Pastor Scott's Ministry Approach

Three Bible passages speak a great deal about my approach to ministry.

"With what shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before God on high? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will the LORD be please with thousands of rams, with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?" He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? (Micah 6:6-8)

"O God, you are my god, I seek you, my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory. Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. So I will bless you as long as I live; I will lift up my hands and call on your name. My sould is satisfied as with a rich feast, and my mouth praises you with joyful lips when I think of you on my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night; for you have been my help, and in the shadows of your wings I sing for joy. My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me." (Psalm 63:1-8)

“After these things Jesus showed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias; and he showed himself in this way. Gathered there together were Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples. Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing." They said to him, "We will go with you." They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. Just after daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach; but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, "Children, you have no fish, have you?" They answered him, "No." He said to them, "Cast the net to the right side of the boat, and you will find some." So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in because there were so many fish. That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on some clothes, for he was naked, and jumped into the sea. But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, only about a hundred yards off. When they had gone ashore, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish that you have just caught." So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred fifty-three of them; and though there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast." Now none of the disciples dared to ask him, "Who are you?" because they knew it was the Lord. Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. This was now the third time that Jesus appeared to the disciples after he was raised from the dead. When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Feed my lambs." A second time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Tend my sheep." He said to him the third time, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time, "Do you love me?" And he said to him, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Feed my sheep." After this he said to him, "Follow me."” (John 21:1-17 and 19b)

What do I hope most for Christ the King Lutheran Church? I hope that we will do justice, love (and live) kindness, and walk humbly with our God. I hope that we will seek God and thirst for God. I hope that we will cling to God and let God uphold us. I also hope that we will be able to say, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” And I hope that we will listen and respond when Christ says to us, “Feed my sheep” and “Follow me.”

Why study scripture (the Bible)? The scriptures are where we find the written record of what God has done in the world, and specifically how God has chosen to be revealed to humankind and in relationship with humankind. As we study scripture we begin to know more about what God has done, is doing, and promises yet to do. In our relationships with other people, the relationship becomes deeper as we know more about each other. God knows everything about us, and as we study scripture we learn more about God and we deepen our relationship with God. The scriptures are the Word of God, and are a gift from God so that we can know God. Through Baptism we are adopted as children of God and become members of the body of Christ. As God’s children we are nourished at the table of our Lord Jesus Christ, where we are forgiven and empowered to live in service to others. Through God's Word and the sacraments God forms and transforms us as we are sanctified. Because God has reconciled us through the blood of Christ, we respond in loving service as we are strengthened and guided by the Holy Spirit.