Welcome to St. Jacob's Lutheran Church

[Peter and the other disciple] were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. John 20:4
Recently while looking through some old Bible study material, I stumbled upon a video that made me pause for a while. It is a video of a skit portrayed by two men called “The Skit Guys.” In the video, they are enacting the events of the first Easter morning. Peter and John (The Skit Guys) are told by some women that they have seen Jesus. In response, they run to the empty tomb. John runs much swifter and much more sure footed than Peter. Their faces display the anticipation and even perhaps a bit of fear concerning what they might find. John reaches the tomb first, but he won’t look inside or enter. Then Peter arrives, huffing and puffing, but he enters the tomb without stopping to think. As I replay this video in my mind, this is the point where I have to hit the pause button.
I wonder to myself, upon hearing the reports of the women saying they have seen Jesus very much alive, would I be bold enough to charge into Christ’s tomb? Even as I knew beyond the shadow of a doubt that Jesus was beaten, whipped and crucified, would I have the where with all to enter the tomb where they laid his body only to find it empty? Thinking about that for a while, I finally decided that, yes I would. Having walked with Jesus for three years as a disciple, having witnessed his many miracles, and having come to believe Jesus is who he says he is; I would have to enter the tomb.
I suppose the question I have for you, my church family, is much the same that I faced when watching this video. If someone came to you early in the morning, excited and out of breath, and told you that they had seen Jesus and he is very much alive, you would run to the tomb in order to see for yourself? Would this amazing news of Christ’s resurrection stir your emotions so deep that you would simply have to wit ness the event with your own eyes? I suspect that it would. I suspect that given such extraordinary news, you too would run to the tomb of Jesus in wondrous expectation. We would likely do this because of the same reason Peter and John did; we are his disciples and we love him.
Through the reading of Holy Scripture, worship and prayer, we are witnesses to the many amazing miracles of Jesus. We are students of his teaching and recipients of his grace. Following Jesus through out his mission and ministry, we too have come to know Jesus as Messiah and Lord, through whom we have forgiveness of sin and the hope of eternal life. Throughout the past twelve months, since Easter of last year, I pray that in my preaching and teaching, you have heard the gospel of Christ and the reports that Jesus is indeed alive!
Even as we have traveled the Lenten Road once more, even as we are about to once again mark the event of Christ’s Passion, and come to the realization that yes, Jesus did give up his life for our sake. Soon, the sun will rise on yet another Easter morning. Yes, we know beyond the shadow of a doubt that Jesus died and was buried, but still the reports of his resurrection persist. Jesus is alive! We have seen him! How sweet this news is to the ears of the people of God.
At the conclusion of the video, Peter finally emerges from the tomb to meet John who is still standing outside. Peter, holding the burial garments of Christ in his hands, can only look at John with a stare of complete amazement. As the two disciples take in the meaning of what they have witnessed, all they can do is laugh through their tears of joy. Jesus is alive. He is risen! It happened just as he said it would.
People of God, as Easter Sunday is upon us, I invite you to run to the empty tomb and see for yourself. Come hear the good news of Jesus’ resurrection once more. If you have not been in worship for a while, what a great time to come! I invite you to run to the tomb, charge right in and behold the glory of God in the resurrection of our Lord. It happened just the way Jesus said it would. I invite you to be a part of the Easter story and to be a part of the celebration among your church family. Come hear the good news of Christ Jesus. He is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!
Grace to you and peace,
Pastor David Nuottila

Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. Isaiah 43:19
In March, our congregation is about to embark on a journey. It is an opportunity to do what nearly every congregation must do from time to time. We will gather to look at ourselves, our ministry, our mission and purpose with “Fresh Eyes for Mission.” This is a crucial step to be taken at a crucial time for our church family.
Through the years, St. Jacob’s has been a part of the community in and around Chapin. Through the lives of our members, we have enjoyed long lasting relationships with schools, local government, public servants, and a plethora of civic and religious groups. But as we consider these things, we must ask ourselves, “Have we been fully engaged in the mission of the Gospel here in this place?”
Like a lot of churches, St. Jacob’s is not the congregation we once were ten or fifteen years ago. But in our collective memory, we might be slow to acknowledge this. Many congregations are experiencing decline in membership, worship attendance, Sunday school participation, and family-oriented ministries. It’s often difficult to pinpoint the reason for such decline, but unless it is addressed, congregations can expect the trends to continue.
We are no different. I’ve spent several days pouring over St. Jacob’s report books for our recent past, and have seen for myself the decline that has occurred since the early 2000’s. The one thing that stands out for me in these reports is the level of participation our members shared in the mission and ministry. Also, the welcoming of new members into the church family (mostly through baptism or transfer from another congregation). The number of persons welcomed into St. Jacob’s through other means (invitation, new Chris tians) is small and has declined significantly through recent years. With a community growing at the pace Chapin is experiencing, this seems surprising.
Looking at St. Jacob’s with Fresh Eyes will allow us all to begin formulating a vision for future ministry and perhaps even growth. It will provide the means to have fruitful, and meaningful conversation centered on what God is calling us to do and be for the sake of our neighbors. And finally, we will have opportunity to pray together, asking God for guidance, insight, and patience, as we look for renewal of faithful and energetic ministry here in this place.
Several congregations within our Carolinas Mission region have conducted Fresh Eyes Summits. With the assistance of NALC leadership, they have experienced renewed excitement and commitment within their ranks, and look to the future with hope that is centered in faithful commitment to the Gospel of our Lord Jesus. We can expect the same result if only we come together as a church family and make an honest assessment of who we are and discern the direction in which God is calling us.
A brief questionnaire is included in this newsletter, and will also be available for everyone to fill out on Sunday, March 5th. It is anonymous so you don’t have to worry about comments being attached to you. The questions are quite simple, but will provide important talking points for our Fresh Eyes Summit. Please fill it out and leave it in the box provided on the table near the narthex doors.
Finally, I am asking all of you to gather in the Fellowship Hall on Saturday, March 11th to participate in the Fresh Eyes for Mission Summit work shop. Like I said earlier, it is a crucial time in our life together and an important conversation that we need to have. Please make the commitment to be there on March 11th. The workshop will go from 9:00AM – 3:00PM. It is arranged in such a way that your voice will be heard and your ideas given proper attention. I look forward to experiencing this with you and to discovering some of the new things God has in store for us. I’m sure there are also some familiar aspects of our ministry that will be lifted up and renewed as well. Thanks be to God for this opportunity to be a vibrant part of His mission here in Chapin now, and well into the future. This truly comes from the pastor’s heart.
Grace to you and peace,
Pastor David Nuottila

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Psalm 51:10
Remember, you are dust. As if we need a reminder. In the second chapter of Genesis we read that God created humankind from the dust of the ground. It wasn’t long after, that Adam and Eve fell into sin and God explained to them the consequences of their disobedience. In chapter 3, God said to Adam, “By the sweat of your face, you shall eat bread, until you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return” Genesis 3:19.
And so, since that time, God’s people have had to face the truth, you are dust, and there is nothing you can do about it. To dust you shall return.
Each year, about this time, Christians all over the world are confronted with the fact that, because we are sinners, we are deserving of God’s punishment and wrath. It is the reality we face on Ash Wednesday. Well, in truth, it is only a part of the reality we face on Ash Wednesday. The other part is that we receive the good news that God has provided for us the means to escape eternal punishment. God, who is rich in mercy, provides for his people a Savior who will spare us from the eternal death we so richly deserve.
Facing these realities, Christians all over the world begin the annual metaphorical pilgrimage to the cross of Christ where the victory over sin is won. The season of Lent is a somber time, a time for self-reflection upon our lives as sinners, yet also as God’s redeemed people through the merits of our Lord Jesus Christ. The worship services of the Church are meant to provide people with an opportunity to reflect upon their need for a Savior, and to remind them that we indeed have one. He is Christ the Lord.
All that Christ endured, his pain, his suffering, he did so for our sake. As God’s incarnate Word, Jesus came into the world to fully identify with God’s created people who have fallen away from the Father’s intentions and expectations.
Centuries before Christ was born, King David, of all people, stood convicted in his sin. Just like every one else, King David was formed from the dust of the ground. David knew there was nothing he could do to erase the shame and guilt that he brought upon himself through his sin against Bathsheba and Uriah. Mercy could only come from the God whom he grievously disobeyed. And so, in his guilt and shame, he bore his heart to God.
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit (Psalm 51:10-12). David’s prayer is our prayer too. Only through Christ are we saved. Even as we are dust, through God’s grace, mercy and love, Christ extends the promise of God’s kingdom to all who believe.
This year, as we make our annual Lenten journey to the cross together, we will do so following a particular journey. I will be preaching a series of sermons entitled “The Journey of Stones.” Each Sunday during Lent we will hear messages meant to reveal the hardness of our hearts, hearts as hard as stone. By journey’s end, we will leave this hardness of heart where it belongs, at the foot of the cross of Christ.
I invite you to commit to weekly worship during Lent and to make this journey with the rest of your church family. It begins with worship on Ash Wednesday, February 22, when we are marked with the ashen cross of Christ, the symbol of our mortality blended with the symbol of our salvation. Remember you are dust, and to dust you shall return. God’s grace and peace be unto you all during this season of Lent and forever and always.
Blessings,
Pastor David Nuottila

