July 29- August 4 Readings

SUNDAY’S DIVINE SERVICE—BEWARE OF FALSE PROPHETS

Prophets are those who "speak forth the Word of God." Therefore, a false prophet is one who claims to be speaking God's Word but is actually speaking false doctrine. Jesus says that we will recognize false prophets by their fruits. What are the fruits of false prophets? False doctrine is the chief fruit of false prophets. False doctrine leads people away from sole reliance upon Christ to reliance upon themselves. Learning the truths of the Small Catechism is one of the chief ways by which the sheep learn to recognize a false prophet. Hearing and learning the basic truths of the Catechism guards us against the seductive lies of those who would divert our faith from the only Savior from sin, our Lord Jesus Christ.

PAUL’S FAREWELL TO THE EPHESIAN CHURCH  In today’s second reading from the book of Acts, the Apostle Paul meets with the pastors of the congregations of Ephesus for what he believes might be the last time he sees them upon this earth. He had been the missionary and evangelist who had brought the Gospel to them. He had been their chief teacher of the faith and had sent others to them to help in the training of pastors so that their congregations would be well cared for. Now Paul bids them farewell. He speaks to them about the nature of the Church in this world. It will always be the church militant, struggling with sin, misbelief, and false doctrine from within and without. Enemies of the faith will attack them. In Paul's final word to the Ephesian pastors, he directs them to the only thing that will give them safety: "The Word of God's grace." What is the "Word of Grace"? It is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul is encouraging them, never to grow tired of preaching Jesus Christ and Him crucified. The preaching of repentance and the forgiveness of sins is that which occurs again and again and again. Everyone needs this preaching of the "Word of grace" because it turns us away from self-reliance to reliance upon Christ Jesus and His death for our sins. The only safety for the church in the midst of attacks upon her faith is in this Gospel.

  

Lutherans for Life – www.lutheransforlife.org

Life Thought: God “is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think” (Ephesians 3:20). His ability to work in this way gives us hope in all our circumstances. A crisis pregnancy, a chronic disease, a loved one with Alzheimer’s—God works way beyond anything we could possibly imagine.

Life Quote: “There are many perspectives from which to view adoption. Perhaps we Christians will find needed strength and encouragement and hope when we view it through our adoption by God in Christ. Apart from Christ, all His children are adopted. He must know something about it!” Rev. Dr. James I. Lamb, executive director of Lutherans For Life 

CALENDAR

Saturday             July 28            5:30 pm                              Divine Service

Sunday               July 29             9:00 am                                   Bible Class

                                               10:00 am                              Divine Service

Wednesday       August 1           7:30 pm                                              AA

Thursday          August 2             7:30 am                                         LWML

Saturday           August 4            5:30 pm                              Divine Service

Vacation Bible School

Join us for the Amazing Desert Journey, our Vacation Bible School being held on August 6-August 10. Ask God to bring children and adults to our program so they can know and grow in Jesus, our Savior! Registration is on the back table.

NEXT WEEKS LESSONS: THE NINTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

 “The master commended the unjust steward because he had dealt shrewdly” (Luke 16:1–9). The steward’s shrewdness is praiseworthy for two reasons. First, he knew the master would be merciful. He trusted that the master would honor the debts he forgave in the master’s name. In the same way, though we have squandered our heavenly Father’s possessions in selfishness and sin, Jesus is the Steward who has canceled our debt, knowing that His forgiveness will be honored by the Father because of the holy cross. Secondly, the steward was shrewd in using oil and wheat to provide for his earthly welfare. So also do these earthly elements aid us when pressed into heavenly use in the anointing of baptism and the wheat of the Lord’s Supper. Those who have the Sacraments will have an eternal home when the earthly fails. These are our escape in temptation (1 Corinthians 10:6–13). For the Lord is our strength and a shield to all who trust in Him (2 Samuel 22:26–34).

Collect: Let Your merciful ears, O Lord, be open to the prayers of Your humble servants; and that they may obtain their petitions, make them to ask such things as shall please You; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord. Amen.

