Daily Email: Wednesday, January 6, 2016

DEVOTION: Romans 6:1-11

6 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? ² By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? ³ Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? ⁴ We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

⁵ For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. ⁶ We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. ⁷ For one who has died has been set free from sin. ⁸ Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. ⁹ We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. ¹⁰ For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. ¹¹ So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
 
Some might say that believing in Jesus is taking the easy way out.  "All we have to do is believe in Jesus", they say.  They think that this means that if I just believe in Jesus, that he died on the cross for me and rose from the dead so I can live forever, then I can do whatever I want.  I can go commit crimes, cheat on my wife, and be a glutton as much as I want. 
 
This couldn't be further from the truth.  The whole reason Christ had to suffer and die in the first place was to pay the penalty for our sin.  To think that we can just go do whatever our sinful nature desires is like a dog going back to his own vomit, or like a drug addict going back to his drug after he has just announced that he is clean.  We died to sin!  Why would we continue to live in it? 
 
The biggest part of confession and repentance is our disgust and shame from our sin.  We don't like it.  We don't want to do it.  We want to turn from it.  It is our desire and our want that makes repentance true and real.  True repentance comes from the heart and God sees straight to the heart. 
 
Certainly we can't repent of and overcome every sin in this life.  We will always have sin in our lives.  That doesn't mean we should just give in to sin or, even worse, like it.  It doesn't mean that we should live our lives free TO sin. 
 
It means that we live our lives free OF sin.  We died to it, means that it is no longer an acceptable part of our lives and should be confessed, repented, and fought against.  Our sins should be shoved right back down the devil's throat.  They should be left at the cross and not picked up again. 
 
And so we live in this continual, conflictual state as both saint and sinner at the same time.  We are saints by virtue of our baptisms into Christ and the Holy Spirit living in us, and we are sinners by virtue of these sinful human bodies that we still live in until the day of our death or the day of judgment, whichever comes first. 
 
So we pray "COME QUICKLY, LORD JESUS!"  so we can be free of these bodies.  Until then we have patience and peace as we continually pray "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.  Cast me not away from Your presence nor take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with Your FREE spirit.  Amen
 
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CALENDAR:
Wed- Choir 7pm
Thurs- Alzheimers Group 1pm
Sat- worship 5pm
Sun- Worship 8:30 and 11; Sunday school 9:45; Elder's Meeting Noon; High School Youth Bible Study and Pizza @ Church 5pm
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WORSHIP WORKERS:  
Acolyte-  8:30- Dawn Sherman; 11- John Pezold

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

Altar- Set up- Marilyn Foster and Sue Ruhl; Clean up- Wanda Turnure

Elders- Sat- Steve Robine; 8:30- John Hachtel; 11-Dave Winter

Greeters- 8:30- Tom and Pam Linke; 11- Doug and Ruth Walters

Lay readers- Zach Hoelscher; Hannah Johnson

Sat. Pianist- Kathy Barrow

Organist-  Rachel Fisher

Projectionists:  ???????
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YESTERDAY'S  BIBLE QUIZ:     Why does the Bible say that God chose Noah to build the ark?  Here's Pat King's answer: 
Noah was chosen because he was the most righteous man on earth.(Genesis 7:1)
(Ezekiel 14:14)
He 'walked faithfully with God' (Genesis 6:9NIV)
He was a "preacher of righteousness" (2 Peter 2:5 NIV)
He showed 'godly fear' (respect) and faith (Hebrews 11:7ASB)
 
(Note: Someone else better start answering, because Pat is going to be gone for a couple weeks on a trip.)

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TODAY'S BIBLE QUIZ: When Abram and Lot separated, because the land couldn't support both of them with their large flocks and herds, which way did each of them go?

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NEWS!!!! 

NEW ADULT BIBLE CLASS STARTING THIS SUNDAY AT 9:45

What makes Lutherans different than other Christian churches?  Is it the good potlucks?  Is it our staunch German heritage?  Is it our constant singing of hymns and liturgy?  Well..... maybe.  But there is something even more substantial than these that sets us apart.  It is our clear distinction of Law and Gospel.  "What does this mean?"  You ask.  You'll just have to come to Bible study at 9:45am on Sunday to find out!

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WE NEED ONE MORE PERSON TO ORDER TO GET THE BULK RATE OF HOPE FULL LIVING DEVOTIONS FOR SENIORS!!!

"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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OPERATION BACKPACK FOR JANUARY IS CANNED FRUIT!!

You can also do individual size cups.

 

(Remember this is for the poor and needy children of our community and county that often receive two breakfast and lunch at school, and have very little or no food at home.)

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HIGH SCHOOL YOUTH BIBLE STUDY MEETING AND PIZZA SUNDAY @ 5PM!!

Pastor K. wants to get back in touch with the high school kids after Christmas break, and start to prepare them for the youth gathering coming up this Summer!  Please plan on being there!!!

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GAME AND SOUP NIGHT ON SATURDAY, JANUARY 16, 6-9pm!!!

Bring your favorite card games, board games, or even dominoes!  Soup, chili, coffee and tea will be provided!!  All attending should bring a snack or dessert to share.  You may also bring drinks of your own choice!  Please sign the sheet in the narthex if you plan on coming. 
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GENERAL PRAYERS:

For RON AND CINDY WILLIAMS and their family as they mourn the loss of their sister in law who died from cancer on Monday.  She has three young kids.

 

For PAUL AND TERESA BROCKFELD, soon to become members of St. John's, as their gunsmith business was torched yesterday morning.

 

For the FAMILY OF CAROL KOHRS, as she passed away on New Year's night. 

 

For JOANNE HACHTEL, as she recovers from rotator cuff surgery.

 

For PASTOR MCCRACKEN, from Trinity in Troy, who is on a two month leave to heal from cancer treatments.

 

For PASTOR PIPER, from St. Paul, New Melle, as he recovers from a heart attack he had while running a 5K in Florida.

 

For THOSE DEALING WITH FLOODING PROBLEMS in the days and weeks ahead, that the Lord would provide for their needs, and use us, if need be, to help. 

 

For MARIANNE LINKE, who has been moved to Warrenton Manor and is receiving treatment and antibiotics for a very stubborn infection.

 

For DENISE SCHLESSELMANN as she is in need of more funding to continue her mission work in the Czech Republic.

 

For DONNNA LINDSEY'S DAD, as he has been moved to Lincoln County Nursing and rehab to recover from kidney troubles.