1 Thessalonians 4:1-12 Finally, brothers and sisters, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus that, as you learned from us how you ought to live and to please God (as, in fact, you are doing), you should do so more and more. 2 For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus. 3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from fornication; 4 that each one of you know how to control your own body in holiness and honor, 5 not with lustful passion, like the Gentiles who do not know God; 6 that no one wrong or exploit a brother or sister in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, just as we have already told you beforehand and solemnly warned you. 7 For God did not call us to impurity but in holiness. 8 Therefore whoever rejects this rejects not human authority but God, who also gives his Holy Spirit to you. 9 Now concerning love of the brothers and sisters, you do not need to have anyone write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another; 10 and indeed you do love all the brothers and sisters throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, beloved, to do so more and more, 11 to aspire to live quietly, to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we directed you, 12 so that you may behave properly toward outsiders and be dependent on no one.
Some years ago I read a book titled The Early Church as Family. When someone became a Christian, the church became their family. Paul encourages these new Christians to love and interact in joy. They might not have been friends otherwise. But: Reach out to those around you! Love as Christ loved you! Do so more and more! Be holy in your lives! The Holy Spirit guides you! Resist not!
A challenge I see for our ministry at Emmaus is that we number over 300 members, with about 250 communicants. But we do not see or even know all the members of the family on a regular basis. I imagine some do not even consider themselves as functioning members of this family and in need of its support. But I aim to work with all the strength the Lord gives me to shepherd all of you, as this gathered family in Christ, and to guide you to continue to grow and find joy and support in and with one another. The center for all of us is to worship the Risen Lord, every Sunday, confessing our sins and our faith, fed with His body and blood for strength and peace. Emmaus is “our” body of Christ, holy and pure and redeemed, every one of us. Here is where we hear the ultimate “I love you.”
We serve each other when we see each other, listen and are interested in each other’s lives, interact when we serve together. Some ways: usher, acolyte, worship assistant, altar committee member, reader, greeter, sound board person, counter, singer on a music team or in the choir, Sunday School or VBS teacher or aid, Bible study participant or leader on Sunday or during the week, quilter, helper in the kitchen, treat arranger or provider for Sunday or Easter, prayer team member, helper with inside and outside cleanup, worshiper and attender at the Lord’s Supper, gatherer or distributer of food, member of LLL or LWML or a circle, member or leader in the congregation or on a committee (worship, lay ministry, education, stewardship, evangelism, fellowship, youth, social ministry, church properties, CLS) to plan for events that we can do in common, and as loving friend. All of us are called to participate financially and regularly to support the Lord’s work and to ask His guidance in our giving. Others faithfully do tasks for us even more behind the scenes.
We are not technically volunteers but are members of a body of believers, interacting and being fed and nourished by our Lord to love and serve. There are many other things I have not even mentioned. Each of us has a place to participate in this household. Maybe we got offended about something and use that as our reason to pull back. We hurt ourselves and others then. We ask the Lord to help us to continue to love and be involved and not grow weary or to start somewhere or start over again. I encourage you to rejoice in the role you play or to find a place, serving Him and others and growing in your care for each other. This is not a burden, a job, but a joyful way to live out our family life. Paul says that too!
Pastor Tom Trapp, Mission Pastor
Walking the Emmaus Road with the Risen Lord!
(Originally published in Emmaus Footprints, Vol. XIV, Number 9, April 2013)