DEVOTION: 
Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. Matthew 4:1
As might be expected, ancient Jericho is a pile of rubble.
Standing at the top of those ruins, a Bible student will recall how Joshua, having crossed the Jordan, brought those "walls a-tumblin' down." Further reading will speak of the time Jesus gave sight to two blind men and brought salvation to the house of Zacchaeus.
Still, the most impressive lesson a visitor can learn at Jericho comes from Mount Quarantania. Baffled by the name? Don't be. Quarantania is not mentioned in Scripture, at least not in so many words.
Quarantania is the mountain where tradition says Jesus was tempted. That tradition may or may not be true. All we can say for certain is that Jesus was led out into the wilderness to be tempted. No, that's not right. We can truthfully say Jesus was led out into the wilderness to successfully resist temptation.
Resisting temptation. That's something at which all of us have failed. My temptation may not be yours, and yours may not be mine. Satan doesn't care. He's got the experience and the patience that enables Him to find everyone's weakness. That's why Scripture says that "all have sinned ...." (Romans 3:23a).
All have sinned except Jesus. All have fallen before temptation except our Savior.
For us, Jesus resisted the easy path: the seductive road Satan laid out before Him. Now, by His perfect life, His absolute obedience to the Father and a rejection of Satan's temptations, all who believe on Him are forgiven and saved. That is the lesson to be learned at Jericho.
But there is one other thing I would like you to see as you gaze up on the wilderness of Mount Quarantania. Looking ahead, you will only see barren, dry ground without much, if anything, to sustain life. Now, do an about-face and look to the green palm and fig trees of Jericho.
There, in a way that most westerners cannot understand, we can see the difference water can make to a dry and infertile place.
Little wonder Jesus, the Resister of temptation, the Defeater of devil and death, calls Himself the Living Water, the Water of Life.
It was His way of saying that He, like water, changes death to life. It was His way of reminding us that water changes everything.
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord Jesus, for me and my salvation You successfully resisted Satan's temptations. May I live my life giving thanks for You who turned the desert of my day-to-day life into something truly blessed. In Your Name. Amen.
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YESTERDAY'S QUIZ: When the army was to go to battle what was the priest's job? Deuteronomy 20:1-4 Going to War -the Priest shall come forward and address the army. Sounded like a pep rally "Hear, O Israel, today you are going into battle against your enemies. Do not be fainthearted or afraid; do not be terrified or give way to panic before them....... etc, etc.
Dianne Hance is our new one day champ!!
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CATECHISM:
Question: What is the difference between the Law and the Gospel?
Answer:
a. The Law teaches what we are to do and not to do; the Gospel teaches what God has done, and still does, for our salvation.
b. The Law shows us our sin and the wrath of God; the Gospel shows us our Savior and the grace of God.
c. The Law must be proclaimed to all people, but especially to impenitent sinners; the Gospel must be proclaimed to sinners who are troubled in their minds because of their sin. ________________________________________________________________________________________________
CHURCH CALENDAR
Tues- quilters 9-2; Bible study 11:30-12:15
Wed- Supper 5:30; bells 6; worship 7; choir 7:30
Thurs-
Fri- Bible study at hendershot's 7pm
Sat- worship 5pm
Sun- Bible Study 8; worship 9;Sunday School and Bible class 10:15; WORSHIP 11am; elders noon
________________________________________________________________________________________________
NEWS:
WEDNESDAY SUPPER AT 5:30 AND WORSHIP 7pm
Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. Matthew 4:1As might be expected, ancient Jericho is a pile of rubble.
Standing at the top of those ruins, a Bible student will recall how Joshua, having crossed the Jordan, brought those "walls a-tumblin' down." Further reading will speak of the time Jesus gave sight to two blind men and brought salvation to the house of Zacchaeus.
Still, the most impressive lesson a visitor can learn at Jericho comes from Mount Quarantania. Baffled by the name? Don't be. Quarantania is not mentioned in Scripture, at least not in so many words.
Quarantania is the mountain where tradition says Jesus was tempted. That tradition may or may not be true. All we can say for certain is that Jesus was led out into the wilderness to be tempted. No, that's not right. We can truthfully say Jesus was led out into the wilderness to successfully resist temptation.
Resisting temptation. That's something at which all of us have failed. My temptation may not be yours, and yours may not be mine. Satan doesn't care. He's got the experience and the patience that enables Him to find everyone's weakness. That's why Scripture says that "all have sinned ...." (Romans 3:23a).
