“In The Beginning, God Created”—John 2.1-11, sermon for Human Life Sunday Jan. ’13, Series C

1.                  Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God our Heavenly Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  The message from God’s Word this Second Sunday after the Epiphany and the day in which we recognize the sacredness of all human life created by God in His image is taken from John 2:1-11.  It’s entitled, “In the Beginning, God Created,” dear brothers and sisters in Christ.

2.                  In August of 1996, publishers released a new magazine entitled Divorce. It’s become very popular since there are now more than a million divorces a year in the United States. Ironically, many staff members of the new magazine, including editor Gloria Sheppard, came from marriage magazines such as Bride and Wedding. One ad in the first issue featured a special service to remove an ex-spouse’s image from a couple’s photos.  Such is life in the early twenty-first century, yet we still celebrate weddings with all the enthusiasm we’ve come to expect. But a culture of single parents, pregnant teenagers, and general moral instability sets a dark backdrop for the success of marriage not grounded in faith and commitment.  Sociologist Daniel Yankelovich spells it out:  “Americans suspect that the nation’s economic difficulties are rooted not in technical economic forces, but in fundamental moral causes. There exists a deeply intuitive sense that the success of a market-based economy depends on a highly developed social morality—trustworthiness, honesty, concern for future generations, an ethic of service to others, a humane society that takes care of those in need, frugality instead of greed, high standards of quality and concern for community. These economically desirable social values, in turn, are seen as rooted in family values. Thus the link in public thinking between a healthy family and a robust economy, though indirect, is clear and firm (cited in Anderson, p. 118).”

3.                  In light of the Bible’s call for family stability in both Old and New Testaments, we shouldn’t be surprised at the way John began the narrative of Jesus’ public ministry in chapter 2 of his Gospel. The first miracle took place in a very natural setting, one of the timeless celebrations of human history. Pressures and joys combine on such occasions and Jesus didn’t shy away from social events. He and the disciples were probably invited to this wedding because of Mary’s relationship to the family. Just two days after John the Baptist announced Jesus as the Lamb of God, Jesus showed up at a wedding which became the setting for the changing of water to wine.

4.                  “In the beginning, God created” (Gen. 1). That’s who God is. The One who creates. Outside of Himself. The fact that He creates outside of Himself reveals that great attribute of His, Love. “God is love” (1 Jn. 4:8) and God makes man that He may have someone to love.  That work of God continues today. As we say in the Catechism, “I believe that God has made me and all creatures.” The fact that He has made me means that already, and apart from anything I’ve done or failed to do, He loves me. The fact that you are made, that you are God’s creature, means that you are loved by Him. Apart from any merit or worthiness in you.

5.                  Each Person of the Holy Trinity creates, and so each Person of that Trinity loves: loves you, loves me, loves all of humanity. Every time we confess the Nicene Creed, we affirm this. Our Lord Jesus Christ is the One “by whom all things were made.” And the Holy Spirit is “the Lord and giver of life.” Which means, then, that life isn’t first of all ours; it’s God’s. The life that we have is given by God. The life that others have is given by God. They are blessings from God, never curses, even when they may be crosses or a burden to bear. So we dare not take our own life, nor should we take the life of another person. The life that God gave is His to take, and His alone.

6.                  In the Gospel for today, the Second Sunday after Epiphany, after our Lord Jesus changed water into wine, St. John tells us, “This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory” (Jn 2:11). The divine nature of Jesus, that He’s God in the flesh, is revealed and manifested. But, there’s more to the glory of Jesus than just showing divine power and splendor. God’s glory. An old prayer describes God as the One who declares His “almighty power chiefly in showing mercy and pity” (Collect, Trinity 11, TLH). That’s what we see in Jesus today. He does nothing for His own benefit. His miracles are not to draw attention to Himself, but to show mercy to others. That’s how His glory is manifested.

7.                  And it’s no accident that He does this at a wedding. Scripture begins with a wedding in the Book of Genesis, the marriage of Adam and Eve, and it ends with a wedding in the Book of Revelation, the marriage feast of the Lamb in His kingdom, which has no end. What’s the significance of the Lord Jesus doing His first miracle at a wedding? Because, one of the chief purposes for marriage is the generation of new life, the new creation of children. But, even where a marriage doesn’t result in children, God also instituted marriage between one man and one woman for them to live in radical, devoted love and service to each other.  A devoted, sacrificial love that would foreshadow the sacrificial, faithful love between Christ and His bride the Church.  That is, between the One through Whom all things were made and we who have been made.   God’s glory, then, is not in the raw demonstration of power. God’s glory is in self-giving, in giving of Himself to mankind. As St. Irenaeus put it, “The glory of God is a living man.”

8.                  Earlier, I said that the lives others have is given by God; blessings from Him, never curses, even when they are burdens to bear. Caring for others can be challenging.  Trust me on this one, this past week my wife, father-in-law, and I have been caring for our two boys, who are currently ill. And it’s challenging not just in a physical or financial sense, but also spiritually. When confronted with the needs of another person, striving to meet them often must come at the expense of what we’d like to do, what we hoped and dreamed for ourselves. God calls us to bear these crosses so that we can be His love for the person in need, and also to drive us out of our own selfishness. The cross shapes us to be like Christ.

9.                  The great civil rights cause of our day is justice for people in need who can’t help themselves. From the tiniest human beings used for experimentation in embryonic stem cell research, to defenseless babies struck down by abortion, to mothers who feel they have nowhere else to turn and have known only a church that condemns without helping, to people brought low by illness and disease and regarded by society as without value, we’re surrounded by helpless people in need. This week as our country observes the 40^th anniversary of the Roe vs. Wade decision that legalized abortion in this country, Lutherans from around the country will join others to give public witness to the sanctity of human life. This is important. But, whether you join the public demonstrations or not, your life each day is full with opportunities to defend the sanctity of human life that God has created. The glory of Christ, the love of God is manifested as you help your spouse who struggles with dementia, as you care for your children and grandchildren, when you prepare food for a new mother, when you visit someone in a nursing home, when you show respect to your fellow traveler on the road.

10.              These noble things are obscure, often not seen by others, but God sees, loves, and rejoices in them. Yet too often, despite the correct position on life issues such as abortion, we’ve not shown respect, care, and compassion on the lives of the human beings right in front of us, in our homes, church, and neighborhood. We come before God today first with a prayer of confession, asking Him once again to demonstrate His glory in showing mercy and forgiveness to us. And then, we humbly ask that He would use us to demonstrate His glory, as we show mercy to others.

11.              In the beginning, God created. He still creates, still shows His love and glory to His creatures. Now He who reddened water into wine comes to us in the wine of His life-giving blood in the Lord’s Supper. May that wine renew His life within you, forgiving you, healing you, and enabling you to bear witness to the sanctity of human life in everything that you say and do.  Amen.

