DEVOTION: Luke 17:1-10 (ESV)
"Temptations to Sin"
"Unworthy Servants"
7 "Will any one of you who has a servant[c] plowing or keeping sheep say to him when he has come in from the field, 'Come at once and recline at table'? 8 Will he not rather say to him, 'Prepare supper for me, and dress properly,[d] and serve me while I eat and drink, and afterward you will eat and drink'? 9 Does he thank the servant because he did what was commanded? 10 So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, 'We are unworthy servants;[e] we have only done what was our duty.'"
Did you notice that command from Jesus? " ...and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, 'I repent,' you must forgive him." How many of you would do that? Seven times, the same sin, the same day. You'd begin to question the person's sincerity, wouldn't you? I know I would. Yet, Jesus doesn't say anything about judging a person's sincerity. And the truth is, we can't see into a person's heart. We don't know what a person's heart really looks like.
At the same time, we are to have the mind and heart of Christ. How many times do you sin against Christ on a daily basis? How many times does he forgive you even when you don't repent, even when you don't ask for it? HE FORGIVES YOU COMPLETELY.
And another thing... Don't we say in the Lord's Prayer, "Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us"? If we want Christ to forgive us completely and totally, shouldn't we be willing to forgive completely and totally as well?
Note that Jesus isn't saying that there is a limit to his forgiveness. He isn't saying that on the eighth time we can withhold forgiveness. When he uses the number 7, or 70 times 7 as he says in another place in the Gospels, we can be sure that he is talking about total, complete, and unending forgiveness.
Lastly, this is not a suggestion, it's a command. We are his servants and he is our Lord. We do what he says, and when we have done all that he has commanded, we have no business going to him expecting his favor or anything extra. We can't even expect everything to go well with the person we forgive. All we can expect is that, at the end of the day, we can say, "We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty."
Let us pray: Holy Spirit, give us the strength and ability to forgive and keep on forgiving as Jesus commanded to. Amen.
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CALENDAR
Thurs- Karate 6-7:30; Lutheranism 101 6pm
Sat- Oktoberfest 4-10pm; Worship 5pm
Sun- Worship 8:30; Sunday school 9:45; Chapel 11; Holy Yoga Workshop 3-5pm
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WORSHIP WORKERS FOR THIS COMING WEEKEND:
Acolyte- 8:30- Loren Howard 11- Savannah Masters
Ushers- Dave Winter, Gary Scott, Larry Schulze, Scott Schulze
Altar- Set up- Don Hance; Clean Up- Sandy Robine
Elders- Sat- Randy Sweet; 8:30- Jason Cluver; 11- Charlie Figura
Greeters- 8:30- Lew and Dianne Feldkamp; 11- Mike and Naomi Johnson
Lay Readers- Sat- Marcia Sevier; 8:30- Tim Linke; 11- Karen Benton
Piano- Sat and Sun 8:30- Barb Dreyer; 11am Molly Hendershot
Organist- (No organ this weekend)
Projectionists: Sat- Toni Mauch; 8:30- Terry McKenzie
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YESTERDAY'S QUIZ: What time of the year is the month of Kislev?
"Temptations to Sin"
17 And he said to his disciples, "Temptations to sin[a] are sure to come, but woe to the one through whom they come! 2 It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were cast into the sea than that he should cause one of these little ones to sin.[b] 3 Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him, 4 and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, 'I repent,' you must forgive him."
"Increase Our Faith"
5 The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith!" 6 And the Lord said, "If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it would obey you."Unworthy Servants"
7 "Will any one of you who has a servant[c] plowing or keeping sheep say to him when he has come in from the field, 'Come at once and recline at table'? 8 Will he not rather say to him, 'Prepare supper for me, and dress properly,[d] and serve me while I eat and drink, and afterward you will eat and drink'? 9 Does he thank the servant because he did what was commanded? 10 So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, 'We are unworthy servants;[e] we have only done what was our duty.'"
Did you notice that command from Jesus? " ...and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, 'I repent,' you must forgive him." How many of you would do that? Seven times, the same sin, the same day. You'd begin to question the person's sincerity, wouldn't you? I know I would. Yet, Jesus doesn't say anything about judging a person's sincerity. And the truth is, we can't see into a person's heart. We don't know what a person's heart really looks like.
At the same time, we are to have the mind and heart of Christ. How many times do you sin against Christ on a daily basis? How many times does he forgive you even when you don't repent, even when you don't ask for it? HE FORGIVES YOU COMPLETELY.
And another thing... Don't we say in the Lord's Prayer, "Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us"? If we want Christ to forgive us completely and totally, shouldn't we be willing to forgive completely and totally as well?
Note that Jesus isn't saying that there is a limit to his forgiveness. He isn't saying that on the eighth time we can withhold forgiveness. When he uses the number 7, or 70 times 7 as he says in another place in the Gospels, we can be sure that he is talking about total, complete, and unending forgiveness.
