Download July 2017 - The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod

The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
Stewardship Ministry – Generosity Thoughts
Stewardship-Themed Devotional Thoughts for Church Bulletins (Keyed to the Lectionaries)
July 2017
1-Year Lectionary
July 2 – Trinity 3
Luke 15:10 “Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents."
Jesus eats with sinners not so that they will remain stuck in their sins, but so that they will come to
know His love and repent. To repent means to turn, that is, to turn away from sin and toward Jesus in
faith. Whether the sin we struggle with is pride, greed, doubt, etc., the Lord calls us to turn to Him
again in faith and away from our sin.
July 9 – Trinity 4
Romans 8:18 “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the
glory that is to be revealed to us.” It is very easy to get caught up in the present and lose track of our
ultimate destiny in the Kingdom of God. St. Paul encourages us to keep eternity in mind. This certainly
has an application to our support for the Gospel – if we keep our focus on “the glory to be revealed”
we will see our tithes and offerings in a new light.
July 16 – Trinity 5
Luke 5:5 “And Simon answered, "Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will
let down the nets."” All our toil, all our work, all our efforts mean nothing without the Lord’s guidance.
But if we walk in the Word of Jesus…well, look what happened to Simon Peter! The Lord’s grace and
promise bless our efforts and bring blessings out of them that we never expected.
July 23 – Trinity 6
Matthew 5:24 “First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.” Our giving to
the Lord’s work is part of our wider Christian life. The Lord wants us to walk in His ways in all we do –
He wants our hearts united to His. It’s not our gift the Lord wants – it is our very selves in all we think,
say, and do.
July 30 – Trinity 7
Romans 6:19 “For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness
leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to
sanctification.” To be sanctified means to be set aside for God’s purposes. St. Paul encourages us to
see ourselves, our bodies, our souls, and all that we are as set aside for God’s work – in all that we do
whether in the home, church, or society at large.
3-Year Lectionary
July 2 – Proper 8
Mark 10:42 “And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a
disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.” The tithes and offerings you give to
the Lord’s work in His church go to supporting all manner of discipleship: they provide for a minister
of the Gospel to preach, teach, and conduct the Sacraments; they provide for our missionaries and
ministries of mercy here and abroad; and they make sure that the folks in your area have a place to go
to worship the Lord. The Lord is pleased with this work – and He wants to bless you through
supporting it.
July 9 – Proper 9
Matthew 11:28 “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Jesus has
come to do the work so that we might have rest from burdens and labors we are not capable of
bearing. He frees us from sin, death, and the demands of the Law. In that peace and rest of Jesus we
find a new purpose – His light yoke which is no burden to bear, but a joy!
July 16 – Proper 10
Romans 8:12 “So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh.” We
owe the flesh, the world, and the devil nothing at all. We are not debtors to these enemies: we are
freed by the blood of Christ. We are joyful servants in Christ’s kingdom – servants that He calls friends.
We share our Lord’s plans and purposes – and this gives direction and purpose to our lives.
July 23 – Proper 11
Romans 8:18 “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the
glory that is to be revealed to us.” It is very easy to get caught up in the present and lose track of our
ultimate destiny in the Kingdom of God. St. Paul encourages us to keep eternity in mind. This certainly
has an application to our support for the Gospel – if we keep our focus on “the glory to be revealed”
we will see our tithes and offerings in a new light.
July 30 – Proper 12
Matthew 13:45-46 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on
finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.” Indeed, Jesus redeemed
us, purchased us back from sin and death, with all that He had. We belong to Him now. And this is
foundation for our own generosity: imitating the outsized generosity of Jesus.