Daily Email: Thursday, January 19, 2017

DEVOTION: Matthew 4:12-25

Jesus Begins His Ministry

¹²Now when he heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee. ¹³And leaving Nazareth he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, ¹⁴so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:

¹⁵"The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali,
    the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—
¹⁶the people dwelling in darkness
    have seen a great light,
and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death,
    on them a light has dawned."

¹⁷From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."^[a]

Jesus Calls the First Disciples

¹⁸While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. ¹⁹And he said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men."^[b] ²⁰Immediately they left their nets and followed him. ²¹And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them.²²Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

Jesus Ministers to Great Crowds

²³And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people. ²⁴So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, those oppressed by demons, those having seizures, and paralytics, and he healed them. ²⁵And great crowds followed him from Galilee and the Decapolis, and from Jerusalem and Judea, and from beyond the Jordan.

You would think that after almost 46 years of reading passages like this and seeing the awesome power of God at work in my life and the lives of others, I wouldn't be amazed or taken back anymore, but I still am.

If I were walking down the street and I said to someone, "come follow me". I'd have people look at me funny, laugh, and then call 911. If I would stand on the street corner and simply say "Repent for the kingdom of God is at hand." People would laugh at me and walk away. If people would start coming to me to be healed in the way they came to Jesus, they'd be very disappointed.

I'm not Jesus. I'm just a man. In yesterday's reading Paul, the writer of 13 Epistles in the Bible, healer of many, and proclaimer of the Gospel to all the nations of the world in his day, said the same thing. He wasn't anything special. Yet, God working through him produced faith and eternal life in billions of people through his words and actions.

Don't ever begin to depend on yourself. If you do you will be disappointed. Instead trust in the Lord and put your full dependence in Him and He will do great things through you and in spite of you.

Whether you fully comprehend it or understand it or not, Jesus truly does live in you. That's right, the same Jesus who called the disciples, preached the good news so that people believed, healed thousands, died on the cross, and rose from the dead, lives in you! He can do so much more in you and through you than you could ever ask for or imagine. Rest in Him and then sit back and watch what he can do through your love, forgiveness, and peace!

Let us pray: Lord Jesus, thank you for being the power in my life. Help me to rely on your power and not my own more and more that I may truly rest in you. Amen.

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CALENDAR

Thurs- Lutheranism 101 6:30pm; February Newsletter deadline

Fri- Bible Study and Hendershot's 7pm

Sat- Men's breakfast 8am; Worship 5pm
Sun- Worship 8:30 and 11; Sunday school and Adult Bible class 9:45; Youth snow tubing leave at 2pm

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WORSHIP WORKERS FOR THIS COMING WEEKEND:
Acolyte- 8:30- Sarah Cluver 11- Cameron Faerber

Ushers- Rich Boeger, Don Hance, Don Tate, Doug Walters

Altar- Set up- Marilyn Foster; Clean up- John and Anna Hoenig

Elders- Sat- Roy Bohning; 8:30- Jason Cluver; 11- Jim Rahn

Greeters- 8:30- Lew and Dianne Feldkamp; 11- Mike and Naomi Johnson

Lay Readers- Sat- Roy Bohning; 8:30- Tim Linke; 11- Jim Rahn

Piano- Barb Dreyer

Organist- Rachel Fisher

Projectionists: Sat- Perricone; 8:30- Erv Yoder; 11- Lydia Miller
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YESTERDAY'S QUIZ:

Who was Potiphar? (No answers for this one yesterday so I'll leave it up for one more day.)

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NEWS!!!!

MEN'S BREAKFAST SATURDAY AT 8AM!!

Menu: Biscuits and gravy, sausage, scrambled eggs, and fruit salad.

Come and join us for some fellowship and a video study called "Regrets, Reality, Restoration"

Let me know if you're going to be there, especially if you haven't been there for a while, but ev3en if you don't or can't let me know still COME AND ENJOY! There's always enough!

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LUTHERANISM 101 RESUMES TONIGHT AT 6:30pm!!!

Everyone is invited to participate even if you haven't been with us from the beginning! We'd love to have you. Just let me know that you'll be there so I know how many we'll have!

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STEPHEN MINISTRY IS LOOKING FOR SOME NEW STEPHEN LEADERS

If you love caring for others and consider yourself a leader, this is the perfect way for you to serve the Lord and your church family!

