Shepherd s Voice. Monthly Newsletter of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church LCMS October 2017

Transcription

1 Shepherd s Voice Monthly Newsletter of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church LCMS October 2017 Church Events 10.3 Council Meeting Elders Meeting Craft/Vendor Fair Worship Committee Trivia Night Congregational Meeting Senior Youth Dance Why the Reformation 500 Years Ago Matters Today! On October 31, 2017, the Church will celebrate the 500 th anniversary of the Reformation which began in 1517, in Wittenberg, Germany, at a small church on whose door was posted for debate 95 Theses, or statements, about the Christian faith. Good Shepherd Lutheran Church will celebrate the anniversary because it is part of our Lutheran tradition. But I would suggest that we all take part in the celebration in our own churches, in our own way, whoever we are and wherever we come from. Why? Because this man named Martin Luther through the Word of God has changed the way we think about Jesus and what the Son of God has done for all of us. This Roman Catholic monk and priest, the scholar and translator, the Great Reformer Martin Luther made a vital difference in the lives of all of us, Christians and non-christians, Catholics and Lutherans, Methodists and Presbyterians, Baptists and Seventh -day Adventists, the Ministerial Alliance in Centralia, and in every branch of the Christian faith throughout the world. Luther writes in his Commentary on Galatians (1535): The distinction between law and gospel is the highest art in Christendom. Virtually the whole of Scriptures and the understanding of theology depends on the true understanding of the law and gospel. Strong words! Continued on next page

2 Continued from page 1 Cut to today. The distinction between law and gospel has gone in and out of fashion during the 500 years since Luther made it famous. Yet it is more relevant today than ever. Many people, including Lutherans, sometimes think that law and gospel divides the Bible in half: the Old Testament equals LAW and the New Testament equals GOSPEL. Our third President of the United States, Thomas Jefferson, thought he could red-line the gospel and cross out the law or whatever he found offensive in the Bible. Nothing could be further from the truth. The Bible is the living Word of God that speaks to every man, woman, and child through the lens of law and gospel. The proper distinction of law and gospel prevents us from turning the Bible into a self-help book or an instruction manual on how to live our lives. The Bible is the living instrument of the Holy Spirit that proclaims God s work in the world on behalf of sinners in need of saving. Indeed, the distinction between law and gospel is a powerful explanation of how the Bible doesn t just sit there; it reaches out and grasps us, shakes us, transforms us, frees us it kills us and makes us alive. Luther believed that God has spoken to human beings and continues to speak to them in two words: Law and Gospel. The basic distinction is straightforward: the word of the law tells us what we ought to do; the gospel tells us what God has done. The law shows us that we need to be forgiven; the gospel announces that we have been forgiven. The law prepares us for the good news by revealing that we are basically not good people. In fact, we can never be good enough to merit forgiveness from God, let alone eternal life. Luther, inspired by Paul s letters in the Bible, recognized that we all experience the LAW every hour of every day. We feel guilty or constrained or out of control, or stand condemned for something we have done or not done. The law is always at work on us even when we aren t actually hearing the 10 Commandments! What causes us to lie awake at night is not so much God s law - the do s and don ts, but how each of us hears the law. Consider this Calvin and Hobbes comic strip where Hobbes the tiger asks his friend Calvin if he s planning to make any New Year s resolutions. Calvin replies, Resolutions? Me?? Just what are you implying? That I need to change?? Well, Buddy, as far as I m concerned, I m perfect the way I am! Although Hobbes has asked a simple question, Calvin hears an accusation: Your personality could use some work. The irony in the strip is that Calvin s reaction reveals just how much he is in need of improvement. The condemnation is apt. The second word, gospel, means good news. News is not a command like do this. For Christians, the good news is the Word, Jesus Christ, who died and rose again, taking the whole world of God s wrath upon himself and setting us free. While the law is a two-way, conditional street, the gospel arrives in our hearts as a free gift from God. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast (Ephesians 2: 8-9). In the realm of law, we must measure up to impossible standards. In the realm of gospel, we can laugh at ourselves. When the law tells us to point our fingers at others to blame, the gospel invites us to return the pointing finger back to our own chest. One of Martin Luther s very first and most memorable expressions of his great gospel discovery came in The Heidelberg Disputation (1518). He wrote, The law says, Do this, and it is never done. Grace says, Believe in this, and everything is already done. Because of Luther and those inspired reformers who followed in the wake of the Reformation that began in Wittenberg, Germany, we have the freedom to love, to serve, to wait, to laugh, to cry, to sit idle, to get busy. We have the freedom to live our lives with the certainty that "if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved (Romans 10:9). In Christ, But the Word of the Lord remains forever. 1 Peter 1:25 Pastor John

