THE LUTHERAN February 2019 by Lutheran Church of Australia

N A TIO N A L M A G A ZIN E O F THE L U THE RA N C HU RC H O F A U STRA LIA

VOL 53 NO1

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FEBRUARY 2019

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LUTHERAN

CHURCH OF AUSTRALIA

EDITORIAL

An academic approach

Editor Lisa McIntosh p 08 8267 7300 m 0409 281 703 e lisa.mcintosh@lca.org.au

Julia and Ray Jarick caught up on some news and views from home while visiting with brother Dr John Jarick (left), who is Lecturer in Old Testament theology at Regents Park College, Oxford in England. The trio is pictured in front of the Bodleian Library in Oxford. Julia and Ray are members of Trinity Bethel Lutheran Church, NSW, in the state’s Riverina region.

Executive Editor Linda Macqueen p 08 8339 5178 e linda.macqueen@lca.org.au

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LUTHERAN

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The Lutheran informs the members of the LCA about the church’s teaching, life, mission and people, helping them to grow in faith and commitment to Jesus Christ. The Lutheran also provides a forum for a range of opinions, which do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editor or the policies of the Lutheran Church of Australia.

Claire Stolz

The Lutheran FEBRUARY 2019

Enjoys working with his hands, building and restoring things; and sport (football, tennis, cricket, cycling) Fav text: Romans 8:1

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FEBRUARY

Special features EDITOR'S

Letter

Money is a topic many people feel uneasy talking about. If we are employed we don’t usually share how much we earn. If we are blessed with a mortgage or we own property, we don’t often tell others what we paid for it. The Bible tells us that we can’t serve both God and money (Matthew 6:24 and Luke 16:13), so perhaps by not talking about it, we think it will have less of a hold over us.

Therefore, it’s fair to say I was stunned one Sunday morning when my then pastor announced from the pulpit that we were to use ‘our’ money ‘to buy friends for Jesus’. It’s an uncomfortable concept but my pastor was spot on (see Luke 16:9). His point was that we are to use our money for the sake of the gospel, to expand God’s kingdom. And, after all, it’s not ‘our’ money at all – it is God’s. Likewise, our possessions, time, talents, personality and relationships all come from God. We are caretakers of his gifts, including the most precious – the gospel. And he doesn’t want us to waste them. Jesus made that clear in the parable of the talents in Matthew 25 (and Luke 19). I always felt sorry for the guy who buried what he was given in order not to lose it. But what he did helped no-one. How can people see God’s love reflected through us if we bury our gifts? We are to use all of our gifts to further the kingdom. When we share what God has entrusted to us, we reflect his goodness and acknowledge his grace. Our stewardship may include regular giving to the church’s ministries; donations to charitable organisations; savings with the LLL (which, in turn, supports the church’s mission); prayers and care for those in need; or opening our homes to others. In this issue, as we focus on stewardship, we look at just a few of many heart-warming stories that arise from the LLL’s financial backing for the LCA’s ministries – thanks to your support of the LLL. We explore Christian principles for giving and delve deeper into God’s word about using our gifts. We also meet the LCA/NZ’s newest pastors as they take up their first ministries after their ordination and utilise the talents they have been given.

Working together for the kingdom

What shall we give to God?

Called to service

Regulars Heartland

Dwelling in God’s word

Going GREYT!

#youngSAVEDfree

Go and Grow

The inside story

Reel Life

Directory

Your voice

Notices

Coffeebreak

Stewardship is a critical aspect of our Christian calling. We haven’t been given the same gifts as others, but all have the same responsibility to use what we have for God’s glory. That way – as we are told of the early church in Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians, chapter 9, and elsewhere – people will know we are Christians by our love.

