by Neil Bergmann
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All these evils come from inside and defile a person (Mark 7:23).
Read Mark 7:1–8,14,15,21–23
Jesus responds to the Pharisees’ concerns about outward uncleanness by explaining that uncleanness comes from within a person, not from without. This can still be a hard lesson for us to learn today.
We don’t use the same words as the Pharisees. We don’t often talk about somebody being pure, perhaps even less about somebody being unclean. Nevertheless, we still make judgments about others, both within and without the church, as to how ‘good’ somebody is. And, of course, we want others to think that we are good – kind, sincere, polite, honest, courageous, wise and helpful. All qualities worth having.
The problem comes when these virtues become an end in themselves, and we believe that we can be good people through our own strength and effort. Returning to the gospel soon puts us straight. Our inherent nature is not good; it is just the opposite. If we depend on our strength, we will not be living authentic, Christian lives; we will just be putting on a show.
Instead, every day, we are called through our baptism to die to sin, ourselves and our pride in our goodness. Then, we can rise to live again in Christ. God alone gives us any goodness we have. God alone can provide the strength to conquer our sinful nature.
Freed from slavery to sin and empowered by the strength of the creator of all creation, we are equipped to live our best lives. Freed from slavery to sin, we can join Christ’s mission to proclaim God’s kingdom of peace, justice and love to a world that desperately needs it.
Patient and loving God, we like to think we are good people. Please give us the humility to accept that we are weak and sinful without you. Please help us stop depending on our strength and prepare us to rely totally on your strength. Then, use us in your mission to the world. Amen.
Neil Bergmann is chair of Lutheran Earth Care, Australia and New Zealand. A retired computer engineer, he worships at Our Saviour Lutheran Church in Rochedale, Queensland.
by Maria Rudolph
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We sought out the disciples there and stayed with them for seven days (Acts 21:4a).
Read Acts 21:1–14
Whenever I travel in Australia or overseas, staying at a guest house or hotel is okay, yet always a bit impersonal. I feel quite separate from the locals and their lives. I’ve used Airbnb a few times, and that gives an interesting ‘everyday life’ perspective on a place. But I reckon nothing beats staying in the home of fellow Christians: reading the Bible together and eating and praying together. When I stay with Christian sisters and brothers, I feel I have a bond so precious, sometimes stronger than with family members or other friends. Do you have your own experience of Christian hospitality?
When Paul boarded a ship on his missionary journey and went past places now teaming with mass tourism hotel complexes and restaurants galore (for example, Kos, Rhodes, Cyprus), accommodation options were sparse, and all-you-can-eat buffets not yet a thing. But it was intentional that Paul and his companions sought out fellow Christians to stay with everywhere they went. Paul and his friends would have been a great encouragement to them, reinforcing their faith, giving them sound Bible teaching, and discovering spiritual gifts among them (Acts 21:9). The stays were of mutual benefit, as the Christian hosts prophesied over them (Acts 21:4b,10,11), prayed with them (Acts 21:5) and provided what they needed. In the end, we are reminded of the disciples trying to discourage Jesus from meeting his destiny in Jerusalem, with Paul’s companions realising all the prophesies seemed to indicate Paul’s arrest upon arrival in Jerusalem. But Paul stoically and faithfully follows the path of the Holy Spirit and sets them an example of Christian obedience.
In all this, Christian hospitality sweetens this heavy storyline like fine honey. Thanks be to God when we receive Christian hospitality and get a chance to give it to others.
Dear God, let me show Christian hospitality to others, whether by having them stay over, providing them with a meal, or sharing my time with them. Thank you for the times I have received Christian hospitality from others. Help me seek out my Christian sisters and brothers near and far for mutual encouragement and prayer. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Maria loves serving God through the LCANZ and currently does this at St John’s Perth as a pastoral associate and volunteers at Concordia Duncraig in Western Australia. She enjoys being part of a Way Forward Working Group and tackling current theological issues on the Commission on Theology and Inter-Church Relations. Her three kids and pastor husband keep her very happy and busy.
by Maria Rudolph
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I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me – the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace (Acts 20:24).
