Daily Devotion: Tues., Nov. 26, 2013

 
DEVOTION: I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.  Galatians 1:6-9
 
It is so easy to hear the Gospel and believe it.  It can even happen to an infant.  It only requires a heart that is open to receiving the good news.  On the other hand, it is way too easy to fall away from the Gospel as well.  All it takes is one false teaching or a heart that has been hardened to the good news either by someone else's teaching infecting the person or by their own minds taking precedence over the Gospel.
 
As a pastor my heart aches for those that I have seen fall away or simply just quit coming to receive Christ's body and blood and hear His Word.  I can only imagine how much the Lord's heart aches for those same people and millions more who refuse His grace. 
 
So I urge you today that if you are falling away from the Gospel, if you are questioning God's grace in your life, if your soul and mind are being polluted by a different "gospel" which is really no good news at all, or if you are simply heading in the wrong direction, TURN AROUND!!!  Repent!  Turn to the Lord of grace. 
 
There is only one Gospel!  There is only one grace!  There is only one truth.  So if anyone teaches anything that is not the true Gospel, even if I were to teach something other than Jesus Christ and Him crucified, don't listen!  It's not the truth.  Jesus is the way and the truth and the life!  No one comes to the Father except through Him!! 
 
Let us pray:  Lord God, help me to turn away from false teachings and from worthless idols of silver, gold, or stone and to turn to you for the real and true mercy and grace!  Amen.
 
 
 

 

 
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
MONDAY'S QUIZ:  Who went with Paul on his first missionary journey?  Barnabas
______________________________________________________________________
TUESDAY'S QUIZ: Why did Paul rebuke Peter?
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
CALENDAR
Tues- Quilters 9-2; Bible Study 11:30-12:15
Wed- Thanksgiving Eve worship 7pm
Thurs- Thanksgiving
Fri- GIVING FRIDAY (Instead of amassing more junk for yourself think about giving some of it away.)
Sat- worship 5pm
Sun- ADVENT BEGINS with worship 8:30 and 11; Sunday school and adult Bible class 9:45
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
BRING SQUEEZABLE JELLY  (all flavors are acceptable) FOR OPERATION BACKPACK FOR THE MONTH OF DECEMBER!! 
Please put them in the proper receptacle either upstairs or downstairs.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
GIVING TREE IS UP!!
There are 18 families who need help this Christmas.  57 kids need gifts!  Come to church this Wednesday or this weekend and take an ornament or two!
_________________________________________________________
THE STORY: AN EXCITING NEW EXPERIENCE FOR OUR WHOLE CONGREGATION!!
What is it?  THE STORY is a book compiled and written by Max Lucado and Randy Frazee, which takes sections of the Bible and divides it up into 31 chapters and adds commentary and study notes to it.  The best way to describe it is to call it a Reader's Digest condensed version of the Bible.  It is not split up into chapters and verses but reads more like a novel, and it doesn't include every bit of the Bible, but most of the main sections and stories.  
 
How will it work?  As a family and as individual members of the congregation you will each get a copy of the book.  There are different versions for adults, teens, older elementary age and younger children.  You will get these and read chapter 1 before January 5.  Each week we will go through a chapter of the book in every part of the church's life: in Worship, Bible Studies, Confirmation and in the Home for personal devotions. 
 
Why are we doing this? This is a great opportunity for all of us to read through the Bible TOGETHER in 31 weeks and for us to all literally be on the same page.  The materials are excellent.  It is a fantastic way for us to grow together as a church and or us to reach out to the community with the Gospel! 
 
What about special weeks like Holy Week and Easter?  We will take several weeks off throughout these eight months, one for Life Sunday in January, one for Easter and another two or three when I am going to be gone for Spring Break and other vacations. A specific schedule will be coming out in the next week or so.  
 
How do we get the books?  Each adult will be asked to buy a book for $6.  A table will be set up in the narthex to buy them before and after services for the next several weeks or you can call Marilyn in the office at 456-2888 to purchase your during the week.  
 
What about the kids?  All children will receive a copy that is age appropriate courtesy of the Janet Wagner fund.  There will be a table set up for the next several weeks for adults to buy books.  Kids will get theirs in Sunday school . 
 
What kind of help is needed to make this a success?  We have several volunteers already to sell books, but could use a few more to sell before and after services until everyone who wants a copy of the book has one.    I would also like someone, a man or a woman, who would be willing to lead a study of it during the week. 
 
Can I order books for family members who are not members?  There will also be an order form for those of you who want to buy books for your children, grandchildren, relatives, and friends.  PLEASE NOTE THAT PRICES WILL FLUCTUATE ON FUTURE ORDERS DUE TO PRICE CHANGES WITH BOOK DISTRIBUTORS AND PUBLISHING HOUSES.
 
Where can I go to get more info?  Please go to www.thestory.com for more info.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
THANKSGIVING EVE WORSHIP AT 7PM WEDNESDAY
There will be no Thanksgiving Day worship.

 
____________________________________________________________________________________________________

ALL LADIES CHRISTMAS PARTY, MONDAY, DEC. 2, 6pm at BREWSKIES.
There is a choice of two entrees, apple smoked pork loin or chicken marsala.  Sign up sheet is in the narthex  Cost is $18.  Bring a $10 wrapped gift to exchange.
 
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
PRAYER REQUESTS:
For SCOTT CLARK, a soon to be new member of St. John's, who is hospitalized with pancreatitis.
For WILMA WEIGLE as she is still in the hospital.
For NANCY SPINIOLAS as she is home and recovering well from hip replacement.
 
For JOYCE PIETZSCHKE who is recovering from a fractured shoulder.
For STEPHEN DELANEY a friend of the Fahrnis, who is dealing with lung cancer. 
 

PRAYERS FOR OUR SERVICEMEN
CALEB FIGURA- Army national Guard- just completed basic training.
 
Danny Dreyer-  Army- 2nd Lieutenant- Ranger, GERMANY
 
Sam Hargrove- Army- 2 Lieutenant- Ft Rucker, Alabama, will be going through helicopter flight school and other training
 
David Mincemeyer- Army- Army Specialist- Ft. Carson, CO
 
Jon Rahn- Navy- Hawaii, not sure of his rank at this time
 
David Tate- Air Force- 2nd Lieutenant- Jacksonville, Florida
 
Alex Walters- Navy- E4- Guam
 
Ryan Woolf- Air Force- Airman 1st Class- Buckley Air Force Base, near Denver, CO
 
 
If there are more out there that I just don't know about, please let me know, and I will include him/her on the list. 
 
Also, if you would like your family member or friend included in this list, please reply to this email with all the information!