Blog - Zion Lutheran Church

At Home With God’s Word On Our Lips

Little Jared watched, always excited to see what Papa was doing with his tools. His eyes tracked every move as Papa measured and marked the board and carried it over to the table saw. Step by step, Papa knew exactly what tool was needed next, where to find it, and how to use it (at least that’s how it appeared to the little guy watching). Nana, came near her grandson, seeing his eager eyes taking in Papa’s every move. “Papa sure is at home in his shop. Keep watching, you’ll get to help build with him soon.”

It wasn’t long and her words rang true. Adding to the home, even crafting yard furniture and other family items, became a family joy. But that wasn’t their only joy together. Papa’s well-worn Bible and Jared’s story Bible rested together next to the recliner in the living room where after breakfast they often sat together and read quietly. Papa would ask what Jared was reading and one morning they talked about how scary it must have been at times for men like Noah, Abraham, Daniel, and Joseph.

“Trust in Jesus,” Papa said. He’s with us as we fix up this house, but he’s also making us a home in heaven where we can all be together forever. Someday he’ll come take us to His home.” Jared thought for a moment and said to his Papa, “I bet he has some great tools!”

He surely does! and some of them He’s already given us so we can take part in His work: the Holy Spirit, His Word, baptism, communion, the Church, acts of love… He gives them to us for building each other up in His saving faith. Papa hadn’t always been as comfortable talking with his family about Jesus, but the more time he spent in God’s Word, the more at home he felt expressing some of the things he knew about Jesus and what was most important in life. Sundays at church with other families sometimes gave them things to talk about at home: favorite or hard songs, interesting or hard lessons. Even some of the less-satisfying times in worship raised the topic, “Why do we go?” and the conversations about salvation began. “It’s all because of Jesus, the awesomeness of Him saving us. He’s preparing us to be His light this week and receive Him with faith when He returns someday.”

Like God’s ancient people after they were rescued from bondage in Egypt, God wants our families to talk about and remember His salvation today. “You shall keep this service [the Passover]. And when your children say to you, ‘What do you mean by this service?’ you shall say, ‘It is the sacrifice of the Lord’s Passover, for he passed over the houses of the people of Israel in Egypt, when he struck the Egyptians but spared our houses.’ ” (Exodus 12:24-27)
Our children and grandchildren will ask us, “Why do we read the Bible? Pray before our meal? Sing hymns at bedtime? Why do we do kind things to help people we don’t know? Why do we get up Sunday morning and go receive the Lord’s Supper?” (The questions especially come when it means not doing something else that seems fun or interesting but is against God’s commands or has a conflicting schedule.)

Answers can include, “Because Jesus rose out of death and said we are His. Because life is more than food and drink and earthly homes. Because there is a lot to learn about what’s most important in life. Because there are people who are hurting and God wants us to be there for them. Because I need God’s forgiveness, as you well know. Because I want to love you like Jesus loves us. Because Jesus is preparing a home for us in heaven so we go hear what He has for us to remember and contemplate this week….”

Often it can be hard to find opportunities to express our hope, even with those nearest to us at home. I pray that our Sundays together will spark conversation at home. The “At Home in the Word” materials can additionally help you talk to one another about Jesus. Also, something new! Visit our website and download the Every Day Faith Calendar, that our publishing house, CPH, has released. It is a great tool to help you and your family become more at home with God’s Word on your lips together.

Open your Bibles, read, and talk. Long or short, the conversations may be the best gift you give each other on this side of heaven, as they teach and strengthen saving faith in Jesus.
Try out the calendar’s prompts this month and let me know how it goes. Be ready for the Holy Spirit to surprise you with sweet (and maybe hard but good) moments of conversation. Let’s get more at home with God’s Word on our lips.

in Christ’s peace,
Pastor Stephen

Video “What Kind of Love is This!” at our Outdoor Worship Service

“You showed your love, Jesus, there to me on Calvary”

Madison is Baptized!

