DEVOTION: Titus 2:11-14 English Standard Version (ESV)
11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.
We don't talk about this often, but grace doesn't just stop at keeping us out of hell and allowing us to enter heaven. It gives us a new life here on earth too. As Paul put it in a different way, "You died to sin. Why would you want to live in it any longer?"
The past few weeks I've been a glutton. I've eaten whatever I've wanted and I haven't exercised at all (unless you count getting up from chairs and from bed as exercise). Consequently my acid reflux has gotten worse, I have less and less energy, and my mood has even changed. I just don't feel right. This morning was different. I got up and exercised first thing, and then I had some fruit and Greek yogurt for breakfast. I also drank a ton of water. I already feel so much better.
It always feels better when you do the right thing. It feels good when you treat your body as God's temple. It feels better when you do devotions on a regular basis. It feels better when you "Remember the Sabbath Day and go to worship like you should. It feels good when you confess your sin and repent even when it means that you'll have ot face the consequences for your actions.
Grace permeates our whole being and our whole life. The devil, the world, and our sinful nature often causes us to want to turn away from God's will and His grace, but the power of the Holy Spirit, the force, is too strong! If we remain in faith we will keep turning from sin and turning to righteousness! Praise be to God!
Enjoy the birthday of Christ this week! Know that because if His grace you will live forever and that you are already free from the sin that makes you feel worse and worse, and instead feel and know that peace that passes all understanding.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for giving me an all-encompassing grace that not only saves me from hell, but saves me from sin here on earth as well. Help me to turn from sin and turn to you daily so that I may increase in holiness and righteousness until the day you take me to be with you. Amen.
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CALENDAR:
Tues- Quilters 9-2
Wed- Youth to distribute gifts at Children's Hospital 10am; Choir practice 7pm
Thurs- Christmas Eve worship 7pm
Fri- Christmas Day worship 10am
Sat- NO WORSHIP
Sun- Worship 10am
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WORSHIP WORKERS:
Acolyte- Christmas Eve- Jacob Cluver; Christmas Day- Gus Klaustermeier; Sun- Zach Hoelscher
Ushers- Christmas Eve- Don Hance, Rich Boeger, Don Tate, Doug Walters; Christmas Day- Alan Hofeldt, Tim Linke, Rich Talbert, Don Turnure; Sun- Bob and Tom Linke, Scott and Alex Heitgerd
Altar- Christmas Eve/Day set up Linda Callies; Christmas Eve/Day Clean Up Terry McKenzie; Sun- Set up, Don Hance Clean up Lynn Russell and Elanie Schauer
Elders- Christmas Eve John Hachtel; Christmas Day Rich Talbert
Greeters- Sun- Ken and Marilyn Foster
Lay readers- Sun- Allan Dreyer
Sat. Pianist- NONE
Organist- Eve- Rachel Menscher; Day- Molly Hendershot; Sun Molly
Projectionists: NONE
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YESTERDAY'S BIBLE QUIZ: Find a prophecy about Jesus in the book of Isaiah (Besides Isaiah 7:10-14)
11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.
We don't talk about this often, but grace doesn't just stop at keeping us out of hell and allowing us to enter heaven. It gives us a new life here on earth too. As Paul put it in a different way, "You died to sin. Why would you want to live in it any longer?"
The past few weeks I've been a glutton. I've eaten whatever I've wanted and I haven't exercised at all (unless you count getting up from chairs and from bed as exercise). Consequently my acid reflux has gotten worse, I have less and less energy, and my mood has even changed. I just don't feel right. This morning was different. I got up and exercised first thing, and then I had some fruit and Greek yogurt for breakfast. I also drank a ton of water. I already feel so much better.
It always feels better when you do the right thing. It feels good when you treat your body as God's temple. It feels better when you do devotions on a regular basis. It feels better when you "Remember the Sabbath Day and go to worship like you should. It feels good when you confess your sin and repent even when it means that you'll have ot face the consequences for your actions.
Grace permeates our whole being and our whole life. The devil, the world, and our sinful nature often causes us to want to turn away from God's will and His grace, but the power of the Holy Spirit, the force, is too strong! If we remain in faith we will keep turning from sin and turning to righteousness! Praise be to God!
