Trinity Lutheran Church

Pastor's Corner

Messages from Pastor Steve Sathre and Pastor Nathan Keith

Lent

by Pastor Nate Keith - February 2008

Throughout Lent, Pastor Steve and I will be engaging you through our preaching series on faith, specifically faith that changes lives. Christian faith and the life of faith are passed on from generation to generation through the coordinated efforts of the larger body. You are a member of that body and you've heard me say it before that each person in this congregation is vested in youth ministry, and you are either doing a great job at it or you're doing a poor job. Either way you are doing youth ministry. The topic for this Lenten series is on the four keys. We have preached on the four keys for growing faith before, so for some this will be a helpful review, while for some, this is totally new. Throughout lent we will give you practical ways that you can live out faith with your family, a friend, or a coworker.

Lent is a time of growth and also reflection. It's a time to comb through your faith and see what needs grooming. Her are some helpful points before our journey begins.

There are five principles to faith.
1. Faith is formed by the power of the Holy Spirit through personal, trusted relationships, often in our own homes.
2. The church is a living partnership between the ministry of the congregation and the ministry of the home.
3. Where Christ is present in faith, the home is church too.
4. Faith is caught more than it is taught.
5. If we want Christian children and youth, we need Christian adults and parents.

There are four keys that influence our faith in Jesus Christ.
1. We take time for caring conversations with our youth and others.
2. We spend time in devotion, reading scripture and prayer.
3. We live lives of service to others.
4. We grow in faith by giving our thanks to God in worship and traditions.

If we are doing these four keys in our lives with our spouses, friends, and children they will have a dramatic impact on their faith.

If you want to be a faith-bearing adult, where you will make a difference in our youth's lives, there are three characteristics that you can refine.
1. You be authentic in your relationships with youth. Being authentic in sharing your faith.
2. That you be available in regards to your time. If you are not available for our youth, relationships will fail. Youth want to connect with adults, however, they are growing up during an adult abandonment era.
3. The third way to be a faith-bearing adult is by being affirming. Youth need to know that adults are commtted to them. Being affirming is seeing in youth the things they cannot see in themselves.

Lastly, pray. Pray for our youth and for our adults to build meaningful relationships with one another. Pray that in the end, each of us would have faith that will move mountains. Good luck to each of you as we minister to our youth together.

I will be praying for each of you, that through this Lenten journey your faith may be strengthened and that your life would touch a life around you. God bless each of you as we journey together toward the cross and finally to the empty tomb.

Jump Along Little Froggies

by Pastor Steve Sathre - September 2007

Last spring during Lent, I preached about frogs. It was a light hearted way of making an important point: frogs without legs can't jump. That is, they can't do what they were intended to do as frogs. It was a metaphor for the church. A church may have a head (pastors, staff, church council, etc.). A church may have a body (the building, programs, worship services, etc.). But if it didn't have healthy, functioning legs (church members living out their faith) it wasn't going to be able to move anywhere.

This fall we want to take up this challenge in a sermon series. We will be discussing the Four Keys for Growing Faith. We are not going to be saying anything new, but we will lift up the tried and true principals as outlined in Scripture for helping us have a vital, living faith.

So what are the Four Keys?
Worship and Traditions - at home and church
Caring Conversations - with family and friends
Devotions - Bible reading and prayer
Service - sharing of self and resources

Why are these important? Because the world is hungry for a faith that is real, that has real impact in life. The sad thing is they often find evidence of such faith lacking in those who claim to follow Jesus.

I recently read of an interesting encounter at an ice cream parlor. A middle-aged woman entered and ordered some frozen yogurt. She happened to be wearing a cross necklace. The young man serving her from behind the counter commented on how lovely the cross was. After admiring it for a few moments, he asked her, "Do you practice?" He wondered if this was just a fashion accessory of if it signified something more. And his question was deeper than, "Do you go to church?" or "Are you a Christian?" He wanted to know more. He wanted to know, "Do you practice your faith?"

The women was flustered by the question. She blurted out, "I'm Lutheran!" and quickly paid her bill and left. She indeed went to church regularly, but that isn't what she was asked. She was asked if church went with her. Did the presence of God go with her in her daily life and impact the world wherever she went? To return to my original metaphor - did she serve as the legs of the frog?

Will you commit to practicing the Four Keys? Will you commit to being the legs that get our church happening? Will you experience the joy of fully living out God's purpose for your life? Then get jumping little froggies!

 

Previous Articles

We are not a lost people

by Pastor Nathan Keith - October 2006

We have many realities in our lives. Two realities that many of our brothers and sisters in Christ have faced in September is the reality that in life there is death, and in death there is life. The month of September has been a month of mourning for many at Trinity. Some have lost a friend, others a mom or a dad, a brother or a sister, others lost a worship partner, others a spouse. In these moments of pain we often use the word "lost". "I lost mom." or "I lost a brother." But the word lost means that we don't know where an item is placed. Lost means that we don't know where it is.

For our brothers and sisters in Christ who have died, they are not lost or misplaced. We know their direct location and that they are taken care of. They now live in the light of the resurrection that we also hope to live. We don't know that direct location of heaven, but we do know the direct location of the gift given, that being the cross. On that direct location Christ died on the cross and in three days rose. 1 Thessalonians 4:14,"For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have died."