Celebrate! On Friday, little Madison was baptized! Born again of water and of the Spirit! “In the Name of the a Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”

2020 Advent Theme: “You Have My Word”

2020 Advent & Christmas Mid-Week Service Theme

In-Person and via Live-stream, our mid-week Advent Services of Evening Prayer will begin at 7pm Mountain Time each Wednesday. Would you be interested in attending an outdoor service mid-week service? Fill out this quick 3-question survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/MYS7N6F

John 1:1–18 introduces one of the Bible’s greatest and grandest books—the Gospel according to St. John. These eighteen verses contain some of the most important words written—ever. They explode with light and brilliance, truth and grace. And John 1:1–18 is chock full of dearly loved Advent and Christmas themes, with the most famous one being, “The Word became flesh.” (John 1:14). That’s the focus of this series of sermons on John 1:1–18. The lineup is as follows:

Advent 1, Wednesday, December 2nd – “You Have My Word!” (John 1:1–5)

John 1:1–18 These verses are rich in light and life, truth and grace. They are some of the most important words ever
written! God has given his to you. It’s a Word connected to creation and connected to God—all so he can be forever connected to you. Connected to you as the Light that shines (shines!) in your darkness! So slow down. Take a deep breath. There’s no need to panic. God says, “You have my Word.” And what an awesome Word it is. His name? Jesus!

Advent 2, Wednesday, December 9th – “A Man Named John” (John 1:6–9, 15)

The biggest bully on the block of life is a liar and the father of lies. We know him as the devil and Satan. And Satan hits us with his lies and rubs our face in our dirt. That’s why God sent a man named John— John the Baptist.

Advent 3, Wednesday, December 16th – “Chosen Children” (John 1:12b)

Your heavenly Father comes looking for you. That’s the message of John 1:12. You are his chosen and baptized child, forevermore!

Christmas Eve, Thursday, December 24th – “The Word Dwelt Among Us” (John 1:14)

“The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” (John 1:14a) Christ did it all for demoted, devalued, and dismissed people. He did it all for us!

Christmas Day, Friday, December 25th – “We Have Seen His Glory!” (John 1:14)

If you need a Savior from sin, a Friend who loves at all times and a Redeemer who restores and renews, it’s time to open your eyes and this day join the faithful in saying, “We have seen his glory!”

Historically, the Gospel of John is likened to an eagle—an image suggesting that John soars to awesome heights of glory and grandeur. As we begin Advent and dig deep into John 1:1–18, get ready to fly!

_______________________________

A Blessed Christmas

May the Savior, Jesus Christ, lift your hearts this Advent and Christmas season. Call out to Him in every need. Also give me, an elder, or another brother and sister in Christ at Zion a call when you need an ear, a prayer, or an encouragement. COVID has caused great loss of many kinds this year, and there may be other strains weighing on you. We care and want to be part of God’s life-line in Jesus to you this month (and always). God is with us. He will see us through these times. “Immanuel” God is With Us! and is ever ready to lift us up and set exactly where we need to be to share the good news of His salvation.

In Christ’s love,

Pastor Stephen Heimer

Loud Tables – Week 4 of Spiritually Vibrant Homes at Zion

Please continue to pray for all who are at risk under the current threat of COVID and all the conditions afflicting our community and families.

Many of you are working in “essential jobs” outside of the home. All of you are essential in the kingdom of God at home, to everyone in your households, and those to whom you relate from afar. This is a time to pray for and encourage those who are sick and those caring for them in homes and in the hospitals. It is a time to also reach out to those who are well but waiting and waiting and waiting with longing for normalcy. In this waiting, take some time to put into practice some of what we have been learning about Spiritually Vibrant Homes. God is with you. His Spirit is at work in your household of faith.

This Week’s Focus: “Spiritual Conversations”

Spiritual conversations with the people in your household are important, but you may be having fewer of them than you think. Don Everts writes, “The latest research tells us we are having fewer spiritual conversations. In fact, [Lutheran Hour Ministries] and Barna found that a full three-quarters of all self-identified Christians have fewer than ten spiritual conversations a year. This includes a conversation with anyone about faith: a discussion at a Bible study counts, a conversation with your spouse counts, discussing the recent sermon counts. Most Christians are having less than one of those conversations per month. Most Christians are, as the researchers concluded, “reluctant conversationalists.” Our tables are pretty quiet.”

