Sermon for 11th Sunday after Pentecost, Aug. 28th, 2011: “Losing our Lives for Christ’s Sake” (Matthew 16:21–28)

“Losing our Lives for Christ’s Sake” (Matthew 16:21–28)

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.  After St. Peter confessed that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God at Caesarea Philippi, our Lord Jesus “began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised” (Matt 16:21). Upon hearing this Matthew tells us in chapter 16:22 of His Gospel these words, “And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.”   As Christians we know that the glory of God is revealed in the passion & cross of our Lord Jesus.  By His cross Jesus redeemed you from your sins, and in His resurrection He’s justified all who trust in Him. In the Gospel from Matthew 16 this morning we learn that the Christian life is one of discipleship and self-sacrifice.  The message is entitled, “Losing our Lives for Christ’s Sake,” dear brothers and sisters in Christ.

2.                  The way to power, wealth, and fame can easily slip through your fingers.  The Roman Emperor Charlemagne knew this.  An interesting story surrounds the burial of this king.  Legend has it that he asked to be entombed sitting upright in his throne.  He asked that his crown be placed on his head and his scepter in his hand.  He requested that the royal cape be draped around his shoulders and an open book be placed in his lap.  That was AD 814.  Nearly 200 years after AD 814, Emperor Othello determined to see if the burial request had been carried out.  He sent a team of men to open the tomb and make a report.  They found the body just as Charlemagne had requested.  Only now, nearly 200 years later, the scene was gruesome…  But open on the skeleton was the book Charlemagne had requested—the Bible.  One bony finger pointed to the words of the text of our Gospel lesson for today where our Lord Jesus says to Peter, “What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul?  Well, I think that you can answer that one.

3.                  Here in Matthew 16:21-28 we see that the time had come for our Lord Jesus to speak very plain to His disciples and to us about His suffering and death.  But, when Jesus began to speak of His suffering, death, and resurrection, Peter says, “Never Lord! This shall never happen to you!”  Sure, Peter’s intentions were good.  He couldn’t bear to think of such things happening to his Lord.  But, Peter was having an “open mouth, insert foot moment.”  He didn’t understand what he was saying.  The same guy who had just moments earlier in Matthew 16 announced that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, now was contradicting Jesus’ words. 

4.                  One moment Jesus had commended Peter’s confession of faith in Him as being the chosen one by God to save us from our sins.  But now, Jesus rebuked him, even called him Satan.  This was fitting because Peter was speaking for Satan.  He was saying essentially what Satan had told Jesus during those 40 days of temptation in the wilderness.  He told Jesus not to carry out his mission to save you from your sins by paying for them through his death upon the cross.  Satan wanted Jesus to not carry out the Father’s will or fulfill the promises of God’s Old Testament prophets.  When Jesus called Peter a stumbling block, that term referred to a crooked stick in a trap to which bait would be attached.  An animal going for the bait would spring the trap and be captured or killed.  In the same way, Peter was setting a trap for Jesus.  If Jesus had stepped into that trap, his whole mission of redeeming the world would have been aborted.  The rebuke that Jesus spoke to Peter was in order.

5.                  In His response to Peter, Jesus reminded His disciples and us the cost of following Him in Matthew 16:24-26, “²⁴…If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. ²⁵For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. ²⁶For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his life? Or what shall a man give in return for his life?”  Jesus had to bear his cross for your sake, and we who are here today who follow him have our crosses to bear too.  The crosses Christians bear are the hardships and sufferings they endure as a consequence of faithfully following Christ.  But, our Lord Jesus will give us the strength to bear it, and he will use it to increase our appreciation for the cross he bore for us. 

6.                  Dear Christian, if your primary concern is to save this life, to get the most out of this life in pleasure, satisfaction and enjoyment, you’ll end up losing everything.  But, if you lose your life for Jesus’ sake, if you dedicate all to him, follow his guidance and obey Him, you’ll live a meaningful and God pleasing life in this world and enjoy all the blessings of everlasting life in heaven.

7.                  Many people forfeit their souls as they strive to gain everything they can in this world.  Some manage to build up great wealth, power, and prestige, but even Alexander the Great didn’t succeed in ruling the whole world.  And if he had, what good would it do him now?  For like Charlemagne, the Great King, he too was a mortal man who eventually died, leaving his empire to other men to take over.  If Alexander the Great could’ve offered the whole world as the price of his admission to heaven, the Lord of all would still say to him, “That’s not enough.  Everything you offer me is already mine, for I made it.  Depart from me.  Be consigned forever to the place I’ve prepared for the devil and his angels.  There the weeping and gnashing of teeth will never end.  There you will be tormented forever in unquenchable flames without being destroyed.  What a fool you have been.”  Dear friends why waste so much time trying to gain power, wealth, and fame?  Don’t you know that he, who dies with the most toys, still dies?

