DEVOTION: Romans 8:1-11English Standard Version (ESV)
Life in the Spirit
8 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.[a] 2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you[b] free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. 3 For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin,[c] he condemned sin in the flesh,4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. 6 For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. 7 For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. 8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
9 You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. 10 But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus[d] from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.
I want to talk just a minute on what Paul says in verse 5. There is a difference in our world between those who have a secular worldview and those who have a Holy Spirit worldview. Let me just list those differences in a bullet point form.
- Those who have a secular worldview have no absolute truth. To them truth is relative. That means that truth to them is whatever they make up in their own minds. And truth for someone else is whatever that person makes up in their own minds. This is how we can have someone who was born with certain sex characteristics think that they are the other sex. This is how a person can say that the earth and creatures on the earth have evolved over billions of years. It's because God's Word is not the absolute truth to them. Once you let moral relativism out of the bag and deny the absolute truth of God's Word, there's no getting it back in.
- Those who have a secular worldview have no regard for the salvation of Christ by grace through faith. Since right and wrong is relative, there is no need for salvation, because there is no such thing as sin from which to be saved. Jesus might be a good guy to be emulated and he might have some good teachings about love and doing good to others, but you can take it or leave it. It's all up to you.
- Those who have a secular worldview have guilt, because the Word of God's law has been placed in the heart of every human being, but they have either suppressed that guilt or just plain deny it. That's why people get so offended and hurt when you tell them, from God's Word, that they are doing, thinking, or saying something wrong. Their morals are relative so to tell them that they are wrong is to offend their sense of superiority and the fact that they are in control of their own life. I call it spoiled little brat syndrome.
Can you see the trouble this has caused in our country and in our world? We end up trying to please every single person's sensibilities of what they think is right and wrong and end up offending the rest of the people who don't think that way.
So what do we do? SPEAK THE TRUTH IN LOVE! That's it! At the risk of offending someone we MUST TELL THE TRUTH. Not the relative truth of the majority, but the REAL, ABSOLUTE TRUTH OF GOD'S WORD!!! Say this: "Jesus said, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. Or this, "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." Or just speak the truth of the whole section of Scripture above.
I urge you to stick with the truth! STICK WITH IT! DON'T QUIT ON THE TRUTH!!! You will be better off for it. You will have that peace that passes all understanding. Greatest of all you will have the truth which leads to eternal life!
Prayer: Lord God, set my mind on your Spirit so that I may have life and peace. Amen.
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CALENDAR:
Wed- Supper 5:30; Worship 6:30; Choir 7:15
Thurs- Karate 6:15-7:45; Lutheranism 101 6:30-7:30
Fri- 7-8 graders and pastor leave for Youth gathering 3:30pm
Sat- Worship 5pm
Sun- Worship 8:30 and 11; Sunday school 9:45; 7-8 graders return 2pm
WORSHIP WORKERS FOR THIS COMING WEEKEND:
Acolyte- Wed- Luke Rausch 8:30- ??? 11- Abby Vossen
Ushers- Wed- Dave Callies, Marv Hendershot, Don Luebke, Don Nolte; Sunday- Charlie Figura, Jason Figura, Brett Nordwald, Erv Yoder
Altar- Set up- Don Hance; Clean Up- Sandy Robine
Elders- Sat- Randy Fischer, 8:30- Jason Cluver, 11- Charlie Figura
Greeters- 8:30- Dave and Hope Tinnin; 11- Dan and Lisa Rausch
Lay Readers- Sat- Marcia Sevier; 8:30- Steve MccDowell; 11- Stephanie Owenby
Piano- Molly Hendershot
Organist- Wed and Sun- Rachel Fisher
Projectionists: No projection this weekend
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YESTERDAY'S QUIZ
Did God want Israel to have a king? The people told Samuel they wanted a king like the other nations have and they kept insisting on it. Samuel went to the Lord to ask Him what to do. the Lord said the people were not rejecting Samuel but were rejecting Him. The Lord told him to give them what they wanted and to instruct them what it would be like to have a king. (THANKS DON NOLTE)
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TODAY'S QUIZ: How old was Saul when he became king?
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NEWS!!!!
OUR CHURCH OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR/SECRETARY, MARILYN FOSTER, IS RETIRING!!
After working faithfully for St. John's for the last 14 years, Marilyn Foster, has announced that she will be retiring on May 31. We are planning a retirement celebration for her on Sunday, May 21 after church. More information will be coming about this soon.
