DEVOTION: Genesis 22:1-18 English Standard Version (ESV)
The Sacrifice of Isaac
22 After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, "Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am." 2 He said, "Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you." 3 So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac. And he cut the wood for the burnt offering and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. 4 On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place from afar. 5 Then Abraham said to his young men, "Stay here with the donkey; I and the boy[a] will go over there and worship and come again to you." 6 And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son. And he took in his hand the fire and the knife. So they went both of them together. 7 And Isaac said to his father Abraham, "My father!" And he said, "Here I am, my son." He said, "Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?" 8 Abraham said, "God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son." So they went both of them together.
9 When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built the altar there and laid the wood in order and bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. 10 Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son. 11 But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, "Abraham, Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am." 12 He said, "Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me." 13 And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. 14 So Abraham called the name of that place, "The Lord will provide";[b] as it is said to this day, "On the mount of the Lord it shall be provided."[c]
15 And the angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time from heaven 16 and said, "By myself I have sworn, declares the Lord, because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, 17 I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of his[d] enemies, 18 and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice."
A lot of people would hear this story and say, no way, it's not true. There's no way a man would take his son to a place where he knew that he himself would have to sacrifice him. Who would do such a thing? The answer is, God the Father would.
Here's the thing with this story. First, God knew that Abraham would be faithful and do as he was told. He knew, because he's the one who gave him the faith and the strength to do it.
Second, God, being the omniscient and almighty God that he is, knew that Abraham wouldn't really have to sacrifice his Son. This test was for Abraham not for God. Just like at school, a test isn't as much for the teacher to know what you know and don't know as it is a way for you to be sure that you get the information and knowledge you need into your brain and to grow you into the person you are supposed to be. Tests are how you grow, get stronger, and wiser.
Third, and most importantly the real moral of the story is that the Lord DID provide. Not only did he provide a ram in the thicket, but he actually went through with what he told Abraham to do himself. God actually did send his one and only Son to die as a sacrifice for my sins and your sins. He provided his own Son as a sacrifice.
Can you see the foreshadowing here? Where Abraham didn't have to go through with sacrificing his own son, God did. Where Isaac didn't die on Mount Moriah, Jesus did on Amount Calvary. This is indeed a Gospel story.
For those who don't see what's going on here, for those whose hearts are veiled, all they see is a God who is playing with the hearts and minds of his creation. We see a God who is playing dirty tricks on those who are most faithful to him. What a believer sees is a foreshadowing of Jesus and the sacrifice he paid for us.
We are one day away from Ash Wednesday, and as I go through each year and each Ash Wednesday, and as I realize my sinfulness more and more, and as I see Cara and Gus grow into the young woman and man that God created them to be, I am in awe and wonder at how much love it took for God to put his Son through suffering, sin, hell and death for all of us. Praise be to God for his ultimate and never ending love for us! All glory honor and praise be to God!
Prayer: Lord, thank you for providing the sacrifice in your Son, Jesus Christ, for me. Help me to appreciate that sacrifice and cling to it more and more with each passing day. Amen.
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CALENDAR:
Tues- Quilting 9-2; Trustees 7
Wed- ASH WEDNESDAY supper 5:30; worship 6:30; Choir 7:30
Thurs- Karate 6:15-7:30
Fri- Bible study at Hendershot's 7pm
Sat- Men's breakfast 8am; worship 5pm
Sun- worship 8:30 and 11; Sunday school 9:45; VOTER'S MEETING AT 9:45
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WORSHIP WORKERS:
Acolyte- Wed- Jared Cluver 8:30- Jared Cluver; 11- Loren Howard
Ushers- Wed- Alan Hofeldt, Tim Linke, Gary Hoelscher, Ben Hoelscher Sat- Charlie Figura; Sun- Lew Feldkamp, Rich boeger, Brett Nordwald, Scott Schulze; 11- Erv Yoder
Altar- Wednesday is already set up/ Clean up Joanne Hachtel Sun- set up- Jodi Baldwin ; Clean Up- Terry McKenzie
Communion assistant- Wed- Randy Fischer; Sat- Steve Robine; 8:30- John Hachtel, 11- Dave Winter
Greeters- 8:30- Don Nolte????; 11- Doug and Ruth Walters
Projectionists- Sat- Gus Klaustermeier; 8:30- Schaumberg; 11- Luebke
Lay Readers- Sat- Sandra Perricone; 8:30- Jacob Nagel 11- Karen Benton
8:30 Organist- Barb Dreyer
Pianists- Sat- Kathy Barrow; 11am- Molly Hendershot
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YESTERDAY'S QUIZ: What happened to Israel when the Israelite men indulged in sexual immorality with the Moabite women and sacrificed to their gods?
