Bulletin Announcements

March 11, 2018

THOUGHTS ON STEWARDSHIP:  Ephesians 2:10 – “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” Even the good we do in this world is a gift from God, prepared beforehand for us to do. And this too is a gift! For isn’t doing good also a good thing for the one who does it? So from first to last, from the Lord’s free salvation given to us to the good works He’s prepared for us to walk in, it is all a gift of God’s grace.

NEED A RIDE? If you are unable to drive to church, we have an option that is available.  Please speak with Pastor who has the details.  Thank you.

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. As we celebrate the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation we continue studies on that time period.  We are studying “A Man Named Martin”, a video-based study on the reformer Martin Luther.

TODAY is our monthly door Offering for Seminarian Michael Brent Keller.  You have seen both his names these last few months but we learned this week he likes to go by Brent.  Seminarian Keller and his family will be here on Sunday, April 29th, when he will preach and conduct Adult Bible Class.  Also, we have received a Thank you note from Seminarian Brent and his family and it is posted on the bulletin board outside the church office.

TODAY:  The Sunday Evening Small Group Bible Study is beginning a new study today, March 11th, at 5:00 p.m.  “Lutheranism 101: Worship” will be our learning experience.  We invite everyone to this class as we expand our knowledge together.

OUR MIDWEEK LENTEN SERVICE 5 gathers in the Lord’s House this Wednesday at 7:00 p.m.  The message: “Isolation and Community” under our Lenten theme, “The Gospel In Seven Words”.  The Boards of Education and Trustees will be providing the Italian Cena (dinner) at 5:30 p.m.  There will be no II Conto (the check) but the freewill Offering will go to Laborers For Christ.  Chi mangia bene, vive bene (Who eats well, lives well).

THE LADIES MORNING BIBLE STUDY will meet on this Tuesday, March 13th at 9:30 a.m.

NEXT SUNDAY is the deadline for items to be submitted for the APRIL NEWSLETTER.  Janet Evans is our Editor for the church newsletter and any announcements you want to be published in the Newsletter should be submitted to her at goodshepherdblm@frontier.com or you may call her at (309) 838-1552.

EASTER LILIES:  If you would like to purchase an Easter Lily for the altar for Easter Sunday, there is signup sheet on the table in the narthex.  Lilies are $10.00 each. You may pick them up after late service on Easter Sunday.  Cash or checks made to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church.  On the memo line write “Easter Lily”. Contact Jackie Kwasny at (309) 662-4995 if you have any questions.

CAMP CILCA:  Brochures for Camp CILCA Summer 2018 are on the table in the narthex.

A SPECIAL THANK YOU to Pastor Lueck for the shut-in visits, the questions to Charlie regarding my condition and progress, the wonderful get well cards we received, the beautiful shawl Shirley Potter made for me during my recovery, the flowers and gifts from family and six grandchildren, the important documents and other things Craig and Penny have taken care of in my absence, and my loving husband who is with me every day helping me get through this critical time.  Thanks to all of you and God bless you!                   Joann Nottingham

THE MOVIE: “TORTURED FOR CHRIST”:  The congregation has another opportunity to attend a film like last summer’s Martin Luther movie.  This one is entitled “Tortured For Christ” and is the story of Pastor Richard Wurmbrand from Romania and his story under Communist rule following World War II.  (Pastor has read two books about both Pastor Wurrmbrand and his wife if you have any questions.)  The showing is Monday, March 19th at 7:30 p.m. at the AMC Starplex in Normal.  Tickets can be purchased online at: www.torturedforchrist.com.

THE LUTHERAN HOUR:  “Thrown Into the Arms of God” is the topic for next Sunday.  The sermon text will be from Mark 10:32-45.  The desire to advance your own interests can alienate you from others and God.  Serving others without thought of reward is God’s way forward for followers of Jesus. Reverend Dr. Dale Meyer is the speaker.  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 CHAIN:  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.

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Sermon Text for Sunday, March 4, 2018: “Is Jesus A Wimp?”

March 4, 2018                                                                        Text:  John 2:13-22

 

Dear Friends in Christ,

 

Who likes to upset the status quo?  Who of you gets involved when an injustice is done?  When do we not follow the guidelines?

My last year at the seminary we were to have a banquet for those that would be graduating.  We were called to a meeting of the administration that was run by the interim president.  He was interim because the previous president had been let go unceremoniously and without cause.  We were told at this meeting that we could invite anyone we wanted to be our banquet speaker except the former president.  After the meeting my class gathered and took a vote.  We overwhelmingly voted for the former president of the seminary.  The administration was quite shocked.  We had literally turned over tables and they didn’t like it.  Ultimately the banquet was cancelled and the money saved was given to each man to use in the bookstore.

