St. John's Lutheran ChurchWarrenton, MO

The Lutheran Hour: December 15, 2013

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From: Lutheran Hour Ministries <lh_min@lhm.org>
Date: 12/14/2013 9:15 PM (GMT-06:00)
To: revklaus@hotmail.com
Subject: The Lutheran Hour: December 15, 2013

Sermon Text for December 15, 2013

"Forgiveness, the Gift That Keeps on Giving" #81-15
Presented on The Lutheran Hour on December 15, 2013
By Rev. Gregory Seltz, Lutheran Hour Speaker
Copyright 2013 Lutheran Hour Ministries

Text: Matthew 18:21-35

Grace, mercy, and peace to you in the powerful forgiving grace of Jesus Christ, a gift that keeps on giving. Amen.

I love the holidays, don't you? It's the time to listen, to sing Christmas carols, the songs of the season! One song that I hear regularly is "The Twelve Days of Christmas." It's an old carol, the lyrics originally were written in 1780. It goes back a long way. The song recaps the tradition of giving gift after gift from the time of Christmas Day through January 5th--just before Epiphany. That was the original Christmas season. I think kids would love it if that tradition continued, how about you? But honestly, the song gets kind of long for me. A partridge in a pear tree, two turtledoves, three French hens, four calling birds, and, of course, five golden rings. Should I keep on going? When the song finally gets to drummers drumming, pipers piping, lords a-leaping, ladies dancing, maids a-milking, swans a-swimming, and geese a-laying, it's almost too much, right? The giving goes on and on and on!

Well, maybe that song can get too long for some or maybe those aren't your kind of gifts; but, I know a gift that everyone needs this season, one that is always on time, one that needs to be received and shared today more than ever. And Jesus speaks of this most important gift of all, when He teaches us to pray, "Father, forgive us our trespasses, our sins, our debts, as we forgive those who sin against us."

That's a gift that you can never receive too much, and it's a gift that keeps on giving in a world that is up to its neck in guilt, grief, and shame. It's God's gift for relationships that are broken and fractured in resentment, in need of His reconciliation and restoration when all seems lost!

Forgiveness, God's gift in Christ to you and me, it's the gift that keeps on giving when our giving gives out. It's the power of the Lord's Prayer unleashed in your life and mine in the relationships that we hold dear.

Peter came up to Jesus one day and asked, "Lord, how often when my brother sin against me, shall I forgive him? As many as seven times?" Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times."

The Apostle Peter knew the power of forgiveness. He was a man of the Bible after all. But, he still didn't get the fact that because we all are sinners ourselves, real, enduring, reconciling forgiveness is beyond our capacity and control. It has to be a gift received from God to be a gift unleashed and shared for others.

Instead, Peter was playing religious games with Jesus. He was asking, "Lord, what do I have to do to make things right with God and with others." Implied in his question was his thought that he was being more than fair. In Peter's mind and in the mind of many today, he was being generous, even overly generous. The old Jewish teaching was that forgiving one who sinned against you, up to three times, that was enough. Peter, think about it, he doubled that plus one. He thought, "Hey Jesus, I'm willing to be a forgiving kind of guy. Lord, look, I'm willing to do even more than is required!" But real forgiveness, real forgiveness is so much more.

Forgiveness is not just a sinful person's best effort to let something go or to let "bygones be bygones." No, forgiveness is something that has to originate in the character of God, to flow out from Him, to be received on God's gracious terms so as to be shared with one another. Forgiveness has to deal with eternal justice for sin, not just temporal fairness. It has to be rooted in the holiness and righteousness of God to be the kind of enduring forgiveness that the Bible speaks about, one that truly overcomes real guilt and pain.

Jesus teaches us to pray, "Father, forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us" not as a quid-pro-quo, you know, "Father, okay, we'll forgive so that you forgive us." No, it is rather, in the forgiveness that God has earned and made available to us as a gift, just as we are forgiven in Christ, put that forgiveness to work in your relationships in His Name.

When Jesus replied to Peter, "I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times" (Matthew 18:22 ESV), this statement blew Peter and all of His listeners away. It was a dramatic statement that showed what forgiveness really meant, how radical it was. Jesus ventured into the territory of the gift that keeps on giving, the gift of forgiveness resourced and given from the heart of God. Like "The Twelve Days of Christmas" keeps going and going and going, Jesus dove into the never-ending song of forgiveness from the heart of God; it keeps going and giving, going and giving.

You see, the enduring and perpetuating gift of forgiveness began at the cross of Jesus Christ. He paid the price for your sin. God forgave your debt because Jesus paid it in your place. You owed your life to a Holy God because of your sins and failures; but God took the payment of Jesus' life in your place. Because of God's great love for you in Christ, He forgives you. He lets you go in His peace. He releases you from the burden of debt and allows you to live in His freedom. At Christmas we see the amazing sacrifice of God for you as He sent His only Son to be born in a manger, to live a perfect life in your place, to die on a cross for your forgiveness, and to rise from the dead so that you can walk in new life today and forever. Forgiveness received, so that forgiveness can be shared. That's the gift that keeps on giving!

And, boy, does that gift keep on giving and giving. And that's the point.

It's a gift to be used. It is the power of letting go when so many still keep holding on to the wrong things instead. I realize that the holidays are often not times of unity and brotherhood. So often they are times of brokenness, hurt feelings, and pain. There are those family grudges; why can't we let go of these things. There are wounds and sadness that you can't seem to release. There are broken hearts and difficult memories that won't seem to go away. So when Christmas comes, you feel weighed down, burdened, sad, angry, even frustrated. You hold on to the old junk that fouls up the holidays and you end up in the dark prison of despair.