Read Acts 20:17–38
Who would you gather around you if you had to say farewell forever and move to a different place? What would you say to these people? And what might your legacy be in their eyes? How would you like to be remembered?
After establishing and nurturing the Ephesian church, Paul was led to the next place by the Holy Spirit. He had worked hard to establish a good leadership team whom he had equipped with all he had to preach about the gospel. Paul gathered these elders at his departure. He continued to stay in contact with them, as we can see from Paul’s epistle to the Ephesians. It shows that a number of the inklings the Holy Spirit gave Paul had come true: ‘I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock’ (Acts 20:29). In response, Paul wrote to the Ephesians about clothing themselves in the armour of God and to pray in all circumstances (Ephesians 6:13–18). Paul also said, ‘I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me’ (Acts 20:23). He later writes to them as an ‘ambassador in chains’ (Ephesians 6:20).
Paul keeps his eyes firmly fixed on Jesus and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, although the places he gets sent to are anything but a walk in the park. Paul has complete obedience to God’s will. Like an Olympic runner, he keeps encouraging us to stay the course. At the end of his life, he writes to Timothy: ‘I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness (2 Timothy 4:6,7). Yet, for Paul, gaining even the crown of life was never his motivation. He reminds the Ephesian elders in his farewell speech of the words Jesus himself spoke: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’
Wouldn’t it be amazing to leave a legacy of faithfulness? Wouldn’t it be great to be remembered for godliness? We can do this one prayer at a time. One faithful act after another. ‘For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do’ (Ephesians 2:10).
Dear God, take my life and let it be consecrated, Lord, to thee. Take my moments and my days; let them flow in ceaseless praise. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Maria loves serving God through the LCANZ and currently does this at St John’s Perth as a pastoral associate and volunteers at Concordia Duncraig in Western Australia. She enjoys being part of a Way Forward Working Group and tackling current theological issues on the Commission on Theology and Inter-Church Relations. Her three kids and pastor husband keep her very happy and busy.
by Maria Rudolph
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Paul went down, threw himself on the young man and put his arms around him. ‘Don’t be alarmed,’ he said. ‘He’s alive!’ (Acts 20:10)
Read Acts 20:1–16
Do you have a favourite ‘strange’ Bible story? The story of the young man who falls out of the window and dies while listening to Paul has always been up there for me. What a dramatic scene! When at first Paul only preached about Jesus rising from the dead on the third day, the next thing he showcases the life-giving resurrection power of Jesus right in front of everyone’s eyes.
Imagine this happening in your church service. Anyone who’s ever experienced an ambulance being called to pick someone up with a medical emergency knows how such incidents stir everyone up. How much more impressive would a resurrection be? It would probably be an experience you’d never forget.
In great contrast to the preceding account of the riot in Ephesus, where the heightened emotions of the crowd were detailed, there is no mention of the emotion of the crowd in this story, even though Paul immediately reassures them, ‘Don’t be alarmed’ (Acts 20:10). A man fell out of the window from the third storey before their eyes. Were they stunned and fell silent? Had they taken to heart Paul’s preaching that ‘If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord’ (Romans 14:8), and ‘I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength (Philippians 4:11–13).
Whatever the dramatic circumstances of this evening, it ended well for the people of Troas. Paul kept preaching until daylight the next morning, and then ‘the people took the young man home alive and were greatly comforted’ (Acts 20:12). It surely was a night to remember, one where the power of God was revealed tangibly. The words of Jesus from John 20:29 remind us, ‘Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed’. Today, hold fast to the knowledge that God’s power is strong and amazing whether you see it manifest tangibly before your eyes, or whether it comes to you during Sunday’s service in the words, ‘Your sins are forgiven’.
