ST. JOHN LUTHERAN CHURCH
(The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod)
Alma, Kansas
A family united by faith in Christ gathering around God's Word and Sacraments.
To reach out in Christ-like concern and Christ-borne love to each other and to those without Christ!
In This Month's
St. John Witness
JUNE WITNESS
Theology for the Day / Stephen Ministry
Stephen Ministry
What is Stephen Ministry? Congregations equip lay caregivers to provide high-quality, confidential, Christ-centered care to people who are hurting or are experiencing grief, divorce, cancer, job loss, loneliness, disability, relocation, and other life difficulties. Stephen Ministers serve in a one to one relationship of trust, care, and Christ-like concern. If you think you might benefit from having a Stephen Minister, please call Pastor Grimm, or talk with one of these servants of God. - Don Frank, Charlie Gann, Judy Peddicord, Junior Stuewe, Carol White.
If you would be interested in becoming a Stephen Minister, please contact Pastor Grimm.
Below is more information about the Stephen Series & Stephen MInistry.
- Why is it called the Stephen Series?
Stephen was one of the first laypeople commissioned by the Apostles to provide caring ministry (Acts 6). Series describes the steps a congregation follows to implement the caring ministry system, which is commonly called Stephen Ministry.
- How many congregations are using Stephen Ministry?
More than 11,000 congregations are enrolled, with hundreds more enrolling each year. They represent more than 150 denominations and come from all 50 United States, 10 Canadian provinces, and 24 other countries. Many congregations have had Stephen Ministry going strong for 20 or 30 years—or longer.
- What size congregations are involved?
Stephen Ministry congregations range from fewer than 100 members to more than 10,000. Churches of any size have opportunities to care for hurting people in the congregation and community.
- What are Stephen Ministers?
Stephen Ministers are laypeople who commit to two years of learning, growing, and caring. They receive Christian caregiving training in their congregation and then provide one-to-one Christ-centered care to hurting people. Each Stephen Minister typically has one care receiver at a time and meets with that person once a week.
- What types of caregiving situations are Stephen Ministers used in?
Stephen Ministers provide high-quality, one-to-one Christian care to individuals facing a variety of crises or life challenges—people who are experiencing grief, divorce, cancer, financial difficulties, hospitalization, chronic illness, job loss, disabilities, loneliness, a spiritual crisis, or other life struggles.
In addition to caring for members within the congregation, Stephen Ministers can provide care to nonmembers, reaching out to unchurched people in crisis.
- What are Stephen Leaders?
Stephen Leaders are pastors and lay leaders who direct Stephen Ministry in their congregation. They attend a one-week Leader’s Training Course (LTC) where they learn how to effectively lead their congregation’s Stephen Ministry.
- What is the meaning of the logo?
The Stephen Series logo symbolizes that we are all broken people and that we are only made whole through the cross of Jesus.
Since 1975 nearly a half million Christian men and women from all walks of life have trained and served as Stephen Ministers in their congregations. Most decide to become Stephen Ministers as a way to help hurting people in their congregation and community—but very quickly discover that God gives them amazing blessings in return.
- What do people say about Stephen Ministry?
“My faith has grown, my prayer life has doubled, and I know how to really make a difference in people’s lives. I’d encourage anyone who has the chance to become a Stephen Minister.”
George Lund, Architect Prairie Village, Kansas“Being a Stephen Minister has taught me to rely on God instead of always trying to fix things myself. I’ve learned what to say, how to listen, and what to do during a crisis. It’s a great feeling to provide people with the spiritual care and support they need.”
John Eichelberger, Physician Greenwood, South Carolina“The assertiveness skills I learned through Stephen Ministry gave me the courage and confidence I needed to be a more effective supervisor in my secular job—and to be more assertive in my personal relationships. Thank you for helping me develop these vital skills.”
Elizabeth McMillion, Rehabilitation Counselor Madison, Wisconsin
Theology for Today
Six Things to Know about the
Ascension of Christ into heaven
After celebrating the cross on Good Friday and the empty tomb on Easter Sunday, Christians look forward to Ascension Day on the fortieth day of the Easter season.
Charles Wesley wrote a hymn (TLH 213:2) called “Ascension Day” to celebrate the heavenly reception of the Son:
There the glorious triumph waits:
Lift your heads, eternal gaits,
He has conquered death and sin
Take the King of glory in!
Here are nine things you should know about Christ’s ascension (with questions for reflection).
1. The Ascension is a Key Part of the Gospel
After Jesus rose from the dead, he appeared to his disciples for forty days and taught them about the kingdom (Acts 1:3). Only then was he “taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God” (Mk. 16:19, cf. Mt. 28:16). In the two-part narrative of Luke-Acts, the ascension serves as a bridge between Jesus on earth with the Gospel and Jesus in heaven guiding the Gospel. In Luke 24:51, Jesus is taken up while blessing his disciples; in Acts 1:6-11, the account is repeated in detail as the precursor to Pentecost.
In each of the Gospels, “the good news of the kingdom of God” (Lk. 4:43) includes the king taking his throne.