God wants us to think about things that are true and excellent (Phil 4) and talking about work, about sports, about politics, about the latest star performer can certainly fall in those categories. ALSO, and most eternally vital, God wants us to talk about His story, His promises, and our experiences in His grace.

These words that I command you today shall be on your heart. ⁷You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.
Dt 6:6–7

Barna’s research learned this when examining spiritually vibrant homes:

Finding 1. Households that engage in spiritual conversations tend to do a lot together.
Finding 2. Many conversations happen around a table.
Finding 3. Spiritual friendships are important. “Our most frequent companions and our most dependable ones tend to be the same.”
Finding 4. Spiritual coaching helps. (Somebody takes the lead in initiating conversations, often a grandparent or mother)
Finding 5. Some people struggle more with conversations. (Millennials have an easier time than boomers. Dads really struggle)

How Can I Help My Household Have Spiritual Conversations?

Don Evert has a whole section in Chapter Four of his book that offers many good suggestions. Check out the book. We’ll soon be offering a small group study of the book at Zion. Let me know if you are interested in participating. A tool I’ve tried out (and mentioned in my ermon on Sunday) is the Vibrant Conversation Deck that can help if you have kids or grandkids with you (or to talk to online). The card deck contains 52 conversation starter questions in four categories: applying spiritual disciplines, extending hospitality, engaging in spiritual conversations, and food and fun. (find them here).

Some stewardship questions to consider this week: Who in your household is the hardest to talk to? Who is the easiest? Will you be driving together, eating together, doing chores around each other this week? What simple question might be a first step toward deeper conversations?

God bless your week!

in Christ’s peace,
Pastor Stephen

Want to dig deep into the research behind our fall series? The basis for our study this fall is The Spiritually Vibrant Home: The Power of Messy Prayers, Loud Tables, and Open Doors by Don Everts.

The Senior VP of Research at Barna Group explains, “The Spiritually Vibrant Home unpacks the research and what it all means for our households. This book provides Christians with a roadmap to developing intentional rhythms that nurture their spirit, honor their heavenly Father, and pass on their faith to the next generation.”

Find this book and related resources developed by the Barna Group and Lutheran Hour Ministries at https://www.lhm.org/households/

Open Doors – Week 3 of Spiritually Vibrant Homes at Zion

El Paso, does this well. The hospitality of El Paso households is something an army family told me last year was AMAZING about their time in El Paso. “We felt like we were part of their family,” the wife said as she told me how their neighbors invited them to all their celebrations and frequent cookouts.

Welcoming people into our homes can become a big part of how people come to know Christ. Spiritual conversations and prayer together with people outside our family as they spend time in our homes make a strong impact on the faith of everyone involved.

Showing hospitality to people outside our family and friendship circles is a very biblical way of life. (Luke 14:13-14, Hebrews 13:2, Romans 12:13, 1 Peter 4:8-9)

COVID Restrictions on hospitality challenge this powerful source of spiritual vibrance in our households. As I mentioned in my sermon this week (watch it here), there have always been situations that endanger, limit, or restrict hospitality (crisis, plague, persecution to name a few). We are in one of those “out of the ordinary” situations now, and guidelines are being updated week-to-week, region to region. Each of our households will need to consider safety while also considering the deep live-giving value of open doors. While house parties and other up-close gatherings are not options at the moment, how might we use Skype, Facetime, other internet services, or even speaker phones to bridge some gaps and build relationships with others?

Don Evert’s book, The Spiritually Vibrant Home addresses the topic of barriers to open doors in the section he titles, “Which is Better, A Safe Submarine or a Risky Rescue Ship.” It is Pre-Covid, but still provides helpful guidance. Check it out this week (see the book info down below). Other Barna Research findings about hospitality shared in Evert’s book include:
Finding 1. Hospitality is connected to God’s mission.
Finding 2. Hospitality strengthens faith formation.
Finding 3. Hospitality enlarges the extended household in helpful ways.
Finding 4. Spiritually vibrant homes rely on others.
Finding 5. Some people struggle with hospitality.