And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. Luke 1:46-49

This week, many congregations took time to decorate their churches for the coming Christmas celebration. These symbols of Christmas bring us joy and delight as the Church waits in hopefulness and prepares to receive the good news yet again. Through the birth of the Christ child, God fulfilled his promise of the long-awaited Messiah. Ever[1]greens, poinsettias, wreaths in the windows and even trees filled with Christian symbols help us to proclaim this good news. Their symbolism reminds us of God’s long ago promise and opens our eyes and our hearts to God’s perfect and unconditional love. When connected to God’s Word in Holy Scripture, these symbols, in their own way, share the good news of Christ Jesus with us. Yet, these decorations are not the object of our focus. However pleasing it may be, the beauty of our churches during Advent and at Christmas, the music of beloved songs and the joy that tradition brings, are not the good news. For Christian joy and celebration is not rooted in decoration, rather, it is rooted in the gospel of Jesus Christ. The word gospel literally means, “good news.”

In the first chapter of Luke, the evangelist tells us of a young girl receiving good news from the angel Gabriel. The good news of Christ is first brought to Mary, and upon receiving it, her heart’s desire becomes doing as the Lord commands. Later in Luke’s gospel, Mary visits her cousin Elizabeth who is also expecting a child and shares this good news with her. The sharing of good news leads to even greater joy and celebration. As Mary sings her “Magnificat,” this humble young woman from Nazareth sings praises to God as his promise for salvation begins to unfold. Mary’s song speaks of how God’s grace and mercy will bring joy and celebration to even the most lowly on earth.

Mary sings, “His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. He has brought down the powerful from their thrones and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty.” Luke 1: 50-53

Mary sings as if God has already done these things, because in her heart, she knows God will keep his promise. So, she celebrates this good and wonderful news. So too, the Church celebrates with joy and thanks[1]giving. But it doesn’t stop there. As the good news is to be shared and celebrated, it is also to be lived out in the mission of the Church.

The good news of Christ comes with blessing and the promise that wrong will be made right, and oppression will give way to compassion. The outcast will be made welcome, and the hungry will be fed. The joy of Mary and her beautiful Magnificat is a joy meant for all people; the joy of a young unwed mother to be, whose heart’s desire is to do as God wills.

Mary’s journey began in earnest when she embraced the promise of God as brought to her by Gabriel, the promise that says “…nothing is impossible with God.” In joyous refrain Mary answers, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Luke 1:37-38.

Throughout our Advent journey, may our hearts also be drawn to the day God came with blessing unto Mary and shared with her the good news of Christ Jesus. An angel brought the good news to Mary, who in turn shared it with the Church for all time. Today this good news comes to us once again; the good news of a young woman suddenly expecting a child, who is Christ the Lord. As Mary heard the good news from Gabriele, her heart was drawn to God’s message of hope, and she gave of herself according to God’s call.

I pray that during this season of Advent, as our churches are beautifully decorated and we take delight in the long-standing traditions of our congregations, we do not lose our focus on what God wills us to do. May our hearts be drawn to give something of ourselves according to God’s call. May we continue to serve our neighbors and welcome the strangers among us.

