tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50148360707945173552024-03-18T16:58:06.927-04:00Lutheran Subject (Schroeder's blog)Sermons, ramblings, and maybe an occasional rant from a Lutheran subject of Jesus Christ.Pastor Thomas E Schroederhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08739826673292690207noreply@blogger.comBlogger2176125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014836070794517355.post-81423125703234691352024-03-18T16:57:00.001-04:002024-03-18T16:57:21.242-04:00Easter for Kids -- Saturday, March 23 (10:00 AM - Noon)<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq3iew8psvbdK-RxA4HnJf5xFsEZ_FNxdu7v6mMmJu9dOzSgbRj0jphVpQ3_UetR0TRvhaPwuG7XTRrmxn4PM009EKCnArjRDbMTYuz4F4bpofhXTiGNlLjdtxfxKWkf9e9YAXV-ahx4xvTTuIsXGAlONkIOBgdPtFtmkI7BYDs_AgImnVx-Y_FujiIPIN/s1065/Screenshot%202024-03-18%20165546.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1065" data-original-width="818" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq3iew8psvbdK-RxA4HnJf5xFsEZ_FNxdu7v6mMmJu9dOzSgbRj0jphVpQ3_UetR0TRvhaPwuG7XTRrmxn4PM009EKCnArjRDbMTYuz4F4bpofhXTiGNlLjdtxfxKWkf9e9YAXV-ahx4xvTTuIsXGAlONkIOBgdPtFtmkI7BYDs_AgImnVx-Y_FujiIPIN/w492-h640/Screenshot%202024-03-18%20165546.png" width="492" /></a></div><br /><p></p>Pastor Thomas E Schroederhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08739826673292690207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014836070794517355.post-86992803837152256382024-03-17T12:00:00.001-04:002024-03-17T12:00:00.136-04:00Sermon -- 5th Sunday in Lent (March 17, 2024)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim6KP3pB4ReSNzzd5zxW-hTs5AbL5Jfn3KI9G_fwcc32B5oGJGSdJ6KsY7FuSx3vDjo05YQVXqi5SX50a2JKp9eix4JRxXFTFyomdN2qc39NcGdUNAhJTxsCY8OtWBhD_wrPx4xWWzPNF4p3tdYlzEv1kzw5I0cC2uoD1qqXkvZUo6kZqgsobkQwDgvHYG/s1564/A-37%20Lent%20Midweek%205.tif" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1556" data-original-width="1564" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim6KP3pB4ReSNzzd5zxW-hTs5AbL5Jfn3KI9G_fwcc32B5oGJGSdJ6KsY7FuSx3vDjo05YQVXqi5SX50a2JKp9eix4JRxXFTFyomdN2qc39NcGdUNAhJTxsCY8OtWBhD_wrPx4xWWzPNF4p3tdYlzEv1kzw5I0cC2uoD1qqXkvZUo6kZqgsobkQwDgvHYG/s320/A-37%20Lent%20Midweek%205.tif" width="320" /></a></div><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: center;"><a name="_Hlk93485480"><b>JOHN 12:20-33<o:p></o:p></b></a></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: center;"><a name="_Hlk161299264"><b>THE HOUR HAS COME FOR THE SON OF MAN TO BE GLORIFIED</b></a><b>.</b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: .5in; text-align: center;"><b><i>In
the name + of Jesus.<o:p></o:p></i></b></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><b> </b><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">The Gospel of John records Jesus being
particularly focused on his appointed hour.</span><span style="background-color: white;">
</span><span style="background-color: white;">Throughout his ministry, there were people who wanted to hasten Jesus’
appointed hour.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">It began already at his
first miracle.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">The Virgin Mary informed
Jesus that the wedding had run out of wine.</span><span style="background-color: white;">
</span><span style="background-color: white;">She seemed to think that this was the opportune time for the kingdom of
God to burst forth on the world.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">Perhaps
she had in mind the prophet Joel who had said, </span><span class="text"><b>“So you
shall know that I am the </b></span><span class="small-caps"><b><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;">Lord</span></b></span><span class="text"><b> your
God, who dwells in Zion, my holy mountain.
And Jerusalem shall be holy, and strangers shall never again pass
through it. And in that day</b></span><b> the
mountains shall drip sweet wine, and the hills shall flow with milk, and all
the streambeds of Judah shall flow with water; and a fountain shall come forth
from the house of the </b><span class="small-caps"><b><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;">Lord” </span></b></span><b>(Joel 3:17-18).</b><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">Whether she was thinking of that or not,
Jesus’ reply was straight forward: </span><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">“Woman, </span>what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come” (John 2:4).</b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> </span></p><p class="line" style="background: white; margin: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"> Later on, Jesus’ own brothers encouraged
him, <span class="text"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">“‘Leave here and go to
Judea, that your disciples also may see the works you are doing.</span> For no one works in
secret if he seeks to be known openly. If you do these things, show yourself to
the world.’ …Jesus said to them, ‘</b></span><span class="woj"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">My time has not yet come…’” (John
7:4-6). </span></b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span class="woj"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
Jesus had made several bold claims that he is divine. These often stirred up the wrath of the
Pharisees and the priests. A few times
they had attempted to stone him to death, but Jesus avoided all their attempts. John explained why Jesus could make such
strong claims and avoid their threats.
He wrote, <b>“</b></span></span><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">These words he spoke in </span>the treasury, as he taught in the temple; but no one arrested him, because his hour had not yet come” (John 8:20). </b><span class="woj"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"> Jesus was always focused on his appointed
hour. And he was firmly in control of
it. Jesus’ arrest did not come as a surprise
to him, and he made no attempt to escape it.
Jesus was not surprised by who betrayed him. Rather, Jesus encouraged him to do what he
had come to do. <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">The Sanhedrin thought that they were in control. </span>Although the Sanhedrin was determined
to kill Jesus, they also wanted to use caution.
They said, <b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">“Not during the feast, </span>lest there be an uproar among the people” (Matthew
26:5).</b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> But Jesus was in control of his appointed
hour. When the Passover lambs were to be
slain, so was Jesus. That was his
appointed hour. He was committed to
completing the task given to him by his heavenly Father.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> Now we get to the
portion of John’s Gospel which we read earlier.
Some Greeks had come to Jerusalem for the Passover. If they <b>“went up to worship at the feast”
(John 12:20),</b> then they were converts to Judaism and they were waiting for
the promised Messiah. They were likely
convinced that Jesus was the Christ, which is why they were eager to meet him. As John records it, it is a strange introduction. There are no cordial greetings, not even an exchange
of names. That’s not to say it didn’t
happen, but John cuts right to the chase in his Gospel. You want to see Jesus? Well, this is what you should be paying
attention to. This is what matters. </span><span class="woj"><b>“The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified”
(John 12:23).</b> After the long wait, the appointed hour was at
hand. It was the beginning of Holy Week,
and Jesus was ready to be slain as the chosen Lamb which covers over our
iniquities and delivers us from death.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span class="woj"> Jesus explained
why his death was necessary. <b>“Truly,
truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and
dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit” (John 12:24).</b> Jesus could have lived his perfect life in
peace. By doing so, he would have earned
God’s favor. Jesus would have been the
one holy man who kept the Commandments.
Presumably, he would not have died because <b>“the wages of sin is death”
(Romans 6:23).</b> At some point, the
Father would have assumed Jesus bodily into heaven apart from death. If he had no sin, there would be no death. Jesus would have been the one perfect man who
entered the glories of God the Father.
And if that is all Jesus was, then we can only look to him as an example
of how to win God’s favor. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span class="woj"> But this would
make our lives all the more frustrating.
Just because we have an example does not mean we can copy it. Why not say, “In order to win God’s favor, you
need to paint like Rembrandt, compose music like Mozart, and run like Usain
Bolt”? Watching YouTube instruction
videos for hours will not get me close.
Just because they excelled does not mean I can. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span class="woj"> In regard to holiness,
it gets worse. Even when we want keep the
word of the Lord, we lose our patience and snap at other people. We say that we are too tired to carry out our
responsibilities and neglect them. We
claim that we don’t have time to read the Bible at home or to pray, but we
always seem to have time for scrolling on our phones. If you decided to wear one of those What Would
Jesus Do bracelets and let that guide you, you would still be burdened with
fears and doubts because you don’t know what Jesus would do. When your co-worker decides to blame you for
a task that was fouled up, would Jesus shame your co-worker in front of
everyone and yell, “Liar”? Would Jesus
give a few bucks to everyone he saw holding up a cardboard sign at an intersection? How much would he give? What would Jesus do? The biggest lesson you will learn from this
is that you are not like Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span class="woj"> When Jesus declared,
<b>“The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified” (John 12:23),</b> he
did not have in mind another example for us to follow. Rather, he went there to make an exchange—his holiness
for our sins. By going to the cross,
Jesus would make the payment for all of our sins. That does not mean our sins are excusable; it
means that they are taken away from us. Jesus’
innocent life was given in exchange for our sinful lives. The righteous one died for the
unrighteous. He took on the curse of God
so that we would receive God’s favor and blessings.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span class="woj"> The hour has
come for the Son of Man to be glorified.
