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A student survey conducted at one of our local schools determined that young people see the church as being full of old people and pews. And they think that the pews have to go. There’s some good news in that survey, they didn’t say the old people should go, only the pews.
Think for a moment: How does their perception match reality?
We might immediately begin to defend the pews. They've been good enough for generations. They keep us awake. They haven’t killed anyone.
Or we might be offended that they’ve labelled us as old. We might argue that we’re not nearly as old as our grandparents were at the same age.
We might want to join James and John to ask Jesus whether we should call down fire from heaven and destroy them.
But before we get too defensive, these young people are crying out for the church to recognise and value them. They don’t think the church cares about them, they don’t think we care. They think the church is only interested in the people who’re already involved, which to them means old people.
I wonder whether they’re any different to those of any age who aren’t connected to our churches. Would the whole ‘unchurched’ and 'previously-churched’ community agree that we don’t care. Would they contend that we’re only interested in ourselves.
If we’re so busy polishing and defending our pews then they have to go. If there’s anything in our church that uses up our time at the expense of living our lives for Jesus then it has to go.
Even more urgently we have to go. Not leave the church, the community of God’s people, but go with the good news that because God loves and cares for every single person in this world so do we.
“As you go”, Jesus says, “make disciples of all nations.” Jesus cares about this because he has ‘skin-in-the-game’. He died for each and every one we encounter as we go about our lives.
How do we, as individuals and a church, need to change so that no one in our community will feel that we don’t care about them?
When love starts with Jesus
by Tim Castle-Schmidt
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. Love your neighbour as yourself (Matthew 22:37,39b).
Read Matthew 22:34–46
The Pharisees come to Jesus with what they think is a clever test: ‘Which commandment matters most?’ Jesus does not dodge the question. He answers simply: ‘Love God with everything, and love your neighbour as yourself.’ There it is. The whole law, condensed into love.
And if we are honest, that answer should stop us in our tracks. Love God with all your heart? All your soul? All your mind? Love the person next door, the difficult family member, the annoying committee member, the stranger, the enemy, as yourself? That is not a gentle religious suggestion. That is God’s law, and it is far deeper than good manners or being basically nice.
But Jesus does not leave us staring at our failure. Jesus turns the conversation to the Messiah: David’s son, yet David’s Lord. The one who commands love is also the one who fulfils it. Jesus loves the Father perfectly. Jesus loves his neighbours perfectly. Jesus loves sinners all the way to the cross.
That is the good news tucked inside this sharp little exchange. We are not vindicated by our track record of love. We are vindicated by Christ. Because we no longer need to scramble to prove ourselves, we are set free to begin loving properly. Not to earn God’s smile, but because in Jesus we already have it.
Vindicated by Christ, God’s people are freed and formed to love. So today, take the command of love seriously, but receive Christ even more seriously. He is not only your teacher. He is your Lord, your righteousness and your life. From him, love begins again.
Lord Jesus, thank you for fulfilling love for us. Free us from proving ourselves, and teach us to love God and our neighbour from the life you give. Amen.
By his own admission, Tim Castle-Schmidt is a broken man. Broken in body, mind and spirit, he says he is learning that God is at work in and through human brokenness. He says that while God has not ‘fixed’ him, God continues to work through his brokenness to connect with the world. Tim is the pastor of Nunawading–Waverley Lutheran Church in Melbourne. After spending many years as a teacher in Lutheran schools, he finally listened to God’s call to the pastoral ministry. Tim is passionate about social justice and engaging the church with contemporary society. Tim shares his life with Fiona, Miranda, and a Jack Russell called Otto.
Planted by streams of grace
by Jodie Hoff
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
They are like trees planted by streams of water (Psalm 1:3a).
Read Psalm 1
Psalm 1 begins with a picture of two ways to live. One way is shaped by voices that pull us away from goodness, wisdom and life. The other is quieter and deeper: delighting in God’s word, returning to it, letting it settle in us and slowly shape who we are becoming.
I love the image at the heart of this psalm: trees planted by streams of water. It is not hurried. It is not flashy. It is a picture of being rooted, nourished and quietly sustained. The tree bears fruit in its season, not all at once and not by striving harder, but because it is planted close to the source of life.
There is something gentle and hopeful here for us. So much of our daily life can feel full: decisions to make, people to care for, needs to notice, tasks to finish. In the middle of all that, Psalm 1 invites us to ask a simple question: What are we planted beside? What is quietly shaping our thinking, our speaking, our responding and our loving?
To be planted by streams of water is to keep returning to God’s grace. It is to make space for prayer, Scripture, worship, community, silence and service: the ordinary practices through which God nourishes us. And slowly, often quietly, fruit begins to grow: patience, courage, kindness, wisdom and peace.
Today, may we trust that God is tending our roots, refreshing our spirits and growing good fruit in us for the sake of the people and places we are called to love.
Gracious God, plant us close to the streams of your love and nourish us with your word. Help us grow in patience, courage and kindness and bear fruit that brings life to others. Amen.
With more than 25 years of leadership experience in Lutheran schools, Jodie Hoff brings a deep commitment to Lutheran education and the people and communities it serves. Having lived and worked in both Queensland and South Australia, she now serves as the executive director of Lutheran Education Australia. Jodie is passionate about building relationships, fostering connection and creating opportunities for people and communities to flourish. Beyond her work, she enjoys photography and the arts.
A NOTE FROM PASTOR PHIL
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, special and precious offshoots of the true and Living Vine,
I’ve got some bad news and good news: “ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23) Luther, shares the good news this way: ‘Jesus rescued me when I was lost and sentenced to death. He set me free from all my sins, from death and the power of the devil. It cost him more than gold or silver; it cost him his life. Even though he was innocent, he suffered and died for me.’ Wow!! Praise the Lord! May that never cease to amaze and inspire us.
God bless you, your day and your week. In Christ, the Living Vine.
Pastor Phil Joppich
Living Vine Lutheran Church