*Adapted from a sermon by Rev. Christopher S. Esget, Immanuel Lutheran Church  Alexandria, VA 2010…

“Authority”

(Read Luke 4:16-30)  Luke 4:32 says, "They were amazed at [Jesus’] teaching, because His message had authority."   "Authority" is an interesting word.  You can't help but have a reaction to it.  Everyone has at some time in their life had a negative experience with authority. Those people who are in power and exert some control in our lives.  The people in our text who were from Galilee had witnessed Jesus' miracles.  In fact, while we translate it as "they were amazed," what it really says about their reaction to Jesus’ preaching is that they were speechless.  This was a sermon you'd never forget.

The other rabbis who taught in Jesus’ day would use a quote from a teacher of the past and embellish it with their own thoughts.  From time to time there might be a rabbi who would make some new observations, but citing an older authority as his basis was the only way his thoughts would be heard.  A teacher quoting from his own authority was unheard of.  No wonder Jesus was a threat to the Pharisees. He wasn't quoting human authorities and basing His conclusions on what had been stated before.  Jesus’ words spoke to the heart.  He could see, like only the "Mighty Counselor" could.  Anointed Authority through the power of the Spirit moved like a wind blowing fast reaching through their minds and pricking their consciences.  This is where the authority of Jesus began to irritate His listeners, especially those who didn't want a savior at all or who didn’t match their definition of what a savior should be.  Those who thought they had it worked out.  This is where His message became a "hard teaching.” 

Garrison Keillor has written, "I've heard a lot of sermons in the past 10 years or so that made me want to get up and walk out.  They were secular, psychological, self-help sermons.  Friendly, but of no use.  They didn't make you straighten up.  They didn't give you anything hard...At some point, a sermon has to direct people toward the death of Jesus Christ and the campaign that God has waged over the centuries to get our attention." Keillor directs us to where God comes to us.  The authority of God comes to us when he meets us in worship in His Word and Sacraments.  The people who heard this in Jesus’ hometown were shocked.  Imagine a guest preacher whom you had grown up with reading an Old Testament prophecy about the Messiah and then announcing at the end that He’s the Messiah.  As C.S. Lewis suggests such a person is either a lunatic, liar, or really the Son of God.  There are no other choices.  Jesus’ words show Him to be what He claimed to be.  He came to be our Savior from sin whom God had promised in the Old Testament.

“Fear Not, You’re Mine!” Isaiah 43.1-7, Baptism of Our Lord Series C, Jan. ‘13

1.                   Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God our Heavenly Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Amen.  The message from God’s Word this morning is taken from Isaiah 43:1-7 and is entitled, “Fear Not, You’re Mine!” Dear brothers and sisters in Christ!

2.                  Early every year at this time the church celebrates the Baptism of our Lord.  Many people have just taken down Christmas decorations, returned from holiday traveling, and resumed the routine of school and work. Only a couple weeks into the New Year, many may be battling with New Year’s resolutions they’ve made and not yet fulfilled. For many across our country, days are cold and dreary this time of the year. Counselors and psychologists say they see increased signs of depression and anxiety just after the first of the year.  What better time for us as Christians to clarify what’s our real identity in life? Our identity isn’t found in the “new me” because of the weight I lost as a result of my New Year’s resolutions. Our identity isn’t wrapped up with holidays of Christmas & New Year’s, as great as they were. Our identity isn’t connected to what gifts we gave or received at Christmas. As wonderful as they are, our identity also isn’t only found in our connections with family and friends we visited during the holidays. Rather, our identity is with God, who came to identify himself with us. In the Baptism of our Lord, Jesus identifies himself with us because his baptism was to fulfill all righteousness on his way to the cross. Christ wasn’t baptized for his benefit, since he’s without sin. Instead, he was baptized for our benefit as he connects himself to us.

3.                  In our Epistle lesson from Romans 6, Paul makes clear our true identity. “We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. . . . If we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. . . . You also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus” (6:4–5, 8, 11). Again and again Paul connects our identity to Christ’s through his death, resurrection, and new life.  In our Gospel lesson from Luke, we read that the people were trying to identify themselves with John. But John is quick to point them to Christ, the more powerful one. At the Baptism of Jesus, God the Father and God the Holy Spirit identify with God the Son. The Spirit doesn’t just appear but actually descends on Jesus. Likewise, the Father connects himself to his Son: “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased” (Lk 3:22). Father, Son, and Spirit are connected to one another in the unity of the Trinity.  Finally in our Old Testament reading we see God identifying himself with us his people reminding us to Fear Not, for we are His!  God says to us through Isaiah the prophet in Isaiah 43:1, “I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.”   As Christians our true identity in Christ isn’t because of who you are or what you’ve done.  For no one can earn their way into heaven by their own works. It’s always because of who God is and what he’s done for you. In the Baptism of Jesus, God identifies himself with us and in him we have our identity. He does it all as an action of his grace in our lives.

4.                  More than 2,700 years ago, God inspired His prophet Isaiah to record a most comforting message in Isaiah 43:1-7, “ “1But now thus says the LORD, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. 2When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. 3For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I give Egypt as your ransom, Cush and Seba in exchange for you. 4Because you are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you, I give men in return for you, peoples in exchange for your life. 5Fear not, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east, and from the west I will gather you. 6I will say to the north, Give up, and to the south, Do not withhold; bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the end of the earth, 7everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.”

5.                  Notice how Isaiah refers to God as the one who created Jacob.  That is, who created mankind.  Having God as our Creator reminds us that we definitely belong to him because he’s given us life and breath.  This statement is as clear–cut as it could be. God addresses the nation Israel in this entire section, and I don’t think you could misunderstand Him unless you deliberately wanted to misunderstand.  He speaks of their origin: “the Lord that created thee.” God took a sad specimen like old Jacob, whose name means “crooked or deceiver” and made a nation out of him.  God took the dust of the ground, breathed into it the spirit of life, and it became a living human being. And that human being rebelled, but now God makes sons of God out of those who will trust in Jesus as their Lord and Savior. I don’t accept the evolutionary theory that I evolved from a monkey. I came from something worse than a monkey! I came from a rebellious sinner who on the physical side had been taken from the ground. That first man passed on to me a sinful nature. But God has given me a new nature through my baptism into Christ.

6.                  The Lord’s promise through Isaiah must have seemed incredible. Instead of walking on the Lord’s path, instead of following His way, the Israelites walked “in a way that [was] not good, following their own devices” (Is 65:2). The Lord’s path was one of light and safety and certainty. Rather than walking on His path in the light of His Word, Israel chose to leave His path and walk in the darkness of self-centered sin. By wandering off the Lord’s path, they had wandered into great danger. Off the path, in the darkness of sin, prowled Satan, “seeking someone to devour” (1Pt 5:8). Off the path, “on every side the wicked prowl, as vileness is exalted among the children of man” (Ps 12:8).