If you watched the recent Olympics you saw a female half-pipe skier who played by the rules but upset the Olympic powers that be by qualifying without really doing any tricks in her discipline.  She just skied down the hill and social media was up in arms.  I love things like that.

Today in our text Jesus is in the temple and things are not right.  What will our Lord do?  Will He take action or as some want to claim . . .

“IS JESUS A WIMP?”

Part of our society want to see Jesus as a wimp.  You know how it goes.  Jesus loves everyone and it doesn’t matter what kind of sick behavior you indulge in because when you die we are all going to look to the sky like you have been saved though your life never showed any kind of Christian faith.  Jesus can be portrayed as mealy-mouthed and compassionate and a little wimpy.  Let’s see if that description really fits.

In our text Jesus is going to the temple in Jerusalem and instead of worshippers He finds a flea market.  Does He just walk away?  Does he try to explain these people’s behavior away?  Does he think He has to love them even if they are doing wrong?  No, no, and no!  He creates a scene and offends.  Finding his Father’s House being misused and abused, Jesus has to burst out into action.  This is no wimpy Jesus.  This is the Son of God calling people out for their poor behavior and choices.  “Take these things away; do not make my Father’s house a house of trade.” (v. 16b)

Where might Jesus’ anger burn today?  How about with the church that built a water slide for baptisms?  How about with those who are trying to change his gift of marriage?  Or those killing babies for convenience.  Does His heart burn for those who find excuses to stay away from His House?  Would He like to overturn the tables on those who use his name as exclamation points?  How about with worshippers who long for a person-centered service of good feelings rather than a God-centered one?  Is He patient when our thoughts wander in worship or if the service goes a little longer than we like?  Like we are doing God a favor. . when really it is the other way around.

Only God’s perfect person can meet our pitiful person.  No bowing to decorum, if it means compromising God’s house.  No playing it safe, blending in, even though this sort of outburst will get him killed.  No greater love or mercy or humility could be shown us sinners than what we see in the person of Christ.

Jesus is no wimp.  He is authentic and genuine.  Unlike the money-changers and sinners like us, he offers more than a fair exchange.  He exchanges our guilt for his acquittal.  He exchanges our crosses of damnation for his cross of salvation.  He exchanges our weaknesses for the strength of his resurrection.  He exchanges the weak things of our world for the strong world of heaven.  He exchanges, on the Last Day, our vile bodies for his victorious, resurrected one.

This was no weakling Christ, no coward wielding that whip.  And the grossly offended powers-that-be in the temple weren’t seeing the half of it.  This was almighty God!  The power of Christ is unmatched and his church will prevail.  Even the gates of hell cannot overcome against this lowly yet mighty body of believers.  Christ’s zeal, though seemingly destroyed on the cross, was instead raised in power on Easter.  And because He lives, we live forever.

Christian brother and sister today is another good reminder that we come from a long line of table turners.  Jesus, Martin Luther, the early Christians in America.  What are we doing about the money-changers and Scripture changers and post-modern blowhards of our day?  Being a wimp is not an option.  Through the power of the Holy Spirit we are reminded, “I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation.” (Rom. 1:16)  That was written by St. Paul who was transformed from a Christian hating zealot to a servant of Christ Jesus.  That is the Lord’s power through the Holy Spirit.  Lives can be changed and transformed but not if we just sit idly by.

Come out of the temple.  The world needs to hear the Gospel message from you and I.  Do we have the zeal?  I pray that we do.

Amen.

Bulletin Announcements

March 4, 2018

THOUGHTS ON STEWARDSHIP:  John 2:16 – “And he told those who sold the pigeons, ‘Take these things away; do not make my Father’s house a house of trade.’ ” The Lord’s House is not a place to sell, but a place to receive and a place to give. It’s not a place for our schemes and plans. Instead the Church is a place for the Lord’s gracious giving and our faithful sacrifices in response.

NEED A RIDE? If you are unable to drive to church, we have an option that is available.  Please speak with Pastor who has the details.  Thank you.

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. As we celebrate the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation we continue studies on that time period.  We are studying “A Man Named Martin”, a video-based study on the reformer Martin Luther.

OUR MIDWEEK LENTEN WORSHIP   This week’s Lenten message “Death and Life.”  Our Lenten Worship is “The Gospel In Seven Words”.  Service begins at 7:00 p.m. this Wednesday.  Before being filled with the Word of the Lord, we invite you to dine in the comfortable surroundings of the church basement.  The Evangelism/Stewardship will serve the 5 star meal beginning at 5:30 p.m.  The freewill Offering will help our District Missions.

THE GOOD SHEPHERD FRIDAY NIGHT AT THE MOVIES  will be on a SPECIAL FRIDAY NIGHT.  It will be this coming Friday, March 9th, at 6:30 p.m.  “ALL SAINTS” is a movie based on the inspiring true story of a salesman-turned-pastor, the tiny church he was ordered to shut down, and a group of refugees from Southeast Asia.  Together, they risked everything to plant seeds for a future that might just save them all.  Join us for another fine movie, good food and wonderful fellowship.  Mark your calendars for the MARCH 9th; MOVIE NIGHT.

