Sermon for Sunday, December 10, 2017: “God’s Patience In Our Im(patience).”

Dec. 10, 2017                                                                         Text:  2 Peter 3:8-14

 

Dear Friends in Christ,

 

A man came to the Lord and asked, “Is it true for you a day is like a thousand years and a thousand years are like a day?”  The Lord said, “Yes.”  The man continued, “And is it true that to you a penny is like a million dollars and a million dollars are a like a penny?”  “Yes,” said the Lord.  The man said, “May I have a penny?”  The Lord responded, “Yes.  Tomorrow.”

Oh, how impatient we are.  The first video game that my family had was Pong and it had 28 bytes.  The newest I-phone has over 4 billion bytes.  And it is still not fastest enough for some.  We wait through Advent days while the world around us is already acting as though “It’s Christmas!”  Where are you on the Patience/Impatience scale?  And what about when it comes to the Lord?  This 2nd Sunday in Advent . . . Here it comes…wait, wait, wait . . .

“GOD’S PATIENCE IN OUR IM(PATIENCE)”

We may be impatient with God’s patience.  Some in Peter’s day were becoming impatient with God’s patience.  As they faced scoffers and persecutors, it seemed as if the Lord was never coming back.

Do we ever accuse God of slowness?  Why can’t I get better as I lay here in bed?  Lord, I sure wish you would get my child heading in the right direction.  Why won’t my spouse come to church when I’ve been praying all these years?  Will my retirement community ever address my problems?  Where is God?  Why won’t He use His power to end my problems?!

The fact is God is not slow but wishes that no one would perish.  God’s patience is for a gracious and glorious purpose.  If Christ returned at our convenience – think of the souls that could be lost.  Christ died for them too.

The Day of the Lord is going to come and creation as we know it will pass away.  Buildings and monuments and structures we have grown to love will be no more.  The event will be stunning and spectacular.  Creation will pass away but God’s Word will not pass away.

Knowing this, what sort of people ought we to be?  People who scoff and doubt?  No, we ought to be people who live in holiness and godliness.  People who trust in God to get us out of the sick bed.  People who know the Lord will lead our children in the right direction.  People who watch the spouse, led by the Holy Spirit, coming to worship.  People in the retirement community who have hope in the Lord their needs will be met.  This is what we ought to be, often not what we are.

Yet, for us, the Son left the splendor of paradise to live in this sinful and awful world.  For us, the Son humbled himself as a Servant.  For us, the Son went to the cross and grave.  For us, the Son will return in glory and gather His Church.

His promise is a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.  Unlike our “creations” which are temporal and artificial, His promise is for something far greater.  “In which righteousness dwells.”  Where all is holy and godly, where we suffer no more sadness and doubt and pain, even from our own sin.

During Advent we look back to remember how surely God keeps promises, leading to the manger.  We look forward to this promise yet to be kept, knowing God is faithful.

Therefore, we shall be at peace.  We will be found in Him.  We are reconciled with God by Jesus’ atoning death.  That is, we have peace from Christ and through Christ and in Christ.  As God’s servants we are messengers of peace; as God is patient, desiring repentance, so Advent, awaiting Christ’s return, is time to prepare others.

Medicines have them.  Batteries have them.  Coupons have them.  Warranties have them.  Even sour cream has an expiration date!  So does the world.  And so does every person living in this world.  But the date isn’t posted or printed for us to see.

The Advent reality is that the world’s days are numbered.  Its expiration is part of the salvation story.  Is the Lord’s return something you are impatient about?  Sit down, relax.  The return of Christ is both promised and certain.

God’s patience in your im(patience).  Stop fretting.  We wait in holiness and godliness and have the promise – peace in Christ.  Even in our impatience with all the things wrong in the world, our patient Lord is there for you.  It’s coming…I feel it…the Pastor is slowing down a little bit…The trumpet blast and….

Amen.

Bulletin Announcements

December 10, 2017

THOUGHTS ON STEWARDSHIP:  1 Corinthians 1:7 –  “…so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ.”  The Lord sees to it that we do not lack any gift – He has given us every spiritual blessing in Christ as well as every earthly need.  He is the Provider.  And we can trust Him to always provide for us in every way.

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.

MIDWEEK ADVENT WORSHIP:  The second our three Advent Services is this Wednesday, December 13th at 7:00 p.m.  This year’s theme is: “The Word Becomes Flesh”, based on John 1:1-18.  This week’s message is: “A Man Named John”  Meals are served at 5:30 p.m. in the basement.  The food sign-up is in the narthex and this week’s free-will Offering will go to Lutherans For Life .

TODAY will be our second Sunday door Offering for our Seminary Student.

POINSETTIAS FOR THE ALTAR:   We have a sign-up sheet on the table in the narthex for poinsettias on the altar for Christmas.  They are $8.00 each and you may sign up until Wednesday, December 20th.  They will be available to be taken home after Epiphany on Sunday, January 7th.  There will be an envelope with the sign-up sheet for your check or cash.  Please make checks payable to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church and list “Poinsettia” on memo line.  If you have any questions, please contact Jackie Kwasny at (309) 662-4995 or Luanne Huth at (309) 829-6897.