8.                  Yet, millions of people imagine that they can buy their way into heaven.  They rely on their puny good works, which are like filthy rags in God’s sight.  How tragic it is that so many people reject the payment Christ has made for them with His holy, precious blood and His innocent suffering and death.  There’s no salvation in any other.  Jesus is the only Savior of the whole world.  He died for all!

9.                  Do you remember the words that Jesus said in John 12?  In John 12:32 He said, "And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself."  When Jesus spoke of being "lifted up," I believe He meant three things. First, he would be lifted up on a cross to die the death of a guilty man, even though He was innocent of all charges. Second, he would also be lifted up by being exalted by God the Father because of his willing death.  The Apostle Paul says in Philippians 2:8-9, "[H]e humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name."  Finally, Jesus will one day be exalted before the eyes of every soul God made, when "every tongue [will] confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Philippians 2:11).

10.              As Christians we’re called to lose our lives for Christ’s sake. One way that we can do this is in our worship when we approach the Lord’s Supper with reverence and awe. "For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes" (1 Corinthians 11:26). Just as by celebrating the Passover feast the people of Israel looked forward to the Lamb who would be slain for them, we eat and drink in remembrance of the one who bore our sins in His body on the tree to save you from sin, death and devil. If Jesus lifted up is what draws souls to heaven, we can’t afford to downgrade the celebration of communion to the margins of our worship.  For when we eat His body and drink His blood we’re receiving from Him the forgiveness of our sins and eternal life.

11.              A second way we can lose our lives for Christ’s sake is by following his example. Jesus said, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me" (Matthew 16:24). Over 50 years ago, 5 Christian missionaries took up their cross by making contact with a violent Ecuadorian tribe in order to share the Gospel with them.  Jim Elliot, Nate Saint, Roger Youderian, Ed McCulley, and Pete Fleming were killed, leaving behind their wives and children.  They lost their lives for Christ’s sake. But, as word of the tragedy spread throughout the world, their example inspired many others to take the gospel into all parts of the earth. And in years to come, through the witness of family members of the martyred missionaries, many from the tribe (including the murderers) became followers of Jesus. In their deaths, these 5 missionaries lost their lives for Christ, and Jesus faithfully drew many to life through their sacrifice.  Take a moment today to consider how you could lose your life for Christ’s sake. What in your life is taking priority over worshipping Him over all things?  Is it your job, your possessions, your family, your power or popularity, your money? God may not call you to literally lay down your life for your faith in Jesus, but He has called you to lift Christ high. 

12.              Dear brothers and sisters in Christ.  You’ve heard the voice of Your Lord Jesus and have come to follow Him.  Now He leads You through His Word and Sacraments into eternal life.  Because you’re in Him you can’t perish.  And when our Lord Jesus comes to you whether in your own death or at the End of Time, you who are His own, will enter into His presence, where there is no want, no crying, no dying, only joy that has no end.  Amen.

Sept. 2011 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,          Carol Wentz, Secretary

September, 2011                                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 September are:  Linda Schoenbeck & Toni Rehmer

Ushers for the Month of September are: Harry Wetzel, Jeff Rowold, Susan Piel, Connie Buch, David Piel, Richard Buch, Dan Hartmann, Dale Luthy & Charlotte Liefer

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.

“REFORMATION IN THE WORD”

Hebrews 13:7–9a & 17—

7Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. 8Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. 9Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace… 17Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.

                As we approach our church’s Rally Day on Sunday Sept. 11^th, I thought that I might offer to you some food for thought on the importance of being trained and educated in the Word of God, both young and old alike.  Those who are perishing do so because they don’t love the truth (2Thess 2:10). God’s truth is set down for us in the Holy Scriptures. Is it possible to love our heavenly Father without loving the Word of His truth?  The answer is no! What would it mean if I said to my wife, "Honey, I love you. But I don't believe anything you tell me"? It would mean that I didn't love her at all, wouldn't it? If we claim to love God, but reject what He tells us in His Word or attempt to improve upon it, or adjust it, then our claim is empty. We wouldn't mean it at all, would we? Faith in Christ through His Word means that we’re willing to submit ourselves, our thoughts, and our ways to the authority of the Word of God (Is 55:10-11).

                These days people are asking the question, "How can we renew the church?" But, maybe they’re asking the wrong question. The question should be, "How can our heavenly Father renew His church on earth?" If the church on earth is to be revived from its sleeping state then only He can do it. He has promised to do it with the means that He’s given the church in His life-giving Word. There can be no renewal of the church or reformation of her life and teaching apart from the Word of God. Only where there is a revival of the Christian truths as taught by the Holy Scriptures can there be any kind of reformation in faith and life.