The Stephen Leader training is April 23-29 at the Renaissance Hotel by the airport this year and the cost of the training is covered by the church. If you choose to stay at the hotel you will have to pay for that yourself. It's only a 35 minute commute to the training from Warrenton.

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TRAVELING FELLOWSHIP GROUP IS GOING TO FULTON ON SATURDAY, APRIL 8!

The group will be boarding a charter bus at 7:45am that day, first heading to the Auto World Museum, secondly to The Copper Mine Restaurant for lunch, and finally to the Churchill Museum before heading home. They will arrive home around 5:30 that evening. The cost will be around $65 including lunch, but the more people that go, the cheaper it will be! Call Marilyn at 456-2888 to sign up!

BABY BOTTLE CAMPAIGN FOR OUR NEW PREGNANCY OPTIONS CENTER BEGINS THIS WEEKEND!!

Come to church and pick up a baby bottle. Fill it up with money (coins, cash, and checks are all accepted), and return it to church in two weeks by Feb. 4 or 5. All money raised will go to getting our Pro Life Center going!

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6-12 GRADE YOUTH SNOW TUBING AT HIDDEN VALLEY THIS SUNDAY!

We'll leave from church at 2pm, arrive at Hidden Valley at 3pm, tube for three hours, stop somewhere for supper, and arrive home around 8pm. Cost is $20. Come and join us!

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WORK DAY ON SATURDAY, JANUARY 28!!

The trustees are inviting everyone who wants to, to come to a WORK DAY ON SATURDAY, JANUARY 28 8am-Noon. The main emphasis will be replacing light fixtures, but there will be other projects to do as well.

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NEW MEMBER LUNCHEON SUNDAY, JANUARY 29 AT NOON!

The board of outreach is inviting all new members to a NEW MEMBER LUNCHEON on Sunday, January 28 at noon! ALL NEW MEMBERS SINCE LAST YEAR'S NEW MEMBERS DINNER ARE INVITED along with ALL BOARD MEMBERS AND OFFICERS!!! Please plan to attend!

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YOUTH STEAK DINNER AND AUCTION WILL BE MARCH 25!!

OUR YOUTH STEAK DINNER AND AUCTION HAS BEEN MOVED BACK A MONTH AND IS TENTATIVELY SCHEDULED FOR SATURDAY, MARCH 25! Also, THANK YOU LETTERS to those church members who donated last year are in your church mailboxes!!

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OFFERING ENVELOPES ARE IN YOUR CHURCH MAILBOXES IF YOU HAVEN'T PICKED THEM UP YET!!

Maybe you didn't know that you had them, but if you are a confirmed member of St. John's you have your own church mailbox and your own offering envelopes! Check your mailbox today!!

BLUE ENVELOPES IN YOUR OFFERING ENVELOPE BOXES ARE FOR THE BUILDING FUND!!!

Please note that your blue envelopes are for our BUILDING FUND. Please use them appropriately! Let's get this building built!!

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OPERATION BACKPACK ITEMS COLLECTED FOR THE MONTH OF JANUARY ARE CANNED FRUIT AND VEGETABLES!

Any size can, and any kind of fruit or vegetable is appreciated. Place them in the receptacle marked "Backpack Blessings" in the narthex.

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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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YOUR KROGER CARD CAN EARN MONEY FOR LITTLE LAMBS

Go to www.kroger.com/communityawards and register your card today!!

__________________________________________________________________________________________GENERAL PRAYER

For MARIANNE LINKE, who is dealing with severe back pain and issues with her medication.

For PASTOR MICHAEL PIPER, (pastor at St. Paul's, New Melle) who had a severe stroke on Monday. He is still in critical condition and is very unstable.

For Mim Dunn's nephew DAVID HAHN who is dealing with severe throat cancer.

For JOYCE PIETZSCHKE as she recovers from a broken hip at Grandview Healthcare Center in Washington.

For DON NOLTE as he recovers from rotator cuff surgery to his shoulder.

For MIKE PUCKETT who is at home with his mom and recovering well from lung surgery.

For BARB PERRICONE who is back home on hospice care.

For LOIS BOEGER'S MOM, who has been on hospice care for the last few months and slows down a little more every day, but is doing well.