Lisa

Our cover: iStock.com

JES U S I S G OD'S LOVE. HE G IVES U S NE W HE ARTS TO L AY AS IDE O UR OL D WAYS, TO B EL IE VE AND FOL LOW HIM, TO L IVE WI T H HIM E VERY DAY.

heartland

REV JOHN HENDERSON

Bishop Lutheran Church of Australia

G OSPEL IS CHURCH’S RE AL TRE ASURE ‘ … I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now … ’ (Philippians 1:4–5). The best things in life are those we share with others. Nowhere is this truer than with the gospel. In Theology of the Lutheran Confessions (1961), Edmund Schlink wrote: ‘The Gospel … is not a book existing of and for itself, but it is the voice of God addressing us; it is no doctrine of and for itself, but it is proclamation. We do not have the Gospel, but we hear it. We do not know it as we know other concepts, but we receive it anew again and again, spoken to us through the voice of man which proclaims the grace of God and through which God’s very voice from heaven resounds among us today.’ We do not have the gospel; we hear it, Schlink reminds us. He adds: ‘In the most real sense the Gospel is the word of absolution’, the forgiveness of sins.

The gospel is the very best part of life. We delight in sharing it with each other and with the world. The The Lutheran FEBRUARY 2019

The gospel message is also a great leveller of human pride. No matter who we are, it treats us all equally. St Paul writes in Ephesians,

So the gospel is the church’s real TREASURE. We are here because of, through the power of, and for the sake of the gospel. It’s the very BEST thing we have ...

God’s people hear the gospel together. God addresses the gospel to the world, through the church. The Holy Spirit builds the church, the baptised community of forgiven sinners, as we hear the message and receive holy communion. God is at work in our congregations and gathered communities week by week, Sunday by Sunday, service by service.

message of forgiveness makes us free to be God’s people. The gospel offers grace and forgiveness. With it comes boundless new horizons – dynamic, exciting, inspired and life-giving.

‘The mystery is that people who have never heard of God and those who have heard of him all their lives … stand on the same ground before God. They get the same offer, same help, same promises in Christ Jesus. The message is accessible and welcoming to everyone, across the board’ (Ephesians 3:6 The Message).

So the gospel is the church’s real treasure. We are here because of, through the power of, and for the sake of the gospel. It’s the very best thing we have, yet we can’t preserve it, store it up or lock it away. Like the manna to God’s people in the desert (Exodus 16), it comes fresh every day from the hand of our loving God. We receive it, rejoice in it and proclaim it, gladly sharing with each other the same love and forgiveness God has given us. The gospel is God’s new way for us in this world as we head towards the next. Praise God for his endless love in sending Jesus Christ. He died for our sins, that we might hear the gospel, be forgiven, and live in community with him, now and forever. This is the very best part of life. How can we not share it with others?

W O RK I N G T O GET H E R

for the kingdom

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LLL MISSION STIMULUS GRANTS

Arise connects community by PASTOR MATT WILKSCH

The LLL has been serving the Lu theran church in Aust ralia, and helping to further i ts gospel mission, since 1921. If you read, hear abou t or come into contact wi th an LCA minist ry, chances are the LLL supports that minist ry, through grants, loans, or ongoing funds. The following stories are snippets from LLL Aust ralia’s annual Together in Mission magazine, bu t are only a sample of the ways in which LLL assists the church and i ts members in being good stewards of God’s great gif ts to us.

Connection is everything. But in spite of all the connections enabled through the internet and social media, people can feel as disconnected as ever. In our new city of Springfield, south-east Queensland, Arise Lutheran Church has grown out of the St Peters Lutheran College community. We seek to connect people with each other and especially with God.

M I S S I O N S TAT E M E N T

• A Mission Stimulus Grant of $13,200 also helped support and grow the Chinese congregation at St Stephen’s Lutheran Church, Adelaide, through the ‘Come Alive with Us!’ outreach project. A further grant of $25,000 helped establish the FRONTIER church planter/mission practice training program run out of St Luke’s, Albury, in New South Wales, in partnership with the LCA’s New and Renewing Churches Department and the District. Visit www.frontiertraining.org for more information.

Support t he LCA in its mission.

We will do this by: • providing business and financial support to the LCA • providing excellent service to all customers • safeguarding the interests of depositors.

With the benefit of the 2016 LLL Mission Stimulus Grant, Arise was able to appoint a part-time Community Connections Worker to build connections between families in our community and the new Arise congregation through several key projects. Arise is grateful for what the LLL Mission Stimulus Grant of $25,000 has enabled, and the connections that continue to grow. Pastor Matt Wilksch is at Arise Lutheran Church, Springfield, Queensland.

