Trinity Fremont

This week, Jesus continues the Beatitudes and shows us what happens when He gives His kingdom to empty-handed people. He fills His people with His Spirit, and what He gives begins to come out in mercy, purity, and peace. These gifts are not a reward we earn or a possession we keep for ourselves. They are gifts from Jesus, worked in us by His Spirit, for the sake of our neighbor. And even when others reject Jesus as He comes through His people, His promise remains: the kingdom is already ours, and the fullness is still coming.

Readings:

• Isaiah 66:5–14
• 2 Corinthians 4:7–18
• Matthew 5:1–12

This week, Jesus says, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” In a world broken by sin and death, mourning is real. But Jesus does not leave His people with grief as the final word. He enters our brokenness, dies and rises, and promises the day when death will be swallowed up forever, every tear will be wiped away, and all things will be made new.

• Isaiah 25:6–9
• Revelation 21:1–5
• Matthew 5:1–4

On our own, we are not capable of giving anything to God.  Our works don’t cut it.  Can NOT cut it.  God blesses us with gifts that don’t involve doing but receiving, receiving his goodness, grace and His promises.  Promises to never leave or forsake us.  Promises to cover us with the robe of His Son’s righteousness.  

We are blessed not because good things are happening to us, we are blessed because of what Jesus has done for us when He suffered and died for us. When He rose again for us.  This is how He has restored us.  So the question becomes, what does it look like to live that restored life?  

 

• Isaiah 57:14-21
• 1 Corinthians 1:26-31
• Matthew 5:1-3

This week, we celebrated Vacation Bible School at Trinty. The kids spent the week hearing five big truths: God is our Creator. God knows everything. God is our safe place. God is love. God is forever.

Those truths are not just for kids. God created us for life with Him and love for one another. Sin bends that love inward, but God shows His love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Jesus died for us.

Jesus takes our death in our place and for our sake, and He gives us His life. Death was not the last word for Jesus, and because of Him, death is not the last word for us.

God made you. God knows you. God loves you in Jesus. God gives you life now and forever.

Wow, God.

• Genesis 1:1-5, 24-31
• 1 John 4:7-16
• Luke 24:1-12

 

All Jesus is the end of Matthew.  It is fitting as Jesus is such a theme for Matthew throughout his gospel.  At the end of this gospel Jesus reminds or emphasizes he has ALL authority and it has been given to him by the Father.  He instructs his disciples to make disciples of ALL nations, in other words, ALL people. Disciples are to obey ALL Jesus has commanded them.  That’s a lot of ALL’s.  

But then Jesus reminds them that he will ALWAYS be with them - ALWAYS.  And He is.  Through His Word, through His sacraments and through His Spirit, Jesus is ALWAYS with us, Always with us until He returns in ALL his Glory.

• Gen. 1:1–2:4a
• Acts 2:14a, 22–36
• Matt. 28:16–20

What a gift.  A gift that is meant to be shared.  The Living Waters that Jesus refers to sharing with others in John 7 is the Holy Spirit that has been placed inside of us at our baptisms.  Again, what a gift, but a gift not to keep to ourselves.  In verse 38 Jesus says, “Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘ Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’”

These Living Waters are the Holy Spirit in our hearts.  Gifts like love, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness and gentleness, all gifts of the Holy Spirit are to flow over out of our hearts for others and into others.  Jesus says in verse 37 “Whoever” believes in me.  The gift of the Holy Spirit and the Living Waters that flow out of our hearts are for ALL people. 

• Num. 11:24–30
• Acts 2:1–21
• John 7:37–39

In this final week of our Living Hope series, Peter calls God’s people to keep loving one another, show hospitality without grumbling, and use the gifts we have received as good stewards of God’s varied grace. This is not one more burden to carry. It begins with what Jesus has already done for us. He has welcomed us, loved us, served us, and made room for us. Now we love, welcome, and serve with the strength God supplies, so that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus.

• Acts 1:12–26
• 1 Peter 4:7–11; 5:6–11
• John 17:1–11

In this week’s Living Hope series, Peter reminds us that Jesus suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring us to God. Our troubles, fears, and frustrations are real, but they do not get the last word. When our eyes are fixed on Jesus, we begin to see our suffering, our Baptism, our forgiveness, and our hope through His death, resurrection, and reign.

• Acts 17:16–31
• 1 Peter 3:13–22
• John 14:15–21

 

In this week’s Living Hope series, Peter tells us to “long for the pure spiritual milk” so that by it we may grow up into salvation. This is not a message about becoming more saved or graduating from God’s gifts. In Baptism, God gives life by His Spirit. Through His Word and Supper, He continues to feed and sustain that life. Whether we are newly baptized, newly confirmed, or have confessed the faith for decades, we never outgrow receiving from God.

• Acts 6:1–9; 7:2a, 51–60
• 1 Peter 2:2–10
• John 14:1–14

Dying to sin and living to righteousness is not without its challenges.  It isn’t and won’t be easy.  Living in the world is one thing.  Living of the world is quite another.  Christians are not to appear as normal.  The Living Hope message Peter brings to these new Christians also comes with a price tag of which endurance will be needed.  Enduring what comes with not being of the world is seen as a gracious thing in the sight of God, but following in the steps of Jesus is what we are called to do.  

• Acts 2:42–47
• 1 Peter 2:19–25
• John 10:1–10