                Dr. Martin Luther, the great Reformer of the Church and the one in whom our Lutheran Church is named after, has said this about the importance of the Word of God and the daily study of the Catechism:  “¹⁰ Besides, catechism study is a most effective help against the devil, the world, the flesh, and all evil thoughts. It helps to be occupied with God’s Word, to speak it, and meditate on it, just as the first Psalm declares people blessed who meditate on God’s Law day and night (Psalm 1:2). Certainly you will not release a stronger incense or other repellant against the devil than to be engaged by God’s commandments and words, and speak, sing, or think them [Colossians 3:16]… ¹¹ For [the Devil] cannot hear or endure God’s Word… As St. Paul says in Romans 1:16, it is “the power of God.” Yes indeed, it is the power of God that gives the devil burning pain and strengthens, comforts, and helps us beyond measure.  ¹²…The devil is called the master of a thousand arts. ¹³ But what shall we call God’s Word, which drives away and brings to nothing this master of a thousand arts with all his arts and power? The Word must indeed be the master of more than a hundred thousand arts. And shall we easily despise such power, profit, strength, and fruit…¹⁴ If these reasons were not enough to move us to read the catechism daily, we should feel bound well enough by God’s command alone. He solemnly commands in Deuteronomy 6:6–8 that we should always meditate on His precepts, sitting, walking, standing, lying down, and rising…Clearly He did not solemnly require and command this without a purpose. For He knows our danger and need, as well as the constant and furious assaults and temptations of devils. He wants to warn, equip, and preserve us against them, as with a good armor against their fiery darts [Ephesians 6:10–17]… ¹⁵ Oh, what mad, senseless fools are we! While we must ever live and dwell among such mighty enemies as the devils, we still despise our weapons and defense [2 Corinthians 10:4], and we are too lazy to look at or think of them! ¹⁶ What else are such proud, arrogant saints doing who are unwilling to read and study the catechism daily? They think they are much more learned than God Himself with all His saints, angels, prophets, apostles, and all Christians. God Himself is not ashamed to teach these things daily. He knows nothing better to teach. He always keeps teaching the same thing and does not take up anything new or different. All the saints know nothing better or different to learn and cannot finish learning this. Are we not the finest of all fellows to imagine that if we have once read or heard the catechism, we know it all and have no further need to read and learn? Can we finish learning in one hour what God Himself cannot finish teaching? He is engaged in teaching this from the beginning to the end of the world. All prophets, together with all saints, have been busy learning it, have ever remained students, and must continue to be students.  ¹⁷ It must be true that whoever knows the Ten Commandments perfectly must know all the Scriptures [Matthew 7:12]. So, in all matters and cases, he can advise, help, comfort, judge, and decide both spiritual and temporal matters. Such a person must be qualified to sit in judgment over all doctrines, estates, spirits, laws, and whatever else is in the world [1 Corinthians 6:2–3]. ¹⁸ And what, indeed, is the entire Book of Psalms but thoughts and exercises upon the First Commandment? Now I truly know that such lazy “bellies” and arrogant spirits do not understand a single psalm, much less the entire Holy Scriptures. Yet they pretend to know and despise the catechism, which is a short and brief summary of all the Holy Scriptures” (Large Catechism, Longer Preface, 10-18).

                The Word of God demands that we be bound to its own speaking, because its speaking is the voice of God. We love what our church leaders teach not because we love them, but because the teaching is from the Word of God. We oppose what our church leaders teach, not because we dislike them, but because what they say isn’t the Christian truth. The Scripture is the text which conveys the Christian truth to God's people. What doesn’t come from Scripture is not the church's and is not God's voice. It’s then genuinely loving to reject false teaching. By this rejection we love God whose truth is not ours to manipulate as we please. By this rejection we love our neighbor because false teaching is hurtful to him or her. The truth of Jesus Christ is our love. So we may not love ourselves and our own opinions more than the catholic truth.

See You in Church!

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Pastor Taggatz

Bearing Fruit for Jesus

                It is exciting to inform you that our stewardship theme for this year is Bearing Fruit for Jesus: His Grace and Power at Work Within You.  This will start on (DATE).  The following is an introduction to what God’s Word says about bearing fruit:

                Jesus said, “Abide in Me, and I in you.  As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you, unless you abide in Me.  I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me, and I in him, he bears much fruit; for apart from Me you can do nothing” (John 15:4-5).  Fruit characterizes the life of the Christian steward.  It is interesting to note that, in this passage above, Jesus did not say, “You should bear fruit.”  He stated that when we abide in Him, it follows naturally that we will bear fruit. 

                Paul explained to the Galatians what that fruit is:  “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control.”  “Since we live by the Spirit,” Paul exhorted, “let us keep in step with the Spirit.  Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other” (Galatians 5:25-26).  As children of God, we have this fruit because His Spirit lives in us.  We do not bear fruit as a result of our own efforts, but we do cease to bear fruit when we give in to our sinful natures, becoming, in Paul’s words, “conceited, provoking and envying each other”.

