Christ Memorial was a church plant of Salem Lutheran in Affton in 1948. Our history is God “sowing seeds” and “bearing fruit.” What will he grow in the next 75 years? Martin Luther once said, “Even if I knew the world would end tomorrow, I would still plant my apple tree today.” We continue to plant seeds for coming generations of gospel multiplication. More people loved in Christ, more people sent into the world.
Invocation
Make the sign of the cross, and say,
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Invitation Prayer
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” (Matt. 5:4) O Lord, I suffer grief and loss. You alone are my comfort. Amen.
Word: Acts 11:19-21
“Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except Jews. But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who on coming to Antioch spoke to the Hellenists[a] also, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord.”
Meditation
United in Christ by Jo Saleska Lange
To be honest, I struggle with doctrinal differences among churches—those centuries-long disputes over the “correct” way to baptize, commune, preach, teach, confess, pray. Every Christian denomination genuinely believes they hold the corner market on Truth, and every denomination uses Scripture to support their viewpoints. Sometimes I feel like I need an advanced theology degree to sort it all out.
I also cannot help but mourn the division doctrinal disputes create among Christ’s body of believers, the anguish they continue to cause its members.
I know doctrine is important. Guided by the Holy Spirit, we can and should strive to fully understand and follow God’s Word. But I also find it refreshing to forget for a moment about the last one thousand years of in-fighting among Christians and examine the early church as described in Scripture.
As I’ve considered Acts 11:19-24 this week, a few observations stand out:
The early church flourished amid political chaos, persecution, and diaspora.
The first Christians did not settle in Antioch to plant a church; rather, they were fleeing their homes in search of safety and religious freedom—and the church grew as a result. The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, of which Christ Memorial and Reliant are a part, was similarly founded by German immigrants who fled to America to escape political unrest and economic hardship. Fast forward to today, and, according to the Pew Research Center, most immigrants to America, both documented and undocumented, are Christian. God was at work then. God is at work now. God is at work always—even when His plans are not visible to us.
The Gospel takes root organically, through relationships.
Those from Cyprus and Cyrene who spoke to the Greeks about Jesus were not well-known prophets or religious leaders. They did not have seminary degrees or advanced training in mission work. They were not ordained ministers. They were unnamed followers of Christ. They spoke about “the Lord Jesus” to the people around them. Full stop. The Church flourishes and God is glorified when we share Jesus with others. It’s really that simple.
The early church was culturally and ethnically diverse.
Although most American churches are monoethnic and monocultural, the first Christian church in Antioch was extremely diverse. Acts 11 tells us the church was made up of Jews from modern-day Lebanon and Lybia, combined with Gentile Greeks. Because Antioch was something of a melting pot, we can assume early church members also included Syrians, Romans, Africans, and others. Did these Christians experience cultural clashes? Most definitely. Were they still ultimately united in Christ? Absolutely. I love this picture of the Church: a space that shatters ethnic, racial, and cultural boundaries.
What a blessing that we are celebrating 75 years of God doing incredible things through our imperfect church. Like every church in the history of humanity, we are comprised of sinners united under Christ and saved by His grace. My prayer for the next 75 years and beyond is that we continue trusting in God’s plans above our own, sharing Jesus through relationships with nonbelievers, and seeking to encourage diversity across ethnicities, races, and cultures.
Heavenly Father, thank you for working amid struggle, chaos, and perceived failure. Help us to set aside our pride, fear, and prejudices to spread the Good News of the Gospel to those around us. Use us to grow your Church here and around the world. Amen.
Prayer for Life as a Child of God
· For the Father to give me care and guidance.
· For forgiveness when I wander and want my own way.
· For the Father to keep me childlike in faith even as I age.
· For growth in faith, that I love and trust in God above all things.
· For strength to obey God.
· For the Father to heal my hurts.
· For assurance when I doubt.
Closing Prayer
O Lord, your ways are not our ways. Teach us your will, even when it appears backwards. We want to know you. We want what you want. Thy will be done, in Jesus’ name. Amen.