Chosen to Proclaim
June-July 2018


But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 1 Peter 2:9

Dear Friends,
 
This month's TLO Disciple Theme is: Chosen to Proclaim. In your baptism into the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit you have been washed, cleansed by the blood of Jesus, selected and declared precious to Him.
 
While the Good News of forgiveness and life in Jesus can cause hearts as hard as stone and unwilling to repent and believe to stumble and fall. To those who are being saved, Jesus is the Chosen and Precious Cornerstone that holds the whole house together.
 
A single brick will not build a church building. Nor will a single Christian or Christian family seeking to be a Christian on their own, build the Church of God.   The Church is the chosen, set apart from the world. The Church is holy, purified up by the forgiveness of sins in Word and Sacrament. The Church is God's own people and an eternal possession. And the Church is sent, chosen to proclaim the wonderful acts that he has done for us, most especially through Jesus.
 
With Jesus as your Cornerstone, you are living stones by the power of the Holy Spirit; God's eternal dwelling place.
 
Come and worship
 
Pastor Kroonblawd


MNS District Convention
 
The theme for the 2018 Minnesota South District Convention was Chosen to Proclaim. Jesus is the Chosen One. He is the Chief Cornerstone, Chosen and precious because He is the Son of God what comes to take away the sins of the world.
 
In the Bible study Dr. Phil Johnson noted as believers we are chosen, dressed and fitted for His purpose.   God calls on believers to grow together as a community, show love and concern for others, and clearly proclaim the Good News of Christ as our Lord and Savior.
 
As individuals, as a congregation and as the people of God, we exist for the sake of the people who are not yet part of the Kingdom of God. We exist to proclaim the mighty deeds of Him who has called us out of darkness and into his marvelous light.

The MN South District of the LC-MS is pleased to announce that Rev. Dr. Lucas Woodford has been elected President of the Minnesota South District replacing retiring President Rev. Dean Nadasdy.   Rev. Dr. Woodford currently serves as senior pastor of Zion, Mayer. He is married to Becca and has six children.


 
From the Bible

The stone that the builders rejected
    has become the cornerstone.
This is the Lord's doing;
    it is marvelous in our eyes.
Ps. 118:22-23


Proclaiming His Excellencies with Technology
 
Computers, websites, cells phones, text messages, online giving, Power-points, weekly email blasts.  Technology can be a great blessing to proclaim the love of Christ and TLO is among the churches that use technology to provide ministry.   In an article in The Reporter, "Being Christian in a High-Tech World" Rev. Derek Roberts writes about the blessings and curses of Christian use of technology in our daily lives and in the ministry of the congregation, including in worship.
 
"One of the most important callings we have as Christians is to be "a royal priesthood . . . [who] proclaim the excellencies of Him who called [us] out of darkness into His marvelous light" (1 Peter 2:9). The location where that often begins for Christians is in the church on the first day of the week, the day Christ was raised from the dead. Worship in church has been influenced by new communication technology and deserves our examination as well."
 
Read entire article.


Children's children and the plans of God
By Thomas Egger
 
Across generations, adding generation to generation, God is forming and gathering His own numerous people. His Church. His beloved. His bride. Each individual child known and beloved by God. Each one called by God to belong to Him and to "proclaim his excellencies" to others (1 Peter 2:9).

God wants a large family because His love is so enormous! And the day is coming soon when we will actually see and hear just how large God's family is and has become. 
 
Read more 


"Behold, I am the one who has laid as a foundation in Zion,
    a stone, a tested stone,
a precious cornerstone, of a sure foundation:
    'Whoever believes will not be in haste.'"
 
Isaiah 28:16


One Nation under God: Healing Racial Divides in America

1 Pet
er 2:9 declares, "You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light."
 
As a nation, we struggle with racial tension. 
Concordia Publishing House has produced a six-week Bible study titled One Nation Under God: Healing Racial Divides in America by Rev. B. Keith Haney.  Amid divisive rhetoric, violence, riots, and racial tensions, confusion arises-how can Christians tear down the racial walls dividing our country?
 
This division stems from a lack of communication, empathy, and understanding. Author Rev. B. Keith Haney, an African American LCMS pastor, encourages everyone to seek answers to racial tensions in the only place where truth and peace can be found-God's Word. Christ has called us out of darkness and into His marvelous light. Healing must begin with Jesus. Let's be a nation united-united under God.

Endorsements
The uniqueness of Pastor Haney's approach is that he tackles sensitive and difficult issues that arise from within the fallen human heart. The final answers are not political and regulatory but repentance and renewal on both sides of that racial divide. Change in our culture can occur only when we confront our own sinfulness as exposed by the Word of God and live in the gift of forgiveness won for fallen humanity in the Cross and Resurrection. May this contribution to the Church's direct us precisely to this truth and may the Church lead the way in becoming One Nation under God."
-The Rev. Daniel L. Gard, Ph.D., 
President, Concordia University Chicago

From Answers in Genesis


The term race is often used to classify people based almost solely on physical characteristics According to evolutionary ideas, these so-called races descended from different ancestors separated by location and time However, based on biblical history, the term race must be incorrect We are all one race ("one blood" in  Acts 17:26), the human race.

It's not just "black" and "white." A person's skin shade (what is on the outside) should in no way invoke any sort of prejudice or racist comments What a difference we would see in our world if people reacted in accord with biblical principles, understanding all humans are equal before God, and all are sinners in need of salvation.

INPUT WELCOME

Do you have a suggested topic for an upcoming TLO Disciple?  Send an email to Pastor Kroonblawd by clicking here.

EDITOR'S NOTE

TLO Disciple, with a topical study in each issue, is distributed primarily via email on the first of every month.  Print copies are available by contacting the TLO Church office at  651-454-7235 or the  Church Office via email.
 
Calendars, volunteer information, serving groups and the like will accompany the TLO Together, on the last Wednesday of the month. Click here to subscribe to TLO Together .  This publication is also mailed upon request.
 
Soli Deo gloria



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