And that's why it is so important to come back to the Lord's Prayer daily in our lives, to come back to the true gift of Christmas in the Babe of Bethlehem. This isn't merely a human holiday, this is Christmas; this is a God-sent holy day, when He comes into the world to forgive, to reconcile, to deal with your guilt and pain, and to give you an abundant life that He has made possible for you. Come back to Him first in faith and in prayer and let His blessing of forgiveness and peace rule your heart no matter what is happening in the things all around you.

To make His point even more clear, Jesus told Peter and the Apostles a parable, a story that would drive home this gift into their hearts. He said this: "Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents..... So the servant (who couldn't pay it, by the way) he fell on his knees, imploring him, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.' And out of pity, mercy, for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt" (Matthew 18:23-27 ESV).

"Forgive, as I have forgiven you." You see, when the King forgives your debt, it is forgiven. Christmas, Good Friday, Easter had come for the servant in this story! As he approached the king, he was in debt up to his eyeballs. Ten thousand talents was the equivalent of ten to twenty million dollars today. It was an impossible debt. Feeling the full force of what he owed, how he had fallen short, and the pain it would cause him and his family, this servant begged the king for patience and mercy. Amazingly, the king's heart went out to the man. He had mercy on him. The servant's debt became the king's and the king's freedom became the servants. Debt paid, mercy given, servant released, set free.

But Jesus isn't giving an economics lesson or a philanthropy illustration here. He is pointing out the fact that there is something even greater than a 20 million dollar debt paid; it's the eternal mercy, love, and forgiveness of God overcoming the debt of your sin. When you receive that kind of love and forgiveness, it changes things. It is the power and blessing of God, received by faith that is to be put to good use in our lives and in our relationships.

"Forgive as I have forgiven you."

When I was young, I used to really enjoy skipping rocks on the smooth morning waters on the lake where my grandparents lived. Do you remember doing that? Do you also remember when you got a really big stone, or the water would be a bit rough, and it not only wouldn't skip, it would make a big splash? And remember with that huge splash came those rippling waves. Well, if you think about it, God's grace is like those rippling waves in the midst of the rough waters of our lives. Like a boulder that makes an enormous splash in the pond, sending rippling waves from shore to shore, forgiven sinners let the big splash of God's grace in their lives flow wave after wave into the lives of others. When you pray, you are asking God to let His forgiveness ripple effect happen through your life too. You give back.

When Peter asked, "How many times must I forgive," he missed the whole point, didn't he? Jesus is saying, "You don't want God to limit His forgiveness for your life, do you; why would you limit it through your life to others."

In His parable, Jesus warns of what an unforgiving attitude can do in our relationship to others, but even more importantly, to God. In His story, incredibly, the one forgiven the huge 20 million dollar debt paid by the king, instead of joyfully forgiving petty debts owed to him, he couldn't wait to get out there and demand immediate payment from those who owed him pennies in comparison. He not only misused the grace given to him, he renounced it, he abandoned it. What kind of mercifully forgiven person does that, Jesus would ask. What kind of cad would do that? But such an attitude is not only unacceptable here on earth, it destroys the relationship with the God who forgave us in the first place.

Forgiven sinners in Christ, believers in Him, that's not how we do things as His people, is it? Forgiveness received, is forgiveness ready to be shared. Forgive us our trespasses, or more literally, our debts; our debts before God due to our sinfulness, forgive as we forgive those who sin against us. We get to forgive others. We get to see the joy of their debt forgiven, their guilt removed. We get to see what God's love and grace can do in the lives of others as it has done in our life too.

You might say with that forgiveness, we get to pay God's grace forward.

Do you remember that movie, "Pay It Forward"? An eleven-year-old little boy, Trevor, was given a project by his social studies teacher. He and the other students in the class were given the assignment to create a project that would make the world a better place. Trevor decided to start a chain reaction of good deeds. He called the project "Pay It Forward." The twists and turns of selfless help begin to ripple throughout the community. When one person receives a good deed, a blessing, he or she is asked to do favors for three other people in their life. In the movie, lives are changed, attitudes are renewed, hope is given, and, ultimately, Trevor sacrifices his own life for his project as he defends a classmate from bullies. But, above all, people are freed; they're freed from grudges, revenge, and imprisoning selfishness as they serve others. At the end of the movie, crowds of people pay their respects to Trevor and testify to the renewing and powerful ripple effect of paying it forward.

But our life in Christ is so much more than that, isn't it? In this petition of the Lord's Prayer, Jesus isn't just telling us to "pay it forward," for even the ripple effects of our best deeds get overwhelmed by the tsunamis of humanity's sin. If that were all that was needed to overcome humanity's ills, there wouldn't have needed to be a cross in the middle of lasting forgiveness.

We can't ultimately "pay it forward," only Jesus can do that. But, Jesus is inviting us to receive what He has paid for, to receive it in faith and to "pray it forward;" to hand over the grudges, the hurts, the sins to Him and let Him remove them in the power of His forgiveness. To receive God's mercy by grace so that He can unleash the power of His forgiveness through your life to others! The challenge of the Lord's Prayer is to put that to work, to pray it forward with a forgiveness that overflows from your heart by the power of the Holy Spirit to let love and forgiveness flow into the lives of people around you. Forgiveness frees you from the prison of failing God and resenting others. It lets you live in and share in His love. We forgive as we have been forgiven.

