"Before Abraham Was, I Am"
48 The Jews answered him, "Are we not right in saying that you are a Samaritan and have a demon?" 49 Jesus answered, "I do not have a demon, but I honor my Father, and you dishonor me. 50 Yet I do not seek my own glory; there is One who seeks it, and he is the judge. 51 Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death." 52 The Jews said to him, "Now we know that you have a demon! Abraham died, as did the prophets, yet you say, 'If anyone keeps my word, he will never taste death.' 53 Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? And the prophets died! Who do you make yourself out to be?" 54 Jesus answered, "If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, 'He is our God.'[a] 55 But you have not known him. I know him. If I were to say that I do not know him, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and I keep his word. 56 Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad." 57 So the Jews said to him, "You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?"[b] 58 Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am." 59 So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple.
Abraham was considered the father of the Israelites. He started their nation. So when Jesus said, "Before Abraham was, I am" he was making himself greater than Abraham. He was blaspheming in their ears and their eyes.
The truth is that not only did Jesus exist before Abraham, he CREATED Abraham. He is, was and always will be Abraham's God. Jesus isn't just a good dude to think about every once in a while. He isn't just our friend, (although he is definitely our friend.) He is so much more than just a man who suffered and died. He is God! He is the same as the Father. He is the same as the Holy Spirit.
When we speak that Athanasian Creed tomorrow and Sunday, it is to remind ourselves and those around us that Jesus is our GOD!! He is much more than the guy who does good stuff for us. He is more than the guy who answers our prayers. He is our maker and redeemer! He is our EVERYTHING!! Let's act like it today!
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for being my everything. Help me to honor you for who you truly are today with my words, my love, my forgiveness, and my very life. Amen.
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CALENDAR:
Fri- Bible study at Hendershots 7pm
Sat- Men's breakfast 8am; Worship 5pm
Sun- worship 8:30; Sunday school 9:45; Worship 11; Gross Out Challenge Day
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WORSHIP WORKERS:
Acolyte- 8:30- Hailey Blechle 11- Jack Bunge
Ushers- Don Hance, Rich Boeger, Doug Walters, Don Tate
Altar- Set up- Lucille Luebke; Clean Up- Lynn Russell, and Elaine Schauer
Elders- Sat- Roy Bohning; 8:30- John Hachtel; 11- Steve Robine
Greeters- 8:30- Dave and Linda Callies; 11- Dan and Lisa Rausch
Lay Readers- Sat- Roy Bohning 8:30- Amber Vossen; 11- Steve Robine
Organist- Rachel Fisher
Piano- Kathy Barrow
Projectionists: Sat- Pam Bueltmann; 8:30- George Pezold 11- Luke Rausch
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YESTERDAY'S QUIZ: According to Solomon, what is the purpose of his Proverbs?
Here's Pat King's answer: (Please note that Pat's views and commentary are not necessarily the views and commentary of Pastor Klaustermeier or St. John's Lutheran Church...... but they are pretty stinking funny most of the time.)
These are the proverbs of Solomon, David's son, king of Israel.
Their purpose is to teach people wisdom and discipline,
to help them understand the insights of the wise.
Their purpose is to teach people to live disciplined and successful lives,
to help them do what is right, just, and fair.
These proverbs will give insight to the simple,
knowledge and discernment to the young.
Let the wise listen to these proverbs and become even wiser.
Let those with understanding receive guidance
by exploring the meaning in these proverbs and parables,
the words of the wise and their riddles.
Fear of the LORD is the foundation of true knowledge,
but fools despise wisdom and discipline.
Proverbs 1:1-7
We have been blessed beyond measure in the United States haven't we? I want you to join me in making a global difference by releasing children from poverty through Christian education.
Instead of taking a week off and joining my fellow Lead a Child bikers who are riding the Fault Line across four states this year, I have decided to go solo and bike 1,000 miles locally and while on vacation by August 1 to raise funds for LeadaChild. Would you sponsor me so that I can raise funds to support this most worthy organization? In my opinion, there is no more worthy organization to support than LeadaChild!
LeadaChild provides educational assistance to over 26,000 children and shares the love of Jesus Christ with the students and their families! LeadaChild supports the poorest of the poor children through Christian education in the following countries:
Guatemala Chad Honduras Palestine Haiti Uganda
Gambia Ivory Coast El Salvador Nigeria Panama Nicaragua
Burma Ghana Chile Venezuela Bolivia Mexico
Liberia Uruguay Sri Lanka India Guinea Sierra Leone
Bangladesh Cambodia South Africa Togo Thailand
These students need your help to find a way out of poverty through Christian education and learn of the hope of Christ our Savior.
Please fill out your information below and send it with your check or donate online through the LeadaChild website: http://www.leadachild.org/bike
Every dollar makes a difference. Please give generously. Please remember all of the riders in your prayers! Thank you much for your support!
Biking For Kids Together,
Pastor Jeremy Klaustermeier
LeadaChild is a 501 C-3 non-profit organization and is a Recognized Service Organization of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod.
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