No light-hearted performances, no cheap motivational slogans: The divine services in June explore what truly forms the foundation of Christian hope.

You cannot summon joy at will. Anyone who’s ever been asked to cheer up knows that. The fact that the upcoming Sunday sermons will nevertheless focus on the theme “Joy in the Holy Spirit” is not a call for us to wear a permanent religious smile. Rather it is meant to lead us to seek what Christian joy really means—beyond its many misunderstandings. Ultimately, this brings us to one of the most unusual yet beautiful messages of hope in Christian theology: that God’s thoughts of peace extend even to the dead.

The wrong reason to rejoice

In the sermon on the first Sunday, there is a sentence that is easily overlooked: “Do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you.” Jesus tempers His disciples’ euphoria at their success; this is the starting point. Those familiar with the Bible know that in the New Testament, the term “authority” is not presented as an honorary title, but as a mandate. What really matters is not what one can or is allowed to do, but to whom one belongs. The implication for Christians today is this: anyone who has received the sacraments may take comfort in the certainty that their name—not their ministry, nor their zeal—is written in heaven (Catechism of the New Apostolic Church/CNAC 4.1; Revelation 3: 5). Those who truly believe this cease to take pride in their own effectiveness and discover that joy comes from belonging. This is a difference that is felt both in daily life and in the congregation.

When serving requires effort

The second Sunday focuses on the subject of serving and what happens when one no longer finds joy in it. This was not a hypothetical question, and it still isn’t today. After returning from exile, the Israelites found themselves facing a ruined city and no houses. Then Ezra read the Law to the people, and for the first time in generations they heard it read aloud. And they wept. The message was not: “Stop weeping.” But: “The joy of the Lord is your strength” (Nehemiah 8: 10). One detail is crucial here: Ezra did not merely read the law aloud; he made it easy for them to understand. For believers today, this impulse means that joyful service is not a matter of mood, but of the awareness of doing something useful for God (Romans 12: 11). This changes not only the service itself, but also its impact on others. Those who have heard the sermon can examine whether their own service is guided by this insight or whether it has already become routine (CNAC 6.2.3).

Hope without wavering

The sermon on the third Sunday focuses on the epistle to the Hebrews: a letter written to a church under pressure. “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.” It is striking that the argument does not rest on willpower or perseverance, but on the faithfulness of God. Hope in Christ’s return is not a pious wish. It is based on the conviction that God keeps His promises—regardless of external circumstances. For believers, this has a direct impact on the present: those who carry this certainty within them do not need to allow themselves to be driven by fear or resignation. The sermon raises the question of whether this hope already shapes our actions or whether we reserve it for Sundays.

Not to take centre stage 

In many Christian traditions, 24 June is the day marking the nativity of John the Baptist, the figure who stands at the transition between the old and new covenants. This midweek service marks this feast day. What is remarkable about John is that he clearly understood his role and stuck to it. He was not the one who was to take centre stage, but to point the way. That was his role, and he continued to fulfil it even when he was in prison and plagued by doubt. The question that the followers and forerunners of Jesus Christ might ask themselves today is: how much emphasis do you place on making your own faith visible, and how much emphasis do you place on what you are pointing to? 

Peace beyond death

The sermon on the fourth Sunday, which serves to prepare the congregations for the divine service for the departed a week later (CNAC 9.4), focuses on Jeremiah 29: 11: “Thoughts of peace and not of evil.” This had been written to the Israelites in exile, a people without a homeland and without a certain future. The letter is directed against false prophets who promise instant salvation. Instead, Jeremiah promises: God’s plan is unfolding, but at its own pace. These thoughts of God on peace apply not only to the living, but also to the dead (1 Peter 3: 18– 22). That is the conviction of New Apostolic Christians. Forgiveness, repentance, and receiving the sacraments are not things that end with death. Those who believe this pray for the dead in a different way: not out of ritual obligation, but as genuine intercession for people who may still be seeking God. Thinking outside the box: God’s saving action does not stop at the grave.

Photo: fahrudin – stock.adobe.com

Author: Oliver Rütten

Source: nac.today