Enjoy the birthday of Christ this week! Know that because if His grace you will live forever and that you are already free from the sin that makes you feel worse and worse, and instead feel and know that peace that passes all understanding.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for giving me an all-encompassing grace that not only saves me from hell, but saves me from sin here on earth as well. Help me to turn from sin and turn to you daily so that I may increase in holiness and righteousness until the day you take me to be with you. Amen.
__________________________________________________________________
CALENDAR:
Tues- Quilters 9-2
Wed- Youth to distribute gifts at Children's Hospital 10am; Choir practice 7pm
Thurs- Christmas Eve worship 7pm
Fri- Christmas Day worship 10am
Sat- NO WORSHIP
Sun- Worship 10am
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
WORSHIP WORKERS:
Acolyte- Christmas Eve- Jacob Cluver; Christmas Day- Gus Klaustermeier; Sun- Zach Hoelscher
Ushers- Christmas Eve- Don Hance, Rich Boeger, Don Tate, Doug Walters; Christmas Day- Alan Hofeldt, Tim Linke, Rich Talbert, Don Turnure; Sun- Bob and Tom Linke, Scott and Alex Heitgerd
Altar- Christmas Eve/Day set up Linda Callies; Christmas Eve/Day Clean Up Terry McKenzie; Sun- Set up, Don Hance Clean up Lynn Russell and Elanie Schauer
Elders- Christmas Eve John Hachtel; Christmas Day Rich Talbert
Greeters- Sun- Ken and Marilyn Foster
Lay readers- Sun- Allan Dreyer
Sat. Pianist- NONE
Organist- Eve- Rachel Menscher; Day- Molly Hendershot; Sun Molly
Projectionists: NONE
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YESTERDAY'S BIBLE QUIZ: Find a prophecy about Jesus in the book of Isaiah (Besides Isaiah 7:10-14)
Here's a very thorough answer from goog.... I mean Pat King. hehe
| THE PROPHECY | THE FULFILLMENT |
| The Messiah: | Jesus of Nazareth: |
| Will be born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14) | Was born of a virgin named Mary (Luke 1:26-31) |
| Will have a Galilean ministry (Isaiah 9:1,2) | Ministry began in Galilee of the Gentiles (Matthew 4:13-16) |
| Will be an heir to the throne of David (Isaiah 9:7; 11:1, 10) | Was given the throne of His father David (Luke 1:32, 33) |
| Will have His way prepared (Isaiah 40:3-5) | Was announced by John the Baptist (John 1:19-28) |
| Will be spat on and struck (Isaiah 50:6) | Was spat on and beaten (Matthew 26:67) |
| Will be exalted (Isaiah 52:13) | Was highly exalted by God and the People (Philippians 2:9, 10) |
| Will be disfigured by suffering (Isaiah 52:14; 53:2) | Was scourged by Roman soldiers who gave Him a crown of thorns (Mark 15L15-19) |
| Will make a blood atonement (Isaiah 53:5 | Shed His blood to atone for our sins (1Peter 1:2) |
| Will be widely rejected (Isaiah 53:1,3) | Was not accepted by many (John 12:37, 38) |
| Will bear our sins and sorrows (Isaiah 53:4, 5) | Died because of our sins (Romans 4L25; 1Peter 2:24, 25) |
| Will be our substitute (Isaiah 53:6,8) | Died in our place (Romans 5:6, 8; 2 Corinthians 5:21) |
| Will voluntarily accept our guilt and punishment for sin (Isaiah 53:7,8) | Jesus took on our sins (John 1:29; Romans 6:10; 2 Corinthians 5:21) |
| Gentiles will seek Him (Isaiah 11:10) | Gentiles came to speak to Jesus (John 12:20,21) |
| Will be silent before His accusers (Isaiah 53:7) | Was silent before Herod and his court (Luke 23:9) |
| Will save us who believe in Him (Isaiah 53:12) | Provided salvation for all who believe (John 3:16; Acts 16:31) |
| Will die with transgressors (Isaiah 53:12) | Was numbered with the transgressors (Mark 15:27, 28; Luke 22:37) |
| Will heal the brokenhearted (Isaiah 61:1,2) | Healed the brokenhearted (Luke 4:18, 19) |
| God's Spirit will rest on Him (Isaiah 11:2) | The Spirit of God descended on Jesus (Matthew 3:16; Mark 1:10; Luke 3:22; 4:1) |
| Will be buried in a rich man's tomb (Isaiah 53:9 | Was buried in the tomb of Joseph, a rich man from Arimathea (Matthew 27:57-60; John 19:38-42) |
| He will judge the earth with righteousness (Isaiah 11:4,5) | Jesus was given authority to judge (John 5:27; Luke 19:22; 2 Timothy 4:1,8) |
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Today's QUIZ: Did Mary and Joseph stay in a stable, a cave, or in the basement (first floor) of a house where animals were often kept?
