For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. 15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. Matthew 25:14-15
Several years ago, I led a “Spiritual Gifts Inventory” for the congregation I served in Salisbury, NC. I have asked several folks here at St. Jacob’s about such an inventory and has there ever been one done here? The answers I got were of a mixed bag, but what I was able to glean from these questions and answers is that, if the congregation has participated in a spiritual gifts inventory, the number of members participating was smaller than hoped for.
God blesses his Church with gifted members for the sake of the church’s ministry and mission. Some of you may have participated in such an inventory, maybe even several times over the years. But it is always worthwhile for congregations to explore how God has gifted them and how or if our collective spiritual gifts are being used. Responding to many questions and statements, the testing group seeks to help the person participating to determine what their gift (or gifts) might be. One of the passages sometimes used in these evaluations is Matthew 25, the parable that tells the story of a wealthy master who went away and left three servants with different amounts of money to invest. Most of us have heard plenty of teaching on this passage even before it became popular to conduct spiritual gifts inventories. For context, Read Matthew 25:14-18.
The most common translation of the word used for what the master left his servants was “talents”. Talents were not a specific kind of coin but were understood to be a prescribed weight of a bag of silver. Each bag of silver would amount to the value of one year’s worth of daily wages. The word “talent”, however, is particularly useful when talking about the various gifts God has given to each of us.
The first two servants in today’s passage took the bags of silver that their master had left them and invested them. Thus, they were able to give their master a return on his investment. They saw themselves as stewards of what had been put into their care. The “wicked” servant, however, did not use what was provided. In effect, he wasted his gift. He provided no return on his master’s investment. Not all the things God has provided to us are monetary; in fact, most are not. We are born with certain “natural” abilities, such as the ability to run fast or an ability to sing well. We also have abilities and qualities that God has blessed us with at the time of our Baptism. These abilities which God has given us which are not necessarily something we could be expected to be able to do on our own, like the ability to know certain things, or possess the gift for compassion, generosity, or having keen insight into certain situations. These are spiritual gifts.
These gifts aren’t simply given to us; they are entrusted into our care to use in serving God. Operating in the gifts God has given us is not optional; it is God’s call to stewardship of what He has put into our care. Many churches use this as a way to staff programs but these gifts are not primarily given to us so we can fill the slots in our church programs; they are ways God has chosen for you and me to serve Him in our world.
Before too long, I am hoping to work with the Stewardship Team to conduct a spiritual gifts inventory here at St. Jacob’s. I am also hoping there will be a significant number of our church family members who participate. If you are reading this, then you are one I am hoping will attend. I pray each church family member will take a few minutes to think deeply about what gifts God has given you to use for Him. Once the inventory is complete, you may be surprised to find how you might bear fruit for God’s kingdom. Most people who participate in such inventories realize they have not been serving in ways God has gifted them. I pray we would all be good stewards using the gifts and talents God provides.
Grace and peace,
Pastor David Nuottila
Bible Study Archive
From Your Pastor’s Heart – Spiritual Gifts
Posted September 1, 2024 By adminMen’s Bible Study
Posted August 27, 2024 By adminOur Men’s Bible Study will resume following a summer break. There will be a new time and day for our meeting. In order to include more of our men, Men’s Bible Study will be held on the first Monday evening each month in the church office beginning September 2nd at 6:30PM. With this new time, we hope that those who are not able to meet in the early morning hours will take this opportunity to gather and study God’s Word together. Our Topic will be determined prior to the first meeting.
Youth Activities
Posted August 27, 2024 By adminThe youth had a blast on Sunday evening as we continued some craft activities that were started this summer, played games and enjoyed a nacho bar. The youth are gearing up for a great year ahead. We will meet the last Sunday of each month at 5:00 pm in the fellowship hall for games, fellowship, food and devotions. Currently, our youth are preparing to lead worship on September 29th. Mark your calendars and come join in the fun on the last Sunday of each month.
Pastoral Devotion for September – Living a Happy Life
Posted August 27, 2024 By adminRead: Psalm 34:11-14
Recently, I read an article concerning “The Christian’s Secret to a Happy Life.” We all want to have a happy life, don’t we? Though, God doesn’t promise us happiness – that’s not His most important goal for us. But happiness can often come as a byproduct of our relationship with Him. Would you like to know what the secret is? It is found in our passage for this month.