Like the story of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15:32 "this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found." Or in the hymn of Amazing Grace "I once was lost, but now am found." Our loved ones are not lost, but rather they have been found in Christ. September is also a hard month for me. Fifteen years ago this month my father died in an oil fire. Even though it's been fifteen years, I still mourn his absense, especially now having a son. But in this reality, as Christians we mourn with hope. We mourn with hope that we also live in eternity with those we love. Fifteen years ago, I didn't lose my father. I know where he is, not only because of the gospel that was proclaimed to me, but also from the gospel I have the privilege of proclaiming.

Our brothers and sisters in Christ who have seen death, now have the opportunity to proclaim the life our loved ones are now living. And yes we can proclaim with smiles, but also with tears. We endure many changes throughout our lives, whether in our families, workplace, or at church, but it is through those changes where we see the great shepard of the sheep walking with us.

Trinity Lutheran is a very special place that has touched many lives while proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ. Many of you have lived out your faith so diligently by serving others. And as your Pastor I say, "Thank you." Let us continue to proclaim that we are not a lost people, but a people founded and grounded in Christ. In your lives, continue to pray, continue to ask God to use your life, and continue to make a difference as you are doing. Go in peace and serve the Lord. Thanks be to God.

With A Grateful Heart

by Pastor Steve Sathre -June 2006

The news is out that our council has approved a sabbatical policy for our pastors. This is something that will benefit Pastor Nate in a few years, but it is something that will bless me now. Many people have come up to me and said that they are glad that I can go on leave. Many have wondered why I am still around! Actually, I will be leaving in July for three months. I cannot say how deeply appreciative I am of this wonderful gift and of the gracious spirit of Trinity.

Pastor Nate, the church council and I have been carefully preparing for my absence so that programs and ministry will continue fully while I am gone and so that Pastor Nate will not be overwhelmed by added responsibilities. I am very grateful to Pastor Nicolai for agreeing to help out during that time. He will assist Pastor Nate with preaching and visitation duties. He will also be on call occasionally to give him a break. I am confident that we have all the bases covered. You will be in good hands.

Many have asked what I intend to do during my sabbatical. First, I plan to spend some extended time with family and friends without the constant worry of time constraintes hanging over my head. That will be a great privilege. Secondly, I plan to find some kind of retreat setting to focue on spiritual growth -someplace that will allow prayer, study, reflection, interaction and growth. That will be a great privilege. Finally, our recent strategic planning session has raised some key issues that would be good for Trinity to focus on the future. I plan to do some reading and reflecting on these issues. It's possible that I can find some churches to network with that can share innovative ways of addressing our needs. That too will be a great blessing.

Come to think of it, I actually have a whole shelf full of books that I've bought over the years thinking that they seemed like something I would like to read. But I haven't read a one of them. Maybe I'll actually have time to read one or two of them. And that would be a blessing too.

I know that I will miss all of you at Trinity, and may people have said that I will be missed as well. You will be in my prayers the entire time just as I know I will be in yours.

I have a feeling that the time will pass very quickly and before we know it, I will be back at Trinity again - with renewed energy and insight - ready once again to serve one of the best churches around.

 

What Difference Do We Make?

by Pastor Sathre

People in Bismarck like to talk about their churches. Every pastor knows this. At work, at school, at social gatherings, people talke about what is going on in their church - whether good or bad. I know this because people tell me. Often I have conversations that start "Did you hear what they are doing at...?" or "My friend told me that at their church they are..." or "Why can't we have something like...?" There is a genuine curiosity about other churches and a desire for good ideas to help our church and perhasp even a little friendly rivalry between churches.

I enjoy hearing what others are doing, but I'm also reminded that our community is watching our church. It is absolutely essential that as a church we provide care and support for our members, but it is equally important to reach out to our community and the larger world if we are to be faithful followers of Jesus. I firmly believe that we as a church know this. I know that members of Trinity are deeply grateful for what their church means to them, but they can be equally excited about what our church can do to help others.

When I realize this, it makes me ponder several key questions

I believe that the future of Trinity lies in the answers to these questions. At the end of the day, God isn't going to ask us "How did Trinity compare to other churches?". Rather, God is going to ask us "How did you serve the people of your community?"

Trinity already impacts our community and the world through our service. Confirmation youth do service projects in the community. Our quilters send warm quilts around the globe. Anne and Willi Langji do missionary work in Senegal with our support. Our women's groups provide generous gifts for numerous ministries. Our Banquet feeds hundreds of people every week. We support the great kids at Manchester House with money and volunteers. We hold fundraising activities for worthy causes. We open our church for service and charitable organizations to use.

Now use your imagination. What more could we do? Can you imagine Bismarck being genuinely thankful for Trinity? Can you imagine even greater numbers of our members actively engaged in, and passionate about, community service, using their gifts and abilities in ways they never thought possible? Can you imagine Bismarck actually changing because of the impact of Trinity's involvement? God can. We need to let God inspire our imagination to new levels of faithfulness.