Dear God, thank you for the miracles being performed in your name. I’m in awe of you when you heal people. I’m in awe of you when you tell me that I’m your beloved child, and you feed me with your body and blood. Help me grasp your power and might through my daily experiences and be comforted by you in the good and bad times. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
by Maria Rudolph
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The assembly was in confusion: some were shouting one thing, some another. Most of the people did not even know why they were there (Acts 19:32).
Read Acts 19:21–41
Can you think of any big issues we currently face in our church? Big problems we are facing in society? How do these issues get handled? Are you involved in any of them yourself? How do you see other people getting involved?
There have been issues and conflicts as long as there have been humans, ranging from mundane worldly matters to complex spiritual ones. The Book of Acts gives us a taste of issues among the new pastors and teachers and what the new Way (as the Christian faith became known) meant for people.
Sometimes Jews and Christians clashed. There were wrong teachings within the new churches themselves. Christians clashed with the Gentile faiths around them. On top of that, new ways of living promoted by biblical principles clashed with the perceptions of prevailing social norms.
And, sometimes, someone simply got upset because the Christians disturbed their equilibrium. Things had been a certain way for so long. Why should they have to change now?
A silversmith in Ephesus got upset that he was losing contracts: More Christians meant less need for his silver altars to the Greek goddess Artemis. Instead of addressing it using the proper process, he stirred up his silversmith mates, too, and then turned his economic problem into a religious one by declaring, ‘The goddess will be robbed of her divine majesty’ (Acts 19:27)!
This chipped at the foundations of many people’s faith, and they joined his protests without truly grasping what was going on. Once a proper riot started, some troublemakers simply joined in for the sake of fighting. Although Paul was wisely held back by his disciples, he was willing to face that wild crowd to take responsibility for the actions seemingly caused by the new church in Ephesus.
Instead of getting swept up in the commotion, the town clerk of Ephesus showed wise leadership by determining and dealing with the root cause of the riot: a silversmith upset with losing contracts, who was promptly advised to quit wreaking havoc and follow proper processes with his complaint.
This might be a good time to assess potential battles caused by issues in our church or society: What is the root cause? Am I following proper processes? How am I going about the battle I am involved in? If I am defending the Christian faith, do I conduct myself as one full of the fruit of the Spirit?
Dear God, grant me bravery and zeal like St Paul to stand up for my church and grant me wisdom like Ephesus’ town clerk to understand the core issues of matters. Grant me and all people of our church and society discernment and insight to find solutions for the issues facing us at this time. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Maria loves serving God through the LCANZ and currently does this at St John’s Perth as a pastoral associate and volunteers at Concordia Duncraig in Western Australia. She enjoys being part of a Way Forward Working Group and tackling current theological issues on the Commission on Theology and Inter-Church Relations. Her three kids and pastor husband keep her very happy and busy.
by Maria Rudolph
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One day the evil spirit answered them, ‘Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?’ (Acts 19:15)
Read Acts 19:11–20
You know the situation: You meet new people at church or a function. In our Australian and Lutheran cultures, we have subtle ways to find out about other people without bluntly asking, ‘Who are you?’ We ask, ‘What do you do for a living?’, ‘What was your maiden name?’ and ‘Are you related to such and such?’ They are all questions intended to place the other person into a context, to give them an identity that means something to us.
Who are you?
Even an evil spirit is asking this question. Jesus was well-known, and Paul, who preached Jesus every waking moment, had become a household name, not least thanks to the miracles that accompanied his preaching. Many grew in faith and knowledge of the gospel and gained a new understanding of who they were as children of God. People came from near and far for this teaching and the healings, going as far as taking items that had touched Paul back home to retain for themselves a bit of this healing power.
However, some Jews decided to skip Paul’s lectures on the gospel and tap straight into the miracle part by simply copying what they had observed Paul do. And it must have worked – there is power in the name of Jesus! The seven sons of the Jewish high priest went as far as going around driving out demons in Christ’s name. But they had not done their homework. The faith had not grown in them; they had not become acquainted with the gospel or the meaning behind the power of Jesus. They did not even know that to follow Jesus, they should become baptised children of God, which would give them a new life in Christ.