7.                  For more than 800 years, the Lord sent His prophets out to call His people back to Him, back to His path, back to the light. But they wanted it their way, wandering away from the Lord’s way, doing what was “right” in their own eyes, loving other gods who were incapable of love, and ignoring the one true God, who is love. As stubborn and stiff-necked as these people were, they remained God’s people, a people called out of darkness. So in love, God sent them walking into exile (587 BC) far from the temple, far from His promised place of presence. They may have thought He had left them to walk alone, but He remained their God and they remained His people. He loved them despite their sin, and through His prophet Isaiah, He promised them they would not walk alone through the trials and tribulations they faced. They would not walk alone as they left captivity in Babylon and returned to Jerusalem (538 BC). He would walk with them, because He had redeemed them and called them by name. They were His.

8.                  Often, we’re like these ancient Israelites. We want it our way instead of God’s way. We want to walk our walk instead of His. But, the Lord is patient. God promises to walk with you as you walk through the hazards of this life. He promises you, His called and chosen people, that you shall never walk alone. He promises to be with you as you endure fierce storms and fiery trials. This is a sure and certain promise for you.

9.                  You can be certain of this promise because the Lord has redeemed you. He’s purchased and won you with His Son’s holy, precious blood poured out for you on His cross. He’s bought you with “His innocent suffering and death” that you may “be His own and live under Him in His kingdom and serve Him in everlasting righteousness, innocence, and blessedness” (Small Catechism, Sec. Article). You are of great value to God because your redemption cost Him dearly. As a consequence, when you endure the fiery trials of this life, He promises you will never be lost (Is 43:2b).

10.              You can be certain of this promise because the Lord has called you by name. He’s washed you clean in the waters of Holy Baptism and given you His name (Mt 28:19). You’ve been baptized into Him; therefore, you are His.  God says to you, “Fear Not, You’re Mine!”

11.              But, as Christians we can expect to suffer much in this life. St Luke wrote, “Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God” (Ac 14:22). Satan will assault you and afflict you in body and soul. He will cast uncertainty on God’s certain promises. He will attempt to lead you off the Lord’s lighted path into certain danger and destruction by urging you to do what is right in your own eyes and to walk your own walk in the darkness of sin.  In this hostile world filled with sin-wrought suffering, when you stray from the Lord’s lighted path and attempt to walk in dark danger, God will never abandon you or give up on you. He will walk with you to the gates of heaven. He promises to take the same stormy circumstances in life that Satan plans to use for evil and use them instead for your eternal good (Rm 8:28; Is 43:1b–3a).  So fear not my friends, God has called you by name, you’re his.  Amen.

“Make Known the Mystery,” Ephesians 3.1-12—Epiphany of our Lord Jan. 6th, 2013

1.      Please pray with me.  May the words of my mouth and the meditation of our hearts be pleasing in Your sight, O Lord, our Rock and our Redeemer.  Amen.  During the Christmas season, God appears as man. During Epiphany, this man Jesus appears as God. He “shines forth” as the eternal light of the world to Jew and Gentile alike. In our text from Ephesians chapter 3 today, the Apostle Paul writes repeatedly of what has been “revealed” in Christ. Paul rejoices that he was given the opportunity to proclaim the “unsearchable riches of Christ” (v.8) to everyone, especially the Gentiles.  The thing that physically sets us human beings apart from other creatures is our God-given awareness, and the Epiphany season is the time we find out what our awareness is for: to see who is shining on us, to see the star, the sky torn open, the dove descending and showing us who this Jesus is. He is God the Lord.  The message is entitled, “Make Known the Mystery,” dear brothers and sisters in Christ.

2.      What is a mystery? In contemporary English it’s something unknown. But this isn’t the meaning “mystery” had in Paul’s day. In Greek the word mysterion refers to something known only to the initiated. It’s not that the thing itself is unknown. It’s known—but only to those to whom it’s revealed. The word is used in this way of ancient mystery religions—the mysteries of Mithra, Isis and Osiris, and Dionysius. People in general didn’t know what went on in these religious cults, but the “mysteries” were revealed to the initiates. When the apostle used the word, it was with similar meaning. He used it to describe something that was unknown before the coming of Christ but is now revealed fully.

3.      In Ephesians 3 the apostle uses the word “mystery” four times; so the chapter is critical for understanding the most important mystery Paul speaks of.  Paul writes in Ephesians 3:2-6 these words, “¹For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles— ²assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you, ³how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly. ⁴When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, ⁵which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. ⁶This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.”  What’s this mystery? Quite clearly, it’s that the Gentiles should be made partakers along with the Jews of God’s great blessings in the church.

4.      A person might ask how this is new, seeing that the Old Testament referred to God’s purpose to bless the Gentiles. As far back as God’s calling of Abraham we read: “All peoples on earth will be blessed through you” (Gen. 12:3). It’s true that God announced his intention of saving Gentiles as well as Jews from the beginning. But before the coming of Christ it was understood that this was to happen only as the Gentiles became Jews through conversion. A Gentile could approach the God of Israel, but only as an Israelite. He had to become a member of the covenant people through the rite of circumcision. The new thing revealed to Paul is that this approach is no longer necessary. Christ has broken down that wall, making one new people out of two previously divided people. So now both Jew and Gentile approach God equally on that new basis.

5.      The good news of the gospel didn’t only announce that Christ had bridged the separation between sinful man and the sinless God. It also announced that the “barrier, the dividing wall of hostility” (Eph 2:14) between Jews and Gentiles had been destroyed. No longer would the non-kosher diet of the Gentiles make them ritually unclean for entrance into God’s temple. No longer would their uncircumcision make them “outsiders” from the Jews. In our day we take it for granted that Gentiles are full heirs and members of the gospel promise. In fact, we may have come “full circle” in that we may regard a Jewish Christian as the rare exception in the predominantly Gentile world of modern Christianity. But in the first century church this inclusion of Gentile with Jew was an unexpected aspect of God’s eternal plan. That is why Paul repeatedly uses the words “mystery” in these verses.

6.      The Apostle Paul continues in verses 7-9 saying, “⁷Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God’s grace, which was given me by the working of his power. ⁸To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, ⁹and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things.”  Paul downplays his greatness. Virtually every word he uses serves to direct attention either to his unworthiness or God’s graciousness. This bold preacher calls himself a “servant” of the gospel. We would want to give Paul a greater title, but he calls himself a “table waiter,” one who is “always at the bidding of his customers” (cf. Bauer-Arndt-Gingrich, p. 183, and “all things to all men” in 1 Co 9:22).  It’s Paul’s privilege and passion to make plain to everyone that the sins of the world are taken away in Christ. Unlike the sweepstakes offer which tells us we may have already won, he announces that we’ve already won through our Savior Jesus. Paul doesn’t suppress this fact; he shouts it from the rooftops.

