Month: September 2015
September Stewardship Corner
What is most striking about the rich man and Lazarus is not their differences but their similarities (Luke 16:19–31). Both men die because both men are sinners, and the wages of sin is death. Both men are beggars, for all men are beggars. But, here is where the most striking difference between them takes shape. Lazarus knows it and lives it. The rich man, however, does not.
Lazarus was a beggar in thought, word, and deed. But, he was God’s beggar. He relied upon God for all that he had and all that he was. He looked to God for all things, in good times and in bad. He went to God in all trouble, sought Him for all help, and trusted in His Word and promises to provide for all that he needed for this life and the next. This is, after all, what his name means: God is my help.
The rich man, too, was a beggar. But he didn’t realize it. His status, his wealth, his clothing and his food all came from God’s gracious hand. But the rich man didn’t recognize it. He thought he had earned it, and that he deserved it. And thus, his trust is not in God, who by His Word and promise gives it, but rather in himself, in what he has done, and in what he has.
And so it is that when death comes to Lazarus and the rich man—as it does for all of us because we have all sinned, and death is no respecter of persons—Lazarus is carried by the holy angels to Abraham’s side; while the rich man is in torment in hell. The rich man forgot God. He despised being a beggar, and thus, despised Lazarus. He despised God and His Word, and refused to have mercy on those whom God placed at his doorstep.
Now, the tables were turned. What the rich man didn’t realize or recognize on earth, he now lived out in torment in hell. He knew what it was to beg. But he still didn’t see himself as a beggar of God. He still didn’t look to His Father in heaven for all good and help in every time of need. He instead appealed to His status as a descendant of Abraham, calling out Father Abraham and not “Abba, Father” (Gal 4:6; Rom 8:15).
We are all beggars. We brought nothing into this world and we will take nothing out of it (1 Tim 6:7). Everything we have and everything we are comes from God’s fatherly divine goodness and mercy, without any merit or worthiness in us, for He gives everything to us by grace. Thus, we are to love one another and be generous to one another in thought, word, and deed. For you cannot love God and hate your brother. And hating your brother means not to forgive as you’ve been forgiven, to give as you’ve been given to, to love as you’ve been loved.
We are all beggars. This is true. But we, like Lazarus, are God’s beggars. He not only gives us what we need for this body and life—food and clothes, house and home, husband, wife, and children—but He also blesses us with His Word and Spirit, so that we will enter into paradise in the life to come. He claims us as His own by water and the Word in Holy Baptism. In this washing, rich in grace, He gives to us what His Son, Jesus Christ, won for us on His cross: forgiveness of sins. And where there is the forgiveness of sins, there is also life and salvation. He puts His own name on us, thereby giving to us the right of children, the right to call Him Father and the right to His inheritance as His beloved sons. He gives us a seat at His table, in His house, in His kingdom, which has no end.
Yes, indeed, we are beggars. This is true. But we are beggars of the God who loves us, the God who created us from His love, the God who redeemed us by His love in the sending of His Son to die so that we would live and have life to the full. This is His promise. It’s what Moses and the prophets longed to see and of what they spoke. They see it now, not in a mirror dimly, but face to face, just as you shall on the last day.
And as God’s beggars, we have mercy on those who would be beggars of us, who rely upon our giving, even as we rely upon the gracious giving of God. We give to our family, our society, our church. He gives; we receive. Thanks be to God. We give; they receive. Thanks be to God. We count it all a joy to give as He has given to us.
Bulletin Announcements – September 6, 2015
† Bulletin Announcements †
September 6, 2015
THOUGHTS ON STEWARDSHIP: Deuteronomy 4:6: “Keep them and do them, for that will be your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples, who, when they hear all these statutes, will say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.’” There is no wiser, more fulfilling life than a life lived according to the Word of God. We should be encouraged by this when the world tempts us to think that the Word of God is harmful to us. Our Father loves us; so all His Word is meant to bless us.
THE ADULT BIBLE CLASS, led by Pastor Lueck and meeting in the church basement at 9:15 a.m. is studying “Lutheran Doctrine and Practice Today”.
