Bulletin Announcements July 7, 2019

THOUGHTS ON STEWARDSHIP: Luke 10:20 – “But rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” No one can snatch us out of the nail-marked hands of Jesus. He has redeemed us and claimed us as His own. As those whose names are written in heaven, we seek to live heavenly lives here on earth. This is the foundation of all our good works, including the good work of faithfully supporting the work of the Church. It’s our joy in having been redeemed by the Lord through the activity of the Church that motivates us to support the Church.

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.

OUR SUNDAY SCHOOL meets at 9:15 a.m. in the Choir Room which is located on the 2nd level (the west side).

THE ADULT BIBLE CLASS meets in the basement at 9:15 a.m.

NEXT SUNDAY: Our second annual Good Shepherd Night for a CornBelters Game at the Corn Crib is next Sunday, July 14th. Game time is at 6:35 p.m. and the per ticket price is $10.00. A block of tickets for our group will be held at the stadium box office the day of the game. Simply ask for the Good Shepherd Lutheran church section when you buy your tickets. Please let Randy Reinhardt know either in person or by email at: randyreinhardt1@gmail.com how many can attend.

THANK YOU to everyone who signed up for the Picture Directory Update. We reached our goal and have our date. The pictures will be taken on Monday, August 19th. More details to follow. OUR ANNUAL

GOOD SHEPHERD LUTHERAN BLOOD DRIVE will take place on Saturday, July 20th from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. We will be serving a breakfast as part of the Drive. You may sign-up to be a donor either on the table in the narthex or at: www.redcrossblood.org. Just find our Blood Drive and get those corpuscles lined up online. God Bless as we give this gift of life.

REMINDER: If you are a Thrivent member with Thrivent Insurance you are receiving Choice Dollars. These Choice Dollars can be directed to an organization of your choice and we hope you prayerfully direct them to Good Shepherd. You just need to go into the Thrivent website at: thrivent.com. After you log on, go to: My Account. God Bless those who direct there dollars to Good Shepherd.

PORTALS OF PRAYER: The July – September 2019 Portals of Prayer are available on the the book rack in the narthex. Large print also available. Pick up your free copy today.

YOU ARE INVITED: The Pregnancy Resource Center Mobile Ministry Dedication will be held this coming Tuesday, July 9th, at 7:00 p.m. The Dedication will take place at 4109 Wicker Road in Bloomington.

FELLOWSHIP HOSTS: In order to get more people involved in our Coffee/Donut Fellowship for 2019 we have two separate sign-ups: Donut Pick-up and Coffee Set-up. We would like to encourage you to sign-up for one or the other. You may also sign-up for both if you wish. The sign-up sheet is by the door by the north stairwell.

THE LUTHERAN HOUR: “Turning Point” is the topic for next Sunday. The sermon text will be from Romans 6:1-11. Belonging to God – Baptism. The speaker is 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.

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.

Sermon Text 6.30.2019 — Walk By The Spirit

June 30, 2019                                                                                    Text:  Galatians 5:1, 13-25

Dear Friends in Christ,

            There is a hill in Lake District in England called Rash Judgment Point.  It was given that name by the poet William Wordsworth.  He and his sister were standing at the top of the hill one day during harvest season looking at the lake below.  They saw a man fishing and this angered them because every able-bodied man was needed to gather the harvest.  Wordsworth decided to go down the hill and challenge the man that he should be busy at work for the good of the community.

            He called the man to shore.  He got out of the boat old and bent over.  He had several fish.  He explained he had worked for years helping with the harvest but he couldn’t physically do it anymore.  Instead, he contributed to the community by getting up each day at dawn and fishing.  The fish he caught he added to the community’s resources.  Wordsworth felt so bad about his hasty judgment that he named the hill from which he had first seen the man fishing, Rash Judgment Point.

            Rash judgment is a sin of the flesh.  It is a weakness in every man and woman.  This was just one of the things Paul warned the Christians in Galatia about.  He has a whole list.  But he also has encouragement for us as Christians to . . .

“WALK BY THE SPIRIT”

            Walking in the Spirit means we do make judgments.  We are to distinguish between right and wrong, truth and error, good and evil.  Where there is open sin apart from God’s Word manifesting itself the Christian is called to do what Paul writes in Galatians 6.  “Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness.”  Matthew 18 has the congregation excluding openly unrepentant sinners.  The goal is restoration.  The child of God repents and is welcomed back.  We do not pass judgment on those outside the church that is the job of governing authorities.

            In our gospel lesson even the apostles James and John struggled with this sin.  When the Samaritans would not welcome Jesus they wanted fire to come down and consume them.  But Jesus rebuked them.

            Have you ever felt like that?  Wanted someone to get his or hers?  Don’t we take guilty pleasure in the misfortune of others especially if their arrogance leads to a bad decision?  Be careful what your sinful flesh wants.  Many of these same Samaritans we are told were saved when the gospel reached them in the Book of Acts.  Do we see a soul that needs saving or does our flesh work against walking by the Spirit?

