In Christ we are reconciled to God. His call to reconciliation is a call to wrestle with Him in prayer, to trust, and to follow.

Jesus taught “The Parable of the Persistent Widow (Lk 18.2-8) so that we might learn “. . . always to pray and not lose heart.” (Luke 18:1, ESV) That’s a big deal because sometimes, like Jacob, we can do deceitful things. (see Gen 27) Even though we know that “all Scriptures is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,” (2 Tim 3.16) even though we know that “God works all things together for the good of those who love him and are called according to his purpose,” (Rom 8.28) we can tremble, like Jacob, when the Lord gives us an opportunity for reconciliation. But it’s especially in these moments of “wrestling with God” and His Word (Gen 32.22-30) that we really come to know our need for Christ and His forgiveness. It’s in those moments when we really learn to “fear, love and trust in God above all things.” (1st Commandment explanation)

“Of What Are We Stewards” is Part 2 of our “Reflecting Christ” series on Christian stewardship with Rev. Dr. Nathan Meador. In this episode, Dr. Meador talks about the consequences of what he calls “the first stewardship crisis,” leading us to THE most important thing of which God has entrusted us: the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The steward, Dr. Meador says, is a “conduit of the Gospel.” “The Gospel,” he says, “is not about you, it’s for you.” God has entrusted us with the Gospel (the message of God’s reconciliation and forgiveness in Christ), for us and for the good of our neighbor.

Recorded 17 July, A.D. 2025

“Remember Jesus Christ.” This is where we look, this is where we turn, when the suffering looks too daunting. Remember Jesus Christ. This is the remembering of faith, to recall the one in whom you put your trust and your hope. Where can we go to for the strength to do this? The person of Jesus Christ lodges Himself in holy food — bread and wine for believers to eat and drink. You lodge where Jesus lodges; His Father is your God, His people are your people. Death cannot part you from Him because His death and resurrection are eternally yours through Holy Baptism. “Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead” (2 Tim. 2:8). As surely as death could not hold Him, so surely “the word of God is not bound” (2 Tim. 2:9). His Gospel is entrusted “to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also” (2 Tim. 2:2), so that you “may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus” (2 Tim. 2:10). Such is the confession of faith for all the saints, who believe, teach and confess the one Lord and Savior — Jesus Christ.

We live by Faith, and run in the righteousness of Christ’s Forgiveness

We are surrounded by“destruction and violence”(Hab. 1:3) because the Law“is paralyzed, and justice never goes forth”(Hab. 1:4). In fact, the Law cannot rescue us from ourBabylon; thepower of theenemy, the world, or our own sinful flesh.“Temptations to sin are sure to come”(Luke 17:1), but as often as we sin, the Lord rebukes us, turns us to repentance and forgives us.Therefore, not by sight, experience or feeling, nor by works,but“the righteous shall live by his faith”(Hab. 2:4).We pray that He would thus“increase our faith”(Luke 17:5). And indeed, He does! Though we are His“unworthy servants”(Luke 17:10), He prepares His Supper for us, dresses us properly and gives us His body and blood to eat and drink. He appoints pastors for us,“by the will of God according to the promise of the life that is in Christ Jesus”(2 Tim. 1:1).For the Gospel brings“life and immortality to light”(2 Tim. 1:10). This we believe. Therefore,“follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard,”(2 Tim 1:1)"so we may run" as "the righteous who live by faith" (Habakkuk 2:2,4)

The Catechetical Life is an “audio brochure” of sorts. (It is based upon a brochure that Pastor O’Donnell wrote.) It is intended both to teach and to be a means of evaluating one’s family and congregational life. With a little bit of humor, we teach about life in the Church. We teach the difference between “Law” and “Gospel.” We make an important connection between a classical method of teaching—catechesis—and the mission of Christ’s Church.

God bless your “catechetical life.”

Recorded 26 September, A.D. 2025

We live in “a time of trouble” (Dan. 12:1), in the midst of great tribulation. Satan and his wicked angels have been thrown out of heaven and have come down to earth “in great wrath,” with woeful “temptations to sin” and with constant accusations (Rev. 12:8–12; Matt. 18:7). Even so, we are encouraged by the presence and protection of St. Michael and the holy angels, whom God sends to help us in the strife (Dan. 10:11–13). By “the authority of his Christ,” His holy angels guard and keep us in body and soul. These heavenly servants of God preserve His human messengers on earth, the ministers of “the blood of the Lamb,” against all the power of the enemy, for by “the word of their testimony,” the Church is saved and the devil is defeated (Rev. 12:10–11), the old Adam and the old evil foe are “drowned in the depth of the sea” in a Baptism of repentance (Matt. 18:6). As God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, so are His people delivered and raised from the dust of the earth through the forgiveness of their sins (Dan. 12:1–3).

We asked St. Paul’s congregational leaders, John Nelson and Dale Stratil, to listen to Episode 77, “Reflecting Christ: Stewardship as Identity,” before its publication. John is currently serving as St. Paul’s 1st VP, and Dale is currently teaching a Bible class on stewardship. In this episode, we ask them to reflect on things that really stuck out to them from Dr. Meador’s teaching on stewardship. Our prayer is that this episode reinforces some of the lessons from episode 77 and encourages you to join us for further study, reflection, and application of Christ’s teaching on stewardship.

Recorded 18 September, A.D. 2025

So often when we think about “stewardship,” we think about our money, our time, our talent. We think about what we do. But stewardship is not, fundamentally, about our “activity.” It’s about Christ, what HE has done for us, and what HE is doing in and through us. Stewardship is about Christ, His Gospel, and our identity in Him.

Recorded 17 July, A.D. 2025