                Just as fruit needs light for its growth and maturation, so do Christians need to have their lives illumined by Christ.  They then are able to produce spiritual fruit and shed that light on the world around them.  Ephesians 5:11 cautions us to, “Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness” but to “Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord” (Ephesians 5:8-9).

                We discover God’s will through His word and through prayer.  As Paul prayed for the Colossians, we, too, can ask God “to fill [us] with the knowledge of His will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding . . . in order that [we] may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work . . .” (Colossians 1:9-10).

                God has plans and uses for our lives.  When we abide in Christ, we will be fruitful.  We will discover and follow His plan, and we will use the gifts He has given us in ministry to the people of the world.

During the three-week program, we will grow in our understanding of how we bear fruit for Jesus.  Under the banner of Bearing Fruit for Jesus, you are invited to join us in this program as we grow as stewards of all that God gives us.   The sermon messages and Bible studies will offer these weekly themes:

• Sept. 18^th               Fruitful Use of Time
• Sept. 25^th               Fruitful Use of Talents
• Oct. 2^nd                   Fruitful Use of Money                                        (Commitment Sunday)

God prepares and equips us so we can use all of His gifts to His glory.  God’s deeds of fruit are seen in and through us as we use the gifts that He has given to us, giving reasons for others to praise the Father in heaven (Matthew 5:16).

It is my prayer as your Pastor that you will attend the Bible study sessions, which will open up God’s Word so you can better understand what it means to be bear fruit for Jesus.  May we all grow stronger in our commitment to serve Him as we continue to experience all the blessings He entrusts to us.

Please return the enclosed commitment form & time & talents survey enclosed in this newsletter to church on Harvest Sunday (Commitment Sunday) Oct. 2^nd or return it to the church office when convenient.  (Extra commitment forms are available).  I ask that, as you approach your commitment decisions, you seek God’s guidance in prayer.  Let the love of God guide you in your decision.

               

Serving and working together in Christ,

Pastor John M. Taggatz

“Catch-up Sunday” Sunday

“On the first day of every week, each one

of you should set aside a sum of money in

keeping with his income . . .” (1 Corinthians 16:2).

                God asks that His people give to Him regularly in proportion to what they receive.  We thank you for your continued support of God’s work here at St. John Ev. Lutheran Church in Baldwin.

                We know that, because of summer trips and activities, many individuals and families have had to be absent from church during the summer, so we are calling  Sunday Sept. 11^th “Catch-up Sunday” & our church’s Rally Day, when we will start Sunday School & install our Sunday School teachers.  Please prayerfully consider bringing your financial commitment up-to-date on this Rally Sunday.  May God continue to bless you as share the blessings God has given you!

We remember in our prayers— We pray for Jason Mines, John Eggerding, Bonnie Highberger, and for Lee Hogandobler, all who are battling serious illnesses.  We pray for Gerald Poenitske, as he recovers from surgery that he recently had.  We also pray for Clinton Bremer, who was recently hospitalized. 

EVANGELISM WORKSHOP AT ST. JOHN—Pastor Taggatz is planning on having an evangelism workshop on the first three Saturday mornings starting at 9am in the month of September.  If you are interested in learning more on how you can share your Christian faith with those who don’t know Christ, then this class is for you. 

Our Evangelism workshop begins on Saturday Sept. 3^rd at 9am. 

CORRECTION TO THE CALENDAR & LYF UPDATE—Our church calendar for this month originally said that LYF would meet on the first Sunday in September.  Actually, our first meeting will be on Sunday Oct 2^nd.  On that day there will be an LYF gathering at around 11:30 a.m. after church.  We will have a short activity, Bible study, and discussion about upcoming activities and fundraisers for our Youth Group.  Come join us and bring your friends.

ANYONE INTERESTED IN JOINING OUR CHURCH CHOIR?  Please talk to either Pastor Taggatz or Dean Buch.  Our first practice begins on Sunday Sept. 4th immediately following the Sunday morning worship service.  You can contact Dean at 618-443-7312 or by e-mail at ilemtp11@gmail.com or Pastor Taggatz at 618-785-2344 or by e-mail at jtaggatz@yahoo.com.  

Something to Think About…Often we say, “I don’t have enough time to do anything.”  Time is one of God’s gifts to His stewards.  The reason we don’t seem to have enough time may be that we do not use what we receive in a wise way.  Priorities should be established for time spent on work, family, recreation, and church.  When we seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we will be better prepared to make the proper choices with our time.  Being led by the Holy Spirit, we will make “the most of every opportunity” (Ephesians 5:15) to serve the Lord.

Why Go to Church? 

