Pastor’s Corner

Psalm 14

We are a Christian people in a nation that no longer prioritizes the teachings of God. In many ways this new reality feels unknown and scary; the likes of which we have never seen or experienced. In other ways, this reality we are experiencing falls firmly under God’s wisdom in Ecclesiastes 1:9 “What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.”

The story of God and His people is repetitive and redundant; an unhealthy cycle if you will. Beginning with a perfect relationship with God at creation and followed by the sudden fall that brings destruction. Then God in His mercy extends grace, restores His people and heals the nation around them. Rinse and Repeat. A season of faithfulness and blessing is followed by sin and selfishness that leads to judgment and destruction. Eventually the people of faith repent and are healed by God’s grace.

This current season of judgment and destruction is unknown to us, but we can learn so much about how to handle it through the word of God and the people who have endured these seasons before us. Psalm 14 is a psalm of David who writes about the unfaithful “fools” in the nation around him. David is surrounded by a nation of unbelieving fools who say “there is no God”.

Does this sound familiar? Even if you think fool is too harsh a term, the Biblical definition of fool is one who “hears these Words of mine (Jesus) and does not put it into practice” Matthew 7:26. Remember the wise man who built his house upon a rock? The foolish man knew that it was better to build on a rock, he chose not too for self-serving reasons rather than putting into practice the knowledge he had been taught.

If we are going by that definition of fool then, if we honestly look in the mirror, we discover that at times we are all fools. Anytime we put our own knowledge and desires ahead of the Word of God we are building on sand. When we pursue the accolades of the world at the expense of our godliness we are putting the ideas of man ahead of the truth of God. It can be status, likes on social media, money, marriage, retirement, anything. Tops on the list of deceptions believers fall for today are fear and lack of control, which leads us to actions that make us feel better, even for a moment.

As Psalm 14 continues, David acknowledges that as God surveys the world looking for people who seek after Him, He finds none. At this point the psalm can seem like a downer and our instinct is to look for something a bit more upbeat… “Don’t!” When we embrace the reality of our sin we are no longer controlled by it and fear has no power over us. This is where David leads us! Freedom from fear and regaining control in our lives by shifting form the knowledge of man to the wisdom of God!

“Oh that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion!” Zion is the mountain on which God meets His people. The tent is there for David, Solomon builds the temple. The point is that God gifts to His people who turn to Him the salvation for the Nation. It isn’t a political leader or activist; it isn’t a famous preacher or YouTube prophet. It is the people of God turning away from the knowledge of the world and returning to the wisdom of God.

2 Chronicles was written in another period of time when the people of God were more in line with the world than they were with God (see it IS a pattern!). This is the dedication of the Temple of God, just like David wrote in the psalm the solution to the Nation being far from God is in fact the people of God living FOR God. When we repent of our foolishness and call on God’s name to lead US in wisdom, He will also miraculously heal the nation along with us.

“I will hear their prayer from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land” 2 Chronicles 7:14

In Christ,

Erik Gauss

Scripture Readings for Sunday, January 29, 2023
Psalm 15; Matt 5:1-12

Pastor’s Corner

Lutheran Schools Week

Cross Lutheran Church and School is part of a national group of churches who chose to work together for Jesus. This nationwide organization is called the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod or LCMS (Synod means “Walking together”). This group of churches, schools and service organizations have been voluntarily walking together for 175 years. We believe we can do more together for the Kingdom of God than we could on our own. As the ancient saying goes “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together”.

This weekend Cross will participate in a nationwide celebration of how our working together is a blessing to God’s Kingdom work through Christian education. The LCMS is comprised of over 1,800 schools and 21,000 teachers. These school include preschools, daycare centers, grade schools, high schools and even 9 universities and seminaries. We are a part of the second largest Christian school system in the United States, only the Roman Catholic system is larger.

We are truly blessed to have this wonderful support system for our students and families. The LCMS universities train and certify teachers and administrators that serve in all types of settings, including public, private and LCMS partner schools. Here at Cross, we are especially blessed by our teachers and staff. They are a group of dedicated servants of differing ages, backgrounds and passions who model what it means to voluntarily walk together for a common goal. That goal is to mentor and nurture our students and their families as disciples of Jesus.