Author Lewis Smedes offers good counsel in his book Forgive and Forget. He understands that forgiveness is not simply dismissing a hurtful action in your life. It's truly, as he says, the act of letting go. First, forgiveness means releasing your pain to God. Trusting that Jesus has truly borne all your burdens on the cross and has conquered everything that imprisons you, you are free to let go of your hurt and let your Savior carry it for you. In prayer, you surrender your right to get even and you let God carry that load.

Second, as time goes on, you let go of the toxic feelings swirling in your heart toward the person who hurt you and you wish him or her well. You pray for God's work in their life. The gift of forgiveness in our lives molds our very lives with God, then, and with each other.

Forgiveness is a gift that keeps on giving. It's not only a prayer to God; it is a prayerful way of life with Him. And it is a journey, a life to be lived. Jesus paid the price for sin once and for all, but the pain of broken relationships and deep hurt in our lives simply do not disappear. We face them, we deal with them as we cast our cares upon Jesus, trusting that He cares for us and as we love and forgive others as He has forgiven us.

When Jesus tells us to "Forgive as we have been forgiven," such words can sound frightening, even overwhelming until you realized that it is not by your might or power, but by the Holy Spirit, by the grace of God, in the reality of forgiveness received as a gift.

The holy days of Christmas and Easter, they sure have great music, don't they? And I do like the song, the "The Twelve Days of Christmas" even though it can get a little long at times. But there is one Christmas carol I never tire of singing, and that's "Joy to the World." The third verse of that beautiful song says it well.
No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found,
Far as the curse is found,
Far as the curse is found.

The gift of Christ's forgiveness removes the curse, clears out the thorns that invade our lives and allows the blessings of our Savior to flow into us and to everyone around us. It is the gift that keeps on giving and giving and giving! Get to know this Savior this season. Receive the love and the forgiveness that only He can give you. And pray in a way that will change your life now and forever, pray, "Father, forgive us our trespasses, our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us." God bless you.

Amen.

LUTHERAN HOUR MAILBOX (Questions & Answers) for December 15, 2013
Topic: Peter and the Pearly Gates?

ANNOUNCER: Now, Pastor Gregory Seltz responds to questions from listeners. I'm Mark Eischer. Today, more on the subject of forgiveness. Someone very close to the program asks, "How did St. Peter come to be associated in the popular mind with guarding the Pearly Gates? What's the Bible's teaching on that?"

SELTZ: Mark, I think I know who asked this one, and yes, it is a popular notion and a great question because the main power and purpose of the Christian Church is exercising Christ's blessing, the "power of the keys."

ANNOUNCER: Keys are a powerful metaphor that speaks to this spiritual reality of heaven being either opened or shut.

SELTZ: Exactly. And this idea, actually, this reality of forgiveness from God being a real thing in the world; that's a radical notion if you really think about it.

ANNOUNCER: What do you mean?

SELTZ: Let me explain...I think one problem today is amidst all this talk about justice, there is this false notion that we aren't going to be held accountable to God's eternal justice; that forgiveness with God is no big deal. People somehow think that God should just give us a pass, no matter who we are or what we've done.

ANNOUNCER: Ironically, some of those same people would be completely outraged if a judge were to publicly let someone go who's truly guilty, a hardened criminal, just because this judge felt good about it.

SELTZ: Right, and they would be even more outraged if the criminal committed the crimes against them. So, in truth, real forgiveness will have to account for God's eternal justice and judgment, and if people are honest with themselves, they know now, like then, that's beyond our capability as sinful people.

ANNOUNCER: But Jesus, thankfully, isn't like most people.

SELTZ: Exactly, He's the Son of God who came into the world to deal with humanity's just, eternal punishment for sin and He alone makes God's merciful forgiveness available to all.

ANNOUNCER: But, back to the question, how did St. Peter get associated with all of this?

SELTZ: I think that comes from reading Matthew 16, where Peter confesses that Jesus is the Christ and then Jesus Himself says, "on this rock I will build my church... I will give you (Peter) the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."

ANNOUNCER: So, Jesus, here, seems to be handing over His forgiving power to Peter, and so this picture of Peter as the guard of the pearly gates makes sense.

SELTZ: Some might make sense of it that way, but that still misses the Bible's full discussion of what Jesus is doing with Peter, the apostles, and the whole church. It's important to realize that when Jesus says, "I give you the keys to kingdom," in this passage, Peter had just confessed Christ as the Messiah, the Son of the Living God, speaking on behalf of all the disciples, and this is clear later in John 20 where Jesus says to all the disciples, "If you all forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you all withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld." The you there is plural.

ANNOUNCER: The Apostles, then, represent the whole church here.

SELTZ: Correct. But even here there is a "Both/and" answer to your question of Peter, the Apostles, the whole church, and the keys.

ANNOUNCER: And I suppose there are those who teach otherwise?

SELTZ: Well, some emphasize Matthew 16, "Peter alone" with the keys. So, in that tradition, even in their art, this 'in the world spiritual blessing of forgiveness' is located with St. Peter and later with popes who they say "fill the office of St. Peter."

ANNOUNCER: And, don't other Christians say, "Peter and the Apostles have no ongoing special blessing for the church? They would say the power to forgive is given to all Christians who confess Christ. There is not a unique, enduring, Apostolic connection.