The Church is the greatest influence in a community.  Therefore it needs your support.  The Church is one of the oldest established institutions throughout the world.  It may be known by other names, but wherever a Basilica, a Cathedral or a House of Christian Worship is established, it makes a Better City—A Better Town—A Better People.  The Church represents a group of people like you and me, whose head is Jesus Christ.  Its mission is to build Body, Soul and Spirit.  It starts with the children, training them in the Word of God and the Sacraments, and throws its doors wide open to all Races, Colors and Nations.

Maybe you’ve heard some people say, “You don’t have to go to church to be a Christian.”  This is a wrongheaded statement.  If a Christian is someone who believes in Jesus Christ as His Lord and Savior from sin, death and the power of the devil, and makes a public confession of faith in Him, then that person will show the seriousness of his faith and carry it out in his everyday life—this would include active Church attendance in practicing your Christian faith.

Attending church and paying attention to the Word of God that is preached and taught is essential to the Christian’s life.  Jesus Himself said that the believers are sanctified by God’s Word of Truth (John 17:17).  When a person says that they don’t have to go to church to be a Christian, they are saying in effect that the Word of God taught in God’s house doesn’t make the Christian grow in his faith and Christian life or preserve him as a believer.  That person is saying that a Christian can get along without the Word of God.  But, the very opposite is true.  St. Paul wrote, “The Word of God is at work in you who believe.” (1 Thess. 2:13).  St. Peter said, “Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation.” (1 Peter 2:2).  St. Paul said, “I commit you to God and to the Word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.” (Acts 20:32).

Finally, why do we Christians go to church?  Is it merely to “perform a good work” or to “pay our dues” that would make us “good” Christians?  Don’t we go to God’s house because we have sins to confess before God and to hear that they have been forgiven?  Don’t we go to church to be strengthened in our Christian faith, to be comforted, to be guided in our Christian faith, and to offer to our Savior Jesus Christ our worship and praise for laying down His life for the forgiveness of our sins.  And isn’t the preaching and teaching of God’s Word at the center of it all?  If you count yourself as a sinner who needs Jesus Christ as your Savior and you love the Word of God preached and taught, then you should be in Church.

 “Why do We Confirm?  What are the Goals of Catechism Instruction?”

               

                I wonder what we might find from parents and the rest of the people in the pew if we polled them on the purpose of catechism and confirmation. If some of the things I hear are representative of the feelings of the folks, it seems that they hope for catechism and confirmation to provide/deepen:

• a personal relationship with Jesus Christ...
• develop a moral sensibility to help them face life's choices...
• know the Bible and what it says...
• become more fully identified as a LUTHERAN Christian...
• know Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord...
               

                The goals of many Lutheran folk for their children and grandchildren in catechism instruction and for their confirmation are not a whole lot different than the goals for youth ministry at the local Baptist or Presbyterian Church.

                Most of the time Catechism instruction is spent on the 10 Commandments, on the Apostles’ Creed, some time spent on Prayer, but not a whole lot on Baptism, the Keys, or the Sacrament of the Altar. We’re heavily invested in these areas but barely touch on such things as the way of worship, the church history that bore the fruit of the Lutheran Reformation, or our piety centered in the Divine Service and manifest in a life of regular private confession and absolution.

                We want catechism to help our kids say "no" to premarital sex (or any other kind outside of marriage) and drugs and we want them to be pious but more a piety of prayer than one centered in the Word and Table of the Lord. We expect that those confirmed will have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and confess Him as Lord as well as Savior and live obedient lives to the commandments.

                But, the purpose of catechism instruction isn’t only to fill in a missing morality, teach obedience to the commandments, or develop and encourage a personal relationship with Jesus as Savior and Lord. The purpose of catechism is also to equip the baptized children of God to live out their life and faith within the realm of the means of grace (Word and Sacraments). Personal morality flows from baptismal identity. Obedience flows from the gifts of grace received by faith. Piety has its source in and flows from our life together around the Word and Table of the Lord and within the framework of confession and forgiveness.

                Our kids have a "personal relationship with Jesus Christ" through baptism and the faith imparted there by the Spirit. This is not a decision or choice on their part. Our kids develop a "moral sensibility" from their baptismal identity as the children of God, from their experience of confession and absolution, and from the 3rd use of the Law in which the commandments function as guide to those declared righteous. Knowing the Bible and "what it says" means knowing Jesus Christ who is in every page and in every word of Scripture and Him we know by baptism and faith. If to "know" Jesus as Savior and Lord means to ask Jesus into your life and surrender your life over to Him, then we just might have more problems than the hundred or so hours spent in catechism instruction can handle. How better to know and "identify as a Lutheran Christian" than by knowing how and why we worship as we do, the character of the hymnody that forms the soundtrack to this faith, and the efficacy of the Word and Sacraments that actually do what they promise?

