Matthew 23:3 NIV
“But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach.”
Here, Jesus is encouraging His listeners to avoid behavior similar to that of the Pharisees. Or should I say, lack of behavior? The Pharisees were notorious for pointing out the finer points of God’s law and then demanding that others obey. Jesus flat out calls them hypocrites, to their faces!
We’re all hypocritical at times. It’s part of our sinful nature, but it is to be the exception, not the norm. God has given us His Holy Spirit and the Spirit enables us to control ourselves. Through faith in Jesus God declares us to be holy. Our task now is to rely on the Spirit’s power and strive to be what God has already declared us to be. Do what you say. Better yet, do what God says, knowing that when you fail, and you will, you are forgiven and renewed to try again and again and again.
Your fellow forgiven hypocrite,
Pastor Prigge
This Week at Victory
Saturday 11/1 9 a.m. Faithfully Fit exercise class: Cardio, strength, and spiritual exercise.
Come this Saturday!! Only three weeks left.
Sunday 11/2 8 and 10:45 a.m. Worship “Practice What You Preach”
9:30 a.m. Bible Study – “Come To Papa” – Our Nurturing Father – John 6:25-58
November 2 – November 8 Shepherding Family small group Bible studies meeting
Your Shepherding Family leader should be contacting you soon if they haven’t already.
Please make this group study a priority!!
(Our Large group Bible study processing will be on November 16 since Pastor will be gone on 11/9.)
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Thursday, October 16, 2008
The Vitamin-October 16th
Psalm 103:1 “Praise the Lord.”
Say what you will, I say that we Lutherans are not known for our unbridled praise. We’re the ones who return from the Lord’s Supper with a frown on our faces as though someone just punched us in the stomach. You can tell we’re cutting loose when we stand for a hymn. Now THAT’S a party.
We can take a lesson from some ‘less restrained’ churches who aren’t afraid to clap, maybe even smile during worship. This Sunday we’ll examine a verse from 2 Samuel that actually records King David DANCING in praise and thanks to the LORD. People would drop like flies if I ever danced during a service. Why? Cultural norms? Traditions? Who cares? At the end of the day it doesn’t matter how we worship, contemporary, traditional, blended, blah, blah, blah. It doesn’t matter what other people think of our praise. What does God think? Is it coming from a heart that is alive with faith?
This Sunday we’ll learn more about our response to God’s goodness.
This Weekend at Victory
Saturday 9:00 a.m. Faithfully Fit Exercise Class
If you weren’t able to make it last week, grab some sweats and show up for some cardio, strength and spiritual training!
Sunday 8 and 10:45 Worship – Christianity 101: Our Response to God’s goodness
9:30 a.m. Bible Study – ‘Come To Papa’ Seeing our Heavenly Father the Way Jesus Did.
Worship This Week!
Say what you will, I say that we Lutherans are not known for our unbridled praise. We’re the ones who return from the Lord’s Supper with a frown on our faces as though someone just punched us in the stomach. You can tell we’re cutting loose when we stand for a hymn. Now THAT’S a party.
We can take a lesson from some ‘less restrained’ churches who aren’t afraid to clap, maybe even smile during worship. This Sunday we’ll examine a verse from 2 Samuel that actually records King David DANCING in praise and thanks to the LORD. People would drop like flies if I ever danced during a service. Why? Cultural norms? Traditions? Who cares? At the end of the day it doesn’t matter how we worship, contemporary, traditional, blended, blah, blah, blah. It doesn’t matter what other people think of our praise. What does God think? Is it coming from a heart that is alive with faith?
This Sunday we’ll learn more about our response to God’s goodness.
This Weekend at Victory
Saturday 9:00 a.m. Faithfully Fit Exercise Class
If you weren’t able to make it last week, grab some sweats and show up for some cardio, strength and spiritual training!
Sunday 8 and 10:45 Worship – Christianity 101: Our Response to God’s goodness
9:30 a.m. Bible Study – ‘Come To Papa’ Seeing our Heavenly Father the Way Jesus Did.
Worship This Week!
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Victory Vitamin- October 9th
2 Corinthians 3:18 NIV
“we are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”
I often find myself frustrated at the end of the day. I know better than to think, say, or do certain things, but I think, say, and do them just the same. I ask the Lord to forgive me and I know He does, but I find myself doing many of the same sinful things over and over again. Ugh.
This week we’re talking about ‘sanctification’. The word itself comes from the Latin word ‘sanctus’ which means ‘holy’. Sanctification is God working to make our attitudes and actions holy even while we live in sinful bodies in a sinful world.
We’ll talk more about this Sunday, but in reality, the key is in the struggle. We will never achieve perfection in this life. That only comes in heaven. In the meantime, God has given us His Holy Spirit to begin the transformation by His power. Perhaps the most significant fruit of the Spirit listed in Galatians 5 is the fruit of ‘self control’. The Holy Spirit enables you to control yourself.
