According to one internet survey, the BILLY/OXBERG bookcase and the PAX wardrobe are the two pieces of IKEA furniture that are the most complicated to assemble. Customers complained that the directions were too complex. Numerous reviewers fussed about having leftover pieces and the assembly process taking five hours or more.
Some things you can take out of the box and build without even looking at the instructions. Not the BILLY/OXBERG bookcase or the PAX wardrobe. You want to follow the instructions.
The same is true when people enter into friendships. There are some basic instructions you want to follow for the friendship to be successful. Be kind to one another. Treat each other with respect. Be honest. Those are valuable instructions when it comes to all human interactions and relationships.
Honesty, kindness, and respect are particularly valuable in marriages. God doesn’t give spouses a 400-page document of dos and don’ts, but he does give a very basic directive: Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
The natural tendency for human beings is to look out for self, to serve self. In other words, ME FIRST! God reminds us that a different mindset is what makes marriages and relationships work. Not me first but my spouse first. When spouses submit to one another, they are saying, “I want your needs to be met before mine. I want your happiness and your goals to come before mine.” Submitting to one another looks less like a tug-of-war contest and more like a gift-giving contest (if such a thing existed).
And if we’re looking for a role model, we need look no further than Jesus. And, if we’re looking for a boost to help us do less taking and more giving, we need look no further than Jesus. The patience, love, and forgiveness he shares with us are all the motivation we need. The way he put our needs ahead of his own and the way he sacrificed his life to save ours is the boost we need to keep sharply focused on a Christ-like mindset—not me first, but others first.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, your deep love for me enables me to love others. Whether I am single or married, young or old, help me to think, to love, and to act more and more like you. Amen.
Years ago, a Christian woman in her mid-60s said to me, “Now that my husband is retired, he is home all the time, and it’s really putting a strain on our marriage.” I knew what she meant. She wasn’t saying she didn’t like being with her husband or that her marriage was falling apart. But instead, over the years, when they each had full-time jobs, they would see each other only in the evenings. A pattern had developed. They had learned how to be loving and patient with each other for the few hours they were together each evening. But now, that pattern had been disrupted. They had to intentionally work at being loving to one another—not just in the evenings, but in the mornings and afternoons as well.
With more and more people working from home, husbands and wives are spending much more time together than before. As a result, couples of all ages are coping with new patterns. And that can be challenging to relationships.
Here are a couple of things to consider: If it’s a little bit more difficult for us to be surrounded by family members more often than we were accustomed to, understand it’s probably just as difficult and straining for them too. Additionally, just because it might be a strain doesn’t mean it’s a negative thing. It means we have a new pattern that may need some adjustment. Spending extra time together means we will need to be extra intentional with our love and patience. We will want to work extra hard to take words and actions in the kindest possible way.
And if you want a little extra motivation, look to Jesus, who loved the church and gave himself up for her. When we see of how patient Jesus is with us, we are moved to be more patient with others. When we see how often and how freely Jesus forgives us; that helps us to forgive one another. When we see how Jesus makes sacrifices for us and serves us, that makes us want to serve too—not just in the evenings, but in the mornings and afternoons as well.
Prayer:
Dear Jesus, help me to love and serve others as you have loved and served me. Amen.
“That’s not fair!” How often don’t we feel or say that something isn’t fair? God has blessed me with children. If one daughter didn’t receive what her sister got, you can guess what I heard: “Dad, that’s not fair!”
In the Bible, Jesus tells the story about a landowner who hired workers throughout the day to work in his fields. At day’s end, he gave them all the same pay, regardless of how long they worked. When those who worked the longest saw that their paycheck matched that of those who worked less time, they cried out, “That’s not fair!” The landowner reminded his unhappy workers that he had the right to do what he wanted with his money. They were not to be jealous of his generosity.
At one time, you and I were without purpose or hope because of sin’s curse. But God, the gracious landowner, called us to faith and service in his vineyard, his kingdom of grace. Perhaps you have served him for a long time now. One day you will receive your paycheck in full: the gift of eternal life in heaven. There will be many there who will receive the same paycheck of God’s grace, even if they didn’t serve as long and hard. Yet may we not cry out, “That’s not fair!” Rather, let’s rejoice in God’s generosity for us! And while there still is time, let’s get out into those fields and labor to bring the message of a generous heavenly Father to those who are without purpose or hope.