                We have for too long held up entrance into communion as the bait to get our kids through catechism and confirmation and yet when they receive first communion, they do not know how this relates to their identity and life as a child of God by baptism and faith. Sadly, we Lutherans give a child to the Pastor only for a few years when they are young teens and then we look at the stats of youth that fall away and wonder what went wrong.

                Christian parents and other family members must not merely depend upon the “professionals,” that is the pastor and Lutheran School teachers to solely do the job of teaching the faith to their children for them.  If you wait until your child is approaching high school to talk to them about God (or sex), you are too late. Period. If you want your child to have a relationship with Jesus Christ and fail to instruct them in or give them the means by which our faith is nourished, sustained, and strengthened, you are swimming upstream. Teach them of their baptism from birth. Teach them of the Sacrament of the Altar from birth. Simply read to them the Word of God and help them read it for themselves. Bring them to the worship of God's House and instruct them in the Divine Service, the Church Year, and hymnody. Then bring them to catechism and present them for confirmation. What a difference that might make!

BIBLE STUDY—(if you would like to have another opportunity to Study God’s Word other than the time listed below, I as your pastor, am always willing to meet with you and a group of people to learn, study and grow in the grace and knowledge of God in Christ Jesus.  Just let me know and we can work out a time that best suits you.)

 

Sunday Mornings (8:45 a.m.)                                                          “The Truth Project”—Focus on the             Family…

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.

On the back table in the church there is a copy of the Book, “The Story Bible” by CPH which would make a great gift for any children in your home.  There are over 130 bible stories in this book with beautiful realistic art.  If we order 10 or more copies from our church we can get a $10 discount on this book, plus free shipping. There’s a signup sheet in the back of the church available for you.

The Southern Illinois District Convention will take place on February 16-18, 2012 in O'Fallon. Our congregation has the privilege to nominate people for the following positions: President and Secretary (pastors), Treasurer (lay person), Board of Directors (lay people and commissioned ministers), Board of Missions and Board of Congregational Support (pastors, lay people and commissioned ministers). Our congregation needs to return these nominations to the district office by October 14. If you are interested in serving God's people in our district in this way, please speak to Pastor Taggatz or our Church President Terry Rehmer. Thank you!

CHRIST OUR SAVIOR LUTHERAN HS

810 Soldiers Way, Evansville, IL   62242

Phone 618-853-7300       Fax 618-853-7361

www.coslhs.org; E-mail:  admin@coslhs.org

Mr. John Christman, Principal

2011-2012:  It’s here!  The new school year has arrived.  Praise God we have 20 students this year. There are 7 students in the Freshman Class, 4 in the Sophomore class, 4 students in the Junior class, and 5 in the Senior class.  We are also very excited to have two international students join us this year.  Keep COSLHS  in your prayers.

Juice:  We have been blessed with elderberry juice.  If someone enjoys making jelly and has the time to do so we would appreciate your help.

Donations of sugar, jars, Sure Jel and lids would be a great help.  For right now it will be kept frozen.  If anyone has excess dill, the school would appreciate those donations as well.

Upcoming:  Our busy month of September is coming quickly.  If you would like to work or help with any of the following, please call Janet @ 853-7300.

*Popeye Picnic—wash potatoes,  pick up supplies, load or unload,   work stand, work airplane stand, help clean up.

*Evansville Days—wash potatoes, clean shed, load or unload, work   food stand 1, food stand 2, food stand 3, bake sale,  run/walk, clean & put away items. Etc.

*Fort Kaskaskia—wash potatoes, baking, sell baked items, work food stand, load/unload, put items away.

     

Wanted: Someone to coach basketball.  Someone to do landscaping upkeep.

                   Your extra produce.    Someone to fix the picnic tables.  Jelly jars.

                    

                                         

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 Luthy                               Patty Theobald

Red Bud Nursing Home        402 W. 2^nd  St.  

350 W. South 1^st                               Apt. F.

Red Bud, IL 62278          Sparta, IL 62286

Dorothy Junge           Mr. & Mrs. Russell Mahan

7555 State Rte. 15      800 Baldwin Rd

Baldwin, IL 62217        New Athens, IL 62264

        

Patsy Schoenbeck                

322 Joan St.

Marissa, IL 62257                

  

                

  

Church Council Minutes Tue. Aug. 9th, 2011

PRESENT:  Linda Schoenbeck, Brian Schoenbeck, Susan Piel, Gerald Poenitske, Toni Rehmer, Terry Rehmer, Tony Junge, Darla Porter, and Pastor Taggatz.

The meeting was called to order by President Terry Rehmer.

Opening devotions were given by Pastor Taggatz on Isaiah 55.

Minutes from the previous meeting were read and approved.

FINANCIAL SECRETARY’S REPORT:  Total receipts for July 2011 were:  $12,656.61.