3 In the Word So Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel (2 Samuel 15:6b). Of the Word The Bible story of King David and his son, Absalom, is a story of family betrayal. Absalom was plotting to overthrow his father and seize his kingship. His conspiracy left a trail of deceit, betrayal, lies, and even plans to murder his father. In the end, it was Absalom who would die, and only his father s pain remained. O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! Would I had died instead of you (2 Samuel 18:33b). Betrayal in a family exchanges doing for one another with How could you do this to me? Trust is destroyed when trust should abound. Forgiveness is withheld when grace is required. Betrayal is devastating but can be overcome when God s love abounds and hearts are softened. David never stopped loving his son, as Scripture teaches us all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins (1 Peter 4:8b). Forgiveness and reconciliation are found in Christ. By Dan Kohn, Stepping Stones Retreat, AZ OCTOBER CALENDAR October 1: Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost Text: Matthew 21: October 1 "Power to Overcome Worry and Anxiety" Lutheran Hour Speaker: Rev. Dr. Gregory Seltz Thanksgiving and anxiety are two opposing forces. Have you ever thanked God for your problems, pains, and suffering? (Philippians 4:4-13) October 8 "No Selfies Needed" Lutheran Hour Speaker: Rev. Dr. Gregory Seltz God isn't afraid of messy people. He loves the broken, embraces the outcast, and seeks the lost. (Philippians 4:4-14) October 15 "Luther the Man: Called by God to Boast in Him" Lutheran Hour Speaker: Rev. Dr. Gregory Seltz Although Martin Luther is widely regarded as one of the most influential people of the last 500 years, he knew he was no big deal, compared to Christ. (1 Corinthians 1:26-31) October 22 "The Enduring Reformation Moment and Message of Grace" Lutheran Hour Speaker: Rev. Dr. Gregory Seltz The Reformation was quite a moment for Martin Luther, but also for people who suddenly heard of a merciful God Who really cared for them. (2 Corinthians 4:13-18) October 29 "A Reformation Invitation - the Just Live by Faith" Lutheran Hour Speaker: Rev. Dr. Gregory Seltz 500 years ago, Martin Luther rediscovered a truth that turned the world upside down: the just shall live by faith. Can this message transform you today? (Romans 1:16-17) October 8: LWML Sunday Text: Matthew 21: October 15: Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost Text: Matthew 22: 1-14 October 22: Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost Text: Matthew 22: October 29: Reformation Day (Observed) Text: John 8: or Matthew 11: 12-19