Prayer:
Lord, in your generosity you have called me to serve you with my very life. Help me be faithful and truly thankful for your goodness. Through me bring your generosity in Jesus to others. Amen.
Hurricanes, wars, droughts, broken families, illness…These and many other things in life cause us to be worried, afraid, uncertain, and perhaps leaving us feeling weary and burdened. No one escapes these problems or these feelings, no matter how hard they try. Most of our solutions to those problems are either unsuccessful or temporary.
Thankfully, Jesus provided a solution to the problem which causes all of our other problems. We had become disconnected from God because we had chosen to do things our way instead of his way. The Bible calls this sin, of which we are all guilty. But Jesus, God’s Son, came into this world to solve the problem of our sin. He did this by living life God’s way—perfectly, and by paying the price for our sins with his death on the cross. His rising from the dead on Easter morning shows us that we are God’s children. This promise also includes the promise that one day God will raise us to take us to be with him in heaven where there will be no sin and none of the other problems that cause us to be weary and burdened.
As long as we live in this world, problems will continue to exist, but Jesus has solved our worst problem. This gives us rest from our burdens and peace in the midst of a life full of weariness. It gives us the sure hope that one day, in heaven, all trouble will be gone. Jesus is our Savior who gives us rest today and will give us perfect rest in heaven.
Prayer:
Jesus, thank you for providing us with a solution from all of life’s worries and burdens. Especially for the solution to the problem, which brought all this into the world, our sin. Jesus I am facing trials in my life, I bring them to you. Thank you for carrying them for me. Amen.
We prepare ourselves to worship the one Savior God by expressing our humble repentance, offering our fervent prayers and singing our thankful hymns of praise.
†SERVICE OF WORD AND SACRAMENT †
The “Service of Word and Sacrament” is a version of the historic liturgy of the Christian church. This order may be used as an alternate to “The Common Service” when Holy Communion is celebrated.
OPENING HYMN CW 230, Lord Jesus Christ, Be Present Now
*Saturday only.
JOINT CHOIR God’s Love and Power Proclaim
*Sunday, in place of opening hymn.
Stand
M: The grace of our Lord (+) Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you.
C: And also with you.
CONFESSION OF SINS
M : God invites us to come into his presence and worship him with humble and penitent hearts. Therefore, let us acknowledge our sinfulness and ask him to forgive us.
The congregation may kneel.
C: Holy and merciful Father, I confess that I am by nature sinful, and that I have disobeyed you in my thoughts, words, and actions. I have done what is evil and failed to do what is good. For this I deserve your punishment both now and in eternity. But I am truly sorry for my sins, and trusting in my Savior Jesus Christ, I pray: Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner.
M: God, our heavenly Father, has been merciful to us and has given his only Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Therefore, as a called servant of Christ and by his authority, I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son (+) and of the Holy Spirit.
C: Amen.
†PRAYER AND PRAISE †
LORD, HAVE MERCY
Kyrie
M: For all that we need in life and for the wisdom to use all your gifts with gratitude and joy, hear our prayer, O Lord.
M: For the steadfast assurance that nothing can separate us from your love and for the courage to stand firm against the assaults of Satan and every evil, hear our prayer, O Christ.
M: For the well-being of your holy Church in all the world and for those who offer here their worship and praise, hear our prayer, O Lord.
M: Merciful God, maker and preserver of life, uphold us by your power and keep us in your tender care:
M: The works of the Lord are great and glorious; his name is worthy of praise.
O LORD, OUR LORD
PRAYER OF THE DAY
M: Let us pray.
Almighty God, in your bountiful goodness keep us safe from every evil of body and soul. Make us ready, with cheerful hearts, to do whatever pleases you; through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Be seated
†THE WORD †
FIRST LESSON Genesis 2:18-24
Summary:God established marriage
The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”
19 Now the Lord God had formed out of the ground all the wild animals and all the birds in the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. 20 So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds in the sky and all the wild animals.
But for Adam[a] no suitable helper was found. 21 So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs[b] and then closed up the place with flesh. 22 Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib[c] he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.
23 The man said,
“This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man.”
24 That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.
PSALM OF THE DAY 139b
Lectern side sings 1st line, pulpit side sings 2nd line, all sing refrains and Gloria.