Shared administrator

by TIM EDWARDS

In 2016, three churches in the New South Wales Riverina – St Luke’s Albury, St Peter’s Lavington, and St Andrew’s Corowa – applied for an LLL Mission Stimulus Grant. Their goal was to hire a shared office administrator. After the office administrator came on, pastors and members of these churches found that their time – formerly spent on office tasks – could instead be directed towards mission. Importantly, the shared office administrator position helped with mission outreach in the congregations. Resulting from this we have seen growth in our churches. Thanks to the LLL who made this all possible through a Mission Stimulus Grant of $22,000.

The Lutheran FEBRUARY 2019

Who is the LLL?

The LLL operates as a charitable financial institution. It provides savings accounts with deposits enabling it to provide low-interest loans to approved LCA projects, such as Lutheran schools, churches and care facilities. This year it has become an ADI or Authorised Deposit-taking Institution, which means it will be regulated under the Banking Act and by the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA). However, there will be no change for LLL customers. Its purpose remains to provide safe and secure savings for members while continuing to support the mission of the LCA. See page 23 for more details.

CHILD, YOUTH AND FAMILY SUPPORT FUND

Our passionate young adults by VICKI ROCHOW

‘The opportunity to meet young adults from all across Australia and beyond – people who are facing the same issues and are passionate about finding solutions – is incredibly inspiring and encouraging’, said one LCA National Youth Forum 2018 (NYF18) participant. The forum brought 27 young adults to Australian Lutheran College in North Adelaide to ‘have a voice’. This event was supported by various LCA departments, including Grow Ministries, ALC and Lutherans for Life, and participants of the 2017 Grow Leadership Program. Four participants from the NYF18 were invited to attend the LCA’s 2018 General Convention of Synod. As consultants, the young adults could share their thoughts about the big issues, witness the process of synod, and more deeply understand the governance of the LCA.

, eyond , and b r tunit y n io g e po rg r the op ndabe n the Bu gement and ugh Cut Me m o fr a r o k. u R e o s Men e c u n th D iven e ries at aker David g to e r s e ir w re the g spe to sha ce featurin n e r fe n co

SPECIAL PURPOSES FUND

Rough cut men in Bundy by PASTOR WAYNE GEORGE

Generally speaking, their hearts on their going on inside. As they actually do not

men are not always known to wear sleeves or talk openly about what’s a result, many men don’t realise that have to fight Goliath alone.

These thoughts prompted us to run a men’s conference at St John’s Lutheran Church, Bundaberg, Queensland, under the banner of Rough Cut Men, an international men’s ministry directed by its founder David Dusek. I had been following David’s ministry via social media. So I knew that the men of our region (and beyond) needed what he had to give – encouragement and motivation. Of course finance was a challenge. However, through the provision of our Lord and the generosity of the LLL, we were able to successfully apply for a grant. This grant of $9900 via the LCA Special Ministry Fund which is funded by grants from the LLL Special Purposes Fund, will render fruit, I believe, for many years to come; some of which will only be known in eternity. Pastor Wayne George is the lead pastor in the Bundaberg parish, Queensland.

Vicki Rochow is the Grow Leadership Coordinator. The LLL Child, Youth and Family Support Fund generated $55,408 for Grow Ministries in the 2017/2018 financial year.

LLL LOANS

Outside. Inside. Synergy Eastside Lutheran College, Hobart Tasmania ‘It’s not what the church looks like outside; it’s what the church is inside’, a parent told Ralph Zapart, Principal of Eastside Lutheran College in Hobart. Eastside was expanding, and secondary students needed the space that a hall would provide. With federal government funding, Eastside built the largest space possible – a tin shed, concrete floor, carpet and lighting – without any bells and whistles. Meanwhile, St Peter’s Lutheran Church Hobart wanted to build closer ties with the school. Its sandstone building in central Hobart needed expensive renovations; so it was sold and the congregation relocated to Eastside College. As a result, the congregation now had funds to help renovate the school hall to make it more suitable for use as a church, and more versatile for the school. Eastside received an LLL loan for their contribution. ‘Our school wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for the congregation’, Ralph Zapart said.