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NEWS:
LENTEN MIDWEEK SUPPER AND WORSHIP BEGINS TOMORROW NIGHT!!
This year during our Lenten worship we're going to do something different. We will be doing an interactive message time in which we will all formulate our own versions of the "Gospel in seven words".
Is someone were to come to you and ask you to tell them what you believe in seven words or less, what would you say? In this fast paced, information age, you may not have much more than that to get the Gospel out to someone. How would you respond to that request?
I am very excited to see how we come up with our conclusions and what our extremely concise profession and confessions of faith will look like! You'll have to join us on Wednesday to find out what it's all about!
Supper is at 5:30
Worship is at 6:30
This Wednesday we will have the imposition of ashes and the Lord's Supper. The place better be packed with all those folks who missed worship yesterday!!!
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MEN'S BREAKFAST THIS SATURDAY MORNING AT 8AM!!
Invite someone! Bring a son or grandson! RSVP to let me know you're coming!!
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VOTER'S MEETING THIS SUNDAY AT 9:45
Agenda— Along with our usual reports there are a few things n Old Business and New Business
Old Business
- Report from restructuring task force
- Report from security team
- Discussion on consolidating three services into one
New Business- Report on possible new children's and youth program from faith Inkubators
Please come and join us and give your opinions and ideas.
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BRING YOUR BABY BOTTLES IN THIS WEEK!!!
So far we've raised $1062.36 through our baby bottle campaign with quite a few bottles still out there. If you took a bottle home with you, make sure you bring it back this week or weekend full of cash, coins, or checks!! Let's support keeping babies alive in Warren County!!
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CHILI COOK-OFF AND BOARD GAMES ON SATURDAY, FEB. 24 @ 6PM!!
Do you think you have THE BEST chili recipe known to man? Do you like to compete? Then sign up for our chili cook-off and come and join us for a fun evening with your friends at St. John's!! Invite your friends! We'll start right after our Saturday worship!!
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ALL PARENTS NEED TO RSVP TO ME SO THAT I KNOW YOU GO THE LETTER I SENT LAST WEEK AND SO I KNOW YOU'RE COMING TO OUR MEETING ON SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 25 @ NOON!!
If you have any kids between the ages of 0-18 who are members of St. John's, I want you at a luncheon and meeting on Sunday, Feb 25 at noon to discuss the future of your kid's faith life and your involvement in it. The meeting will not take more than an hour, but will hopefully make a lasting impact on how you see your role in your child's faith life, what you can do to help it, and how the church and pastor can help you help your child. Let's grow our youth into the great Christian adults god intended them to be!
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YOUTH GROUP STEAK DINNER AND AUCTION IS SATURDAY, MARCH 10!!
Tickets will go on sale at church this weekend after services.
AUCTION ITEMS ARE NEEEDED!!
If you have any good items that they youth could use for the auction, please bring them by church any time we're open! If you leave something when pastor isn't here, please put a note on it to tell us that it is from you.
NEWSLETTERS WILL NO LONGER BE MAILED!!!
This past week was the last week you'll receive your newsletter in the mail unless you are shut-in, in the military or live far away from home for some reason. You'll have to come to church to get it!