Does the ascension fit into your understanding of the gospel? Is Jesus in heaven trustworthy for you?
2. The Ascension reveals Christ’s Exaltation
Christ’s going up in the ascension corresponds to his going down in the incarnation. He “emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men,” then went as low as one can go: “being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross” (Phil. 2:7-8).
On the third day, “up from the grave, he arose.” The one who came down also went up and continued going up until he sat down at the right hand of God: a clear sign that he accomplished his earthly mission. Christ’s ascension is vital to his exaltation. “He who descended,” says Paul, “also ascended far above all the heavens” (Eph. 4:8-10).
The hymn on Christ’s descent and ascent in Philippians 2 begins this way: “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus.” We are supposed to think this way: the path to honor with God is humility. Jesus said that the one who wants to be greatest in the kingdom must become the servant of all.
Are you a servant to God? Do you humble yourself and trust God to care for you, or are you trying to find your own path to success?
3. The Ascension Means that Jesus Fills Creation
In Ephesians 4:8-10, Paul writes Christ “ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.” The Savior who rose now reigns on high that “he might fill all things” as king over the creation which he has reconciled to heaven by his blood (Col. 1:20). Ephesians 1:20-23 says that God has seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
The entire universe is filled by his divine presence. Are you conscious of Christ’s watchful presence? Do you recognize that He sees you always?
4. The Ascension Means Christ’s Rule Has Begun
1 Peter 3:22 says that Christ “has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him.” Jesus has already begun his reign over the kingdom, so we should seek first the kingdom of God by living under his reign. Since Jesus is “up there,” it changes the way we live “down here.”
Do you seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness? Are you serving the exalted king of the universe — or are you living for earthly things?
5. The Ascension Means Jesus is Returning Soon
When Jesus ascended on the Mount of Olives, the angels told his disciples that he would come back in the same manner as they saw him leave. Jesus will return bodily. Remember the Apostle’s Creed: “He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty. From thence he will come to judge the living and the dead.”
Our King will soon return to judge the living and the dead: “The Lord says to my Lord: ‘Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool’” (Ps. 110:1).
Are you ready for Jesus to return? Will you seek to tell those who live as enemies of the cross He has come to rescue them?
6. The Ascension Means Jesus Exalted Our Humanity, Making a Way to Heaven
The ascension is good news for sinners. Hebrews 1:3 says, “After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.” I. H. Marshall says, “The exaltation of Christ, or rather his entry to heaven, is an essential part of the saving event.” Christ went “into heaven to offer his sacrifice to God to make full and final atonement for human sin.”
Having atoned for human nature by dying on the cross as our substitute, he then exalted our humanity by taking it to heaven. Being united to him through his Spirit, Paul can say that God has already “raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Eph. 2:6).
If Christ has ascended, those who are in him, united to him by faith, will rise also. “For by placing in heaven the human nature which He assumed,” writes Thomas Aquinas, “Christ gave us the hope of going thither.” Our hope of going to heaven is that Jesus is already there and, if we have faith in him, we are united to him.
Do you place your hope of heaven in Christ alone? Do you look to Jesus as the only way to dwell eternally with God?
7. The Ascension Means Jesus is Our High Priest
As the God-man in heaven, Christ is uniquely qualified to serve as the “one mediator between God and men” (1 Tim. 2:5; cf. Heb. 2:17). The ascended Christ is king and priest after the order of Melchizedek. In times of trouble, we look on high and know that “we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous” (1 Jn. 2:1).
In heaven, Christ fulfills his offices of prophet, priest, and king so that we may be saved to the uttermost: “Now the point in what we are saying is this: we have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, a minister in the holy places, in the true tent that the Lord set up, not man.” (Heb. 8:1-2)
As we come to him, we “are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1 Pet. 2:5).”
“Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name” (Heb. 13:15).
If you sin, do you immediately look to Jesus your mediator for forgiveness? Do you offer praise to God every day through Jesus?
8. The Ascension Means Jesus Sends His Spirit
Our assurance of the ascension comes at Pentecost. We know that Jesus has taken his seat beside the Father because he poured out the Spirit as he said (Jn. 16:17). In the ascension, we see Jesus as the greater Elijah who is taken up into heaven and sends his Spirit with fire to rest upon his disciples in power (2 Kings 2:1–18).
Christ is present through this selfsame Spirit who seals to our hearts all of the blessings which he offers.
Do you remember Christ’s Spirit came to you in baptism? Do you seek His guidance?
9. The Ascension Means Christ’s Disciples Should Seek the Things That Are Above
Colossians 3 is a key passage on holiness; it begins with the ascension. Because of the ascension, we “seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth” . Because Christ has ascended to heaven, it is only right that we should “put to death therefore what is earthly in you”
Christ went to heaven, so that’s where our affections should be. If we’re investing in our own little earthly kingdom, we need to check our hearts. We should be living for a heavenly kingdom.
Are you seeking the things that are above? Do you show others by living a holy life of faith?
Someday soon, Jesus will return and he will bring heaven to earth. Heaven and earth will become one. But unbelievers will be lost forever; God will rule in righteousness and truth!
