The M3 - The Morning Morning

Living out Sunday Monday through Saturday.

The leadership at church met on Saturday Morning (January 11) to talk about this year and what we want to emphasize. We decided that we want to help our families at Concordia follow Jesus throughout the week: equipping families to develop intentional behaviors to follow Jesus Monday-Saturday. Several outcomes of this goal were adopted, including this Monday morning email. Every Monday morning I or someone else from The Trustees, Deacons, or Administrators will recap Sunday’s Service and offer practical ways to live out themes or emphases from the service. It may come from the liturgy, readings, hymns, prayers, sermon, or something else that was noticed in the Divine Service. We’ll call this email the Monday Morning Mail or The M3.

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All In!

Link to the Service

The Baptism of our Lord - January 12, 2025

The Sermon - Yesterday I preached on how difficult it is for us as sinners to be all in. I offered examples through images: 1) in the batter’s box; 2) a game-winning, overtime goal in the 2014 Winter Olympics; 3) serving on a jury; 4) getting married; and 5) having a baby. Each example highlights aspects of how hard it is to be all in.

Then, I shifted to Jesus. In his baptism, Jesus shows that he is all in to saving his creation. The Holy Spirit descends on him and God the Father says, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” Translation: Jesus is the fulfillment of all of God’s Old Testament prophecies—the final Son of Israel who saves creation!

Following Jesus - Start simply but profoundly. Pray. Resolve to pray daily. Even Jesus the Son of God prays—it’s right there in the Gospel reading, Cf. Luke 3:21. Need help to pray? Try this basic rubric/formula:

Address God - "Loving Savior…"

Recall something you know from the Bible about God that relates to how you have addressed him - “… you knelt down and talked to the woman at the well."

Make your request - "Be present with my son who is overwhelmed with life right now, …"

State your hope for the request - “… so that he may enjoy the people in his life and recognize that they are also gifts from you.

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