“I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: That thou mayest love the LORD thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.” Deuteronomy 30:19-20 Read verses 15-20

This word of God does not teach that unbelievers are capable of choosing to believe or trust and follow after the LORD God. But it does teach us that those who have been called out of this world, enlightened and brought to faith in Christ Jesus are given the free will to choose between following after their Lord and Savior or turning back into sin and unbelief, to walk with the Lord or to turn back into their old ways.

Like the children of Israel in the Old Testament who were redeemed from bondage in Egypt, baptized in the Red Sea, given God’s covenant at Mt. Sinai and led through the wilderness to the land of promise, so we have been redeemed from our bondage to sin by Christ, baptized into His name, instructed in the new covenant of God’s grace in Christ and led safely thus far through the wilderness of this world. And Moses’ sermon – the blessings and the cursings in Deuteronomy, chapters 27 through 30 – apply to us as well.

If we turn aside from the LORD God who has so graciously redeemed us and made us His own, if we choose to turn back into sin and pursue other gods of our own making, we will bring upon ourselves God’s curses – His judgments and punishments. If we, on the other hand, by the grace and mercy of God, continue to hold fast to Christ Jesus and to follow after the Lord, we will receive God’s blessings and life everlasting.

This is what the Apostle Paul also teaches in Romans 6. After expounding on the fact that we are saved by God’s grace and through faith, he writes, “Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” (v. 1-2). He goes on to write, “Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servant ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?” (v. 16). If we choose to yield ourselves to sin, it leads to death. If we follow after the Lord Jesus and are obedient to His Word, it leads to righteousness and blessing. He summarizes it all by saying, “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (v. 23).

Christ Jesus is our life and the length of our days. He has redeemed us and gives us life everlasting for the sake of His innocent sufferings and death in our stead. Hold fast to Him! Follow after Him! Continue in His Word and walk in His ways. Apart from Him is cursing and death. In Him is forgiveness and life everlasting!

O Jesus, Son of God and our Savior, graciously keep us in the true and saving faith unto life everlasting. Let us ever hold fast to You. Amen.

[Scripture from the King James Version of the Bible]

“Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch. Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.” Acts 11:22-23

It was only by the grace of God that, when the Gospel was preached to the Greek-speaking people of Antioch, many turned from their sinful ways to the Lord Jesus Christ for forgiveness and life eternal.

Of course, it is only by the gracious operation and working of God’s Spirit through the Word that we have been brought to know and believe that in Christ Jesus we have a Savior, that in Him we have forgiveness for all our sins and life everlasting.

It is as the Gospel of John states of Christ Jesus: “He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God” (1:10-13).

Jesus also said, “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life” (John 6:63).

When the Word of God was preached in Antioch, God’s Spirit, working through that Word, called people to repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus. When Barnabas came, he continued to preach the word and to exhort the believers there (where they were first called Christians) to “with purpose of heart … cleave unto the Lord.” He encouraged the believers there to hold fast to Jesus because only in Him did they have forgiveness and life. He is the only way, the only truth, the only life (John 14:6). There is salvation in no other (Acts 4:12).

We who believe today do so as a result of the grace and mercy of God – the gracious working of God’s Spirit (cf. Ephesians 1-2). And, as Barnabas (and later Paul) taught the Christians the Word of the Lord and encouraged them to intentionally and purposefully hold fast to Christ Jesus, so I encourage you to cleave unto the Lord – to continue trusting in Him alone for forgiveness and life everlasting.

“As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving” (Colossians 2:6-7). “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord” (Colossians 3:16). Continue in Christ Jesus!

O dearest Jesus, graciously grant that I cleave to You, trusting in You, and Your blood shed upon the cross, for forgiveness, life and eternal salvation. Amen.

[Scripture from the King James Version of the Bible]

Meditations in the Parables of Jesus

THE SHEEP AND THE GOATS

Read Matthew 25:31-46

“When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.”

On the Last Day, when Jesus Christ returns with all His holy angels to judge the living and the dead, He shall separate the believers and unbelievers from one another as a shepherd divides the sheep from the goats, putting the sheep on the right hand and the goats on the left.

The unbelievers, those who have not trusted in Jesus Christ and His innocent sufferings and death for the forgiveness of their sins and everlasting life, will “go away into everlasting punishment.” But those who truly believe that they are forgiven and have eternal life for Jesus’ sake – because Christ died for them and rose again – will go into “life eternal.”

If it is through faith in Christ that one goes to heaven, and if it is through unbelief that one is damned and spends eternity in hell (cf. Mark 16:16), why does Jesus here speak of the works of believers for Him and the lack of works in unbelievers?

Jesus is not saying that those on the right hand go to heaven because of their works; it is only through Christ and His sufferings and death that they are acceptable in God’s sight and are given eternal life (Eph. 1:6-7). But since they have been brought to faith in Christ and are saved by God’s grace, they now love their Lord and Savior and gladly live for Him and serve their fellow-man (cf. Eph. 2:8-10). They – those on the right hand – are not depending on such works to gain God’s favor; they are not even aware of the many times they have served Christ by serving their brethren. Rather they love and serve their brethren because Christ has first loved and served them by winning for them eternal salvation (cf. 1 John 4:9-11,19).

Those who do not have saving faith in Jesus Christ cannot love and serve Him. Even when they outwardly perform many of the same charitable works as Christians, they are not done for Christ; for “without faith it is impossible to please Him” (Heb. 11:6).

O Jesus, who my debt didst pay and for my sin wast smitten, within the Book of Life, oh, may my name be also written! I will not doubt; I trust in Thee, from Satan Thou hast made me free and from all condemnation. Amen. (The Lutheran Hymnal, Hymn #611, Verse 5)

“Mark of a Believer”

“He that is of God heareth God’s words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.” John 8:47

Many claim to be believers and disciples of Jesus, but a mark of a true believer is that he hears and believes God’s words. A believer has a desire to hear God’s Word, to read and study the Bible, and he accepts and believes God’s Word in all that it says.

The unbeliever, on the other hand, does not hear and accept the Word of God. He has no real desire to hear God’s Word preached and proclaimed or to read and study the Scriptures. And when the words of God say and teach something contrary to his own belief or opinion, he questions God’s Word or attempts to explain in away.

Why is that so? Jesus explains: “Ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.” In fact, just a few verses earlier, Jesus told those who did not believe and accept the truth He proclaimed and which is taught in the Scriptures: “Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word. Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not” (John 8:43-45). Jesus simply told His hearers the facts. They didn’t receive Jesus’ word because they were of their father the devil. As the devil brought about the spiritual ruin and death of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden with his lies and deception (Genesis 3), so the devil deceived Jesus’ hearers who were convinced they were God’s children by virtue of their descent from Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

Of course, the same is true today. Until God’s Spirit opens up and enlightens one’s heart and soul, the Word of God remains a closed book. People may hear and believe the historical accounts – they may even believe they are God’s children by virtue of their upbringing, works or their church membership – but they cannot grasp the Bible’s message of sin and guilt and of God’s mercy, forgiveness and pardon in Christ Jesus. Until a person is born of God, he is the spiritual offspring of the devil and his death-bringing deception (cf. John 1:9-13).

