DEVOTION: 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 English Standard Version (ESV)
Christ the Wisdom and Power of God
18 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written,
"I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart."
20 Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach[a]to save those who believe. 22 For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
26 For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards,[b] not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29 so that no human being[c] might boast in the presence of God. 30 And because of him[d] you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 31 so that, as it is written, "Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord."
A wise man once said, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." The trouble with this saying is that what if someone doesn't think it's broke? Shouldn't it still be fixed if it is? That's the problem with this world and the people in it. We, whose eyes have been opened by the Holy Spirit see that this world is broken. We know that it is desperate and dying. The only hope for the world is one who was outside and above this world coming down from heaven to save it.
On the other hand, there are billions of people who think that this world isn't broken, it may be damaged a bit, but the smart, intelligent "wise" people of this world can fix it. So many people have put their trust in science and scientists instead of the creator of science and scientists. Science isn't going to save the world. Science isn't going to fix it. It may remedy the symptoms of sin for a while, but it isn't going to eliminate them. Just like medicine may mask or delay the symptoms of a disease, but the disease doesn't go away, so it is with any human "fix" to the ills of this world.
Brothers and sisters, if you keep turning to earthly "fixes" to the problems of sin, you are just going to kick the can further down the road, and the problem will still persist. On the other hand, if you deal with the problem of sin the way God wants, you will find true and real relief. So I urge you to do it God's way. Understand that this world is wasting away day by day. Don't cling to it. Cling to Christ! Confess your weaknesses and sins, repent of them, turn, and run to Christ's open arms. For once, feel the real relief that is yours in Christ! Let go of this world, surrender to God's will and rest.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for making what is foolish to this world, wise to me. Thank you for opening my eyes to what is real and true. Thank you Jesus! Amen.
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CALENDAR:
Thurs- Alzheimer's support group 1pm; Stephen Ministry 6; Confirmation make up 6-7; Karate 6:15-7:45
Sun- worship 8:30 and 11; Sunday school 9:45; USHER'S MEETING AT 9:45!!; Basement reserved 2pm
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Acolyte- Wed- Cierra Figura; 8:30- Nova Luebke ; 11- Luke Rausch
Ushers- Wed- Lew Feldkamp, Rich Boeger, Brett Nordwald, Scott Schulze; Sat- Bob Linke Sun- Alan Hoffeldt, Tim Linke, Gary Hoelscher, Ben Hoelscher ; 11- Dave Winter
Altar- Wednesday candles- Don Hance; Sun- set up- Lucille Luebke; Clean Up- Pam Linke
Communion assistant- Sat- Roy Bohning; 8:30- Jason Cluver, 11- Dave Winter
Greeters- 8:30- Dave and Hope Tinnin; 11- Joan Sexton
Projectionists- Sat- Perricone; 8:30- Yoder 11- Abby Vossen
Lay Readers- Sat- Marcia Sevier; 8:30- Jennifer Figura 11- Dulci Rahn
Organist- Wed- Barb Dreyer; Sun- Patti Golden
Pianists- Sat- Kathy Barrow
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YESTERDAY'S QUIZ: Children born of forbidden unions may never enter the assembly of the Lord.
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TODAY'S QUIZ: According to Scripture, if a man seduces a virgin who is not pledged to be married and sleeps with her, what must he do?
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NEWS:
SPRING SOFTBALL: There's interest in starting an adult St. John's softball team. Games are on Sunday nights starting April 8 at Khoury field. Deadline for sign ups is Monday, March 5. Let me know if you wanna join the team. Friends of St. John's are welcome too. $30 per person. We need 10-12 people to make a go of it.
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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 STILL 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 there just put a note on it saying it was from you! Thank you in advance!
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LENTEN MIDWEEK SUPPER NEXT WEDNESDAY at 5:30 AND WORSHIP AT 6:30
Supper- Taco and burrito bar, desserts
Worship--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".
If 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!!
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WE ARE CHANGING THE WAY WE EDUCATE OUR KIDS AND GROW THEM IN THE FAITH AT ST.JOHN'S!!
