Today (Thursday, August 22) is the first day of our school ministry’s 2024-2025 academic year. Each year, a Bible verse is chosen to be the theme for the year. This year, it’s Colossians 3:23, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord.”

During our worship services for the next few weekends, we’ll continue to go through the final chapters of Ephesians, focusing on unity. Sometimes we think that unity means everyone must think the same, do the same things, and maybe even look the same. Christianity’s view of unity is much different.

When taken together, the Gospel readings for the next two Sundays (Mark 6:30-56) give a picture of how we as followers of Jesus can easily go through highs and lows, all the while being surrounded by the consistent perfect love and care of Jesus.

Have you ever spent a lot of time, effort and money on something only to end up asking yourself the question: “Was that really worth it?” That might even happen when it comes to following Jesus and seeking to walk in His ways. You do all the right things and then, bam!, something completely changes the course of your life.

Read a devotion written by former Lutheran Hour Speaker Pastor Ken Klaus from July 4, 2017, titled, “For He Is Good,” based on Psalm 107:1, “Oh give thanks to the LORD, for He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever!”

We sometimes find ourselves in situations in which we wonder, “How can this possibly by God’s will?” We may even ask questions like this: “If God is all-knowing and a God of love, why would He allow this bad thing to happen?”

Joy is a major theme in the Scriptures – something that God wants us to have. It is listed in Galatians 5 as a fruit of the Spirit, right after love. Those who have joy also know how to rejoice in the Lord. Imagine what it would be like to have no joy in life.

For those of us who remember going through Confirmation instruction, you may recall that in Martin Luther’s Small Catechism, there is a section called “Table of Duties” where several Bible passages are listed about how we are supposed to treat others and fulfill our various callings in life. What is not listed in the Table of Duties is our “duty towards God.”

The greatest Teacher ever to step foot on this earth was our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Yet while He was teaching, there were plenty of other teachers who contradicted what He taught. This weekend, we’ll hear an example of that regarding what Jesus taught about what it means to remember the Sabbath Day by keeping it Holy.

On the Church calendar, the Sunday after Pentecost is known as Trinity Sunday, a day on which we focus on the wonder of how God has revealed Himself to us in the Scriptures: three distinct persons (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) in one divine being. At Jesus’ baptism, the Holy Spirit was present as He descended on Jesus like a dove, and the Father was present as His voice declared, “This is My Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased.” The wonder of the Trinity is indeed something beyond our ability as humans to fully comprehend.

This weekend we will celebrate Pentecost, the day on which the gift Jesus promised (the Holy Spirit) was given in a special way to Jesus’ followers. While we might think about the sound of the rushing wind, what appeared to be tongues of fire over the apostles’ heads, and them speaking in different languages giving evidence that something wondrous was happening, those signs were temporary. What was permanent was a whole new level of intimacy now possible between Jesus and His followers.

Happy Ascension Day! Chances are pretty good that when you greeted someone today that was not the first thing you said. As we learn from Acts 1, Jesus ascended to heaven forty days after His resurrection. During those days He appeared to the apostles and many of His followers to show them He was very much alive and well, just as He said would happen. But instead of remaining on this earth and setting up a powerful nation, He ascended to heaven to prepare a place for His followers in the Father’s House. He has promised to come back and take us to be where He is.

This weekend’s Epistle reading from 1 John 5 and Gospel reading from John 15 both include the word “love” multiple times. Our reading from Acts 10 does not use the word at all but does give us an example of love in action with Peter sharing the good news about Jesus with the Gentiles and then wanting them to be baptized and brought into the fellowship of believers in equal standing with the Jews. The Holy Spirit made clear to him what it truly means that “God so loved the world.” His love is offered equally.

If you joined us in person for worship of our Lord last weekend or watched online, you may recall that I mentioned during the message that John's Gospel account includes seven "I AM" statements of Jesus. Last week, we heard Jesus say, "I AM the Good Shepherd." This weekend's Gospel includes Jesus' words, "I AM the true vine." Jesus goes on to say we are the branches attached to the vine – fruit-bearing branches that the Father prunes so they can become even more fruitful. 

As you have heard me talk about, we recently brought Leilani, a rescue dog, into our home. She suffers from severe separation anxiety. So far, she has broken out of one crate, destroyed a few dog beds and door mats, tore into a recliner, had "accidents" in our basement, etc. There is a positive and a negative to all of this.

As we follow Jesus, the Holy Spirit brings us to those times of refreshing when we are brought to a fuller understanding of God's amazing love and mercy, as well as His powerful intervention in the midst of life's challenges.