TREASURER’S REPORT:  General Fund ending balance for July 2011: $738.50.  Ending monthly balance for all individual funds:  $12,676.49.

SPIRITUAL MINISTRIES: 

Pastor is going to work with the elders on having several cottage meetings with our members to catch up with everyone and be able to speak with those whom he hasn’t seen in awhile to see how things are going with them.  Pastor looks to have these meetings on Saturday mornings during the months of October & November…   He will be working on sending a letter out to our members about these meetings to invite them to the meetings and will have a follow up phone call with them.

CHURCH PROPERTIES: 

Gilbert Kahle has designated the amount of $14,000.00 from the Rathmacher Estate to the roofing fund.  The ceiling fan funds will also be used in part for the roofing fund.  Commercial roofing companies will be contacted for bids on the school roof.  The trustees for seeking three bids.

The property insurance for the church, school, and parsonage has been reviewed.  Personal property values for the church and school will be $50,000.00 respectively.  Structure for church is $1,147,000.00, the school is $1,100,000.00.  Cash value of the church is $918,000.00, the school’s is, $912,000.00.  The parsonage’s cash value is $212,000.00, and the garage is $15,000.00.  The current premium is $6,193.00.  The current deductible is low.  Estimates will be received regarding the premium at a higher deductible.

Church Work Day is scheduled for Sept. 24^th, 2011, starting at 7:30am.  Projects will include:  installation of new fans in the church, electrical work in the school, sump pump installation in the school basement, cleaning “out” of the school basement, and cemetery work.

LYF:

STEWARDSHIP: 

(From Connie Buch, who was unable to attend the meeting this evening, but sent these notes to us)

Projects completed this year by the stewardship board were an update to the Church Roster, a community Easter Egg Hunt, and the year will end with the Stewardship Focus which will be held this year for 3 Sundays, September 18, 25, and October 2. The emphasis this year is “Bearing Fruit for Jesus” The congregation will be encouraged to invite new people and/or members we have not seen in attendance recently. Refreshments will be served on the final Sunday after services. We will again be doing the Survey and Commitment Forms on using our time, talents and treasures for the upcoming year. We hope these forms will help the nominating committee.

PASTOR’S REPORT:

Pastoral Acts for the month of July 13^th ‘11 through Aug. 9^th, 2011—

-Regular Saturday & Sunday worship responsibilities

                - 3 Bible Study class sessions (Sunday            mornings)

                        -1 COSLHS Meeting Mon. Aug. 1^st

                - 8 Homebound/ Member visits

                -3 Hospital Visits

-Attended the Southern IL District Day of Spiritual Renewal at Trinity Lutheran Church in Nashville, IL on                 Tue. Aug. 9^th                  

Rally Day/First Day of Sunday School—will be on Sunday Sept. 11^th.  On this day we will start Sunday School in our church up again and we will also be installing our Sunday School teachers for the 2011-2012 school year.

LWML Sunday will be on October 9^th.

I am planning to have an evangelism workshop on the first three Saturday mornings starting at 9am in the month of September…

Confirmation & Pre-Confirmation Instruction—There will be a Parent’s meeting to discuss the schedule for class on Wed. Aug. 17^th and on Wed. Aug. 24^th, we will be starting classes.  Pre-Confirmation will be starting at 6pm and Confirmation at 7pm.

SITE Ministry has been meeting in the first classroom of the school rather than the last due to air conditioning during the hot summer months.  The Site Ministry will return to the last classroom when confirmation and Sunday School resumes.

Pastor Taggatz is on Twitter and has an online blog.  If you would like to follow his twitter account his screen name is @jtaggatz.  His blog, which has past St. John Church Newsletters, sermons, etc. is: www.thewordendures.blogspot.com.  Also, if you would like to keep up with LCMS current news go to the NEW LCMS website:  www.lcms.org.  There you will find the LCMS’ facebook, twitter and other accounts that you can use to keep up with the latest information in our church body.

Our Worship service will return to 10am on Sunday Sept. 4^th.  Adult Bible Class will begin at 8:45am.  Sunday School begins on Sunday Sept. 11^th and the Sunday School teachers will be installed on this day.

COSLHS—Opening Worship Service…

 An opening worship service for the 2011-2012 Academic Year at Christ Our Savior Lutheran High School will be Sunday, August 14 at 2 p.m. at St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Evansville.  I will be planning and participating in the Service…

OLD BUSINESS:

A volunteer is needed to keep record of the cemetery plots.  Any volunteers please contact Pres. Terry.

NEW BUSINESS:

The meeting was closed with the Lord’s Prayer.

Pres. Terry Rehmer

Sec. Darla Porter

We Believe, Teach and Confess.

Martin Luther’s Small & Large Catechism

“What Benefits Does Baptism Give?”