4 SICK AND HEALTH CONCERNS Tom Briggs - father of John Briggs; Jane St. John; Wayne Nolan stepfather of Jeff Jaeger; Neal Jennings son-inlaw of Dick and Norma Keil; Gary Hollis father of Kristin Walters; Susan Harris; Glennon Stelzer uncle of Russell Stelzer and Palmyra Dubbert; Lucas White cousin of Jeff Jaeger; Hank Maseman; Paul Seider brother of Gary Seider; Norma Remmert sister of Ernestine Ramsey; Darin Moore nephew of Dennis and Patti Haubein; Arla Benskin daughter of Mary Brechler; Carol Hoffman aunt of Russell Stelzer and Palmyra Dubbert; Mark Ramsey son of Ed Ramsey. Community: Billy Dorow; MaryAnn Holsinger; Marilyn. ARMED FORCES James Wessels grandson of John and Sherry Morse; Brittany Macklin great-niece of Ernestine Ramsey; Ethan Lee grandson of Dick and Norma Keil; Zachary Warden grandson of Betty Warden; Diton J. Parker grandson of Margaret Parker; Thomas Teem husband of Margaret Parker s granddaughter, Kaylyn; Andrew Butler husband of Margaret Parker s granddaughter, Sarah. Community: Joe Bellamy; Ray Finlay; Jeremy Mitchell; Justin Thurston. SERVING THE LORD October 1 Reader: Gary Seider Tellers: Randy & Catherine Simmons Ushers: Gary & Aaron Seider Nursery: Alane Gronefeld Greeters: Russell & Jacki Stelzer Altar Guild: Catherine Simmons & Kathy Dickey October 8 Reader: Bill Mahieu Tellers: Gary & Ann Seider Ushers: Russell Stelzer & Dennis Haubein Nursery: Jacki Stelzer Greeters: Russell & Jacki Stelzer Altar Guild: Catherine Simmons & Kathy Dickey October 15 Reader: Aaron Seider Tellers: John Briggs & Kathy Dickey Ushers: Martin Mahieu & Aaron Seider Nursery: Lori Gesling Greeters: Russell & Jacki Stelzer Altar Guild: Catherine Simmons & Kathy Dickey October 22 Reader: Gary Seider Tellers: Jeff & Tracy Jaeger Ushers: Eric Walters & Russell Stelzer Nursery: Jacki Stelzer Greeters: Russell & Jacki Stelzer Altar Guild: Catherine Simmons & Kathy Dickey October 29 Reader: Randy Simmons Tellers: Jacki Stelzer & Vickie Chism Ushers: Randy Simmons & Danny Hoek Nursery: Alane Gronefeld Greeters: Russell & Jacki Stelzer Altar Guild: Catherine Simmons & Kathy Dickey FINANCIAL and ATTENDANCE September 3 Attendance: 65 Current $2, Building $ Hurricane Relief $ Kay B. Memorial $ Total $3, September 10 Attendance: 50 Current $3, Building $ Sr. Youth $ Total $4, September 17 Attendance: 60 Current $1, Building $ Hurricane Relief $ Total $2, September 24 Attendance: 75 Current $2, Building $ Total $2, Current: 10% of our current offerings are sent to Missouri District for missions. Code: Summertime. The remaining 90% is used for GSLC budget expenses. Building: 100% of money designated for building stays in our congregation for budget expenses. VERSE OF THE MONTH For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. Romans 3: 23-24

5 OCTOBER 2017 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 8:45 a.m. S. School 9 a.m. Bible Study 10 a.m. Worship w/ Holy Communion 2 3 7:00 p.m. Council Meeting :45 a.m. S. School 9 a.m. Bible Study 10 a.m. Worship w/ Children s Church :00 p.m. Elders Meeting :00 p.m. Women s Guild :00 2:00 Women s Guild Craft Fair 15 8:45 a.m. S. School 9 a.m. Bible Study 10 a.m. Worship w/ Holy Communion 16 6:00 p.m. Worship Committee :00 p.m. Ministerial Alliance Trivia Night 22 8:45 a.m. S. School 9 a.m. Bible Study 10 a.m. Worship w/ Children s Church :00 p.m. Senior Youth Dance 30 8:45 a.m. S. School 9 a.m. Bible Study 10 a.m. Worship BIRTHDAYS 10.5 Dana Rakers Jon Hoek Ed Ramsey Vickie Chism ANNIVERSARIES Russell & Jacki Stelzer Randy & Catherine Simmons Armand & Barbara Fischer

