4:4 is an interesting one and one I have heard used in many different ways. The quote is from Jesus when He was being tempted in the wilderness. He, however, is quoting Deuteronomy 8:3.

“And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.” – Deuteronomy 8:3

I think the usage of the passage I heard more than any other is that we should be reading the Bible more. While I completely agree that we should be reading the Bible (and probably reading it more than we do), is that really what this passage is about?

For Jesus, He is being tempted to turn stones into bread after having fasted for 40 days. I get hungry about 40 minutes after I eat, so I can only imagine what it’s like after 40 days, however, this temptation isn’t really about food. It’s about realizing and trusting that God is the one who sustains you.

For the Israelites, they were preparing to enter the Promised Land. Life was going to be good. It was going to be easy to forget God and think they were providing for themselves. So, God had given them a very powerful object lesson. He put them in a position where they had no food and no way of getting any. Then, He provided the food. By God’s command, the people of Israel had food every day.

What Really Sustains Us?
You may say,

“I have a job. I buy food. I do this or that which provides for me and my family.”

On the one hand, that may be true, but it misses the underlying truth. God is the reason you breathe every second of every day. That was what God was teaching Israel. Whether they had plenty or were in need, whether they were capable or incapable, no matter what their situation, it was God who sustained them and they could trust Him to do so.

After all, He had created them (and all of us) with His Word. He sustains us all by His Word. He gives us new life through His Word.

So, just like Israel and just like Jesus, we can realize it is God who sustains us day to day by His Word and we can trust Him to do so. As Jesus would put it a couple of chapters later in Matthew:

“Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” – Matthew 6:31-33

Heavenly Father,

You sustain me every minute of every day. Help me to remember that. Help me to trust You in that. Help me to seek You first and not be anxious.

Amen.

In Christ’s Service,

Pastor Kurt

Kimberly August 21, 2019

Sermons LCMS, lutheran, The Bible, truth, Wesley Chapel, Word of God

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When God’s Word is Hard

Sermon for August 18, 2019

Join us for worship this Sunday at 4 pm.

We use the dance studio at Song and Dance to hold worship services.

Song and Dance, Inc.
27221 Foamflower Blvd.
Wesley Chapel, FL 33544

Follow us at facebook.com/FaithWesleyChapel/

See you Sunday and God bless!

Pastor Kurt Steinbrueck

For more sermon videos please visit our Service Archive.

Word of God

Faith Comes by Hearing

Faith Comes By Hearing

Lost in Translation

Lost in Translation

By Every Word

By Every Word

When God’s Word is Hard

When God’s Word is Hard

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