Romans 6:12-23 English Standard Version (ESV)
12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. 13 Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. 14 For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.
Slaves to Righteousness
15 What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! 16 Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves,[a] you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? 17 But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, 18 and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. 19 I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification.
20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. 21 But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. 22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Believe it or not, there are some people who think that since they are believers in Jesus, they can just go and of whatever their sinful mind and body desires. They can just go get blasted drunk and become an alcoholic if they want; they can sleep around as much as they want; they can cheat, lie, steal, and even withhold forgiveness as much as they want.
They think that as long as they are in church every once in a while and confess their sinfulness, even if they aren't truly sorry, that they are good to go.
While all of our sins are covered under the cross, including present and future ones, that doesn't give us license to go and do whatever and live however. That is foolishness. If you were held captive by a torturer, who beat you and hurt you in unimaginable ways, and you escaped, would you even think about going back?
Recently I have seen several people I know rejoice at being sober after a long time of dealing with alcoholism. They talked about how good they feel, how their mind is straight for the first time in a long time, and how they are full of joy. Why would a person go back to the opposite of that?
We do, because we are sinful human beings, but we shouldn't stay there. As soon as we slip into sin, we need to pray to the Lord to pull us out of the pit. That's what the life of the Christian is all about, continual confession, repentance, and living by the Spirit. That's what it means to live by the Spirit. I urge you to live by the Spirit today and every day!
Prayer: Lord, thank you for filling me with Your Spirit so I won't gratify the desires of the sinful nature to my own detriment and so that I can remain in faith toward you. Amen.
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CALENDAR:
Wed- Sewing Dresses for Africa 9-noon; Ladies Aid Noon- 7-12 grade youth Bible study 6:30-7:30
Thurs- Karate 6:15-7:45; Lutheranism 101
Fri- Assemble Newsletter 9am
Sat- Worship 5pm
Sun- Worship 8:30; Sunday school 9:45; Worship 11am; Youth and pastor leave for Lutheran Island Camp 12:30
________________________________________________________________WORSHIP WORKERS FOR THIS WEEK:
Acolyte- 8:30- Lydia Miller; 11- Luke Rausch
Ushers- Rich Boeger, Don Hance, Don Tate, Doug Walters
Altar- Set up- Alan Hofeldt; Clean Up- Anna Hoenig
Elders- Sat- Randy Fischer; 8:30- John Hachtel 11- Dave Winter
Greeters- 8:30- Tom and Pam Linke ; 11- Steve and Sandy Robine
Lay Readers- Sat- Judy Koprowski; 8:30- Derek Ebert; 11- ????
Organist- Rachel Fisher
Sat Pianist- Barb Dreyer
Projectionists: Sat- Toni Mauch, 8:30- Terry McKenzie; 11- Gus Klaustermeier
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YESTERDAY'S QUIZ :
What was Amos's occupation before he became a prophet? Shepherd and sycamore fig tree dresser
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TODAY'S QUIZ: Name one vision that Amos had.
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NEWS!!!!
PASTOR AND YOUTH TO LEAVE AT 12:30 THIS COMING SUNDAY FOR OUR CAMP SERVANT EVENT!!
Please pray for us, that we may make an impact for Jesus in many different ways, and that, more importantly, Jesus may make an impact on pastor and the youth that will be going!
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A WEEK LEFT TO SIGN UP FOR STEPHEN MINISTRY TRAINING!!
Right now we have seven people signed up! Will you join them? Reply to sing up or sign your name to the sign up sheet on the table in the narthex.
Throughout the month of June we will be highlighting our Stephen Ministry program.
Stephen Ministry is a caring ministry that is carried out by lay people. It has been a part of St. John's in various forms and levels since 2003. Many people have gone through the training and cared for others with their training. These people are called "care givers". Many more have benefitted from the help these people have provided. These people are called "care receivers". This is a tremendously beneficial ministry to both care giver and care receivers as both grow in faith and as many of them become friends if they weren't already.
It is also a great benefit to our congregation for many different reasons! Care givers learn how to be better Christian moms, dads, husbands, wives, friends, and church members. The congregation grows as our community finds out how caring and loving we are as a congregation through this ministry. It is a wonderful thing!
We are in need of some new Stephen ministers. It is a commitment, but the commitment is definitely worth it! You will be blessed beyond measure if you go through the training and become a Stephen Minister. PLEASE NOTE THAT WE NEED MEN TO BE STEPEHEN MINISTERS JUST AS MUCH AS WOMEN!!
Last Sunday at our 8:30 worship, Chrissy Groeber and Marcia Sevier were installed as our new Stephen Leaders!! They will be starting a new Stephen Ministry training as soon as everyone who is interested signs up and a start date and time can be established.
Please prayerfully consider this and then come to church this coming weekend and sign up or reply to this email and I will sign you up!
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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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OPERATION BACKPACK ITEMS COLLECTED FOR THE MONTH OF JUNE IS CANNED VEGETABLES!!
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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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PRAYERS:
For CAL TAMELER, as he is dealing with severe pain in his legs due to poor circulation and blockage.
For MARIANNE LINKE, as she continues to recover from heart surgery.
For SUE RUHL, as she continues to recover from a broken hip at Parklane rehab in Wentzville.
For PAT MANNESS as she is recovering from hand and wrist surgery at home.