TODAY IN SUNDAY SCHOOL: This final week of “I Spy Salvation’s Story”, students investigate “The Case of the Wind and Fire: God Sends the Holy Spirit.” God sends His Spirit to establish, unite, sustain, and expand His Church. Parents could ask, “How did the Holy Spirit change the disciples on Pentecost? How does the Holy Spirit help the Church today?”
TODAY: In our prayers today we include Jordan Doddek and Heidi Bliese who will be united in Holy Matrimony next Saturday afternoon, September 12th, at 3:30 p.m. here at Good Shepherd.
NEXT SUNDAY, September 13th, will be our first Door Offering for our new adopted Seminary student. He is Bradley Ferch who is in his last year of studies at Concordia Theological Seminary in Ft. Wayne, IN. Bradley was born in Iowa and his home church in Trinity Lutheran Church in Litchfield Park, AZ. He is married to Carole and has two daughters, Madison and Lillian. Before studying for the ministry he was a Dental Laboratory Supervisor. We look forward to getting to know his family better throughout this academic year.
LADIES MORNING BIBLE STUDY: We will resume our Ladies Morning Bible Study on the Book “Women of the New Testament” starting Tuesday, September 15th at 9:30 a.m. in the Conference Room at the church. We are on Chapter 5: “The Canaanite Women”, and will begin our Study with a light breakfast. All the Ladies from the congregation are welcome to join the Study and if you would like to know more about it, please contact Jeannette Ross at (309) 662-4622.
GOOD SHEPHERD’S BLOOD DRIVE is on Tuesday, September 22nd, from 2-6:00 p.m. Sign-up sheets are available in the narthex but if you would prefer signing up online please go to: redcrossblood.org. Enter in our zip code, 61704, find our Blood Drive and let the blood flow. Pastor Lueck will once again kick off our Drive by reaching out his right arm and turning his head. Please join us in fun and church fellowship as we help those in need with this gift of life.
PRAYER SHAWL MINISTRY: Attention all crocheters and knitters! A new Prayer Shawl Ministry is being formed by Ann Hammond and Laura Kessler so that we may reach out to the needs of others who wish to know or better know Jesus as their Savior! “Threads of Grace” will begin this fall and an initial meeting will be arranged at Laura’s home (due to her mobility issues, she asks that we hold any meetings at her home, but tasty treats will be served!) Don’t know how to crochet or knit and wish to learn? Lessons will be offered! As well, donations of knitting and crochet yarn will be very welcome. Please watch the bulletin for further details. If you have any questions please feel free to call Laura at (309) 310-5607 or email her at dogdiva2@comcast.net. Thank you!
THANK YOU: We would like to thank all who helped make our School Kit Project for the LWML a success.
FELLOWSHIP HOSTS: The sign-up for help with coffee/doughnuts is posted on the wall by the north stairwell. We need an individual/family to sign-up each week to pick up the donuts and make the coffee. If no one is signed up by Friday of each week, the order will be cancelled. We thank everybody who continues to help with this part of our church fellowship.
THE CAMP CILCA GOLF OUTING is Friday, September 25th, at The Rail in Springfield, with shotgun start at 12:30 p.m. The cost of $55.00 includes golf, cart, food, and prizes. If you are interested in playing please speak with Pastor Lueck TODAY.
THE LUTHERAN HOUR: “There Is Something More” is the topic for next Sunday. The sermon text will be from Isaiah 50:4-10. God has something more in store for all who put their faith in Him. The speaker will be Reverend Gregory Seltz. Hear this Sunday’s message on the Lutheran Hour on WGN (720) at 6:00 a.m.; WJWR (104.7 FM) and WJWR (90.3 FM) both on Sunday at 3:00 p.m. Also, if you can receive Lincoln, IL radio station WLLM (1370 AM) the program is broadcast two times on Sunday at 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. Tune in! You can also listen to The Lutheran Hour on your personal computer at RealAudio, www.lhm.org.