Old Testament: 2 Samuel 22:26–34

Epistle: 1 Corinthians 10:6–13

Holy Gospel: Luke 16:1–9 (10–13)

Readings for the Week of 7th Sunday after Trinity

July 29                            Beware of False Prophets—Matthew 7:15-23

                                                      1 Samuel 14:47—15:9, Acts 24:1-23

July 30                     Paul’s First Missionary Journey–Acts 12:25–13:12

                                                   1 Samuel 15:10-35, Acts 24:24–25:12

July 31      Paul Preaches in the Synagogue of Antioch—Acts 13:13-42

                                                           1 Samuel 16:1-23, Acts 25:13-27

August 1       Paul and Barnabas Preach in Iconium—Acts 13:42—14:7

                                                             1 Samuel 17:1-19, Acts 26:1-23

August 2     Paul and Barnabas Mistaken for Greek Gods–Acts 14:8-28

                                                     1 Samuel 17:20-47, Acts 26:24–27:8

August 3                                     The Jerusalem Council—Acts 15:1-21

                                                      1 Samuel 17:48—18:9, Acts 27:9-26

August 4                                                                     Sunday’s readings

                    2 Samuel 22:26–34, 1 Corinthians 10:6–13, Luke 16:1–13

We Thank Reverend Aaron Dickerson of Unity Lutheran Christian School for leading worship this weekend.

Reading July 22-28

SUNDAY’S DIVINE SERVICE—THE FEEDING OF THE 4,000

In the Garden of Eden, our first parents received food freely from the gracious hand of God apart from any burdensome work (Genesis 2:7–17). But after the fall, food would be received only through toil and labor. The curse declared, “In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground.” In other words, “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:19–23). But into this wilderness world came Jesus the Messiah to restore creation. Having compassion on the weary multitudes, He renewed the bounty of Eden on the third day, freely granting an abundance of bread to the 4,000 (Mark 8:1–9). So also our Lord Jesus, having endured the burden of our sin, was raised on the third day to bring us back to Paradise. He now miraculously turns the bread of death into the Bread of Life in the Sacrament, giving you His very body and blood for your forgiveness. For “the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

NEXT WEEKS LESSONS: THE EIGHTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves” (Matthew 7:15–23). Deceit has its strength in masquerading as the truth. False prophets speak a vision of their own heart, not from the mouth of the Lord (Jeremiah 23:16–29) They deny the judgment of the Lord, speaking peace to the unrepentant, when in truth there is condemnation and wrath. “You will know them by their fruits.” The “fruits” of a true prophet are not outward righteousness or success but faithfulness in proclaiming the Word of the Lord. This is the will of the Father in heaven, that pastors take heed to the flock, the Father’s adopted ones (Romans 8:12–17), warning them against the wolves and their lies, and shepherding the church of God which He purchased with His own blood (Acts 20:27–38). For indeed, the cross is that good tree bearing good fruit, namely the body and blood of Christ, given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins.

Collect: Grant to us, Lord, we implore You, the Spirit to think and do always such things as are right, that we, who cannot do anything that is good without You, may be You be enabled to live according to Your will; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord . Amen.

Old Testament: Jeremiah 23:16–29

Epistle: Romans 8:12–17

Holy Gospel: Matthew 7:15–23

Readings for the Week of 7th Sunday after Trinity

July 22                                      The Feeding of the 4,000—Mark 8:1-9

                                       1 Samuel 5:1–6:3, 10-16, Acts 18:1-11, 23-28

July 23  Sadducees Question Jesus on the Resurrection–Luke 20:27-44

                                                        1 Samuel 6:19—7:17, Acts 19:1-22

July 24                              The Widow’s Two Mites—Luke 20:45–21:4

                                                             1 Samuel 8:1-22, Acts 21:15-36

July 25                                          The Signs of the End—Luke 21:5-19