7.      Ephesians 3:10-12 says, “¹⁰so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. ¹¹This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord. ¹²in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him.”  The Apostle Paul says that as the Church makes this mystery of the Gospel of Jesus Christ known, as she shares this good news in a bad news world, even the angels look on in awe and wonder at what God has done and promised through His Son.  In Jesus every single human being has the gift of access with boldness and confidence to God the Father.  Paul gladly suffers for the privilege of sharing the good news with every single human being.

8.      And so the Apostle’s prayer is straightforward.  He prays to the Father to grant us as Christians to be strengthened by the Holy Spirit, with Christ dwelling in their hearts by faith.  So that we may comprehend with all God’s holy ones the breadth, height, and depth of the all surpassing love of God given to us in Christ so that each of us may be filled up with all the fullness of God.  This is the mystery that we want to make known.  That Jesus Christ, true God and true man, has appeared and made Himself known to us.  He was rejected by his own people, crucified, and resurrected from the dead.  All to save us from our sins that once separated us from God our Heavenly Father.  The mystery is that the Gospel in Christ is God’s great equalizer.  The Bible marks everyone as a sinner, for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, so that anyone can be lifted up by God’s grace through faith in Jesus as their Lord and Savior.  Amen.

“We Eat a Holy Supper”--1 Cor. 11.27-32 COSLHS Chapel Message, Jan. 8th ‘13

1.                    In the name of Jesus.  Amen.  The sun came through the window and fell on her shoulders. It gave a sparkle to Ruth’s hair that matched her personality. But, today she had come with a serious concern to discuss.  Ruth’s first husband had died. Some years later, she’d married a member of a Lutheran church and attended adult instruction to learn about the Lutheran Church, but this woman, an eager Bible student, hadn’t been able to bring herself to join. Her grandpa had been a pastor in another denomination. As a small girl, Ruth had been close to her grandfather. Loyal to his memory, she couldn’t leave his denomination. But, she’d grown to love the Lutheran Church. In her heart she knew it was time to join the congregation where she’d been worshiping for more than a few years. She asked again about the differences between the Lutheran church and her grandpa’s denomination. The conversation turned to the Lord’s Supper.

2.                   The Pastor explained that Jesus said, “This is my body. This is my blood,” and that Lutherans believe he meant what he said. Lutherans believe that his body and blood are truly present in, with, and under the bread and the wine.  Ruth looked at the Pastor and exclaimed, “This is what I’ve always believed!”  Ruth simply believed the Word of God that she’d read in the Bible.

3.                   Unfortunately, there are many who hear Jesus’ words and refuse to believe them. Their human reason asks, “How can bread and wine be Christ’s body and blood?” (LC V 12). Ruth and Martin Luther knew what these people can’t bring themselves to believe. The bread and wine in the Sacrament aren’t just bread and wine, such as are served at our dinner table, “but this is bread and wine included in, and connected with, God’s Word” (LC V 9). Jesus says, “This is my body. This is my blood.” And we know that he can never lie (Titus 1:2).  In the Large Catechism, Luther says, “Everyone who desires to be a Christian and go to this Sacrament should know” these three points: “What is it? What are its benefits? and Who is to receive it?” (LC V 1, 2).

4.                   Understanding and believing Jesus’ words enables us to answer the second question concerning the benefits of the Sacrament. When Jesus says, “This is my body. This is my blood,” he also says, “for the forgiveness of sins” (Mt 26:26–28).  Because there is forgiveness of sins in the Sacrament, it can be called food for the soul. In it we receive nourishment to refresh and strengthen our faith.  I’m sure your Christian life is a struggle. When the way is difficult, Jesus gives you his Holy Supper to strengthen you for the struggle.  Jesus defeated sin, death, and the devil by the sacrifice of his body and blood on the cross. His work is done. Forgiveness of sins is secured. He gives you this treasure through his Holy Word. You receive it by faith. He makes it personal for you by connecting his forgiving Word to the bread and  wine, his body and blood, that you eat and you drink. This is the benefit of the Sacrament.

5.                   With Luther, we ask, “Who is the person that receives this treasure and benefit in the Sacrament?” Does this question sound silly? It does to many people who believe there’s no benefit in the Sacrament. It implies that not everyone who comes to the Supper receives a benefit.  In the Large Catechism we’re reminded, “Whoever now accepts these words and believes that what they declare is true has forgiveness. But whoever does not believe it has nothing” (LC V 35).  Some may come to the Holy Supper but refuse to see what God has offered there. Jesus has placed a treasure on the Table, but some ignore it and walk away without any benefit from the Supper at all.  In fact, they eat and drink God’s judgment on themselves.

6.                   As the Apostle Paul was instructing the Church at Corinth about the Lord’s Supper he writes these words in 1 Corinthians 11:27–32, “²⁷Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of profaning the body and blood of the Lord. ²⁸Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. ²⁹For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. ³⁰That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died. ³¹But if we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged. ³²But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world.

7.                   This is why our Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod practices close communion.  Close communion is the practice of admitting to the Lord’s Supper only those who have been instructed in Lutheran doctrine and are baptized and confirmed members of an LCMS congregation, who also confess that in the Lord’s Supper they receive the true body and blood of Christ in their mouths for the forgiveness of their sins. The pastor, as the steward of the mysteries of God in this place, is responsible for admitting to the Lord’s Supper (1 Cor. 4:1).  Other Christian church bodies also practice close communion, such as the Roman Catholics, the Eastern Orthodox Church, and Reformed congregations, to name a few, on the basis of their understanding of the differences in Christian doctrine.

8.                   But why is that? Because we need to be honest with ourselves about our differences in belief in matters of Christian doctrine, specifically our differences over our understanding of the Lord’s Supper.  It’s not as though we don’t consider other Christian denominations to be Christian, or that we don’t think they’ll go to heaven. It’s rather that fellowship in the Lord’s Supper is the ultimate expression of unity in Biblical doctrine.  Baptists, Presbyterians, Catholics, Lutherans, Methodists and other Christian denominations don’t believe the same thing when it comes to the Sacrament of Holy Communion. How can we commune together as if there’s no division in our understanding of the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper? Our Lord wouldn’t have us sweep our differences under the rug as if they didn’t matter.

