Bulletin Announcements

February 5 2017

THOUGHTS ON STEWARDSHIP:  Matthew 5:17: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.”  We cannot keep the Law of God perfectly.  We are sinners.  For us to be saved, Jesus had to fill up the Law in our place.  Now the threat of the Law is abolished – and the Law itself is upheld.  For in Christ now we do desire to fulfill the Law, to live out a godly Christian life – precisely because we are so full of thanksgiving toward God for His salvation in Christ.

THE ADULT BIBLE CLASS will be studying “Here We Stand: A Lutherans For Life Bible Study” this morning in the basement of the church at 9:15 a.m.

TODAY IN SUNDAY SCHOOL students study the account “Jesus Calms a Storm.” Just as Jesus calmed the storm with His Word for the frightened disciples, so He calms and ends the storm of sin and death by taking our sin upon Himself and dying in our place so we may live eternally.  Consider discussing, “What did Jesus do to calm the storm?  How does Jesus calm the storms in our life?”

TODAY:  Please visit the Lutheran Hour Ministries Display in the narthex.  Pick up any and all material.  Featured are the new booklets: “Hope and Healing–Surviving Breast Cancer”; and also, “Grief: Where Sadness and Hope Meet”.  There also are packets of Prayer Outreach Cards.  Pick up a packet and pass them around.

ADULT INSTRUCTION CLASS will begin tomorrow, Monday, February 6th, at 7:00 p.m.  The class runs eight weeks and lasts about an hour.  This class is designed for non-members who would like to learn more about the Lutheran Church and its teachings.  It is also a good refresher course for members.  If you know of someone you would like Pastor to invite please call him at (309) 838-0306 or email him at revbci@yahoo.com.

FRIDAY MOVIE NIGHT:  The February Good Shepherd Lutheran Friday Night Movie is “War Room”.  It will be shown on Friday, February 17th, at 6:30 p.m.  “War Room” is a compelling faith drama filled with humor and heart.  Tony and Elizabeth Jordan have it all – great jobs, a beautiful daughter, and their dream house.  But appearances can be deceiving.  Their world is actually crumbling under the strain of a failing marriage.  While Tony basks in his professional success, Elizabeth resigns herself to increasing bitterness. But their lives take an unexpected turn when Elizabeth meets her newest client,  Miss Clara, and is challenged to establish a “war room” and a battle plan of prayer for her family. As Elizabeth tries to fight for her family, Tony’s hidden struggles come to light.  Tony must decide if he will make amends with his family and prove Miss Clara’s wisdom that victories don’t come by accident.   Join us for a great movie and a good meal in the warmth of the church basement.  There is plenty of room and plenty of food.

LUTHERAN MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER WEEKEND:  “The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband.  For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does.  Likewise the husband, does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does”. (1 Corinthians 7:3-4)  Come learn more about the Biblical lessons for your marriage by attending a Lutheran Marriage Encounter Weekend.  The next weekend is scheduled in Peoria, IL on March 31, 2017 – April 2, 2017.  Apply now at: www.GodLovesMarriage.org or contact Norm and Deb Lopez at peorialmereg@gmail.com for more information.

PORTALS OF PRAYER:  The January—March 2017 Portals of Prayer are available on the book rack in the narthex.  Pick up your free copy today.

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 LUTHERAN HOUR:  “Here’s To Life!” is the topic for next Sunday.  The sermon text will be from Deuteronomy 30:15-20.  Even as the world becomes a meaner, angrier place, God calls us to share His life with others.  Reverend Dr. Gregory Seltz is the speaker.  Hear this Sunday’s message on the Lutheran Hour on WGN (720) at 6:00 a.m.; WJWR (104.7 FM) and WJWR (90.3 FM) both on Sunday at 3:00 p.m.  Also, if you can receive Lincoln, IL radio station WLLM (1370 AM) the program is broadcast two times on Sunday at 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.  Tune in!  You can also listen to The Lutheran Hour on your personal computer at RealAudio, www.lhm.org.

PRAYER CHAIN:  If you have a prayer request please submit them by email to Mary Anne Kirchner at makirchner@yahoo.com or you may phone a Prayer Request to Mary Anne; her cell phone# is (309) 532-2582.  The Prayer Request box is on the table in the narthex for any written requests.

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Bulletin Announcements

January 29, 2017

THOUGHTS ON STEWARDSHIP:  1 Corinthians 1:18:  “Where is the one who is wise?  Where is the scribe?  Where is the debater of this age?  Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?”  God’s ways are certainly not the world’s ways – including the way God tells us to manage the resources He’s given to us.  The world says “hold on, hold back, and gather up.”  Jesus says to store up treasure in heaven where moth and rust do not destroy and where no thief breaks in to steal.  Whose way do you think is best?  What is wiser: the wisdom of the financial gurus or the foolishness of God?

THE ADULT BIBLE CLASS will be studying “Here We Stand: A Lutherans For Life Bible Study” this morning in the basement of the church at 9:15 a.m.

TODAY IN SUNDAY SCHOOL, students learn the story “Jesus Calls Matthew.”  We sinners rejoice, for we, too, have been called from our own pigsty of sin to dine with Jesus around His table and to be a friend of the friend of sinners.  Consider discussing, “How did Jesus call Matthew to be one of His followers?  How and why does Jesus call us to follow Him?”

TODAY:  The Church Council has scheduled a Voter’s Meeting to follow the 10:30 worship service today.  We will meet in the sanctuary to discuss and decide on options for our roof/brick and the leaking problem that comes with a heavy rain.

