Daily Email: Thursday, July 20, 2017

DEVOTION: Matthew 13:24-30

The Parable of the Weeds

²⁴ He put another parable before them, saying, "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field, ²⁵ but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds^[a]among the wheat and went away. ²⁶ So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also. ²⁷ And the servants^[b] of the master of the house came and said to him, 'Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have weeds?' ²⁸ He said to them, 'An enemy has done this.' So the servants said to him, 'Then do you want us to go and gather them?' ²⁹ But he said, 'No, lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them. ³⁰ Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, "Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn."'"

The Parable of the Weeds Explained

³⁶ Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples came to him, saying, "Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field." ³⁷ He answered, "The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. ³⁸ The field is the world, and the good seed is the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, ³⁹ and the enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. ⁴⁰ Just as the weeds are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. ⁴¹ The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, ⁴² and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. ⁴³ Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.

 

There are many in our world today who deny that there is such a thing as hell, evil, or an evil force (the devil).  They think all of the bad stuff in the world is only because of bad choices made because of a lack of knowledge. 

 

At the same time, these people can believe all of the parts of Scripture that fit their frame of reference and their own understanding of who God is and what He does.  In other words, they believe in and accept the nice, loving, peaceful God who loves them and sent His Son to die on a cross for them, but they deny the God who hates sin and will destroy those who reject Him and His Word and those who refuse His will. 

 

If we are going to be REAL Christians, then we must believe what God says about Himself in His Word, throughout ALL of it.  He hates sin.  He hates rejection of Him.  Just as we can clearly see that weeds are real and a nuisance for all farmers and gardeners, so the devil and sin are just as real, and as weeds are destroyed by fire, or in today's farming world, by herbicides, so sin, death, the devil and hell will be destroyed by fire eternally in hell! 

 

Believe in His Holy, complete and total Word today!

 

Prayer: Sanctify me by Your truth, Your Word is truth.  Amen.

 

 

 

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CALENDAR:

Thurs- Little Lamb's Summer Camp 8:30-11:30; Karate 6:15-7:45; Grief Support Group 7pm

 

Fri- Little Lamb's Summer Camp 8:30-11:30

Sat- Men's Breakfast 8am; Fence Painting at Turning Point 9am; Worship 5pm

 

Sun- Worship 8:30; Sunday school 9:45; Worship 11am

________________________________________________________________WORSHIP WORKERS FOR THIS WEEK:  
Acolyte- 8:30- Loren Howard; 11- Gus Klaustermeier

 

Ushers- Allan Dreyer, Lew Feldkamp, Kent Jacobsmeyer, Paul Klover

 

Altar- Set up- Ruth Walters; Clean Up- Cheryl Bettlach

 

Elders- Sat- Randy Fischer; 8:30- Don Turnure 11- Dave Winter
 
Greeters-  8:30- Don and Donna Sherman; 11- Charlie and Lynn Figura

Lay Readers- Sat- Steve Robine??; 8:30- Jacob Nagel; 11- ???? 

 

Organist- Rachel Fisher

 

Sat Pianist- Molly Hendershot

Projectionists: Sat- Toni Mauch, 8:30- Terry McKenzie 11- Dawn Sherman
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YESTERDAY'S QUIZ :

Why do you think God wants us to continue to observe a "Sabbath"? 

 

Thanks for your thoughtful and Word centered answers Don!  Quiz:  In Heb.10:25 we are urged to not forsake the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is and Acts 2:42 would have us continue in the Apostles doctrine and in breaking of bread and in prayer. These indicate there in indeed a need for a time to worship together.

 

Here, also, is a Word from the Lord concerning the Sabbath from Isaiah 58:13-14

If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath, and from doing as you please on my holy day, and call the Sabbath a delight and the holy day of the Lord honorable; if you honor it, not going your own ways, or seeking your own pleasure, or talking idly; ¹⁴ then you shall take delight in the Lord, and I will make you ride on the heights of the earth; I will feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken."

 

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TODAY'S QUIZ:  In your own words, what does it mean when Isaiah says "I delight greatly in the Lord"?  What does it mean to "delight" in the Lord? 

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NEWS!!!!

GRIEF SUPPORT GROUP TONIGHT (THURSDAY) AT 7PM! 

This group is for anyone and everyone experiencing grief, whether it be a new grief or one that has been lingering for weeks, month, or years.  We'd love for you to come and share and find peace in the mutual consolation and prayer of fellow grievers. 

 

We'll meet in the overflow. 

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MEN'S BREAKFAST THIS SATURDAY AT 8AM!!

Menu:

Pancakes (blueberry and regular)

Bacon

Eggs

Fruit

 

VIDEO BIBLE STUDY "The Case for Christ" a look at the real world proofs for Christ's existence, death, resurrection, and salvation. 

 

Please RSVP, especially if you haven't been there in a while or have never been there.  

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OUR FIRST FIFTH SUNDAY CELEBRATION DAY IS COMING UP ON SUNDAY, JULY 30!

 

Here's the schedule:

(No worship on Saturday)

Sunday:

Sunday school and Bible Class 9am

Worship 10am

Festivities, Activities, and Potluck 11am-1pm

 

All are asked to bring either a side dish or salad to share for the potluck. 

 

Be ready to meet some new brothers and sisters in Christ!!

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ALEC AND RACHEL FISHER'S LAST SUNDAY WITH US WILL BE JULY 30!!