That glory is revealed in Jesus’ sufferings and death. That is where the Lord atones for the sins of
the world. And upon dying, Jesus’
lifeless body was laid in a tomb. He was
planted there like a seed. If Jesus did
not come to suffer and die for us, he would have remained the only holy man—like
a seed that was never planted. <b>“But
if it dies, it bears much fruit” (John 12:24).</b> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span class="woj"> When a seed is
planted, it germinates and sprouts. It produces
far more than just one seed to replace itself.
Think about a sunflower. One seed
is planted, and a giant stalk comes up.
Then when the flower blooms, you can seek all kinds of sunflower seeds
in that blackened center. If you don’t
plant the sunflower seed, you will only have the one seed. But if that seed is buried in the ground and
dies, an abundance of seeds will result.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span class="woj"> So it is with
Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. The
man who overcame the grave shows what is in store for you. Jesus is the first to rise from the dead and
to live forever. Since Jesus has mastered
death and the grave, death and the grave must obey Jesus’ command. When he comes again on the Last Day, Jesus’
voice will summon all people out of their graves. Those who believe in Jesus will be raised up
to live in glory forever more. This is
the reason Jesus came. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span class="woj"> But there would
be a cost for this, and Jesus knew it.
Sins are wicked. They demand
justice. They have earned God’s wrath
because God does not treat his word lightly.
To go against God’s word is to attack God himself. This cannot be overlooked or go unpunished. So, Jesus came to take the punishment for us. And he knew it would be intense torment. It would mean the eternal pains of hell absorbed
by the eternal Son of God. Therefore,
Jesus said, <b>“Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But for this purpose I have come
to this hour. Father, glorify your name.”
Then a </b></span><span class="text"><b>voice came from heaven: “I have
glorified it, and I will glorify it again” (John 12:27-28).</b> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span class="text"> The hour had
come for the Son of Man to be glorified.
And in doing so, God the Father was glorified too. The glory of God is not that he is holy or
almighty. He is those things, but that does
not save us. The glory of God is that he
loves and saves sinners. God the Father
revealed his mercy by sending Jesus to redeem us. The Son of Man secured God’s mercy for us by
going to the cross to die for our sins. This
was the whole purpose Jesus came into this world. This was his appointed hour, and everything
in history centers on this moment. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span class="text"> God from eternity
entered the world at a specific time. His
years of life, his teaching, and everything else he did were focused on this hour. This is the moment when the Son of Man redeemed
us from an eternity of divine rejection and opened up the kingdom of heaven to
us for everlasting peace and rest. The
Gospels record many things Jesus said and did, and we do well to be familiar with
them. But like those Greeks who came to
see Jesus, we need our focus to be on Jesus’ sufferings, death, and resurrection. That is where he makes his glory known. That is where he makes our salvation known.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span class="text"> The hour has
come for the Son of Man to be glorified.
We are just a week away from Holy Week.
We have entered Passiontide, and our Lenten fast has intensified. It is probably unsettling to you to see the walls
barren, to see the crucifix veiled, and to have the organ muted. You might even hate it. But by scaling back our festive mood and putting
away our vivid art, we are highlighting our own lack of beauty and glory. We are sinners. We are not worthy to look upon Jesus who
suffered and died for us. If the hour
has come for the Son of Man to be slain, it is not appropriate for our worship
to be exuberant. It is subdued as we recognize
the solemnity of the hour.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span class="text"> Our celebration
is muted for a while, but not for long.
For the seed was planted in the earth.
It has sprung forth on the third day.
It will produce an abundant harvest of people who will be raised from the
dead to live forever. Then, our
celebration will be limitless in its joy and in its duration. But for now, let’s focus on the appointed
hour. As Jesus said, <b>“For this
purpose I have come to this hour” (John 12:27).</b></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: center;"><b>In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy
Spirit. Amen.</b></p>Pastor Thomas E Schroederhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08739826673292690207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014836070794517355.post-39148109117848954832024-03-16T11:30:00.001-04:002024-03-16T11:30:00.141-04:00Private Confession & Absolution (March 24, 7:00-9:00 PM)<h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; position: relative;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">When Lutherans hear someone speak of Private Confession and Absolution, the response is usually a knee-jerk, "That's Roman Catholic!" Though that may be a common perception, the perception is because either it was taught wrongly or understood wrongly. Consider what the Lutheran Confessions teach about Private Confession and Absolution.</span></h3><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-5687206825028133904" itemprop="description articleBody" style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 578.4px;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyNiZ0oVTw-abN_RZmHtWky-M0rSSQjBQBbJSzYlO4_8Upz8dakhHE5G1l3SrGOUvKUN7lLtyLBs1-Gri1sHEFEV6ui9wqNywPMUWXUMSSti8NNCst817JGwSF-mnXHnBwdbhlzWJ5PcFlWfxxmwqtXkyMGk8khY3psN1f7gYClygUIpN34kAnO13GKw/s1716/C-55%20Easter%202%20(Jn%2020.19-31).tif" style="clear: right; color: #3762a7; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1716" data-original-width="1540" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyNiZ0oVTw-abN_RZmHtWky-M0rSSQjBQBbJSzYlO4_8Upz8dakhHE5G1l3SrGOUvKUN7lLtyLBs1-Gri1sHEFEV6ui9wqNywPMUWXUMSSti8NNCst817JGwSF-mnXHnBwdbhlzWJ5PcFlWfxxmwqtXkyMGk8khY3psN1f7gYClygUIpN34kAnO13GKw/s320/C-55%20Easter%202%20(Jn%2020.19-31).tif" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="287" /></a></div></span><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><b>Our churches teach that private Absolution should be retained in the churches, although listing all sins is not necessary for Confession. For, according to the Psalm, it is impossible. "Who can discern his errors?" (Psalm 19:12) </b>-- Augsburg Confession, Article XI<br /><br /><b><i>What is Confession?</i><br />Answer: Confession has two parts: the one is that we confess our sins; the other is that we receive Absolution, or forgiveness, from the confessor, as from God Himself, and in no way doubt, but firmly believe that our sins are forgiven before God in heaven by this.<br /><br /><i>What sins should we confess?<br /></i>Answer: Before God we should plead guilty of all sins, even of those that we do not know, as we do in the Lord's Prayer. But before the confessor we should confess only those sins that we know and feel in our hearts.</b> -- Luther's Small Catechism, Part V<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">These are basic confessions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. They are catholic, insofar as they are Christian. But they are not Roman, insofar as the penitent is not obligated to orally confess every sin in order to be forgiven of it and insofar as one's forgiveness is not dependent upon some action on the part of the penitent. The forgiveness is based on Jesus' sufferings and death for the penitent who has been baptized into his name.<br /><br />Since the practice of Private Confession and Absolution is a Lutheran practice, it would be good for Lutherans to practice it. It is good for the penitent who is grieved by a particular sin to confess it so that he can hear Christ say through the mouth of his minister: "I forgive you." It would be good for the one who is burdened to be relieved of his burden by Holy Absolution. It would be good for this practice, though foreign to many in my corner of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, to be restored. <br /><br />In order for this practice to be restored and perhaps put to better use, there will be dates on the calendar set aside for anyone who would like to drop in and make use of this means of grace. These will be set up about 4 times per year. Private Confession and Absolution is always available by appointment in addition to these scheduled times.<br /><br /><span> A day around Epiphany (Epiphany is always January 6)</span><br /><span> A day during Holy Week</span><br /><span> A day around Labor Day weekend</span><br /><span> A day after Thanksgiving weekend</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><b>The next scheduled date and time for Private Confession and Absolution will be <u>Sunday, March 24, 7:00 - 9:00 PM</u>. </b>All participation is voluntary, as Absolution cannot be forced upon anyone.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">Of course, this will be new to most members who decide to make use of it. If you come in, the pastor will walk through the rite with you and explain the various parts of it, especially including the "private" part, namely, that this confession is to Christ and, therefore, remains his business alone. The pastor will not report the confession or the names of those who come for confession. No confession will get used as a sermon illustration, either. The point is not for a pastor to learn everyone's dirty, little secrets. The point is for the guilty and the grieved to find relief and receive forgiveness, or absolution. </span></p></div>Pastor Thomas E Schroederhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08739826673292690207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014836070794517355.post-83797617017507791592024-03-14T17:04:00.003-04:002024-03-14T17:04:40.519-04:00YouTube -- 4th Sunday in Lent (March 10, 2024)<p>Here is the Divine Service from Sunday, March 10, 2024.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rmCC2J69BlU" width="320" youtube-src-id="rmCC2J69BlU"></iframe></div><br /><p><br /></p>Pastor Thomas E Schroederhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08739826673292690207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014836070794517355.post-39049862582215939232024-03-14T08:33:00.001-04:002024-03-14T17:03:31.376-04:00Update from Good Shepherd (March 14, 2024)<p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white;">Greetings!</span></span></p><p><b><u><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">REGULAR SCHEDULE </span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"> <b>Sunday School</b> -- Sundays at 9:00 AM.