Sermon Text 2.16.2020 — How Much Longer Do I Have?

February 16, 2020                                                          Text:  Deuteronomy 30:15-20

Dear Friends in Christ,

            “How much longer do I have?”  Don’t we all at one time or another take a look at our life expectancy?  As Christians we understand our Lord is in charge of our time but we like to take stock of what is in front of us.

            Some may think this is just a question for a doctor and a terminal patient.  The fact is this – we are all terminal.  We are all day-to-day.  A fellow by the name of Curtis Jones wrote, “Life is our capital and we spend it every.  The question is, what are we getting in return?” 

            Let’s sit down with our Creator.  Let’s have a heart to heart talk with our Great Physician.  Pull up a chair, relax and go ahead…ask the question . . .

“HOW MUCH LONGER DO I HAVE?”

            The Lord God is quite clear in our text when addressing his chosen people and He is still quite clear today as He speaks to us through His Word this morning.  “See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil.”  God’s ways have remained the same since He first created Adam.  If Adam asked this question, “How much longer do I have?” the Lord could have answered, “Forever.”  Once Adam and Eve sinned that question had a limit and ever since the life spans of human beings on earth have been limited.

            Lord, we still aren’t getting to my question, “How much longer do I have?”  Well, let’s look at the two possibilities, “By loving the Lord your God, by walking in his ways, and by keeping his commandments and his statutes and his rules, then you shall live.” 

            We are not headed toward an earthly promised land like the Israelites would find themselves.  But this Old Testament “promised land” foreshadowed the Heavenly Promised Land won for us through faith in Christ’s suffering, death, and resurrection.  We live by walking in the Lord’s ways.  We live because the promise is sure.  We live because Jesus says, “…whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life.  He has not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.” (John 5:24)  Wow, that’s great news, thanks Doc!

            Not so fast my mortal friend.  There is a warning as you leave the office and continue your earthly ways.  “If your heart turns away, and you will not hear, but are drawn away to worship other gods and serve them, I declare to you today, that you shall surely perish.”  Did I hear you right?  What does this mean?

            Remember the last time you were in here and I warned you about your heartburn and cholesterol?  I told you to stay away from the half-truths and the lies and the filth that you will encounter on a daily basis.  I told you to protect your heart and mind by steering clear of those places and devices that ignore and mock all things Godly.  The devil never rests.  He wants you to think you can do whatever you want.  He wants you to think you will live forever and the time is not short.  He wants you distracted from the precious Word.  He wants you to question your parents and your Pastor and more importantly he wants you to question Me.  Once he has you entangled and apart from the Church, you really don’t have much to live for.  At that point you are on life support.

            Come on doc, you are just scaring me.  That is what the Law does.  It helps you to see the error of your ways.  I want you to turn away from all this bad behavior and follow the eternal plan I set forth before the foundation of the world.

            How does this work, is it painful?  It’s quite simple actually.  “Therefore, choose life, that you and your offspring may live, loving the Lord your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days.” 

            The Spirit of God, who breathed life-giving breath into Adam, breathes life-giving breath into us through His Word and Sacrament.  His Word opens our nasal passages and lungs – breathe in life.  His Sacrament feeds our body and soul and eases our anxiety and fears.  Go ahead leap for joy, hop around the office on one foot, you are in great shape – great physical shape because the Lord your God lives in you.

            Let’s get back to that question, one more time.  “How Much Longer Do I Have?”  Haven’t you been paying attention?  You have forever because I the Lord your God have given you eternal life through my Son, Jesus Christ. 

            Now hop up from there and get going – you have a Christian life to live.

                                                                                                                                    Amen.    

Bulletin Announcements February 16, 2020

THOUGHTS ON STEWARDSHIP:  1 Cor. 3:7 – “So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.”  Isn’t that the truth! It’s not just true about preachers like Paul; it’s true about all of us in the Christian life.  God can do such wonderful things with our feeble efforts.  This is so very true of our gifts to the Lord’s work in the church.  From His generous giving to us, we learn to give generously. Then the Lord blesses this response to His grace in turn, and He uses our very giving to continue to bless us in the church where we hear of His gracious generosity to us.  The cycle repeats, and the Lord gives growth!

FAITH IN ACTION OF BLOOMINGTON/NORMAL:   One ride, one visit, one Senior at a time.  Need a ride?  Want to volunteer?  Need more information?  Call (309) 827-7780; or email: office@bnfia.org or contact Barry Hamlin at (309) 750-9424.