Good news is news to be celebrated with great joy. Yet it is also to be lived out through the lives of God’s faithful people. As we welcome others into our churches, I pray that the beauty of these decorations is pleasing in their sight, and that their symbolism of God’s love and grace for all people is proclaimed, so that all may experience the joy and celebration at Christmas.

Most Holy God, we thank you for the beauty of the world which you have created. We give you thanks and praise for the beauty of your Church on earth, especially as churches are adorned with symbol of our faith during this holy time of year. Continue to grace with your presence, lead us and inspire us to go into the world and share the truth of your Gospel, the saving power of your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. For it is in his name we pray. Amen.

Grace to you and peace,

Pastor David Nuottila

It’s almost comical when one thinks about it, writing next month’s newsletter article about things yet to come, while at the same time significant dates that belong to the previous month have yet to happen. Such is the case as I write this installment. November is a month during which the Christian church marks three important occasions: All Saint’s Day, Christ the King Sunday, and Thanksgiving. This year we also begin the season of Advent before the month of November concludes. And here I am writing about these before October’s big event…Reformation Sunday. As I study the texts for Reformation Sunday, I’m trying to iron out how to talk about All Saint’s Day, Thanksgiving, and Advent while still in the shadow of October.

There is a beloved hymn that is most often sung at the Reformation celebration that sums up the challenge well. “God’s Word is Our Great Heritage” (LBW 239). It is but one verse, albeit an important one. Many of you will recognize this hymn as I share it with you.

(To the tune of “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God”)

God’s Word is our great heritage,

and shall be ours forever.

To Spread its light from age to age,

shall be our chief endeavor.

Through life it guides our way;

in death it is our stay.

Lord, grant while time shall last,

your church may hold it fast;

Throughout all generations.

Indeed, God’s Word is our great heritage. We are all people who have been brought up in the truth of God’s Law and Gospel. We cannot deny that we depend on God’s mercy and grace for for[1]giveness of our sins and life in God’s kingdom. God’s Word for us stands forever. It is the strong, undeniable saving Word that comes from the very God we worship and glorify. Ah…there is the rub. How is it that we hear the Word and respond by glorifying God through the way we live our life?

God’s Word is our great heritage and shall be ours forever. If it is to be ours forever, well then, we should know and understand it. So much so, that it shall be our chief endeavor to spread its light from age to age so that all generations of people may claim possession of it and have the Word as their great heritage also. So how do I fit this in with All Saint’s, Thanksgiving, and Advent? Well, here goes.

As we pause to remember those church family members who passed away in the last twelve months, we take great comfort in knowing the truth of God’s salvation. Truly, we believe we will dwell with God and be reunited with all who have gone before us in faith. Those who cling to God’s promise of salvation for believers have the assurance of faith. As so many who have gone before us, our lives are to be shaped by faith – the faith we receive from God in our hearing the Gospel and abiding in Christ. If we live a life shaped by cultural norms, we cannot claim this great heritage as being ours forever. Worldly endeavors simply cannot fulfill that which God promises in the Scriptures. So many of our predecessors understood this and now rest in the love of Christ our Lord. For the fulfillment of this promise, we can and surely ought to give thanks.

As we journey to the beginning of Advent, we do so along our life’s pathway illuminated by the Word of God. Through life it guides our way; in death it is our stay. The promise of Advent is that Christ will come again to judge the living and the dead. And his kingdom will have no end. How wonderful to be among those whose great heritage is the promise of everlasting life through Christ Jesus!

Lord, grant while time shall last, your church may hold it fast; Throughout all generations. Are you holding fast to your great heritage? Are you daily pondering, meditating, and dwelling in the Word of God? If not, why not? As a child of God, saved by grace through faith in Christ Jesus, God’s Word is your great heritage, your promise from the God whose Son has purchased and won you from sin, death, and the power of the devil. Hold fast to this promise. Hold fast to your great heritage.