<br /> <b>Adult Bible Class</b> -- Sundays at 9:00 AM.<br /> <b>Divine Service</b> -- Sundays at 10:00 AM.<br /> <b>Lenten Vespers</b> -- Wednesdays at 7:00 PM. Supper at 6:00 PM.<br /> <b><i>Bible Matters</i></b> resumes in April.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"> For a calendar of events and meetings, <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/5014836070794517355/8602326521940181571#">click here</a>.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span><b><u>INTRODUCTION VIDEO FOR GOOD SHEPHERD LUTHERAN CHURCH</u></b><br /></span> <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/5014836070794517355/2634162359866372267">Here is a video</a> to introduce people to <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/5014836070794517355/2634162359866372267">Good Shepherd Lutheran Church</a> of Novi. Share it as much as you can.</span></p><p><b><u><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">ADULT BIBLE CLASS</span></u></b></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"> We have begun a series for Adult Bible Class entitled, <b><i>“Families of the Bible.” </i></b> The schedule for this class <a href="https://lutheransubject.blogspot.com/2024/01/adult-bible-class-families-of-bible.html" target="_blank">can be found here</a>.<br /> <b>Adult Bible Class beings promptly at 9:00 AM</b>. All are welcome.</span></p><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><u>LENTEN NOTES</u></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">For an <b>overview of the Lenten season</b>, <a href="https://lutheransubject.blogspot.com/2024/02/worship-notes-lenten-season-2024.html" target="_blank">click here</a>. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>Lenten Vespers</b><span> </span><span>-- Wednesdays in February and March at 7:00 PM. The schedule</span><span> </span><a href="https://lutheransubject.blogspot.com/2024/02/lenten-vespers-2024-god-on-trial.html" target="_blank">can be found here</a><span>.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>Lenten Dinners</b> -- Wednesdays before the Lenten services at 6:00 PM. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u>EASTER FOR KIDS -- AN EASTER JOURNEY</u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"> <b>Good Shepherd’s 2024 Easter-for-Kids Event will be held on Saturday, March 23, 10am – Noon.</b></p></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"> At this event, kids will follow a path from Jesus’ crucifixion, to the guards who guarded his tomb, to the empty tomb on Easter morning. Along the way, there will be lessons, crafts, and special guests (centurion, angel) to tell them what they have seen. They will get a sticker for their “passport” at each station, with a reward at the end for filling their passport.<br /> There will be 5 stations – Sign-in, the crucifixion, the Centurian, the tomb, and the selfie-station. We will need some help making this event a success. Here are some of the ways that you can help.<br /> >>> Planning for the stations – we have a basic idea of what each station requires, but need some people to help put it together. This will include planning crafts, decorating, etc. Ideally would like to get someone to be in charge of each station.<br /> >>> Decorating -- We want to turn our room divider into a tomb, need a stone to roll, costumes, etc. We have some ideas to start but just need help making it happen.<br /> >>> Crafts – if you have good craft ideas for kids, we would love to hear them.<br /> >>> Giveaway – put together goodie bags for the kids at the end. Also need some kind of raffle game and prize. (Last year we did a guess the number of jelly beans in the jar.)<br /> >>> Volunteers day of the event – will need people to sign kids in, help with crafts, lead kids into the stations, and some “actors” to play roles. Would ideally like to get about 10 people.<br /> Another way to help will be to “like” and share our posts on social media when they come out. Please help us to make this event a success.<br /></span></div><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><u>EASTER FOR KIDS—Final Prep</u></b><br /> We will have our final prep meeting for Easter for Kids on Sunday, March 17 after the service. We will be prepackaging some give-away materials and would welcome the extra hands to do it. In addition, we will be doing set up at church on Friday, March 22 at 6:00 PM. More hands will make for lighter work. Finally, we are hoping to have more of our members on site on Saturday, March 23 (10 AM - Noon) to assist with the guests who will be coming to our event. There are many ways to get involved. If interested, join us for this meeting.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><u>WELS INTERNATIONAL YOUTH RALLY</u></b><br /> This summer, about 2,000 WELS teens (from 8th grade graduation through 12th grade graduation) from all over the country will be gathering in Fort Collins, Colorado for a Youth Rally. The Rally will be held June 25-28. All who have attended have raved about what a good time this is. More information can be found at <a href="http://www.welsyouthrally.net/">www.welsyouthrally.net</a>. The cost is $410 for early bird registration, March 6 – April 30. Transportation costs are not included in the registration fee. Good Shepherd teens will likely connect with St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Livonia to ensure that we have our teens connected to a chaperon. If you are interested, please speak to Pastor Schroeder.</span></p><div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b style="text-decoration-line: underline;">GOOD SHEPHERD ON YOUTUBE</b></span></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span> Services are uploaded to YouTube each week. Feel free to share the videos. Here is the service from March 10, 2024: </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmCC2J69BlU">Good Shepherd Novi, Divine Service, March 10, 2024 (youtube.com)</a></span></div></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /><b><u>REGULAR OFFICE HOURS</u></b></span></div><div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"> The pastor will try to maintain regular office hours are Monday – Thursday, 9:00 AM - Noon. To ensure the pastor’s availability, it is best to make an appointment. He is available by phone or text (248-719-5218). You may also email (<a href="mailto:welsnovi@aol.com">welsnovi@aol.com</a>), but the response may be slower. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div></div><div><b><u><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">DO YOU LIKE US?</span></u></b></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"> Look for Good Shepherd on Facebook. Then “LIKE” us for updates and other postings. Be sure to share posts with friends.</span><p style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><u><span>SHARE THIS POST!</span></u></b><span><span><br /> We desire as many as possible to rejoice in the Gospel which we proclaim and confess. Share the information from our weekly email blast, links to our web page, and even to the pastor's blog to let others know that we have a space in our congregation for them!<br /><br />In Christ,<br />Pastor Schroeder</span><span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #4d4d4d;">===============</span><span style="color: #4d4d4d;">===============</span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"></span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">REGULAR SCHEDULE</span></u></b><br /><b>DIVINE SERVICES</b> are on Sundays at 10:00 AM<br /><b>Sunday School </b>-- Sundays at 9:00 AM <br /><b>Adult Bible Class</b> -- Sundays at 9:00 AM<br /><b>Lenten Vespers</b>-- Wednesdays through March 20<br /> Supper -- 6:00 PM<br /> Worship -- 7:00 PM<br /> Choir -- 8:00 PM<br /><b><i>Bible Matters</i></b> resumes in April.</p><p style="background: white;"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">GOOD SHEPHERD’S WEBSITE<br /></span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/5014836070794517355/1718913825327624702"><b>www.GoodShepherdNovi.org</b></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">PASTOR SCHROEDER’S BLOG</span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/5014836070794517355/1718913825327624702"><b>www.LutheranSubject.blogspot.com</b></a></span><span style="background-color: transparent;"> </span></p></div></div></div>Pastor Thomas E Schroederhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08739826673292690207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014836070794517355.post-54149510122661555362024-03-10T11:57:00.002-04:002024-03-10T11:57:13.159-04:00Sermon -- 4th Sunday in Lent (March 10, 2024)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFR7fmEd-t-484KaLA-PAdvaV2vKVHBGm_XtRd8744XBOmXVsVZBIDqPUf06BOtSHKkaCw492VGDj_iIRQeLFJIYdsxxb1SfO3Oexl_sRTCdJMuHFc1U2oZA1dx0C60ap8uI69FKmzlGpRgSl9_em8kwngvMqJasxfSnJKsd3ak9dLWtyRB4hbmjhRAIxe/s1545/B-39%20Lent%205%20(RCL)%20(Jn%2012.20-33).tif" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1530" data-original-width="1545" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFR7fmEd-t-484KaLA-PAdvaV2vKVHBGm_XtRd8744XBOmXVsVZBIDqPUf06BOtSHKkaCw492VGDj_iIRQeLFJIYdsxxb1SfO3Oexl_sRTCdJMuHFc1U2oZA1dx0C60ap8uI69FKmzlGpRgSl9_em8kwngvMqJasxfSnJKsd3ak9dLWtyRB4hbmjhRAIxe/s320/B-39%20Lent%205%20(RCL)%20(Jn%2012.20-33).tif" width="320" /></a></div><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: center;"><a name="_Hlk93485480"><b>NUMBERS 21:4-9<o:p></o:p></b></a></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: center;"><a name="_Hlk160523214"><b>THE REMEDY FOR DEATH IS LIFTED HIGH</b></a><b>.</b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: .5in; text-align: center;"><b><i>In
the name + of Jesus.<o:p></o:p></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b> </b><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">The people of Israel had been in the
wilderness for over three decades.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">It
was their own fault.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">The Lord had intended
to bring them straight from Mt. Sinai into the Promised Land.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">But the people became convinced that they
could not take this land no matter what promises God had made.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">For their stubborn unbelief, the Lord told
them that they would be banished to the wilderness for forty years where all
the adults would die.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"> Even though Israel was banished to the wilderness,
they were not abandoned by the Lord. The
Lord provided what they needed to live for that entire forty years. Sometimes it was miraculous, such as having
enough water gush forth from a rock to satisfy a nation of about 2 million plus
flocks and herds. When the people
complained, “There is no food,” they had in mind the delicacies which Egypt
offered. The wilderness land could not
be cultivated. They could not grow their
own crops. But God daily supplied manna,
bread flakes that appeared daily on the ground.