Stewardship Challenge: With at-home hospitality on our radar, what changes in routine or what home upgrades would help you have open doors in the coming year? What would enable safe connections with outsiders during this COVID crisis? What plans can you make now so that you can start new hospitality once the circumstances of COVID allow your doors to truly open up?

This week’s topic is a big challenge for us to consider engaging in during increased covid restrictions, but God’s people have never just given up just because things are hard! Keep learning, keep praying, keep loving and always remember the assurances of Romans 8:34-39:

“Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?… No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

May the Lord bless your week and fill your household with His Spirit.in Christ’s peace,

Pastor Stephen

Want to dig deep into the research behind our fall series? The basis for our study this fall is The Spiritually Vibrant Home: The Power of Messy Prayers, Loud Tables, and Open Doors by Don Everts.

Find this book and related resources developed by the Barna Group and Lutheran Hour Ministries at https://www.lhm.org/households/

Spiritual Disciplines – Week 2 of Spiritually Vibrant Homes at Zion

Week 2 “Apply Spiritual Disciplines at Home”

Zion’s Fall 2020 – Stewardship Theme

We like to eat. We NEED to eat. We’d never expect to survive on one meal a week at church! “Spiritually Vibrant Homes” means households read the Bible together and pray together at home (among other discipleship practices). Our bodies thrive on good food. Our faith is nurtured in God’s life-giving gifts when we apply spiritual disciplines at home.

Utilizing Barna Group research data, Lutheran Hour Ministries has produced Households of Faith, a four-session video study to help households apply three core habits that foster a spiritually vibrant household. These are 1) applying spiritual disciplines; 2) extending hospitality; and 3) engaging in spiritual conversations. Check it out now or plan to sign up when we offer the small-group study here at Zion.

This week at Zion, we are learning more about #1 “applying spiritual disciplines” at home. The video below offers some guidance to fathers (but helpful to all household leaders) about this vital part of our home-life. Below the video you will find a few of my recommended resources for your home.

May the Lord bless your week and fill your household with His Spirit.

in Christ’s peace,
Pastor Stephen

Resources We Recommend for Your Home Life in the Word and in Prayer

Here are some good resources you can use to explore God’s Word with the people in your household.

Zion’s Fall 2020 “At Home with the Parables of Jesus”

Zion’s children’s ministry is encouraging families to sit down with their children and grandchildren each week to read from the Best Loved Parables of Jesus book we distributed this summer. (learn more)

Portals of Prayer

Pick up your copy of Portals of Prayer: October-December 2020 this week. Come to the church office or find a copy in the church entryway on Sunday.

Portals of Prayer for Children

Portals of Prayer for Kids: Daily Devotions provides the structure for dedicated time to learn about Jesus and to grow closer together as a family. Each devotion includes: – a meditation based on everyday situations – a Scripture reading – a journaling prompt – a prayer (learn more)

Want to dig deep into the research behind our fall series? The basis for our study this fall is The Spiritually Vibrant Home: The Power of Messy Prayers, Loud Tables, and Open Doors by Don Everts.

Find this book and related resources developed by the Barna Group and Lutheran Hour Ministries at https://www.lhm.org/households/

Households Matter to Jesus

“Spiritually Vibrant Homes” – Week 1

Zion’s Fall 2020 – Stewardship Theme

Last week I shared in our newsletter that God cares not only about individuals but also about entire households. The Bible refers to households 2,100 times! Find my introduction to this topic here.

On Sunday, I shared in my sermon some key Christian disciplines that when practiced together in a household (not just independently) make for a Spiritually Vibrant Home. Find that sermon here.

(First, I have to give credit and praise to Lutheran Hour Ministries and the Barna Group for what I’m going to share below. Fantastic! Check out the book and links below)

Some themes that stand out as we look at those 2,100 uses of the word “household” in the Bible:

1) God sees households. Not just us individuals, God is paying attention to and caring for our households.

2) Households often rise and fall together. This isn’t a hard-and-fast rule but we see the effect household members have on each other, for better or for worse. (God wants the better! and probably has you there just for that purpose.)