Grace to you and peace,

Pastor David Nuottila

Read John 17:1-26
As a part of Jesus’ farewell discourse to his disciples (John 13-17), Jesus prays what is known as his “High Priestly Prayer” (John 17) for the faithful men who have accompanied him throughout his three-year earthly ministry. He prays for these men who were once fishermen, or perhaps simple laborers, one was even a tax collector. In the three years they were with Jesus, he called these twelve ordinary men to be apostles; disciples sent into the world with a teaching for God’s people. Though one would later betray him, the apostles became Jesus’ closest friends and companions along the entire journey from Galilee, all the way to Jerusalem and the cross.
Through the prayer Jesus offered on their behalf, our Lord asked that the Father would continue to guide and protect those whom he entrusted to him. Jesus prayed that, through the power of the Holy Spirit, the apostles would be one with him, just as Jesus is one with the Father in a relationship of divine love. Not only did Jesus pray for the twelve, but he also prayed for you and me, and for all believers who would come to faith through the witness and testimony of the apostles.
Reflecting on the text of Jesus’ Farewell discourse and “High Priestly Prayer,” I can say with conviction that even as we have to say farewell to our Administrative Assistant and beloved friend, Sherry Floyd, we will continue to pray for her in her faithful service to our Lord Jesus. For over eight years, Sherry has been a partner with St. Jacob’s in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. She has been a faithful worker in the vineyard God planted here in this place, approaching her position each day, not simply as a job to do, but as a ministry she offers in thankfulness to the one who is Lord of all.
In the nearly five years that I have been blessed to know Sherry, she has become one of my most trusted co-workers throughout my pastoral ministry. Sherry and I have been through many wonderful experiences together as we have shared in the ministry of St. Jacob’s. Like it was with the apostles and Jesus, we have also seen our fair share of life’s challenges and emotional moments. I can empathize with the feeling Jesus had for the twelve in that saying farewell to one of my closest companions in ministry is not something that is simple to do. Still, as I know everyone at St. Jacob’s will, I pray for Sherry and Joe, that they will enjoy a time of renewal and restoration in their retirement together. May the Lord bless them and keep them. May the Lord’s face shine upon them and be gracious to them. May the Lord lift up his countenance upon then and keep them in peace.
Blessings,
Pastor David

During a recent session of Wednesday morning Bible study, our small group read the account written by Luke in the book of Acts, of the time when God poured out his Holy Spirit upon all those who were gathered in the upper room. Peter was there, along with the remaining apostles, Jesus’ mother, and nearly 120 other witnesses to the resurrection of Jesus. They were in the room together worshiping God and praying. That’s when it happened.

A sudden sound of a mighty rushing wind filled the room just as tongues of fire danced over the heads of the faithful. God’s Holy Spirit made his entry into the lives of those who would build the Church of Jesus Christ. What happened next is nothing short of astounding.

Peter, and the remaining disciples of Jesus took to the streets of Jerusalem and began proclaiming the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ. They did it in many languages, even though none of them had knowledge or training in the tongues in which they spoke. It was God’s working of a miracle so that people would know the power of the death and resurrection of Jesus, the true Paschal Lamb who takes away the world’s sin. Scripture records that 3,000 people were added to the church on that day, and in the next few days, another 5,000 were added to the number of believers in Christ.

Reading this narrative of the birth of the Church of Christ, and then considering the recent history of the Church, one might get the sense that the Holy Spirit no longer moves among the faithful. This would be a completely false statement. The power of the Holy Spirit is unchanging. It is the same today as it has always been since the beginning. What has changed, however; is humanity’s response to the power of the Holy Spirit.

The powers in the air, as Paul puts in Ephesians (Ephesians 2:2-4), continue to lull Christians into a spiritual slumber, of which they find it difficult to awaken from. We at St. Jacob’s are no better off than many congregations when it comes to a lack of response to the Holy Spirit’s calling. There appears to be a condition of spiritual lethargy permeating the lives of congregations throughout the Church.

During the recent Mission Region Convocation, I was a part of a conversation among several pastors who compared notes about the goings on within our churches. We soon discovered we are walking on common ground. There seems to be little hunger within several of our churches for Spiritual growth. Bible study attendance is at an all time low, as is Sunday School attendance. Participation in mission projects seems lacking and worship attendance among young families is becoming a rarity in many places. We all scratched our heads and wondered what the cause of these trends might be.