                                                      1 Samuel 9:1-27, Acts 21:37—22:16

July 26                                  Destruction of Jerusalem—Luke 21:20-28

                                                           1 Samuel 10:1-27, Acts 22:17-29

July 27                              The Parable of the Fig Tree—Luke 21:29-38

                                                    1 Samuel 12:1-25, Acts 22:30—23:11

July 28                                                                       Sunday’s readings

                                Jeremiah 23:16–29, Romans 8:12–17, Matthew 7:15–23

Vacation Bible School

Join us for the Amazing Desert Journey, our Vacation Bible School being held on August 6-August 10. Ask God to bring children and adults to our program so they can know and grow in Jesus, our Savior! Registration is on the back table.

readings for July 15-21

NEXT WEEKS LESSONS: The Seventh Sunday After Trinity

In the Garden of Eden, our first parents received food freely from the gracious hand of God apart from any burdensome work (Genesis 2:7–17). But after the fall, food would be received only through toil and labor. The curse declared, “In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground.” In other words, “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:19–23). But into this wilderness world came Jesus the Messiah to restore creation. Having compassion on the weary multitudes, He renewed the bounty of Eden on the third day, freely granting an abundance of bread to the 4000 (Mark 8:1–9). So also our Lord Jesus, having endured the burden of our sin, was raised on the third day to bring us back to Paradise. He now miraculously turns the bread of death into the Bread of Life in the Sacrament, giving you His very body and blood for your forgiveness. For “the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Collect: O God, whose never-failing providence orders all things both in heaven and earth, we humbly implore You to put away from us all hurtful things and give to us those things that be profitable for us; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord . Amen.

Old Testament: Genesis 2:7–17

Epistle: Romans 6:19–23

Holy Gospel: Mark 8:1–9

Readings for the Week of 6th Sunday after Trinity  July 15-21, 2012

July 15                  The Righteousness that Exceeds—Matthew 5:17-26

                                                Judges 15:1—16:3; Galatians 3:23–4:11

July 16                                     The Rich Young Ruler—Luke 18:18-34

                                                          Judges 16:4-30; Galatians 4:12-31

July 17                           Jesus Heals Blind Bartimaeus—Luke 18:35-43

                                                          1 Samuel 1:1-20; Galatians 5:1-26

July 18                   Jesus Comes to Zacchaeus’s House—Luke 19:1-10

                                                  1 Samuel 1:21—2:17; Galatians 6:1-18

July 19                                 The Parable of the Minas—Luke 19:11-28

                                                           1 Samuel 2:18-36; Acts 15:22-41

July 20            The Parable of the Wicked Vinedressers—Luke 20:1-19

                                                               1 Samuel 3:1-21; Acts 16:1-22

July 21                                                                       Sunday’s readings

                                      Genesis 2:7–17; Romans 6:19–23; Mark 8:1–9

readings for July 8-14, 2012

Please Pray For: Emily Rodenbeck, Phyllis McElroy, Ada Dambacher, Dan Worth, Dorothy Robison, Juanita Rankin, George Van Huss, Crystal Ray, Ruth Hedrick, Walt Hedrick, Erna Van Winkle, Mary Kay Schmidt, Kathy Schmidt, John Haynes, Katie Ketchum, Colin Starks, George Shepherd, Donna Smith, Bill Uchtman, and Bill Hoff.

Military: Please keep in your prayers all Military persons, especially Brittany Worth who is deployed to Afghanistan.

Hospitalizations: Please notify Pastor GeRue about any sickness or hospitalizations.

Happy Birthday This Week Rod Thompson, Zach Samson, Maggie Howarth

Happy Anniversary: Jim & Teresa Jorn

SUNDAY’S DIVINE SERVICE—I WILL MAKE YOU FISHERS OF MEN - By a great miracle, Jesus called four fisherman to be fishers of men in token that the Gospel must be preached to the four corners of the earth. Peter, on behalf of all ministers, rightly confessed "we have toiled...and caught nothing; nevertheless, at Your Word" we will preach the Gospel. This miraculous sign gave Peter a deep sense of his own sinfulness. The minister of the Gospel has no strength apart from the Word he is called to preach. But this Word is all sufficient for the task at hand. "To obtain faith in Christ" the Lutheran reformers declared in the Augsburg Confession, "God instituted the preaching office to give the Gospel and Sacraments. Through these (the Gospel and Sacraments) the Holy Spirit works faith when and where He pleases in those who hear the Gospel." (Augsburg Confession, Art. V)