The Lord had faithfully remained with Israel on their forty-year journey
in the wilderness. Nevertheless, the
people grew discontent with God and his blessings.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"> <b>“T<span class="text"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">he people became impatient on the way. And the people spoke against God and
against Moses, ‘Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the
wilderness? For there is no food and no
water, and we loathe this worthless food’” (Numbers 21:4-5).</span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> </span></b>They despised God’s gracious
blessings. The people had had
enough. They were sick of Moses and the
Lord. I don’t know what their plan would
have been if the Lord withdrew his blessings from them. If life was hard while the Lord was blessing
them, what would it be if he abandoned them?
<b><o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"> Rather than abandon them, the Lord got
their attention. <b>“<span class="text"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Then the </span></span><span class="small-caps"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;">Lord</span></span><span class="text"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> sent fiery serpents among the
people, and they bit the people, so that many people of Israel died”
(Numbers 21:6).</span></span></b><span class="text"> Did you catch that? <i>The Lord</i> sent the serpents. This was no coincidental infestation. The Lord was showing the people of Israel the
reality that we are always only a step away from death. We like to think that life will always go on and
everything will be fine. But sin has
come into the world, and death comes because of it. Death does not ask your permission. It does not negotiate a convenient time. It comes when God is pleased to bring our
lives to an end. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span class="text"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
When the people began dying from the serpents, the people were no longer
begging Moses for a better menu. They
only cared about being delivered from death.
<b>“The people came to Moses and said, ‘We have sinned, for we have
spoken against the </b></span></span><span class="small-caps"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;">Lord</span></b></span><span class="text"><b> and against you.
Pray to the </b></span><span class="small-caps"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;">Lord</span></b></span><span class="text"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">, that he take away
the serpents from us’” (Numbers 21:7).</span></b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> We only care about
death when it feels real, but it is always real. That is why God lets us feel it from time to
time. That is part of why tragedies and
hardships hit us. This world is broken,
and it is dying. We are sinners, and we
are dying. When we recognize this, we
also cry out to the Lord for mercy.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span class="text">
The people of Israel prayed that the Lord would take away the venomous
serpents. But do you know what? He didn’t.
The Lord did not take the serpents away.
Instead, the Lord provided a remedy for the death. This is what the Lord told Moses, <b>“‘Make a
fiery serpent and set it on a pole, and everyone who is bitten, when he sees
it, shall live.’ So Moses made a
bronze serpent and set it on a pole.
And if a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and
live’ (Numbers 21:8-9). </b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span class="text">
The remedy for death was lifted up high.
The Lord had attached a promise to that serpent. All who trusted God’s promise and looked to
the bronze serpent lived. The
persistence of the serpents in the camp were a continual reminder that death is
always close at hand. But the Lord
provided the remedy for death. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span class="text"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
The Lord Jesus said that the lifting of the bronze serpent was an image
that prefigured his own death. Jesus
said, <b>“</b></span></span><span class="woj"><b>As
Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be
lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life” (John
3:14-15).</b>
Just as the serpent was lifted up by Moses, Jesus himself would be
lifted up. This refers to Jesus’
crucifixion. He would not be stoned to
death. If that were the case, he would
be on the ground and the people would cast down stones on him from a higher
place. He would not be stretched out to
be beheaded like the apostle Paul was.
He would be lifted up on a pole with a crossbeam, and he would die
suspended above the earth. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span class="woj"> Now,
crucifixions were common. The Romans
issued this torturous death to any who posed a serious threat to the authority,
order, or peace which the Romans established.
When Jesus was crucified, he was lifted up between two criminals. So, Jesus being lifted up to die on a cross
was not unique to him. Jesus’ death was
on public display. That was common in
crucifixions, too They were done in a
prominent place so that many people would see them. This display of cruel torture would deter
people from daring to repeat what the condemned person was sentenced for. What was unique about Jesus’ crucifixion is
that Jesus is the only one who had a promise attached to it. For, this is what the Lord says, </span><span class="text"><b>“</b></span><span class="woj"><b>As Moses lifted up the serpent in the
wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever
believes in him may have eternal life” (John 3:14-15).</b> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span class="woj"> The remedy for
death is lifted up high. Jesus’ death
was no secret. In fact, it is a
proclamation. Jesus’ suffering proclaims
the anger that God has against those who ignore his words and turn from godly
living. Jesus’ agony proclaims the curse
that sins deserve which Jesus accepted for all mankind; for, all are sinners. Jesus’ willingness to suffer and die like
this proclaims the love that moved God to deliver us from the guilt of our sins
and the curse of our death. This is what
God the Father was willing to sacrifice to save you. The remedy for death was lifted high—just as
Moses lifted high the snake in the desert so that everyone there could see the
remedy for their own death.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span class="woj"> Saving faith is
not knowledge that Jesus died on a cross.
Even atheists know that. Saving
faith trusts the promise attached to Jesus’ death. Jesus declared, <b>“<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and
everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die” (John 11:25-26).</span></b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> There will
come a day when each of us will close our eyes in death. When that day comes, our soul and body will
separate. The body will decay and return
to dust. But what becomes of the
soul? It returns to God who created
it. We will go to be with the Lord. When we close our eyes to this world, we will
open them and see Jesus. So, we will not
die. We simply depart from this world of
sin and enter the kingdom of glory.
Jesus is the remedy of death who was lifted high for all to see.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span class="woj">
And Jesus’ promise continues.
Because sin has corrupted our bodies, these bodies cannot live
forever. They are marked for death. But Jesus is the remedy for death. He has conquered death by his resurrection. Jesus’ resurrection proclaims what will be
the future of all who believe in him. As
he promised, </span><span class="text"><b>“</b></span><span class="woj"><b>As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of
Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal
life” (John 3:14-15).</b> </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">On the Last Day, Jesus will raise up these bodies. For, our souls and our bodies were not
created to be separate things. Jesus
will raise up our bodies, reunite our bodies with our souls, and we will be
wholly restored and renewed to live with our Lord forever.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> For now, we are
like those Israelites who were wandering in the wilderness for decades. We are not home yet. We live with difficulties, with sorrows, and
with blessings that are flawed and that fail.
Sometimes, God sends calamities to us like he did when he sent the
serpents to the Israelites. They prove
our frailty and our mortality. And
sometimes, he does not take them away. They
are constant reminders that this world is broken, and it will die. They are reminders that we are sinners, and we
will die. Death is always real, and we
are only a step away from it. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> But you do not
need to live in fear of death, and you do not need to be haunted by how close
it is. Consider what St. Peter wrote, <b>“Baptism,
which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from
the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the
resurrection of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 3:21).</b> What baptism corresponds to is the Flood and
Noah’s ark. Can you imagine how
unnerving it was for Noah and his family to have the ark battered by rain and pounded
by waves? To hear the ark creaking from
all the stress put upon it? Do you think
they had to be convinced that death was close at hand? How many inches of ark wood separated Noah
and his family from certain death? It
did not matter, because the Lord had promised to deliver Noah and his family
from death. While the Flood destroyed
everything wicked, it also lifted up the ark above the destruction to save the
people in it. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> So, there may only
be a step between you and death. But you
have been baptized into Christ. You have
been brought into the ark of the Christian Church. Everything outside of the Church will perish,
but those who are in the Church, that is in Christ, will be saved. The one thing that stands between you and
death is Jesus. He is the remedy which
has been lifted up high to save you. And
as St. Paul wrote in our epistle, God has <b>“<span class="text">seated us with
him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:6).</span></b><span class="text"> That is, he </span>lifts you
up above all that will perish so that you remain safe.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> And as you trudge
through this life on your way to that heavenly Promised Land, recognize that
the Lord gives you everything you need to live right now. He supplies you with food and drink, clothing
and shoes, house and home, family and friends.