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RETIREMENT SEMINARS AVAILABLE. WHO IS INTERESTED?
Denny Hagan from eldercare associates would like to know how many people would be interested in attending one or more of the following seminars if he were to come out to St. John's to do them.
- Identity theft. With tax season coming, this is a serious concern to not only seniors, but to everybody that has a Social Security Number. As a matter of fact, the most profitable Information on the net, is for children. It takes much longer to catch the issue, due to lack of use of the children's numbers.
- Changes in how Medicare Part B, is billed to Seniors, It is more important than ever that one takes the time to plan their retirement. Medicare part B is billed based on one's income, and to make it even more confusing, it is based on your income of 2 years ago. Now, before we start scaring anybody, If they are already receiving benefits, this new rule, will not apply. All of these rules, are changes in Social Security.
- Understanding Social Security: how to get all that is coming to you and making the most of it.
If anyone is interested in any of these, please let me know, and if we get enough people interested, we will get Denny to come out and do a presentation.
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A NEW SUPPORT GROUP FOR SOLDIERS HAS FORMED CALLED "WARRIORS' JOURNEY HOME"
It is a nonsectarian, nonpolitical group that will be meeting the second Sunday of the month at 2pm at Bridgeway Behavioral Health 1206 E. Veteran's memorial Parkway in Warrenton. Rev. Dr. Gary Ellul (retired from the Army, a licensed counselor, and pastor at St. Paul's In Jonesburg) will be leading the group. You can call his office if you are interested or know someone who is. Phone number is 636-224-1411. Pamphlets are on the counter in the narthex if you would like more information.
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OFFERING ENVELOPES ARE ON THE SHELVES UNDERNEATH THE CHURCH MAILBOXES IN THE NARTHEX IF YOU HAVEN'T PICKED THEM UP YET!
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OUR LAST DIRECTORY (Last updated in August of 2016) has a lot of outdated phone numbers. If your number has changed, please call the office 456-2888 and let Terry know!
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DUE TO SOME TROUBLES WITH OUR CHURCH EMAIL ADDRESS WE HAVE HAD TO GET A NEW ONE
Our new email address is sjwarrlutheran@gmail.com. Please change it in your address books!!
Pastor's email, revklaus@hotmail.com will remain the same.
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LITTLE LAMBS IS STILL SELLING CANDY BARS AND COULD USE YOUR HELP!
If you'd like to help sell a box or two of candy bars as a fundraiser for Little Lambs preschool. Let Terry or one of the preschool ladies know. They'll hook you up right quick!
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DO YOU HAVE A THRIVENT FINANCIAL ACCOUNT OR POLICY?
You may be eligible to receive money for Little Lambs or Good Shepherd!! Go to www.thrivent.com/choicedollars to check it out!
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OPERATION BACKPACK DONATIONS FOR THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY IS CANNED VEGETABLES.
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PRAYERS:
For DON NOLTE who will be having carpel tunnel surgery on Thursday.
For JOANNA HOELSCHER who is recovering from surgery at home.
For PAT JAEGER as she recovers from carpel tunnel surgery at home.
For HAROLD TEMME as he is hospitalized recovering from a broken nose and as concussion after a bad fall.
For RAYMOND SLAYDEN, son of Lil Winter, as he is having the same trouble as she is with a-fib and congestive heart troubles
For LIL WINTER as she deals with heart troubles.
For PAUL TOEDEBUSCH as he continues to recover from a broken leg and severely sprained ankle. He has to wear a boot for 4 more weeks, but can walk on it and use a cane to get around.
For GEORGE HOESCHER, GINA BOHNING (Roy Bohning's wife), BUCK HAMPTON, and DENISE HOOKER (Betty Tameler's daughter) as they continue to deal with cancer.
PRAYERS FOR OUR MILITARY PERSONNEL:
For COLTON FIGURA deployed to Turkey, SAM HARGROVE deployed in Kuwait 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, 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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