9.                   We don’t exclude other Christians out of meanness or arrogance, but out of love.  We practice close communion for the protection and instruction of our neighbor. St. Paul writes, “Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of profaning the body and blood of the Lord” (1 Cor. 11:27; ESV). Those who eat and drink “without discerning the body,” those who don’t recognize our Lord’s true body and blood under the bread and wine in the Supper, eat and drink judgment on themselves (v. 29). God spare us from this! Those who eat and drink without examining themselves, what they believe, if they know they are sinful and are sorry for their sins, eat and drink in an unworthy manner (cf. v. 28). The unrepentant eat and drink, not for their forgiveness, life, and salvation, but to their judgment. Apparently some in the Corinthian congregation got sick and even died from eating in an unworthy manner (v. 30). There are spiritual consequences (judgment) and physical consequences (sickness, death) to eating and drinking unworthily. We practice close communion so as to spare our brothers and sisters from these consequences, and to teach them so that they may join us at the altar in the future.  The goal of close communion is always to invite the person excluded, through instruction and confession of faith, to join us at the altar. But, close communion also says that we take this Sacrament seriously. We regard it as holy and powerful, the very body and blood of Jesus, crucified and risen from the dead, and not to be taken lightly. You wouldn’t jump out of an airplane without skydiving instruction first, right? How much more should we not come to the altar without instruction, without being assured that we’re using this Sacrament rightly? The Sacrament of the Altar is for repentant sinners who’ve been baptized and instructed in the Christian faith, especially about the Lord’s Supper, and who’ve confessed their agreement with that instruction.

10.                  On the other hand, whoever believes the words has what they declare. Jesus says, “This is my body. This is my blood given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins.” Here Jesus offers and promises forgiveness of sins. It is received by faith. The benefits and blessings of Baptism cannot be seized with a fist, but this treasure is received and made yours with the heart (LC V 36).

11.               Many years ago, a Lutheran pastor spoke this way about the Sacrament of the Altar. He said that at the beginning of each service he would pronounce the forgiveness of sins and from the pulpit he would proclaim Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection for the salvation of souls. But, at times people may feel that their sins are so great or that their faith is so weak that this forgiveness must be only for the other people around them. Like those people, you, too may believe that the salvation won by Christ on the cross is for everyone else, but the pastor really never meant it for you.

12.      But, when you come to the Sacrament and you take and eat the true body of your Lord and Savior Jesus Christ given for you for the forgiveness of sins, and when you take and drink the true blood of your Lord and Savior Jesus Christ shed for you for the forgiveness of sins, then there can be no doubt that this treasure is yours. It’s meant for you. At that very moment there’s no uncertainty that you are the one eating and drinking and that the blessings and benefits of the Holy Supper are meant directly and absolutely for you.  Amen. 

Jan. 2013 St. John Newsletter...

St. John Ev. Lutheran Church, LCMS Newsletter                       P.O. Box 162, Baldwin, Illinois 62217-0162 (618) 785-2344              

        Pastor John M. Taggatz,          Jenna Otten, Secretary

January, 2013                                      Lela Rehmer, Custodian          Kevin Kahle, Groundskeeper      

                                                                                                                                                                        

                                                                                                        Church E-mail:  stjohnch@egyptian.net; jtaggatz@yahoo.com

                                                                                                        Church Web Site:  www.stjohnbaldwin.ctsmemberconnect.net

Serving on the Altar Guild for January are:  Linda Schoenbeck & Renee Luthy 

               

Ushers for the Month of January are:  

CALL THE CHURCH OFFICE…

(618) 785-2344    (or)

(618) 785-2602

-When a member of your family is admitted to the hospital, so a visit can be made by Pastor Taggatz.

- When your group plans to hold a meeting, so it can be cleared and placed on the church calendar.

-When your home or business phone number or address is changed, so church records can be corrected.

- When you are planning to move either out of town or locally.

- When you know you are pregnant so that we will be able to assist you in any way we can with prayers, encouragement and support.

- When a new baby arrives in your family or in the family of another church member.

- When you are planning a wedding or baptism.

“Those Whom God Chooses”

The Gospel of Matthew records the visit of the Magi to the Christ Child:  “Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea in the days of Herod the king behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, ‘Where is He  Who has been born king of the Jews?  For we saw His star when it rose and have come to worship Him.’  And going into the house, they saw the Child with Mary His mother, and they fell down and worshiped Him.  Then, opening their treasure, they offered Him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh” (Matthew 2:1-2, 11).

Who were these wise men?  Research indicates that they were probably Gentiles from present-day Jordan.  It is unlikely the Jews would have gone to Herod to ask about a king who could possibly challenge his rule.  It is very interesting to note that Gentiles were those who brought gifts to the king of the Jews!  At that time, there was widespread contempt, even hatred, for Gentiles.  Yet, these visitors were those whom God chose to present gifts to His Son.

Even though as Christians we are to love everyone, we must admit that we don’t.  We may even hate some, especially those we see as enemies of our faith.  When the Christian faith in general, and we, in particular, are misunderstood, ridiculed, and even persecuted, it is natural according to our own sinful nature to respond with anger and hatred.

What we must keep in mind is that all of us are created in the image of God and that Christ died for all.  “For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this:  that One has died for all, therefore all have died” (2 Corinthians 5:14).  God does the choosing; in fact, He has chosen all of us.  “The Lord is… patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).  Like Christ, let us eagerly seek out the lost and welcome them to the family of believers.  Like the Wise Men, let us bring our gifts before our Lord in humble, joyful gratitude for Who He is and what He has done and continues to do for us, in us, and through us.

See You in Church,

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Pastor Taggatz    

Installation of 2013 Church Officers will be held during the worship service Sunday January 6th.

Reminder, the Season of Lent Coming Up:  Ash Wednesday, the beginning of the Church’s penitential season of Lent, begins on Wednesday Feb. 13^th.  We will be having a service that evening at 7pm with Holy Communion.  Following Wednesday Feb. 13^th we will be having our Lenten Midweek services on Wednesday evenings from Feb. 20^th through March 20^th at 7pm.  Be sure to look at your bulletin for further details at the beginning of January.

 “Who Would Have Thought?”

In an election year like the one just past, it’s hard for a politician seeking an office to keep a secret. His opponents may often go back into his past to find some family indiscretion that can be built into an argument that that candidate is unfit for office.  Sometimes those “facts” bring about the downfall of that person’s candidacy, and his career in politics is ended.  His desire to be a leader in government is squashed.  A leader must have an impeccable pedigree, right?

Well, let’s think about Jesus’ ancestry.  Maybe you’ve been in a Bible study that focused on a hero of faith – one like Abraham or his son Isaac or his grandson Jacob.  Maybe it’s been David, that “Man after God’s own heart” (1Samuel 13:14).  You’ve been reading along in your Bible and find out that there are some gaps in their armor.  Did it disappoint you to find out that Abraham lied because he was scared and that his son followed in his footsteps committing the same sin because of the same lack of faith?  And Jacob!  All that cheating and deceit that displayed a similar lack of trust that God had their lives under His control!  And David!  He was an adulterer and a murderer!  How could God call him a “Man after His own heart”?

