Messages by Al Stoltzfus
Who am I to my neighbor?
A “person of peace” is a missional phrase to describe a person who receives a follower of Jesus and the message of Jesus. The phrase describes a person who is receptive to hearing your story, God’s story, and the Good News of Jesus. We value persons of peace. They make good neighbors. Not every neighbor is a person of peace. What kind of a neighbor am I? Am I a person of peace in my neighborhood? Jesus calls us to be a people of peace. The person of peace receives the Good News of Jesus and shares it with friends and neighbors. Text: Luke 10:1-16; Romans 12:17-18
Distressed in the realm of the dead
In our sin-scarred world, ‘distressed in the realm of the dead’ describes a real condition. Rebellion, disobedience, sin all does this to us. In distress, Jonah cried out to God and discovered, “Salvation is of the LORD.” (2:9) In the gospels we discover Jesus, the greater Jonah, who restores rebellious, wayward people to life in the presence of God. Jesus is the one we must trust in and follow to experience life in its fullest. Text: Jonah 2, Matthew 12:40-41; Luke 22:19-20
Don’t be puffed up against one another
One of the quickest ways to kill a relationship is to be a “know-it-all.” Our pride and ‘”righteousness” can get in the way of humbly following Jesus. From Jesus we learn to walk in humility as stewards of the incredibly gift of God’s restoring grace. Text: 1 Corinthians 4:6-7; Proverbs 16:18; Philippians 2:5-11
Greet One Another
To greet one another is to give a polite word of welcome that says, “I’m glad you are here.” Within a list of names, Paul ends his letter to the church in Rome with the admonition to “greet one another.” Why greet one another? Because God in Jesus equips and connects us to the ultimate family and the ultimate story of redemption for His glory. Text: John 13:34-35; Romans 16:1-27
Dust and Ashes
Psalm 90, a “Psalm of Moses,” is quite honest about the brevity and difficulties of life. More significantly though, with unfailing-love and compassion demonstrated ultimately in Jesus, God redeems our dust and ashes story, replacing it with good and meaningful work which we discover as we lean fulling into His purposes. Text: Psalm 90; Matthew 11:28-30
Receive One Another
Jesus summarized all of the law in two brief statements: Love God, Love your neighbor as yourself. One of the ways we live into Jesus words is by building relationships with the people who live around us. In Jesus, God has received us. He calls us to love Him by receiving our our neighbors with that same kind of love we have received from Him. Text: John 13:34-35; Luke 10:25-37; Romans 15:7
Love One Another
After washing the feet of his disciples, and predicting his betrayal and death, Jesus gives a new commandment: “Love one another.” While the commandment is not new, the pattern is new, “as I have loved you” and the result is new, “all people will know you are my disciples.” For followers of Jesus there is a direct link to the cross, community and mission. Text: John 13:33-35
Why Jesus is the Superior Savior – 2nd Service-Baptism
What is the significance of Jesus baptism? In three vital scenes from Jesus life, starting with his baptism, we discover Jesus has the power, authority, and faithfulness to restore life as God intended. Jesus is the superior Savior because he succeeded where everyone else failed. Text: Luke 3:21-4:14