DEVOTION: Romans 10:5-17English Standard Version (ESV)
The Message of Salvation to All
5 For Moses writes about the righteousness that is based on the law, that the person who does the commandments shall live by them. 6 But the righteousness based on faith says, "Do not say in your heart, 'Who will ascend into heaven?'" (that is, to bring Christ down) 7 "or 'Who will descend into the abyss?'" (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).8 But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart" (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); 9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. 11 For the Scripture says, "Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame." 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. 13 For "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."
14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard?[a] And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!" 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?" 17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
A stronger faith doesn't, or for that matter faith at all, doesn't come from ascending to heaven. You can't work your way to a greater faith. It's not the same as what eating right and exercising does for your body. You can't do ore good stuff and expect to have a stronger faith.
Faith, and stronger faith, comes by HEARING THE WORD OF CHRIST! The more you hear it, the more you read it, the more you live in it, the stronger your faith will be.
And that Word will cause you to do certain things. It will cause you to fall to your knees and repent. Just like it did when the Israelites heard it after being away from it for 70 years in Babylon. Just like the person who doesn't know that their sexual sin is truly sin until they read the Scriptures that call it what it is. Just like the pastor who hasn't been sharing the good news like he should, and cries out to God for mercy.
Then it causes us to hear that good news, that freedom giving, peace giving, joy giving Gospel. The good news that the Father sent His Son, Jesus to earth to be born of a virgin, suffer, die and rise again all for us, on our behalf. It causes you to throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles and run the race that is marked out for you which has as its finish line eternal life with Jesus!
Stop thinking that you can go it on your own. Stop thinking that being a Christian is all about being a "good" person (whatever that means), and following the rules. Stop thinking that being a Christian means being "religious", whatever that means.
Instead, read the passage above again with the restful good news of Jesus in mind, and then get out into the world and live free!
Lord, thank you for giving me people in my life who loved me enough to share the good news with me and made sure that I confessed with my mouth that your Son is Lord and believed in my heart that God raised Him from the dead. Amen.
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CALENDAR:
Thurs- Karate 6:15-7:45; Lutheranism 101 6:30
Sat- Worship 5pm
Sun Worship 8:30 and 11; Sunday school and Bible Class 9:45; Elder's meeting Noon; Little Lambs Open House 5pm
Sat-
WORSHIP WORKERS FOR THIS WEEK:
Acolyte- 8:30- Dulci Rahn; 11- Luke Rausch
Ushers- Charlie Figura, Jason Figura, Brett Nordwald, Erv Yoder
Altar- Set up- Marilyn Foster; Clean Up- Wanda Turnure
Elders- Sat- Roy Bohning; Sun 8:30- Don Turnure; 11- Al Benton
Greeters- 8:30- Dave and Hope Tinnin; 11- dan and Lisa Rausch
Lay Reader- Sat- Roy Bohning; Sun, 8:30- Steve Robine 11- Karen Benton
Organist- Pat Golden
Pianists- Sat- Kathy Barrow Sun
Projectionist: Sat- Mauch 8:30- McKenzie 11- Klaustermeier
TELLERS: Team #2
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YESTERDAY'S QUIZ :
Who was Baruch?
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NEWS!!!!
MY PHONE IS BROKE
Don't call or text me today. You can email or Facebook message me, but just know that I will not be able to get it till this afternoon. You can call the church office to get a hold of me and I will get the message when I get back to the office this afternoon.
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YOUTH NIGHT TONIGHT
When? 5:30-7pm!!
Who? All youth 3-18
Where? Church basement
What? Supper- soft pretzels, hotdogs, and ice cream: Fun- Silly songs, A Bible story, and a scavenger
Why? To celebrate Jesus and have one last fun night at church before school starts
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BACKPACK BLESSING THIS COMING WEEKEND!!
Bring your kids, grandkids, great-grandkids, neighbor's kids, and every kid you can think of, to church this weekend to get your kids and their backpacks blessed and filled with the Holy Spirit so they can start school in a good way!
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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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TRAVELING FELLOWSHIP GROUP TRIP COMING UP!!! GET YOUR TICKETS TODAY!
The next trip will be to Westport Playhouse on Sunday, Sept 17 for "Church Basement Ladies" a comedy take off on the Lutheran ladies in the kitchen. Men would enjoy also. We would leave at 12:30 p.m. from church and return apx 6:45 p.m. Getting tickets at 1/2 price each ticket $25 plus bus cost & dinner. They are holding 47 tickets for me this week. Call MARILYN FOSTER AT 636-359-0535 or email her at mkfoster@centurytel.net to reserve your tickets!
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 finds out the course of action to take concerning his cancer.
For CAL TAMELER as he is recovering from surgery and Mercy hospital in Crever Couer.
For LOIS FRICK as she has been moved to St. Joseph Hospital in Lake St. Louis for rehab.
For LIL WINTER as she deals with diverticulitis, and awaits surgery at the end of this month.
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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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