SELTZ: Yeah, they sure teach that, Mark, and I think they also miss the point. It's true that every believer has been given the power of the keys in their baptism, in the world, we are to be dispensers of God's grace as "forgiven, forgivers." But, God, in His mercy, knows how truly difficult it is to believe that there is real forgiveness of our sin, all sin before Him. So, He established a public, enduring apostolic ministry in the midst of His church, to proclaim and deliver His Grace to God's people publicly. That Public Ministry is always, "In the stead and by the command of Jesus," for the sake of the church, then as now.

ANNOUNCER: So we see Pastor and people, God's gift of the keys in action in the church, and then through the church, for the world.

SELTZ: Right, Mark, and maybe that's the picture that should be painted at the pearly gates.

ANNOUNCER: Thank you Pastor Seltz. This has been a presentation of Lutheran Hour Ministries.

Music Selections for this program:

"A Mighty Fortress" arranged by Chris Bergmann. Used by permission.

"Oh, Come, Oh, Come, Emmanuel" by Healey Willan, arr. Henry Gerike. From Gentle Stranger by the

Concordia Seminary Chorus (© 2004 Concordia Seminary Chorus) Concordia Publishing House

"Break Forth, O Beauteous, Heavenly Light" by J.S. Bach. From Glory to the Newborn King by the

Kapelle (© 1999 Concordia University-Chicago)

"Once He Came in Blessing" From The Concordia Organist (© 2009 Concordia Publishing House)

"Lord, Keep Us Steadfast in Your Word" From The Concordia Organist (© 2009 Concordia Publishing House)

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CORRECTION: truck needed tomorrow afternoon

CORRECTION: I actually need a truck tomorrow early afternoon.

I need a truck tomorrow afternoon to get the risers from Rebecca Boone for our Sunday school Christmas program on Sunday morning and our Little Lambs program in the evening. Can anyone help with that?

Thanks in advance!
Pastor

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truck needed tomorrow morning

I need a truck tomorrow morning to get the risers from Rebecca Boone for our Sunday school Christmas program on Sunday morning and our Little Lambs program in the evening. Can anyone help with that?

Thanks in advance!
Pastor

Prayer request for Karla Christophene

Please pray for soon to be member of St Johns qnd already member of our choir as she has gall bladder surgery tomorrow morning. Thank you.

Thurs, Dec. 12, 2013

Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries
By Pastor Ken Klaus, Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour

Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).

"Not Afraid of Hell"
December 12, 2013
For the wicked boasts of the desires of his soul, and the one greedy for gain curses and renounces the Lord. In the pride of his face the wicked does not seek Him; all his thoughts are, "There is no God." Psalms 10:3-4

In the course of his long life, President Ronald Reagan dealt successfully with many situations.

There was, however, one situation which defied his best efforts and expert abilities. That situation was presented to him the day his 12-year-old son told him he "no longer wished to go to church." It appears the boy, already at the age of eight, had decided that religion just didn't make sense and he wasn't going to believe it.

The senior Reagan was shocked and disturbed by what his son had shared. For years he worked, invited, and prayed for a change of heart in his son. That change never came. Today, Ronnie Reagan is boasting of his unbelief in a commercial he has made for FFRF, the Freedom From Religion Foundation. In his radio spot, Reagan says this anti-God group is the nation's "largest and most effective organization of atheists and agnostics, working to keep state and church separate."

The ad is disturbing, but what is most upsetting is the way the commercial ends. The late-president's son concludes the radio spot by identifying himself this way: "Ron Reagan, lifelong atheist, not afraid of burning in hell."

Those last six words are scary. They're scary for a number of reasons:

1. Ronnie may have truly convinced himself there is no God, no Savior, no heaven, no hell. Yes, he may have convinced himself ... but he can't be sure they don't exist. He is taking a very big, a very bad gamble.

2. But there's more. Having convinced himself there is no God, Ronnie is boldly flaunting his unbelief and encouraging others to join him in rejecting the Lord's love and grace.

It is almost as if King David had personally met and was describing Ronnie Reagan when he was inspired to write about men who boast in their unbelief and are proud they have renounced the Lord.

In reply to such foolishness, all anyone can say is this: "While you still have time, rethink, reconsider, reevaluate." At this moment you are denying the Lord who sent His only Son into this world to live, suffer, die and rise for you. Right now you are declining His invitation to faith, forgiveness and salvation. Right now you still have time.

But it will not always be this way.

The day is coming when the Lord's invitation and call to salvation will be withdrawn. If you have not left your foolish position, you will be lost.

And when that day comes which no unbeliever wants to come, you will find you should have been afraid of hell.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, give Christians the insight and ability to break through the misplaced confidence of those who deny You and Your Son. Give us the words that will let them see the love that has been given to all sinners through the Savior's sacrifice. In Jesus' Name. Amen. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________

WEDNESDAY'S QUIZ: Who was Felix? (No I'm not talking about the cartoon cat.) I am talking about the governor who heard Paul's case and kept him safe from the Sanhedrin by sending him to Caesarea. He was kept under guard in Herod's palace.

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THURSDAY'S QUIZ: Who was it that warned Paul, and then the commander of the centurions, that there was an ambush waiting for Paul to kill him?

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CALENDAR

Fri- Bible Study @ Hendershots 7pm
Sat- Men's breakfast 8am; Bell Ringing at north door of Walmart 8am-8pm; worship 5pm
Sun- worship 8:30 and 11; Sunday school and adult Bible class 9:45; Sunday school Christmas program at 11; Little Lambs Christmas program 6pm
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MEN'S BREAKFAST THIS SATURDAY AT 8AM!!!!

