Week of January 26-February 2, 2020: “I Will Make You” … Mt. 4:18-22

“So … what are you going to do with your life?” You may well have been asked that question having to do with the future direction of your life. This question often makes it seem as if your future success is “all up to you”. In view of this, haven’t you had your share of tension, anxiety, and frustration trying to figure out what lies ahead for you?

If you’ve ever gone through this quandary, the Lord has some challenging and yet comforting words for you. They come from the calling of the brothers Peter and Andrew and then James and John where Jesus says, “Come follow me and I will make you fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19). Yes, the very Lord who gives you eternal life as His free gift (Romans 6:23, Ephesians 2:8-9), has already planned out your future ahead (Ephesians 2:10)!

“I will make you”: This literally means, “I will construct you” as Jesus is your master builder who has uniquely designed you to fulfill a purpose that only you can carry out. As it was with those first disciples, you will, in whatever role He calls you to play, carry out the even greater role of being “fishers of men”. Here, you will show others Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord so that they would have eternal life. Truly, this greater role is meant to part of every Christian’s “DNA”.

“I will make you”: On your own, you would continually encounter tension, anxiety, and frustration as you try to discern your future direction. But thankfully, in these words of Jesus, you encounter the one who will keep on loving you, forgiving you, and building you for what you are meant to become in your life here and in life eternal.

Your Pastor  Pastor Bill Mugnolo   Hi, I’m Pastor Bill Mugnolo and I have been serving at Zion Lutherran and at our sister congregation of St Johns in Elyria since September 2017. I was born in Baltimore, Maryland and I grew up on Long Island in New York State, in Northern New Jersey, and in Atlanta, Georgia. Since my graduation from Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina, I have lived in and have had an ongoing family connection to the Rochester, New York area which I consider to be my adopted hometown. I was confirmed in the Lutheran Church as an adult in 1984. I went on to seminary at Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada. I was ordained on August 16, 1990 on the thirty-first anniversary of my baptism. I have served congregations in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania (1990-1998), Newark, New York (1998-2016), and Columbia Station, Ohio (2016-2017). I was joined in marriage to Sabra LeClaire of Rochester, New York on October 1, 1993. We have two daughters—, Emilia and Rebecca. I enjoy power walking, cross-country skiing, dumbbell training, travelling, and a wide variety of music. It is my great honor and privilege to serve both the Lord and you as pastor at Zion.

Wednesday and Thursday

9 A.M to 12 

440-282-8418 

Email pastor.mugnolo@yahoo.com

440-282-8418 Pastor Bill