Church (Meyer)

This week’s topic and parable in our “From God—For Others” sermon series may be a little confusing for us. Church is definitely “from God”...He is the Giver and Sustainer of our congregation and all Christian congregations as well. But what about “for others”? What does that mean? How is “Church” “From God—For Others”, after all...Church is “For ME.” Or is it? The truth about the Body of Christ, known as “The Church”, is that the Lord gave it as the outlet for His grace and mercy and love and Word and Sacraments...for ALL. What does that look like? When God’s people, assembled in the Church, take seriously His charge to reach out in Jesus name and bring others into the Church through His Word and Gospel...then Church is being the Church and being what God wanted it to be all along. A “club” for certain people? An enclave of friends who huddle-up and keep others out? A closed circle where no one else can get in? Nope. The Church, this church, Gloria Dei, is to be a place where we bring people who need Jesus and all are welcomed. We will look in the mirror of our parable today, recognize where we need to change, and grow in our understanding that even Church is “From God—For Others”