Dear Fellow Children of God,
One of the worst sermons I remember listening to was in
Chicago on Father’s Day in 1996. A group
from St. John Lutheran Church in Palmer were in Chicago for a worship
conference, as our congregation considered some more contemporary ways to
possibly worship. Because of the reason
for our trip, our group worshiped on Sunday in one of the largest congregations
in the country at that time. The church
we visited was famous for “seeker worship,” and our group wanted to consider
how they were worshiping. I’m not sure
how many people attended worship that day, but they had 2 auditoriums which
held 14,000 people, and they expected a full crowd.
Before I tell you about that sermon let me share with you
what I look for in a sermon. 2
Corinthians 4:5 helps me understand how I believe God wants me to preach. This verse teaches, “For what we proclaim is
not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for
Jesus' sake.” I was taught that a Lutheran sermon, hopefully any
Christian sermon, should be about Jesus.
It should proclaim the forgiveness of His cross and the victory of His
empty tomb. With that in mind, I have 3
other personal criteria for a good sermon which I pray about each time before I
preach. I pray, “Lord, let this sermon
be YOUR WORD and not my word. (It should
relate the truth of God found in a specific Bible verse.) Let this sermon HELP
STRENGTHEN THE FAITH of Your people.
LORD, let this sermon BRING YOU GLORY as your people live it out in
their lives of faith.” That is my
prayer. Basically, I believe a good sermon should speak GOD’S word and tell
about Jesus in a way which helps God’s people practically in their walk of
faith.
So in 1996, the sermon which I heard on Father’s Day,
from a world famous pastor, talked about David.
The pastor said, and I paraphrase, “David was a bad father. We don’t want to be fathers like David was.
In today’s world we have counselors. Fathers should go to counselors so that
they are not like David.” There was no
mention of Jesus, or His cross, or His empty tomb. There was no mention that God is our Heavenly
Father. The basic message was, ”Go to
counselors.” Every pastor can share with
you about times they wish they had done a better job of preaching. I wonder if
this world-famous pastor felt that way after his Father’s Day message that
year.
I share this somewhat long story because this Sunday,
June 15, is Father’s Day. We will
celebrate and give thanks for our Fathers . . . perhaps. I recently heard that
after Christmas Eve and Easter Sunday, Mother’s Day is the most well attended
worship service each year. But, Father’s Day is not necessarily next in
line. Perhaps, in our politically
correct world, fathers are not held in the same esteem as in past generations.
Perhaps fathers are like pastors - they know their
mistakes. Fathers are often considered
leaders in their homes. The failures of leaders often seem more obvious. There were times when I was a teenager that I
did not get along well with my own dad. I would have been glad to share with
you then a list of what I thought his faults were. But that was a rebellious
teenager thinking and feeling. The real
truth is that my father was a GREAT Christian dad! My life is greatly blessed because he took
the calling of father seriously, and because he did his best to raise his
children. In the end, he was proud of
us, and we are proud and thankful for him.
Please consider what Scripture says about the role of
fathers. In Matthew Jesus teaches, “If you then, who are evil, know how to
give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in
heaven give good things to those who ask him!” (Matt. 7:11) A good father provides
for his family.
In Ephesians 6 we read, “Fathers, do not provoke your
children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the
Lord.” (Ephesians 6:4) A good Father
disciplines his children and teaches them about the Lord.
Finally, please consider this truth from the Psalms. “As a father shows compassion to his
children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him.” (Psalm
103:13) A good father loves His
children and shows compassion.
As a father myself I know many of my own failings. The
list I have of my own regrets is longer than my teenage list was for my
dad. But, there is another key found in
these verses. I have a heavenly
Father who has loved me perfectly.
In Jesus, my father forgives my failures and helps me seek to provide
for my children, to discipline them and teach them. My Heavenly Father guides me and helps me to
love my children. That is important to
remember on Father’s Day.
David may have struggled as he sought to father his MANY
children. But that is NOT the bottom
line. In many ways Scripture tells us
how David sought to provide for, to discipline and teach, and to love his
children. Scripture also teaches that
Fathers are a gift of God to care for their children with God-like love.
This Father’s Day say thanks to your dad. Thank God FOR
him. This Father’s Day, thank your
Heavenly Father that He provides, that He disciples, teaches and guides. This
Father’s Day, thank your Heavenly Father that He loves with saving
compassion. This Father’s Day, thank God
for His greatest love, our Savior Jesus.
A Child of God, Thanking my Lord for Fatherly Love, from
my Dad AND from HIM!
Pastor Rockey
P.S. I have shared
some Bible verses about fathers at the end of this devotion.
P.P.S. I am now serving Our Redeemer Lutheran in Chugiak,
AK, as part-time Vacancy Pastor.
· VBS
is being held at Our Redeemer this week, from Monday, June 9 through Friday,
June 14 from 9:30 a.m. till noon each day.
Bring your kids, your grandkids, and your neighbor kids! 😊
Here are some pictures. https://photos.app.goo.gl/BZKiomYN81ucMMoq7
·
Bible Studies and Sunday School
o Adult
Bible Study continues on Sunday mornings at 9:00 a.m. The class is studying “Basic Christian
Teachings.” On June 1 we studied about Creation. On June 8 we finished studying about creation.
On June 15 we will begin the study about
the fall into sin. Come and join us in the library.
o Summer
Sunday School - Children have an opportunity to study during the summer as
well. Leah Rawlins is leading the
children in studying the book of Ruth.
At the end of this study they may put what they learned into expression
through legos. All Children are WELCOME!