                                                                                               

Introductory Note:  Baptism is not our work, but God’s work. It is a priceless treasure God gives and faith receives or grasps. God’s Word of Gospel-promise makes Baptism what it is. Baptism gives us great comfort and strength when our sins accuse us, when we realize how we stand guilty before God. Then, says Luther, the Christian is to say, “But I am baptized!” Luther comments about infant Baptism since, in his time as today, some Christians deny infants this precious Sacrament. Luther’s defense of infant Baptism is interesting. He says simply that if God did nothing through Baptism, how do baptized children believe in Him? For Luther, the fact that the gift of the Holy Spirit is given even to very small children is proof enough that God works in and through Baptism. Luther also explains how Baptism encompasses what was known as “penance.” So for Luther, Confession and Absolution are subsumed under Baptism and the proclamation of the Gospel. True repentance is daily returning to Baptism. Baptism is our daily garment, by which we suppress the old Adam and grow up in the new Adam, being clothed with the righteousness of Christ. (See AC IX; SA III V.)

                                                                       

Since we now know what Baptism is and how it is to be regarded, we must also learn for what purpose it was instituted, that is, what benefits, gifts, and effects it brings. Nor can we understand this better than from the words of Christ quoted above, “He who believes and is baptized shall be saved.” (Mark 16:16) ²⁴…The power, effect, benefit, fruit, and purpose of Baptism is to save. No one is baptized in order to become a prince, but as the words say, to “be saved.”  ²⁵ To be saved, we know, is nothing else than to be delivered from sin, death and the devil and to enter into the kingdom of Christ and live with him forever. (Large Catechism IV, 23-25)

²⁶ Here you see again how precious and important a thing Baptism should be regarded as being, for in it we obtain such an inexpressible treasure. This shows that it is not simple, ordinary water, for ordinary water could not have such an effect. But the Word has. It shows also (as we said above) that God’s name is in it.  ²⁷ And where God’s name is, there must also be life and salvation. Hence it is well described as a divine, blessed, fruitful, and gracious water, for through the Word Baptism receives the power to become the “washing of regeneration,” as St. Paul calls it in Titus 3:5. (Large Catechism IV, 26-27)

³⁰ Now, these people are so foolish as to separate faith from the object to which faith is attached and bound on the ground that the object is something external. Yes, it must be external so that it can be perceived and grasped by the senses and thus brought into the heart, just as the entire Gospel is an external, oral proclamation. In short, whatever God effects in us he does through such external ordinances. No matter where he speaks—indeed, no matter for what purpose or by what means he speaks—there faith must look and to it faith must hold.  ³¹ We have here the words, “He who believes and is baptized will be saved.” To what do they refer but to Baptism, that is, the water comprehended in God’s ordinance? Hence it follows that whoever rejects Baptism rejects God’s Word, faith, and Christ, who directs us and binds us to Baptism. (Large Catechism IV, 30-31)

Concordia : The Lutheran Confessions. 2005 (Edited by Paul Timothy McCain) (439 -440). 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.

St. John Fundraiser for the School Roof--If any member of St. John, or maybe a friend that you know of, has an undamaged cell phone that's no longer in use. Please bring the cell phone to the church. Also, if you have an unused Palm Pilot or other sort of PDA device, even empty ink cartridges (palm sized), these items can be donated as well. The church can donate these items and receive money for them at 100% profit. Other groups and organizations have taken part in a fundraiser like this and have been able to raise up to $6,000. Please tell your friends and family about this too. If you have any questions feel free to contact Pastor Taggatz at 618-785-2344. Thank you to the member who suggested this fundraiser.

Don’t forget - Starting on the 4^th of September the Sunday morning worship Service will be going back to 10:00 a.m. with the Adult Bible Class starting at 8:45 a.m. (Sunday School will begin on Sunday September 11^th ­as well for our Rally Day Service).

Recent Thrivent Choice Donations to our Church for the month of July & Aug. 6^th, 2011—Thrivent is pleased to let us know that they have made a deposit into our account on behalf of the

Thrivent Choice program.

      - Amount of deposit: $1472.00 plus $11.00 for the     month of July.

                -Total amount our church has received from the Thrivent Choice program since February 2011:  $4,213.00

CHRIST-CENTERED, CROSS-FOCUSED TALK RADIO…Do any of these subject interest you?: The Pharisee & the Tax Collector, Church Discipline, Moses, Joshua, The Martyrdom of John the Baptist, 6th Century Bishop Gregory the Great and more.  Issues, Etc. is a radio talk show produced by Lutheran Public Radio and hosted by LCMS Pastor Todd Wilken.  You can listen LIVE weekdays from 4-5 p.m. on KSIV, 1320 AM in St. Louis.   You can also listen at your convenience at www.issuesetc.org.

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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