After breakfast we will be putting up new lights in the preschool room. Please let me know if you are coming and staying to help with the lights.

Pancakes, sausage, eggs, and Bible Study!! Please get the word out and invite your friends and neighbors.
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NEXT WEDNESDAY'S ADVENT SUPPER IS HOSTED BY THE BOARD OF EVANGELISM AND OUTREACH.

DO NOT BRING FOOD!! JUST BRING YOURSELVES AND SOME MONEY FOR A FREE WILL OFFERING FOR OUR EMERGENCY FUND FOR THOSE IN NEED, CALLED THE BENEVOLENCE FUND.

The menu is fried chicken, roasted red potatoes, green beans, salad, and dessert.
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OFFERING ENVELOPES ARE ON THE TABLE IN THE NARTHEX.

I have noticed that a lot of you who have been in church have not picked them up. If you are a confirmed member of the church you have your own offering envelopes. Make sure you pick them up next time you are at worship!!

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SUNDAY SCHOOL CHRISTMAS PROGRAM WILL BE THIS SUNDAY AT OUR 11AM WORSHIP.

Come and check it out and enjoy the wonderful Christmas story from the mouths of our wonderful children!!

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MANY OF YOU STILL NEED TO BUY YOUR BOOKS FOR THE STORY!!!
The beginning of THE STORY is less than a month away!! Are you excited? Do you have your books yet?

Adults may buy their books for $6 a piece before or after worship!!

Kids will get their books at Sunday school, but if they miss Sunday school they can get them after worship as well!!!

There are about 40 adult books left. Get them while they are still available!!

What is it? THE STORY is a book compiled and written by Max Lucado and Randy Frazee, which takes sections of the Bible and divides it up into 31 chapters and adds commentary and study notes to it. The best way to describe it is to call it a Reader's Digest condensed version of the Bible. It is not split up into chapters and verses but reads more like a novel, and it doesn't include every bit of the Bible, but most of the main sections and stories.

How will it work? As a family and as individual members of the congregation you will each get a copy of the book. There are different versions for adults, teens, older elementary age and younger children. You will get these and read chapter 1 before January 5. Each week we will go through a chapter of the book in every part of the church's life: in Worship, Bible Studies, Confirmation and in the Home for personal devotions.

Why are we doing this? This is a great opportunity for all of us to read through the Bible TOGETHER in 31 weeks and for us to all literally be on the same page. The materials are excellent. It is a fantastic way for us to grow together as a church and or us to reach out to the community with the Gospel!

What about special weeks like Holy Week and Easter? We will take several weeks off throughout these eight months, one for Life Sunday in January, one for Easter and another two or three when I am going to be gone for Spring Break and other vacations. A specific schedule will be coming out in the next week or so.

How do we get the books? Each adult will be asked to buy a book for $6. A table will be set up in the narthex to buy them before and after services for the next several weeks or you can call Marilyn in the office at 456-2888 to purchase your during the week.

What about the kids? All children will receive a copy that is age appropriate courtesy of the Janet Wagner fund. There will be a table set up for the next several weeks for adults to buy books. Kids will get theirs in Sunday school .

What kind of help is needed to make this a success? We have several volunteers already to sell books, but could use a few more to sell before and after services until everyone who wants a copy of the book has one.    I would also like someone, a man or a woman, who would be willing to lead a study of it during the week.

Can I order books for family members who are not members? There will also be an order form for those of you who want to buy books for your children, grandchildren, relatives, and friends. PLEASE NOTE THAT PRICES WILL FLUCTUATE ON FUTURE ORDERS DUE TO PRICE CHANGES WITH BOOK DISTRIBUTORS AND PUBLISHING HOUSES.

Where can I go to get more info? Please go to www.thestory.com for more info.

PRAYER REQUESTS:

For SHELLY HUDSON who is hospitalized with sepsis.

For Marilyn Foster's sister MARCIE, who is not doing well. She has fluid on her lungs and is in great pain.

For WILMA WEIGLE who is back at Delmar Gardens.

For NANCY SPINIOLAS as she continues to recover from hip replacement surgery and is doing very well.

For JONAS BORCHERT, grandson of Don Nolte, who is dealing with bad cancer in his lungs.

For RICK SPINIOLAS as he continues to battle his pancreatic cancer.

For JOYCE PIETZSCHKE who is recovering from a fractured shoulder.

Wed., Dec. 11, 2013

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Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries
By Pastor Ken Klaus, Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour

Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).

"They Shoot Horses, Don't They?"
December 11, 2013
Now there came a traveler to the rich man, and he was unwilling to take one of his own flock or herd to prepare for the guest who had come to him, but he took the poor man's lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him. Then David's anger was greatly kindled against the man, and he said to Nathan, "As the Lord lives, the man who has done this deserves to die, and he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity." 2 Samuel 12:4-6
How low can a person go?

In the parable the prophet Nathan told to King David, a rich man went low enough to make a barbeque banquet out of a neighbor's pet sheep. In the real story of multi-married King David, the monarch went low enough to lust after and seduce another man's wife. When she became pregnant, the adulterous king devised a plan to remove her warrior-husband from the equation.

How low can a person go?