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SUPPER AT 5:30 ON WEDNESDAY!! WORSHIP AT 6:30!!
Menu: Pasta with both white sauce and red sauce, Salad, garlic bread, dessert
Worship: Come and learn the "The Art of Spiritual Inhaling and Exhaling"
Come and join us!
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THRIVENT CHOICE DOLLARS DESIGNATION DEADLINE IS THIS FRIDAY!!
If you have an eligible Thrivent account, that accumulates Thrivent Choice dollars, you have until Friday to designate those dollars for this year!
You can designate anyone to receive them! (St. John's, Little Lambs, Good Shepherd, St. John's Youth)
Please follow the directions below! Get it done!
Call 800-847-4836 and when prompted, say "Thrivent Choice".
Press 1 to direct Choice Dollars or
Press 2 to hear Thrivent Choice program Terms and Conditions. (If prompted, say or enter your phone number and date of birth )
.
A representative will work with you to direct Choice dollars.
Do call them before March 31!
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TWO MORE PEOPLE NEEDED TO FILL THE ST.JOHN'S TABLE AT THE PREGNANCY OPTIONS CENTER BANQUET
The banquet itself is free, thanks to underwriters, but we need folks who are willing to make a donation to this very worthy cause. Please contact me 636-359-1061 if you are interested!!
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VENDORS NEEDED FOR OUR MAY 6 VENDOR FAIR AND FLEA MARKET!!
Inside vendors are $25 a table/space. Outside parking spots are $10 a piece. Donations for the youth's pavilion sale can be left in the shed or in pastor's office.
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LITTLE LAMBS ENROLLMENT FOR THE 2017-2018 SCHOOL YEAR IS OPEN!!!!
Student must be 3 for younger class or 4 for older class by August 1.
$45 nonrefundable registration fee required.
Registration packets can be picked up at Little Lambs during school hours and in the church office during non-school hours.
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TURNING POINT IS HOSTING A FASHION SHOW FUNDRAISER ON THURSDAY, MARCH 30 at the QUAIL RIDGE LODGE IN WENZTVILLE!! DOORS OPEN AT 5:30!
Enjoy stylish fashions for all women, great vendors, raffles, delicious hors d'oeuvres and signature cocktails. Tickets are $35 each! Go to www.turningpointdvs.com or call 636-456-1186 to get tickets.
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VENDOR FAIR/FLEA MARKET WILL BE SATURDAY, MAY 6!!
Inside vendor areas are rented for $25 per space
Outside vendors are $10 per parking spot.
Donations for the youth groups sale under the pavilion can be left under the pavilion or in the shed.
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STEPHEN MINISTRY IS LOOKING FOR SOME NEW STEPHEN LEADERS
If you love caring for others and consider yourself a leader, this is the perfect way for you to serve the Lord and your church family!
The Stephen Leader training is April 23-29 at the Renaissance Hotel by the airport this year and the cost of the training is covered by the church. If you choose to stay at the hotel you will have to pay for that yourself. It's only a 35 minute commute to the training from Warrenton.
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OPERATION BACKPACK ITEMS COLLECTED FOR THE MONTH OF MARCH IS
Individually wrapped snack and packets of oatmeal. Place them in the receptacle marked "Backpack Blessings" in the narthex.
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AGAPE DONATIONS ALWAYS ACCEPTED!!
Any nonperishable food items, diapers, toiletries, etc.!!
Perishable food items can be taken directly to Agape at 713 Powell St. in Warrenton. Call 456-4645 to find out when they're open or for more info.
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YOUR KROGER CARD CAN EARN MONEY FOR LITTLE LAMBS
Go to www.kroger.com/communityawards and register your card today!!
GENERAL PRAYER
For MARILYN FOSTER as she prepares for her retirement.
For PASTOR, that he can get rid of these after effects of Influenza A and B.
For both RANDY AND PATTY SWEET'S MOTHERS, Virginia, Patty's mom, has just been diagnosed with lung cancer. Rose, Randy's mom, had a bad seizure two months ago, and although she is walking and talking fine, the seizure caused some dementia.
For DANIELLE MEINE KRAMER, whose leukemia is back after a brief respite from it. She had it for several years while in high school. (She grew up riding Karin's school bus to school.)
For Mim Dunn's nephew DAVID HAHN who is dealing with severe throat cancer.
For LOIS BOEGER'S MOM, EVELYN TOEDEBUSCH, who has been on hospice care for the last few months and slows down a little more every day, but is doing well.
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