Wow! We think.  These guys were terrible!  We might even say they’re worse than we are.  Who would have thought that God would choose these imperfect men and women to be Jesus’ ancestors?  But, you see, it’s not about us; it’s about Jesus.  He is the One Who is perfect.  He is the One Who is fit to rule over us.   He has called all of us, sinful though we are, to be His servants.  After all, isn’t that what Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David, and all the other heroes of faith were?  God’s servants? 

We won’t find a perfect political candidate.  We won’t find a perfect Anybody.  What we will find is a faithful, perfect Savior Who lived the perfect life in our place, Who calls us to serve Him in many different venues, Who forgives our sins and restores us to service.

We remember in our prayers—[If you would like to add to our prayer list please call Pastor Taggatz at: 618-785-2344.] “Pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” (James 5:16)

In your prayers for this month, pray for the Church; For missionaries who bring God’s Word to the nations, Rev. Tim & Lisa Beckendorf of Lutheran Bible Translators to Botwsana, Africa & Nicole Decker, who is a missionary to South Africa. For those who are ill, awaiting, or recovering from surgery: We pray especially for: Sally Fadler, Karen Willis, Linda Nagel, Lee Hogandobler, Evan Saldana, & Margaret Dixon, the grandmother of Nicki Buch, Tessa Deffenbaugh, the infant daughter to the friends of Danny & Tammy Moll, & Gene Loucks, a brother in law to the Spier family, all who are battling serious illnesses.  We pray for Hayden Smith, a friend of Christa Poynor, who is currently battling cancer. For Greg Laufer, Krista Hammel, Daryl Junge, Joyce Schmoll, & Jennifer Sievers, the daughter of Geri Stolte, that they would be healed in the midst of their illness.  For Gerald Koester, as he continues to heal and regain strength after surgery he had last month.  For all of those who are unemployed or underemployed, that they would be able to find suitable work to support themselves and their families.  For those who are in nursing homes or homebound.

PRAISE GOD THAT ANOTHER NAME HAS BEEN WRITTEN IN GOD’S BOOK OF LIFE!!!  Congratulations to Ryker Michelle Sturma, the daughter of Aislyn Grau & Drew Sturma, who was baptized in our Saturday evening worship service on Dec. 1^st.  Thanks be to God that Ryker has been baptized into God’s family through water and the Holy Word of God!!!  Praise God from Whom all blessings flow!!!

  BIBLE STUDIES AT ST. JOHN—

Sunday Mornings (8:45 a.m.)  “Martin Luther’s Catechisms”

                Location:  In the Church Sanctuary

Wednesday Mornings (10 a.m.)   “The Intersection of Church & State”  (Please Note: that due to the season of Advent there won’t be Wednesday morning Bible Studies during the month of December, we will be continuing our Wednesday morning Bible Studies at the beginning of January on the 9^th).

                Location:  In the St. John School    

LYF UPDATE—

-The LYF will be taking down the Christmas decorations on Sunday Jan. 6^th

-On Feb. 10^th, the LYF will be putting on their Chicken & Dumpling Dinner…

If you have any questions about LYF email our Youth Director Fleta Junge: tfjunge@htc.net  /call 282-4642 or 618-444-2764.

Remember:  Every 3^rd Sunday of the month we are praying for people who are in the military.  If you have a relative or friend who is an armed serviceman and woman in our Nation’s military please let the Church know so that we may be able to pray for them on the third Sunday of the month.

               

618-853-7300       www.coslhs.org

Early Registration: It is not too early to start making plans for next school year. The early registration deadline for the 2013-2014 is February 1, 2013. The registration fee is $150 for those who register before the deadline. Please contact the school office for more information.

Touchstone Energy Classroom Empowerment Grant Awarded: COS has been awarded a $500 Classroom Empowerment Grant sponsored by Egyptian Electric. The grant is designed to improve the learning environment and to increase educational resources for schools. Only six grants were offered to both private and public schools in the area, and COS has been one of the six selected.  We are very thankful to Egyptian Electric for awarding us this grant.

Coming Events:

Jan. 25      COS Trivia Night at COS gym

Zuehla Rowold                        Laverna Luthy

Red Bud Nursing Home        Three Springs N. Home  

350 W. South 1^st                             161 Three Springs Rd.    Red Bud, IL 62278                Chester, IL 62233   

Opal & Leland Luthy            

Red Bud Nursing Home         

350 W. South 1^st                             

Red Bud, IL 62278          

Dorothy Junge           Russell Mahan

7555 State Rte. 15      Red Bud Nursing Home

Baldwin, IL 62217       350 W. South 1^st                             

Red Bud, IL 62278

     

	Church Council Meeting Tue. Dec. 11th 7:30 p.m.

Regular Council Meeting --Dec. 11^th, 2012

ANNUAL MEETING MINUTES

ST. JOHN LUTHERAN CHURCH

NOVEMBER 25, 2012 @ 7PM

31 MEMBERS PRESENT

The meeting was called to order by President Gene Luthy.

Opening devotions were given by Pastor Taggatz.

Minutes from 2011 Annual Meeting: Were read and approved.

Financial Secretary’s Report:  N/A

Treasurer’s report:  Total receipts as of October 2012, $12,946.60. Ending balance as of October 2012, $12,602.13. Motion was made and second to approve. Motion carried. The 2013 budget was presented by Dennis Wegener.  Motion was made by Tony Junge to accept the 2013 proposed budget and was seconded by Gerald Poenitski.  Motion carried. 

Spiritual Ministries/Elder: N/A

               

Church Properties:  School roof has been replaced, Utility power pole is up, Sump Pump installed, Termite Protection in all three buildings has been completed, and Fire Extinguishers are up to date.

Social Ministries: N/A

COSLHS: 16 students are currently attending with the potential of 20 students for next year.

Fall Fund Raiser was held at the Shooting Complex in Sparta.

Scholar Bowl was held last spring and will be held again next spring. 

Motion was and second to remain in the Association with the high school. Motion carried.

Christian Education: N/A

Evangelism:  N/A

Sunday School:  N/A

Stewardship:  N/A

Lutheran Youth Fellowship:  Fleta Junge reported on the following activities that the youth did in 2012. In December 2011 they handed out candy to children at the Christmas Eve Program. January 2012 they took the Christmas decorations down, March they helped with the annual church Chicken Dinner and went to play Laser Tag.  In April they held the Easter Breakfast and Easter Egg Hunt and did a lock-in, in May they handed out flowers for Mother’s Day, in July they helped with Vacation Bible School, in August they had a fund raiser at the Shooting Complex with the Farm Bureau, in September they held a Chicken & Dumpling Dinner, in October they had a picnic/fishing event at Gilbert Kahle residence, in November they held their annual Chili Dinner and in November decorated the church for Christmas.

Fleta also expressed gratitude for all who supported the youth and the families who helped with the fund raisers

Pastor’s Report:  Pastor Taggatz presented a list of his Pastoral activities, his duties and events that he participated in from December 2011 to the present. Pastor discussed his strengths, weakness and goals regarding his ministry.