It is as Jesus said: “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him” (John 6:44); “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life” (John 6:63); and “No man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father” (John 6:65).

St. Paul also writes: “No man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost” (1 Corinthians 12:3); and “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned” (1 Corinthians 2:14).

By nature – by our natural birth – everyone of us is a child of the devil. We are born into this world in spiritual darkness and death. God’s Word is a closed book to us. We are deceived by our own wicked hearts (cf. Jeremiah 17:9). When God’s Word is preached or read, we may hear the words but we do not grasp their true meaning and we are unwilling to accept the truth the Bible proclaims.

But when the Spirit of God, working through Word and Sacrament, regenerates us, opens up our hearts and teaches us the truth, we begin to truly hear God’s words and accept and believe them (cf. Titus 3:4-7; Colossians 2:12). The Bible tells us: “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Galatians 3:26-27). And when we are children of God, God’s Spirit dwells in us and gives us the desire to hear God’s Word. He teaches us the truth and moves us to humbly believe and accept it.

Even as Christians, born again of God’s Spirit through the “washing of water by the word” (Ephesians 5:26), we still have, until we die, our old sinful nature which wants nothing of God’s Word and the truth. But the Spirit of God, who dwells in our hearts, is at work as well, creating in us a new nature which loves God, desires to hear His Word and gladly believes and accepts its truth. And that same Spirit, working through the Word, continually assures our hearts of God’s mercy and forgiveness for the sake of Christ Jesus and His blood shed for us upon the cross. He assures us that for Jesus’ sake, we are indeed God’s children and have a place with Him in heaven. He assures us that, as Jesus was raised up from the dead on third day, so we will be raised up on the Last Day with a glorified and sin-free body to dwell with our Lord and Savior forevermore.

May God graciously grant us His Spirit and open up our hearts and minds to His Word that we might hear and believe the truth, that in Christ Jesus we sinners have full pardon and life eternal. Amen.

My Dear Children

Who Is the Almighty God?

“Ah, LORD God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for You.” Graciously grant us an understanding of Your almighty power that we might never doubt and lose hope, but trust You in all things. Amen.

My Dear Children,

The God we worship and serve is not limited in strength and power even though we often doubt that He can help in every situation and we fail to trust in Him to hear and answer all our prayers. Our God is almighty – that is, He has limitless power and strength. There is nothing that He cannot do, whether it be great or small! Have you stopped to think about this?

1. The Bible says in Jeremiah 32:17: “Ah, LORD God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for You.” What did God create? How did He do it? Read Hebrews 11:3 and Genesis 1:1ff.

2. Nehemiah 9:6 says: “You alone are the LORD; You have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and everything on it, the seas and all that is in them, and You preserve them all. The host of heaven worships You.” If God created all things in six days by His word and still preserves all things (keeps them going) by that same word, is there anything that God cannot do?

3. In Genesis 17:1, God, speaking to Abraham, said: “I am almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless.” What does God call himself? What does this mean?

4. When the angel Gabriel was speaking to Mary and telling her that she would conceive and give birth to Jesus, he also told her: “For with God nothing will be impossible” (Luke 1:37). When Jesus was speaking to His disciples about how hard it will be for a rich man to be saved, His disciples wondered who then could be saved (Matthew 19:25). Jesus told them: “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26). Again, can God do what is impossible to us? Is there anything that God cannot do?

5. List five examples from the Old Testament and five examples from the New Testament where God did what is impossible to man.

6. In Hebrews 1:1,2,3, we read: “God…has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.” Through whom did God create the worlds? Who is the express image of God’s person? Who upholds all things by the word of his power? What is this saying about Jesus? Is He almighty?

7. Read Genesis 1:1-2 and Psalm 33:6. Was the Holy Spirit active in creating the world and all things? Read Titus 3:5 and John 3:5. Who causes us to be born again and trust in Jesus as our Savior? Is this a mighty working of God in us? What does this tell us about the Holy Spirit?

8. If God is almighty, can He punish those who reject Him and disobey Him with everlasting punishment? Can He work faith in our hearts through His Word, save us, and give us everlasting life in a new heavens and earth?

9. What confidence can we have when we go to God in prayer? Is He able to hear? Is He always able to help?

GOD

We believe that there is only one true God (Isaiah 44:6; 1 Corinthians 8:4). This God (called the LORD or JEHOVAH) is one divine Being or Essence, but three distinct Persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (thus the name, Triune or Three/One God), each being eternal and equal in power and majesty, because each Person is the LORD God (Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:19; 1 John 5:7; Isaiah 48:16-17; John 1:1; Colossians 2:9; 1 Corinthians 3:16; Hebrews 9:14; 1 Peter 4:14). We believe that no one can worship or serve the Triune God except he believe that Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God and the Savior of mankind from sin and its consequences (John 3:18,36; 5:23; 14:6; 1 John 2:23; 5:11-12). Hence, all who deny the Trinity of God (that God is three Persons) or the Unity of God (that God is one divine Being), or who do not trust in Jesus Christ, the Son, for salvation, do not worship and serve the true God.

Please Memorize: Jeremiah 32:17; Genesis 17:1; Luke 1:37.

[Scripture for this study taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.]

The Augsburg Confession

Article VII: Of the Church

Also they teach that one holy Church is to continue forever. The Church is the congregation of saints, in which the Gospel is rightly taught and the Sacraments are rightly administered.

And to the true unity of the Church it is enough to agree concerning the doctrine of the Gospel and the administration of the Sacraments. Nor is it necessary that human traditions, that is, rites or ceremonies, instituted by men, should be everywhere alike. As Paul says: One faith, one Baptism, one God and Father of all, etc. Eph. 4:5-6.

[Editor's Note: a reading of the Lutheran Confessions makes clear that the statement “to agree concerning the doctrine of the Gospel and the administration of the Sacraments” is not to be viewed in a narrow sense of the Gospel, as though it is only necessary to agree concerning Christ's death on the cross for all sin. The word Gospel is here used in a wider sense, indicating, as the context reveals, Christians submit to and accept all that the Word of God teaches and they administer Baptism and the Lord's Supper in accord with Christ's command. On the other hand, it is not necessary that Christians agree in human traditions, rites and ceremonies instituted by men. Thus, Christians may use different forms of worship and observe a variety of different traditions and rites and still be one. But a mark of the Church – the place where we expect to find true believers – is where all the divine truth revealed in the Scriptures is accepted, believed, preached and proclaimed.]

Bible Study in Preparation for Sunday

Scripture Readings for Sunday are Psalm 119:81-88; Acts 10:1-48; Luke 12:49-56. Please read them in their context as you prepare for worship on Sunday.

The Adult Bible Class will continue in the Gospel of John at chapter 8:33ff. Who is a servant of sin? Can we claim to be good Christians or Lutherans and not in bondage to sin? Who alone can set us free? How? Cf. Genesis 21 and Galatians 4. How alone can we have a place in God’s everlasting kingdom? How were Jesus’ hearers of their father, the devil? What works were they doing? What would Jesus’ hearers do if they were truly born of God? Why could they not understand Jesus’ words? Could any convince or convict Jesus of sin? What is a mark of a believer or true disciple of Jesus? Why did Jesus’ hearers not truly hear God’s Word? How should we take all this to heart and apply it to ourselves?

Remember to Pray

Remember to pray for our church and for all our members, that none be lost to Christ’s kingdom but that all continue in repentance and be strengthened and built up in the true and saving faith in Christ Jesus through the hearing and study of His Word. We pray for God’s healing and strengthening of our congregation. We continue to pray for all who have been sick or who are suffering among us – especially for Dawn Hiebert, who will undergo knee surgery in September; Dick Stueland, who is recovering from knee surgery; for Sam Rusch, who has had repeated stays in the hospital; and for the mother of Dick Rusch – for those who have been absent from us, for our extended families, for Christians who are alone and have no congregation, and for our adopted soldiers. Pray for God’s help with our church’s financial needs. Continue to pray for the Lutheran Churches in the Philippines, for Christians in Nigeria, Haiti and Chile, and for believers around the world who are persecuted or suffering for their faith in Christ Jesus.

Events and Announcements

The Church Council will meet at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 18, in the church.

The August evening Bible study has been rescheduled to Wednesday, Aug. 25, at 7 p.m. A light supper is also being planned at 6:20 p.m. for those who wish to come early for a meal.

Information for bulletins or newsletters may be sent to Pastor Moll by calling him at 479-233-0081 or by e-mail at goodshepherdrogers@yahoo.com.

“My soul fainteth for thy salvation: but I hope in thy word.” Psalm 119:81

[Except where otherwise stated, Scripture in this Newsletter is taken from the King James Version of the Bible.]

“Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.” Psalm 33:8-9

How foolish it is for people to exclude the LORD God from their lives and imagine they can live without Him. How foolish it is to fail to honor and respect the LORD who made us and all things and gave us life.

They forget that “in Him we live, and move, and have our being” – that He holds our very breath in His hands (Acts 17:28; Daniel 5:23).

The Bible tells us: “By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth” (Psalm 33:6).

And not only did He create the heavens and all the stars by His almighty Word, He created the earth and mankind as well.

“Thou, even thou, art LORD alone; thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things that are therein, the seas, and all that is therein, and thou preservest them all; and the host of heaven worshippeth thee” (Nehemiah 9:6).

Therefore, “Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.”

Those who are wise will acknowledge and fear the LORD God and give Him the honor and glory due unto His name. They will offer unto Him their worship and praise.

“Rejoice in the LORD, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright. Praise the LORD with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings. Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise” (Psalm 33:1-3).

And since the LORD God looks down upon the sons of men and considers all their works, it is foolish to place our confidence in human might and strength. Rather, the wise will place their trust in the LORD, their Maker. They will look unto Him for mercy and trust in His name.

“Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy” (Psalm 33:18).

And the LORD is merciful. He so loved the world that he gave His only-begotten Son to suffer and die for mankind’s sin and then rise again. For the sake of Christ Jesus, God the Son in human flesh, God is merciful and forgiving toward us and offers us life with Him.

“Our soul waiteth for the LORD: he is our help and our shield. For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name. Let thy mercy, O LORD, be upon us, according as we hope in thee” (Psalm 33:20-22).

[Scripture from the King James Version of the Bible]

Meditations in the Parables of Jesus

THE TALENTS

Read Matthew 25:14-30

“For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money. After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

We do not know when our Lord Jesus Christ will return. That Day could be very soon, or it may be many years from now. What are we to be doing while we await the return of our Lord and Savior, who died upon the cross to redeem us from sin, death and the power of the devil? With the parable of the talents, Jesus teaches us that we are to be faithfully serving Him and carrying on the work of His kingdom until He returns.

All of us, as Christians, have been given talents, abilities and spiritual gifts to use in carrying on the Lord’s work until He returns on the Last Day (I Peter 4:10; Rom. 12:4ff.). Whatever our gift, talent or ability is, we are to faithfully use it for the Lord and for the upbuilding of His kingdom and Church. We have also been entrusted with the Word of God; this we are to faithfully use and proclaim. Since Christ Jesus suffered and died upon the cross to redeem us and make us children of God, He expects us to respond to His gracious gift of salvation by living our lives for Him; and, as a fruit of our faith, we also desire to do this (2 Cor. 5:15; 1 John 4:19ff.).

When Jesus returns on the Last Day to take to heaven all who trust in Him alone, He will examine our faithfulness. We are His stewards, having been entrusted with His Word and with gifts and abilities to use for the work of His kingdom. “It is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful” (1 Cor. 4:2). If, as a result of our faith in Christ as Savior, we faithfully serve Him, we will be graciously rewarded with greater opportunity for service when we enter the joy of our Lord in heaven. If we are found to be unfaithful servants who cared to do nothing for our Lord, we will lose not only what has been entrusted to us, but eternal life as well; for such unfaithfulness is the denial of true faith in Jesus Christ as Savior (cf. John 15:1-6).

O God of mercy, God of might, in love and pity infinite, teach us, as ever in Thy sight, to live our life to Thee. …And may Thy Holy Spirit move all those who live to live in love till Thou shalt greet in heaven above all those who live to Thee. Amen. (The Lutheran Hymnal, Hymn #439, Verses 1,6)

“Continue in the Word”

“Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” John 8:31-32

Where can we find the truth? How can we know and be assured of forgiveness for all our sins and a place in God’s everlasting kingdom? Jesus answers those very questions when He said to the Jews who believed on Him: “If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

Like the Jews of Jesus’ day, we may not think of ourselves as slaves and servants of sin? We may not consider ourselves bound by anything because of our religious upbringing. But Jesus says otherwise. He tells us that all who commit sin are the servants of sin, and that the servants of sin will not abide in the house forever – only the Son (v. 34-35). As Ishmael was cast out and Isaac received the inheritance, so it is only the sons of the kingdom who will receive the eternal inheritance of heaven (cf. Genesis 21 and Galatians 4).

As servants and slaves of sin – conceived in sin and shapen in iniquity (Psalm 51), whose hearts are deceitful and desperately wicked (Jeremiah 17:9), and who are inclined to evil continually (Genesis 6:5; 8:21) – we cannot free ourselves or make atonement for our own wickedness (cf. Psalm 49:7-9). Only the Son can set us free and give us a place in His eternal kingdom. And this He did when He bore the guilt and punishment of our sin, suffered and died in our stead, and then rose again on the third day (cf. John 3:14-18; 1 John 2:1-2).

Jesus urges us to continue in His Word that we might know the truth and that the truth might make us free. It is in His Word that we learn the truth. We see our sinfulness and the hopelessness of our condition. But we also see Jesus, God’s Son and our Savior, who fulfilled all righteousness for us and on the cross paid in full the just punishment for our sins and the sins of the whole world. We see that for Jesus’ sake, God is merciful, forgiving and accepts us as His own dear children (Eph. 1:6-7). We see Him reach out to us with love and forgiveness and offer us son-ship and a place in His eternal kingdom.

When we continue in Jesus’ Word and are His disciples, the Holy Ghost, working through that Word, reveals to us Jesus and all He has done for us. The Holy Spirit assures us of forgiveness, son-ship and life in Jesus’ name – of a place in heaven. When we continue in Jesus’ Word – the Bible – the Holy Spirit will reveal to us the truth about ourselves and about Jesus our Savior, and that truth will set us free. Through faith in Christ Jesus, we are forgiven sons of God and free indeed!

“For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise” (Galatians 3:26-29).

Grant, O Lord Jesus, that we might continue in Your life-giving Word, learn the truth and be made free through faith in You as our God and Savior. We ask this for the sake of Your blood shed upon the cross for our sins. Amen.

My Dear Children

Who Is the Eternal God?

O Eternal God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, before anything else was, You were there. And, even when all that we now know passes away, You will still be. Without beginning and without end, You always have been and always will be the Living God. Open up our hearts and minds and give us an understanding of Your Word that we may receive its truths by faith. Amen.

My Dear Children,

Everything we know in this world has a beginning and an end. Days begin and days end. We buy something that is new, but eventually it becomes old and is discarded. We start school and we finish school, We start a job and, one way or another, we finish our work. We ourselves are born and sooner or later we die. Yet God is different. He had no beginning. He always has been God! He has no end. He always will be God! This is hard for us to grasp with our limited understanding, but it is what God has revealed to us about Himself. Consider His Word.

1. Psalm 90:1-2 says: “LORD, You have been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever You had formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.” Who has been there and sustained mankind throughout all our generations? Who is God “from everlasting to everlasting”?

2. In Deuteronomy 33:27, the Scriptures say: “The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.” What does this passage say about God? Who upholds us and cares for us all the time? How long will He be there for us?

3. Read Hebrews 1:10-12 (Psalm 102:25-27). What will happen to the present heavens and earth? Who was there before the heavens and earth were created? Who will remain after they are dissolved?

4. Read Exodus 3:1-16. By what name does God reveal Himself to Moses? What does this name mean? The name “Jehovah” (LORD) comes from this name. How long was this God’s name? How long will it be God’s name?

5. Read John 8:56-58. What did Jesus say about Himself? Was Jesus the living God in the days of Abraham (approximately 1800 to 1900 years before the birth of Jesus)? Did Abraham see Him? See Genesis 18:1ff.

6. Read John 1:1-5. Who is the Word in these verses? Cf. v. 14-18. Was the Word there in the beginning? Read Revelation 1:8, 9-18. Jesus died once for our sins. Will He ever die again?

7. Read Hebrews 9:14. What is the Holy Spirit here called?

8. Can you think of anyone else, or anything else, that is eternal? Can you comprehend what it means to be eternal? Describe it.

9. Was God created? Was God the Father created? Was God the Son created? Was God the Spirit created? If God (or any Person of the Trinity) was created, would He be eternal?

10. Was there ever a time when God was not? Will there ever be a time when God is not? If so, would God be eternal?

11. When God threatens to punish the evil angels and unbelieving people with everlasting torment in hell, can He do it? When He promises everlasting life to all who repent of their sins and trust in Jesus as their Savior, can He do this too?

GOD

We believe that there is only one true God (Isaiah 44:6; I Corinthians 8:4). This God (called the LORD or JEHOVAH) is one divine Being or Essence, but three distinct Persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (thus the name, Triune or Three/One God), each being eternal and equal in power and majesty, because each Person is the LORD God (Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:19; I John 5:7; Isaiah 48:16-17; John 1:1; Colossians 2:9; I Corinthians 3:16; Hebrews 9:14; I Peter 4:14). We believe that no one can worship or serve the Triune God except he believe that Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God and the Savior of mankind from sin and its consequences (John 3:18,36; 5:23; 14:6; I John 2:23; 5:11-12). Hence, all who deny the Trinity of God (that God is three Persons) or the Unity of God (that God is one divine Being), or who do not trust in Jesus Christ, the Son, for salvation, do not worship and serve the true God.

Please Memorize: Psalm 90:1-2; Deuteronomy 33:27; Revelation 1:8

Scripture Taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1979, 1980, 1982, 1983, 1994 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

The Augsburg Confession

Article VI: Of New Obedience.

Also they teach that this faith is bound to bring forth good fruits, and that it is necessary to do good works commanded by God, because of God’s will, but that we should not rely on those works to merit justification before God. For remission of sins and justification is apprehended by faith, as also the voice of Christ attests: When ye shall have done all these things, say: We are unprofitable servants (Luke 17:10). The same is also taught by the Fathers. For Ambrose says: It is ordained of God that he who believes in Christ is saved, freely receiving remission of sins, without works, by faith alone.

Bible Study in Preparation for Sunday

Scripture Readings for Sunday are Psalm 33; Acts 9:32-43; Luke 12:22-40. Please read them in their context as you prepare for worship on Sunday.

The Adult Bible Class will continue in the Gospel of John at chapter 8:23ff. Who did Jesus say He was, and from where did He come? Why did Jesus say to the Pharisees and Jews that they would die in their sins? How is this true yet today? Who will die in their sins? Where did Jesus get his words and doctrine? Whose words are Jesus’ words? When would they recognize that Jesus was doing the will of His Father in heaven and speaking the words of God? What was Jesus saying about His work here in this world? What had He come into this world to do? Cf. John 3:14ff. Who was with Jesus? Whose will was Jesus doing here in this world? What did Jesus say to those Jews who believed on Him? How are these words applicable to you and to me today? How can we be disciples of Jesus yet today? How can and should we continue in His Word? What will the result be? Who works through that Word? What does He reveal to us in the Word? Who is a servant of sin? Can we claim to be good Christians or Lutherans and not in bondage to sin? Who alone can set us free? How? Cf. Genesis 21 and Galatians 4. How alone can we have a place in God’s everlasting kingdom?

Remember to Pray

Remember to pray for our church and for all our members, that none be lost to Christ’s kingdom but that all continue in repentance and be strengthened and built up in the true and saving faith in Christ Jesus through the hearing and study of His Word. We pray for God’s healing and strengthening of our congregation. We continue to pray for all who have been sick or who are suffering among us – especially for Dick Stueland, who is recovering from knee surgery; for Sam Rusch, who has had repeated stays in the hospital; and for the mother of Dick Rusch – for those who have been absent from us, for our extended families, for Christians who are alone and have no congregation, and for our adopted soldiers. Pray for God’s help with our church’s financial needs. Continue to pray for the Lutheran Churches in the Philippines, for Christians in Nigeria, Haiti and Chile, and for believers around the world who are persecuted or suffering for their faith in Christ Jesus.

Events and Announcements

Information for bulletins or newsletters may be sent to Pastor Moll by calling him at 479-233-0081 or by e-mail at goodshepherdrogers@yahoo.com.

Due to a scheduling conflict, the August evening Bible study will be rescheduled and announced on Sunday and in next week’s newsletter.

The Church Council will meet at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 18, in the church.

“The Word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth.” Psalm 33:4

[Except where otherwise stated, Scripture in this Newsletter is taken from the King James Version of the Bible.]

Meditations in the Parables of Jesus

THE TEN VIRGINS

Read Matthew 25:1-13

“Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.”

Are you ready for Jesus Christ to return on the Last Day? Jesus told this parable to admonish us to be watchful and ready at all times for His return.

Jesus here compares the kingdom of heaven to ten virgins who “took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.” The wise virgins took extra oil for their lamps so that they would be ready even if the “bridegroom tarried.” The foolish took only the oil in their lamps and did not consider the possibility that their lamps would go out before the bridegroom arrived. As a result, these foolish virgins were not prepared and ready when the bridegroom came; and they did not enter with the bridegroom into the marriage feast.

With this parable, Jesus warns us against being foolishly unprepared for His return on the Last Day. It is foolish for us who believe in Christ today to fall asleep and not be watching for His return. It is foolish not to have our faith continually nourished and kept burning through the regular use of the Word of God and the Sacraments (Baptism and the Lord’s Supper). If we do not make such provision through the continued use of the Word of God in our homes and Word and Sacrament in our church, we may find our lamps empty and gone out at Jesus’ coming.

Those who have no living, saving faith in Jesus Christ when He returns in Judgment will be shut out of heaven, for it will be too late to rekindle faith at that time! But those who have wisely provided oil for their lamps – those who continue to nourish their faith by remembering their Baptism, using the Word of God, and receiving the Body and Blood of Christ given and shed for the remission of sins, that the Holy Ghost may through these keep their faith burning and assure them of forgiveness for all their sins and of life everlasting for Jesus’ sake – will enter into heaven with Jesus and enjoy its blessings forever (cf. Revelation 19:7-9; 21:24).

With my lamp well trimmed and burning, swift to hear and slow to roam, watching for Thy glad returning to restore me to my home. Come, my Savior, Come, my Savior, O my Savior, quickly come. Amen. (The Lutheran Hymnal, Hymn #606, Verse 4)

“Don’t Die in Your Sins”

What a terrible thing to die in your sins – to die and stand before the holy Judge of all, still bearing the uncleanness and guilt of your sins! Yet, this is what was soon to happen to a great many of the Jews in Jesus’ day. Jesus warned them, “I go my way, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins: whither I go, ye cannot come” (John 8:21).

Because so many of His Jewish hearers saw no need to repent of their sins and trust in Jesus as their Messiah and Savior, they would die in their sins and face the eternal wrath and condemnation of God. Where Jesus was going – to be glorified at the right hand of God the Father in heaven (cf. John 14:1ff.; Eph. 2:20f.) – they would not be able to come! Instead, they faced a Christless eternity and the everlasting torments of hell!

Again, Jesus warned them, “I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am He, ye shall die in your sins” (John 8:24).

Jesus’ words still ring out today! Many are headed to an eternity of everlasting punishment for their sins. Unless people repent and turn to God’s Son, Jesus Christ, who was lifted up upon the cross to suffer and die there for us and bear the full punishment for our sins and the sins of the whole world, they will die in their sins and come before the holy God in their own uncleanness and guilt to be judged and condemned to hell forever! Apart from faith in Jesus, people will die in their sins.

What about you? Will you die in the guilt of your sins and face the eternal wrath of an angry God? Or, will you, by the grace of God, turn to Jesus and receive His full and complete forgiveness for your sins and enjoy the everlasting blessings of life in heaven with Him?

The Bible tells us: “It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation” (Hebrews 9:27-28).

Jesus has already died and paid in full for your sins. His resurrection on the third day is proof that God accepted His death as full payment for the sins of the world (cf. 1 Cor. 15:3, 4; Rom. 4:25)!

Why die in your sins and be condemned of God? Trust in Jesus and His shed blood and be saved! (Cf. 2 Cor. 5:19-6:2.)

O dearest Jesus, have mercy upon our wayward hearts and draw us to You that we might not enter into eternity bearing the guilt of our sins and standing condemned, but having instead the assurance of forgiveness for all our sins and life everlasting for the sake of Your holy and precious blood, shed for us upon the cross. Amen.

My Dear Children

O Almighty God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, You have created us and all things and desire that we know You, trust You and glorify You. You have revealed Yourself to us in Your holy Word, the Bible. Open up our hearts and minds to understand Your Word and learn of You. Amen.

My Dear Children,

You believe in God and worship Him, but do you know who He is? Take a moment and think about it. What do you know about the God you worship and serve? How can you learn of Him?

If you go to an art museum and look at the paintings, what can you learn about the people who painted them? If one artist’s work is simple in composition and lacks any detail, what might that tell you about the artist? If a painting is well composed, has a beautiful blend of complimentary colors and fine detail, what might this tell you of the artist?

Now, look at God’s artwork. Look at the heavens, the sky, the stars, the moon, the planets. Look at the oceans, the lakes, the rivers. Look at the fields, the woods and even the deserts. Look at a leaf, a flower, a butterfly. Look at your own body and how it is designed and works. What does all this tell you about God?

The Bible says: “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork…..” (Psalm 19:1). What can you learn about God if you look up at the sky or into the heavens? Psalm 139:14 says: “I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.” What can you learn about God from the intricacies of your own body and soul? Could any of this just happen by chance? Or, did an all-wise and all-powerful God make you and all things?

Do you think it is wrong to commit murder, to hurt other people, to steal, to lie, etc.? Why? How do you feel when you hurt someone else? When you disobey your parents? When you tell a lie? Why is that? How do you feel when you help someone in need? When you tell the truth? When you do what your parents or teachers ask you to do? The Bible says: “For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another….” (Romans 2:14-15). Even people who do not have God’s Word know in their hearts that it is good to help others, tell the truth, and not hurt others or murder and steal. When they do wrong, their consciences bother and accuse them. They feel guilty and are afraid of God’s judgment. When they do right, their consciences excuse them and they feel good about what they have done. This is because God’s laws are written in their hearts, and they know, deep down in their hearts, that God will one day be their Judge.

While we can, from God’s creation and from our own consciences, learn many things about God and His will (Natural Knowledge of God), God has also revealed Himself to man in His Word, the Bible (Revealed Knowledge of God). In the Bible God tells us about Himself (Read all of Psalm 19).

Over the centuries, people, because they know there is a god, have worshiped and served many different gods and many different ideas of God. But who is the true God and what does He tell us of Himself?

Please consider the following questions and the answers given in God’s Word, the Bible:

1. In Isaiah 44:6, God says: “Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.” In 1 Corinthians 8:4, we read: “There is none other God but one.” How many true Gods are there? Were there ever any other true gods beside the LORD God of the Bible? Will there ever be another true god?

2. In Deuteronomy 6:4, God says: “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD.” How many Gods is the LORD God (Jehovah God) of the Bible?

3. When Jesus commanded His disciples to baptize people in God’s name, He said: “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost….” (Matthew 28:19). If the LORD God is one God, why did Jesus command His disciples to baptize “in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost”? How many Persons are in this one God? Who are these Persons? Cf. 2 Corinthians 13:14 and 1 Peter 1:2.

We speak of the God of the Bible as the Triune God. You will not find the word “triune” in the Bible, but it simply means that God is the Tri (three)-Une (one) God. This is certainly taught throughout the Bible. God is One God, and God is Three Persons (the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit).

4. 1 John 5:7 reads: “For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.” What does this passage of Scripture teach us about the Triune God.

5. Look up and read Isaiah 48:16-17. Can you find the Trinity (three Persons) in this passage? How? Who is speaking? Who sent Him?

6. Read John 1:1-3. Who is the Word (cf. John 1:14, 18)? Who was already in the beginning? Who was and is God? Who created all things?

7. Read 1 Corinthians 3:16. Whose temple are we? Who dwells in us? Is the Holy Spirit God?

8. Read Genesis 1:1-2. Was the Holy Spirit present in creation? Was He there already in the beginning?

9. Read Hebrews 9:14 and 1 Peter 4:14. What do these passages teach us about the Holy Spirit?

10. Read John 3:18, 36; 5:23; 14:6; 1 John 2:23; 5:11-12. Can a person worship and serve the true God if they do not believe in Jesus as God the Son and their Savior? What if they do not believe that the Holy Spirit is true God with the Father and the Son? Cf. the Nicene and Athanasian Creeds (in your hymnal).

11. Some organizations and religions do not believe that the only way to serve God is through saving faith in Jesus Christ. Do they worship and serve the true God when they believe and teach this? What are some examples of such groups?

GOD

We believe that there is only one true God (Isaiah 44:6; 1 Corinthians 8:4). This God (called the LORD or JEHOVAH) is one divine Being or Essence, but three distinct Persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (thus the name, Triune or Three/One God), each being eternal and equal in power and majesty, because each Person is the LORD God (Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:19; 1 John 5:7; Isaiah 48:16-17; John 1:1; Colossians 2:9; 1 Corinthians 3:16; Hebrews 9:14; 1 Peter 4:14). We believe that no one can worship or serve the Triune God except he believe that Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God and the Savior of mankind from sin and its consequences (John 3:18, 36; 5:23; 14:6; 1 John 2:23; 5:11-12). Hence, all who deny the Trinity of God (that God is three Persons) or the Unity of God (that God is one divine Being), or who do not trust in Jesus Christ, the Son, for salvation, do not worship and serve the true God.

Please Memorize: Isaiah 44:6; Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:19.

The Augsburg Confession

Article V: Of the Ministry.

That we may obtain this faith, the Ministry of Teaching the Gospel and administering the Sacraments was instituted. For through the Word and Sacraments, as through instruments, the Holy Ghost is given, who works faith; where and when it pleases God, in them that hear the Gospel, to wit, that God, not for our own merits, but for Christ’s sake, justifies those who believe that they are received into grace for Christ’s sake.

They condemn the Anabaptists and others who think that the Holy Ghost comes to men without the external Word, through their own preparations and works.

Bible Study in Preparation for Sunday

Scripture Readings for Sunday are Psalm 100; Acts 9:1-31; Luke 12:13-21. Please read them in their context as you prepare for worship on Sunday.

The Adult Bible Class will continue in the Gospel of John at chapter 8:1ff. Who did the scribes and Pharisees bring before Jesus when He was teaching at the temple? Why did they bring her? How was their question like a double-edged sword? Cf. What did the Law of Moses require? What did the law of the Romans forbid? What did Jesus do? Do we know what He wrote? What did Jesus finally say when the woman’s accusers pressed Him for an answer? What happened? Why? Who was left to throw the first stone? Would Jesus have been justified in so doing? Why? What did He do instead? What admonition did He add? Why? What comfort can you draw from this passage of God’s Word? What did Jesus mean when He called Himself the Light of the world? Cf. John 1:1-14; Psalm 119:105, 130; Psalm 36:9; 1 John 1:1ff. How can we have the light of life? What does this mean? How did the Pharisees answer Jesus’ claim? What proof did Jesus offer that His testimony was true? Where did Jesus speak these words? Why did no one arrest Jesus?

Remember to Pray

Remember to pray for our church and for all our members, that none be lost to Christ’s kingdom but that all continue in repentance and be strengthened and built up in the true and saving faith in Christ Jesus through the hearing and study of His Word. We pray for God’s healing and strengthening of our congregation. We continue to pray for all who have been sick or who are suffering among us – especially for Dick Stueland, who is recovering from knee surgery; for Sam Rusch, who has had repeated stays in the hospital; and for the mother of Dick Rusch – for those who have been absent from us, for our extended families, for Christians who are alone and have no congregation, and for our adopted soldiers. Pray for God’s help with our church’s financial needs. Continue to pray for the Lutheran Churches in the Philippines, for Christians in Nigeria, Haiti and Chile, and for believers around the world who are persecuted or suffering for their faith in Christ Jesus.

Events and Announcements

Information for bulletins or newsletters may be sent to Pastor Moll by calling him at 479-233-0081 or by e-mail at goodshepherdrogers@yahoo.com.

The August evening Bible study will be held on Wednesday, Aug. 11. The Bible study will begin at 7 p.m. A light supper will be held at 6:20 p.m. for those who choose to come early.

The Church Council will meet at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 18, in the church.

“The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.” Psalm 119:130

[Scripture in this Newsletter is taken from the King James Version of the Bible.]

“Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word. But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:38-42

What is your walk with the Lord Jesus like? Are you more like Martha or more like Mary?

Both Mary and Martha loved the Lord Jesus. Martha received Jesus into her home and served Him. Mary was there, too, to see and hear her Savior. But, as the Scriptures reveal, there was a difference between the two. And these things were recorded for us that we might learn the will of our God and Savior for each of us.

As we read, Martha received Jesus into her house and was busy with much serving. She wanted to make sure everything was just right and that Jesus was treated with the utmost honor. She was much concerned with pleasing the Lord Jesus by her work and service.

Her sister Mary, on the other hand, sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. Instead of seeking to serve Jesus and prove her love and devotion by hard work and service, she let Jesus serve her and teach her the saving truths of God’s Word.

Mary’s behavior was troubling to Martha – so much so that she even scolded Jesus for not asking Mary get up and help with the work of serving.

Who are you like? Are you like Martha? Do you become so busy with serving Jesus and doing good that you don’t have time to sit at Jesus’ feet and hear His teaching? Are you sometimes even upset that no one is helping you with all the work you’ve taken on to do? Or, are you like Mary, who sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His Word?

Notice Jesus’ response to Martha: “Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”

Mary took the time to sit at Jesus’ feet and hear His Word and teaching. She learned of the salvation God was providing for her through Christ Jesus. That was the one thing needful for Mary and for Martha and is still needful for you and for me – to sit humbly at Jesus’ feet and hear His life-giving Word, which offers and gives blessings which can never be taken away from us (cf. 2 Timothy 3:14-17).

O crucified and risen Lord Jesus, grant that we not neglect that one thing needful but take the time to sit at Your feet and hear and learn Your life-giving Word. For in Your Word, we learn of You and the salvation You won for us by Your innocent sufferings and death for us upon the cross. Amen.

[Scripture from the King James Version of the Bible]

“Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers: who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it.” Acts 7:51-53 (Read Acts 6:8 – 7:60)

The Book of Acts, in chapters six and seven, tells the story of the first New Testament Christian martyr to follow in the steps of the Lord Jesus and to be murdered for his witness to the truth. In fact the English word “martyr” comes from the Greek word “martus,” which means to bear witness or testify. Stephen testified to the truth about Jesus and about his own hearers and was killed at the hands of the Jewish council by stoning.

In his defense before the council, Stephen summarized God’s gracious dealings with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and their descendants, the children of Israel. From the call of Abraham down through the times of Moses, David and the prophets, God sought to deal with His people in grace and mercy for the sake of the promised Messiah and Savior, but again and again God’s people rejected God’s grace and mercy and rebelled against Him. They disobeyed God’s commandments, doubted God’s love and mercy and even persecuted and killed God’s messengers who pointed ahead to the Messiah.

Stephen’s point to his hearers was that they were doing the same thing as their unbelieving fathers. They were being stubborn and stiff-necked. Instead of listening to the witness of the Holy Spirit through the Word of God which testified to the truth that Jesus was and is the promised Messiah and Savior – the Just One, without sin, who bore upon the tree of the cross the sins of the whole world – they resisted the Spirit’s testimony to the truth, betrayed and crucified God’s own Son. They placed their hope in the law of Moses, given through the dispensation of angels, but they did not keep it. And as their fathers had done to the prophets of old who testified of the coming Savior, they killed Stephen for his witness to the truth.

The question, of course, for each of us to consider is whether we are resisting the Holy Spirit’s witness to the truth and rejecting God’s grace and mercy in Christ Jesus. Stephen prayed that God would not hold his persecutors’ sin against them but continue to reach out to them in mercy, but sooner or later our time to partake of God’s grace and mercy in Messiah Jesus will run out. “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Cor. 6:2). Don’t reject God’s grace but believe on the Lord Jesus Christ! In Him, we have God’s grace and mercy and life everlasting!

Thank You, dear heavenly Father, for Your gracious dealings with me for the sake of the Just and Holy One and His innocent sufferings and death in my stead. Grant that I not reject Your grace and forgiveness but hold fast to Jesus, my only Lord and Savior. Amen.

[Scripture from the King James Version of the Bible]

Meditations in the Parables of Jesus

THE GOOD SAMARITAN

“And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou? And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself. And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live. But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour? And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, and went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee. Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves? And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.” Luke 10:25-37

We are to love our neighbor as ourselves (Lev. 19:18), but who is our neighbor? With this parable, Jesus teaches us that our neighbor is not only the man next door, our friends or even those whom we might consider worthy of our love and respect. Our neighbor includes anyone with whom we in some way have contact or the ability to help and serve. Our neighbor includes all men.

Like the good Samaritan, we should care for the stranger in need even if he is our enemy! We should not be as the priest or the Levite in this parable who, probably out of fear for their own safety, passed by the man who was in need and failed to be a good neighbor to this man who had fallen among thieves. If we truly love our neighbor as we love ourselves, we will use every opportunity and do all that we can to help those in need.

Jesus told this parable to a certain Jewish lawyer who was testing Jesus with the question: “What shall I do to inherit eternal life?” When Jesus asked him, “What is written in the law? how readest thou?,” he answered, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.” Jesus then told him, “Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.” If a person were able to do this perfectly, he could earn his way into heaven; but “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23), and “there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not” (EccI. 7:20). No one has such perfect love for God! And while men may think they love their neighbor, this parable reveals our failures here too!

But all who have come short of the demands of God’s perfect Law are also “justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 3:24). We cannot justify ourselves with God’s commandments as this Jewish lawyer sought to do; but through faith in Christ Jesus we stand forgiven and justified in God’s sight (Rom. 3:28). As a fruit of our faith, we seek to love our Lord and Savior above all things and to love our neighbor as ourselves (I John 4:19ff.).

Oh, teach me, Lord, to love Thee truly with soul and body, head and heart, and grant me grace that I may duly practice fore’er love’s sacred art. Grant that my every thought may be directed e’er to Thee. Amen. (The Lutheran Hymnal, Hymn #399, Verse 5)

“Confused about Jesus”

John 7:25-53

25 Then said some of them of Jerusalem, Is not this he, whom they seek to kill? 26 But, lo, he speaketh boldly, and they say nothing unto him. Do the rulers know indeed that this is the very Christ? 27 Howbeit we know this man whence he is: but when Christ cometh, no man knoweth whence he is. 28 Then cried Jesus in the temple as he taught, saying, Ye both know me, and ye know whence I am: and I am not come of myself, but he that sent me is true, whom ye know not. 29 But I know him: for I am from him, and he hath sent me. 30 Then they sought to take him: but no man laid hands on him, because his hour was not yet come. 31 And many of the people believed on him, and said, When Christ cometh, will he do more miracles than these which this man hath done? 32 The Pharisees heard that the people murmured such things concerning him; and the Pharisees and the chief priests sent officers to take him. 33 Then said Jesus unto them, Yet a little while am I with you, and then I go unto him that sent me. 34 Ye shall seek me, and shall not find me: and where I am, thither ye cannot come. 35 Then said the Jews among themselves, Whither will he go, that we shall not find him? will he go unto the dispersed among the Gentiles, and teach the Gentiles? 36 What manner of saying is this that he said, Ye shall seek me, and shall not find me: and where I am, thither ye cannot come? 37 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. 38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. 39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.) 40 Many of the people therefore, when they heard this saying, said, Of a truth this is the Prophet. 41 Others said, This is the Christ. But some said, Shall Christ come out of Galilee? 42 Hath not the scripture said, That Christ cometh of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem, where David was? 43 So there was a division among the people because of him. 44 And some of them would have taken him; but no man laid hands on him. 45 Then came the officers to the chief priests and Pharisees; and they said unto them, Why have ye not brought him? 46 The officers answered, Never man spake like this man. 47 Then answered them the Pharisees, Are ye also deceived? 48 Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed on him? 49 But this people who knoweth not the law are cursed. 50 Nicodemus saith unto them, (he that came to Jesus by night, being one of them,) 51 Doth our law judge any man, before it hear him, and know what he doeth? 52 They answered and said unto him, Art thou also of Galilee? Search, and look: for out of Galilee ariseth no prophet. 53 And every man went unto his own house.

There was much confusion about Jesus during His days on earth. Some thought He was the promised Messiah and others thought He was just a deceiver of the people. Some believed Jesus when He said He had come down from God the Father in heaven, and others argued that they knew Jesus’ origins in Nazareth of Galilee and no prophet was to come from Galilee. The Jewish rulers sought to arrest Jesus and have Him put to death, but others argued in His defense, citing the many miracles He had done as proof that Jesus’ claims must be true.

Not much has changed in 2,000 years. People are still confused about Jesus. Some believe He is the Christ, Son of God in human flesh and the Savior. Others think He was just a prophet or significant religious figure. Some see His miracles as proof of His claims, and others doubt His miracles altogether. Some would seek to silence Jesus and have any reference to Him or His teaching removed from public view. Others still proclaim Him as one who should be heard in our day.

Jesus warned His hearers that their time was running out. “Then said Jesus unto them, Yet a little while am I with you, and then I go unto him that sent me. Ye shall seek me, and shall not find me: and where I am, thither ye cannot come.”

Of course, our time, too, is short. We live in this world only a little while and then must stand before our Maker and Judge (cf. Hebrews 9:27). If we continue to put off the invitation of Christ Jesus in the gospel and refuse to believe and trust in Him, time will run out and we will never find Him and know Him as our Savior. We will not go to be with Him in the mansions of His Father’s house. Where He is we will not be able to come!

We read that “in the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)”

Do we hunger and thirst for the living God? Do we desire to be right with Him and walk in fellowship with our Maker and Redeemer? Jesus offers and gives life-giving water to quench our thirsty souls. He offers and gives the Holy Spirit who, through the Word of God, creates faith in Christ Jesus and raises us up from spiritual darkness and death to life in Christ Jesus. The Holy Spirit assures us that Jesus is indeed God’s Son in the flesh, the Messiah and Savior, and that in Him and for the sake of His blood shed upon the cross all our sins are cleansed away and forgiven.

Jesus pours out upon us His Holy Spirit and saves us, “by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; which he shed[s] on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour” (Titus 3:5,6).

As God says in Isaiah 55:1-3: “Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.”

Jesus, David’s Son and David’s Lord, has won for us mercy and peace with God our Father. For His sake, God accepts and receives us as his own dear children. He calls us to believe on Him and come to Him and drink.

1 John 1:1 – 2:2

1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; 2 (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) 3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4 And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full. 5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. 1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

The Augsburg Confession

Article II: Of Original Sin

Also they teach that since the fall of Adam all men begotten in the natural way are born with sin, that is, without the fear of God, without trust in God, and with concupiscence; and that this disease, or vice of origin, is truly sin, even now condemning and bringing eternal death upon those not born again through Baptism and the Holy Ghost.

They condemn the Pelagians and others who deny that original depravity is sin, and who, to obscure the glory of Christ’s merit and benefits, argue that man can be justified before God by his own strength and reason.

Bible Study in Preparation for Sunday

Scripture Readings for Sunday are Psalm 41; Acts 6:8 – 7:60; Luke 10:25-37. Please read them in their context as you prepare for worship on Sunday.

The Adult Bible Class will continue in the Gospel of John at chapter 7:19ff. Who was seeking to kill Jesus? Cf. John 5:18. Why? What law were they breaking by seeking to kill Jesus? Did the Jews regard it a sin if one was circumcised on the Sabbath? What had Jesus done on the Sabbath (cf. Chapter 5)? Was this right or wrong? Why? Do people today ever get so focused on one commandment that they neglect other weightier commandments? How? Do the words of Hosea 6:6-7 have application here? Did the people think they knew Jesus’ origins? What did they believe about Christ? How were they mistaken in their understanding? What did Jesus say of His origins? Did the Jews recognize Jesus for who He is? Did they know the Father who sent Him? Cf. John 14:6. Can one know God if he doesn’t know Jesus? Why did many of the people believe on Jesus? What did they say? Why were the Jews unable to arrest Jesus at this time? What did Jesus say to His enemies? What did He mean? Of what was He warning His hearers? What did Jesus say on the last day of the Jewish feast of tabernacles? What does this mean? How does it apply yet today?

Remember to Pray

Remember to pray for our church and for all our members, that none be lost to Christ’s kingdom but that all continue in repentance and be strengthened and built up in the true and saving faith in Christ Jesus through the hearing and study of His Word. We pray for God’s healing and strengthening of our congregation. We continue to pray for all who have been sick or who are suffering among us – especially for Dick Stueland, who is recovering from knee surgery; for Sam Rusch, who is back in the hospital; and for the mother of Dick Rusch – for those who have been absent from us, for our extended families, for Christians who are alone and have no congregation, and for our adopted soldiers. Pray for God’s help with our church’s financial needs. Continue to pray for the Lutheran Churches in the Philippines, for Christians in Nigeria, Haiti and Chile, and for believers around the world who are persecuted or suffering for their faith in Christ Jesus.

Events and Announcements

The Congregational Evening Bible Study for July is set at 7 p.m., Wednesday, July 14.

Information for bulletins or newsletters may be sent to Pastor Moll by calling him at 479-233-0081 or by e-mail at goodshepherdrogers@yahoo.com.

Hebrews 9:27-28: “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.”

[Scripture in this Newsletter is taken from the King James Version of the Bible]

“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.” Galatians 6:7-8

Any gardener or farmer knows the truthfulness of the words: “Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” One cannot plant thorns and thistles and expect to reap good fruits and vegetables – it just doesn’t work that way. What you sow is what you will also reap.

In fact, it is also true that the thorns and thistles don’t need much help in taking over a garden plot. If they are not constantly pulled or hoed out, they will quickly spread and choke out the good seed planted there.

This is also true of our spiritual lives. Though many think they can live as they please, read what they want to read, watch what they want to watch, spend time doing those things which gratify our sinful human natures and still live and grow spiritually, it just isn’t true.

The Apostle Paul warned his readers: “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.”

Though it is the Spirit of God who brings us to faith and keeps us trusting in Christ Jesus as our Savior, God will not be mocked. We cannot sow to the sinful longings of our flesh and expect to continue in the faith and go to heaven. We will reap what we sow – spiritual corruption and death and, finally, eternal damnation.

On the other hand, when we sow to the Spirit of God by continuing in His Word and partaking of the Lord’s Supper, He will use what is sown to nurture and strengthen our faith in Christ Jesus and preserve us in the true faith unto life everlasting. The Spirit of God will assure us of forgiveness for all our sins and of eternal life for the sake of the innocent sufferings and death of Christ Jesus, our Savior.

Don’t sow to the flesh, but sow to the Spirit and reap the results – life everlasting through faith in your Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!

Forgive me, O Lord, for the times I have sowed to the flesh. Move me to sow to the Spirit by continuing in the Word, that You might strengthen and preserve me in the true and saving faith unto life everlasting. Amen.

[Scripture from the King James Version of the Bible]