Come, O children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord. Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, keep your tongue from evil and your lips from telling lies. Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. Psalm 34:11-14
The psalmist begins by saying, “Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days.” Nearly everyone wants to experience these things so that’s the audience for what comes next. If we love life and want to see many good days, here’s what we should do: “Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from telling lies. Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.” Those who want to receive these promises from God simply need to take his word to heart. The psalmist gives us the steps that lead us there.
We begin by guarding the things we say. We don’t gossip. We don’t tear people down. We tell the truth. Then we stop doing bad things and start doing good things, unselfish things. Then, we must seek peace. But we don’t just wait for peace to come to us; we pursue peace. That means we do what we can to live at peace with others, especially people with whom we might have difficulty. We don’t do things that are divisive and factional, undermining people who disagree with us or finding fault with them. Everyone can apply the Christian’s Secret to a Happy Life. It begins through our relationship with Christ, and that’s very Good News.
Prayer: Holy God, keep us from evil and help us to live according to the example of our Lord Jesus, so that we would share the happiness of a life reconciled in him. Amen.
Mid-Week Bible Study
Posted August 27, 2024 By adminOur Midweek Bible study is in full swing, meeting on Wednesday mornings at 9:30 in the church office conference room. Our topic is an especially interesting look into the “Spiritual Realms.” All are welcome to join the group, there is plenty of room for everyone. The only necessary materials are your Bible and a desire for conversation and learning more about God’s Word for His people.
Catechetical Instruction to Begin in August
Posted August 22, 2024 By adminThe Confirmation process will soon begin for several of our younger church family members. Emma, Gabriel, Samantha, Copeland, Bryleigh, and MacKenzie will all be joining Pastor David for lessons in the Old and New Testaments, as well as exploring Luther’s Small Catechism. The two-year period of instruction will conclude on Pentecost Sunday in 2026. That seems like a long way off, but truly the time will pass by quickly for these faithful youth members. Please pray for them as they embark on this journey where they will come to the point when each one will stand and publicly claim the promises God made to them at the time of their Baptism. Confirmation Instruction is currently scheduled to begin on Sunday, August 25th at 3:00 PM in the church office.
Music Notes
Posted August 19, 2024 By adminHandbell camp 2024 has come to an end. We’ve learned much about reading music, we’ve learned how to make bells “sing”, and we learned about the liturgy of our church service. This final week, we read about the Passover and the Last Supper and concluded with baking communion bread for Sunday’s service. Thank you to everyone who got kids to camp, provided meals and stayed as an extra adult on duty. It’s been a great summer.
Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!
Serve the Lord with gladness!
Come into his presence with singing!
Psalm 100 tells us that it is God who has made us and all that we have. David tells us to come into the house of the Lord making a joyful noise, to come to Him with singing. He doesn’t say our singing has to be professional or anything other than a joyful noise, and we are all capable of that.
Chancel choir practice begins Wednesday, September 4 at 5:30 pm. We will share fellowship and dinner in the church office building and follow with a reading of the music for this fall. Please join us. All are welcome. No prior experience is needed. Think you can’t sing? I bet you’re wrong. Come, give us six weeks and see how it goes. Can’t commit to weekly rehearsal? Join us for the Christmas cantata. Can’t sit with us on Sunday morning because you have children to sit with? Sit with your family and come to the choir loft for the anthem. We need you. God wants you. Please join us.
Please let Angela know if you will be attending the meal on September 4 so we can plan the food. Thank you and God bless you.
Up and Going
Posted August 15, 2024 By adminThe July Up and Going Meeting was held on Thursday, July 11th at 11 AM in the Fellowship Hall with 19 attending.
Helen, Team Leader, gave the devotions “From the Heart with Candace Cameron Bure” entitled “Embrace Joy in the Rhythm of Your Everyday Life.” Candace challenges each of us: “This summer you might be surprised to discover that when we look for the joy of the Lord in everything, we find it.” Helen passed out an article entitled “Discover the Keys to a Flourishing Life!”