O LORD, you created my inmost being;*
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;*
your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from you;*
your eyes saw my unformed body.
Refrain
All the days ordained for me*
were written in your book before one of them came to be.
How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!*
How vast is the sum of them!
Were I to count them,*
they would outnumber the grains of sand.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son*
and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning,*
is now, and will be forever. Amen.
Refrain
SECOND LESSON Ephesians 5:21-31
Summary:The roles of husband and wife
Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church—for we are members of his body. “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.”
VERSE OF THE DAY Hebrews 2:12
M: Alleluia. I will proclaim your name to my people; in the midst of the congregation I will praise you. Alleluia.
Stand
GOSPEL Mark 10:2-16 (today’s sermon text underlined)
Summary:Jesus teaches about marriage and family
Some Pharisees came and tested him by asking, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?”
3 “What did Moses command you?” he replied.
4 They said, “Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce and send her away.”
5 “It was because your hearts were hard that Moses wrote you this law,” Jesus replied. 6 “But at the beginning of creation God ‘made them male and female.’[a]7 ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife,[b]8 and the two will become one flesh.’[c] So they are no longer two, but one flesh. 9 Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”
10 When they were in the house again, the disciples asked Jesus about this. 11 He answered, “Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her. 12 And if she divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery.”
13 People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. 14 When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” 16 And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them.
Be seated
HYMN OF THE DAY CW 600, O Perfect Love
SERMON Mark 10:2-12
“God’s Design for Marriage Endures”
It is to be…
An intimate union (v. 2-8)
An undivided union (9-12)
Stand
NICENE CREED
We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one being with the Father.
Through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation, he came down from heaven,
was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary,
and became fully human.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate.
He suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures.
He ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit,
the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
who in unity with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.
We believe in one holy Christian and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead
and the life of the world to come. Amen.
Be seated
OFFERING
PRAYERS
*Read by pastor.
Stand
LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.
†THE SACRAMENT †
Our Lord Jesus has given us a holy supper in which we receive his true body and blood for the forgiveness of sins and the strengthening of our faith. In this supper we celebrate the gift of his redemption, we bear witness to the fellowship we share as confessors of the truth, and we proclaim his death until he returns.
M: The Lord be with you.
M: Lift up your hearts.
M: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
M: Praise to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In love he has blessed us with every spiritual blessing. By the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, he empowered his Church to be witnesses of Christ to the ends of the earth.
Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ. To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and thanks and honor and glory for ever and ever.
HOLY, HOLY, HOLY
Sanctus
WORDS OF INSTITUTION
Matthew 26:26-28; 1 Corinthians 11:24-25
As he speaks the Words of Institution, the minister both proclaims the words of Jesus to the congregation and sets apart the bread and wine for the Lord’s use. The sign of the cross reminds us of Christ’s death.
M: Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night He was betrayed, took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to His disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is My body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of Me.”
Then He took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you; this is My blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for you for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”
The peace of the Lord be with you always.
O CHRIST, LAMB OF GOD
Agnes Dei
Be seated for the distribution
PERSONAL PRAYER BEFORE COMMUNION
Lord, I am not worthy to be a guest at your holy table. But you are the friend of sinners, and you will not cast me out. This bread is your body, which bore my sins upon the tree. This wine is your blood, which purifies me from all guilt. At your invitation, I come rejoicing. Receive me, my Savior. Amen.
At St. John’s Ev. Lutheran Church & Emmanuel Ev. Lutheran Church we practice close Communion. If you are a guest at worship today and interested in receiving the Lord’s Supper, please speak with the pastor prior to the service.
DISTIBUTION HYMN CW 372, I Lay My Sins on Jesus
PERSONAL PRAYERAFTER COMMUNION
Thank you, Lord Jesus Christ, for nourishing me in this sacrament with your body and blood. You have given me forgiveness, life and salvation. Let me always remain in you as a branch remains in the vine. Send me out in the power of your Spirit to live and work to your praise and glory. O living Bread of heaven, how richly you have fed your guest! The gifts you now have given have filled my heart with joy and rest. Lord grant me that thus strengthened with heavenly good, while here my course on earth is lengthened, I serve with holy fear. And when you call my spirit to leave this world below, I enter through your merit where joys unmingled flow. Amen.