You may suffer hardships. The
Lord may choose to not take those hardships away from you. They remind you that everything here is
passing away. Death is close at hand. But Jesus sticks closer. He remains our remedy from death. He will deliver us into that heavenly
Promised Land where we will lack nothing.</span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: center;"><b>In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy
Spirit. Amen.</b></p>Pastor Thomas E Schroederhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08739826673292690207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014836070794517355.post-66895235636073421472024-03-09T13:00:00.001-05:002024-03-09T13:00:00.143-05:00Sermon -- Funeral for John (Jack) Alexander Boyd<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfDw1u1S7g-M1kZBb0UiPSxiT2eZ-IKS4n5GFiP1TeeasUSwzcJBleXOviHFEoIzYMC9vJ8JU5h0U2OplpQOAzWm1AVHXH5S2CiGKABs1FEYJrpZoRO8StOdct9KHJiUqg63vF6AHfWJ2GyjAsFCyFcHbIhferFTncmS6zrcpXGxTFgEymN8VTZHcn2eEI/s290/Screenshot%202024-03-09%20090704.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="290" data-original-width="262" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfDw1u1S7g-M1kZBb0UiPSxiT2eZ-IKS4n5GFiP1TeeasUSwzcJBleXOviHFEoIzYMC9vJ8JU5h0U2OplpQOAzWm1AVHXH5S2CiGKABs1FEYJrpZoRO8StOdct9KHJiUqg63vF6AHfWJ2GyjAsFCyFcHbIhferFTncmS6zrcpXGxTFgEymN8VTZHcn2eEI/s1600/Screenshot%202024-03-09%20090704.png" width="262" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Christian Funeral for</div><div style="text-align: center;">+ John “Jack” Alexander Boyd +</div><div style="text-align: center;">(May 30, 1931 - February 14, 2024)</div><p align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;"><a name="_Hlk93485480"><span class="text"><b>2 TIMOTHY
4:6-8</b></span><b><o:p></o:p></b></a></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: center;"><a name="_Hlk160716271"><b>JACK BOYD SHALL RECEIVE A CROWN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS</b></a><b>.</b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: .5in; text-align: center;"><b><i>In
the name + of Jesus.<o:p></o:p></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b> </b><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">The Apostle Paul wrote these words from a
prison cell in Rome.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">He knew that his
life was about to come to an end.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">Let me
correct that.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">He knew his time on earth
was about to come to an end.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">His life
was not about to end.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">Instead, he was
about to enter life in the glories of heaven, a life which does not know suffering
or sorrow.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"> St. Paul described his death this way, <b>“<span class="text"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">I am already being poured out as a
drink offering” (2 Timothy 4:6). </span></span></b><span class="text">A drink offering would either be
poured out onto the Lord’s altar or onto the ground. Once it was poured out, you could not get it
back. That is like our time in this
world. Day after day is poured out. Once it is in the past, we do not get it
back. Jack Boyd lived a long life—over
90 years! Over the course of those
years, he saw the lives of many loved ones poured out and emptied. He had to bid farewell to his parents and
three siblings. By age 90, he would have
bid farewell to many friends, too. Once
they were in the past, he could not get them back. And now Jack’s life has been poured out. His departure from this world has come. Life here is short. Even a life of 90 years feels short once the
final drops are drained out.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span class="text">
That’s not to say Jack’s life was meaningless. Family and friends have fond memories of
him. He was active with golf, bowling,
skiing, and camping trips to Burt Lake.
A stroke may have taken away his independence, but it did not rob him of
his personality. He enjoyed interacting
with other residents in his facility. I
think half the time I went to visit him, he was not in his room. In his younger years, he served his country
in Korea. He never shared any war
stories with me, but maybe that is just as well. Who knows how many people he met and how many
connections he made as a barber? But no
matter how full that life was, it has been poured out now.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span class="text">
But like St. Paul, Jack Boyd had something better to look forward
to. Life on this earth has been poured
out, never to be retrieved again. But
life in the kingdom of God does not have an end date. St. Paul confessed what he looked forward to,
and it is what we get to look forward to as believers in Jesus Christ. <b>“Henceforth there is laid up for
me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge,
will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who
have loved his appearing” (2 Timothy 4:8).</b>
</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"> The Lord has laid up for Jack Boyd the
crown of righteousness. But as St. Paul
acknowledged, this crown is not earned; it is given. For there is no one on earth who has been
righteous. Jack Boyd may have been
active, productive, and entertaining, but he was not holy. He confessed that regularly throughout his
life, so we do not dishonor him by acknowledging that now. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"> Jack did not go to church to be praised
for being a good man. Jack went to
church because he loved that the Lord sent a Savior for him. He loved Jesus’ appearing. For, Jesus Christ who is the only man who has
ever perfectly obeyed all that God has commanded. Therefore, Jesus is the righteous judge. But Jesus does not only demand righteousness,
he also supplies it. Jack was baptized
into the name of Jesus where he was clothed in Jesus’ righteousness. He heard words of absolution which forgave
him of all sins. He went to holy
communion where he feasted on the living body and blood of Jesus. In this way, Jack received a full pardon for
all his sins and the righteousness that God demands. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"> Before God, Jack was a righteous man,
although it did not always look like it.
For Jack, it probably did not always feel like it. It is hard to see anything righteous about a
stroke. As he grew older and more frail,
he may have wondered if God’s favor was still upon him. Whenever we endure hardships or loss, we
wonder if God is punishing us for something we did. But God’s favor is not made evident by
appearances or by feelings. God’s favor
is revealed in his word. And what does
God say? He says, <b>“<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Be faithful unto death, and I will give you </span>the crown of life” (Revelation 2:10). </b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">The
Lord Jesus showed his favor upon Jack by bringing him into the saving faith. God’s favor continued as he sustained Jack in
the saving faith. And now the Lord Jesus
gives Jack the reward for the faith he had given him. Jack Boyd will receive the crown of life.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"> The crown of righteousness God has pledged
to Jack Boyd will not be seen by us until the resurrection on the Last Day. He did not look glorious after suffering a
stroke. He did not look glorious in his
final years in a wheelchair. He
certainly does not look glorious now—ashes to ashes, dust to dust. But this is the promise: <b>“<span class="text"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Henceforth there is laid up for
me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge,
will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who
have loved his appearing” (2 Timothy 4:8).
</span></span></b><span class="text">The Savior
bore the curse of God to deliver Jack from the sting of death. The Savior wore a crown of thorns to secure
for Jack the crown of life. </span>Jesus
poured out his life completely to atone for every sin of every sinner. <span class="text">The Savior who died for his sins also rose from the dead. So, Jesus lives and reigns over sin because
he has taken them away. Therefore, his
righteous judgment is forgiveness. Jesus
lives and reigns over death because he has overpowered the grave. Therefore, his judgment on the righteous is
the resurrection to everlasting glory. </span>Since
Jack was baptized into Jesus, Jesus makes him a victor over sin and death. <span class="text"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span class="text">
Jack Boyd will receive the crown of righteousness. When Jesus appears again in glory on the Last
Day, </span>Jack will appear with him and with
all the saints who will be dressed in robes of righteousness and wearing crowns
of glory. All the saints will be wearing
crowns because we will be living and reigning with Jesus. For, <span class="text">death does not get the last word.