ADULT INSTRUCTION CLASS will begin on Monday, February 6th at 7:00 p.m.  The class runs eight weeks and lasts about an hour.  This class is designed for non-members who would like to learn more about the Lutheran Church and its teachings.  It is also a good refresher course for members.  If you know of someone you would like Pastor to invite please call him at (309) 838-0306 or email him at revbci@yahoo.com.

2017 OFFERING ENVELOPES:  Your 2017 Offering Envelopes are available on the cart that is located in the narthex.  We encourage everyone to pick up your envelopes!

PORTALS OF PRAYER:  The January—March 2017 Portals of Prayer are available on the book rack in the narthex.  Pick up your free copy today.

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 LUTHERAN HOUR:  “Nothing But Jesus!” is the topic for next Sunday.  The sermon text will be from 1 Corinthians 2:1-16.  Amid life’s commotion and clamor, what will give us peace?  Nothing but Jesus!  Reverend Dr. Gregory Seltz is the speaker.  Hear this Sunday’s message on the Lutheran Hour on WGN (720) at 6:00 a.m.; WJWR (104.7 FM) and WJWR (90.3 FM) both on Sunday at 3:00 p.m.  Also, if you can receive Lincoln, IL radio station WLLM (1370 AM) the program is broadcast two times on Sunday at 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.  Tune in!  You can also listen to The Lutheran Hour on your personal computer at RealAudio, www.lhm.org.

PRAYER CHAIN:  If you have a prayer request please submit them by email to Mary Anne Kirchner at makirchner@yahoo.com or you may phone a Prayer Request to Mary Anne; her cell phone# is (309) 532-2582.  The Prayer Request box is on the table in the narthex for any written requests.

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Sermon 1-29-2017

January 29, 2017                                                       Text:  1 Corinthians 1:26-31

 

Dear Friends in Christ,

 

We all appreciate being in the congregation when a baptism occurs, whether an adult or a baby.  When a baby is baptized we see the well-dressed adoring parents, the loving godparents and of course the child.  Our human eyesight can see the innocent face, the tenderness of infancy and the chubby cheeks.  But we do have a hard time seeing sin in that child.  Holy Scripture weighs in and reminds us that the child is carrying a terrible heredity, the sinfulness of his parents all the way back to Adam and Eve.  The child needs a new start, a new birth.  So we baptize and we see the difference God has made by bringing him or her into the church family.

Paul’s words to us today remind us that God chose us.  And therefore . . .

“WHAT A DIFFERENCE A SAVIOR MAKES!”

Nature tells us things are not how they used to be.  Disaster brings changes.  Tornadoes changed lives in the south recently.  Hurricanes can destroy whole towns; fires can take out thousand-year-old growth in days.  Once the ancient city of Pompeii was a thriving community.  The next it was overthrown and frozen in time by volcanic eruption.  Christ calmed the storm.  He is Lord over all things in nature.

Disease brings changes.  Cancer has ravaged athlete and weak, family member and friend, maybe even you.  Multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, and cystic fibrosis have sapped life from young people.  Christ healed the sick.  He is Lord over all things pertaining to the body.

Decay brings changes.  Jesus reminded us that moth and rust consume our goods.  We are still buying Rust-Oleum and moth crystals and cedar chests.  Christ lives forever and changes not.  He will take you to live with Him in eternity.

Our lives tell us that we are not how we once were.  Adolescence is a time of change.  We move from being a child to becoming an adult.  We look at life differently, we understand our beliefs better and we want to know where we fit in.  This makes choosing good friends so important.  This is why our church equips young people with the solid foundation of confirmation teaching.  Girls no longer have cooties, driving a car is kinda fun, and we are given more responsibility.  Christ was young and died young.  Yet He brings ageless forgiveness.

Aches and pains are reminders of aging.  As teenagers we wanted to be older.  Now that we are older, we might wish we were a little younger.  Our social calendars have changed.  When you were single, you thought of marrying a doctor.  Now you see one every other week.  Christ, who is the Ancient of Days, will be with you in your old age and comfort you in death.

The difference that matters is the difference the Gospel brings.  Look at our text.  The Corinthians were far from desirable, as the world counts desirability.  Their education, influence, and birth status were not notable, yet God chose them.  Our education, influence, and birth status are not known worldwide, yet God has chosen us.

The Corinthians had their problems.  They had factions, public adultery, abuse of the Holy Spirit’s gifts, abuse of the Sacrament, and false doctrine.  How about us?  Do we have factions?  Adultery?  Wrong ideas about doctrine?  Do we neglect the sacrament?

No wonder God had to take matters into his own hands.  And so he came to earth, and he came to a cross.  He took our worldliness and our foolishness and low down rotten sins into his own hands as nails were driven in.  He took these into his feet and side.  God made Christ our redemption through His blood.  Each time we receive his body and blood, we proclaim this and are assured of his love for us.  You and I, the lowly and despised, were given Jesus’ forgiveness.  We are declared no longer guilty.  He became our wisdom, the way we perceive our world and ourselves.

Think of the difference between how you were and how you are in Christ.  If we measure our life in Christ by what great Christians we appear to be, we will concentrate on our appearance before others, and this will breed hypocrisy.  If we measure our life in Christ by the work he accomplished for us on the cross, our whole life becomes redefined by this single act of his.  We are released from the guilt of sin.  He calls this forgiveness. We are delivered from worry over our final end and from all worries between now and then. He calls this eternal life.  We still struggle with the flesh, but we do so not as hopeless people, but as the Lord’s people strengthened by our baptism into Christ.  We will be aware constantly that any effectiveness, any gifts, any way we touch the lives of others is none other than the effectiveness, gift, and touch of Jesus himself, who is using us according to his wisdom.

What a difference a Savior makes!                     Amen.