Stand
THANK THE LORD
M: Hear the prayer of your people, O Lord, that the lips which have praised you here may glorify you in the world, that the eyes which have seen the coming of your Son may long for his coming again, and that all who have received in his true body and blood the pledge of your forgiveness may be restored to live a new and holy life, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
BLESSING
M: Brothers and sisters, go in peace. Live in harmony with one another.
Serve the Lord with gladness.
The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you.
The Lord look on you with favor and (+) give you peace.
CLOSING HYMN CW 506, Oh, Blest the House, Whate’er Befall
† ANNOUNCEMENTS †
October 10 – 16
Sun.
9:00a.m.
Emmanuel Worship with communion
8:30a.m.
Sunday School at St. John’s
9:00a.m.
Adult Bible Study at St. John’s
10:00a.m.
St. John’s Worship with communion
11:00a.m.
WLA Presentation
11:30a.m.
Voters meeting at St. John’s
Mon.
6:30p.m.
Joint Choir at St. John’s
No Adult Bible Study
Tues.
8:00a.m.
School Chapel
Wed.
NO Adult Bible
1:45p.m.
Early School Release
2:15p.m.
School Faculty Bible Study
NO Public Teen Confirmation Class at St. John’s
Thurs.
NO St. John’s Teen Confirmation Class
6:00p.m.
Griefshare at St. John’s
Fri.
Sat.
4:30p.m.
St. John’s Worship
Next week’s theme:- October 17, 2021The 21st Sunday after Pentecost:Beware of Greed
8:00 a.m.
Emmanuel Worship
8:30a.m.
Sunday School at St. John’s
9:00a.m.
Adult Bible Study at St. John’s
10:00a.m.
St. John’s Worship
LWMS Mission Pie Sale
† C H U R C H N E W S †
INTERCESSORY PRAYERS(read by pastor)
– For friends and loved ones in their need: Caryl Bassett, Mike Brown, Ed Buchholz, Darlene Burrough (Judy Fandrey’s niece), Sharon Crook, Jan Dahlke, Don Ebert, Reinold Eckelberg, Ken & Sally Elmer, Mike Farrell, Donna Gatzke, Kelleen Grucza (Judy Fandrey’s daughter), Carol Hamberger, Marian Heller, Louise Hillmer, Roger Hillmer, Jerry & Darlene Hunter (Bonnie Chapman’s parents), Xzander Jahr, Ellie Kendall, Bob Klapper, Arden Klimke, Robert Lederer (Jackie & Jeanne Buchholz’ father), Thomas Marcelain (Dawn’s son), Phil Nelson (Melanie Zuehls’ step-father), Kathy Ninneman, Karen Radke, Elsa Russell, Wanda Sellnow (Principal Larry Sellnow’s mother), Doris Smith, Mary Smith, Tom Stempniak (Carol’s husband), Dennis & Ramona Wacholtz, Kathy Weinfurter (Ken Pabelick’s mother-in-law) (added this week: Donna Gatzke )
– For Winnebago Lutheran Academy
– For our communicants
VOTERS MEETING TODAY Join us after our St. John’s worship!
FALL LWMS MISSION OFFERINGS totaled $316.00. 75% goes to our present Beaver Dam Circuit projects: HM-Family Ministry Outreach & WM-Central Africa Medical Mission. 25% goes to international LWMS projects to be voted on in spring. Thank you to all who shared their gifts for missions!
MISSION FESTIVAL COMING TO EMMANUEL & ST. JOHN’S on Sunday, November 21. Guest speaker during worship services will be Mr. Shannon Bohme, coordinator of WELS Mission Journeys, which provides an opportunity for all WELS members to walk together in the Great Commission. Through church- or school-based volunteer trips to WELS mission fields at home and abroad, members have the opportunity to engage in Christian service. Pre-trip training led by a team leader equips volunteers to have significant impact during their trip, which are self-funded by the team. While volunteering, the learning and sharing of outreach ideas will allow teams to explore how they can use their God-given abilities to engage in outreach activities in their home congregation upon their return home. With the Lord’s blessing, these trips will inspire a lifelong journey of service and outreach for all who volunteer.
Following the 10 a.m. service at St. John’s, all are invited to a lunch (Freewill Offering will be taken) in the lower level. Please plan to stay for a short afternoon presentation by Mr. Bohme. He will highlight what is happening in home missions and discuss where we want to go as a synod with 100 new church plants in 10 years starting in 2023! That’s exciting mission work!