Themes from the Fifth Sunday after Trinity

The Lord called fishermen to be fishers of men (Luke 5:1–11). The net they would use is the message of the cross, which is foolishness and a stumbling block to the world (1 Corinthians 1:18–25). The power of God to save is not in spectacular signs like wind and fire and earthquakes (1 Kings 19:11–21), nor is it to be found in human intelligence and wisdom. The power of God to save comes in the still, small voice of the preaching of Christ crucified. In worldly darkness the disciples could catch nothing. But in the light of Christ whose Word was attached to the water, the boats were filled with fish. So it is that in Baptism you have been drawn in to the ship of the church. Though the nets are breaking and some who hear the Word do not believe, pastors continue to cast the net of the Gospel and the Sacraments, that you fish may abide in the boat of the Church and that you may be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you (1 Peter 3:8–15).

This Sunday July 8, 2012 – Church Picnic/Potluck

Fun, Food, Swimming, and Fellowship. The Fun begins at 3:00 pm. We will begin eating around 5:00 pm. Please bring a dish to share and your chair! Meat and drinks will be provided.  David Ray farm, 12958 Lead Line Rd., Auburn – 438-4202

NEXT WEEKS LESSONS: THE SIXTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

“Unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matt 5:17–26). God demands nothing less than perfection and holiness from you in regard to His commandments (Ex 20:1–17). Your only hope, then, is not in your own goodness but in the goodness of Christ, who did not come to destroy the Law and the Prophets, but to fulfill them for you. In Christ your righteousness does indeed exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees. For you have been baptized into Christ’s death and your sinful nature crucified. Therefore, he who has died has been freed from sin (Rom 6:1–11). You are now raised with Christ to walk in newness of life and to share in His resurrection on the Last Day. Christ has brought you through the baptismal sea “out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.” Therefore, “reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Collect: Lord of all power and might, the Author and Giver of all good things, graft into our hearts the love of Your name, increase in us true religion, nourish us with all goodness, and of Your great mercy keep us in the same; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Old Testament: Exodus 20:1–17

Epistle: Romans 6:(1–2) 3–11

Holy Gospel: Matthew 5:(17–19) 20–26

Readings for the Week of Sixth Sunday after Trinity July 8-14, 2012

July 8                             Jesus Weeps over Jerusalem—Luke 19:41-48

                                                 1 Samuel 28:3-25; 1 Corinthians 6:1-20

July 9                 Paul’s Third Missionary Journey—Acts 18:23—19:10

                                                 1 Samuel 31:1-13; 1 Corinthians 7:1-24

July 10                           The Miracles Worked by Paul—Acts 19:11-20

                                                2 Samuel 1:1-27;  1 Corinthians 7:25-40

July 11                                          The Riot at Ephesus—Acts 19:21-41

                                                  2 Samuel 5:1-25;  1 Corinthians 8:1-13

July 12              Eutychus Falls from a Window at Troas—Acts 20:1-16

                                                  2 Samuel 6:1-19;  1 Corinthians 9:1-23

July 13              Paul’s Farewell to the Ephesian Elders—Acts 20:17-38

                                           2 Samuel 7:1-17; 1 Corinthians 9:24–10:22

July 14                                                                       Sunday’s readings

                             Exodus 20:1–17; Romans 6:1–11; Matthew 5:17–26

Sermon for Trinity4 July 1, 2012

Luke 6:36-42              Trinity 4         June 30-July 1, 2012

Be merciful, even as Your Father is merciful. – St. Luke 6:36

In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Mercy. It’s a much criticized and often misunderstood word. We normally use the word to refer to not giving a guilty party the punishment he deserves. The word evokes, for instance, images of prisoners in the Tower of London asking their Sovereign to spare them out of mercy. However, the opening words of today’s Gospel lesson—“Be merciful, even as Your Father is merciful”– have more depth than our common use of the word “mercy.” It is not the same word used in our Kyrie, “Lord, have mercy.” Indeed, here we have a word for “mercy” that is used twice in this Gospel lesson, but nowhere else in all four Gospels. It could be translated “pity,” “compassion,” or even “heartfelt compassion.” Tracing it through the work of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit today will help us understand the mercy of the Triune God toward us and our mercy for our neighbor. “Be merciful, even as Your Father is merciful.”