NEXT SUNDAY, March 11th, will be our monthly door Offering for Seminarian Michael Keller.

“CLARK, IT’S TIME TO COME TO BED”.  Can you name the movie?  As you ponder that, ponder this, encouragement is made to set your clocks ahead one hour next Saturday evening before enjoying the Lord’s rest.

NEXT SUNDAY:  The Sunday Evening Small Group Bible Study is beginning a new study next Sunday, March 11th, at 5:00 p.m.  “Lutheranism 101: Worship” will be our learning experience.  We invite everyone to this class as we expand our knowledge together.

THE LADIES MORNING BIBLE STUDY will meet on Tuesday, March 13th at 9:30 a.m.

CAMP CILCA:  Brochures for Camp CILCA Summer 2018 are on the table in the narthex.

A SPECIAL THANK YOU to Pastor Lueck for the shut-in visits, the questions to Charlie regarding my condition and progress, the wonderful get well cards we received, the beautiful shawl Shirley Potter made for me during my recovery, the flowers and gifts from family and six grandchildren, the important documents and other things Craig and Penny have taken care of in my absence, and my loving husband who is with me every day helping me get through this critical time.  Thanks to all of you and God bless you!                 Joann Nottingham

THE MOVIE: “TORTURED FOR CHRIST”:  The congregation has another opportunity to attend a film like last summer’s Martin Luther movie.  This one is entitled “Tortured For Christ” and is the story of Pastor Richard Wurmbrand from Romania and his story under Communist rule following World War II.  (Pastor has read two books about both Pastor Wurrmbrand and his wife if you have any questions.)  The showing is Monday, March 19th at 7:30 p.m. at the AMC Starplex in Normal.  Tickets can be purchased online at: www.torturedforchrist.com.

LENTEN DEVOTIONS:  The Lenten Devotional, “Silent Witness,” is available on the table in the narthex.

THE LUTHERAN HOUR:  “Condemned Already” is the topic for next Sunday.  The sermon text will be from John 3:19-21.  Some things just work better in the dark.  You know, things like watching for shooting stars and getting a good night’s sleep or dreaming about the future.  People love the darkness for a lot of reasons, and not all of them are good. Reverend Dr. Ken Klaus is the speaker.  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 CHAIN:  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.

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Stewardship Corner March 2018

Hudson Taylor, a Nineteenth Century British missionary to China, is reported to have said, “God’s work, done in God’s way, will not lack God’s supply.” To know God’s way, we need to know His Holy Word. Or to say it another way: you need to know your Bible.

St. Paul, before he spends two chapters on giving, wrote that every thought is to be taken captive to the obedience of Christ (2 Cor. 10:5).

Doctrine matters. And doctrine matters because the Scriptures matter. And the Scriptures matter because this is where we learn the teaching of Christ. Our thoughts must be brought into line with the teaching of Scripture so that our work is what God wants done and so that we do this work in His way.

A good tree bears good fruit. A bad tree bears bad fruit. We have been made good trees in holy baptism. We are fertilized and pruned for bearing good fruit by constantly hearing God’s Word preached and taught in sermon and Bible Class and in receiving the life-giving, faith-sustaining food of the Lord’s Supper. Remember your doctrine, hold on to the Lord’s teaching, and your thoughts will be taken captive to the obedience of Christ.

Bringing every thought captive to the obedience of Christ is recognizing that God does provide. The Lord’s Prayer teaches us to pray for daily bread. Praying this day in and day out reminds us that the Lord is the giver of our daily bread, and that we are to give thanks for His daily provision of it.

God is rarely early and never late in His work, as Abraham learned, “on the mount of the Lord it will be provided” (Gen. 22:14). The Lord’s generosity forms our generosity in return. Thus, we set aside for the work of God a generous, first-fruits, proportion of the daily bread that God has given to us. This act of trust in the Lord’s provision is the working out of our faith in Him.

When budgetary discussions pop up, our natural reaction is to point fingers. But remember your doctrine, and what your mother taught about pointing fingers. Our first natural reaction is not always right. In fact, when our thoughts are brought into captivity of Christ, our first reaction should be repentance.

It should raise questions in our own lives. As good trees in Christ who are to bear good fruit, we should ask whether our thoughts are taken captive by obedience to Christ. Have we given generously? Have we given our first-fruits? You know. And God knows. “For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him” (2 Chron. 16:9).

God will provide. He always has and He always will. He gives His meat in due season. He has not left you as orphans, but has grafted you into His own family. You belong to Him. Remember this, letting this thought dwell in you richly. And you will then be rich toward others.