Talk to the police in Ronks, Pennsylvania. They will tell you of an Amish family who was driving a horse-drawn buggy home around 9 p.m. on a Sunday evening. The husband, wife, and the children ages 12, 9 and 7, heard a "loud noise like a firecracker." They heard that noise as a car passed them.

When they got home, the family found their horse was bleeding from its mouth. When the animal's harness was removed, they discovered a bullet hole in the animal's side. The horse died before the veterinarian was able to get to their home.

I've tried to figure out why somebody would do such a thing.

* If the shooting was meant to be humorous, it failed.

* If the shooter in the auto was angry at the Amish family, why did he take out his upset on a dumb animal? His cowardly act has succeeded in killing an animal, endangering some children, and making himself the pitiful subject of this devotion.

* If the shooter wanted to show he had the power to cause great grievance and personal pain, he succeeded. At the same time, he placed himself by the side of King David and showed to the world just how sick, how sinful, how petty, and pitiful we humans can sometimes be.

Oh, there is one other thing the stories of David and our shooter show us. They show us how very much we need a Savior. We need a Savior who is everything we are not.

Look at the Gospel narrative and you will see how Jesus endured prejudice, lies, mockery, mistreatment, rejection, abuse and character assassination. Yes, He suffered these things and then He responded with a loving call to repentance, forgiveness and salvation. Look at Jesus and see how not the sheep, but the Good Shepherd, was sacrificed so we might be redeemed and restored. Look into His empty tomb and be assured it is He -- not the world's people of power -- who shall ultimately prevail. The risen Redeemer rules and because of Him we who were low are lifted up.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, the worst this world can do was balanced out by the wonderful sacrifice of our Savior. May we be thankful for the change He brings about in redeemed hearts. In His Name I pray it. Amen.
In Christ I remain His servant and yours,

Pastor Ken Klaus
Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour^®
Lutheran Hour Ministries

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Today Read:
Zechariah 11-12; Revelation 2
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Pastor Klaus bio Change my email address

___________________________________________________________________________________________________
MONDAY'S QUIZ: Paul was going to visit Rome on his way to what country? Spain (Good try Dianne)

_________________________________________________________________________________

WEDNESDAY'S QUIZ: Who was Felix?

__________________________________________________________________________________

CALENDAR

Wed- Ladies Aid Luncheon noon; Supper 5:30; Worship 6:30; Choir 7:15

MEN'S BREAKFAST THIS SATURDAY AT 8AM!!!!

After breakfast we will be putting up new lights in the preschool room.

Pancakes, sausage, eggs, and Bible Study!! Please get the word out and invite your friends and neighbors.
____________________________________________________

OFFERING ENVELOPES ARE ON THE TABLE IN THE NARTHEX.

______________________________________________________

ADVENT SUPPER AT 5:30 AND WORSHIP AT 6:30 TONIGHT!!!

If your elder is Jim Rahn, Dave, Winter, or Steve McDowell you are on to bring food!! Fried Chicken and worship!!!! You can beat it!!

____________________________________________________

LADIES AID CHRISTMAS LUNCHEON TODAY at NOON!

For all ladies aid members and their spouses.

______________________________________________

SUNDAY SCHOOL CHRISTMAS PROGRAM WILL BE THIS SUNDAY AT OUR 11AM WORSHIP.

Come and check it out and enjoy the wonderful Christmas story from the mouths of our wonderful children!!

________________________________________________________

STILL QUITE A FEW ORNAMENTS ON THE GIVING TREE!!!
There are 18 families who need help this Christmas. 57 kids need gifts! Come to church this Wednesday or this weekend and take an ornament or two!

Each Family also gets a nativity set and we are still in need of a few of them, so when you find one get it and bring it to church!! Doesn't have to be fancy or expensive.

____________________________________________________________

MANY OF YOU STILL NEED TO BUY YOUR BOOKS FOR THE STORY!!!
The beginning of THE STORY is less than a month away!! Are you excited? Do you have your books yet?

Adults may buy their books for $6 a piece before or after worship!!

Kids will get their books at Sunday school, but if they miss Sunday school they can get them after worship as well!!!

There are about 70 adult books left. Get them while they are still available!!
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
BRING SQUEEZABLE JELLY (all flavors are acceptable) FOR OPERATION BACKPACK FOR THE MONTH OF DECEMBER!!
Please put them in the proper receptacle either upstairs or downstairs.
_________________________________________________________
THE STORY: AN EXCITING NEW EXPERIENCE FOR OUR WHOLE CONGREGATION!!
What is it? THE STORY is a book compiled and written by Max Lucado and Randy Frazee, which takes sections of the Bible and divides it up into 31 chapters and adds commentary and study notes to it. The best way to describe it is to call it a Reader's Digest condensed version of the Bible. It is not split up into chapters and verses but reads more like a novel, and it doesn't include every bit of the Bible, but most of the main sections and stories.

How will it work? As a family and as individual members of the congregation you will each get a copy of the book. There are different versions for adults, teens, older elementary age and younger children. You will get these and read chapter 1 before January 5. Each week we will go through a chapter of the book in every part of the church's life: in Worship, Bible Studies, Confirmation and in the Home for personal devotions.

Why are we doing this? This is a great opportunity for all of us to read through the Bible TOGETHER in 31 weeks and for us to all literally be on the same page. The materials are excellent. It is a fantastic way for us to grow together as a church and or us to reach out to the community with the Gospel!

What about special weeks like Holy Week and Easter? We will take several weeks off throughout these eight months, one for Life Sunday in January, one for Easter and another two or three when I am going to be gone for Spring Break and other vacations. A specific schedule will be coming out in the next week or so.

