DEVOTION: Matthew 15:21-28 English Standard Version (ESV)
The Faith of a Canaanite Woman
21 And Jesus went away from there and withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon. 22 And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and was crying, "Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely oppressed by a demon." 23 But he did not answer her a word. And his disciples came and begged him, saying, "Send her away, for she is crying out after us." 24 He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." 25 But she came and knelt before him, saying, "Lord, help me." 26 And he answered, "It is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs." 27 She said, "Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table." 28 Then Jesus answered her, "O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire." And her daughter was healed instantly.
Canaanite women were the lowest of the low as far as Jewish people were concerned. They were not to even really look at them, much less associate with them. So when a Canaanite woman comes up to Jesus begging for healing for her daughter, at first it looks like Jesus is treating her as any other Jew would, but we soon see that he is going to use her as an example of what faith is all about.
This Canaanite woman has been example of faith for thousands of years now. It is a humble faith. It is the faith of a woman who knows that she and her daughter are both undeserving of help from the Lord, but that the Lord is full of mercy, and will answer her and do his will for her out of that mercy and grace.
We need to have that same kind of faith. It's not a faith that thinks we deserve mercy from God because we have been obedient "enough"; or a faith that thinks we deserve something from God simply because of who we are or where we come from. It's a faith that realizes that we are all poor, miserable sinners who deserve nothing but separation from God and complete eternal damnation. It is a faith that trusts that God is truly merciful enough to send His only Son to earth to be born as a human, suffer, die and rise again, all for my sorry rear end.
This faith comes from the continual reading of Scripture, and the faithful attendance of worship and Bible study. It comes from being beaten down by our own faults and failures, our shortcomings and weaknesses, and having no where else to turn but the Lord Jesus. It comes from the Holy Spirit working on our hearts and in our lives and doing His will through it all. Have this kind of faith!
Prayer: Lord, make me to trust as surely in you as the Canaanite woman did, not just in my desperate times, but all the time. Amen.
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CALENDAR:
Thurs- Warrenton School Starts, Little Lambs Open House 8:30-11; Karate 6:15-7:45; Lutheranism 101 6:30
Sat- Worship 5pm; (Men's breakfast moved to Sat, Aug. 26)
Sun Worship 8:30 and 11; Sunday school 9:45; Voter's meeting 9:45
Sat-
WORSHIP WORKERS FOR THIS WEEK:
Acolyte- 8:30- Dawn Sherman; 11- Abby Vossen
Ushers- Rich Boeger, Don Hance, Don Tate, Doug Walters
Altar- Set up- Marilyn Foster; Clean Up- Pam Linke
Elders- Sat- Charlie Figura; Sun- 8:30- Roy Bohning; 11- Steve Robine
Greeters- 8:30- Don and Wanda Turnure; 11- Steve and Sandy Robine
Lay Reader- Sat- ?????; Sun, 8:30- Erv Yoder 11- ???
Organist- Barb Dreyer
Pianists- Sat- Barb Dreyer Sun- Doug Walters
Projectionist: Sat- Perricone 8:30- Yoder 11- Sarah Cluver
TELLERS: Team #3
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YESTERDAY'S QUIZ :
Where did the one who from the waist down was fire and the waist up like glowing metal, pick up and take Ezekiel by the hair of his head in a vision? To Jerusalem which was ruined
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TODAY'S QUIZ: What instructions did God give to Ezekiel to symbolize or enact the Israelite's exile to Babylon?
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NEWS!!!!
MORE LAY READERS NEEDED!!
As quite a few of the lay readers we have had to stop doing it for one reason or another, we are in need of a few to take their place. If you would like to serve the Lord in this way, please respond to this email with your willingness and the service you would prefer to do it in. If you have questions, email or call/text me at 636-359-1061
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GRIEF SUPPORT GROUP CANCELED FOR TONIGHT!
We'll try it again next month.
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Video of last Sunday's worship. Enjoy and share!
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MEN'S BREAKFAST RESCHEDULED FOR SATURDAY, AUGUST 26.
Pastor will be out of town at a meeting this Saturday. Please mark your calendars appropriately.
VOTER'S MEETING THIS SUNDAY AT 9:45!!
Everyone who is a confirmed member of St. John's 18 years or older is a voting member. Please attend!
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FIRST STEPHEN MINISTRY TRAINING MEETING THIS WEDNESDAY AT 6PM!
Please plan to be there if you signed up!
LITTLE LAMBS GOLF OUTING, Sunday, Sept. 10
Registration- 12:30
Shotgun start- 1pm
Dinner and Prizes- 5pm
Cost- $60 per person
Two person scramble format
Hole Sponsorships available for $50 a piece (Think advertising)
Call Karin or Lisa at 456-2888 or pick up a registration form from the office!
ANNUAL LABOR DAY FLOAT TRIP
Place: Ozark Outdoors
Time: Meet at 9am
Canoes- $25 per person
Kayaks- $30 per person
Rafts- $31 per person (Children 7 and under free, and 7-12 are $15)
Tubes- $25 per person
Rides on Ozark busses are still $30 if you have your own equipment.
Call Teresa at 359-5041 or email her at tscott@usmo.com to sign up!
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OUR NEXT FIFTH SUNDAY CELEBRATION WILL BE ON SUNDAY, OCTOBER 29… REFORMATION SUNDAY!! TO CELEBRATE THE 500TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BEGINNING OF THE REFORMATION AND THE POSTING OF THE 95 THESES BY MARTIN LUTHER ON THE CASTLE CHURCH DOOR IN WITTENBERG, GERMANY!!
It is going to be a blowout celebration! Mark your calendars today to make sure you are there to enjoy the celebration!
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OPERATION BACKPACK ITEMS COLLECTED FOR THE MONTH OF AUGUST IS SOUP AND RAMEN NOODLES. Please bring items up to church and put them in the tub marked "Backpack Blessings".
GENERAL PRAYERS:
For GEORGE HOELSCHER who is HOME and is recovering from kidney failure and chemo treatments.
For CAL TAMELER who is HOME and is recovering from surgeries and a heart attack.
For LIL WINTER who is having a procedure done to find and remove a stone that may be blocking her liver, kidneys, or bladder.
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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.
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