Bob gave a most interesting program on Prayer, talking with God. Bible reading was from Matthew 6:5. Bob read to us Luther’s Morning and Evening Prayers. Luther instructs us that prayer is a Labor above all Labors. Do not forget: Prayer is a duty commanded of us by God.
Everyone enjoyed a delicious lunch of various meats, salads, vegetables and desserts. So delicious! Business was conducted before lunch.
Treasurer’s report was given by Gary.
The blessing for our meal was given by Helen.
The August Meeting will be our Annual 4 Churches Meeting at Mt. Tabor Lutheran Church, Little Mountain, on the 3rd Wednesday, August 21st at 11 AM in their Fellowship Hall. They will provide the meat, rolls, tea and paper products. We each are asked to bring a covered dish or dessert. Please attend if possible. This is always a very special time together.
Helen
Team Leader for
Up and Going
VBS
Posted August 12, 2024 By adminThank you to all of our volunteers for making VBS a success! Thanks to all of our participants for spending your nights with us at VBS as we studied “Truth comes from God”, ”God’s Plan is Best”, “Everyone Sins and needs a Savior”, “Everyone Needs Jesus”, and “Jesus is the only way!”.
From Your Pastor’s Heart
Posted August 11, 2024 By adminWe give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thessalonians 1:2-3
So far, for many people this has been quite a summer. For some, the days have been dreadfully hot and dry. For others, summer has brought with it an opportunity for vacation and travel with family and friends. And for those who are apt to volunteer, it has been a summer filled with church work. I can count several people for whom this has been a summer of recovery from illness or medical procedures. We have members of our church family for whom this has been a summer of mourning and grief. In all of these, I can say that as your pastor, it has been a summer of prayer.
In his letters to various churches, the apostle Paul consistently begins by lifting up prayers of thanksgiving for the saints to whom he is writing. Whether he is writing to Christians just coming to faith, a church needing encouragement, or a congregation mired in conflict, Paul gives thanks for the faith of those who call upon the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior. In doing so, Paul sets a wonderful example for Christians in all places to follow. When I read Paul’s words concerning his thanksgiving and prayers for others, I usually find myself spending a good bit of time in prayer for St. Jacob’s.
As some of you know, I like to begin my week in prayer for our church family. One ritual is to take the Sunday worship bulletin and pray for those on our various prayer lists. One by one, the names of people who are sick, recovering or home bound stand out. I pray for the various friends and family members who are not members of our congregation but listed as those needing continual prayer. It’s humbling to know that, even as we pray for others we do not know, through faith, our prayers are heard and received by our Father in heaven.
Another prayerful activity I enjoy is going through our church directory and simply praying for church family members whose names randomly come to the forefront. I sincerely believe that as I look through the listing of families, God calls me to pray for certain individuals or families for whatever circumstances they may be experiencing. Sometimes, I will send a card to those for whom I pray so they know their pastor prayed for them. Sometimes, people will tell me that the card came at just the right time; that they really needed to know someone prayed for them. For this reason, it is important that we keep up our relationships with our prayer partners.
I think that in this summer of prayer, the thing I have enjoyed most is knowing how many St. Jacob’s church family members, and members of congregations in my past, have prayed for me. This summer has brought challenges to my health that I had never foreseen coming. Like many people to whom I have ministered, I find myself facing the realization that our bodies do not last forever, and that they truly do need the care and attention of those whom God has gifted for medical procedures.
Needless to say, I’m likely not the most agreeable patient, and I truly don’t like sharing such personal information. But in order to practice what I have preached for nearly twenty years, I have softened my stance and learned that there is no weakness in asking for prayer. In fact, it takes great strength to open up and solicit the prayers of the faithful.
I’m thankful for the blessing of being your pastor, and in the words of St. Paul, I give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in my prayers. Thank you also to the many who have prayed for me. We are all blessed with the gift of God’s love, especially as we share his love with one another, giving thanks in all circumstances for the grace God makes available through his son Jesus Christ. As always, I will continue to keep you in my prayers.
Grace and peace,
Pastor David Nuottila