Jesus does. Jesus is the
righteous judge whose word is stronger than death. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span class="text">
Jack Boyd’s life has been poured out like a drink offering. His time on earth is done. He has fought the good fight. He has finished the race. He has kept the faith. So, now his body will rest until Jesus comes
again. Then this body which has been
redeemed by Jesus will be raised and glorified by Jesus. Jack Boyd will receive the crown of life, of
glory, and of righteousness. </span>Since Jack belongs to Jesus, he will reign with him in eternal
life, endless glory, and perfect righteousness.</p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: center;"><b>In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy
Spirit. Amen.</b></p>Pastor Thomas E Schroederhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08739826673292690207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014836070794517355.post-34017883163570299322024-03-08T13:33:00.001-05:002024-03-08T13:33:00.267-05:00Worship Notes: Passiontide<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: large; text-align: center;"><u><b>NOTES FOR PASSIONTIDE</b></u></span></p>
<span style="font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_b7DIty981FMHR9nYvlJad2TDnV7BOEMH45SHYh8HP5iJEzJR7hzbWVEdqs8rDIiKk-I6kRZQ9SZd9eYFOamYI7ckZl5-wIP5ekHixipYrn-Kr8ptrVSqbQoVUyCIWnb5eEGWlgGs576klJegMvkLtbQ7LT4gzqRLiS7FjD_3FwuuvB2PRJ14XO-UMl1B/s1542/B-44%20Holy%20Tuesday%20(LHP)%20%20(Mk%2015.16-20).tif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1527" data-original-width="1542" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_b7DIty981FMHR9nYvlJad2TDnV7BOEMH45SHYh8HP5iJEzJR7hzbWVEdqs8rDIiKk-I6kRZQ9SZd9eYFOamYI7ckZl5-wIP5ekHixipYrn-Kr8ptrVSqbQoVUyCIWnb5eEGWlgGs576klJegMvkLtbQ7LT4gzqRLiS7FjD_3FwuuvB2PRJ14XO-UMl1B/w200-h198/B-44%20Holy%20Tuesday%20(LHP)%20%20(Mk%2015.16-20).tif" width="200" /></a></div>On Sunday, March 17, the 5th Sunday in Lent, we begin the short season of Passiontide (the final two weeks of Lent). Just as the Passion of our Lord intensified the closer we get to Holy Week, so also our Lenten fast intensifies. We will notice this in our worship as the sights and sounds in God’s house are muted even more. For the past number of weeks, our celebration has been muted in the following ways: </span><br /> All <i>Alleluias </i>have been withdrawn from the service. <br /> We do not sing the <i>Gloria in Excelsis</i>. <br /> There are no flowers on the altar. <br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"> Next week, you will note these additional practices. </span><br /> The <i>Gloria Patri </i>(Glory be to the Father) is omitted from the Psalms. <br /> All artwork or icons have been removed or veiled. <br /> The ringing of the church bell ceases. <br /> All music is muted except for the support of congregational singing. <br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Our services will practically be barren of celebration, but that is the point. We are fasting. We are penitent. We are intently focusing on the sufferings and death of Jesus. Ceremony and celebration will return with vigor on Easter Sunday when we rejoice in the resurrection of our Lord which declares that sins are forgiven and that death is destroyed.</span>Pastor Thomas E Schroederhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08739826673292690207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014836070794517355.post-68471285066153944572024-03-07T05:30:00.001-05:002024-03-07T05:30:00.139-05:00Update from Good Shepherd (March 7, 2024)<p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white;">Greetings!</span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><u><b style="background-color: #fcff01;">DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME TO BEGIN THIS WEEKEND</b></u><br /> In the wee hours of Sunday morning, your digital clocks will magically move ahead one hour. We will Spring Forward. Please be aware of the time change and plan accordingly so that you do not arrive at church in time for the Benediction.<br /> For those who still need to manually move clocks ahead, I suggest moving your clocks ahead about mid-afternoon. Then you can make the mental adjustment and go to bed at your "normal" bedtime. You will still get your regular amount of sleep and will be refreshed and ready for church.<br /></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span><span><b><u>REGULAR SCHEDULE </u></b></span></span><br /> <b>Sunday School</b> -- Sundays at 9:00 AM.<br /> <b>Adult Bible Class</b> -- Sundays at 9:00 AM.<br /> <b>Divine Service</b> -- Sundays at 10:00 AM.<br /> <b>Lenten Vespers</b> -- Wednesdays at 7:00 PM. Supper at 6:00 PM.<br /> <b><i>Bible Matters</i></b> resumes in April.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"> For a calendar of events and meetings, <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/5014836070794517355/8602326521940181571#">click here</a>.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span><b><u>INTRODUCTION VIDEO FOR GOOD SHEPHERD LUTHERAN CHURCH</u></b><br /></span> <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/5014836070794517355/2634162359866372267">Here is a video</a> to introduce people to <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/5014836070794517355/2634162359866372267">Good Shepherd Lutheran Church</a> of Novi. Share it as much as you can.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><u>FUNERAL FOR JACK BOYD<br /></u></b> It has pleased almighty God to call out of this world to himself the soul of our brother in Christ, John “Jack” Boyd. A Christian funeral will be conducted for Jack on Saturday, March 9 at 10:00 AM. It will be conducted at Heeney-Sundquist Funeral Home in downtown Farmington (23720 Farmington Road).<br /> The obituary for Jack Boyd can be found here: <a href="https://www.heeney-sundquist.com/obituary/john-boyd">https://www.heeney-sundquist.com/obituary/john-boyd</a><br /><b><i> I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Blessed indeed,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!” (Revelation 14:13)</i></b><br /></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><u>NEW HYMN -- HIS ROBES FOR MINE (Hymn 568)</u></b><br /> This Sunday (March 10), we will be introducing a new hymn, His Robes for Mine. Our intention is to have a soloist sing the first stanza to introduce it and then the congregation will sing the remaining stanzas. If you would like to hear it prior to Sunday, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNnv8jirbgg" target="_blank">click the link to this video</a>.</span><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><u>ADULT BIBLE CLASS</u></b><br /> We have begun a series for Adult Bible Class entitled, <b><i>“Families of the Bible.” </i></b> The Lord lays out his plans for godly families. But sin leaves its mark on families, producing families that are strained, fractured, dysfunctional, and blended. We will consider various families who are mentioned in the Bible. First, we will see that there is nothing new under the sun. Then, we will see God’s blessings for families—strength, encouragement, and healing.<br /> Who will benefit from this series? Husbands and wives, parents and children, singles, divorced, and widowed … anyone who was born into a family, brought into a family, or has been ostracized from a family. I think that should cover all of us.<br /> The schedule for this class <a href="https://lutheransubject.blogspot.com/2024/01/adult-bible-class-families-of-bible.html" target="_blank">can be found here</a>.<br /> <b>Adult Bible Class beings promptly at 9:00 AM</b>. All are welcome.</span></p><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><u>LENTEN NOTES</u></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">For an <b>overview of the Lenten season</b>, <a href="https://lutheransubject.blogspot.com/2024/02/worship-notes-lenten-season-2024.html" target="_blank">click here</a>. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>Lenten Vespers</b><span> </span><span>-- Wednesdays in February and March at 7:00 PM. The schedule</span><span> </span><a href="https://lutheransubject.blogspot.com/2024/02/lenten-vespers-2024-god-on-trial.html" target="_blank">can be found here</a><span>.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>Lenten Dinners</b> -- Wednesdays before the Lenten services at 6:00 PM. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u>EASTER FOR KIDS -- AN EASTER JOURNEY</u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"> <b>Good Shepherd’s 2024 Easter-for-Kids Event will be held on Saturday, March 23, 10am – Noon.</b></p></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"> At this event, kids will follow a path from Jesus’ crucifixion, to the guards who guarded his tomb, to the empty tomb on Easter morning. Along the way, there will be lessons, crafts, and special guests (centurion, angel) to tell them what they have seen. They will get a sticker for their “passport” at each station, with a reward at the end for filling their passport.<br /> There will be 5 stations – Sign-in, the crucifixion, the Centurian, the tomb, and the selfie-station. We will need some help making this event a success. Here are some of the ways that you can help.<br /> >>> Planning for the stations – we have a basic idea of what each station requires, but need some people to help put it together. This will include planning crafts, decorating, etc. Ideally would like to get someone to be in charge of each station.<br /> >>> Decorating -- We want to turn our room divider into a tomb, need a stone to roll, costumes, etc. We have some ideas to start but just need help making it happen.<br /> >>> Crafts – if you have good craft ideas for kids, we would love to hear them.<br /> >>> Giveaway – put together goodie bags for the kids at the end. Also need some kind of raffle game and prize. (Last year we did a guess the number of jelly beans in the jar.)<br /> >>> Volunteers day of the event – will need people to sign kids in, help with crafts, lead kids into the stations, and some “actors” to play roles. Would ideally like to get about 10 people.<br /> Another way to help will be to “like” and share our posts on social media when they come out. Please help us to make this event a success.<br /></span></div><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><u>EASTER FOR KIDS—Final Prep</u></b><br /> We will have our final prep meeting for Easter for Kids on Sunday, March 17 after the service. We will be prepackaging some give-away materials and would welcome the extra hands to do it. In addition, we will be doing set up at church on Friday, March 22 at 6:00 PM. More hands will make for lighter work. Finally, we are hoping to have more of our members on site on Saturday, March 23 (10 AM - Noon) to assist with the guests who will be coming to our event. There are many ways to get involved. If interested, join us for this meeting.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><u>WELS INTERNATIONAL YOUTH RALLY</u></b><br /> This summer, about 2,000 WELS teens (from 8th grade graduation through 12th grade graduation) from all over the country will be gathering in Fort Collins, Colorado for a Youth Rally. The Rally will be held June 25-28. All who have attended have raved about what a good time this is. More information can be found at <a href="http://www.welsyouthrally.net/">www.welsyouthrally.net</a>. The cost is $410 for early bird registration, March 6 – April 30. Transportation costs are not included in the registration fee. Good Shepherd teens will likely connect with St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Livonia to ensure that we have our teens connected to a chaperon. If you are interested, please speak to Pastor Schroeder.</span></p><div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b style="text-decoration-line: underline;">GOOD SHEPHERD ON YOUTUBE</b></span></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span> Services are uploaded to YouTube each week. Feel free to share the videos. Here is the service from February 18, 2024: </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-IkLyR7_NEQ">Good Shepherd Novi, Divine Service, February 18, 2024 (youtube.com)</a></span></div></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /><b><u>BAD WEATHER POLICY FOR SERVICES AT GOOD SHEPHERD</u></b><br /> We will always have services as scheduled at Good Shepherd. Since I live across the parking lot, I can get to the church no matter how bad the weather gets. Even if the service is just me and my family, we will be here. For everyone else, please use your God-given common sense to determine whether or not you will get on the road to attend any service when the weather is bad. We don't want anyone to risk his or her life to be here. But if you do venture out, the scheduled service will take place. It may be only a handful with a cappella singing and/or spoken liturgy, but we will be here.<br /> Bible Classes and meetings may be canceled due to weather. Check your email regarding announcements to see if any of those scheduled events are canceled. If there is no email about it, it is not canceled. But again, use common sense to determine if you can make it, and call the pastor to let him know if you will not be coming.