Sermon for Sunday, January 7, 2017: “The Voice.”

January 7, 2018 – The Baptism of our Lord                       Text:  Mark 1:4-11

 

Dear Friends in Christ,

 

Most of us are not crazy about the realities of life, but our society does have a fascination with reality TV.  Survivor, The Amazing Race, and America’s Got Talent fills the airwaves throughout the week.

One of the more popular programs is called The Voice.  I am no connoisseur of this type of program but the lady I sleep next to at night is, so I know a little about the show.  The Voice is looking for the next big singing star.  The unique thing about this show is that when the singer auditions for the first time, the judge cannot see them.  They have their back to the performer.  They may not like the look, the clothes or their movements, but if they like The Voice, they turn around and say, “I want you!”  Then that judge becomes their coach.  It’s all about the voice.

Our reality this morning is that we are filthy rags of sin and we need forgiveness for our misdeeds.  We may not always want to hear that, but we can’t ignore the voice that tells us.  Even if we don’t like this reality in ourselves, we should not dislike hearing the voice.  Quite the contrary, rejoice in

“THE VOICE”

There is a voice in the wilderness that is preparing us for the Mighty One.  This voice has no previous fanfare or an agent trying to promote him – John the Baptist appears in the wilderness.  Could this possibly be the next great voice?  Is he in line to be a star preacher?  From the look of things let’s not crown his head quite yet.  Look at him – rough leather, camel’s hair (didn’t that go out in the stone age), locusts, wild honey.  But has he ever got a voice.

He uses that voice to pass on a painful reality to the crowds, you are all sinners.  You besmirch your neighbor with your talk.  You kill with words just for the sport of it.  You take things that do not belong to you.  Repentance is needed.  Without it you are all going to perish.

But this was no voice of despair.  John was preparing the way of the Lord’s forgiveness.  Crowds did hear the voice.  They came out to John and did repent.  They were baptized and in that baptism they were forgiven.  Most importantly, they heard the voice that the One who would secure this forgiveness was coming.

The voice from heaven announces to us the beloved Son.  Now appears another one who appears on the scene that we would not recognize as a star.  Jesus is just another guy in the crowd.  From the podunk town of Nazareth in backward Galilee.  In fact, He comes to be baptized, like all those sinners.

But you can’t ignore this voice, The Voice:  God the Father in heaven.  Jesus may not look like much.  The Holy Spirit isn’t there to put on a show; He comes simply as a dove.  But the voice has power.  This voice needs no coaching.

This is no audition.  It is not a contest.  This voice has the final Word:  “My beloved Son is the final Word.”  God the Father is well pleased that Jesus will now begin the task of saving all his children lost in the wilderness.  The Father is pleased that His Son is heading off to the wilderness to defeat temptation for all who have given into it.  The Father is well pleased that His beloved Son will go to the cross to take the punishment for all our sinful failures.

The voice declares these same wonderful things to us today.  In His Baptism, He put himself in our place.  He came to John to be baptized so that he would be the sinner in our stead.  That is, Jesus’ Baptism sent him to the cross for our sins.

That means the opposite is also true; we who are baptized are now in Jesus’ place.  Jesus’ Baptism sanctified all water to be powerful when the voice of the Pastor speaks God’s Word.  In Baptism, we receive the holiness of Jesus’ life, the forgiveness of his death.   Our loose talk and sticky fingers and hurtful words are washed clean from our body and soul.

Therefore, the Voice of God the Father can be heard in the Pastor’s voice.  “You – fill in your name – are my beloved son, beloved daughter.  With you I am well pleased.”  “You are my holy one, my child to live with me forever.”

Unlike The Voice with their blind auditions and backs turned on the performers.  God sees us for who we are, but he does not turn his back on us.  We are chosen by Him, not because of what we look like or even how we sound, but because we are connected to him through Christ’s Baptism.  We hear the voice of God calling us to repentance, and we follow him in faith.  Now, then, with great joy, we rejoice to hear THE Voice.

Amen.

 

Bulletin Announcements

January 7, 2018 – The Baptism of Our Lord 

Installation of Officers

THOUGHTS ON STEWARDSHIP:  Mark 1:7 – And John preached, saying, “After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie.”   John is right: Jesus is immensely greater than any of us, yet behold how He came to serve!  That is the upside down, outlandish grace of God: the innocent Jesus takes our sinner’s place.  This is the greatest act of giving the world has ever known or will know:  The Father gives His Son to die in the place of sinners.

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.