The word “mercy” describes God’s compassion in the OT, especially the Psalms. In Psalm 86, David prayed for God’s mercy, saying, “But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.” David prays nearly identical words in Psalm 103:8 and Psalm 145:8. The composite picture from these three Psalms is a God who is gracious, granting His people everything that they need to support this body and life. He is also merciful, showing sympathy or pity to His people, slow to be angry and quick to forgive. Similarly, St. Paul uses the word in 2 Corinthians to describe God as “the Father of mercies and God of all comfort.” Again, we see that mercy is paired with a similar trait that helps us understand God’s mercy. He is the Father or source of mercies and the God of all comfort, for He alone comforts us in every need. Finally, the lack of mercy for the impenitent is described in Hebrews 10, where we read that “Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy.” God is by nature merciful and gracious, but those who hate His commandments will lose God’s mercy to the third and fourth generation of those who hate Him. In view of God’s merciful and gracious character, Jesus says to imitate the mercy of the Father in your daily living. Do not judge or condemn. That is to say, do not take it upon yourselves to be God. You may call fellow sinners to repentance, judging their outward breaking of the Ten Commandments. But leave judging the heart and condemning the soul to God alone. Moreover, “Forgive, and you will be forgiven.” Drop dead to one another’s sins, just as God the Father dropped dead to your sins on the cross. As we pray in the Fifth Petition, “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” Along the same lines, “Forgiveness will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap.” God the Father is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love. He is the Father of forgiveness, mercy, and grace. He has given us all His gifts by faith in the suffering Messiah. The excess, the “extra” forgiveness, spills over our laps and flows to our neighbor. That’s what David means in the Psalms by God “abounding in steadfast love.” He has enough love, mercy, and grace for all men, with plenty to spare. By His grace, you are merciful, even as your Father is merciful.

As it goes for the Father, so it goes for the Son. St. Luke only this unique word for “mercy” only here (6:36), but the concept of pity or compassion from Jesus is laced throughout Luke’s Gospel. Consider, for instance, the Gospel lessons from the last three Sundays. In the story of the Rich Man and Lazarus (16:19-31, Trinity I), the rich man refused to share the abundance of his wealth with poor Lazarus, painting a portrait of one who will die by Moses’ Law if he does not repent. Yet God showed compassion to poor Lazarus who, though a beggar in this life, received the reward of being in Abraham’s bosom. In the Banquet Parable, many rejected the King’s offer of mercy by refusing His feast. However, after sending His servants into the “red light” district and eventually to the outer highways, the King’s hall was filled with guests. Here mercy is expressed in table fellowship with Jesus, who dines with repentant outcasts. In last Sunday’s Gospel lesson, the Good Shepherd was compassionate enough to leave 99 sheep in order to seek and save the lost. The woman who lost the coin swept her house with the broom of the Gospel to bestow her pity upon the lost. In short, mercy or compassion is the way of Christ in Luke’s Gospel, and it is the way of all who are in Christ.