Want to read more?

Look for the Together in Mission publication at church, contact the LLL for a copy or read a digital version on the website at www.lll.org.au/TIM

a: 175 Archer Street, North Adelaide SA 5006 | PO Box 45 North Adelaide SA 5006 p: 08 8360 7200 | Toll Free 1800 556 457 | e: lll@lll.org.au |

www.lll.org.au

Dwelling in God’s word: A STUDY ON

D R SHIP A W E T S D’ S G I F T S O G F O What does God say in the Bible about using our gifts? Let’s look at the parable of the talents in Matthew 25:14–30. Jesus speaks about a man who left servants in charge of his money while he was away. When he returned, the first two servants reported they had invested the money and returned double what they had been given. What was the master’s response? The servant given the least money was afraid he would lose it if he invested it. He buried it and returned the same amount he had been given. Why was the rich man unhappy? Like the servants in the parable, Jesus entrusts us with what is precious to him. We are the chosen, saved and beloved children of God. Our lives belong to God. He has given us gifts and abilities, the world in which we live and people who love us. The greatest gifts entrusted to us are the gospel, holy communion and the fellowship of believers. What have we done with the gospel of forgiveness and eternal life? Have we used it to help change the lives of people in our family, work or neighbourhood? What do Matthew 5:16 and Luke 8:16–18 tell us about being good stewards of this precious gift? Let’s look at some practical examples of using our gifts. • Have we used a smile, a kind word, or a touch of reassurance to brighten someone’s day?

by PASTOR V INCE GER H A R DY and MEL ZER N ER

• Have we visited and prayed for a person in physical and emotional need? • Have we used our education, knowledge and experience to serve in our local and wider church? • Have we used our gifts to serve our communities, charities and workplaces as volunteers? • Have we looked after and cared for the world in which we live? • Have we used our financial resources to assist other people in need and to support the mission and ministry of God’s church? Jesus is serious about how we either use or ignore the possibilities, the opportunities and the generous trust that he has placed in us to be good managers of what he has given to us. He is not talking about the size of the return from the gifts he has given us, but about our attitude to using our gifts, our willingness to do as God wants us to do, and our eagerness to take a risk for the sake of the kingdom. What do Proverbs 3:9 and 2 Corinthians 9:7 tell us about how God wants us to approach giving of our talents and finances? How should we decide how much to give back to God for the work of his kingdom? See Mark 12:41–44 and 2 Corinthians 8:1–12. You are God’s chosen and saved people. He has equipped you with gifts and provides you with opportunities. With the eyes of Christ, we will see the possibilities available to us to be a blessing to another person using our abilities and gifts. In Christ, God will use our hands and hearts to bring change and comfort to those in need in ways we may never fully realise. What will you do to use your gifts and bring Christ to others in the future? The Lutheran FEBRUARY 2019

What shall we

GIVE to GOD? by MEL ZER NER Living in Australia or New Zealand, many of us are blessed to lead comfortable lifestyles. We may have well-appointed homes with the latest in material possessions, the opportunity to take regular holidays and plenty of fine food to enjoy. Sure, there are people in our societies, communities and even in our own congregations, who don’t have enough food, clothing, shelter and income to be comfortable like us. We may support welfare agencies to assist these people. But are we generous enough? It is never easy to talk about money or giving, even among Christians. All of us still battle with our selfish – even greedy – human nature. Our ‘hip-pocket nerve’ is one of the most difficult to bring under the Lordship of Christ.

The Lutheran FEBRUARY 2019

We tend to notice glamour and power, Jesus sees true generosity.

So how much do we GIVE? The answer is simple: Imitate CHRIST.

So what does Jesus say about giving? He watched folks giving to attract attention. Interestingly, none of these people is individually highlighted in Scripture. Who is? A poor widow. Jesus calls his disciples and says,

‘This poor widow has put more in the treasury than all the others. They gave out of their wealth, but she, out of her poverty, put in everything – all she had to live on’ (Mark 12:41–44).