Nomination committee presented the slate of candidates for 2013. They are as follows: Vice President – Gerald Poenitske, Elder – Richard Buch, Trustees – Stan Gegel (2^nd term) Gary Huebner and David Piel (1^st term), Treasurer – Dennis Wegener, Financial Secretary – Debbie Hammel and Evangelism none. The floor was opened for nominations. No nominations were given. Motion was made and second to accept the slate of candidates. Motion carried.  Voting was held.

Results of the election:

Vice President                       Gerald Poenitske (2^nd term)

Elder                                       Richard Buch (1^st term)

Trustees                                 Stan Gegel (2^nd term) and                                                   David Piel (1^st term)

Treasurer                               Dennis Wegener (1^st term)

Financial Secretary             Debbie Hammel (1^st term)                                                

Old Business:  Question was raised in regards to the replacement of the Plexiglas on the front church windows. It was noted that there was money left over from the school roof replacement that could be used to pay for the Plexiglas repairs. Approximate cost was quoted at $1,200.00. President Luthy will contact the company (Church Art Glass Company) about the replacements.

 A question was also raised in regards to status of the committee that was formed in the 2012 to address the lack of church attendance. No further information was noted.

Lawn Mowing and Janitorial Bids were presented.

                2 Lawn Care Bids were received.

                Double K -            

$60.00 per mowing at the church/school (same as 2011 & 2012) $175.00 per mowing at the cemetery (same as 2011 & 2012)

               

Drew’s Landscaping -        

                $50.00 per mowing at the church/school

                $100.00 per mowing at the cemetery

Motion was made and second to continue to use Double K for lawn mowing. Motion carried.

                1 Janitorial Bid was received

Lela Rehmer- $4,500.00 (same as 2011)

Motion was made and second to accept Lela Rehmer’s bid. Motion carried.

Pastor’s salary was discussed. District/Synod recommends a 1% increase. After a brief discussion, motion was made and second to increase Pastor Taggatz salary by 1%. Motion carried.

It was also noted in the budget that Health care has increased by 9.9% for himself, and dependents, but Pastor Taggatz does reimburse the congregation his dependent  coverage.

Secretary Salary was discussed and suggested to give Jenna Otten a 3% increase. Motion was made to approve the 3% increase. Motion was second. Motion carried.

New Business:  Christmas Eve program scheduling was discussed. Debbie Hammel thanked the parents for letting the students participate in the Christmas program and presented the possibility of changing the program day to the Sunday before Christmas in order to accommodate other obligations which conflict on Christmas Eve. Individuals expressed their feelings that family obligations could and may interfere with the quantity of students being able to participate in the church program. Another individual reflected on their past experiences of family and the Christmas Eve program and how their families made it work. Another comment was made that the Sunday School program is a “family obligation” and that the program should remain on Christmas Eve. Darla Porter thanked the Sunday School teachers for all their hard work. After further discussion, a motion was made to change the day of the program to the Sunday before Christmas.

President Gene Luthy then made a decision to conduct a secret vote to get an accurate feeling from congregation members on the situation without making anyone feel uneasy.

17 voted “no” to changing of the day of the Sunday School Program (to remain on Christmas Eve)

10 voted “yes” to changing the day of the Sunday School Program to the Sunday before Christmas. 

The Sunday School Christmas Eve Program will remain on Christmas Eve for 2012.

President Luthy thanked the attending members for the support and apologized for any hard feelings that may have cause and suggested the congregation to move on.

Pastor Taggatz housing allowance for tax purposes only to be $10,000.00. Motion was made and second to leave the allowance at $10,000.00. Motion carried.

It was noted that the Thanksgiving offering was designated to ½ going Operation Blessing-Sparta and ½ to the Baldwin Food Pantry.

Mrs. Taggatz spoke about the Sunday School issue and commented on the good work being done by the teachers and how the enrollment is up and apologized for the results of the Christmas Eve program decision and hoped that everyone can continue to work together for the good of the church.

Adjournment:  Motion was made and second to adjourn. Motion carried.

The meeting was closed with a short devotion and prayer and with the Lord’s Prayer.

President, Gene Luthy

Secretary, Marla Huebner

We Believe, Teach and Confess.

Formula of Concord:  Epitome

Article 5—The Law & the Gospel

                                                                                               

Introductory Note:  How one defines Law and Gospel is key to keeping both teachings properly distinguished. This article provides a careful definition of these two terms, both in a narrow sense and in a wide sense. Strictly speaking, the Gospel is entirely and only about the good news of our salvation in Christ: what He has done for us through His life, death, and resurrection. When Law and Gospel are properly distinguished, it is the narrow definition of each that is being discussed. A person who claims, therefore, that the Gospel is about what we are to do, confuses both Law and Gospel. (See also SA III II and IV; FC SD V.)

                                                                       

The Chief Question in This Controversy

¹ Is the preaching of the Holy Gospel properly not just a preaching of grace (which announces the forgiveness of sins) but also a preaching of repentance and reproof (rebuking unbelief, which some people say is not rebuked in the Law but only through the Gospel)?

Affirmative Statements

The Pure Doctrine of God’s Word

² 1. We believe, teach, and confess that the distinction between the Law and the Gospel is to be kept in the Church with great diligence as a particularly brilliant light. By this distinction, according to the admonition of St. Paul, God’s Word is rightly divided [2 Timothy 2:15].

³ 2. We believe, teach, and confess that the Law is properly a divine doctrine [Romans 7:12]. It teaches what is right and pleasing to God, and it rebukes everything that is sin and contrary to God’s will.

⁴ 3. For this reason, then, everything that rebukes sin is, and belongs to, the preaching of the Law.

⁵ 4. But the Gospel is properly the kind of teaching that shows what a person who has not kept the Law (and therefore is condemned by it) is to believe. It teaches that Christ has paid for and made satisfaction for all sins [Romans 5:9]. Christ has gained and acquired for an individual—without any of his own merit—forgiveness of sins, righteousness that avails before God, and eternal life [Romans 5:10].

⁶ 5. The term Gospel is not used in one and the same sense in the Holy Scriptures. That’s why this disagreement originally arose. Therefore, we believe, teach, and confess that if the term Gospel is understood to mean Christ’s entire teaching that He proposed in His ministry, as His apostles did also (this is how it is used in Mark 1:15; Acts 20:21), then it is correctly said and written that the Gospel is a preaching of repentance and of the forgiveness of sins.

⁷ 6. The Law and the Gospel are also contrasted with each other. Likewise also, Moses himself as a teacher of the Law and Christ as a preacher of the Gospel are contrasted with each other [John 1:17]. In these cases we believe, teach, and confess that the Gospel is not a preaching of repentance or rebuke. But it is properly nothing other than a preaching of consolation and a joyful message that does not rebuke or terrify. The Gospel comforts consciences against the terrors of the Law, points only to Christ’s merit, and raises them up again by the lovely preaching of God’s grace and favor, gained through Christ’s merit.