THE TWO MOST IMPORTANT FACTORS TO GROW CHILDREN IN THE FAITH
- Parents must be involved and take ownership of the faith formation of their children. Gone are the days of just dropping your kids off at Sunday school so that "the church" can teach them the faith. I don't know about you, but I learned how to live the faith from my parents the most.
- The church must be a supplement, help, and encouragement to the parents (not the primary source of faith formation).
To help parents in their duties as the primary growers of the faith of their children we are going to start two new programs at St. John's.
1. The first is called Faith5. This is a very simple yet profound thing that families will learn to do together in their own homes each night/day. The basics are very simple. It can be done whenever the family can all get together. The example I'm going to use is right before bed, so the first one to want to go to sleep calls the huddle. The family then gets together in the bedroom of the person who called the huddle, at the kitchen table, or wherever, and they do these five things
1. Share- Each person shares the highs and Lows of the day
2. Read- Bible reading or Story
3. Talk- Application of reading to the day
4. Pray- Pray about the day
5. Blessing- A kiss, a hug, a benediction
Although this sounds simple, we want to get the most out of the very short amount of time we have with our kids. We also always want to be better parents, especially when it comes to the faith upbringing of our kids, so we will have a Faith5 Training for parents beginning on Sunday, April 15 during Sunday school time at 9:45. PLEASE SIGN UP WITH PASTOR FOR THIS TRAINING!!!! It will be done on Sunday, May 27.
2.The second is called Bible Song Cross Gen. It is called this, because every lesson revolves around a Bible song that coincides with the lesson for the week. It will begin on WEDNESDAY, MAY 30 AND WILL BE EVERY WEDNESDAY FROM 6pm-7pm. Parents are strongly encouraged to stay with their children.
Here is the schedule:
6:00-6:20-- Bible Song, Skit, and Story
6:20-6:50—Family Group Time (Practicing Faith5 in a church family setting)
6:50-7- Closing
As with any good church program volunteers are key! We need people to step up and take ownership of this program to make it successful! Here are somethings we will need:
1. Parents stay with kids!!
2. Skit Group (3 or 4) (Sign Up to volunteer to help)
3. Art attack coordinators (2 or 3) (Sign Up with Pastor to volunteer to help)
4. Group Leaders (2 or 3) (Sign Up with Pastor to volunteer to help)
3.What are we gonna do with Sunday school?
For the most part, it is going to go away, but For parents who still want some adult Bible study time, or just want to get out and do grocery shopping without kids, we'll have a very unstructured and informal time on Sunday mornings. (Play time, videos, Bible story book.) Like all the rest of this stuff, it will only be as good as those who take ownership. Right now, Karin Klaustermeier and Naomi Johnson are the only ones who lead your kids on Sunday mornings. It would be good to get two or three more trusted adults to lead this, and then each person would only have to do it once a month. (A big shout out should also go to Torre Statler and Taryn Linke for doing a Bible study with the high school kids when they show up.)
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RETIREMENT SEMINARS SCHEDULED FOR TUESDAY, APRIL 3 AND TUESDAY APRIL 24 AT 6PM!!
Denny Hagan from Eldercare Associates will be here on April 3 to talk about Identity protection and Asset preservation. And then again on April 24 to talk about Social Security. ICE CREAM WILL BE SERVED!!
Please sign up on the counter in the narthex or call the church office to let us know you will be there.
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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?
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OPERATION BACKPACK DONATIONS FOR THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY IS CANNED VEGETABLES.
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PRAYERS:
For DENISE HOOKER (Betty Tameler's daughter) who is recovering from surgery to put a stent in her stomach so she can eat.
For BILL MCKENZIE, (Terry McKenzie's father in law), who is home from the hospital and has been placed on hospice.
For LIL WINTER as she deals with heart troubles.
For ASHTON, a 3 day old baby who is the grandson of a friend of the Nagels who is recovering from open heart surgery.
For GEORGE HOESCHER, GINA BOHNING (Roy Bohning's wife), and BUCK HAMPTON, 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.