            As long as the world stands there is an opportunity to share the Gospel with unbelievers in the hope they will be saved.  We are not walking by the Spirit if we wish for their damnation.  John wrote this, “God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” (Jn. 3:17)  The love of God is for those who recognize the depth of their sin.  That love has touched us.  As we walk by the Spirit we recognize our weakness in passing unfair judgments.  We need that love of Jesus that comes through His life, and suffering, and death.  Our sins are then forgiven and we escape everlasting damnation.  This love changes everything in us.

            Paul writes in our text, “For you were called to freedom, brothers.  Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.  For the whole law is fulfilled in one word:  ‘you shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” (v. 13,14)  When we are touched by the love of God, we can walk by the Spirit, we can even love our enemies.  We want them to be saved and in heaven with us.  This is where our love and kindness and goodness and patience and gentleness can make a difference in the lives of others today.  Isn’t our society screaming for more fruits of the Spirit to manifest itself?  Oh, it is so needed and I hope this is in your prayers daily.  Some days who wants to leave the house?  Through the Spirit we leave our residence and let Him work through us. 

            Corrie Ten Boom tells this story in her book, Reflections of God’s Glory.  “In Africa a man came to a meeting with bandaged hands.  I asked what happened.  He said, ‘My neighbor’s straw roof was on fire; I helped him put it out and that’s how my hands got burned.’  Later the whole story came out.  The neighbor hated him and had set his roof on fire while his wife and children were asleep in the hut.  They were in great danger.  Fortunately, he was able to put out the fire in his house on time.  But sparks flew over to the roof of the man who had set the house on fire and his house started to burn.  There was no hate in the heart of this Christian; there was love for his enemy and he did everything he could to put out the fire in his neighbor’s house.  That is how his hands were burned.”

            An amazing story, isn’t it?  It shames us when we take delight in what we think others deserve.  The truth is, we all deserve to be burned in fire because of our sin.  For the sake of Jesus we have been forgiven and the fire of wrath has been extinguished.  God loved us that much.  Can’t we in turn love others?  Live by the Spirit . . . and Walk By The Spirit.                 Amen. 

Bulletin Announcements June 30, 2019

THOUGHTS ON STEWARDSHIP:  1 Kings 19:18 – “Yet I will leave seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.”  Elijah was sure that he was right, that he was the only one left who had not gone after Baal.  But he was too pessimistic. His faith in God was off-center.  We can’t go by our own wisdom.  We must trust the Lord and what He has revealed to us in His Word. Think about how this applies to our support of God’s work in the Church with our offering.  Read the Table of Duties in Luther’s Small Catechism to see what the Bible says about our giving.

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.

OUR SUNDAY SCHOOL meets at 9:15 a.m. in the Choir Room which is located on the 2nd level (the west side).

THE ADULT BIBLE CLASS meets in the basement at 9:15 a.m.

THANK YOU to everyone who signed up for the Picture Directory Update.  We reached our goal and have our date.  The pictures will be taken on Monday, August 19th.  More details to follow.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR:  Our second annual Good Shepherd Night for a CornBelters Game at the Corn Crib will be on Sunday, July 14th.  Game time is at 6:35 p.m. and the per ticket price is $10.00. A block of tickets for our group will be held at the stadium box office the day of the game.  Simply ask for the Good Shepherd Lutheran church section when you buy your tickets.  Please let Randy Reinhardt know either in person or by email at: randyreinhardt1@gmail.com how many can attend.

OUR ANNUAL GOOD SHEPHERD LUTHERAN BLOOD DRIVE will take place on Saturday, July 20th from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.  We will be serving a breakfast as part of the Drive.  You may sign-up to be a donor either on the table in the narthex or at: www.redcrossblood.org.  Just find our Blood Drive and get those corpuscles lined up online.  God Bless as we give this gift of life.

PORTALS OF PRAYER:  The July – September 2019 Portals of Prayer are available on the the book rack in the narthex.  Large print also available.  Pick up your free copy today.

YOU ARE INVITED:  The Pregnancy Resource Center Mobile Ministry Dedication will be held on Tuesday, July 9th at 7:00 a.m.  The Center is located at 303 Landmark Drive, Suite 1B, in Normal.

FELLOWSHIP HOSTS:  In order to get more people involved in our Coffee/Donut Fellowship for 2019 we have two separate sign-ups: Donut Pick-up and Coffee Set-up.  We would like to encourage you to sign-up for one or the other.  You may also sign-up for both if you wish.  The sign-up sheet is by the door by the north stairwell.

THE LUTHERAN HOUR:  “A Time to Talk” is the topic for next Sunday.  The sermon text will be from Matthew 6:5-15.  Talking to God – The Lord’s Prayer.  The speaker is 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.

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.