Lastly, this is not a suggestion, it's a command. We are his servants and he is our Lord. We do what he says, and when we have done all that he has commanded, we have no business going to him expecting his favor or anything extra. We can't even expect everything to go well with the person we forgive. All we can expect is that, at the end of the day, we can say, "We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty."
Let us pray: Holy Spirit, give us the strength and ability to forgive and keep on forgiving as Jesus commanded to. Amen.
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CALENDAR
Thurs- Karate 6-7:30; Lutheranism 101 6pm
Sat- Oktoberfest 4-10pm; Worship 5pm
Sun- Worship 8:30; Sunday school 9:45; Chapel 11; Holy Yoga Workshop 3-5pm
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WORSHIP WORKERS FOR THIS COMING WEEKEND:
Acolyte- 8:30- Loren Howard 11- Savannah Masters
Ushers- Dave Winter, Gary Scott, Larry Schulze, Scott Schulze
Altar- Set up- Don Hance; Clean Up- Sandy Robine
Elders- Sat- Randy Sweet; 8:30- Jason Cluver; 11- Charlie Figura
Greeters- 8:30- Lew and Dianne Feldkamp; 11- Mike and Naomi Johnson
Lay Readers- Sat- Marcia Sevier; 8:30- Tim Linke; 11- Karen Benton
Piano- Sat and Sun 8:30- Barb Dreyer; 11am Molly Hendershot
Organist- (No organ this weekend)
Projectionists: Sat- Toni Mauch; 8:30- Terry McKenzie
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YESTERDAY'S QUIZ: What time of the year is the month of Kislev?
Okay, I know what all of you are thinking. Kislev sounds like kissing, so it must be February. WRONG! Kislev also sounds Russian (I know, because I can actually speak Russian) so if not February, it must be May. Because that's when those crazy Russians prance around doing that stupid goose-step like the Germans. but again....WRONG!
"So, smarty pants, when is it?" you might ask. Well, I could tell you, but then I'd have to shoot you, and Pastor K would get mad. (That whole "Thou shalt not kill," thingie).
But I can tell you what Wiki says:
Kislev. Kislēw; also Chislev is the 3rd month of the civil year and the 9th month of the ecclesiastical year on the Hebrew calendar. In a regular (kesidran) year, Kislev has 30 days, but because of the Rosh Hashanah postponement rules, in some years it can lose a day to make the year a "short" (chaser) year.Well that doesn't tell us anything, but the Jews will! According to them, it's during the Winter Solstice and around the same time as Chanukah. Which would put it in our modern day December. Here's a link you can follow to find out more:
http://www.hebrew4christians.com/Holidays/Rosh_Chodesh/Kislev/kislev.html________________________________________________________________
TODAY'S QUIZ: I know you've probably answered this before, but what is a maskil?
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NEWS!!!!
COME OUT AND ENJOY OKTOBERFEST THIS SATURDAY!!!!!!!! INVITE YOUR FRIENDS!!!!!
Where? St. John's
What? a genuine Oktoberfest with real German food, bier, polka, games, bounce houses, and lots of fun!!
When? 4-10pm
What is needed? There are a lot of supplies and volunteers that are STILL needed to make this happen! Call or text Kelsey @ 573-803-7826 to volunteer or to find out what is still needed.
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HELP IS STILL NEEDED FOR OKTOBERFEST THIS SATURDAY!!
The Oktoberfest committee is still looking for some help on October 1st from 4:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m. We need people to help with food, games, set up, and tear down.
If you can help with any of these call Kelsey at 573-803-7826 or reply to this email, and I will forward the info to her.
If you can help with any of these call Kelsey at 573-803-7826 or reply to this email, and I will forward the info to her.
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HOLY YOGA WORKSHOP THIS SUNDAY 3-5pm!!
If you are new to yoga, or are a seasoned veteran, this workshop will bless you! Come and see what Holy Yoga is all about! Learn poses and praises from Yogi Amanda Nordwald and grow in your faith at the same time!
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LWML (LADIES AID) SUNDAY IS THIS SUNDAY!!
We will recognize and pray for our Ladies Aid this weekend at all three services! All Ladies Aid members are strongly encouraged to attend.
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ANNUAL VENDOR FAIR IS SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 9am-2pm!
Vendors should reserve their table through the church office 456-2888. Tables rent for $25 and checks should be madde payable to St. John's Ladies Aid.
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GENERAL PRAYER
For PAM BUELTMANN as she is going home from rehab today. Praise the Lord!
For BOB RUHL as he continues to struggle greatly to get better. He is still in New Florence Care Center.
For JOYCE PIETZSCHKE as she is recovering from pneumonia and intestinal issues. She Is now in Parklane Rehab in Wentzville.
For PAUL TOEDEBUSCH who is recovering from a severe kidney infection at home.
For LOIS BOEGER'S MOM, who has been placed on hospice care due to cancer. She is at home.
For DENNIS PERREY, who is recovering at home from a very serious tractor and brush hog accident. He has 6 broken ribs, both lungs were punctured and, 2 vertebrae were cracked.
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