Our Lord said: Make disciples of all nations. That is his one commission that sends us out on our mission. Is it not strange how hard we find it to tell good news? We might worship every week and thank the Lord for his gifts of forgiveness and life. We might be deeply aware of the sin from which we are freed, so that we can live eternally. But somehow, we think of telling other people and shrink back. We do not find the words. We are afraid of rejection. We do not want to be put in the wrong category. And we let the world drive our response.

It is not easy to tell the good news. Part of that is because those who do not believe are antagonistic. Part of it is that we do not take eternal death seriously. But the Holy Spirit had greater power than unbelief. It is God's deepest desire that all be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth. So what do we do?

First of all, we need to hear the good news in the Scriptures. We can read the gospels. St. John is always a good place to start. We can read the epistles. I frequently turned to Colossians. Romans is filled with good news. The Psalms cover all the aspects of life. Read the same material again and again and let the Spirit guide your understanding. I have listened to the Psalms as I drive more times than I can ever count.

Make it part of your life this fall to be in a Bible Class. Review your faith in Life with God classes on Mondays from 6:30-8:30 p.m. (starting September 10). Join one of the small group Bible studies. I have materials if you would like to start your own, to meet at home or church. Bible study is offered every Sunday between services. All our children are to be in Sunday School and all our adults in Bible Class. Join us for Rally Day on September 9 at 9:45 a.m. Jesus commanded us to MAKE DISCIPLES. That is how we do it.

Notice how I titled this Evangelism and Education. In some sense, I am reversing the order in what I have written. If we are not filled with the message (education), we have nothing to say (evangelism). When we are filled with the message, the Holy Spirit finds ways that we can naturally use to tell HIS story. We are not on our own. We are not on display. We are bragging about one who saves us from eternal death and who pours his mercy onto us and through us to others. Eternal things can happen.

I will ask as many of you as possible to gather on Saturday, September 8, at 9:30 a.m., to deliver booklets that tell the good news to another quadrant of the area around Emmaus. Many hands make light work. It is as we have done in the past. The booklet tells the message. We can knock on a door, tell people of the hope that fills us and ask them to read about it and join us. I pray you will be part of this effort, either by praying for its success or by participating.

In Christ our Lord and Savior,
Pastor Thomas Trapp