Alec Fisher (the guy who preached while I was on vacation) has received a call to be a pastor in Maryland, therefore Rachel Fisher's (our organist) last Sunday to play organ and violin for us will be July 30.  We would like to thank them both for their service to St. John's these past two years with cards and gifts on that day.  Please consider bringing a gift to the 5^th Sunday celebration on Sunday, July 30 at 11am to show them your appreciation!  They, along with their beautiful children,  will both be greatly missed.

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TRAVELING FELLOWSHIP GROUP TRIP COMING UP!!!  GET YOUR TICKETS TODAY!

The next trip will be to Westport Playhouse on Sunday, Sept 17 for "Church Basement Ladies" a comedy take off on the Lutheran ladies in the kitchen. Men would enjoy also. We would leave at 12:30 p.m. from church and return apx 6:45 p.m. Getting tickets at 1/2 price each ticket $25 plus bus cost & dinner. They are holding 47 tickets for me this week.

 

Call MARILYN FOSTER AT 636-359-0535  or email her at mkfoster@centurytel.net to reserve your tickets!

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ANNUAL RED CROSS BLOOD DRIVE AT ST. JOHN'S COMING UP THURSDAY, AUGUST 3!!!

Volunteers are needed to set up and take down before and after and during the drive to sign people in when they come.  Call Terry at 456-2888 to sign up!  You can make an appointment to donate at redcross.org.  Walk ins are always welcome too.

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OPERATION BACKPACK ITEMS COLLECTED FOR THE MONTH OF JULY IS INDIVIDUALLY WRAPPED SNACKS AND PACKETS OF OATMEAL !

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PRAYERS: 

For LOIS FRICK as she recovers from a mild stroke she had Tuesday.  She is at St. Joe's Hospital in St. Charles for observation.

 

For FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF BILL SHOEMAKE, brother of Chrissy Groeber, who passed away last Sunday night.  Visitation 4-8pm Friday at Martin Funeral Home.  Memorial Service 11am Saturday at Martin.

 

For CAL TAMELER as he awaits much needed surgery on his legs.  Surgery is scheduled for August 8.

 

 

PRAYERS FOR OUR MILITARY PERSONNEL:

For SAM HARGROVE deployed in Amman, Jordan and DAN DREYER deployed to Kandahar, Afghanistan, that the Lord would keep them safe from harm during their service and bring them home safely.

 

For DAVID TATE stationed in Japan, COLTON FIGURA stationed in California, and ALEX WALTERS, stationed in Tennessee.  That God would bless their service to our country and keep them safe as they all await possible deployment.

 

For CALEB FIGURA AND VINCE MASTERS who are both serving our country in the National Guard and take time out of their lives, jobs, and families to go on duty several times a year.

 

 

 

 

A great article/devotion from out district president on the work of the Holy Spirit

 

Encourage Newsletter Rev. Dr. R. Lee Hagan The Third Article – The Gifts Keep On Coming The Third Article: Sanctification I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. What does this mean? I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him; but the Holy Spirit has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith. In the same way He calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian church on earth, and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith. In this Christian church He daily and richly forgives all my sins and the sins of all believers. On the Last Day He will raise me and all the dead, and give eternal life to me and all believers in Christ. This is most certainly true. Curiously, Martin Luther's explanation to the Third Article does not start with the Holy Spirit. As he begins to describe the work of the Holy Spirit, he makes clear that the same understanding applies to the work of the Holy Spirit as the Father and the Son. God the Father gives all that we need to support this body and life. God the Son gives Himself as the one sacrifice for all on the altar of the cross. He begins his explanation of the work of the Holy Spirit by debunking the myth that we can somehow choose to believe. Everything is given to us by grace, even faith. The Holy Spirit works through the Gospel and the gifts of grace to bring us to faith and sustain us in the faith. Luther's explanation contradicts any idea that we can somehow invite Jesus into our hearts. Faith, as St. Paul writes to the Ephesians, is pure gift and we understand as that which is created by the Holy Spirit. These simple words have been helpful to many Lutheran Christians who have found themselves surrounded by American evangelicals and the pressure for a "decision." As a teen-ager, I was invited to a Fellowship of Christian Athletes event that concluded with a series of people telling the story of when they became Christians, always with a dramatic story of a time when they chose to believe. Though I was never called, I raised my hand and was prepared to tell them how as a baby, I became a Christian, not because of anything I had done, but because the Holy Spirit had created faith in me. The point of this assurance is not to argue with American evangelicals, but to bring comfort to troubled consciences with the certainty that we are God's baptized and forgiven children. The reason that we gather together for worship with others is because the Holy Spirit is still at work through the Gospel and God's gifts, the Means of Grace. The same Spirit who brought us to faith is still at work through the Word and the Sacrament as a volunteer reads Portals of Prayer to a group of residents at a nursing home. The same Spirit is at work as children are taught that Christ rose again from the grave at Vacation Bible School. The same Spirit is at work the pastor preaches the Word and as distributes the Sacrament. We do not remain in the Christian faith because of our own volition, just as we did not enter the Christian faith because of our decision. It is the Holy Spirit who calls us to faith and keeps us in the faith and what a comfort that is to us throughout our days. Prayer – Almighty God, send Your Holy Spirit into our hearts that He may rule and direct us according to Your will, comfort us in all our temptations and afflictions, defend us from all error and lead us into all truth that we, being steadfast in faith, may increase in all good works and in the end obtain everlasting life; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. Fraternally in Christ, President Lee Hagan

 

 

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