How do we get the books? Each adult will be asked to buy a book for $6. A table will be set up in the narthex to buy them before and after services for the next several weeks or you can call Marilyn in the office at 456-2888 to purchase your during the week.

What about the kids? All children will receive a copy that is age appropriate courtesy of the Janet Wagner fund. There will be a table set up for the next several weeks for adults to buy books. Kids will get theirs in Sunday school .

What kind of help is needed to make this a success? We have several volunteers already to sell books, but could use a few more to sell before and after services until everyone who wants a copy of the book has one.    I would also like someone, a man or a woman, who would be willing to lead a study of it during the week.

Can I order books for family members who are not members? There will also be an order form for those of you who want to buy books for your children, grandchildren, relatives, and friends. PLEASE NOTE THAT PRICES WILL FLUCTUATE ON FUTURE ORDERS DUE TO PRICE CHANGES WITH BOOK DISTRIBUTORS AND PUBLISHING HOUSES.

Where can I go to get more info? Please go to www.thestory.com for more info.

PRAYER REQUESTS:

For SHELLY HUDSON who is hospitalized with sepsis.

For Marilyn Foster's sister MARCIE, who is not doing well. She has fluid on her lungs and is in great pain.

For WILMA WEIGLE who is back at Delmar Gardens.

For NANCY SPINIOLAS as she continues to recover from hip replacement surgery and is doing very well.

For JONAS BORCHERT, grandson of Don Nolte, who is dealing with bad cancer in his lungs.

For RICK SPINIOLAS as he continues to battle his pancreatic cancer.

For JOYCE PIETZSCHKE who is recovering from a fractured shoulder.

update on Marilyn's sister Marcie

Marce, is not doing well, lungs are filling with fluid, fever and worse leg pain than before the surgery. The lungs are of the greatest concern.

Thanks for the prayers.

Marilyn

Mon., Dec. 5, 2013

Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries
By Pastor Ken Klaus, Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour

Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).

"The Frying Pan"
December 9, 2013
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, You will not despise. Psalms 51:17
Out of the frying pan into the fire.

That would describe the situation on Thanksgiving Eve when two men went bargain shopping at the Kohl's Department Store in Romeoville, Illinois. Apparently, these fellows were looking for a 100 percent discount. The store employees watched the would-be shoplifters and called the police.

Now a shoplifting charge is not a major offense, but these fellows didn't like the idea of being arrested. That's why they ran to their car and began to drive away. Unfortunately for them, one of the officers was hanging on to their car. Seeing his partner being dragged by the vehicle, the second officer opened fire and wounded the shoplifter-driver. Both the driver and the officer he had dragged were taken to the hospital. The shoplifter had gone from the frying pan into the fire as the charges against him now included resisting arrest and endangering the life of an officer.

The Bible is absolutely chock full of people who, like these two, have done that which moved them from the frying pan into the fire. Adam and Eve ate from the forbidden fruit, and then they tried to hide from God. That's going from the frying pan into the fire. King David committed adultery and then added murder to his list of crimes. That's going from the frying pan into the fire. Peter denied Jesus in the high priest's courtyard, and then he added a few oaths to make himself more believable. Peter also had moved himself from the frying pan into the fire.

It's not surprising the Holy Spirit decided to include all those examples in Scripture. He knew how human beings, in a desire to cover up their wrongdoing, often ended up doing that which increased that wrongdoing and guilt.

Can you not think of a time when you were caught doing something wrong and then you lied to cover your sin? How many times have we broken a promise to someone and then invented an elaborate cover-up to justify our sin? I could go on, but it's simply not necessary.

Humans do things that move them from the frying pan into the fire.

And that is something which is not acceptable or pleasing to the Lord. He sent His only Son into this world to seek and save the lost -- to be a Physician to those whose souls were sick with sin, to be the Shepherd who calls back the wandering sheep.

We insult Him and deny His sacrifice when we maintain we are not lost, we are not sick, and we haven't wandered.

No, the Lord wishes His sinful children to acknowledge their wrongdoing and then come to Him and ask for His forgiveness, mercy and grace. Those things He is glad to give to all who know Jesus can remove us from the frying pan and the fire.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, my prayer today is that You will be merciful to me a sinner. Grant me a spirit which acknowledges my wrongdoing and depends on the crucified and risen Savior for forgiveness and salvation. In Jesus' Name I ask it. Amen.

In Christ I remain His servant and yours,

Pastor Ken Klaus
Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour^®
Lutheran Hour Ministries

Print this devotion	Subscribe to this podcast!	Through the Bible in a Year Today Read: Zechariah 5-9; Jude
The Lutheran Hour	Sign up for LHM news
Pastor Klaus bio	Change my email address

subscribe / unsubscribe / visit our website

660 Mason Ridge Center Dr.
St. Louis, MO 63141
1-800-876-9880

___________________________________________________________________________________________________
THURSDAY'S QUIZ: According to 2 Corinthians 11, what does Paul have to boast about?

2 Corinthians 11:1 & 30 In order to compare his own ministry with that of the false apostles who have invaded
the Corinthian church, Paul has to speak about himself, which inevitable seems like foolish boasting. (30) If I
must boast I will boast about the things that show my weakness.

Paul also boasts about his sufferings. Chapter 11:23-29

_________________________________________________________________________________
MONDAY'S QUIZ: Paul was going to visit Rome o his way to what country?