6 Update on missionary friend Ilse Gutsche Submitted by Ann Seider Some of you may remember Ilse. I believe she first visited our church in the late 1990s. I can t even remember how that came about, but I believe she was invited by Pastor Dorow and she spoke to our church about her work with the Guaymi Indians in Panama. She stayed with my family then and on several other visits to the area thereafter. Stan Cowan and Pastor Alvin Lange of Faith Lutheran in Jefferson City sponsored her mission work with the indigenous people living in the remote mountainous areas of Panama. Ilse s story of growing up in East Berlin has always been so interesting. When she has stayed with my family she so clearly exhibited her faith in the Lord and how He guides her in so many ways. She has learned three new languages, spent time daily reading and writing with her Bible, walked many miles to and from Panama City into the mountains, as well as traveling throughout Europe and the U.S. giving talks about the bible conferences and the children who need food in the rainy season. The last time she visited, her health was deteriorating. I recently received a letter from Stan at Faith Lutheran that Ilse, who now resides in Germany, is afflicted with Parkinson s disease and must use a walker now. Nevertheless, with the grace of God, Ilse still communicates with occasional telephone calls to Pastor Emiliano Jimenez in Panama and has written another one of her creative letters that puts aside her own health news. Instead, she relates how the Gospel is shared with the Indian-Christians in the western mountains of Panama. She shares numerous bible verses and asks for continued prayers for the Indian churches. If you would like to donate money for bible conference supplies and food to the Guaymi Indians, you may send a check made out the Faith Lutheran Church, 2027 Industrial Drive, Jefferson City, MO Write PANAMA PROJECT on the memo line. They will send you a receipt. Pictured is Ilse Gutsche in 2008 with longtime church member Fanny Powell. Centralia Ministerial Alliance *ALL proceeds go to the Centralia Ministerial Alliance Benevolence Fund* Saturday, October 21, 2017 Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall 120 W. Gano Chance Drive, Centralia, MO Teams register at 6:30 p.m. Trivia starts at 7:00 p.m. $10 per person Teams consist of up to 8 members individuals will be combined to form a team. Call for more information or to pre-register. CASH PRIZES for the winning teams ($150 1 st place, $100 2 nd place, and $50 3 rd place) CASH PRIZE for the best decorated table - Decorate your table! Come dressed to complement your table theme. Drawings for fabulous prizes! Free Refreshments Feel free to bring snacks for your own table. 3 rd Annual Centralia Craft/Vendor FALL FESTIVAL Saturday, October 14, :00 a.m. 2:00 p.m. Good Shepherd Fellowship Hall 120 W. Gano Chance Road Lunch Available

7 The Just Shall Live By Faith Why Luther is Relevant Today Last week (September 19-20), your pastor attended the 500 th Anniversary of the Reformation Symposium in St. Louis, Concordia Seminary, for two days of superb speakers on the Reformation and its meaning for the world today. I thought you might want to hear about some of the highlights of that Symposium. Rev. Dr. Dale Meyer welcomed us after worship in the Timothy-Titus Chapel on campus. He focused on the financial generosity of donors to the Seminary that has allowed them to put in a new sewer system which was ancient! The Seminary is also renovating the library which will bring it into the 21 st century for upcoming scholars and pastors and students of God s Word. President Meyer reminded us that the money from donors is for the use of God s church. It s all about Jesus! As we approach the 500 th anniversary of the Reformation, Lutherans (and Christians) all over the world should be optimistic and confident for the mission of God in Christ to be accomplished. Dr. Charles Arand then spoke and reminded us of the focus of the Reformation: justification. The gospel is more than a story about Jesus. The gospel is the promise of forgiveness made by God to each of us based on that true story. The nature of the promise, said Arand, is that it seeks faith and elicits the faith it seeks. Because Jesus lives, we shall live. And faith says yes. And we say yes. Perhaps the best speaker for my money (or your money!) was Dr. Mark Mattes who spoke on Luther on Justification: Relevant or Irrelevant? Mattes spoke brilliantly about how we all need to feel justified in this world. We need to justify our work, our vocations, our use of our money, our use of leisure time, our deep inner self. We want to know that I m okay, you re okay. We want to know that we matter in this life. This is how we talk to ourselves if we are not careful. I, I, I. We try to justify everything and anything we do because one day we will die. But we Americans don t come to this realization all too soon! We put off Mr. Death. We live as if there is no tomorrow. Eventually, says Dr. Mattes, we are brought face to face with our mortality and cannot deny that we will someday die. We then are driven to ask: Why then are we living? What is our purpose on this planet earth? The great Reformer, Martin Luther, brought us back to the law and gospel of Jesus Christ. We are in fact sinners and dying because of our inherited condition from Adam and Eve. Since we are sick, we do need a physician. Not just any physician, but a Savior who can heal us and deliver us from this evil world to the kingdom of God. The main point from Mattes and for this symposium was that if we want to be free from self-justification, free from the shackles of narcissism and self, and free from thinking that our only goal is living for today and living for our SELF, then justification by grace through faith is relevant today for people. If we know we are broken and need someone to rescue us from despair and shame and death and sin, then Luther s gospel message is relevant. If we are building monuments to self, to paraphrase the poet W. B. Yeats, then what relevance to Luther s interpretation of the gospel as justification by grace through faith does that have for modern man. None! Our deepest need is Jesus! It s that many of us just don t know this. St. Augustine, an early Church Father sums up this symposium well when he wrote, Our heart is restless until it rests in You. This is the famous passage from St. Augustine s Confessions. The full passage reads: You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in You. God grants us rest in this world when we rest in His son Jesus. He is our anchor, He is our rock, He is our purpose for living, and He has justified sinners on the cross and given all who believe in Him true and everlasting life. Pastor Butcher