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Two more prayer requests

For MARIANNE LINKE, who was taken to the hospital with severe back pain.

For Mim Dunn's nephew DAVID HAHN, who is dealing with throat cancer.

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Daily Email: Wednesday, January 18, 2017

DEVOTION: 1 Corinthians 1:10-18New International Version (NIV)

A Church Divided Over Leaders

¹⁰I appeal to you, brothers and sisters,^[a] in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought. ¹¹My brothers and sisters, some from Chloe's household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. ¹²What I mean is this: One of you says, "I follow Paul"; another, "I follow Apollos"; another, "I follow Cephas^[b]"; still another, "I follow Christ."

¹³Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized in the name of Paul? ¹⁴I thank God that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, ¹⁵so no one can say that you were baptized in my name. ¹⁶(Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I don't remember if I baptized anyone else.) ¹⁷For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with wisdom and eloquence, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.

Christ Crucified Is God's Power and Wisdom

¹⁸For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

Church hopping and shopping really bothers me. What I mean is this, some people only shop for churches based on how much they like the pastor, whether there is a "children's" program (whatever that means), the music, how friendly the people are (which can change from day to day), whether they like the pews/seats or not, and thousands of other things.

Now I'm not saying that you shouldn't find a church in which you are comfortable, but your comfort shouldn't be based on how comfortable your rear end is in the seat. It shouldn't be based on whether the pastor wears skinny jeans and a hoody or an alb and a stole.

It should be based on whether God's Word is preached and taught in it's truth and purity, whether or not the Sacraments are given according to God's command, and whether or not the people with which you will be members believe in Christ as Lord and Savior.

The pastor may be cool, but if he leaves, does that mean you are not going to be a part of that fellowship anymore? It would be the same as leaving your in laws if your spouse dies. You are still part of that family and you still love them and care for them.

Our church's emphasis has been and continues to be that the members of St. John's are more than just separate people that get together for worship once a week. We are family! We are all members of one family, God's family!

In the same way, I hate it when other pastors actively seek to tear members of one family away from that family to make them members of their own family. In the business we call that "sheep stealing". Pastors and churches should only be in the business of making disciples "family" of people who have no family! We should be caring for the lost and building up our own families!

Let's do that as Christ's family this year, starting today!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for my church family! It is truly a family to me. Help me to love my family every day and to grow it by making disciples as you have called me to do. Amen.

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CALENDAR

Wed- Dress Sewing for Africa 9:30-Noon; Ladies Aid noon; Choir 7

Thurs- Lutheranism 101 6:30pm; February Newsletter deadline

Fri- Bible Study and Hendershot's 7pm

Sat- Men's breakfast 8am; Worship 5pm
Sun- Worship 8:30 and 11; Sunday school and Adult Bible class 9:45; Youth snow tubing leave at 2pm

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WORSHIP WORKERS FOR THIS COMING WEEKEND:
Acolyte- 8:30- Sarah Cluver 11- Cameron Faerber

Organist- Rachel Fisher

Projectionists: Sat- Perricone; 8:30- Erv Yoder; 11- Lydia Miller
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YESTERDAY'S QUIZ:

Who was Tamar?

Today's answer is from Denise Schlesselmann all the way in the Czech Republic

Tamar was the daughter-in-law of Judah. She was married to his first son Er. But Er made a lot of errors (sins) and was wicked so God put him to death. The second son Onan was supposed to marry Tamar and carry on the family. But he knew that the son would not be his so he made sure Tamar wouldn't get pregnant by wasting his sperm beforehand. So God put him to death too. The third son was next up but Judah thought she was some sort of black widow and promised his third son but never delivered. When Tamar caught on she played a trick on Judah. Thinking she was a prostitute Judah hooked up with her. When Tamar got pregnant Judah was ready to call her out. But Tamar gave him proof that he was the father. Judah realized he had done the wrong thing and backed off. Her son's name as well as hers is mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus in Matthew.

The second answer, also a correct one, is from Don Nolte.

Tamar was the daughter of King David and sister of Absalom

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TODAY'S QUIZ: Who was Potiphar?

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NEWS!!!!

LUTHERANISM 101 RESUMES THURSDAY AT 6:30pm!!!