DEVOTION: Romans 3:19-28
19 Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. 20 For by works of the law no human being[a] will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.
21 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. 26 It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
27 Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. 28 For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.
I know a lot of proud Christians. They are proud of how they are better than other people. They are proud of how they don't sin as much or that their sins aren't quite as "bad" as others. They are proud of how they go to church more than most. They are proud of how they can look down their noses at the sinners all around them. I know them, because, too often, I am one of them. Are you? I bet you are. I know you are. It's part of being a human. Our basic human want is to be above everyone else. It is to be our own god, to have our own standards, to live by our own rules.
The trouble with that is that you aren't. You aren't your own god. You can't make up your own rules, you are no the one who says what's right or wrong for you. There is One who is much greater than you. He is the One who made you. He is the One who redeemed your life from the pit. He is the One who cares for you daily. He is the One who continually forgives your sins and gives you new life!
Thank God for that. Can you imagine if you really were in charge of the world? How messed up would it really be? I know that if I was in charge of the world it wouldn't be around anymore. I'm almost positive it would be gone with you too.
But we can be PROUD! We can be proud of our Jesus! We can be proud of Him, that He loves us, that he forgives us, that he rose from the dead and lives and reigns to all eternity.
We can be PROUD of our church too! We can be proud that we believe, teach, and confess the TRUTH! We can be proud that we keep the focus on Jesus and His salvation. We can be proud that we have His love in our hearts.
Be proud of your church! Be proud of your Savior! And be proud that He loves you enough to die for you!
Let us pray: Lord, you have given us both grace and the ability to receive that grace through faith. Thank you! Make us to be proud of You and You alone. Amen.
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CALENDAR:
Wed- Ladies Aid noon; choir 7pm
Thurs- no school in Warrenton; karate 6:15-7:45
Fri- no school in Warrenton; Newsletter assembly 9am
Sat- Worship 5; Hayride and Bonfire at Heitgerds 6-10pm
Sun- Worship 8:30 and 11; Sunday school 9:45
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WORSHIP WORKERS:
Acolyte- 8:30- Lydia Miller; 11- Hannah Johnson
Ushers- Dave Winter, Gary Scott, Larry Schulze, Scott Schulze
Altar- Set up- Lucille Luebke; Clean up- Lynn Russell and Elaine Schauer
Communion Assistants- Sat- John Hachtel; 8:30- Rich Talbert; 11- Jim Rahn
Greeters- 8:30- Dave and Linda Callies; 11- Dan and Lisa Rausch
Lay readers- Sat- Judy Koprowski 8:30- Roy Bohning 11- Steve Robine
Sat. Pianist- Kathy Barrow
Organist- Rachel Fisher
Projectionists: Sat. Perricone, 8:30- Terry McKenzie, 11- Jack Bunge
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NEWS!!!! PLEASE READ IT ALL!!!!
DEVOTION: Revelation 14:6-7
6 Then I saw another angel flying directly overhead, with an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on earth, to every nation and tribe and language and people. 7 And he said with a loud voice, "Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come, and worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water."
An eternal Gospel. What a sweet sound that is! It is not a temporary Gospel. It is not a Gospel that only lasts until the next time you mess up. It is not a Gospel that has an expiration date and then has to be repeated. It is an ETERNAL GOSPEL!
It's also a very clear Gospel that so many well meaning people like to complicate or try to over explain. It is so simple that a preschooler who can barely speak can understand and even explain it.
Simply put: it is that God loved the world so much that he sent his Son, Jesus to live a perfect life, suffer, die, and rise again for us and in our place. Through this suffering, death, and resurrection we are free from sin and death and free to live forever with Christ!
That's it! There is nothing we have to do or can do! Praise the Lord! Thanks be to God! To God be the glory!
Therefore, fear God and give Him glory! Salvation is His! His judgment is coming and because of Jesus' death and resurrection for you, you will survive the judgment and live forever with him!
When you get down and depressed about this earth, think about that ETERNAL GOSPEL scene in paradise! Hear, in your mind, the angels proclaiming that eternal Gospel!! Hear it as it is proclaimed week in and week out in worship! And hear it as you proclaim it for others!
Prayer: Make us to live in this ETERNAL GOSPEL the angels proclaim to us. Amen.
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CALENDAR:
Tues- National Youth Gathering Registration Deadline (Get your registration forms filled out, signed, and turned in!); Council meeting 7p
Wed- Ladies Aid noon; choir
Thurs- no school in Warrenton; karate 6:15-7:45
Fri- no school in Warrenton; Newsletter assembly 9am
Sat- Worship 5; Hayride and Bonfire at Heitgerds 6-10pm
Sun- Worship 8:30 and 11; Sunday school 9:45
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WORSHIP WORKERS:
Acolyte- 8:30- Lydia Miller; 11- Hannah Johnson
Ushers- Dave Winter, Gary Scott, Larry Schulze, Scott Schulze
Altar- Set up- Lucille Luebke; Clean up- Lynn Russell and Elaine Schauer
Communion Assistants- Sat- John Hachtel; 8:30- Rich Talbert; 11- Jim Rahn
Greeters- 8:30- Dave and Linda Callies; 11- Dan and Lisa Rausch
Lay readers- Sat- Judy Koprowski 8:30- Roy Bohning 11- Steve Robine
Sat. Pianist- Kathy Barrow
Organist- Rachel Fisher
Projectionists: Sat. Perricone, 8:30- Terry McKenzie, 11- Jack Bunge
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NEWS!!!! PLEASE READ IT ALL!!!!