Indeed giving is central and significant to Christian living and identity. In the early church, Christians became known for the way they shared their possessions with one another. In Acts 20:35b we read, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive (or to keep)’.

When we think of giving, it is usually in terms of money, charity or donations. In the early church, giving did not just involve money, but also other possessions. It was characterised as hospitality, which consisted of personal expressions of Christian love to fellow believers. It included meeting the pressing physical needs of the local poor, strangers and travelling Christians, and also providing somewhere for believers to meet and worship. The Greek word

for ‘hospitality’ literally means ‘love for the stranger’. Charitable giving as the proper response to God’s mercy was considered a mark of true spirituality. Generosity is a fruit of the spirit (Galatians 5:22) and liberal giving is a gift of the spirit (Romans 12:8). Paul’s appeal to the Corinthians features a number of principles for giving. Christians ought to share their possessions generously, enthusiastically, deliberately and sensibly (2 Corinthians 8 and 9) and even ‘compete’ in being generous. The earliest Christians regarded themselves firstly as members of the body of Christ, and took for granted their obligations to support one another materially when necessary. Have we as Christians today drifted from this point of view? A rich Christian may not be a contradiction in terms, but a mean and greedy Christian certainly is.

In seeking to imitate Christ, it is the spirit in which Jesus acts that is all important. When Paul encouraged the Corinthians to be generous, he reminded them of Christ’s generosity. The challenge for us is to think like Jesus and, as we meditate on his grace, we’ll give our lives to him. Here are some practical ways to imitate Christ in our giving. 1. Share our homes, food, clothing and money with those in real need. 2. Be generous to others as we are luxurious with ourselves. Don’t feel guilty about buying a nice bottle of wine or going out to dinner. Just match it with a gift to Australian Lutheran World Service or another Christian welfare charity. 3. Whether we run a business or invest in property or in shares, our primary motive should be serving other people.

In 2 Corinthians 8:1–9, Paul addresses Christian generosity in the context of a collection he was raising among Gentile churches for poor Jewish Christians in Jerusalem. He makes a number of points about the gift of giving: Generosity is a gift from God. The willingness and ability to give is, in itself, an act of God’s grace.

Our giving to God can support a range of needs through various ministries including our local congregation, our LCA/NZ and its districts, and Lutheran and other Christian welfare and overseas aid agencies.

Paul places the gift of generosity alongside other gifts of God’s grace that the Holy Spirit gives or prompts in a believer’s heart – faith, speech, knowledge, sincerity and love. As well as these, he encourages the Christians in Corinth to excel in the ‘gift of giving’.

The money under our control, or the property we own, is simply part of God’s creation we have the responsibility for using. When we use money, it will bring us into contact with people. Our aim in using money is to serve our neighbour, as Jesus did.

But how do we know how much to give? Or, more correctly, how much of God’s money entrusted to us shall we keep for ourselves and our needs? After all, it has been given to us to be used in his service for the benefit of all people.

Let us pray that the Holy Spirit leads us to give ourselves completely to the Lord first, so that we might be granted the gift of giving in all we do.

Paul’s describes our donations as a ‘grace or gift’ which God has provided. It’s impossible to have the ‘grace of giving’ without reflecting the love of God. So how much do we give? The answer is simple: Imitate Christ. Paul said: ’You know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich’ (2 Corinthians 8:9).

Biblical principles for giving • Give of your first fruits, setting aside God’s portion first. (See Proverbs 3:9) • Give in a show of faith and await God’s blessings. (See 2 Corinthians 9:6,8 and Philippians 4:19). • Give to the Lord, not to a budget or an institution. (See Psalm 96:8) • An increase in income means an increase in giving. • Give regularly, not haphazardly. (See 1 Corinthians 16:2) • How much? In proportion to his gifts to us. (See Mark 12 and 2 Corinthians 8:12)

Mel Zerner is a member of the LCA’s General Church Board and of the LCA Finance Audit and Risk Committee, and Director of Messenger Zerner Chartered Accountants. He is also a member of St Peters Lutheran Church, Blackwood in suburban Adelaide. His reflections here were in part inspired by the book Beyond Greed, written by Moore College lecturer Brian Rossner.