“LOVE CAME DOWN”:  Advent Devotion Booklets are available on the table in the narthex.  Pick up your free copy today.

ARE YOU MISSING A JACKET from this past Wednesday evening service?  It is a winter jacket and light gray in color

CHRISTMAS EVE MORNING:  The Elders at their November meeting made a worship change for Christmas Eve morning.  We will have one Worship Service at 9:00 a.m. with Sunday School and Adult Bible Class from 10:15 – 11:00 a.m.  The Christmas Eve Candlelight Evening Worship will be at 6:00 p.m.

CAN YOU HELP: John and Paula Hardy are planning their annual trip to Ft Wayne, IN.  It will be sometime after the holidays, hopefully mid-January. The Seminary needs clean usable clothes for men, women, and children. They also accept shoes, coats, and kitchen supplies.  Please bring them to church.  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!

YOU ARE INVITED:  Take a free guided 20-minute walking tour and experience “The Journey” Mary and Joseph took so many years ago.  This tour features indoor and outdoor scenes with live drama, animals and singing.  “Journeys” begin inside every 10 minutes between 5-7:30 p.m. TODAY, December 10th at Christ Lutheran Church in Normal.  Free cookies and hot chocolate will be available.  Meals are also available for purchase between 4:30 – 7:00 p.m.  For more information please call Christ Lutheran Church (309) 452-5609.

THE LUTHERAN HOUR:  “Life Narrows Down” is the topic for next Sunday.  The sermon text will be from John 1:6-8, 19-28. John the Baptist had a passion for the Lamb of God.  What’s your passion in life?  How far into the future will it take you?   Dr. Dale Meyer is the speaker.  Hear this Sunday’s 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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Bulletin Announcements

December 3, 2017

THOUGHTS ON STEWARDSHIP:  1 Corinthians 1:9 –  “God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.”  The faithfulness of God is our great comfort. He has made promises to us and He will keep them.  He is kind and loving toward us and will not break faith with us.  This gives us the confidence to step out in faith, to leave fear behind.  So when it comes to following the Lord’s commandments for our daily lives: we know His will is best for us because our God is faithful.

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.

MIDWEEK ADVENT WORSHIP:  The first of our three Advent Services is this Wednesday, December 6th at 7:00 p.m.  This year’s theme is: “The Word Becomes Flesh”, based on John 1:1-18.  This week’s message is: “You Have My Word!”  Meals are served at 5:30 p.m. in the basement.  The food sign-up is in the narthex and this week’s free-will Offering will go to the Prison Ministry in our district.

“LOVE CAME DOWN”:  Advent Devotion Booklets are available on the table in the narthex.  Pick up your free copy today.

NEXT SUNDAY, December 10th, will be our second Sunday door Offering for our Seminary Student.

POINSETTIAS FOR THE ALTAR:   We have a sign-up sheet on the table in the narthex for poinsettias on the altar for Christmas.  They are $8.00 each and you may sign up until Wednesday, December 20th.  They will be available to be taken home after Epiphany on Sunday, January 7th.  There will be an envelope with the sign-up sheet for your check or cash.  Please make checks payable to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church and list “Poinsettia” on memo line.  If you have any questions, please contact Jackie Kwasny at (309) 662-4995 or Luanne Huth at (309) 829-6897.

CHRISTMAS EVE MORNING:  The Elders at their November meeting made a worship change for Christmas Eve morning.  We will have one Worship Service at 9:00 a.m. with Sunday School and Adult Bible Class from 10:15 – 11:00 a.m.  The Christmas Eve Candlelight Evening Worship will be at 6:00 p.m.

CAN YOU HELP: John and Paula Hardy are planning their annual trip to Ft Wayne, IN.  It will be sometime after the holidays, hopefully mid-January. The Seminary needs clean usable clothes for men, women, and children. They also accept shoes, coats, and kitchen supplies.  Please bring them to church.  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!

YOU ARE INVITED:  Join your neighbors at Luther Oaks, 601 Lutz Rd., Bloomington for “Holiday Trivia” this coming Saturday, December 9th from 2-4:00 p.m.  Fun for all ages.  Complimentary snacks and beverages provided.  Any questions, please call Bev Voss at (309) 557-8048.

YOU ARE INVITED:  Take a free quided 20-minute walking tour and experience “The Journey” Mary and Joseph took so many years ago.  This tour features indoor and outdoor scenes with live drama, animals and singing.  “Journeys” begin inside every 10 minutes between 5-7:30 p.m. NEXT SUNDAY, December 10th at Christ Lutheran Church in Normal.  Free cookies and hot chocolate will be available.  Meals are also available for purchase between 4:30 – 7:00 p.m.  For more information please call Christ Lutheran Church (309) 452-5609.

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.

THE LUTHERAN HOUR:  “Prep Time” is the topic for next Sunday.  The sermon text will be from Mark 1:1-3  Preparing for Christmas is quite different than preparing for Christ.  Reverend Dr.Ken Klaus is the speaker.  Hear this Sunday’s 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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