THE ADULT BIBLE CLASS meets in the basement at 9:15 a.m. and is studying a DVD-based Study entitled: “Joseph: Carpenter of Steel!”  Come learn about this important person in the Christmas Story.

TODAY is the deadline for items to be submitted for the MARCH NEWSLETTER.   Any announcements you want to be published in the Newsletter should be submitted via email to: office@goodshepherdblm.org, mail, hand-delivered, or you may call (309) 662-8905.  Thank you!

CAN YOU HELP: John and Paula Hardy have set the date for their annual trip to Ft Wayne, IN.  The date is THIS COMING WEDNESDAY, February 19th.  The Seminary needs clothes for men, women, and children. They also accept shoes, coats, and kitchen supplies.  Please be sure all donated items are clean and in good repair.  Please bring your donations to the church.  There is a closet located in the hall upstairs where items are collected, and packed for our trip.  If you need help finding it just contact John (309) 310-7917.  Thank you!

GOOD SHEPHERD FRIDAY NIGHT AT THE MOVIES  for February will show “THE GRACE CARD” will be shown this coming Friday, February 21st at 6:30pm.  After police officer Mac McDonald loses his son in an accident, years of bitterness and pain erode his love for his family and leave him angry with God… and everyone else.  Can Mac and his new patrol partner, Sgt. Sam Wright, somehow join forces to help one another when it’s impossible to look past their differences – especially the most obvious one?  Every day, we have the opportunity to rebuild relationships and heal wounds by extending and receiving God’s grace.  Offer THE GRACE CARD…and never underestimate the power of god’s love.  THE GRACE CARD stars Michael Joiner, Michael Higgenbottom and Academy Award winner Louis Gossett, Jr.  Join us for this great movie.  There will be plenty of good food and wonderful fellowship. See you there!

“BRINGING CHRIST TO THE NATIONS AND THE NATIONS TO THE CHURCH”:  That is the mission of Lutheran Hour Ministries and the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod.  Visit the display in the narthex and take some booklets and any other material.  Discover LHM and find out more at:  lhm.org/lhmsunday.  Many helpful resources are available.

PLEASE READ THIS: Have you noticed that you have not seen someone in church for a while and thought about making contact but just have not got around to it?  Stop by the LHM display in the narthex today and pick-up a wooden nickel.  Take a pen or pencil and print TUIT on it.  You now have a round TUIT.  Make that contact now!

GOOD SHEPHERD IS CHANGING WORSHIP AND BIBLE CLASS/SUNDAY SCHOOL TIME on Sunday, March 1st.  Worship will be at 9:00 a.m., with Holy Communion each week and Bible Class/Sunday School will be at 10:15 a.m.  Please keep this change in your prayers as we make this transition.

YOU ARE INVITED:  Christ Lutheran Church, Normal, is hosting the Concert Band from Concordia University, St. Paul, MN in their 10:45 a.m. worship service on Sunday, March 1, 2020.  More info can be found on the table in the narthex.

THE CENTRAL ILLINOIS LUTHERAN LAYMAN’S LEAGUE ANNUAL MEETING is Saturday, March 7th at Christ Lutheran Church, Normal.  The Convention opens at 9:00 a.m.  The Reverend Gregory Seltz is head of the Synod’s Lutheran Center for Religious Liberty in Washington D.C. will speak at 1:00 p.m.  Registration materials are located on the table in the narthex.

THE LUTHERAN HOUR:  “Know-How” is the topic for next Sunday.  The sermon text will be from Exodus 1-2.  Jesus knows our failures and our fears; He knows how to lift us up and bring us through.  The speaker will be Reverend Dr. Michael Zeigler.  Hear his message on The Lutheran Hour on WGN (720) at 6:00 a.m.; WJWR (104.7 FM) and WJWR (90.3 FM) both on Sunday at 3:00 p.m.  Also, if you can receive Lincoln, IL radio station WLLM (1370 AM) the program is broadcast two times on Sunday at 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.  Tune in!  You can also listen to The Lutheran Hour on your personal computer at RealAudio, www.lhm.org.

FROM THE CHURCH OFFICE:  If you miss church, please be reminded that copies of the previous week’s sermon are available on the table in the narthex.  Also, the sermon will be available on our web site at www.goodshepherdblm.org.  Thank you.

INFORMATION REQUESTED:  Please notify the church office if someone in the congregation or any family or friends are ill or hospitalized.

PRAYER CIRCLE:  If you have a prayer request please submit them by email to Mary Anne Kirchner at makirchner@yahoo.com or you may phone a Prayer Request to Mary Anne; her cell phone# is (309) 532-2582.  The Prayer Request box is on the table in the narthex for any written requests.