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><u>REGULAR OFFICE HOURS</u></b><br /> The pastor will try to maintain regular office hours are Monday – Thursday, 9:00 AM - Noon. To ensure the pastor’s availability, it is best to make an appointment. He is available by phone or text (248-719-5218). You may also email (<a href="mailto:welsnovi@aol.com">welsnovi@aol.com</a>), but the response may be slower. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div></div><div><b><u><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">DO YOU LIKE US?</span></u></b></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"> Look for Good Shepherd on Facebook. Then “LIKE” us for updates and other postings. Be sure to share posts with friends.</span><p style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><u><span>SHARE THIS POST!</span></u></b><span><span><br /> We desire as many as possible to rejoice in the Gospel which we proclaim and confess. Share the information from our weekly email blast, links to our web page, and even to the pastor's blog to let others know that we have a space in our congregation for them!<br /><br />In Christ,<br />Pastor Schroeder</span><span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #4d4d4d;">===============</span><span style="color: #4d4d4d;">===============</span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"></span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">REGULAR SCHEDULE</span></u></b><br /><b>DIVINE SERVICES</b> are on Sundays at 10:00 AM<br /><b>Sunday School </b>-- Sundays at 9:00 AM <br /><b>Adult Bible Class</b> -- Sundays at 9:00 AM<br /><b>Lenten Vespers</b>-- Wednesdays through March 20<br /> Supper -- 6:00 PM<br /> Worship -- 7:00 PM<br /> Choir -- 8:00 PM<br /><b><i>Bible Matters</i></b> resumes in April.</p><p style="background: white;"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">GOOD SHEPHERD’S WEBSITE<br /></span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/5014836070794517355/1718913825327624702"><b>www.GoodShepherdNovi.org</b></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">PASTOR SCHROEDER’S BLOG</span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/5014836070794517355/1718913825327624702"><b>www.LutheranSubject.blogspot.com</b></a></span><span style="background-color: transparent;"> </span></p></div></div></div>Pastor Thomas E Schroederhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08739826673292690207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014836070794517355.post-8845259696791018232024-03-06T21:30:00.002-05:002024-03-06T21:30:00.138-05:00Sermon -- Lenten Vespers #1 (March 6, 2024)<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyE433u1DNai2sUHNr0gfYO_z8eCHiUqqeYHQuYNwEdQmV328Pn7FG3_sGs_mt8SGV2QqWTTa8Y14JJtlaQeqyYiWoz_1Uf03qnN3VSiXUKKY5gdQinr2Lwnj2bkPs62RtXCUVBOyGvnBmDlxUxv2LkfDvjZ1rI8zdMq0JUywmuOERwvtA1hy7T9BVLwZT/s1542/B-44%20Holy%20Tuesday%20(LHP)%20%20(Mk%2015.16-20).tif" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1527" data-original-width="1542" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyE433u1DNai2sUHNr0gfYO_z8eCHiUqqeYHQuYNwEdQmV328Pn7FG3_sGs_mt8SGV2QqWTTa8Y14JJtlaQeqyYiWoz_1Uf03qnN3VSiXUKKY5gdQinr2Lwnj2bkPs62RtXCUVBOyGvnBmDlxUxv2LkfDvjZ1rI8zdMq0JUywmuOERwvtA1hy7T9BVLwZT/s320/B-44%20Holy%20Tuesday%20(LHP)%20%20(Mk%2015.16-20).tif" width="320" /></a></div><b style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b>MATTHEW
26:57-75</b></div></b><p></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: center;"><a name="_Hlk93485480"><b><span style="color: black;">GOD ON TRIAL: Testimony.</span></b></a></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: .5in; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">In
the name + of Jesus.</i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The religious leaders hated Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We fail to understand why.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus performed miraculous healings for
multitudes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is reason to rejoice,
not to get angry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus demonstrated
abundant mercy to people who were consumed by fear and overwhelmed by
shame.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rather than judge them according
to their ugly past, he issued a pardon for their offenses and assured them of a beautiful
future.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who could not be moved by that?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And while the dreams of a messianic kingdom
gave the Romans reason to be on high alert, Jesus did not stir up the crowds for
rebellion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If there was to be a fight,
it was to be against their own sinful nature, not against earthly authorities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The crowds rallied to Jesus, but they
remained a peaceful assembly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nevertheless,
the religious leaders hated Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The reason they hated Jesus is because
they were paying attention to his words.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Jesus had given testimony, again and again, stating his authority—authority
over illness, authority over demons, authority over nature, authority over the
Sabbath, authority over death, and the authority of God himself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When Jesus had preached the Sermon on the
Mount, he began by quoting one of the Commandments.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For example, <b>“<span class="woj"><span style="background: white;">You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not
commit adultery’” (Matthew 5:27</span></span></b><span class="woj"><span style="background: white;">).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But then
Jesus continued, <b>“But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman
with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart”
(Matthew 5:28).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b>What else is this testimony
but a claim to be equal to God?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
rabbis did not miss this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And other
testimony by Jesus further emphasized the claim.</span></span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The religious leaders hated Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But what they could not do was find fault
with him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While he taught with the
authority of God, Jesus did not overthrow the word of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He did not rebel against the word of God, and
he did not teach anyone else to sin against God’s word either.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, he reinforced it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was his testimony: <b>“<span class="woj"><span style="background: white;">Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law
or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For truly, I say to you, until heaven
and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all
is accomplished” (Matthew 5:17-18).</span></span></b><span class="woj"><span style="background: white;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, Jesus was faultless
both in his teaching and in his keeping of the Law.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When Jesus stood trial, they brought in false
witnesses to testify against Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even
those who were paid off could not agree on their testimony.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They could find no charges to stick against
Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was guiltless.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nevertheless, the religious leaders hated
Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span class="woj"><span style="background: white; color: black;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Throughout the trial, Jesus did not respond to any of the charges that
were made against him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus’ teachings
were done publicly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If he had been
guilty of anything, the evidence could easily be found.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Besides, Jesus had given plenty of testimony
in the past, and they did not repent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But
now, the time for teaching and testifying had reached its end.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the court of the Sanhedrin, Jesus did not
bother to cast any more pearls to the swine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He remained silent.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span class="woj"><span style="background: white; color: black;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Finally, Caiaphas put Jesus under oath.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><b>“T</b></span></span><span class="text"><b><span style="color: black;">he
high priest said to him, ‘I adjure you by the living God, tell
us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus said to him, </span></b></span><span class="woj"><b><span style="color: black;">‘You have said so. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I tell you, from now on you will see
the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the
clouds of heaven’” (Matthew 26:63-64).</span></b><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus not only repeated the claim that he is God,
he also claimed that he would judge the living and dead when he returns in
glory on the Last Day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Caiaphas put him
under oath to tell the truth, and he did.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span class="woj"><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t know if
Caiaphas was angry or overjoyed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus
gave the testimony which produced the results Caiaphas and the whole Sanhedrin
wanted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b>“</b></span></span><span class="text"><b><span style="color: black;">The high priest tore his robes and
said, ‘He has uttered blasphemy. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What
further witnesses do we need? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You have
now heard his blasphemy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What is your
judgment?’ <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They answered, ‘He deserves
death’” (Matthew 26:65-66).</span></b><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The religious leaders hated Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They rejected the evidence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They denied the miracles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They slandered his authority over
demons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They despised his
teachings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And when </span></span><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">God was put on trial, they condemned
him for his testimony that he is God.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As the trial was going on in Caiaphas’
palace, Simon Peter stood outside in Caiaphas’ courtyard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He loved his master, and he longed to be
faithful to him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He had boasted of his
allegiance, and he meant it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As Jesus
was being vilified at his trial, Simon Peter was warming himself in the chill
of the evening.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A servant girl spotted
him and outed him: <span class="text"><b>“You also were with Jesus the Galilean”
(Matthew 26:69).</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can envision
all the heads turning toward Peter to get a good look at him—soldiers, servants,
friends of the Sanhedrin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The chill went
out of the night air and right down Peter’s spine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To confess Jesus would almost certainly mean
to face the same fate as Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
religious leaders hated Jesus; they would hate his followers, too.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span class="text"><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To avoid
trouble, Simon Peter </span></span><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">had
to avoid his allegiance to Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
gave his testimony: <span class="text"><b>“I do not know what you mean” (Matthew
26:70).</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>Peter stepped away