All have sinned except Jesus. All have fallen before temptation except our Savior.
For us, Jesus resisted the easy path: the seductive road Satan laid out before Him. Now, by His perfect life, His absolute obedience to the Father and a rejection of Satan's temptations, all who believe on Him are forgiven and saved. That is the lesson to be learned at Jericho.
But there is one other thing I would like you to see as you gaze up on the wilderness of Mount Quarantania. Looking ahead, you will only see barren, dry ground without much, if anything, to sustain life. Now, do an about-face and look to the green palm and fig trees of Jericho.
There, in a way that most westerners cannot understand, we can see the difference water can make to a dry and infertile place.
Little wonder Jesus, the Resister of temptation, the Defeater of devil and death, calls Himself the Living Water, the Water of Life.
It was His way of saying that He, like water, changes death to life. It was His way of reminding us that water changes everything.
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord Jesus, for me and my salvation You successfully resisted Satan's temptations. May I live my life giving thanks for You who turned the desert of my day-to-day life into something truly blessed. In Your Name. Amen.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
YESTERDAY'S QUIZ: When the army was to go to battle what was the priest's job? Deuteronomy 20:1-4 Going to War -the Priest shall come forward and address the army. Sounded like a pep rally "Hear, O Israel, today you are going into battle against your enemies. Do not be fainthearted or afraid; do not be terrified or give way to panic before them....... etc, etc.
Dianne Hance is our new one day champ!!
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CATECHISM:
Question: What is the difference between the Law and the Gospel?
Answer:
a. The Law teaches what we are to do and not to do; the Gospel teaches what God has done, and still does, for our salvation.
b. The Law shows us our sin and the wrath of God; the Gospel shows us our Savior and the grace of God.
c. The Law must be proclaimed to all people, but especially to impenitent sinners; the Gospel must be proclaimed to sinners who are troubled in their minds because of their sin. ________________________________________________________________________________________________
CHURCH CALENDAR
Tues- quilters 9-2; Bible study 11:30-12:15
Wed- Supper 5:30; bells 6; worship 7; choir 7:30
Thurs-
Fri- Bible study at hendershot's 7pm
Sat- worship 5pm
Sun- Bible Study 8; worship 9;Sunday School and Bible class 10:15; WORSHIP 11am; elders noon
________________________________________________________________________________________________
NEWS:
WEDNESDAY SUPPER AT 5:30 AND WORSHIP 7pm
Supper- 5:30---Baked potato bar w/ all the toppings, salad, rolls, dessert
Worship- 7pm- Peter comes to talk to us about his false allegiance
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BIBLE 101: A NEW ONLINE "INTRODUCTORY" BIBLE STUDY IS AVAILABLE FOR ALL MEMBERS OF ST JOHN'S!!!
15 PEOPLE SIGNED UP SO FAR!!!
What is it? Bible 101 is a new online product from Concordia Publishing House that increases Biblical literacy in adults.
It is for all levels of learning and knowledge. Even pastors learn things from this course.
Participants simply log into Bible 101 and enter an online learning environment. Members start out by learning essential Bible basics from "square one" and then build upon that as they progress through the course.
Here are som of the features of Bible 101
online- uses proven online educational strategies and models that facilitate retention among multiple learning styles.
videos- throughout the week, participants can access videos that relate to the lesson
discussion forum- participants are not left on their own as they are connected to a community where they can correspond, question, and encourage each other.
podcasts- daily devotional for each weekday
quizzes- test your knowledge and easily benchmakr where you are in your learning cycle.
printing- easily print the materials for even more easy access.
Please call or reply to this email to let me know that you want to sign up for this wonderful opportunity. I will sign you up! The congregation has already paid the annual fee so IT IS FREE for you!!!
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PRAYERS: (If I have missed anyone please let me know.)
For THOSE WHO LOST LOVED ONES in the tornadoes this past week.
For THOSE IN LAKE ST LOUIS who lost their homes in an apartment fire last week.
For MISSIONARIES AND PASTORS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD who are dealing with severe opposition, imprisonment and even the threat of death because of the faith.
For JEANETTE KOEHLER who is recovering after surgery to repair her broken hip.
For DOLORES DEBLAZE as she will soon begin treatments for cancer. She is undergoing more tests this week.
For HANK SCHMIDT who is going through radiation treatments for stage 2 lung cancer.
For JONAS BORCHERT, grandson of Don Nolte, who continues to be up and down because of chemotherapy treatments.
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