8 SEEN & HEARD How to Evaluate Your Pastor s Sermons Picture this: two men are standing in front of a live audience to compete for votes. Each hopes to give his best performance, to somehow impress the crowd so that when the ballots are tallied, he will be chosen the winner. No, this isn t the latest talent-based reality brainchild of Simon Cowell or Mark Burnett. It s actually a scenario raised by a well-meaning church member at the start of our church s search for a senior pastor. Unfamiliar with the search process, this dear sister asked if, after examining all of the resumes, we would whittle the number of candidates down to two and have them come in to participate in some kind of Preach Off. Then and only then would the members vote for the one they liked best. Her question was innocent, but I m sure something like this kind of process has sadly played itself out in more than one church, leaving behind a wake of confusion, hurt feelings, and division. The reason for this is that it treats the preaching of God s Word as a kind of performance with which we either give our approval or disapproval. Of course, we live in a culture of critique with entertainment-driven evaluation and instant feedback: Celebrity judges on reality television evaluate people s talents, singing, dancing, cooking, etc., offering witty comments and cutting judgments. Talking heads on sports and political broadcasts argue with each other, second-guessing every decision and analyzing others performances. Social media provides instant feedback loops on articles, photos, videos, and everything else. Many an ego has been stroked and many a heart has been broken by the comments (or lack thereof) that stream into one s feed. Which brings us to that question that often pops up during Sunday lunch conversations with friends and family: What did you think of the sermon? If we re not careful, our answers can sound more like the scenarios above, more focused on the sizzle than the steak. SERMON EVALUATION IN THE BIBLE In the Bible, we see wrong ways and right ways to evaluate preaching: 1. WRONG In Paul s second letter to Timothy, his son in the ministry, he warns, For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths (2 Timothy 4:3-4). The congregation Paul is describing evaluates the sermons but according to their own pleasure-o-meter. They just want to hear sermons that make them feel good. 2. RIGHT During one of Paul s missionary journeys, he and Silas entered the city of Berea and began preaching in the synagogues. It was said of the Bereans, Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. Rather than just listen for what made them feel good, the Bereans evaluated Paul and Silas sermons in light of their alignment with the Scriptures. Assuming your pastor preaches sound, biblical sermons, here are are six practical ways you can evaluate his sermons that will aid your own spiritual growth, strengthen your pastor s preaching ministry, and build up your church. SIX WAYS TO EVALUATE YOUR PASTOR S SERMON: 1. Evaluate prayerfully. Leading up to Sunday, spend time on your knees. Pray for your pastor as he prepares his sermon that he would clearly and compellingly preach the gospel. A good pastor knows well the burden of rightly dividing the word of truth and cherishes the prayers of his people. Additionally, pray for yourself to have ears to hear and for the Holy Spirit s help in evaluating the sermon. Pray also that the congregation would respond in faith and obedience. Continued on next page

