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.
Celebrating March 2018
Birthdays
Michael Anderson Mar 1
John Isaac Mar 1
Kyryth Kessler Mar 2
Anita Contois Mar 3
Halle Sheley Mar 3
Vanessa Biddle Mar 4
Steve Parry Mar 4
Greg Sheley Mar 6
Ruth Alvis Mar 18
Jennifer Cloyd Mar 25
Mary Anne Kirchner Mar 29
Bob Bier Mar 31
Baptismal Birthdays
Lucas Schempp Mar 1
Jennifer Parry Mar 3
Betty Bier Mar 4
Matthew Holland Mar 8
Linda Dirks Mar 11
Pat Orr Mar 11
Mollie Hitch Mar 13
Ryan Hitch Mar 13
Johana Kirchner Mar 16
Ruth Alvis Mar 18
Luanne Huth Mar 20
Carol Schroeder Mar 24
Vanessa Biddle Mar 29
Carin Henson Mar 31
Pastor’s Notes March 2018
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
During our Lenten midweek worship services, the messages are focusing in on being able to explain the Gospel in as few words as possible. It is a good spiritual exercise and one our attention span deprived society needs.
Have you stopped to think there is a Bible verse that many men and women know and it only has 26 words? Got a guess? “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” That message is broadcast from heaven, from the cross, and from our churches today.
Why do we need that love? Because we fail in our love. “Dearest Jimmy, No words could ever express the great unhappiness I’ve felt since breaking our engagement. Please say you’ll take me back. No one could ever take your place in my heart, so please forgive me. I love you! I love you! Yours forever, Marie. P.S. Congratulations on winning the state lottery!”
Our love can be fleeting. The Lord’s love is constant. Our love is based on our feelings. The Lord is love. Our love can be predicated on getting something in return. The Lord’s love is given knowing we can give Him nothing.
See the Lord’s love this Lent and always. A love that suffered. A love that flows. A love unshaken. A love given to the unlovable. A love that does not boast but gives salvation and peace and mercy.
The love of Christ is here for you. Hmm…The Gospel in . . .
In Christ,
Pastor
Sermon Text for Sunday, February 25, 2018: “Back to the Basics.”
February 25, 2018 Text: Romans 5:1-8
Dear Friends in Christ,
Sometimes it’s good just to go back to the basics, just to hear once again the core of what wee believe, just to listen to what brings peace, hope and joy to our hearts. Romans 5 does just that. The Apostle Paul is assuring us of the basic, core hope we have when he says, “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (v. 1)
This sermon is about what God has done through Christ. But first we must begin with ourselves. We must admit that God needs to save us because we cannot justify ourselves. Weak, sinful, and ungodly is not how we want to see ourselves. Frankly, we want to see ourselves just the opposite. It starts young.
In Nevada there is a school system that is changing the grading system so no one fails. If you get A’s and B’s you are “extending.” C students are “developing.” Those who should get an F are “emerging.” In this school system you only succeed. You are only described in positive terms. That is how we want to see ourselves – as adults too. But that is not how God sees us. Not strong and emerging, but weak and sinful. So we need the message today . . .
“BACK TO THE BASICS”
We have always had some controversy in our country over the posting of the 10 Commandments in our courtrooms. But imagine sitting in God’s courtroom with Him as the judge and the 10 Commandments boldly plastered on the wall behind Him. You stand before Him and he reads the 2nd commandment, “You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God.” No use of four letter words. No carelessly saying or typing on your phone “Oh God” in the middle of a sentence. No calling another a nasty name because you are angry. Just the commandment staring you in the face, saying, “Did you keep me all of the time?” and God asking “How do you plead?” Not in the positive even if you went to school in Nevada, “guilty as charged.”
Let’s try another one, say, “You shall not steal”? No greed. No anxiety over money. No buying stuff on yourself and not being generous to others. Just the commandment staring you in the face saying, “Did you keep me all the time?” and God asking, “How do you plead?” Not good, just guilty. Just weak, ungodly and sinful. No we don’t want to be in God’s courtroom where His justice would declare us to be unloving, helpless, deserving of God’s punishment. That’s basic.
But we are not in His courtroom. We are in His house, his church. We are in the one place where we remember that the greatest injustice of all time has saved us from God’s punishment. Here in the church we do not stare at God’s Law and wilt under our guilt. No, we also see Jesus’ cross and rejoice in our justification. That’s basic.
Remember that dark Thursday night and Jesus has gone to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray. As the disciples awake, Jesus is arrested and he is going to trial. The court is hastily convened. People come forward but their charges do not agree. Jesus is innocent. Here is the one person inherently good and strong and godly and sinless. No charge can stick against Him except one that is trumped up. So an injustice is perpetuated and Jesus is sentenced to die.
Yet justice is served when Jesus is nailed to the cross – God’s justice. Our breaking of the Ten Commandments could not be simply excused. No, someone had to die. Someone had to take the eternal punishment, and that someone is Jesus. Our sin and His death combine on a cross and God’s justice is satisfied. We are justified in God’s sight as Jesus holds onto us as our only hope. He is the only reason for our rejoicing when we stand before God on Judgment Day.
Reader’s Digest years ago had a story about Bill who had donated 100 pints of blood. What Bill did was kind and generous but here is what he said, “When the final whistle blows and St. Peter asks, ‘What did you do?’ I’ll just say, ‘Well, I gave 100 pints of blood, that ought to get me in.’” A writer by the name of Joe McKeever made this comment about Bill, “Bill was probably joking. But if he was serious…if Bill is counting on the giving of 100 pints of blood to get him to heaven, he is trusting in the wrong blood.” Our faith is in Jesus, because His blood shed on the cross justifies us. That’s basic to what we believe.
When you go back to the basics – that we are weak, ungodly, and sinners, yet justified because God’s love in shown in Jesus, who, at just the right time, died for us – it makes a difference in how we feel. We rejoice. It makes a difference in what we do. We endure when we suffer, even more; we become people of character and hope. We love and live for Jesus. And it makes a huge difference in what we know. It is deep and mysterious, yet our faith holds on to one basic truth: God’s love was shown when Jesus stretched out his arms as wide as they could go and He died for us so that we might live.
“Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Yes, it is good to go back to the basics.
Amen.