gospel fruit

Good morning all,
A quick reminder about the Irondequoit Veteran's Day service on Thursday. This is a service to honor and remember our veterans and their service. It will be held at Irondequoit Town Hall at 10:45 Thursday morning with light refreshments after. I'll be leading opening and closing prayers and it would be great to see others there to honor our vets.

This morning's reading is less unsettling than yesterday's, but it contains the same sense that Christians will always struggle against the powers of darkness in the world until Christ returns. Here the writer gives thanks for the Thessalonians' faith. He calls them the "first fruits of salvation through sanctification by the Spirit." That idea of early Christians as first fruits is common in the letters. That means that as Christ and the apostles and the church planted the seed of the gospel (the good news of God's love in Jesus Christ) those early Christians were the first to grow. The Old Testament talks about the first fruits of the harvest being holy and offered to God. In the same way the first Christians are set apart for God's service to continue to plant the seed and prepare a harvest of faith for God.

We later Christians are also set apart for God and are still called to plant the seed of the gospel. It often feels like the world doesn't want to hear the good news because people don't go to church the way they used to. I am convinced that people are as hungry as ever for it, but many people don't know that the church has any good news. People from 20-60 grew up in a culture that distrusts institutions in general. From embezzling televangelists in the eighties and nineties to widespread sex scandals of the last 20 years and high profile intolerance and hatred in many parts of the church even today people could be excused for thinking the church is about greed, self-service, and prejudice. Who will welcome our neighbors into a relationship with a loving God and accepting church if not us?

In addition to welcoming, we are called to pray frequently and seriously for the word of God to bear fruit in the world. Think about finding a way to make prayer a daily practice and include in your prayers the ministry and mission of the church around the world. Remember especially churches that are still persecuted (Burma, parts of China and elsewhere). We might be surprised what widespread, concentrated prayer can do to open the hearts of others and to open our eyes to opportunities to share the word. Don't fear but believe.

God bless,
Sam

2 Thessalonians 2:13-17, 3:1-5

13But we must always give thanks to God for you, brothers and sisters beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the first fruits for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and through belief in the truth. 14For this purpose he called you through our proclamation of the good news, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by our letter.

16Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and through grace gave us eternal comfort and good hope, 17comfort your hearts and strengthen them in every good work and word.

3:1 Finally, brothers and sisters, pray for us, so that the word of the Lord may spread rapidly and be glorified everywhere, just as it is among you, 2and that we may be rescued from wicked and evil people; for not all have faith. 3But the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one. 4And we have confidence in the Lord concerning you, that you are doing and will go on doing the things that we command. 5May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.