POINSETTIA PICK UP:  You may pick up your poinsettias TODAY after the 8:00 a.m. or 10:30 a.m. services.  There are plastic covers in the narthex on top of the coat racks at the north end which you may use to protect them.  Thank you for your participation in decorating our Church for the Christmas season.

NEXT SUNDAY, January 24th, will be our monthly door Offering for our Seminary student.

2018 OFFERING ENVELOPES:  Please pick up your 2018 Offering Envelopes today.  They are located on the table in the narthex.

WE NEED YOUR IDEAS for our new church sign.  Sheets are available on the table in the narthex.  We will take submissions until Sunday, February 11, 2018.  You may drop them in the box in the narthex.  Thank you!

TODAY:  John and Paula Hardy are planning their annual trip to Ft Wayne, IN this coming  Friday, January 12th. Please bring your items to church TODAY, January 7th.  The Seminary needs clean usable clothes for men, women, and children. They also accept shoes, coats, and kitchen supplies.    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!

PORTALS OF PRRAYER:  The January – Martch 2018 are available on the book rack in the narthex.  Please pick up your free copy today.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR:  Please mark your calendar for 2018 – Saturday, February 10th.  Wittenberg Lutheran is hosting a Speaker’s Forum with the theme, “Cultural and Governmental Influence On God’s Design For the Family”.  The speakers are Tim Goeglein an LCMS Laymen who worked in the Bush White House and now is employed by “Focus On The Family”; and John Rosemond a family psychologist whose syndicated newspaper column appears in The Pantagraph on Saturdays.

FELLOWSHIP HOSTS:  In order to get more people involved in our Coffee/Donut Fellowship for 2018 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 is by the door by the north stairwell.

YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED to Camp CILCA’S first Annual Banquet on Sunday, January 28, 2018 from 5-8:00 p.m. at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall, 2645 Old Jacksonville Rd., Springfield, IL.  Tickets are $40.00 each, and must be purchased before January 20th.  Purchase tickets by calling the Camp Office at (217) 487-7497, or by email at: camp@cilca.org.

THE LUTHERAN HOUR:  “How Well Does Jesus Know Me?” is the topic for next Sunday.  The sermon text will be from John 1:48-51.  It’s nice to have someone know and understand you.  Today the Lutheran Hours asks, “How do you feel about Jesus knowing you?”  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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Bulletin Announcements

December 31, 2017

THOUGHTS ON STEWARDSHIP:  Luke 2:39 “And when they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord. . .”  The Law of God is good. Of course, it always shows us our sins: but that is good, too!  We need to be driven back to the forgiveness of Christ.  But the Law also shows us the truly blessed way to live – as Mary and Joseph found their joy in a godly life, so should we see the Law as a guide for Christian living, as the roadmap for saying thank you to the Lord for all His grace and mercy to us.

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.

DINNER FOLLOWING NEW YEAR’S EVE WORSHIP SERVICE:  We will be going to dinner at the Ozark House this evening following the 7:00 New Year’s Eve Worship Service.  Anyone interested going to dinner please see or contact Linda Lange (309) 339-9930.  Thank you.

NEXT SUNDAY, January 7th, we will have the Installation of Church  Officers at both worship services.

2018 OFFERING ENVELOPES:  Please pick up your 2018 Offering Envelopes today.  They are located on the table in the narthex.

WE NEED YOUR IDEAS for our new church sign.  Sheets are available on the table in the narthex.  We will take submissions until Sunday, February 11, 2018.  You may drop them in the box in the narthex.  Thank you!

CAN YOU HELP:  John and Paula Hardy are planning their annual trip to Ft Wayne, IN on Friday, January 12th. Please bring your items to church by Sunday, January 7th.  The Seminary needs clean usable clothes for men, women, and children. They also accept shoes, coats, and kitchen supplies.    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!

MARK YOUR CALENDAR:  Please mark your calendar for 2018 – Saturday, February 10th.  Wittenberg Lutheran is hosting a Speaker’s Forum with the theme, “Cultural and Governmental Influence On God’s Design For the Family”.  The speakers are Tim Goeglein an LCMS Laymen who worked in the Bush White House and now is employed by “Focus On The Family”; and John Rosemond a family psychologist whose syndicated newspaper column appears in The Pantagraph on Saturdays.

FELLOWSHIP HOSTS:  In order to get more people involved in our Coffee/Donut Fellowship for 2018 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 is by the door by the north stairwell.

THE LUTHERAN HOUR:  “Breaking News!” is the topic for next Sunday.  The sermon text will be from Isaiah 60:1-6.  Epiphany calls us to believe that the Light has come into the world.  A New Year’s message about confidence, if you’ll believe it!  Reverend Dr. Dale A. 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.

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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