46 God is our refuge and strength,
a very present[b] help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah
4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy habitation of the Most High.
5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved;
God will help her when morning dawns.
6 The nations rage, the kingdoms totter;
he utters his voice, the earth melts.
7 The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
8 Come, behold the works of the Lord,
how he has brought desolations on the earth.
9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
he breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
he burns the chariots with fire.
10 "Be still, and know that I am God.
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!"
11 The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
What a great comfort today! As things continually go wrong on this earth, and nations war and rage against each other. As government becomes more corrupt, as people all around us fail us, and as we fail ourselves over and over again, we have a fortress to run to. We have a God who isn't fighting against us but has fought for us and won! He has already conquered sin, death, the devil, and hell.
Have you been running to God as your fortress? Maybe you're hanging out in the wind and being tossed around by it. Maybe the enemy is hitting you with everything he's got. Maybe it even feels like he's winning.
Do you feel as though temptation is getting the better of you? Do you feel like your friends aren't really acting like your friends? Is your body failing you and causing you great grief? Does your faith feel dull and asleep, even dead?
RUN TO YOUR FORTRESS!! RUN TO JESUS! He is your shield and great reward! He is your maker and redeemer. Run to him and hold on to him! Don't let go of him. Run to him in worship! Run to him in prayer! Run to him as you go to your pastor and talk to him about your troubles. Your pastor is God's representative, God's mouth, to tell you what you need to hear and to comfort you with his grace. Run to him as you share in fellowship with your brothers and sisters in Christ. They, along with you, are the body of Christ.
Run to Christ where you are guaranteed safety, security, and peace! Run to Christ where your sins are forgiven, your faith is strengthened, your conscience is cleared, and your love is renewed. he is an EVER PRESENT HELP IN TROUBLE!! Run to Jesus today!
Let us pray: Lord God, help me to remember daily that you are my fortress. Amen.
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DEVOTION: Mark 10:23-31 (ESV)
23 And Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!" 24 And the disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said to them again, "Children, how difficult it is to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God." 26 And they were exceedingly astonished, and said to him, "Then who can be saved?" 27 Jesus looked at them and said, "With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God." 28 Peter began to say to him, "See, we have left everything and followed you." 29 Jesus said, "Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, 30 who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life. 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first."
If you have money you can do anything, right? You can buy what you want when you want it. You can go where you want when you want to. You can live how you want when, where, and how you want. Everything is great, isn't it?
Not so fast. Jesus says, "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle that for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God." I thought rich people could do anything. Why can't they enter into heaven?
Well, turns out that the price for entering heaven is perfection and no one can buy that, nor is it for sale. Just last week we heard a rich young man who wanted to do something to inherit eternal life. Jesus gave him something impossible to do to show him, and us, that it is impossible to do anything to inherit or earn heaven.
Heaven is unattainable by mere humans doing mere human things. You can't do enough or pay enough and neither can I. There is no such thing as enough. A camel can't go through the eye of a needle. It's impossible. The rich man didn't have the will or the mental capability of selling everything he had and giving it to the poor. You, as willing as you may be, cannot and will not ever be perfect on this side of heaven.
On the other hand, there was someone who took your place when it came to all of these things. He lived as perfect life for you. He died the death you couldn't die for you. And he has risen from the dead.... also something you can't do on your own. YES! Jesus is your ultimate superhero. All things are possible with God. Let him be your superhero today!
Let us pray: Lord, as I try to do it all myself and as I worry about how good I am and take too much pride in the small amount of things I have accomplished and how I am better than everyone else, humble me, and show me that with me it is impossible, but not with you. All things are possible with you. Amen.
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DEVOTION: Hebrews 4 (ESV)
4 Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it. 2 For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened. 3 For we who have believed enter that rest, as he has said,
"As I swore in my wrath,
'They shall not enter my rest,'"
although his works were finished from the foundation of the world. 4 For he has somewhere spoken of the seventh day in this way: "And God rested on the seventh day from all his works." 5 And again in this passage he said,
"They shall not enter my rest."
6 Since therefore it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly received the good news failed to enter because of disobedience, 7 again he appoints a certain day, "Today," saying through David so long afterward, in the words already quoted,
"Today, if you hear his voice,
do not harden your hearts."
8 For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken of another day later on. 9 So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, 10 for whoever has entered God's rest has also rested from his works as God did from his.
11 Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. 12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Some would argue that there is no point to church, to worship and especially to Bible study, but in this passage we see and hear that knowing the Scriptures and being in God's Word daily is THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN YOUR LIFE!!
I can't stress it enough. All the pastors that I know say that they don't have enough people in worship or Bible study. They don't care about the numbers because it makes them look better if they have a lot of people. They care about the numbers, because they know that those who aren't in worship and Bible study are in grave danger. They are in danger of losing their faith and being lost forever.
It may not seem that serious to those who are in danger, but a little boy who runs out into the street doesn't feel like they are in any danger either, nor does a person who doesn't go to the doctor know that they are in danger of dying of cancer.
I know I sound like a broken record, and I'm probably preaching to choir, but the message still needs to be known! I urge you to get involved in a Bible study. If you'd like to start a different one at church, I'd be more than happy to accommodate you. If you have questions about something you are reading or studying in the Scriptures please ask! And just be in the WORD in worship and out of worship!
Prayer: Lord, help us to be continually in Your Word. Amen.
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