3) God works through households. We often remember individual names “heros of faith” whose lives are impacted and used by God throughout history. Notice also that God often uses entire households. (Noah wasn’t the only person who helped build and who was saved in the ark. So were his wife and sons and their wives!)

Get Ready to Try Something New

Since COVID separation is persisting and has no end in sight, let’s all try something new at home as Zion households of faith. Let’s each add something from each of these three areas to our home life:

Wondering what this all means? Don’t worry, this is what we will be examining at Zion in a variety of ways this fall. We will find insight and inspiration in God’s Word for the salvation and spiritual vibrance of our households.

Week 1 beginning October 4 – “A Harvest for Eternal Joy” (Philippians 3:12)
Week 2 beginning October 11 – “Homes of Messy Prayers” (Philippians 4:6)
Week 3 beginning October 18 – “Homes with Open Doors” (Luke 10:5)
Week 4 beginning October 25 – “Homes of Loud Tables” (1 Thessalonians 2:4)
Week 5 beginning November 1 – “Homes of Eternal Love” (Matthew 5:12)
Zion’s Consecration Sunday will be November 8th. (More about that later)

God richly bless you and your households today and all this week!

in Christ’s peace,
Pastor Stephen

Want to dig deep into the research behind our fall series? The basis for our study this fall is The Spiritually Vibrant Home: The Power of Messy Prayers, Loud Tables, and Open Doors by Don Everts.

Find this book and related resources developed by the Barna Group and Lutheran Hour Ministries at https://www.lhm.org/households/

Spiritually Vibrant Homes

[…and the jailer asked,] “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” ³²Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house.
(Acts 16:30-32)

Rejoice! Christ comes to save us – you, me, and everyone in our households. The passage above from Acts 16 could have mentioned only the jailer’s saving-faith and we still would have celebrated God’s miracle and the testimony of His people that led to this saving faith. The passage doesn’t stop there though. It includes the detail about his household also being saved. The Bible mentions households more than 2,100 times. God observes Noah and his household and He lays out for them His instructions for salvation from the flood. God’s covenant with Abraham is a household promise that through them He will bless all nations. God clearly cares about us individually, sees us and loves us individually, AND He sees and cares about our entire household.

How are Our Households Doing?

During COVID, most people are spending more time at home, physically together, with fewer out-of-home activities sucking away time that could be spent together in prayer, reading scripture, and having spiritual conversations. With much more worship and Biblical teaching available online and plenty of print Bibles and digital Bibles at our fingertips, we would expect Christians are living out their faith more and more as vibrant Christian households. This IS happening in many of our homes. Praise God! BUT several recent studies show that in many cases people are actually reading the Bible less during COVID as they find their time and attention drawn into streaming movies and other activities. There is good, bad, and ugly unfolding in our homes and one study found that 30% fewer people are reading the Bible regularly compared to before COVID hit.

A Vision for Vibrant Households of Faith

Let’s you and me all live out the better opportunities this year is offering for the life-giving practices that bring us closer to each other and to God. I’ve heard good reports from many Zion families, about how you are in the Word, in prayer, in conversation, and in worship together, more than ever. New friends of Zion have heard God’s call to draw closer to Him and are enjoying a new season of growth with us in His Word.

Our Fall Stewardship Theme: “Spiritually Vibrant Homes”

October 4^th – “A Harvest for Eternal Joy”
October 11^th – “Homes of Messy Prayers”
October 18^th – “Homes with Open Doors”
October 25^th – “Homes of Loud Tables”
November 1^st – “Homes of Eternal Love”

Learning from scripture and examining some findings from recent research conducted by the Barna Group and Lutheran Hour Ministries, we will invite God to renew and enliven our Christian homelife. Some of the research findings I am eager for us to examine together include these from the Barna study:

Relating to God together can prepare a household for tough times. (True in the research and in the testimonies I’ve heard at Zion this year)
Having an extended household helps (Relating with Christians outside your family helps)
Households that relate to God together tend to do a lot together (“good fun, good work, and good faith go hand in hand”)

We will invite the Holy Spirit to guide us as we make household plans for the vibrant life of faith to which God has called us. God bless you and all of your households in the awesome love and grace of God Almighty.

In Christ’s peace,

Pastor Stephen