One thing we realized is that, as it was in the upper room, the people of God do not seem to gather in large numbers for prayer. Prayer seems to be something we turn to when we want something or have a particular difficulty. Christians today do not seem to be plugged in to the available power of the Holy Spirit God provides. Instead, we tend to listen to those “powers in the air” and our faith becomes distracted. This spiritual lethargy causes congregations to shrink within themselves and experience decreasing joy as numbers of worshipers begin to dwindle.

It is my prayer for St. Jacob’s that we would make a strong commitment to living a life together in the power of the Holy Spirit. That we would experience increased life together in the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, and that we would rediscover the joy and fruitfulness of reading Scripture with one another as a community of believers. May the God who first brought forth the Lord Jesus Christ from death and the grave give us the will and the desire to do these.

Grace to you and peace,

Pastor David Nuottila

What follows is a copy of an essay shared with me by a friend who received it from one of his former students. I found this to be a powerful witness coming from one who felt he had to share his experience upon reading the narrative of Jesus’ death and resurrection for the first time. My friend edited some parts to preserve the student’s anonymity. Permission has been given for my sharing it with you.
Prior to attending this class, I had not been exposed to Christianity. I hadn’t read the Bible before. I knew a famous story about the Last Supper and I had seen paintings that depicted it. A few weeks ago, I went to a church for the first time. I felt a little amazed about it. The church was just like a big, warm family. Christians greeted others, gave hugs, prayed to Jesus by singing songs. They even prayed for people who were suffering diseases and disaster even though they were strangers to them. Then I saw some Christians holding out their arms and weeping when they were emotionally moved. They were so faithful when they were praying that I couldn’t believe how great was the power of their belief had I not seen it myself.
I was given a small piece of bread and a little cup of red wine which represented Jesus’ body and blood to eat. A Christian told me it was given according to Jesus’ promise to sinful human beings. But I didn’t understand that until I read Luke’s story today.
Jesus healed so many people who were sick and troubled by evil spirits before he went to Jerusalem, but he didn’t do anything for himself, even though he had anticipated his death many times. He kept calm in the face of death, comforted women who wept for him as he carried his cross. He even forgave one of the condemned criminals dying with him.
What a graceful man! Now I know why Christians are so faithful to him. A man who could devote himself to ease others’ sins should be honored and praised forever!
But still there is one thing that puzzles me. If Christians can be so moved by their faith in their Lord and Savior, why do so many take salvation for granted? Why do so many Christians refrain from attending church services on Sunday?
Being welcomed into this big warm family has brought me ever-closer to the God whom I did not know. But once I began reading the Bible and learning more about Jesus, I have become intrigued with his life, and especially his death. I have come to believe that Jesus truly is my Lord and Savior and that having been forgiven of my sins, I will one day enter the gates of his kingdom. If this is what Christians believe, why is it that an overwhelming number of them stay away?
I’ve heard some say it is because they don’t like the music. Others have said it’s because they don’t care for the pastor. I’ve even heard Christian parents complain that there are not enough things to keep their children busy. This is what I don’t understand. Are we supposed to come because we like the music? Are we supposed to come because we feel the pastor is a terrific preacher and perfect gentleman? And are we supposed to bring our children so they can participate in games and programs? No, what I have come to believe is that Christians are to come to church because living on our own terms is why Jesus went to the cross in the first place. He died because humans are stubborn in their thinking, because they only want life measured by the way they think it should be. Although I am sure few would admit this, not even to themselves, I have to admit this was me, at least until I took this class and was invited to church by one of my classmates.
I am so thankful that I have met Jesus. I am thankful that a church filled with sinners welcomed me into their warm family. I am thankful that the imperfect pastor of their church believes Jesus died for the sake of everyone, and that he is so willing to tell others how God saves us from our sin through the death of Jesus.
Not before I took this class, not before I read the Gospel of Luke, not before I went to church with my classmate, did I realize what I had been missing my whole life. And now, I want this for everyone. Thank you, Jesus, for opening my eyes.
Grace to you and peace,
Pastor David Nuottila