_________________________________________________________________________________

CALENDAR

Mon- Whispering Pines 10am; Confirmation 5-6:15

Tues- Quilters 9; Bible Study 11:30-12;15; Trustees meeting 7pm

Wed- Ladies Aid Luncheon noon; Supper 5:30; Worship 6:30; Choir 7:15

OFFERING ENVELOPES ARE ON THE TABLE IN THE NARTHEX.

______________________________________________________

ADVENT SUPPER AT 5:30 AND WORSHIP AT 6:30 THIS WEDNESDAY!!!

If your elder is Jim Rahn, Dave, Winter, or Steve McDowell you are on to bring food!! Fried Chicken and worship!!!! You can beat it!!

____________________________________________________

LADIES AID CHRISTMAS LUNCHEON THIS WED at NOON!

For all ladies aid members and their spouses.

______________________________________________

MEN'S BREAKFAST THIS SATURDAY AT 8AM!!!!
Pancakes, sausage, eggs, and Bible Study!! Please get the word out and invite your friends and neighbors.
____________________________________________________

SUNDAY SCHOOL CHRISTMAS PROGRAM WILL BE THIS SUNDAY AT OUR 11AM WORSHIP.

Come and check it out and enjoy the wonderful Christmas story from the mouths of our wonderful children!!

________________________________________________________

Each Family also gets a nativity set and we are still in need of a few of them, so when you find one get it and bring it to church!! Doesn't have to be fancy or expensive.

____________________________________________________________

MANY OF YOU STILL NEED TO BUY YOUR BOOKS FOR THE STORY!!!
The beginning of THE STORY is less than a month away!! Are you excited? Do you have your books yet?

Adults may buy their books for $6 a piece before or after worship!!

Kids will get their books at Sunday school, but if they miss Sunday school they can get them after worship as well!!!

There are about 70 adult books left. Get them while they are still available!!
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
BRING SQUEEZABLE JELLY (all flavors are acceptable) FOR OPERATION BACKPACK FOR THE MONTH OF DECEMBER!!
Please put them in the proper receptacle either upstairs or downstairs.
_________________________________________________________
THE STORY: AN EXCITING NEW EXPERIENCE FOR OUR WHOLE CONGREGATION!!
What is it? THE STORY is a book compiled and written by Max Lucado and Randy Frazee, which takes sections of the Bible and divides it up into 31 chapters and adds commentary and study notes to it. The best way to describe it is to call it a Reader's Digest condensed version of the Bible. It is not split up into chapters and verses but reads more like a novel, and it doesn't include every bit of the Bible, but most of the main sections and stories.

How will it work? As a family and as individual members of the congregation you will each get a copy of the book. There are different versions for adults, teens, older elementary age and younger children. You will get these and read chapter 1 before January 5. Each week we will go through a chapter of the book in every part of the church's life: in Worship, Bible Studies, Confirmation and in the Home for personal devotions.

Why are we doing this? This is a great opportunity for all of us to read through the Bible TOGETHER in 31 weeks and for us to all literally be on the same page. The materials are excellent. It is a fantastic way for us to grow together as a church and or us to reach out to the community with the Gospel!

What about special weeks like Holy Week and Easter? We will take several weeks off throughout these eight months, one for Life Sunday in January, one for Easter and another two or three when I am going to be gone for Spring Break and other vacations. A specific schedule will be coming out in the next week or so.

How do we get the books? Each adult will be asked to buy a book for $6. A table will be set up in the narthex to buy them before and after services for the next several weeks or you can call Marilyn in the office at 456-2888 to purchase your during the week.

What about the kids? All children will receive a copy that is age appropriate courtesy of the Janet Wagner fund. There will be a table set up for the next several weeks for adults to buy books. Kids will get theirs in Sunday school .

What kind of help is needed to make this a success? We have several volunteers already to sell books, but could use a few more to sell before and after services until everyone who wants a copy of the book has one.    I would also like someone, a man or a woman, who would be willing to lead a study of it during the week.

Can I order books for family members who are not members? There will also be an order form for those of you who want to buy books for your children, grandchildren, relatives, and friends. PLEASE NOTE THAT PRICES WILL FLUCTUATE ON FUTURE ORDERS DUE TO PRICE CHANGES WITH BOOK DISTRIBUTORS AND PUBLISHING HOUSES.

Where can I go to get more info? Please go to www.thestory.com for more info.

PRAYER REQUESTS:

For Marilyn Foster's sister MARCIE, who is recovering from major back surgery to remove a cyst from around her spinal cord and around some metal that she already has in her back.

For WILMA WEIGLE who is in the hospital once again.

For JONAS BORCHERT, grandson of Don Nolte, who is dealing with bad cancer in his lungs.

For RICK SPINIOLAS as he continues to battle his pancreatic cancer.

For JOYCE PIETZSCHKE who is recovering from a fractured shoulder.

Roads are just fine

You may have noticed a little snow as you peered outside this morning. THE ROADS ARE FINE! See you at church at 8:30 or 11.

St. John's Lutheran Church
Warrenton, MO

The Lutheran Hour: December 15, 2013

Sermon Text for December 15, 2013

CORRECTION: truck needed tomorrow afternoon

truck needed tomorrow morning

Prayer request for Karla Christophene

Thurs, Dec. 12, 2013

Wed., Dec. 11, 2013

update on Marilyn's sister Marcie

Mon., Dec. 5, 2013

Roads are just fine

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