😊
·
The Our Redeemer Call Committee has been
formed. It includes Elder and chairman,
Jerry Simpson, also Heidi Enlow, Ruth Keller, Theo Lee, Jacob Lewis, Scott
Roelfs, and Martha Wilkins. They met on
June 4, and will meet again at the end of June.
The first step in the call process will be to begin a congregational
self-study. The Northwest District has
the study and tools to help in this study.
It is good for a congregation to be patient in the call process.
o It
is good to take time to study how God is working in our midst to make us who He
has formed us to be as we seek a new pastor.
o It
is good to have time to grieve and work through the leaving of our beloved
pastor.
o It
is good to give our Lord the chance the bring the right man to Our Redeemer to
serve as shepherd. (Ask me about this
sometime.)
Please PRAY
that as our Lord leads this committee and Our Redeemer in this process, we will
follow His guidance.
·
Northwest District Convention – The Triennial
District Convention for LCMS Churches of the Northwest District will be held
June 19-21 in Spokane, WA. Geri Wacker
and Pastor Rockey will be attending for Our Redeemer. Please keep this convention in your prayers.
MANY CONTINUE TO READ THROUGH THE SCRIPTURE WITH ME IN
2024 and 2025 using the “Today’s Light Devotional Bible.” We are now
in the New Testament! On Tuesday, June 10,
we read Matthew 16-17.
Feel free to contact Pastor
Rockey at 907-841-4066 if you have any questions about these
readings. Or send an e-mail question to jonrock53@mtaonline.net I have
recently received questions and comments. It is always good to consider
our Lord’s love and guidance. I will TRY to answer, but some things only God
knows!
P.P.S. Family and
Friends:
·
I have been working on my garden and all seeds
are coming up. It is starting to look
good. Here are some pictures.
o This
is from June 9. https://photos.app.goo.gl/dG6FHPHkeW1tmGcH6
o These
pictures are after weeding June 10. https://photos.app.goo.gl/vzUZKgUpsDuR1Cq78
·
Here are some pictures from the flowers on our
back deck. https://photos.app.goo.gl/FWCjNw6Ew52s378e9
·
God put on a show on Tuesday night, June
10. Here are some pictures of alpenglow at
11:25 p.m. https://photos.app.goo.gl/MWcPPpDrLWniyepF9
·
We had more new snow on the mountains this past
week on June 5, but I do think the weather is turning nicer! Here are some pictures. https://photos.app.goo.gl/BdyucJtkEuWaqK7b7
·
Because we were gone for about 2 years, I
started a big project . . . WITH HELP. I
hired Luke Stanley to help me re-work our front flower garden. THANK YOU, LUKE!
·
There are changes coming to our Alaska
family. Son, Josh, and his wife, Erin,
and their children Jake, Emma, Henry, and Annie are moving to the Olympia, WA,
area where Josh will be principal in a school.
Here Josh is borrowing our trailer for the moving process. https://photos.app.goo.gl/3AdjzxEMzufF1SPg8
Fishing I did
go fishing on Friday, June 6, with friend Pastor Craig Schultz. We fished in a local lake. We each caught over 20 trout. It was a good day! Here are some pictures. https://photos.app.goo.gl/fNADwxL87m2k69Xp7
P.P.P.S. SOME Bible
Verses about Fathers
Psalm 68:5 5 A father to the fatherless, a
defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling.
Psalm 103:13 As a father shows compassion to
his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him.
Matthew 6:9-13 9 "This, then, is how you should
pray: "'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10 your kingdom come, your will be done on
earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us today our daily bread. 12 Forgive us our
debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into
temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.'
Matthew 6:31-33 31 Therefore do not be
anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall
we wear?' 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your
heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the
kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to
you.
Matthew 10:29-31 29 Are not two sparrows sold
for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your
Father. 30 But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. 31
Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.
John 1:14 14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling
among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from
the Father, full of grace and truth.
Romans 14:5-6 5 May the God who gives endurance and
encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ
Jesus, 6 so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father
of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Corinthians 1: 3-4 Praise be to the God and Father of our
Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort,
4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any
trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.
Ephesians 1: 3 Praise be to the God and Father of
our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every
spiritual blessing in Christ.
Ephesians 6:4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to
anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
1 Timothy 1: 2 To Timothy my true son in the faith:
Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
James 1:17 Every good and perfect gift is from above,
coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change
like shifting shadows.
1 Peter 1: 2-3 2 who have been chosen according to the
foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the
Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood: Grace and
peace be yours in abundance. 3 Praise be to the God and Father of our
Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living
hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
*******
ABOUT THIS DEVOTION - I retired at the end of
August 2019 from serving as full-time senior pastor of St. John Lutheran Church
in Palmer, AK. I was writing a weekly devotion previously entitled,
"Thoughts from the Pastor." When I retired many asked me to
continue writing these devotions. So I have continued writing.
However, with life's changes I now call this weekly devotion "Journeys
Through Life as a Child of God." Since I am no longer senior pastor
at St. John, I felt it right to only send this message to those who asked to
receive it. (However, I am currently as Vacancy Pastor for Our Redeemer
Lutheran Church in Chugiak, AK.)
So, if you stopped receiving
these devotions and wondered why, now you understand. And, if you are now
receiving these devotions and do not wish to receive them, please let me know,
and I’ll gladly remove your name from my distribution list. My e-mail
address is jonrock53@mtaonline.net.
My prayer is that these
devotions help each of you in your daily walk with our Lord, Jesus.
*******
Jonathan Rockey
Child of God
Husband, Father, Son, Grandfather
Vacancy Pastor, Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Chugiak, AK
Pastor Emeritus, St. John Lutheran Church, Palmer, AK
How
great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called
children of God! And that is what we are!” (1 John 3:1 a)
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