Pastor Quinn • February 4, 2024

A Time to Pause

A survey says about half of Americans report they're usually trying to do two or more things at once. But just about one tenth of Americans said the fast pace of their lives was harming their health. Another survey says 60% of U.S. adults reported they at least sometimes feel to busy to enjoy life. We need rest for our bodies & minds. Martin Luther is quoted as saying "Work, work, from morning until night. In fact, I have so much to do today that I shall spend the first 3 hours in prayer!". We need rest for our souls, too. Yet only 22% of Americans attend church every week. 50% never or seldom attend. 45% of "Scripture-reading" Americans read Scripture seldom or never. 8% read it "several times a year". Isn't it obvious that we all desperately need a time to pause? God knows that! That's why he came up with the concept of "Sabbath" (a Hebrew word that means "rest"). In the Old Testament, God's people had particular times when God told them they had to physically rest and be refreshed by spiritual blessings - to focus on the ultimate rest the Savior would bring. Today we want to see the incredible blessings God still wants to give us through his gift of rest.

On the Mission Right Before Us

By Pastor Quinn • June 22, 2025
We tend to think of mission work as being “over there,” something done in a far-away place. It is good and right to support foreign mission work with our prayers and offerings. However, something is off if we allow our appreciation for “over there” mission work to take our eyes off the mission that is right before us. Here is the two-fold reality worthy of our undivided attention this week. First, if we have seen the grace of God, we will serve as witnesses for Christ. Second, we need not cross the ocean to share the gospel. We can simply cross the street. In our various callings— parent or grandparent or sibling, friend or neighbor or coworker—God will provide one opportunity after another to serve as the witnesses Jesus has made us to be. So, let us continue to pray for and support “over there” mission work. But let us also give our undivided attention to the mission that God had placed right before each of us.

On the Mystery and Majesty of Our God

By Pastor Quinn • June 16, 2025
We live in a world where a thousand things are competing for our attention. There is the real danger that we focus on the frivolous and ignore the indispensable. As a result, we often talk about the importance of being “free from distraction.” But the stakes are higher than that. We need to be freed from distraction. We need the spiritual power to give our undivided attention to that which truly makes a difference, not only here and now, but also in eternity. A life focused on all the right things is only possible because of a Savior who is always focused on us. On the Day of Pentecost, Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to give his followers power and focus. Still today, through his Word, Jesus grants those gifts to his disciples. We have come to the second half of the Church Year. In the first half, we focused on the life of Christ. In this second half, we turn our attention to all the teachings of Christ. May we give them our undivided attention.

He Reigns Over Everything for the Benefit of His Church

By Pastor Quinn • June 1, 2025
When the Church gathers, it regularly remembers Christ’s ascension. The words “He ascended into heaven” are found in the three ecumenical creeds Christians use to confess their faith. In addition, the Church sets aside a day each year to focus on Christ’s ascension. This is for good reason. Jesus’ ascension marked the fact that his work was complete, in one sense. Never again will a sacrifice for sins need to be made. However, Jesus’ ascension also marks that, in another sense, his work is just beginning. Through the Church, Jesus now proclaims forgiveness of sins throughout the world. The Church consists of people like us who are often weak and timid witnesses for Christ. So, Jesus promised to send us his Spirit to give us power from heaven, that we might take the gospel to the ends of the earth. More, he ascended into heaven and sat down on the throne of God. He lives and reigns over everything for the benefit of his Church.
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