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NEWS!!!!
THIS WEEK'S WORSHIP SCHEDULE!!
Christmas Eve- 7pm
Christmas Day- 10am
Sunday, Dec. 27- 10 am
(Please note that there is no Saturday service and that there is only one service on Sunday with no Sunday school or adult Bible class.)
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INSTALLATION OF OFFICERS AND BOARD MEMBERS WILL BE ON SATURDAY, JANUARY 2 and SUNDAY JANUARY 3 AT ALL THREE SERVICES!! If you are a board member or an officer be there!!
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HOPE FULL LIVING DEVOTIONS FOR SENIORS AVAILABLE TO ORDER FROM CHURCH FOR $8 FOR THE WHOLE YEAR!!
"Hope Full Living" is a daily devotional booklet just for seniors that Pastor contributes to. He usually has one or two of his own devotions in it. If we get 10 or more people to order it and each person gives $8 we can order them in bulk and have them mailed to church. Order yours today by calling the church office!
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WARREN COUNTY COMMUNITY FITNESS CENTER IS BEGINNING NEW CLASS SESSIONS on JANUARY 4!!
They also have the gym open Monday-Friday 8am-7pm and Saturday 8am-noon.
It's in the old NIKE store in the mall.
There are discounts for Senior and Kids. Stop by to sign up today!
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OPERATION BACKPACK FOR DECEMBER IS CANNED SOUP AND RAMEN NOODLES!!!
Please help feed the less fortunate kids in Warrenton and Warren County, all of whom get two meals at school during the school week, but go hungry on weekends.
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OFFERING ENVELOPES ARE ON THE TABLE IN THE NARTHEX!!!
If you are a confirmed member of St. John's you have offering envelopes! Take them home! Put money in them! And Bring them back as your offering to the Lord!
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UNMARKED BLUE ENVELOPE CONTRIBUTIONS ARE GOING TO THE BUILDING EXPANSION PROGRAM
If you'd like it to go to the DCE fund you need to mark it for that! Please make sure you mark the ENVELOPE clearly for the DCE PROGRAM!
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DO YOU HAVE A KROGER CARD? ENROLL IT IN THE COMMUNITY REWARDS PROGRAM!!!
Register it online www.krogercommunityrewards.com and have it swiped each time you shop to earn money for Little Lambs.
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If you'd like it to go to the DCE fund you need to mark it for that! Please make sure you mark the ENVELOPE clearly for the DCE PROGRAM!
________________________________________________________________________________________
DO YOU HAVE A KROGER CARD? ENROLL IT IN THE COMMUNITY REWARDS PROGRAM!!!
Register it online www.krogercommunityrewards.com and have it swiped each time you shop to earn money for Little Lambs.
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GENERAL PRAYERS:
For DENISE SCHLESSELMANN as she is in need of more funding to continue her mission work in the Czech Republic.
For MARIANNE LINKE, who has been moved to Warrenton Manor and is receiving treatment and antibiotics for a very stubborn infection.
For CAL TAMELER as he deals with the reality that he has lost sight in his right eye.
For the PANHORSTS as they have sold their house in Innsbrook and have moved to Chesterfield, and as soon as Don is done with chemotherapy treatments will be moving down to Florida permanently, that God would bless them in their new endeavors.
For DONNNA LINDSEY'S DAD, as he has been moved to Lincoln County Nursing and rehab to recover from kidney troubles.
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