The theme for Lutheran Schools Week 2023 is named “Making Disciples for Life”. We have many activities and celebrations scheduled. Our church family is invited to pray and celebrate with us on the weekends where many of our choirs will sing in services. Monday is our Fun Fair for school age students. This starts at 3:30 after school here at Cross. A family Dinner and Concert is scheduleD for 5:45 to 8:00PM on Wednesday. In addition, our school will be celebrating different themes each day. There will be school chapels every morning led by different classes and student groups.

On Thursday morning there is an open invitation to ALL first responders to come have a free pancake breakfast with our students. This is an effort by our students to “Love their Neighbor” and have a spirit of gratitude for those who serve.

How can you help? As people mature in faith as disciples it is invaluable to have mentors and role models who live out that faith. The teachers are asking that each of you would consider sharing how you live out your faith as a disciple of Jesus on a regular basis. It could be a simple as sharing your personal prayer and devotion habits. It could be a word of wisdom about how you life as a believer. Anything you are led to share will be a blessing for our next generation of disciples of Jesus Christ. Please email your submissions to churchinfo@hsicross.org.

We are truly blessed in so many ways here at Cross. Please take a moment and share some gratitude for God and His provision in and through our school ministry. Thank a teacher or a parent, encourage a student. Consider how you could serve or make a donation to help keep our school affordable and exemplary. Send an email sharing a story or insight on your discipling jJourney. Above all, keep encouraging one another on our journey together as we “Mature as a disciple of Jesus who: Walks with God, Grows in faith together and Loves our neighbors.”

In Christ,

Erik Gauss

Scripture Readings for Sunday, January 22, 2023
Psalm 27:1-11; Matthew 4:12-25

Pastor’s Corner

Psalms: The Prayers of God’s People

The Book of Psalms stands alone among all the Holy Scriptures. It is unique in its authorship, format, artistry and functional uses. Over the next month, we will explore a few of the 150 psalms in an effort to grow an appreciation for the powerful impact the Word of God can have in our individual spiritual life as well as our corporate worship together.

The Book of Psalms is a compilation of poems written by individuals that functioned as songs to be utilized in worship. However, this book of the Bible is way more than a mere songbook or poetry collection. These Psalms should be seen as a “Best of the Best” of spiritually formative writings. The Holy Spirit leads believers to pass these particular writing on from one generation of believers to another.

The Book of Psalms was compiled while the Israelites were in exile in Babylon. This was a season of judgment from God because the Nation of Israel had drifted away from God. There were still many faithful followers who, even in exile, led the nation back to repentance and faithfulness to follow God’s teachings.

Because of the nature of persecution that surrounded this book of Psalms, many of the psalms are Psalms of lament. These can be especially helpful to us when we are going through trials or persecutions. Following God isn’t all “hearts and butterflies”, we are in a constant war against the Devil and all evil at work in the world. This leads to some trying times in the life of a Christian. These psalms of lament help us to realize we are not alone and give us a model for how to approach God about these challenges. It also gives us permission to take our trials to the Lord!

Other psalms in the book are psalms of praise, psalms of ascent (worship), and psalms of hope. In total, the 150 psalms in the book, give us a comprehensive model of prayer in all times and circumstances. We learn to pray for the world, pray for ourselves, pray in times of joy and in times of trial. Through it all, each of the more than 10 psalters give us words and models that help our heart, soul and mind to be filled with the power and presence of God in all circumstances.

Would you like to deepen your prayer life, grow your connection to God or simply learn how to pray to God no matter what you are going through? The Book of Psalms is a true treasure for the heart of the family of God as we Mature as Disciples of Jesus Who: Walk with God in Worship, Grow in Faith Together and Love our Neighbors in 2023!

In Christ

Rev. Erik Gauss

Scripture Readings for Sunday, January 15, 2023
Psalm 40:1-11; John 1:29-42a

Pastor’s Corner

This Sunday is LIFE SUNDAY

This Sunday, January 8, is Life Sunday! In recognition of Life Sunday, we invite you to participate in 2 ways.

1) Make a donation to Redeeming life Outreach Ministries (ROLM) – Christ-centered maternity homes for single pregnant women in crisis. You can make your donation at http://www.rlom.org/expansion.

2) To support the Pregnancy Information Center in Aurora – grab a baby bottle, fill it with change and return to donate.

Thank you in advance for your participation!

Scripture Readings for Sunday, January 8, 2023
Psalm 139:13-18; Matthew 3:13-17; Isaiah 42:1-9