9 Seen & Heard continued 2. Evaluate for understanding. Sermon evaluation involves more than if you liked or didn t like the sermon; it comes down to if you understood the main point(s) of the passage preached. It doesn t matter how eloquent or engaging or humorous your pastor is, you have completely missed the point if you haven t focused on understanding the message. As you listen, identify the main points and consider their application for your life. 3. Evaluate critically but not critically. Yes, you read that right. The difference between the two is the subtle difference between critique and criticism. In the positive sense, we should evaluate a sermon critically like the Bereans evaluated Paul s sermons by testing it against Scripture and considering its applications. In the negative sense, we should avoid evaluating sermons with a spirit of criticism. In our efforts to examine the content of the message, we must be careful not to slip into tearing down the messenger. Every pastor has weaknesses and shortcomings. There is no need to pick apart his grammar or nervous habits. You need not keep a tally of his misspeaks and overused phases. Dissecting your pastor s weaknesses distracts you from the message and breeds contempt toward the messenger, neither of which is healthy. Trust me, chances are that your pastor is harder on himself in these areas than you are. 4. Evaluate in terms of we instead of me. We live in an age of rampant Christian individualism where the nature of the Christian life is primarily viewed through the lens of personal growth and discovery. As a result, we often only consider how a sermon or passage of Scripture applies to us personally. However, there s another lens we should never overlook the corporate, or congregational, nature of the Christian life. When considering the application of the sermon, don t just think about how it applies to you individually. Also consider what it would look like for your congregation to live out these truths collectively. 5. Evaluate without someone else in mind. Thanks to podcasts, you can now listen to hours upon hours of sermons each week from a variety of gifted preachers all over the world. Certainly, there are personal spiritual benefits to listening to other pastors sermons. At the same time, be careful not to let this access encourage unhealthy comparisons between your pastor s sermons and those from prominent preachers. God has given your pastor a particular flock to shepherd that he did not give these other pastors. While his sermons may not be as polished or precise, he better knows the strengths and weaknesses, the trials and tendencies, of your particular congregation better than any podcast preacher. For instance: is your congregation filled with legalists or hedonists? Your pastor will know, and will therefore know which way to lean when preaching. God has uniquely situated him to apply Scripture to the life of your church. 6. Evaluate to encourage. As you listen to the sermon, look for positive aspects of the sermon and truths God teaches you through it, and make it a point to tell your pastor. When you do, be specific. Don t just shake his hand and say, Good sermon. Say something like, The Lord really challenged me when you explained that second part of the passage about generosity. In the long run, good, helpful feedback will make him an even better preacher, which will contribute to your own spiritual growth and build up the church to the glory of Christ. By Keith Collier from Preaching and Theology at The Church Reformed I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life, says the Lord. Ezekiel 37:5 By Richard Foster God is in the business of breathing new life into dry bones. There is a great Reformation teaching that the Church reformed is always reforming. I believe this is indeed possible, and steady prayer needs to arise for those called into the ministry of reforming the church and the churches. We want to rejoice in every new burst of life, every creative force of renewal. We must pray for God to make a way where there is no way. As You Pray Today: Intercede for God to provide a clear vision to church leaders to create new solutions for old problems. Seek God s renewal in his Church through an outpouring of faithfulness to God s call on individual lives. Pray that the witness of a changing, reforming, revitalized Church will touch the hearts of the unsaved. Submitted by Margaret Parker

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12 The Unicorns First Place The Foxes Second Place Church Office (573) Hours: 10 a.m. 2 p.m., M-F 120 West Gano Chance Road Centralia, Missouri goodshepherdcentralia@centurytel.net The 95 Theses Third Place Pastor Robert Kriete (vacancy) (573) rkriete@centurylink.net Elders Russell Stelzer (573) Randall Simmons (573) Eric Walters (573)