But they couldn’t fool the evil spirit they encountered. With one question, he rattled their thin roots and shaky foundations to the core, and they came tumbling down. Their embarrassing encounter became a lesson for us all.
Know who you are. You are a baptised child of God, the heir of the highest God. Jesus has given his life for you, and you are born again and are a new creation. Even when all else is stripped from you, and you leave this earth again naked, this identity will be your only and most precious possession. This is most certainly true.
Dear God, with Lutheran martyr Dietrich Bonhoeffer, we pray, ‘Who am I? They mock me, these lonely questions of mine. Whoever I am, thou knowest, O God, I am thine’. Yes, Lord, to be yours is all we need to know about ourselves. Wash away our self-doubt, worry, and feelings of inadequacy and replace them with sure confidence in your name, on which we are calling to be saved. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Maria loves serving God through the LCANZ and currently does this at St John’s Perth as a pastoral associate and volunteers at Concordia Duncraig in Western Australia. She enjoys being part of a Way Forward Working Group and tackling current theological issues on the Commission on Theology and Inter-Church Relations. Her three kids and pastor husband keep her very happy and busy.
by Pastor Steve Liersch
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While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul passed through the interior regions and came to Ephesus, where he found some disciples. On hearing this, they were baptised in the name of the Lord Jesus (Acts 19:1,5).
Read Acts 19:1–10
My wife and I have three great children, and today is our son Jackson’s birthday*. While we celebrated his birth, it wasn’t long after that we also began planning for his baptism. He’s a very late 20th-century child and, like his older brother and younger sister, they’ve all been reborn through water and the word. Each occasion was a wonderful celebration with family and friends as God publicly welcomed them into his family.
Baptism has been around now for almost 2000 years. It got me thinking about all the people who have gone before us, entering God’s family through the waters of baptism. What an amazing gift of grace God has poured out on people by adopting them as his children. God takes sinful human beings created in his image and gives them a new, bigger family, welcoming them into a faith relationship with his Son, Jesus.
Paul and his missionary friends got to witness God at work in powerful ways so often. From those first Christians in Ephesus to the present-day workings of the Holy Spirit, God’s family keeps growing. There will always be those who stubbornly refuse to believe and speak evil of the Way (verse 9) all these centuries later, but that doesn’t stop God and his plan of salvation from continually being spread across the world.
Our earthly birth gives family and friends something to celebrate each year as we sing ‘Happy Birthday’. Our ‘re-birth’ through baptism gives heaven and the communions of saints something even more significant to celebrate for eternity.
Praise God for your eternal ‘happy birthday’ through the waters of baptism. Reflect on five things the Holy Spirit has done in and through you over the years.
Heavenly Father, thank you for giving us the privilege of being able to call you our ‘Abba, Father’ and making us your children through baptism and our faith in you. May your Holy Spirit draw us ever closer to you each day. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
*It’s also our dog Collie’s birthday.
Pastor Steve Liersch and his wife are almost empty nesters as their three adult children explore the world with work. They live in the southern coastal suburbs of Perth near Rockingham. Steve enjoys gardening, watching sports – especially Port Power and cricket – playing sudoku and catching up with friends. Sharing God’s love with others is still ranked as his top thing to do.
by Pastor Steve Liersch
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And he [Gallio] drove them from the tribunal. And they [Jewish leaders] all seized Sosthenes, the ruler of the synagogue, and beat him in front of the tribunal. But Gallio paid no attention to any of this (Acts 18:16,17).
Read Acts 18:12–28
As I write this, the Paris 2024 Olympic Games are taking place. A big furore has erupted over a tableau consisting of drag queen artistes, including a child, which sparked outrage on social media and garnered backlash from political and religious leaders from many parts of the world.