SERVING OUR COMMUNITY: COLLECTING BOOKS FOR TOTS During October congregational members are invited to donate new or gently used storybooks for ages 1-5 for Smart Start Day Care, Inc. in Montello. Board books would be especially welcome. St. John’s Sunday School children are sponsoring this community service project. They are learning to “shine for Jesus in their community.” Will you help us? A collection box is located in the linkway.
COMING NEXT SUNDAY – DELICIOUS PIES FOR SALE!Mark your calendar for Sunday, October 17. The women of the Lutheran Women’s Missionary Society are hosting a mission pie sale. Plan to take home a delicious homemade pie for just $10.00. All proceeds will help our local LWMS with mission projects and presentations.
SEND ONE SISTER “Hooked forever!” That’s a common comment from women who have the opportunity to attend an LWMS Convention. Here’s another: “Once you’ve experienced the Convention, you don’t want to miss it! There’s no better place to hear and learn how our WELS missionaries and their families are working to spread God’s Word around the world! The 2022 annual Lutheran Women’s Missionary Society Convention will be held June 23-26 in Rochester, NY. The Send One Sister program challenges LWMS Circuits to encourage first-time attendees by assisting them with expenses for their first Convention. Any woman who would like this opportunity at “free money” to attend a convention, must submit an application no later than October 1, 2021. Ask Linda Wachholz (608-369-2635) for an application.
FALL LWMS RALLY TO BE HELD AT PRINCETON on Saturday, October 16. Tom & Janie Niedfeldt (former owners of Tom’s Christian Tours) will speak about the mission work of distributing proclaimers, solar-powered audio Bibles that help our mission fields reach more people with the saving gospel message. 9:30 registration; 10:15 Bible study; 11:15 business meeting; 11:45 lunch; 12:45 devotion/speaker. All are welcome! “I will come and proclaim your mighty acts” Psalm 71:16. A carpooling signup is located in the linkway or call your LWMS reporter, Emmanuel Helen Stelter 608-297-7116 or St. John’s Linda Wachholz 608-369-2635.
GIFTS FOR SPECIAL PROJECTSPlease consider making a gift towards the following church or school projects. Your gift, to the project of your choice, will be recorded under your member account in our Shepherd’s Staff program unless you specifically request it be recorded as anonymous. Donor names and gift amounts are not published. Your gift can be placed in the offering plate, the locked drop box by the office, or mailed. Please contact the church/school secretary, Ciara Neuhauser, if you have any questions.
Project Name & Brief Description Amount Needed
Church & School Computer Server Upgrade (costs for replacing server) $7,851.64
House Demolition (costs related to tear down of old Little Lambs house)$9,500.00
Church Piano $6,000.00
Church A/V Upgrades $2,996.29
School Athletic Fund (jerseys, equipment, tournament fees) $1,000.00
Ministerial Tuition Assistance (assistance for members pursuing the ministry)No limit in place
Outreach Activities (church and/or school outreach supplies, fees)No limit in place
St. John’s School Tuition Assistance (assistance for parents of students)No limit in place
School Technology Fund (maintain teacher and student computers, smartboards)No limit in place
† S C H O O L N E W S †
SAVE THE DATE: TRUNK OR TREAT Wednesday, October 27 at 4:00pm at St. John’s parking lot.
Don’t Underestimate Jesus and His People!
Pentecost 20 – B
God’s Word for Today
God’s plan for man was perfect. He created woman for man. They were to “become one flesh”. Sin entered the world and separation replaced union – separation from God and from one another. Divorce brings suffering. But thanks be to God, Jesus “even suffered death, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone” and create new life and new promise of union.
First Lesson (Genesis 2: 18-24)
1. What lesson did God teach Adam by having him name the animals?
2. What does the expression “one flesh” mean?
Second Lesson (Hebrews 2: 9-11)
3. Does the word “perfect” mean Jesus wasn’t perfect?
4.What was Jesus’ goal in life?
Gospel (Mark 10: 2-16)
5. If marriage is to be forever, why did Moses hand down some conditions that made divorce possible?
6. What remains God’s standard for marriage?
Answers:
1. God taught Adam that he was incomplete and needed companionship as well someone to partner with him for reproduction.
2. The phrase “one flesh” expresses the depth of unity in marriage – physically, emotionally and spiritually. Since the woman was created from man, the two originally were one, and when they came together, they again are one.
3. Jesus, being God from eternity and without sin, already was perfect. However, through His incarnation, life, suffering and death, He acquired the experience and knowledge of what it is like to be human.
4. Jesus’ goal was to “redeem those under law.” He accomplished that goal through suffering. He did this by submitting himself to the Law.
5. Moses handed down some conditions for divorce only because the people had totally disregarded God’s will for them. Their hearts were hard.
6. God’s standard for marriage is the union of a man and a woman for life. “Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.”
Attendance
Emmanuel
St. John’s
10-2
10-3
39
St. John’s Altar Committee for October 2021:Kathy North & Lucy Laun
[Jesus said] “Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with each other.” Mark 9:50
Salt is an extremely useful substance. Today, we mainly use salt to season our food. But in the years before refrigeration, people also used salt to preserve food. Salt draws water out of food, preventing the growth of bacteria that can spoil food.
It’s hard to imagine salt losing its chemical properties. But if that were possible, it would make what normally is a very useful substance into a useless one. If salt no longer can season your food, and if it loses its ability to prevent food from spoiling, what good is it? You may as well just throw it away!
Jesus once said to his followers, “You are the salt of the earth” (Matthew 5:13). His message was that those who believe in him help preserve the world from “spoiling.” Our world is filled with sinners, all of whom by nature care only for themselves. Sinners on their own are willing to do all sorts of things, including things that harm others, if they think that in the end it will benefit them. Those who trust in Jesus provide a preservative against that. Because of their faith in Jesus, they are eager to serve God by serving those who are around them.
But what if believers, the salt of the earth, no longer live their faith? What if they start living just like everyone else instead of serving God by serving those who are around them? Then they’re not good for much, are they? They’re just like salt that has lost its saltiness.
That’s why Jesus encourages us, “Have salt among yourselves.” Jesus wants all who trust in him to be “salty” people. And when we trust in Jesus as our Savior, that is exactly what we are. We are the salt that God uses to preserve this world. The faith that God has worked in our hearts leads us to love Jesus, who sacrificed himself to pay for all our sins. And that love for Jesus overflows into our love for others, which leads us to serve them and be at peace with each other.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, keep me always close to you that I may be salt in this world. Amen.
[Jesus said] “If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out.” Mark 9:43
What would you be willing to do in order to avoid sin?
Let’s say that your hand has a mind of its own. It keeps grabbing merchandise that you haven’t paid for and carries it out of the store. It regularly balls itself into a fist and punches people in the face for no reason whatsoever. It even expresses itself to others using obscene gestures. Would you be willing to chop off your hand if that meant your hand would no longer be able to lead you into sin?
What about if your eye kept looking at pornography on the internet? Would you be willing to gouge out your eye so that it would no longer be able to lead you into sin?
These are the kinds of situations that Jesus confronts us with in our Bible passage for today. And he tells us that even though it would definitely be hard to live without a hand or an eye, that is far better than spending eternity in hell.
Of course, Jesus isn’t advocating that we actually maim ourselves to avoid sin. He is, however, graphically portraying the lengths to which he wants us to be willing to go to avoid sin. Avoiding sin is not always going to be a painless endeavor. Sometimes, avoiding sin means that we must give up things that we enjoy. Sometimes, it requires us to do things that we might not otherwise want to do. Sometimes, avoiding sin can be painful. It requires sacrifice.
Jesus, however, assures us that the sacrifice is worth it. And he promises to give us the strength we need to make the sacrifices necessary to avoid sin. He already has sacrificed himself to remove from us the guilt of all our sins. He will not now abandon us as we strive to live our lives for him.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, you sacrificed yourself for me. Strengthen me that I may be willing to sacrifice everything to follow you. Amen.
With the birth of social media came the birth of a new occupation, that of the social media influencer. Social media influencers are people who have thousands, even millions of followers on social media who use their wide audiences to promote products. Companies will pay these influencers large sums of money to mention their products in their social media posts. And these influencers put a lot of effort into promoting not only these products but also themselves. After all, you can’t become a social media influencer with millions of followers if you don’t work hard at promoting yourself in every way you can.
Self-promotion is essential if you want to be a social media influencer. It is the opposite of what you want to do, however, in your relationship with God. In fact, as the apostle James tells us today, the best way to be “promoted” in our relationship with God is to completely “demote” ourselves before him.
James tells us, “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.” Yes, if we want to be “promoted” before God, the first thing we need to do is humble ourselves. This means recognizing before God that on our own we have absolutely nothing to offer him. It means confessing before God our utter sinfulness from the moment of our conception. It means laying out before him the guilt we have accumulated for ourselves through all our sinful thoughts, words, and actions. It means throwing ourselves on his mercy, knowing that apart from his mercy we are doomed to be punished forever for our sins.
When we humble ourselves like that before God, he lifts us up. He assures us that for Jesus’ sake he has forgiven us all our sins. Through faith in Jesus, he adopts us into his family as his dearly loved sons and daughters. He makes us heirs of eternal life with him in heaven. He elevates us from the depths of sorrow to the heights of joy.
Self-promotion will never get you anywhere with God. Rather humble yourself and let God in his grace promote you.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, I praise you that in your grace you have lifted me up. Help me always to find my reason for rejoicing in you. Amen.
Jesus once told a story about a young man who demanded his inheritance while his father was still alive. The young man then went to a distant land where he squandered all his money. Eventually, he had to take a job feeding pigs and was so hungry that he wished he could eat the food he was feeding to the pigs. Finally, the young man decided to go back home. He knew that he had deeply hurt his father. But he hoped that his father would receive him back, if not as a son, then as a servant.
When the young man came within sight of his hometown, his father, who had been waiting and watching for him, saw him. In his joy, the father ran to his son, embraced him, kissed him, and welcomed him home.
This story beautifully illustrates what the apostle James teaches us in today’s Bible passage. “Come near to God and he will come near to you.” All of us have been like the son in Jesus’ story. In our stubborn sinfulness, we have run away from God and done our own thing—all to our own detriment. Eventually, our rebellion against God landed us in a hole so deep that we could never get ourselves out of it. Then, God graciously led us to realize how foolish we were to run away from him. He worked in us sorrow over our sins and a desire to return to him. He drew us to himself and moved us to ask for his forgiveness.
Then just like the father in the story, before we could draw ourselves to God, God already was running to welcome us. Because of what Jesus did in sacrificing himself on the cross to pay for all our sins, God forgave us, embraced us, and received us as his dearly loved children, whom he never stopped looking out for. What a blessing to know we have a God who receives us and celebrates our return—almost as if we had never left.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, when I stray from you, draw me back to you and hold me close, so that I never stray from you again. Amen.
Brandon dreaded going to school. Jake was at school, and Jake was a bully. Jake sought Brandon out, intimidated him, insulted him, and pushed him around. Everything Jake did made Brandon feel weak and powerless.
One day, Brandon finally had had enough. As Jake was coming after him, Brandon stood up as tall as he could, looked Jake straight in the eyes, and said, “Enough! I’m not going to let you bully me anymore! You can’t have any power over me that I don’t let you have. So, from now on, this bullying stops!”
Jake was stunned. No one had ever stood up to him like that before. He stopped in his tracks, looked around, and saw that his power over Brandon—and everyone else—was gone. So, he ducked his head, turned around, and walked away.
Sometimes, the only way to stop a bully is to stand up to him.
It’s hard to think of a bigger bully than the devil. Like any other bully, the devil loves to use intimidation, insults, and accusations to exercise his power over us. And his power is considerable. In fact, no mere human being has the power to stand up to him on their own.
One person, however, does have the power to stand up to the devil on his own. That person is Jesus. Throughout his life, Jesus resisted and overcame the devil in every confrontation he had with him. Even when it seemed as if the devil was about to defeat Jesus as Jesus was hanging on the cross, Jesus emerged as the victor. By his death and resurrection, Jesus decisively defeated the devil and destroyed his power.
All those who trust in Jesus as their Savior share in Jesus’ victory over the devil. His power to stand up to the devil now is their power as they trust in him. When the devil tries to bully us with his accusations and intimidation, we can, with Jesus’ power, stand up to him and stop him. For, when we with Jesus resist the devil, the devil will flee from us.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, by your power enable me to resist the devil so that he will flee from me, even as he must always flee from you. Amen.
Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.