Know what God desires. Memorize the 10 Commandments. Exercise self control by the Spirit’s power. Seek to live a life that glorifies God! You will fail. You will be frustrated, but rejoice that you are forgiven. Rejoice that through faith in Jesus Christ the victory over sin is already yours.
In Christ’s victory,
Pastor Prigge
This Sunday at Victory
8 and 10:45 a.m. Worship – Christianity 101: Sanctification
9:00- Pastor Appreciation Celebration
9:30 Bible study – Christian Health and Wellness
During the Bible study hour we will do large group discussion based on what you studied in your small group Bible studies this past week. Please plan to be there whether you were able to make your small group meeting or not.
“we are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”
I often find myself frustrated at the end of the day. I know better than to think, say, or do certain things, but I think, say, and do them just the same. I ask the Lord to forgive me and I know He does, but I find myself doing many of the same sinful things over and over again. Ugh.
This week we’re talking about ‘sanctification’. The word itself comes from the Latin word ‘sanctus’ which means ‘holy’. Sanctification is God working to make our attitudes and actions holy even while we live in sinful bodies in a sinful world.
We’ll talk more about this Sunday, but in reality, the key is in the struggle. We will never achieve perfection in this life. That only comes in heaven. In the meantime, God has given us His Holy Spirit to begin the transformation by His power. Perhaps the most significant fruit of the Spirit listed in Galatians 5 is the fruit of ‘self control’. The Holy Spirit enables you to control yourself.
Know what God desires. Memorize the 10 Commandments. Exercise self control by the Spirit’s power. Seek to live a life that glorifies God! You will fail. You will be frustrated, but rejoice that you are forgiven. Rejoice that through faith in Jesus Christ the victory over sin is already yours.
In Christ’s victory,
Pastor Prigge
This Sunday at Victory
8 and 10:45 a.m. Worship – Christianity 101: Sanctification
9:00- Pastor Appreciation Celebration
9:30 Bible study – Christian Health and Wellness
During the Bible study hour we will do large group discussion based on what you studied in your small group Bible studies this past week. Please plan to be there whether you were able to make your small group meeting or not.
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Faithfully Fit Forever- Exercise Class
This your personal invitation to attend our“Faithfully Fit Forever”exercise class at Victory Lutheran Church, starting this Saturday, October 11, at 9:00 a.m. This class is perfect for people at all different levels of exercise experience—or those with no experience at all! There will also be educational and spiritual components as well. What a great way to start off your weekend! This class is absolutely free, so please invite your friends and neighbors. We’d really love to have you join us. So, dust off those tennis shoes, and grab a mat or towel and we will see you this Saturday!!! Victory is located at 16200 Berger Drive in Eden Prairie. 952-934-0952
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
The Vitamin-October 1st
Romans 3:23-24 NIV
“all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, {24} and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”
This week we’ll continue the series, ‘Christianity 101’. This week we’ll focus on redemption. That word reminds me of the old S&H Green Stamps my mom used to collect. There was a drug store near our house with a sign in the window saying, ‘Redeem S&H Stamps Here’.
You could turn the stamps in and get something in return, like a blender or a waffle iron, I don’t know, I was like 7 at the time. Jesus redeemed us by turning himself in for our sins. As a result we don’t get what we deserve. We are NOT punished for our sins. Instead we are forgiven and we get the free gift of eternal life by trusting in Jesus. You must be pretty precious to God. He gave the life of His Son so you could live forever with Him. Feel good about that!
In Christ,
Pastor Prigge
This Sunday at Victory
8 and 10:45 worship: "Christianity 101: What Does God Do? He Redeems!"
9:30 Bible study “Come To Papa” Seeing God As Our Embracing Father. (we all need a hug)
Don’t forget that our Shepherding Family small groups will be meeting the week of October 5th. You should be hearing from your leader if you haven’t already. Please make this a priority. It will be a blessing.
“all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, {24} and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”
This week we’ll continue the series, ‘Christianity 101’. This week we’ll focus on redemption. That word reminds me of the old S&H Green Stamps my mom used to collect. There was a drug store near our house with a sign in the window saying, ‘Redeem S&H Stamps Here’.
You could turn the stamps in and get something in return, like a blender or a waffle iron, I don’t know, I was like 7 at the time. Jesus redeemed us by turning himself in for our sins. As a result we don’t get what we deserve. We are NOT punished for our sins. Instead we are forgiven and we get the free gift of eternal life by trusting in Jesus. You must be pretty precious to God. He gave the life of His Son so you could live forever with Him. Feel good about that!
In Christ,
Pastor Prigge
This Sunday at Victory
8 and 10:45 worship: "Christianity 101: What Does God Do? He Redeems!"
9:30 Bible study “Come To Papa” Seeing God As Our Embracing Father. (we all need a hug)
Don’t forget that our Shepherding Family small groups will be meeting the week of October 5th. You should be hearing from your leader if you haven’t already. Please make this a priority. It will be a blessing.
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