No wonder Jesus describes the relationship between the student and the teacher as one being like the other. “Everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher.” According to the custom of the day, students developed a father-son type relationship with their teacher or Rabbi. Perhaps some of you have heard of the phrase “doctoral father” in European academia. The word “doctor” means teacher, which, paired with the word “father,” suggests a love, fruitful, and productive relationship between teacher and student. Applied to Christ and His disciples, the essence of being like the Teacher directs us to the cross. Christ was willing to leave His heavenly home, to die for the sake of the right doctrine and confession, and to go to the cross for all sins of all men. He bid all of His disciples to take up their cross and follow Him, even to death. In the book of Acts, Jesus’ followers became like their Teacher, working miracles of compassion, teaching that Jesus was the Son of God, and suffering all, even crucifixion in some cases, for the sake of the Gospel. What does it mean for you, the faithful students of theology, to be like your Heavenly Teacher? To share the compassion of Christ with your neighbor, even if it means “suffering all, even death”(Confirmation Rite) for the sake of Him who had compassion on us and shed His blood for us.

As it goes for the Son, so it goes for the Holy Spirit. The word “mercy” at the beginning of our Gospel lesson is used by St. Paul to describe the work of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer. In Romans, St. Paul says, “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God.” God has had mercy on us, forgiven us, and sanctified us. Therefore, you are a living sacrifice of praise, in body and soul. In Philippians 2:1-2, St. Paul says, “So if there is any . . . affection and mercy, complete my joy by being of the same mind.” In other words, live out the fruits of the Spirit in your daily lives. Have the mind of Christ among you, the mindset of Him who came not to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many. In Colossians 3:12, St. Paul admonished the church to “Put on them, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, mercy, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.” This is the language of baptism. In baptism, you have put on Christ. You wear the robe of His own righteousness. Continue to wear the fruits of the Spirit as your daily dress, including mercy or compassion for your neighbor. In short, mercy is a fruit of the Holy Spirit, Christ in action through you to carry God’s mercy to the world.

So Jesus spells out exactly how this mercy goes in motion. Are you obsessed with the speck in your brother’s eye? Repent! Take out the log in your own eye before you call your neighbor to repentance. How can you call your neighbor to repentance if you yourself are not repentant? Repentance, then, is the beginning of the holy life of sharing the compassion of Christ with our neighbor. Through repentance and faith, the Holy Spirit shows us the depth of God’s love for us. In the Lord’s Supper, He reminds us of all that Jesus’ suffered for us. Nourished by His body and blood, the Holy Spirit sends us back to our daily lives to share the compassion of Christ with our neighbor. No wonder this Gospel lesson is followed by Jesus’ teaching on the fruits of the Spirit. “The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good fruit” (6:45). Or, in a previous image, a good tree bears the good fruits (6:43) of repentance, faith, and holy living, taking the compassion of Christ Himself into the world.

Finally, it is worth noting that the word “mercy” in this Gospel Lesson usually appears as a plural noun to express the manifold mercies of God in our daily lives. He is merciful at all times, from protecting us in the womb to guarding our bodies in the grave. He is merciful in all places, from the safety of our home to the imminent danger of death. He is merciful to all people, from the lifelong saint to the most impenitent sinner. In short, here we see the good news that God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is merciful to us. And, having received the gifts of His mercy, He works through us to share that mercy with our neighbor. Perhaps the post-Communion prayer puts it best: “We beseech You that of Your mercy You wouldst strengthen us through the same in faith toward You and in fervent love toward one another.” Amen.

In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

June 30-July 6, 2012

Vacation Bible School

We will have a planning meeting on Sunday July 1 at 11:00 am

We appreciate your prayers for Amazing Desert Journey, our Vacation Bible School being held on August 6-August 10. Ask God to bring children and adults to our program so they can know and grow in Jesus, our Savior!

LUTHERAN HOUR July 1   "Desiring Greatness or God's Strength?"
Lutheran Hour Speaker: Rev. Gregory Seltz    Jesus brings real power to weakness, real joy to sadness, real hope in the middle of despair. When we feel weak and defeated, God's grace is sufficient for us in all things. (2 Corinthians 12:1-11)

WLUJ              Springfield, IL    89.7 FM                  Sunday 3:00 pm

WLLM             Lincoln, IL          1370 AM Sunday 7:00 am & 7:00 pm
WSMI              Litchfield            1540 AM                Sunday 9:30 pm

Lutherans for Life – www.lutheransforlife.org

Life Thought: We actually find the full impact of today’s Old Testament reading, Lamentations 3:22-33, in the preceding verse. “But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope:” (21) Then the text begins, “The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end;” The prophet’s certainty of hope does not come in the midst of good times but in the midst of great despair (chapters 1-3:19). The hope given us in the death and resurrection of Jesus will never fail us.

