The Shepherd’s Staff September 2008

Dear Messiah Family,

AASeptember is typically “back to school” time even though many students have already begun classes. Thousands of yellow buses in our state will transport children back and forth to school, stalling commuters behind them. UNCW is gearing up for a campus full of eager students hoping to learn enough to launch a career. Night classes, continuing education and online courses are signs that our society values education and learning.
AAI have often thought of the church also as a learning place. Certainly Messiah Lutheran is a gathering place for worship, for fellowship, for witness and service to the community.
But also a primary learning place! How do we value learning as part of spiritual growth?
AAUnfortunately for many Lutheran adults, it seems they believe they have mastered the Bible by grade 8 and age 13. What else is there to know when you’ve endured two years of confirmation class? Wasn’t Confirmation Day a sort of ‘graduation’ from Bible study? If so, I think that Satan must have been handing out the diplomas!
AARemember that Jesus gathered twelve men about him who were called “disciples.” That word in Greek can mean both “follower” and “learner.” What did they learn in those three years they spent with the Lord? How about the feeding of the 5000? What do you think Peter learned about his denial of Christ? How about Jesus’ prediction of his death and resurrection? Each of these experiences was unique in the disciples’ walk with Christ.
AASo, back to Messiah and its people. How do we learn? From the Scriptures as our source of truth, to be sure. But what about experience? Is our church a place where people can successfully learn from their experiences? Do we get involved in others’ life experiences and help them reflect on the meaning of faith?
AAI remember making a home visit with a man on our evangelism team in Houston. My partner was a recovering alcoholic as was the man whom we visited that night. When the man spoke of his previous drinking problems, the deception, the lies, the people he hurt, my partner was stunned. He later told me, “everything that man said was me all over; I could relate to his experience.” The two men struck up a friendship, and our visitor eventually became an active follower of the Lord and a faithful church member.
AASome of our most teachable moments are times of frustration, stress, ill health, death. Clearly, our Lord is trying to teach us something in those experiences. How can we share them with our fellow members and listen to theirs in a way that promotes Christian growth? “I have many things to teach you, but you cannot bear them now,” says the Lord.
AASometimes because we have not arrived at that “teachable moment” of faith.
AAAn old proverb says, “The trees prefer calm, but the winds never cease.” How true also of human nature!
AAI hope you will take advantage of at least one opportunity this fall to become a real disciple, a learner in Bible studies offered at Messiah and Sunday School for children.
AAPerhaps you can encourage one other person to help make our church a learning place where each one person’s experience is important to the rest and Christ is lifted up for us all?

Pastor Joel Kettner