Jesus Brings Good News—To Them?

As I read this week’s text, I am taken back to a previous congregation. It was an
older congregation, living in the by-gone days before the town began its rapid
increase in minority population. We had a “mixed-race” couple that began
attending the church, and the African-American husband became one of our
ushers, and served communion. The gossipers in the back could barely hold their
tongues, until the unforgivable happened. The man did not wear a tie one day as
he took up the offering. “We can’t have that! We have to uphold the dignity of
worship?” They were allowing their latent racism to be masked by a defense of the
holiness of the place of worship.
Jesus defends the holiness of God by giving examples of God’s grace to the Widow
from Zarephath and Naman the Leper. That made them so mad that they
seemingly wanted to break the Sixth Commandment, “Thou shalt not murder.”
How do we limit the “who” that Christ came to save? The way we counter this in
the church is to acknowledge that all are welcome, and respect the Christianity of
even “those” kind of people. But we like to draw lines, set up barriers, and shun
those that we feel are not worthy of God’s salvation.
We needed a Savior for all—because I am probably one of “those” kind of people.
Galatians 4:4-7 (expanded)- But when the set time had fully come, God sent his
Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we
might receive adoption to son ship. Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of
his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” So you are no
longer a slave, or
· a gentile, from the wrong family,
· of the wrong gender,
· from the wrong nation,
· from the wrong side of the tracks,
· love the wrong kind person,
· raised with wrong belief,
· with the wrong kind of past,
· or just not worth loving
but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.

We need to be amazed by the scandalous grace of God, that would even save a
“sinner such as I.”

Pastor Greg

A Voice Crying Out

We meet John the Baptist in Luke 3:1-17; 22-23.  He is a voice.  A voice that calls for the crocked things to be made straight, and the obstacles that are placed in the way of human thriving to be removed.  His voice called for repentance that gets down to the foundations of how people choose to live.  And his voice calls for those with power to stop grabbing for the things that belong to others, to stop using false accusations to extort the poor, and to be content with what they produce by the honest work of their own hands.

John’s voice cries in the wilderness, the place of desolation, and calls for everyone to change, to get ready of the coming of God.  Yes, he had an effective voice, but each of us have a voice.  A voice to call out injustice, abuse, unfairness, and manipulation.  We do not have to go to the wilderness to use our voice, we do not have to get in a river to use our voice, but we do have our own area of influence to use our voice.

John’s voice was not only a voice that pointed out sin, it was also a voice that gave instruction for the right way to live.  That is how we must see how we use our voices, not simply tearing down what is wrong, but encouraging what is right.  To instruct others in the ways of the Lord.

How are you using the voice that God has given you?  Who are you encouraging to do the right thing?

Pastor Greg

My times are in your hand;Psalm 31:15

Every year at this time Psalm 31:15 comes into my thinking.  It is a Psalm of Lament, lamenting on the enemies that surround the speaker, the arrogance of the enemies, the viciousness of the enemies, the arrogance of the enemies are all concerns for the Psalmist.  Yet even in the face of these enemies, he trusts in the Lord, “You are my God!”  he declares in the face of this opposition.

The use of “time/times” in this sense is more than a remark on the passage of time. Underlying the psalmist’s surrender is an understanding of life as made up of a series of decisive moments in which a person can take either appropriate or inappropriate direction, depending on how he or she responds to the circumstances.  One response is to seek to control and manipulate the situation to one’s advantage.  That is clearly what the psalmist’s opponents are doing.  The other way is to surrender one’s personal will to the power and authority of God.

This is no simplistic fatalism in which the psalmist, confronted by life-threatening circumstances, simply shrugs and says, “Whatever!”  Rather, it is a call to the righteous to become people who “understand the times” to be perceptive observers of life and sensitive to the character and purpose of God, and to respond appropriately in each “time.” The psalmist’s confidence that the Lord remains powerful over all the discordant activities of the enemies permits him to eschew frantic attempts to shore up personal interest, and instead to take up residence in the secure stronghold God provides. (NIV Application Commentary)

This psalm contains a familiar phrase in v. 5, “Into your hand I commit my spirit.”  Trust in God does not bring us deliverance from our troubles, but keeps us in our trials.  So as we enter 2025, let us renew our trust in our God, and realize the promise, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you,” no matter what enemies come upon us.

Pastor Greg

Between Christmas and New Year’s

This week is a “between week.”  Maybe a time for a breath, or to enjoy the leftover turkey sandwich, or return that sweater that just doesn’t fit.  However this week comes to you, it is a week that usually is a break from the rush up to the holidays.  Let me suggest that we also take some quiet time with God.  Consider your relationship with God, and look to the New Year with spiritual resolutions that will develop our love and devotion to our Savior. 

Because this is a “between week”, our service Sunday will be built around a Hymn Sing, where we can get that chance to hear our favorite carols in this Christmas season, and maybe slip in an “old favorite or two.” 

However you get to spend your week, I pray that it is refreshing for you all.

Pastor Greg

Peanuts and Goal Setting

Charlie Brown is at bat. Strike Three!  He has struck out again and slumps over to the bench.    “Rats! I’ll never be a big-league player.  I just don’t have it!  All my life I’ve dreamed of playing in the big leagues, but I know I’ll never make it.”

Lucy turns to console him. “Charlie Brown, you’re thinking too far ahead.  What you need to do is set yourself more immediate goals.”  He looks up.  “Immediate goals?”  Lucy says, “Yes. Start with this next inning when you go out to pitch.  See if you can walk out on the mound without falling down!”

Take one thing at a time and work on that. —William Powell Tuck

Watch for closings and delay messages
during the winter months on TV Channels 3, 5 and 8.

Twinsburg First Congregational Church

2025 Annual Meeting

Sunday, January 26, 2025

Immediately following
the 10:30 AM Traditional service