Bulletin Announcements
March 3, 2019
THOUGHTS ON STEWARDSHIP: Luke 9:36 – “And when the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone.” Moses and Elijah point to Jesus, speak about Jesus and His sacrifice, and then they are happy to fade into the background. They know that what we need is Jesus. With our eyes focused on Him, and Him alone, the rest of our lives come into focus. He is primary all else is secondary. When that order is right in our lives, things truly fall into place. Or as Jesus Himself said, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matthew 6:33).
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.
LENT BEGINS: Ash Wednesday Worship with Holy Communion begins the season of Lent. We will gather in the Lord’s House on Wednesday, March 6th, with the Processional Hymn set for 7:00 p.m. We do the Imposition of Ashes here at Good Shepherd. If you are new, have never participated or have any questions, please speak with Pastor. Our theme for Lent 2019 is: “Let My People Go” based on the Book of Exodus. This week’s message is: “Big Things With Small Stuff”. There is no meal this week, Lenten meals will begin on Wednesday, March 13th.
NEXT SUNDAY: Our 2nd Sunday door Offering for Seminarian Joseph Schlie will be a week from today, Sunday, March 10, 2019. Also, we received a letter from Mr. Schlie and it is posted on the bulletin board outside the church office.
DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME BEGINS NEXT WEEKEND: Remember to set your clocks ahead one hour next Saturday evening before you go to bed.
THE LENTEN DEVOTIONAL BOOKLETS, “People Of The Passion” are available on the table in the narthex. Pick up your free copy today.
FROM THE OFFICE: It’s time for the annual update of the Church Directory Listing. On the table in the narthex there are two lists, one with only phone numbers and email addresses; and also one with home addresses included. Please check the listings and make any changes necessary. We hope to have a new Church Directory for you by the first Sunday in April. Thank you for your help.
FRIDAY MOVIE NIGHT IN MARCH will be on March 22nd at 6:30 p.m. The title of the movie is “RISEN”. “RISEN” is the epic Biblical story of the Resurrection as told through the eyes of a non-believer. Clavius, a powerful Roman military tribune and his aide, Lucius are tasked with solving the mystery of what happened to Jesus in the weeks following the crucifixion in order to disprove the rumors of a risen Messiah and prevent an uprising in Jerusalem. Join us for another great movie, good food and wonderful fellowship March 22nd at 6:30pm in the church basement.
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: “Through Another’s Eyes” is the topic for next Sunday. The sermon text will be from John 9:1-41. Art helps us to better see the world. John’s Gospel which is both history and art, puts the world in proper focus. 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.
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 Feb 24, 2019 — Live to Forgive
February 24, 2019 Text: Luke 6:27-38
Dear Friends in Christ,
A man was informed by his doctor that he had rabies. The man had waited so long to go to the doctor that nothing could be done about his condition. After telling him the sad news, the doctor left. Later, he came back to check on the man. Instead of finding him upset, the patient was writing on a piece of paper. “Are you writing a will?” the doctor asked. “No,” said the man, “I’m making a list of all the people I am going to bite!”
Oh how we love to live for revenge, armed with ammunition, ready and equipped to pay back those who have hurt us. Jesus knew about this sinful nature in all of us, this spiteful bitterness that builds up so easily. That is why He went to great lengths to give us a better way to live. Don’t live for revenge . . .
“LIVE TO FORGIVE”
That is the sum of the message Jesus shares in Gospel reading from Luke. Listen again to our Savior’s words: “But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.” (v. 27-31)
Now, this type of forgiveness is easier said than done, isn’t it? It is not easy to forgive someone who has hurt you, or embarrassed you or caused you pain. Forgiving then can be one of the hardest things in life to do. Our nature is to strike back or make them pay or stop loving them or cut off all communication. We can’t just let them off the hook, can we?
Sin is never free. There is always a price. The price has been paid. It was not paid with gold or silver but with the precious and innocent blood shed by Jesus Christ on the cross.
The price for all the sins that will ever be committed against you was paid that day when God’s own Son gave up His life at Calvary. That same day the price was paid for all the sins you commit against others. There is a price for sin. We don’t pay it. Jesus Christ, God himself, paid the ultimate price with His life. Is it right for us to try to make others pay for their sins, when God doesn’t make us pay the price for ours?
Jesus didn’t live for revenge. When He rose from the grave He didn’t go off in some Stallone-Schwarzenegger rage to track down those who wronged Him. We may love that in our hearts and minds, but that is not God’s way. He lives to forgive and He enables us to live that kind of life also.
Jesus says in verse 36, “Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.” Alex lives in Columbia. One day he was on his way to work at a banana plantation when armed guerrillas boarded his bus, ordered everyone off and shot them. In the shooting, Alex lost an eye. He later joined a prison ministry where he ran into Ismael, the very man who shot him years before. Through his sharing of the Gospel in the prison, Ismael came to the Christian faith.
Alex is now on his way to law school to help those improperly imprisoned. Thanks to the peace process in Columbia, many former guerrillas, including Ismael, were pardoned and released from prison. Ismael needed a place to live, so Alex asked him to move into his place. The former guerrilla and his victim are now roommates.
Alex, through the work of Christ on his heart, was able to let go of the grudge against the man who had wronged him. He was following the Lord’s plan and there is another Christian believer on earth. “God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.” (Rom. 5:8-10)
Live to forgive. Live to love others. When we share the forgiveness God has given us, it will have an effect in the lives of those we forgive. We may not see the effect right away. We may never see it. But when we share the forgiveness of Jesus Christ, we can rest in His promise that He will touch the lives of those we forgive, just as He has touched our lives through the forgiveness He’s given us.
There it is. God’s plan for your life. Live to forgive. That is the kind of life God lives. And that’s the life He empowers you to live also. Live to forgive . . through Jesus Christ.
Amen.