Acts 6:1-9English Standard Version (ESV)
Seven Chosen to Serve
6 Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists[a] arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. 2 And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, "It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables.3 Therefore, brothers,[b] pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. 4 But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word." 5 And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. 6 These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them.
7 And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.
Stephen Is Seized
8 And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people. 9 Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of those from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and disputed with Stephen.
Acts 7:2English Standard Version (ESV)
2 And Stephen said:
"Brothers and fathers, hear me….. 51 "You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you. 52 Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who announced beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, whom you have now betrayed and murdered, 53 you who received the law as delivered by angels and did not keep it."
The Stoning of Stephen
54 Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him. 55 But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56 And he said, "Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God." 57 But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together[a] at him.58 Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." 60 And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
How important is it to be strong in your faith and to know what you believe? How much knowledge of Jesus is enough? When can you consider your faith "strong" enough?
I imagine that Stephen didn't have any idea that he was going to be stoned to death for his faith before it happened. He knew that there was opposition, but he didn't know it was going to mean the death of him.
You never know what kind of opposition you are going to face, but you know for sure that there will be opposition. There will be tons of opposition daily from the prince of darkness. The devil himself is opposed to your faith and especially to the object of your faith, Jesus Christ. He is in direct opposition to you. He wants nothing good for you. So you better be prepared for everything that the devil is gong to throw at you.
So the question is how do you get prepared? Very simple, through the means of grace, the Word and the Sacraments. Make use of the gifts that God has given you, His Word, which reveals His will and His love for you, and His sacraments which give you His very body and blood, His forgiveness, of sins.
And where do you find these gifts? In the fellowship and worship of the church. We even say it in the Apostles' Creed. "I believe in the holy Christian church, the communion of saints."
I want to encourage you to be about the business of strengthening your faith today and every day. Remember to live in God's grace! Remember the forgiveness of sins. Remember God's gifts and use them! REST in His forgiveness won for you so that the devil cannot get a foothold on your life!
And when the time comes that your faith is challenged you'll be able to withstand and keep on fighting the good fight of faith. Then, at your last breath, you'll be able to say "Behold, I see heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!"
Prayer: Lord, help me to hold fast to Your Word and Sacraments that I may be able to withstand the devil's schemes and witness to Your glory. Amen.
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CALENDAR:
Tues- Quilting 9-2; Trustees- 7pm
Wed- Little Lambs Roundup (closing program) 5:45; Choir 7
Thurs- Little Lambs Roundup (closing program) 5:45; No karate
Fri- Graduation Dinner 5:30-6:30
Sat- Worship 5pm
Sun- Worship 8:30; Sunday school 9:45; Worship 11am; Mother's Day
______________________________________________________________________WORSHIP WORKERS FOR THIS WEEK:
Acolyte- 8:30- Abby Vossen; 11- Kalene Masters
Ushers- Jim Huster, Alex Heitgerd, Tom Linke, Bob Linke
Altar- Set up- Don Hance; Clean Up- Joanne Hachtel
Elders- Sat- Roy Bohning; 8:30- Jason Cluver, 11- ??????
Greeters- 8:30- Lew and Dianne Feldkamp; 11- ?????
Lay Readers- Sat- Roy Bohning; 8:30- Allan Dreyer; 11- ?????
Organist- Rachel Fisher
Sat Pianist- Kathy Barrow
Projectionists: Sat- Mauch, 8:30- McKenzie; 11- Cluver
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YESTERDAY'S QUIZ :
How is Psalm 119 (the longest chapter in the Bible) ordered?
It is ordered alphabetically according to the Hebrew alphabet.
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TODAY'S QUIZ: Name a Psalm that talks about the coming Messiah.
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NEWS!!!!
OUR NEW CHURCH OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR WILL BE TERRY MCKENZIE!!
Please congratulate her and pray for her and for Marilyn as they work on making the transition and as she begins her ministry at St. John's.
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THANK YOU TO ALL WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE PARKING LOT SALE THIS PAST SATURDAY!!
Little Lambs raised about $300!!
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ARMED FORCES SUNDAY DOOR OFFERING WILL BE ON MAY 20 and 21!!
We will be a collecting a door offering to provide for Bible sticks for our soldiers. Most armed forces personnel can't take their phone or computers with them when they are deployed and paper Bibles are too inconvenient. Bible sticks are just the right size and can fit easily into a pocket and carried wherever they go. Each Bible stick cost $25 to make and to ship. There have been over 800,000 of these Bible sticks given to soldiers since it began and thousands of more ready to ship. They just need the funds to get them out the door.
Here's one testimony from a soldier. "I am coming back into the arms of the Father who has never forsaken me. This mp3 Bible came right on time, because I have been contemplating suicide."
Please make a note for yourself to bring some money for this very worthy ministry next weekend!!!
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LITTLE LAMBS ENROLLMENT FOR THE 2017-2018 SCHOOL YEAR IS OPEN!!!!
Student must be 3 for younger class or 4 for older class by August 1.
$45 nonrefundable registration fee required.
Registration packets can be picked up at Little Lambs during school hours and in the church office during non-school hours.
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OPERATION BACKPACK ITEMS COLLECTED FOR THE MONTH OF MAY IS CANNED FRUIT!!
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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 all of our graduates, college: Taryn Linke and Chris Groeber (if there are others that I am missing please let me know); High school: Conner Figura, Anna Hargrove, Ben Hoelscher, Shawn Jaeger, Conrad Schaumberg, Dana Sherman, Emma Tinnin, and Rebecca Winn that the Lord would bless them and keep their faith strong as they make transitions and move on to new things.
For all of our kids and teachers as they finish up the school year.
For PAT MANNESS as she undergoes more tests today.
For a FRIEND OF AL AND KAREN BENTON who is dealing with brain cancer.
For HUNDREDS OF OUR FAMILIES AND FRIENDS WHO ARE DEALING WITH THE EFFECTS OF THE FLOOD.
For THE PEOPLE IN UGANDA who are beginning to die from starvation due to drought and famine.
For CAROL BRAZEE recovering from sinus surgery at home.
For KEN FOSTER recovering from back surgery at home.
For PAT KING, as she is recovering from knee replacement surgery at home.
For MARILYN FOSTER as she prepares for her retirement.
For PATTY SWEET'S MOTHER, Virginia, who is on hospice care and is nearing the end of her life.
For DANIELLE MEINE KRAMER, whose leukemia is back after a brief respite from it. She had it for several years while in high school. (She grew up riding Karin's school bus to school.)
For Mim Dunn's nephew DAVID HAHN who is dealing with severe throat cancer.
For LOIS BOEGER'S MOM, EVELYN TOEDEBUSCH, who has been on hospice care for the last few months and slows down a little more every day, but is doing well.