⁸ 7. Concerning the revelation of sin, Moses’ veil hangs [2 Corinthians 3:12–16] before the eyes of all people as long as they hear the bare preaching of the Law, and nothing about Christ. Therefore, they do not learn from the Law to see their sins correctly. They either become bold hypocrites ‹who swell with the opinion of their own righteousness› like the Pharisees [Matthew 23], or they despair like Judas [Matthew 27:3–5]. Therefore, Christ takes the Law into His hands and explains it spiritually (Matthew 5:21–48; Romans 7:14). In this way God’s wrath is revealed from heaven against all sinners [Romans 1:18], so that they see how great it is. In this way they are directed back to the Law, and then they first learn from it to know their sins correctly knowledge that Moses never could have forced out of them.

⁹ According to this, the preaching of the suffering and death of Christ, the Son of God, is a serious and terrifying proclamation and declaration of God’s wrath. By such preaching people are first led into the Law correctly—after Moses’ veil has been removed from them. Then they understand correctly for the first time what great things God requires of us in His Law, none of which we can keep. Therefore, they know we are to seek all our righteousness in Christ.

¹⁰ 8. Yet as long as all this (namely, Christ’s suffering and death) proclaims God’s wrath and terrifies a person, it is still not properly the preaching of the Gospel. It remains the preaching of Moses and the Law, and it is, therefore, an alien work of Christ. Passing through this teaching, Christ arrives at His proper office, that is, to preach grace, console, and give life, which is properly the preaching of the Gospel.

Negative Statements

Contrary Doctrine That Is Rejected

¹¹ We reject and regard as incorrect and harmful the teaching that the Gospel, strictly speaking, is a preaching of repentance or rebuke and not just a preaching of grace. For by this misuse the Gospel is converted into a teaching of the Law. Christ’s merit and Holy Scripture are hidden, Christians are robbed of true consolation, and the door is opened again to ‹the errors and superstitions of› the papacy.

Concordia : The Lutheran Confessions. 2005 (Edited by Paul Timothy McCain) (484–485). St. Louis, MO: Concordia Publishing House..

                                                                                               

The deadline for getting articles and reports in to be included in the Newsletter is the 18^th of every month.

Do You Have a Question?  There are tracts in the narthex that may be able to help…  Take a moment as you come into church to check out the Lutheran Hour Ministries tract rack.  These pamphlets are free for you to take home.  You may see one that would be interesting, maybe not for yourself, but for a friend or relative who is experiencing or questioning a particular topic.

Giving through THRIVENT CHOICE to St. John for Nov. –Dec. ‘12— I am pleased to announce that our giving through the Thrivent Choice program for November has amounted to:  $69.00…  -Total amount our church has received from the Thrivent Choice program since Jan. 2012:  $3,630.00.

***Special notice regarding the Thrivent Choice Program:  You might have already received notice of a change in the Thrivent Choice program by mail, but just in case you haven’t there is some important information for you to know about.  This year of 2012 all Thrivent members wishing to continue their automatic withdrawal to the charity of their choice will have to let Thrivent know either by mail or phone.  It only needs to be done once for this year.  To continue to direct your Choice Dollars to the charity of your choice call: 800-THRIVENT (800-847-4836) and state "Thrivent Choice."

SPECIAL FAMILY NIGHT Jan. 25^th @ 6pm!  The next special family night at our church will be on Friday Jan. 25^th from 6-8:30pm.  These family nights will be informal with opportunities for the children to play and for families to fellowship with one another while doing a variety of activities and having a few treats as well.  There will also be a special devotion from God’s Word for everyone.  Come join us for a fun and exciting time!!!

As of January 2013, we will be needing a flower Committee Chairman. This consists of putting flowers on the altar every 2^nd & 5^th Sunday, picking up, arranging, displaying, and watering the Christmas Poinsettias, and Easter Lilies. For more information please contact the church office.

The 2013 Offering Envelopes may be picked up at the school building.

Talk Radio for the Christmas Season

December 24-January 3

"Handel's Messiah" on the Incarnation

Dr. Joseph Herl, Concordia University Nebraska

The Christmas Hymn "All My Heart Again Rejoices"

Dr. Arthur Just, Concordia Theological Seminary-Ft. Wayne, IN

The Birth of Jesus in the Old Testament

Dr. Ken Schurb, Zion Lutheran-Moberly, MO

The Birth of Jesus According to Matthew's Gospel

Dr. Jeff Gibbs, Concordia Seminary-St. Louis, MO

The Christmas Hymn "What Child is This"

Pr. Will Weedon, Director of Worship for the LC-MS

The First Christmas

Dr. Paul Maier, Western Michigan University

Listen at www.issuesetc.org

Christmas music returns Christmas Eve

at

WWW.LUTHERANPUBLICRADIO.ORG

Are you or a family member…coping with grief and loss… stressed out by financial issues… dealing with family or marital problems? Lutheran Child and Family Services of Illinois’ professional licensed counselors can help. They provide individual, couple, marital and family counseling to help address these types of situations. Insurance is accepted. Call:  800-363-LCFS (5237) to schedule a FREE confidential initial consultation.  LUTHERAN CHILD & FAMILY SERVICES IN SPARTA HAS MOVED With the closing of the Nice Twice Thrift Shop, Lutheran Child and Family Services moved its office to 1107 N. Market in Sparta. 

Special Request on the Use of Beverages & Candy in Church-We are asking that members please do not bring adult beverages into the church sanctuary, this includes:

coffee, tea, soda, etc. (The use of communion wine is GOOD, since it's the very blood of our Lord for the forgiveness of our sins J). Sippy cups for children are ok, as long as there is a lid on them.  Also, please do not bring sticky candy into church; the use of goldfish, Cheerios, & graham crackers is ok.  Thanks for your compliance in this matter.  This will help keep our church sanctuary looking clean for years to come.

Lutheran Hour Ministry Broadcasts—To listen to broadcasts of the Lutheran Hour Radio Program tune in to: 850 AM KFUO St. Louis, MO on Sundays at 12:30pm and 5pm.  Can’t tune into your radio at this time? You can also listen to podcasts of the Lutheran Hour through your computer or Mp3 player.  Go to this website to find out more:  http://www.lhm.org/podcasts/default.asp

Podcasting is a new and easy way to listen to your favorite Lutheran Hour Ministries programs and resources when you want. Podcasts are audio files you can download automatically, free of charge, to your computer, then transfer to your portable MP3 player.

U. S. POSTAGE PAID Non-Profit Org. Permit No. 1 Baldwin, IL 62217

St. John Ev. Lutheran Church

P. O. Box 162

Baldwin, IL 62217-0162

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED