tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21676123466055012022024-03-13T10:07:08.975-07:00Anticipating Worship at FaithFaith Lutheran Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10592469608217514752noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2167612346605501202.post-74869159444001014312016-03-18T13:30:00.001-07:002016-03-18T13:30:33.895-07:00Palm Sunday, March 20th<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Palm Sunday Worship will be a bilingual service in English and Spanish. Join us at 10:30am.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lesson 1: Zechariah 9:9-10</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lesson 2: Philippians 2:5-11</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Gospel: Luke 19:28-40</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sermon: Psalm 24</span>Faith Lutheran Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10592469608217514752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2167612346605501202.post-82149437927413835842016-03-18T13:12:00.000-07:002016-03-18T13:12:28.973-07:00Singing With the Exiles: Get Out! - March 6th<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 2.0pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Message notes on a sermon by Pastor Ewings based on Isaiah 48:17-22</span></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">God gave His people in Babylon the Book of Isaiah. In it, the prophet sounds the alarm and tells God’s people to get out. This city was like a house on fire. God’s people were living in luxury and surrounded by many material blessings. These things came at the expense of their spiritual security, however. Babylon was a place where people were forced to give up their faith in God. You may remember hearing about Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego—three men who believed in God. They were thrown in a furnace of fire because they worshiped the true God. That’s why Isaiah sounds the alarm and says, “Get out of Babylon!” It was a matter of life and death!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">Just like the children of Israel, you and I want peace and prosperity. We want things to go right for us at every time and in every way. There are times when you and I, just like the people of God we hear about in the Book of Isaiah today, look for these things in places where God knows that we will never find them. We live in luxurious homes, take extravagant vacations and lavish ourselves in ways that most people in the world would never dream of. We live in a land of abundance...but would the Lord tell us to get out? Have we been seeking peace in all the wrong places? Do we find more peace in our money, our possessions, our vacations, our days off, our houses and homes than we do in the house of God and in His Word? If that’s the case, it’s time you hear the </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; font-variant: small-caps;">Lord’s</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;"> alarm: GET OUT! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">The Lord does want us to have peace and He does want us to prosper. He calls Himself our Teacher (“I am the </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;"> your God, Who teaches you what is best for you”) and wants to direct us in our search for these elusive blessings so that we might have them and enjoy them. He makes it clear: we won’t find them among the wicked things of the world, we won’t find them in the illusions of the devil’s lies or in the mirages of Satan’s tricks, we won’t find them by looking at ourselves either. We find these when we follow the Lord. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">Our God leads us even now through the deserts of our lives—when there is nothing that looks prosperous or luxurious at all. Yet in these barren wastelands, He directs us in His paths. In our rebellion against God, we forfeited our home in paradise, and now life is—in large part—a restless wandering, trying to find our way back home. But thank God! His program is to bring us back home. He will accomplish this through Jesus, Who promises a luxurious, Heavenly home with Him!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">Lesson 1: Isaiah 48:17-22</span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">Lesson 2: 1 Peter 5:6-11</span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">Gospel: Matthew 18:7-9</span></div>
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Faith Lutheran Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10592469608217514752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2167612346605501202.post-21183381777365171192016-02-26T16:34:00.000-08:002016-02-26T16:36:47.961-08:00Singing With the Exiles: Breaking Down the Gates - February 28th<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 110%; margin-bottom: 2.0pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; font-style: italic; line-height: 110%;">Message notes for a sermon by Pastor Ewings based on Isaiah 45:1-8</span></div>
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<span lang="en-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Babylon was the city of paradise of its day. The name “Babylon” means “gates of the gods” and this ancient city was given that name because the inhabitants believed that, when you stepped through the gates of Babylon, you were as close as you’d ever get to heaven on earth. Renowned throughout the world for its beautiful hanging gardens and priceless works of art, Babylon was a wonder of the world in its own right.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Not only was the city known for its beauty, but it was also the stronghold of the mightiest military forces of its time. Through military conquests, Nebuchadnezzar II would come to rule an empire that stretched from the Persian Gulf to the borders of Egypt. He even captured Jerusalem—twice!—which led to the destruction of Israel’s temple and the deportation of many Jewish inhabitants to Babylonia. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Hundreds of bronze gates were erected in and around Babylon, making it the world’s most fortified city. Babylon was also surrounded by a series of walls, two of which enclosed the rectangular city. The innermost wall was twenty-one feet thick and the outermost was eleven feet deep. Three hundred and sixty watchtowers were on the walls every sixty to sixty-five feet. A moat-like system in front of the outer wall hindered direct attacks on the city. The Ishtar Gate opened up to a long processional way called “Aibur-Shabu” which means “the enemy shall never pass.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The children of Israel found themselves trapped behind these gates. Their fate seemed certain behind the security of the walls of Babylon. How could they escape from the mightiest army of the day? It would take a miracle for an exiled people to leave the dungeons alive. A miracle is exactly what they got as the Lord used His anointed, the pagan king Cyrus, to break down the gates of Babylon and rescue His captive children. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span lang="en-US">The historical events predicted in Isaiah 45:1–3 unfolded as follows. In 539 BC, Cyrus, the Persian lord, surrounded the city of Babylon, and the pagan priests submitted and declared him Marduk’s chosen monarch. Then they opened up the city gates and allowed the Persians to walk in, proclaiming Israel’s freedom at the same time. The Lord used Cyrus for three reasons: (1) so that Cyrus would know the Lord is his “Sponsor”; (2) so that Israel would benefit from the Persian’s military victories; and (3) so that all might know the </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></span><span lang="en-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> alone is God and there is no other. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Lesson 1: Isaiah 45:1-8</span></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Lesson 2: 2 Peter 3:8-13</span></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Gospel: Matthew 16:13-19</span></span></div>
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Faith Lutheran Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10592469608217514752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2167612346605501202.post-35684390551269948222016-02-20T13:15:00.001-08:002016-02-20T13:15:43.567-08:00Singing With the Exiles: Marked - February 21st<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 110%; margin-bottom: 3.0pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Message notes on a sermon by Pastor Ewings based on Isaiah 44:1-5</span></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">We have been marked by many different things in our lives. For some of us, we’ve had visible, identifying birthmarks on our bodies since the day we made an appearance into this world. For others, it took a little bit more time but, eventually, many marks marred us. Our own bodies have been battered and bruised and some of these incidences, like ink, have left a lasting mark on our flesh. Scrapes and scratches have become scars on our skin. Some try to cover these up with clothes or makeup. Others will undergo surgery to try and make things look better. But some marks simply can’t be removed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">What’s even more frightening is to take a look at the marks that go deeper than the skin. Our souls have been scarred over time as well. Sin has left its mark on our bodies and no clothes or makeup or plastic surgery can cover it up. Like a tattoo boldly emblazoned on a body our souls bear a single, brazen word: SINNER. You are marked and you can’t remove this identity on your own. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">The children of Israel found themselves in a similar situation. Marked by shame and scorn as rejects in their world—exiles from their homeland and outcasts in their new land—it seemed that they didn’t have a whole lot going for them. Worse yet, they were marked in the same way with that awful word.; they, too, were sinners with indelible marks left on their souls. That’s why God gave them the titles that He did. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">The name “Jeshurun” appears in our text today. This title is linked with the verb “to be straight, upright.” Jeshurun is parallel with Jacob in verse 2 of our text from Isaiah today. “Jacob” means “deceiver,” “liar,” or “trickster.” This suggests that God’s people are, at the same time, both saints (Jeshurun) and sinners (Jacob); we are both upright and crooked. Those marked by sin were likewise marked for salvation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">The Lord took note of this sad situation and got some skin in the game. By sending Jesus, the Son of God, </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">a new identity is forged for us: “belonging to the </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">L</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant: small-caps;">ord</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">.” He was marked to be our sacrifice, marked to bear the dreadful load of our sin, marked to become a curse, marked to be our Savior. Jesus has born the stigma of our sin in His body and given us a bold, new identity: we are the Lord’s!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Lesson 1: Isaiah 44:1-5</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Lesson 2: Hebrews 4:14-5:6</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Gospel: Matthew 9:9-13</span></div>
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Faith Lutheran Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10592469608217514752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2167612346605501202.post-61656342333422149242016-02-12T15:46:00.001-08:002016-02-12T15:46:36.238-08:00Singing With the Exiles: We Are Worms! - February 14th<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 110%; margin-bottom: 3.0pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Message notes on a sermon by Pastor Ewings based on Isaiah 41:14-16</span></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">Who would ever be want to be known as a worm? They are slimy, yucky, creepy, crawly little creatures. They’re certainly not highly regarded in the animal kingdom. Worms are agents of The </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant: small-caps;">Lord’s</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;"> judgment (Deuteronomy 28:39; Jonah 4:7) and vicious consumers of human remains (Isaiah 66:24). They are considered “detestable” in the Book of Leviticus (11:41–42) and the fallen king in Isaiah 14 is given maggots for a bed and worms for his covers (v. 11). David confesses to being under God’s judgment when he says, “But I am a worm and not a man” (Psalm 22:6). Our Lord quotes from Psalm 22:1 (Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34) because He, too, was under the Father’s judgment, even though He had no sin (2 Corinthians 5:21). In Isaiah 41:14, God unmistakably gives that title...to us. We are worms!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">God uses small people and small things to accomplish a great salvation. All Moses had was a wooden stick and this defeated his enemies. Gideon gained a great victory over 120,000 of his enemies with just 300 soldiers. Samson took the jawbone of a donkey and defeated over 1,000 Philistines. And a sling and a stone were all David needed to kill Goliath.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">Jesus also uses small things and people to accomplish a great salvation. He used five loaves of barley bread and two small fish to feed five thousand men. The Savior once said, “The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed . . . the smallest of all seeds” (Matthew 13:31–32). Passing through Jericho on the way to Jerusalem, Jesus picked out little Zacchaeus and said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, [because this man] is a son of Abraham” (Luke 19:9). And then these words, “Let the little children come to Me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 19:14).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">All of this points to the day when Christ’s enemies used thirty pieces of silver, a whip, a blindfold, a spear, their fists, and three nails. But these small and insignificant things were used by God to accomplish for us a great salvation! Through them we see God’s great love for us when Jesus died for us on the cross. And because of this, little and insignificant people like us—call us worms—will move mountains!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">Lesson 1: Isaiah 41:14-16</span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">Lesson 2: John 11:32-40</span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">Gospel: Hebrews 9:27,28</span></div>
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Faith Lutheran Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10592469608217514752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2167612346605501202.post-65295603744781820472016-02-05T16:30:00.000-08:002016-02-05T16:30:39.125-08:00In a Dark World, Let the Gospel Shine! - February 7th<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 110%; margin-bottom: 3.0pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-align: center;">
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Message notes for a sermon by Pastor Ewings based on 2 Corinthians 3:7—4:2 </span></span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 110%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">For many of us growing up, darkness was probably the one thing that scared us the most. Perhaps we grew up with a nightlight in our rooms. Perhaps we wanted a light on in the hall outside of our bedroom. Perhaps we didn’t want to go into anyplace where we might find ourselves in darkness. It’s natural to be scared of the dark because darkness enshrouds dangerous things. We never quite know what just might be lurking in the shadows until light takes away all doubt. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">Being in spiritual darkness is far worse than being in physical darkness. In physical darkness, at least, there is some hope that eventually someone would turn on a light, provide a flashlight or take our hands and guide us to safety. There is no such earthly hope in spiritual darkness. The sinful mind is spiritually blind to the blessings of God and His Gospel. Those who are perishing are unable to see the good news of the Gospel. Today we see how the Lord, in His Word, reveals to us His glorious Gospel and shows us how we can shine with the light of the Lord as well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="direction: ltr; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; unicode-bidi: embed;">I.</span><span style="width: 7.5pt;"> </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">List some ways in which the Gospel Shows Christ’s Glory:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="direction: ltr; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; unicode-bidi: embed;">II.</span><span style="width: .75pt;"> </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">List some ways in which the Christian Tells Christ’s Story:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">God called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">We go with Jesus’ glorious Gospel. Wherever the Gospel goes, lives will be illumined and souls saved!</span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">Lesson 1: Exodus 34:29-35</span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">Lesson 2: 2 Corinthians 3:7-4:2</span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">Gospel: Luke 9:28-36</span></div>
Faith Lutheran Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10592469608217514752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2167612346605501202.post-13598738546510120792016-01-29T12:19:00.000-08:002016-01-29T12:19:03.279-08:00Jesus Is Revealed...as Love - January 31st<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 110%; margin-bottom: 3.0pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; font-style: italic; line-height: 110%;">Message notes on a sermon by Pastor Guenther based on 1 Corinthians 12:27-13:13</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-size: 12pt;">What did the Beatles say was all a person needs? What do you think they meant by that?</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold;">I. To Us Unloving Sinners</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Corinthians were all very gifted. But what was the problem with the way they were using those gifts?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How could the Corinthians be truly great?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What gifts has God given to you? To those in the pew around you?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yet, how do we often misuse those gifts?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Try putting your name in the blanks. How well do you do?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">_________ is patient, _________ is kind. _________ does not envy, _________ does not boast, _________ is not proud. _________ is not rude, _________ is not self-seeking, _________ is not easily angered, _________ keeps no record of wrongs. _________ does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. _________ always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. _________ never fails. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And, of course, what do we deserve for the loveless way we misuse our gifts?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Try the exercise above but put Jesus’ name in the blanks. Rejoice in everything he did for you! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What does his great love for us move us to do for him?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold;">II. Through Us Forgiven Believers</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What completes all of the gifts we have in Christ?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Christ’s love for us moves us to love him. Our love for him moves us to love others. How?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Evaluate the gifts that God has given to you. How can you use those gifts, big or small, to serve others? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">List some specific actions you will take this week to show your love for your Savior by showing love to others…<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This week I will show love to __________ by…<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This week I will show love to __________ by…<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This week I will show love to __________ by…</span><span style="font-family: Garamond;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lesson 1: 1 Kings 17:7-16</span></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lesson 2: 1 Corinthians 12:27-13:13</span></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Gospel: Luke 4:20-32</span></span></div>
Faith Lutheran Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10592469608217514752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2167612346605501202.post-74669848652334550462016-01-23T17:46:00.000-08:002016-01-23T17:46:05.840-08:00Jesus Changes Things: Jesus Changes Broken Homes into Faith-Filled Families - January 24th<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 110%; margin-bottom: 3.0pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small; font-style: italic; line-height: 110%;">Message notes on a sermon by Pastor Ewings based on Genesis 38:1-27</span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 104%;">God has always intended that our homes be a little piece of Heaven on earth. He wants our families to be a fertile ground for every good virtue as His children grow and nurture one another in their walk with the Lord. But not every family is like that. Not even believers in Christian homes can make the claim that every moment spent under our roofs has been Heavenly. In many cases, our homes have been filled with brokenness and hurt where family members have wounded one another. But Jesus changes things. He comes into our broken lives and broken homes to bring healing and restoration. Just take a look at the lives of a family from long ago! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: bold; language: en-US; line-height: 104%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">Judah: </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; line-height: 104%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">the son of Jacob and brother of Joseph, he left his family to live by a friend of his.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: bold; language: en-US; line-height: 104%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">Hiram: </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; line-height: 104%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">a man from Abdullam who was Judah’s best friend and companion.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: bold; language: en-US; line-height: 104%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">Shua: </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; line-height: 104%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">Judah married the daughter of Shua and had three sons.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: bold; language: en-US; line-height: 104%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">Tamar: </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; line-height: 104%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">She was the wife Judah found for Er.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: bold; language: en-US; line-height: 104%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">Er: </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; line-height: 104%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">the firstborn son of Judah who was wicked so the Lord killed him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: bold; language: en-US; line-height: 104%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">Onan: </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; line-height: 104%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">Onan was the second born. According to custom, the deceased man’s brother was required to have children by the surviving wife if the man and the wife had not had children to carry on their line. Onan did not want to have a child by Tamar, since the child would not be his and probably because his inheritance from Judah would be lessened. So he kept Tamar from conceiving.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: bold; language: en-US; line-height: 104%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">Shela: </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; line-height: 104%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">This was the youngest son of Judah. By custom, Judah should have given him to Tamar, but Judah didn’t because he was afraid for Shelah’s life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; line-height: 104%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">This chapter contains details which probably would never have found their place in sacred Scripture had it not been to exhibit the full links of the chain that connects the genealogy of the Savior with Abraham. The final part of the story provides the significance of the whole account. God gave Tamar twins, and the line of Judah continued because of her. The very same Judah mentioned in these verses is the forefather of Jesus Christ Himself. In the disreputable character of the ancestry who figure in this passage, we have proof that Jesus made Himself nothing. Yet, He came into the world to change families like Judah’s and to change families like yours. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; line-height: 104%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">As we examine the character profiles of this family, we are clearly shown by this story that Judah’s role in the ancestry of the Savior didn’t come because of his personal piety and sinlessness. The fact that the Savior was willing to count such people in His line shows that He came to save sinners like us. The ancestors of the Savior were sinful and needed the same Savior we do</span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; line-height: 104%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">Lesson 1 - Genesis 38:1-27 <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; line-height: 104%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">Lesson 2 - Colossians 3:17-25</span></div>
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Faith Lutheran Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10592469608217514752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2167612346605501202.post-14132076915286479052016-01-15T16:45:00.001-08:002016-01-15T16:45:18.146-08:00Jesus Changes Things: Jesus Changes Enemies into Friends - January 17th<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 110%; margin-bottom: 3.0pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small; font-style: italic; line-height: 110%;">Message notes by Pastor Ewings on a sermon based on Genesis 45:1-15</span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 102%;">Backstabbing. Betrayal. Jealousy. Judgment. Lies. Deceit. Trickery. Treachery. Hate. Hurt. Disapproval. Disdain. Rivalry. Revenge. Arrogance. Anger. </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; line-height: 102%;">Enemy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 102%;">Do you suppose Joseph meditated on these words during the two decades that he spent removed from his family and dead to them? Joseph’s own brothers, his very flesh and blood, had treated him as their enemy. He had every reason to be filled with anger and rage and to seek revenge. He had every reason to go to war with them and seek their very lives. Yet, the Joseph we meet up with in this lesson has been changed. the results we see aren’t the impact of that well-known phrase: “time heals all wounds.” His faith has lead him to forgiveness. His hatred has been replaced with love. What a beautiful spiritual lesson! Joseph’s brother Judah thought that Joseph was actually dead (44:20), and therefore, that he himself was guilty of murder. What he did not realize was that Joseph was alive—and was his savior! His love for his brothers saved their lives. What a picture of Jesus Christ!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 102%;">How many of these qualities have we harbored in our hearts? There have been people in our lives who have wounded us much like Joseph’s brothers. In some cases, we have legitimate reasons to treat others like our enemies. In others, we have no reason to justify the hate that we have held on to. In the same way, there are people whom we have wounded, friends we have treated like enemies. Jesus reveals the new attitude of merciful love His disciples will have towards everyone, whether or not they have been wronged. May Jesus change our lives so that we can reveal to one another—enemies and friends alike—the forgiving love of Jesus!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lesson 1: Genesis 45:1-15a</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lesson 2: Romans 12:9-21</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Gospel: Luke 6:27-36</span></div>
Faith Lutheran Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10592469608217514752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2167612346605501202.post-61390185275132365372016-01-09T14:51:00.000-08:002016-01-09T14:52:00.204-08:00Jesus Changes Things: Jesus Changes Slaves to Sin into Sons of God - January 10th<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 110%; margin-bottom: 3.0pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; line-height: 110%;">Message notes on a sermon by Pastor Ewings based on Titus 3:3-8</span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt;">Change can be one of the most challenging things we deal with in life. Some changes are welcome. From time to time, we like a change of routine or change in scenery. Some changes can be either for the good or bad like a change in plans or a change in a relationship. There are other changes that we seek to avoid at all costs. The changes that can be especially difficult for us are the changes where we stand on the outside looking in; we don’t have a say in the matter. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt;">In our reading from Titus today, our God speaks to us of the changes He makes in our lives. We were truly powerless to change ourselves—we were slaves to sin. Trapped by the enemies of foolishness, disobedience, malice, passions, pleasures, envy and hatred, there was nothing we could do to escape on our own. Our God had mercy on us and changed our lives for eternity. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt;">What a difference the kindness and love of God has made in us! God is the One Who effected the biggest change in our lives. He freed us from the chains of sin and the prison of hell and made us His children and heirs of the kingdom of Heaven. This means that today we can draw on His riches; and when He comes, we will share His wealth and His kingdom forever. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt;">Salvation came not only because of God’s kindness and love, but also because of His mercy. We did not save ourselves; He saved us. How did He do it? Through the miracle of a new birth, the work of the Holy Spirit of God. What is the result of this kindness, love, mercy, and grace? Hope! Our God gives you hope for today and hope for the future. See how Jesus has changed your life forever!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt;">Lesson 1: 1 Samuel 16:1-13</span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt;">Lesson 2: Titus 3:3-8</span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt;">Gospel: Luke 3:15-17</span></div>
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Faith Lutheran Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10592469608217514752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2167612346605501202.post-46834266960028777122015-12-11T16:34:00.002-08:002015-12-11T16:34:39.163-08:00'Tis the Season for Axes and Pitchforks - December 13th<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-align: center;">
<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Garamond; font-style: italic;">Message notes for a sermon based on Luke 3:7-18<span style="font-size: 12.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-size: 13pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Wait a minute—I thought it was Christmas time. I thought it was the season of packages and presents, lights and ornaments, mistletoe and holly, carols and cards, candy canes and cookies, stockings and stars. You know, the season of love, hope, peace and joy...and, of course, Jesus! I don’t remember anything about axes or pitchforks at Christmas!!! Does this guy want to start some kind of a revolution? Has our pastor finally gone crazy?” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-size: 13pt;">You might be wondering about any and all of the thoughts mentioned above. I assure you that I’m not crazy but I do want to start a revolution. John the Baptist “exhorted the people and preached good news to them” </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-size: 13pt; font-style: italic;">and </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-size: 13pt;">he used axes and pitchforks to do it. Let me bring you good news of great joy as we see that ‘Tis the Season for Axes and Pitchforks!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 17.3333px;">Lesson 1: Zephaniah 3:14-17</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 17.3333px;">Lesson 2: Philippians 4:4-7</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 17.3333px;">Gospel: Luke 3:7-18</span></span></div>
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Faith Lutheran Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10592469608217514752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2167612346605501202.post-2119817325194306082015-12-04T15:35:00.000-08:002015-12-04T15:35:01.870-08:00Mapping the Topography of Your Heart - December 6thLesson 1 - Malachi 3:1-4<br />
Lesson 2 - 1 Corinthians 4:1-5<br />
Gospel and Sermon Text - Luke 3:1-6Faith Lutheran Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10592469608217514752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2167612346605501202.post-77140862827147360972015-11-13T15:15:00.000-08:002015-11-13T15:15:18.941-08:00Christ Is Your King - November 15th<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 2.5pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small; font-style: italic;">Message Notes by Pastor Ewings on a sermon based on Daniel 7:13,14</span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">The theme for the Last Sunday of the Church Year is “Christ the King.” When Scripture calls Christ our King, it declares His ruling activity over the whole world and our hearts. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">To understand this King better, we need to take a little time to explore His kingdom. This text is the final portion of Daniel’s account of his vision of four beasts. Daniel saw this vision “in the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon” (7:1). The four beasts represented the four great political powers that would dominate the world over the next 500 years.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">The first beast, “like a lion” with “the wings of an eagle” (7:4), is generally understood to be the Babylonian Empire; this empire was still in power at Daniel’s time. The second beast was like a bear with “three ribs in its mouth between its teeth” (7:5); it stands for the Medo-Persian Empire. The third beast, “that looked like a leopard” with “four wings like those of a bird” on its back (7:6), is taken to be the Greek Empire of Alexander the Great and his successors. The fourth beast, “terrifying and frightening and very powerful” with “large iron teeth,” which “crushed and devoured its victims and trampled underfoot whatever was left” (7:7), was a picture of the Roman Empire.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">As his vision continued, Daniel saw “the Ancient of Days.” This term for God tells us that He has exercised kingly control and authority long before this lineup of beasts came on the scene, and He would continue to be the ruler long after they were gone. The beasts continued to live, Daniel said, although they were stripped of their authority. Then one “like a son of man” entered the scene. Here, we meet Christ the King.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">“His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away.” His kingdom stands in sharp contrast to the kingdoms of the four beasts. They roared and snarled and devoured in their time; when one waned, another grew to take its place. All were destined, however, to disappear from the scene, and later observers would find only traces of their past greatness. The kingly activity which Daniel saw in his vision is one that would be in constant existence and never fade or die. The kingdom of Christ will never be destroyed and His kingly activity can never and will never cease. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">As we face the many beasts that rise up against us in our lives, we must remember that Christ is our King and He and He alone has the might to conquer these snarling enemies. So often we seek to exercise dominion, power and authority over matters which are beyond our control. Christ is your King; Jesus must sit on the throne of your heart and He must reign alone! When He rules, He will show you His power to bring you everlasting peace.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">Lesson 2: Revelation 1:4b-8</span></div>
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Faith Lutheran Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10592469608217514752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2167612346605501202.post-3659963543172475842015-11-06T14:15:00.002-08:002015-11-06T14:15:59.017-08:00When Do I Get My Halo? - November 8th<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 2.5pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">A Message notes on a sermon by Pastor Ewings based on Daniel 12:1-3</span></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-size: 13pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For hundreds of years, artists have used halos to depict a saintly character. The perfect circle radiating with glowing beams is a symbol of purity and innocence that has stood the test of time. But, not everyone in a picture gets a halo. You need to have done something pretty impressive to have that golden ring crowning your head. Jesus gets one because He’s the Son of God. Mary gets one because she was the mother of God. But not even all of the disciples end up with a halo hovering over their heads. If the hosts of Heaven were handing out halos, would you be a recipient?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-size: 13pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While we don’t know if we’ll get a halo in Heaven, you and I know full well that we won’t get a halo on earth…that would be silly. But, if that’s the case, why do we expect one? Not literally, of course. But figuratively, there are many times when we view ourselves as innocent, beaming with an aura of light. We’d like to think that we already shine with the brightness of the heavens and that our brilliance is like the stars. There are times when we view ourselves as saints and the rest of the world—even people in our own church—look like they’ll be lucky to make the cut for Heaven, let alone wear a halo if they get there. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-size: 13pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It’s important for us to remember that while we are saints of God, we are not saints triumphant yet. We still fight daily battles against sin, the devil and his demons and death itself. Jesus has delivered us eternally but we still struggle daily. We still play the part of a sinner willingly and certainly are deserving of God’s righteous wrath eternally. The last thing we deserve, with all of our failures and faults, is a halo. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-size: 13pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We call today Saints Triumphant Sunday and even if we understand that God sees us as saints, it might be harder to see ourselves as triumphant. Do you feel like you’re triumphing over anything? So often it seems like we’re crushed down and defeated. So many are struggling in their family lives, so many are struggling with their physical health, so many are struggling with great and shameful sins. Does that sound like victory? Does that sound like people who are triumphant? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-size: 13pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The most triumphant part of our day is when we confess our sins to our God and hear Him announce that He has made us saints. While we live on this earth, we are the saints militant, waging war against our sinful nature. Yet we find our victory in the same place where all the saints triumphant have found theirs: not in the appearance of holiness hovering over our heads but in the real righteousness that comes from Jesus. You are a saint today; you will be a saint triumphant in Heaven—with or without a halo.</span><span style="font-family: Garamond;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-size: 13pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lesson 1: Daniel 12:1-3</span></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-size: 13pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lesson 2: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18</span></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-size: 13pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Gospel: John 5:25-29</span></span></div>
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Faith Lutheran Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10592469608217514752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2167612346605501202.post-2924695672631810132015-10-30T14:49:00.000-07:002015-10-30T14:49:00.095-07:00You Can’t Turn Back His Clock - November 1st<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 2.5pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; font-style: italic;">Messages Notes by Pastor Ewings on a sermon based on Malachi 4:1-3</span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Daylight savings time is an answer to prayer for all who feel like they’re not ready to face the harsh realities of a new day. Do you appreciate an extra hour of sleep? Many Alaskans consider daylight savings time to be irrelevant at best and a nuisance at worst. Some feel that it isn’t worth the hassle to adjust the clocks twice a year—Alaskans don’t receive that much of a benefit due to the rapid change of the seasons anyway. Others believe that it’s best for our economy to stay as close as possible to the schedule of the Lower 48. No matter what your opinion is about daylight savings time, if you hope to keep up with the rest of the world, you’d better spring forward and fall back. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Until fairly recently, though, people throughout the world gave little or no thought to measuring the time of day. People simply made the most of the daylight hours, working from dawn till dusk. In those days, most people cared little about the exactness of time. In 1790, for example, fewer than 10 percent of Americans had a clock of any kind and most of those clocks had no minute hand. Today, it seems, you can’t escape a clock’s menacing countenance. Its face stares at you, ticking the seconds, minutes and hours away, laughing the whole time with its steady, “tick, tock, tick, tock.” You can’t even pull out your cell phone without being badgered by a clock. While we can’t discount the time ticking away, it seems there is a clock we often ignore: God’s time. As we consider today especially that the Lord will come to judge the living and the dead, it’s time to consider how we’ve been spending the days of grace our God has given us. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In today’s Bible reading, the prophet Malachi gives us an announcement from God so that we can adjust our lives accordingly. Malachi’s message is twofold: the same sun will come out but will have differing effects: the arrogant will be burned but the righteous will be healed. The day Malachi mentioned is no ordinary day, but Judgment Day, when the Lord will return and hold a trial for every person who’s ever lived. There won’t be time to turn back the clock, to change time zones or file an extension. When He comes, time’s up! As surely as the sun rises, the Son is coming.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Malachi brings to light the end of time when the day of eternity dawns and the Son of God bursts brightly upon our world. There will be those who think they are safe from the Son’s rays of glory and holiness because they’re as good as anyone else in the world. The prophet makes it known that those arrogantly undisturbed about warnings against sinful behavior and sinful pride, will be burned. “Surely, the day is coming!” God warns then and warns now. The Son has power to burn. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-size: 12pt;">The same Son who has the power to burn also has power to heal. The wings, or rays, of the sun of righteousness stretch over the world searching to touch the darkness of despair and bring the saving light of Christ’s love to people clouded with guilt. What sinful pattern of thinking or behaving needs to be burned away from your life? What heartache do you have that needs to be healed? Look to the light of your Savior’s promises and get some more sun.</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-size: 12pt;"> He will</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-size: 12pt;"> brighten your days on this earth and enlighten your way to eternity. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-size: 12pt;">Lesson 1 - Malachi 4:1-3</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-size: 12pt;">Lesson 2 - Hebrews 9:24-28</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-size: 12pt;">Gospel - John 5:19-24</span></span></div>
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Faith Lutheran Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10592469608217514752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2167612346605501202.post-81674025841687946222015-10-23T17:46:00.002-07:002015-10-23T17:46:53.032-07:00The Fourth Man in the Fire - October 25th<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Message notes by Pastor Ewings on a sermon based on Daniel 3:16-28</span></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">What a dramatic story this is! Imagine three Jewish men daring to defy the most powerful ruler of the world, and daring to be different from the thousands of people in Babylon! Although this event took place over 4,000 years ago in far-off Babylon, it teaches us lessons for our lives now.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">It’s important for us to learn a little bit more about each of the characters in this account.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: bold; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">Nebuchadnezzar:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: bold; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">Shadrach:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: bold; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">Meshach: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: bold; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">Abednego:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: bold; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">The Fourth Man in the Fire:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">While Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego faced the fury of the king and the furnace, you and I face fires of a different sort in our lives. Christians should expect the furnace of persecution if they live their Christian faith openly. The world hates us, and Satan sees to it that the furnace gets stoked up seven times hotter. Of course, the three Jews could have made excuses and gone along with the crowd. Instead, they stood with one another and with the Lord, trusting God to glorify Himself either by their life or by their death. Christian, you can expect persecution, too.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">God will never forsake His Own when they go through fiery trials. He may not keep us out of the furnace, but He will go with us and bring us through for His glory. When the king looked into the furnace, he saw four men—he declared that the fourth man in the fire “looked like a son of the gods.” His words may have expressed more than he understood; it is possible that this fourth man in the furnace was Jesus Christ. Christ walked with them; He loosed their bonds; He kept them from being harmed; in fact, they did not even smell of the fire when they came out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; line-height: 119%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">These men were better off for having gone through the fire. For one thing, it gave them the opportunity to walk with the Lord and face the flames with Him. Sometimes it takes danger and trial to know how near the Lord is to us. Their experience glorified God before others and gave them the opportunity to display their faith in their day and ours. As you face the flames and fires of the furnace in your life, know that you are never alone; the Lord is with you everywhere you go</span><span lang="en-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; line-height: 119%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">Lesson 1: Daniel 3:16-28</span></div>
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Faith Lutheran Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10592469608217514752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2167612346605501202.post-70660645345106805892015-10-17T14:04:00.000-07:002015-10-17T14:04:23.454-07:00Learning from the Lepers: Gratitude & Greed - October 18th<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Message notes by Pastor Ewings on a sermon based on 2 Kings 5:14-27</span></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">There are really only two ways in life that we learn a lesson: our mental faculties either acknowledge and accept what is beneficial or they recognize and reject what is harmful. We learn to imitate what is good and to avoid what is bad. As we seek to grow in our faith today, we learn a lesson from a couple of uncanny characters. The Bible introduces us to Naaman, a heathen from the pagan nation of Aram, who had leprosy. We also meet up with “the servant of Elisha, the man of God” named Gehazi who contracted leprosy. Through the lives of these two leprous men, the Lord seeks to teach us a lesson about gratitude and greed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">A few words about leprosy are in order. This disease </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">is caused by bacteria which attack peripheral nerves in the skin and in the upper respiratory tract. It kills the body from the inside out. If left untreated, leprosy disfigures the skin as it slowly eats away at living flesh. If left untreated for a long time, leprosy can damage the body so badly that parts begin to fall off—like finger tips and the end of the nose and the tops of the ears and the ends of the toes. </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">A few words are in order about Naaman, as well. This man was the general of the army, but not Israel’s army. Naaman was from Aram, a country about 50 miles north east of Israel. Israel and Aram were not nice neighbors. They regularly attacked each other and took home captives. Naaman had acquired a young Israelite girl as a maid for his wife. They must have been good to the young girl because when Naaman got leprosy, the girl told Naaman’s wife about a prophet in Israel who could cure him. In the verses which precede our reading, the prophet Elisha had prescribed a strange treatment for the general: just wash in the Jordan river seven times, and you’ll be cleansed. The arrogant warrior scoffed at such a ridiculous request: “Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than any of the waters of Israel? Couldn’t I wash in them and be cleansed?” he cried. And yet this man, after displaying both physical and spiritual leprosy, did what the prophet had said and was immediately cleansed. His life was forever changed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">It is then that another man steps onto the scene: Gehazi. After hearing of Naaman’s generous offer which Elisha turned down, Gehazi was indignant. Elisha had no wealth, only God’s Word, and did not want to do anything that would cause Naaman to think that he could buy the blessing of God. Ah, but Gehazi, a servant of the Church, had other ideas. He knew how to make greed look good. While Naaman had been healed of his leprosy, the real leprosy in Gehazi’s heart was just beginning to show itself. Leprosy of the soul kills just as surely as leprosy fn the body. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">Paul writes, “The love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” This is precisely what happened to Gehazi and what the Lord allows to happen to many who are not content. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">May we as God’s people learn an important lesson from each of these lepers. God’s grace is completely free; there is nothing we can do to earn it or buy it. He has made our sins as white as snow! In thanksgiving, let us live gratefully and generously as we share the free Gospel with many.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lesson 1: 2 Kings 5:14-27</span></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lesson 2: Hebrews 3:1-6</span></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Gospel: Mark 10:17-27</span></span></div>
Faith Lutheran Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10592469608217514752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2167612346605501202.post-62212576298978655542015-10-09T14:35:00.004-07:002015-10-09T14:41:04.997-07:00Build Your Family on God's Foundation - October 11th<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 4.0pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-align: center;">
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Message Notes by Pastor Ewings for a sermon based on Genesis 2:18-24</span></span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial;">At the end of Genesis chapter one, God said that His creation was very good – that it was perfect. The second chapter of Genesis details just how God made the perfect marriage. It was the </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial;"> God who said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” Creation was almost done, but there was something missing. It was not good for man to be alone; that is, God’s creation was not perfect yet. Marriage is the gift of a loving God to supply what was lacking.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial;">Just as “not good” could be misunderstood as an understatement, when God said, “I will make a helper suitable for him,” don’t think God had in mind for Adam someone marginally acceptable. What do you get for the perfect man? The perfect woman. As a suitable helper, Eve wasn’t identical to Adam; she was his complement. God designed marriage as a beautiful interdependence between husband and wife. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial;">Our society, stained with sin, doesn’t always see the beautiful relationship that exists between the sexes. There is a movement to reject any differences between men and women. We live in a world that rejects God’s plan for everything in life, but especially when it comes to marriage—the foundation of the family. The Bible teaches that our sexuality, the differences and similarities, our spiritual equality and the different roles are gifts from a loving God. Not only were these are a blessing to the first husband and wife, but they are a blessing to every Christian spouse today.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial;">In these verses we find the definition of marriage: mutually commitment, freely given and freely received. A man and a woman will leave their parents and cleave to each other. God calls a married couple one flesh. The unity is wonderfully expressed in sexual happiness between a husband and wife, but it doesn’t stop there. There is a unity of life interests, most importantly that the Christian married couple shared a common eternal inheritance. There is a caring love—Paul describes it like loving your own body—and he quotes Adam’s proposal poem as proof. When two people have become one flesh, when there has been a mutual commitment, we can say with Christ, “They are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate” (Matt 19:6). Marriage is God’s idea. Build your family on His foundation.<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lesson One: Genesis 2:18-24</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lesson Two: Hebrews 2:9-11</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Gospel: Mark 10:2-16</span></div>
Faith Lutheran Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10592469608217514752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2167612346605501202.post-84105893912077031572015-10-02T15:18:00.000-07:002015-10-02T15:24:34.357-07:00Go! - October 4thPastor Flunker will be leading our worship so there will be no Messages Notes from Pastor Ewings. We look forward to seeing you on Sunday.<br />
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Lesson 1: Isaiah 6:1-8<br />
Lesson 2: Romans 1:8-17<br />
Gospel: Mark 16:15,16 This will also serve as the sermon text.<br />
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<br />Faith Lutheran Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10592469608217514752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2167612346605501202.post-22292434071174160042015-09-25T16:14:00.001-07:002015-09-25T16:14:41.984-07:00A Family Feud in the House of God - September 27th <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small; font-style: italic;">Message notes by Pastor Ewings on a sermon based on Numbers 12:1-15</span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">There was a family feud going on in Moses’ life, and it was no game show. Miriam and Aaron, Moses’ sister and brother, are leading the charge against God’s prophet. Moses has already faced one struggle after another. God’s people have already complained that Moses had brought them out of Egypt into the desert to die. They have moaned and groaned against their leader, and now Moses’ own family decides to get in on it. This story is an example of sibling rivalry—but not among children. These are adults who adopt the tactics of children in the school yard. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">The initial attack on Moses concerns his wife. Miriam instigates the bickering with her reference to Moses’ Cushite wife. It is possible that Moses’ wife, Zipporah, is the one whom Miriam slanders, exaggerating the claim. It is also possible that Zipporah has died and Moses recently took a new wife who was a Cushite. This attack is obviously meant to hurt, and the account paints the term “Cushite” in a contemptible manner, like a racist slur. But really, this is just the pretext. Like so many, Miriam presents a smoke screen before she comes out with the real issue. Her main concern is, “Why is Moses God’s favorite?” Together with her brother, they try and topple Moses from his position of authority and claim some fame for themselves. They verbally object to Moses’ leadership, asking “Has the </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; font-variant: small-caps; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">Lord </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">spoken only through Moses? Hasn’t He also spoken through us?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">The next verse is quite interesting. In your NIV Bible, it reads, “Now </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none; mso-thai-font-family: "Angsana New";">Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.” That is a very likely translation of the verse, but another option is possible. It would seem strange for a humble character to make the aforementioned claim, that of being more humble than anyone else on the entire planet. It could rightly be that Moses fought with the Holy Spirit, saying, “Please don’t make me write that!” and the </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; font-variant: small-caps; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none; mso-thai-font-family: "Angsana New";">Lord </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none; mso-thai-font-family: "Angsana New";">said, “Moses, My servant, you will write what I have authored; you don’t get a say in the matter.” That would attest to Moses’ true humility. It could also be that the word translated “humble” could mean “miserable.” The word “miserable” could hardly be more fitting in the context of the chapter considering Moses’ plight. He has found his lot so difficult, the task so unmanageable, the pressure so unbearable that he cried out “The burden is too heavy for me!” in the previous chapter. With attacks now originating from within his own family, he is indeed miserable.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none; mso-thai-font-family: "Angsana New";">Some of the most harrowing words in this text come follow Miriam and Aaron’s outcry. We read, “And the </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; font-variant: small-caps; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none; mso-thai-font-family: "Angsana New";">Lord</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none; mso-thai-font-family: "Angsana New";"> heard this.” What follows is a dramatic appearance of God with pointed words defending His prophet and condemning all who would oppose Him. He called Miriam and Aaron forward. Then He called them to listen. And then He spoke. His words settle the matter; Moses speaks with God’s authority and no one has the right to question the man the Lord has put in place. The last line of His response is chilling: “</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; font-style: italic; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none; mso-thai-font-family: "Angsana New";">Why were you not afraid to speak against My servant?” </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none; mso-thai-font-family: "Angsana New";"> To heighten the matter, the </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; font-variant: small-caps; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none; mso-thai-font-family: "Angsana New";">Lord </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none; mso-thai-font-family: "Angsana New";">speaks of His burning anger against this sin. Worse yet, </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; font-style: italic; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none; mso-thai-font-family: "Angsana New";">He left them. </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none; mso-thai-font-family: "Angsana New";">The God Who does not abandon or forsake left them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">Wouldn’t you expect Moses to rejoice? Wouldn’t you expect Moses to say I told you so!”? Yet we see why so few men are as highly regarded in the Bible as the one who spoke with the </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; font-variant: small-caps; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">Lord</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;"> face to face. After all the harm she had caused him, he pleaded with the </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; font-variant: small-caps; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">Lord</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;"> to heal Miriam.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">What lesson are we to learn from this? “Don’t speak against your pastor or else!!!” “Leprosy awaits all who make racist remarks!!!” No; let the </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; font-variant: small-caps; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">Lord</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;"> Himself show us. He takes sin seriously. He punishes all who transgress His commands and here, His justice was swift, firm and public in the face of a public sin. At the same time, see the heart of God’s servant who demonstrates love even in the midst of a family feud. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lesson 1: Numbers 12:1-15</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lesson 2: James 3:13-18</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Gospel: Mark 9:30-37</span></div>
Faith Lutheran Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10592469608217514752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2167612346605501202.post-36665363030485185352015-09-19T16:43:00.000-07:002015-09-19T16:43:21.529-07:00Which Way Are You Going? - September 20th<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 2.0pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small; font-style: italic;">Message Notes by Pastor Ewings on a sermon based on Jeremiah 38:1-13</span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">In today’s Gospel, Jesus told His disciples that if they wanted to come after Him, they must take up their crosses and follow Him. As we read the account of Jeremiah, a man of God who was tossed into a pit and left to die for proclaiming the Word of the Lord, we have to ask: </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic;">how heavy was his cross</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">? At the same time, as we look around at our lives, we have to ask ourselves the same question: </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic;">how heavy is mine</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">? Have your feet sunk into the mud with the prophet? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">While we might not find ourselves in the bottom of a pit, struggling in the mud and muck to survive, each one of us bears a cross. The pain and suffering that mark our lives identify us as followers of Christ. Yet, the devil wants to take us down, down, down to his level. </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">Satan doesn’t just want you to get your feet a little dirty with the filth of sin; he wants you in over your head. He wants to sink you deep into the mud and the muck of the sin of this world. He tries to twist your worldview to make good seem evil and what is godless seem pious. </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">So which way are you going? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">When you find yourself in these spiritual depths, there is no other escape than to run to the Lord for rescue. He washed you from the filth of the world in the pure waters of baptism. You are His Own dear child! His Son Jesus’ death and sufferings cover over your wrongs. With your sins forgiven and guilt removed, He pulls you out of Satan’s hell and lifts you up with Him. Jeremiah surely remembered that when he was in that cistern. Sunk deep into that muddy pit, he was on firmer ground than anyone else in Israel. He knew that when he was firmly grounded in the </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">, no one could take him down. The </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;"> lifts His people up with Him. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">Jeremiah made it out of the cistern but his cross bearing days weren’t over. What could be worse for a prophet of God than to have to tell your people, give up, God has forsaken you? Jeremiah had to watch God’s prophecy fulfilled before his very eyes. Jerusalem was destroyed. Many of God’s people were cut off all because they refused to take His Word seriously. Yet it is there when you might expect Jeremiah to have abandoned all hope in God. But we see a completely different attitude. Jeremiah sat in its ashes and penned Lamentations – found just a few pages later in your Bible. Among his sighs, cries and lamentations, we read: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 7.9919pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;"><sup></sup></span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall. I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me. Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; font-variant: small-caps; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">Lord’s </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; font-variant: small-caps; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">Lord </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.” The </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; font-variant: small-caps; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">Lord </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;"> is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 7.9919pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;"><sup> </sup></span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; font-variant: small-caps; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">Lord</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">When there was literally nothing left for Jeremiah, that is when he must fully rely on God. Is there a better place to be? He shows us how dear and wonderful life as a cross bearer is. </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">Jesus sends crosses to you because He wants to hold you close today and for eternity. </span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">Lesson 1: </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 17.7977pt;">Jeremiah 38:1-13</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 17.7977pt;">The Gospel: Mark 8:24-35</span></div>
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Faith Lutheran Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10592469608217514752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2167612346605501202.post-74460930852321265742015-09-11T15:25:00.002-07:002015-09-11T15:25:52.364-07:00You Are Dressed for Success - September 13th<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 99%; margin-bottom: 1.0pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-align: center;">
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt;">Living in Alaska, you know that you have to be dressed appropriately for the occasion. In fact, you’ll find many guides encouraging tourists heading to the Great State to be prepared for all four seasons...in one day. While the elements can be fierce, biting winds, bitter cold and blistering blizzards are not our worst enemies; no, we are up against a much fiercer foe. The devil himself along with the powers of this dark world and the spiritual forces of evil unleash their arsenal against us. If we hope to stand firm, we have to be dressed for the occasion. We need the armor of God to be dressed for success!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">The first piece of armor named is the belt of truth, and appropriately so. If a soldier had every other piece yet lacked a belt, he would be neither fully equipped nor securely armed. The belt was not merely an adornment but an essential part of his equipment to secure the armor in place. In the same way, truth is essential to the Christian armament, equipping and securing us for our spiritual battle. </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt; language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">Next, we are told to put on the breastplate of righteousness. The Roman breastplate was composed of many pieces of iron fastened together by leather straps, giving great protection to the vital organs. The Christian is to endue himself with righteousness to protect his heart and will against the fatal thrust of his spiritual assailants. Truly, this is nothing other than the righteousness of Christ. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">If the Christian soldier is to stand up against the attack of the demons, he must see to it that his feet are properly protected and equipped. The Roman soldier wore sturdy, supportive sandals with soles were thickly studded with nails. The Christian soldier should see to it that his feet are equipped with the sandals which will give him a firm footing—the good news that speaks peace to a sinful heart.</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt; language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt;">The next piece of the panoply described is the shield.</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt;">This piece of armor was a large and oblong one, four feet tall and two and a half feet wide.</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt;">This shield which the Christian soldier takes up is faith, a trusting faith in the Lord Jesus Who gives victory over sin and the hosts of the devil. The fiery darts refer to arrows tipped with tow, pitch, or such material, set on fire before they were discharged.</span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">The fifth piece of armor is the helmet which wrapped thick iron around a soldier’s head. Cavalrymen would often carry broadswords which they swung at the heads of enemy soldiers to split their skulls or decapitate them. Although the devil and his minions are armed to the hilt, the Christian soldier is equipped with the knowledge that the outcome of the battle is sure: salvation is ours in Jesus. </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt; language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">The final element of armor is the sword of the Spirit. A Roman sword was rather short—just 18 inches long—but extremely versatile and deadly in close combat. So also is the Word of God. God’s Word serves both for attack and to parry the thrusts of the enemy, jus as Jesus used it when He was tempted. We can find no greater offensive or defensive weapon in our arsenal than the Word of God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 18pt;">While the devil will willingly help you into any other armor and put many other weapons in your hand, his ultimate and only goal is to slay you eternally.</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 18pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 18pt;">So put on the armor of God!</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 18pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 18pt;">With this armor and weaponry in place, we are more than just dressed for success; we are dressed for salvation.</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 18pt;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lesson 1: Deuteronomy 4:1,2,6-9</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Gospel: Mark 7:1-8,14,15,21-23</span></div>
Faith Lutheran Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10592469608217514752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2167612346605501202.post-7981529411593816832015-09-04T12:00:00.001-07:002015-09-04T12:00:18.535-07:00Your Marriage is Perfect - September 6<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 125%; margin-bottom: 1.0pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-align: center;">
<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold; line-height: 125%;">Ephesians: United in Christ<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; line-height: 125%;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Messaged notes by Pastor Ewings on a sermon based on Ephesians 5:21-33</span></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 125%;">When most people get married, they hope for a fairy tale marriage. A brand new bride likely expects her handsome beau to sweep her off her feet, her knight in shining armor to rescue her from all her dragons and demons and her prince charming to make sure that she lives happily ever after. A newly wed groom likely believes that the princess in his castle will always be the fairest one of all, that his Cinderella will joyfully and willingly fulfill all of his needs and desires and that the queen of his heart will submit to his rule. Many people come into marriage with the expectation that the fairy tale romance will be theirs only to find out soon enough that the lofty dreams are nothing more than a fantasy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 125%;">How’s your marriage? Are you and your spouse living the dream? Do you have the perfect marriage...or have you spent more time dealing with your imperfections and failures? Have you and your spouse had your fair share of nightmares? There are so many things that shatter the dreams of all who fantasize of living happily ever after. Premarital pregnancies, troubled marriages, no-fault divorces, overbearing or abusive husbands, domineering wives, and families caught in the crossfire of the war between the sexes—these are just a few of the reasons why this portion of God’s Word is so applicable to life in today’s Christian congregations. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 125%;">Of all the advice offered by secular counselors, newspaper columnists and talk-show hosts, none compares to the marriage guidance which God gives in his Word. Who can better define the roles of husband and wife than He who created them in the first place? The Lord Jesus shows the extent of His love to His bride, the Church, as He describes the components of a perfect marriage. To the husband, He says </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; line-height: 125%;">love</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 125%;">; love your wife as Christ loved the Church and gave Himself up for her. To the wife, He says </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; line-height: 125%;">submit</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 125%;">; submit to your husband as you submit to the Lord. These two qualities are what make marriage a little piece of Heaven on earth. United in Christ, your marriage is perfect—and that’s no fairy tale! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lesson One: Joshua 14:1,2a,14-18</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Gospel: John 6:60-69</span></div>
Faith Lutheran Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10592469608217514752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2167612346605501202.post-31782671245697212282015-08-28T15:25:00.002-07:002015-08-28T15:25:56.817-07:00How's Your Walk? - August 30th<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 99%; margin-bottom: 1.0pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-align: center;">
<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: bold; language: en-US; line-height: 99%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">Ephesians: United in Christ<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; line-height: 99%;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Message notes for a sermon based on Ephesians 5:15-20 by Pastor Ewings</span></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">In the first century, the Apostle Paul wrote that the days were evil. That was before the days of a website for adultery like Ashley Madison, before the time of internet pornography, before ISIS ever existed, before abortion was widely accepted. Yet, Paul called those days evil and told his congregation that they needed to be careful how they lived. He saw the foolishness of the drunks and the debaucherous in his day and warned the church in Ephesus against such a simple life. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">If Paul warned the dear Christian flock back them, what would he say now? Sure, first century Christians were still exposed to brutality and murder, lies and deceit, adultery and perversion. There’s really nothing new under the sun. But it seems like sin is so much more accessible in our day, waiting for us at the push of a button or the click of a mouse, just a FaceTime or a Skype chat away; just a heated email or pharisaical post from proving our foolishness to the world. With so much technology at our fingertips, now more than ever, we need to walk wisely. Not only that, there is such a great variety—a smorgasbord of sin to choose from—which is available faster than we can think, dream or imagine.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">The question that we all need to ask ourselves is </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; font-style: italic; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">how do I walk as a child of the Light in this dark world? </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;"> Paul gives us a number of guidelines, instructing us on how we may walk wisely. Instead of simply encouraging us to abstain from the intoxication of alcohol or the ecstasy of sexual escapades, the Lord invites us to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Since we are Christians and have been enlightened with faith through the Word, we should live as Christians and beware of everything that would hinder our faith or draw us away from Christ. It is not befitting of Christians, once we have come to know the Word of God and have been baptized as children of the Lord, that we should live however we want, looking for our own pleasure, making our own rules—really, being our own gods. It is one thing for us to say that we’re Christians, to confess that we believe and to declare that we’ve been baptized; it’s wholly another to live as a child of God as we confess our faith with our actions. As Christians, we walk wisely.</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none; mso-thai-font-family: "Angsana New";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">Lesson 1: Proverbs 9:1-6</span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">Lesson 2: Ephesians 5:15-20</span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">Gospel: John 6:41-51</span></div>
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Faith Lutheran Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10592469608217514752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2167612346605501202.post-16577849183969763082015-08-21T17:46:00.000-07:002015-08-21T17:46:06.677-07:00We are Like Jesus - August 23rd<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 3.0pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-align: center;">
<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: bold; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">Ephesians: United in Christ<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Message notes by Pastor Ewings from on a sermon based on Ephesians 4:17-24</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">Whom do you want to be like? A former teacher, a world leader, a neighbor, your boss? There have been people in your life who have had a great impact and influence on who you are today. As adults, we tend to give little thought to the idea of having a role model, as we regard this to be a quality that children seek from the adults in their lives. But when you think about it, you’re never too young and you’re never too old to have a role model. So, who’s yours?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">If you haven’t chosen someone for yourself, Paul suggests one for us today. He says, “Be imitators of God.” That’s right, Paul urges us to make the Lord our role model. In our thoughts, in our words and in our actions, we want to be like God. But how can we imitate a God Whom we can’t even fathom? How can we strive to be like someone—the Lord nonetheless—Who is completely unlike us? He’s perfect and holy, always loving, always forgiving. He’s our polar opposite! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">To be sure, we cannot imitate God by creating a universe or caring for it day after day. We cannot mimic Jesus’ miracles: changing water into wine, walking on water, healing the sick or raising the dead. We cannot mime Jesus’ method of satisfying God’s demands for justice and mercy and providing the solution for the salvation of the world. But we can and </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; font-style: italic; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">must</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;"> imitate Him; we must copy His love. </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none; mso-thai-font-family: "Angsana New";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">The Lord reminds us of many ways in this text in which He has loved us: we were sealed by the Holy Spirit, forgiven in Christ and loved by God the Father. His love for us enables us to imitate Him, that is, to love Him and to love one another.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; line-height: 119%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">The same kind of things come to different kinds of people. We all face difficulties and disappointments, hardships and hurt., trials and temptations. The difference is in the way that people react. For some, these events lead to bitterness, which gives birth to rage and anger, which seeks to destroy a person in any way possible. For the Christian, our thoughts, words and actions are united with those of Jesus. When we face life’s challenges, we react out of love, kindness and compassion, we are quick to forgive—yes, </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; font-style: italic; language: en-US; line-height: 119%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">we are like Jesus </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; line-height: 119%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">because He enables us to live like Him and love like Him.</span><span lang="en-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; line-height: 119%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">Lesson One: 1 Kings 19:3-8</span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; line-height: 119%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">Lesson Two: Ephesians 4:30-5:2</span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; line-height: 119%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">Gospel: John 6:41-51</span></div>
Faith Lutheran Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10592469608217514752noreply@blogger.com0