Life Quote:   “When we call things like abortion or embryonic stem cell research or assisted suicide political issues and avoid talking about them in church, our silence speaks loudly. Our silence allows the destruction of human beings who belong to God. He paid a price for them and won a victory for them. Thus, our silence insults Him. We need to speak for them. We need to speak for Him.” Rev. Dr. James I. Lamb, executive director of Lutherans For Life

CALENDAR

Saturday          June 30           5:30 pm                            Divine Service

Sunday               July 1           9:00 am                                  Bible Class

                                             10:00 am                            Divine Service

                                             11:00 am                VBS Planning Meeting

Wednesday        July 4          7:30 pm                                              AA

Saturday             July 6           5:30 pm                            Divine Service

July 8, 2012 – Church Picnic/Potluck

Fun, Food, Swimming, and Fellowship. The Fun begins at 3:00 pm. We will begin eating around 5:00 pm. Please bring a dish to share and your chair! Meat and drinks will be provided.  David Ray farm, 12958 Lead Line Rd., Auburn – 438-4202

NEXT WEEKS LESSONS: The Fifth Sunday after Trinity

I Kings 19:11-21: The prophet Elijah is shown by the Lord that the Lord's greatest power and glory will be demonstrated in the "still small voice" of His Word that preaches salvation to the poorest and lowliest sinner. So it is for us, in the time of faith, this earthly life, the Lord comes to us in His Word. Unlike Satan, He does not force Himself upon us in an oppressive and coercive way, He speaks to us, calling us to repentance and faith that He might bestow upon us the freedom of life with God through the forgiveness of all our sins.

            1 Corinthians 1:18-25: "Christ crucified" is what the true Church of God and her ministers preach. This means that we believe in the God who became man and died for our sins. This means that we preach what is considered "foolish" and a "stumbling block" to the unbelieving world, namely, that salvation is a gift of God's grace alone through the death of His Son for all those who believe without distinction.

            Luke 5:1-11: By a great miracle, Jesus called four fisherman to be fishers of men in token that the Gospel must be preached to the four corners of the earth. Peter, on behalf of all ministers, rightly confessed "we have toiled...and caught nothing; nevertheless, at Your Word" we will preach the Gospel. This miraculous sign gave Peter a deep sense of his own sinfulness. The minister of the Gospel has no strength apart from the Word he is called to preach. But this Word is all sufficient for the task at hand. "To obtain faith in Christ" the Lutheran reformers declared in the Augsburg Confession, "God instituted the preaching office to give the Gospel and Sacraments. Through these (the Gospel and Sacraments) the Holy Spirit works faith when and where He pleases in those who hear the Gospel." (Augsburg Confession, Art. V)

Readings for the Week of Fourth Sunday after Trinity

July 1                                                    “Be Merciful”—Luke 6:36-42,

                                                                 Joshua 6:6-27, Acts 10:18-33

July 2                     The Mustard Seed and the Leaven—Luke 13:18-35

                                                                 Joshua 7:1-26, Acts 10:34-48

July 3      A Man with Dropsy Is Healed on the Sabbath—Luke 14:1-14

                                                                   Joshua 8:1-28, Acts 11:1-18

July 4                        The Parable of the Great Supper—Luke 14:15-35

                                                              Joshua 10:1-25, Acts 11:19-30

July 5       The Parable of the Lost Sheep and Lost Coin—Luke 15:1-10

                                                                 Joshua 23:1-16, Acts 12:1-25

July 6                         The Parable of the Prodigal Son—Luke 15:11-32

                                                               Joshua 24:1-31, Acts 13:1-12

July 7                                                                         Sunday’s readings

                         1 Kings 19:11-21, 1 Corinthians 1:18-25,  Luke 5:1-11