1-7-24 “Let’s Replant it Through the Holy Spirit!”

Click here for Sunday worship material

Mark 1:4-11                                    

“Let’s Replant it Through the Holy Spirit!”

I want to start with something funny that I found on an internet site: Before performing a baptism, the Priest approached the young father and said solemnly, “Baptism is a serious step. Are you prepared for it?” “I think so,” the man replied. “My wife has made appetizers, and we have a caterer coming to provide plenty of cookies and cakes for all of our guests.” “I don’t mean that,” the Priest responded. “I mean, are you prepared spiritually?” “Oh, sure,” Came the reply. “I’ve got a keg of beer and a case of whiskey.”

Happy New Year, everyone! It is a time to make new resolutions for a new year. Did you make a list of resolutions? The Second Letter of Corinthians says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17). Yes, we are new creations in Jesus Christ. Whatever you have done last year, we have a second chance to do things differently this year. Let’s make a new plan to move forward!

Some of you may remember what I mentioned last Sunday, using Professor Lee’s lecture: Every group has stages of forming/reforming, storming, norming, performing, and adjourning. We have done many things in the last year, and some of them are adjourned, and some are still going on. It is time to reform our ministry plan. Let’s plan our ministry with new spirits, new minds, and a new theme. When I prayed and meditated about our church ministry for 2024, one theme came to my mind, “Replant it!” Here is the scripture our ministry theme came from: The Letter of Galatians says, “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from the nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.” In this scripture, a verse came to my mind strongly, “A man reaps what he sows.” God is sincere and faithful. God never forsakes us. God knows everything we plant. Let’s plant the seed of the good news, the seed of joy, the seed of hope, and the seed of peace in our ministry so that we shall reap good fruits.

Again, it is a time for reforming our ministry because, in Grantsburg’s case, we have additional children and a new youth ministry; with regards to Atlas, we have overcome financial difficulties with many supporters; and as far as St. Croix Falls goes, we should think of our next-generation ministry. Our individual churches have unique characteristics, and the characteristics would be our gifts given by God. According to the gifts, we should specialize in our ministry. Outreach should be required for all three churches. Let’s work together with hope and joy. Jesus used to say, “My Father is still working, and I also am working” (John 5:17). As long as God works for us, we can work together.

There is a “My Resolution (Wish) List for the church in 2024” form.  Please take a form, fill it out, and put it on the offering plate. Remember, you are the children of God, the Beloved! Our church is a house of God that we build together. You are such an important part of the body of the church. Your dedication and commitment are the key to being able to extend and vitalize our church ministry. This year, we should focus on revitalizing the church ministry beyond just sustaining it. Jesus says, “For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them” (Mathew 18:20). We have more than three who gather together in Jesus’ name. Therefore, Jesus shall be there for us when we replant our ministry. Let’s work together again this year! What do you want to do for our church? Make a resolution on how you can dedicate yourself to the church this year!  What do you expect of me, your pastor, this year? And lastly, what do you expect your church to be?

In the teachings of Jesus, there is the golden rule, “In everything, do to others as you would have them do to you” (Matthew 7″12; Luke 6:31). Let’s love others first even though they don’t react to our invitation to come to the church, and continue inviting them until they have a church to attend. Let’s open our minds and hearts to one another and love one another in Jesus Christ so that people may know we are faithful Christians.

Today’s Gospel talks about Baptism. John the Baptist proclaimed a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. When we are baptized, we are asked to confess our sins and to live a new life in Jesus Christ. The water we used for Baptism is a symbol of life and death. That’s Baptism, which is a symbol of dying in Christ by sins and being born again in Christ by the grace of forgiveness. One tangible importance of Baptism is to unite with Christ and with one another in God’s household. In other words, the one who has been baptized is welcomed into God’s household and becomes a family member of the church, the body of Christ. God justifies another inner sign, “You are my beloved child!” As Jesus came out of the water after being baptized, “The heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the beloved; with you I am well pleased.” It symbolizes God is pleased with those who have been baptized and justifies that they are the children of God.

We, the children of God, can make things happen together if God is pleased with us. Remember, we are one family in Jesus Christ; we support one another and we build the church together. Although the process of building the church is made up of several parts, our church is also building through our unity in the love of God. Let us go together with love even though some of us are weak. Let’s replant the seed of the good news with hope and joy this year! Thanks be to God. Amen!