PRAYER CHAIN: If you have a prayer request please submit them by email to Mary Anne Kirchner at makirchner@yahoo.com or you may phone a Prayer Request to Mary Anne; her home # is (309) 661-6522; her cell phone# is (309) 532-2582. The Prayer Request box is on the table in the narthex for any written requests.
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“A BOLD CHOICE IN FOOTWEAR” — Ephesians 6:10-20 (8/30/2015)
August 30, 2015 Text: Ephesians 6:10-20
Dear Friends in Christ,
On our recent trip to Holden Beach, North Carolina I pulled out my University of Illinois flip-flops. I had not worn them very much but knew I would need them for the beach. After a few days of the trip from house to beach and back my feet were hurting and getting red on the top where the flip-flops were rubbing. I needed a change in footwear. I bought a pair of slides and was more comfortable the rest of the trip.
Footwear. We may not always give it a lot of thought until the fit or style or performance is not what we expect. In the Epistle for today, Paul is outfitting the Christian from head to toe. Since he does not neglect footwear, neither shall we.
“A BOLD CHOICE IN FOOTWEAR”
Soldiers knew the importance of shoes. Whether it was a forced march or needing to hold the line they needed good footwear. Think of the movies that depict Valley Forge or the Civil War when the boots are literally falling off the soldiers’ feet in the cold and snow.
Shoes – or lack of them – can turn the tide of battle. Scotland’s national flower is the thistle, but do you know why? In order to take the sleeping Scots by surprise, and army of Norse invaders was ordered to remove their shoes so they could approach in silence. What the commanders hadn’t anticipated was that the field they had to cross barefoot was filled with thistles. Instead of a stealth entrance, the Norseman’s cries of pain sounded the alarm that led to their defeat. Scotland has honored the thistle ever since.
Shoes and stance go together. Athletes and soldiers realize this. It makes you prepared. Martial artists know the importance of a proper stance. Footwear makes the difference. The Duke of Wellington thought most of the shoes of his soldiers.
It’s the same for the Christian soldier. It may surprise us that Paul mentions shoes at all. But remember he had ample opportunity to contemplate Roman boots as he traveled to Rome in chains and then lived under house arrest.
How can the Gospel, the Good News about Jesus Christ, serve as footwear for the Christian soldier? Remember the command to the Christian soldier is very simple: “Stand!”. Not “Attack!” or “Retreat!” but simply “Stand!” This whole armor of God he has given to the Christian enables one to stand his or her ground and to withstand the assaults of the enemy.
What soldier can stand firm and steadfast with wounded feet? We must make sure that our feet are not vulnerable. Just as the shield of faith can protect us from the fiery darts of the enemy, so does the Gospel’s promise of forgiveness by Jesus death on the cross protect our stance from the shots of the attacker.
Our Christian footwear needs traction. Christ’s reconciling death banishes worry from our mind. We are not slip sliding along in life with anxiety and turmoil but through Christ we plant our feet firmly. We can meet the attack without trembling. If we get knocked to the ground the helmet, breastplate, sword, and shield can do little but minimize the damage. We must firmly stand on our feet, and it is none other than the Gospel of Jesus’ cross and resurrection that allows us to stand.
All of this then allows Paul and you and I as Christian soldiers to stand with boldness. To speak boldly is to speak freely. It means not holding back. It means not worrying about offending a hearer. This takes courage, which comes from Christ. Like Paul we want to present the gospel fully and naturally. If we are bold there is no “Don’t take this the wrong way.” We do not want to hold back the joy we get when sharing this message of salvation.
Paul had this solid stance – without wavering or stumbling – as he boldly shared the gospel with emperors and political leaders. He was secure in who he was as God’s instrument. He prayed to stay alert and persevere and He did because he was standing securely in the love of Christ.
Our stance is secure because of the mercy, grace, and compassion of our God. In its peace we are ready for the attack – and ready to proclaim. Our feet are protected. So let’s get on our feet and proclaim boldly the same good news to others. No weapon, no strategy, and no insult can shake our stance when we remain fitted in the bold footwear of the Gospel of the Lord.
Amen.