How would you respond? It is easy to see how the unbelieving world around us can shrug their shoulders and move on and say, ‘What’s all the fuss about?’ And if today’s reading from Acts 18 is any indication, nothing has changed in around 2000 years. Gallio turned a blind eye to matters that he referred to as ‘a matter of questions about words and names and your own law’ and followed that up with, ‘See to it yourselves. I refuse to be a judge of these things’ (verse 15).
What I learned from that is he couldn’t have cared less about matters of theology because it wasn’t his area of expertise, interest or jurisdiction. He then handballed it back to the Jews, who tried another angle – to beat up Sosthenes, the ruler of the synagogue – but still no reaction from Gallio (verse 17).
As God’s family and ambassadors here on earth, Christians are constantly being watched as to how we respond to challenges to our faith, how the world portrays Jesus, and how the interpretation of Scripture by ungodly influences is responded to. We will do well to speak up and ensure our voice of discontent is heard so that we are credible and consistent with identifying offence and speaking up for our Lord and Saviour.
However, I couldn’t help but think of two things: Jesus strangely said things like, ‘Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you’ (Matthew 5:44). But then Jesus raised the bar to an unbelievably high level by staying silent as he was spat on, beaten, subjected to ridicule, tortured and finally hung on a cross. He then did what only the divine human could do and said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing’ (Luke 23:34).
Think of a time that you spoke up for Jesus. What happened, and how did you feel?
Lord Jesus, we know the enemy and the world delights in you being ridiculed and mocked. Help us speak up for you and, at the same time, pray for those who are your enemies. Amen.
Pastor Steve Liersch and his wife are almost empty nesters as their three adult children explore the world with work. They live in the southern coastal suburbs of Perth near Rockingham. Steve enjoys gardening, watching sports – especially Port Power and cricket – playing sudoku and catching up with friends. Sharing God’s love with others is still ranked as his top thing to do.
by Pastor Steve Liersch
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
And the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision, ‘Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people’ (Acts 18:9,10).
Read Acts 18:1–11
A quick phrase search for ‘Do not be afraid’ on Bible Gateway brings up 80 results. It is found in 28 different books of the Bible. In other words, it is a consistent theme that runs throughout. Most of them are spoken by God to his people, Jesus to his followers or relayed to others via one of his messengers, for example, the angel to Mary or the prophet to his audience.
When Paul was in Corinth, the Lord spoke to him in a vision, saying, ‘Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you …’. It would seem the logical thing for Paul to do at that point would be to speak about Jesus, knowing that God had his back, so to speak. God had placed enough people around the city to ensure that Paul would have someone whom God had put into different situations to keep watch on Paul so that trouble and persecution would not happen. In other words, Jesus could be spoken about, and God’s love shared with relative peace.
Here in Australia, we enjoy freedom of speech, our churches aren’t burned down, our pastors aren’t arrested for sharing the gospel, and our schools and aged-care facilities are given the licence to openly promote Christianity. It’s like these words are being relived as a blessing from God for us to enjoy.
However, we also know that many places are not so fortunate. Persecution of Christians is worse now than it has ever been – just visit the Voice of the Martyrs website for proof.
‘Do not be afraid’ are God’s words of reassurance to you again today. After all, what’s the worst that can happen: you get persecuted or – worse – killed for speaking about Jesus? Then what? – you go to heaven – sooner than you would have preferred? Still, don’t be afraid. God is with you each day.
Reflect on a time when you were confident of God’s promise to not be afraid. What was it like? Thank him for what you learned from it.
Ever-present God, thank you for your ongoing protection and promise that we are never alone because you are with us always. Help us to be confident of living boldly for you each day. Amen.
Pastor Steve Liersch and his wife are almost empty nesters as their three adult children explore the world with work. They live in the southern coastal suburbs of Perth near Rockingham. Steve enjoys gardening, watching sports – especially Port Power and cricket – playing sudoku and catching up with friends. Sharing God’s love with others is still ranked as his top thing to do.