from the light of the charcoal fire and hid in the shadows at the entrance of
the courtyard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was trying to escape
danger, but he did not escape their notice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><b>“A<span class="text">nother servant girl saw him, and she said to the
bystanders, ‘This man was with Jesus of Nazareth’” </span>(Matthew 26:71).</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Peter was given another chance to give his testimony,
to defend Jesus’ teachings, and to confess Jesus’ identity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead, <b>“<span class="text">he denied it
with an oath: ‘I do not know the man’” (Matthew 26:72). </span></b><span class="text"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A third chance for Peter to give
his testimony resulted in a third denial: <b>“He began to invoke a curse on
himself and to swear, ‘I do not know the man’” (Matthew 26:74).</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The religious leaders hated Jesus; Peter knew
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The religious leaders hated Jesus’
disciples; Peter knew it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But Peter did
not want to be hated or endangered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
was put under an informal trial for being Jesus’ follower.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was put to the test, and he failed.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span class="text"><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a nerve-wracking
question to this day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When people ask about
your faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your defenses go up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You wonder if you are about to face criticism
or challenges or scorn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The question
feels like a set up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But when the
questions get more specific, that’s when things get dangerous.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span class="text"><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Someone may say, “You believe there are more
than two genders, don’t you?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or, “You
believe in Creation?!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why do you reject
science?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or, “You are opposed to Drag
Queen story hour?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What are you, a
Puritan?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or, “You think nice people are
going to hell just because they aren’t Christians?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why do you hate them so much?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And so on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If these questions are asked, you might feel the heads in the room turn
toward you to see how you will answer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You might get attacked if you give a faithful testimony.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a result, you may swallow your words, shrink
away, and say nothing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You might even
deny what God’s word says so that people will like you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or perhaps you will try to find a middle
ground and say, “Well, I’m a Christian, but I don’t believe everything in the
Bible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m way more open-minded than
that.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But this is what the Lord says, <b>“W</b></span></span><b><span style="background: white; color: black;">hoever is ashamed of me and of my words,
of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and
the glory of the Father and of the holy angels” (Luke 9:26).</span></b><span style="background: white; color: black;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have many opportunities to confess God’s
word.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In these moments, God puts us to
the test to see if we will confess him and if we will hold to the truth of his
word.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we uphold God’s word and if we
insist that his word is true, it may convict some people whose lives or
thoughts are opposed to it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Simon Peter
was fearful of the strangers around him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>For you, it may be family members who have turned away from God’s
word.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The family expects you to praise wicked
choices because you are supposed to stand by your loved ones.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Loving them is supposed to mean agreeing with
them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To stand on the testimony of God’s
word will cause heads to turn and charges to be levelled against you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rather than repent of their sins, they will
pressure you to reject God’s truth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You
will discover that people still hate Jesus, and they hate people who confess
Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perhaps you’ve had those difficult and uncomfortable
moments.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How did you do? Were you like
Simon Peter, who found it easier to deny Jesus than to confess him and endure
the scorn?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or maybe you chose to say nothing,
making no response when asked for your confession.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we long for the favor of sinful men more
than the favor of God, it is God who gets rejected.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Repent.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When Simon Peter realized how badly he had
failed Jesus, <b>“<span class="text">he went out and wept bitterly” (Matthew 26:75).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b><span class="text">He was appalled
at how easy it was to turn on Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While
Simon Peter was right to repent, he was not saved by his tears.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was saved by Jesus who did make the
faithful testimony to all people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus
made his testimony throughout his life—before the crowds and their mixed reactions,
before the rabbis who hated and slandered him, and before Caiaphas who was
looking for reasons to kill him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus
did not budge from the truth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He sought
only to uphold the will of his heavenly Father.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Therefore, Jesus confessed faithfully and freely that he is the Son of
God, knowing that they would order his death for saying so.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus’ faithfulness to God’s word does not
merely stand in contrast to our weak confession or denial of God’s word, it
atones for it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span class="text"><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God the Father
sent Jesus to pay the price for every careless word we have spoken, for every
failed confession, and for every lie we have uttered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He suffered in silence for our sins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And although we have nothing to say in our
defense, Jesus speaks to us in words of mercy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Having paid for our sins, he issues his sentence upon us: Your sins are
forgiven.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And he is pleased to
acknowledge you before the heavenly Father and to confess that you are his.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He gives you words to say.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>First, you confess what is true about
yourself—that you have sinned against Jesus in what you have said and in what
you have failed to say.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then you confess
what is true about Jesus—that his blood was shed to take away the sin of the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What’s more, he gives you his body and blood
in holy communion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This touches your mouth
and cleanses you of every impurity in it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span class="text"><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And then, Jesus
gives you more to say. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We confess with
David, <b>“<span style="background: white;">O Lord, open my lips,</span> and my
mouth will declare your praise” (Psalm 51:15).</b></span><span style="background: white;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If anyone hates
you for your words, keep in mind that they hated Jesus first.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But fear not; Jesus loves you and that is all
that matters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Only Jesus has the words that
grant eternal life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is not ashamed to
acknowledge you to the Father.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For, he
tells you that you are his redeemed, and his testimony is true.</span></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black;">In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>Pastor Thomas E Schroederhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08739826673292690207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014836070794517355.post-27686454522201252992024-03-03T12:01:00.003-05:002024-03-03T12:01:23.073-05:00Sermon -- 3rd Sunday in Lent (March 3, 2024)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR8_cEFB-wmFDxt3v8Bj2AeqwHPshGOQTZtHoTyqZtkaaenmuziVxH0uGyGjlOdZw1RFyxZbBOY7culzEu7CADoyGls9huAF3FMraAZb8Wf_SXnTlasXLqPRAMZRMxMvS-7Cn5lthoburc5sRpWFV30HxcgtkHoGqt8ZtlcdqMBKXv7JlWV4zO4hmyihbQ/s1758/B-34%20Lent%203%20(Jn%202.13-22).tif" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1758" data-original-width="1554" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR8_cEFB-wmFDxt3v8Bj2AeqwHPshGOQTZtHoTyqZtkaaenmuziVxH0uGyGjlOdZw1RFyxZbBOY7culzEu7CADoyGls9huAF3FMraAZb8Wf_SXnTlasXLqPRAMZRMxMvS-7Cn5lthoburc5sRpWFV30HxcgtkHoGqt8ZtlcdqMBKXv7JlWV4zO4hmyihbQ/s320/B-34%20Lent%203%20(Jn%202.13-22).tif" width="283" /></a></div><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: center;"><a name="_Hlk93485480"><b>JOHN 2:13-22<o:p></o:p></b></a></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: center;"><b>JESUS IS ZEALOUS
FOR RIGHT WORSHIP.</b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: .5in; text-align: center;"><b><i>In
the name + of Jesus.</i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"> The big tech industries have a reputation
for giving problem solving questions to potential employees. Even if people give the wrong answers, the
companies are interested in seeing how the interviewees think. One question was asked of people who were
interviewing for Microsoft. Their task
was to upgrade Bill Gates’ house with every technological innovation they could. Proposals were made. Some interesting suggestions were presented—like
having the music in the house float from speaker to speaker as Mr. Gates walked
from room to room. The best answer was this:
“What does Mr. Gates want?” The only way
anyone could be sure if their project satisfied Mr. Gates is if they knew what
Mr. Gates wanted in the first place.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"> The same is true for worship. Many religions have many ideas about how to worship
God—everything from blood sacrifice to quiet introspection. But if we want to know that God is pleased
with the worship we offer him, God has to tell us what he wants. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"> When asked why we worship as we do, the
common answer, which I have to believe has been used in every church everywhere,
is, “We’ve always done it that way before.”
That may be true, but there has to be a reason we’ve always done it that
way. It is true that our worship forms
have been handed down to us. From Christians
of the past, we have received rites and ceremonies which have become
familiar. But if we are holding on to
tradition for the sake of familiarity or nostalgia, we are worshiping what
pleases us. Our concern should be that our worship and our lives please
God. So, we need to keep referring back
to God’s word to be assured that our worship and our lives are pleasing to
God. For, our Lord is zealous for right worship. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"> When Jesus entered the temple, he saw
worship practices which had morphed into business practices. <b>“<span class="text">In the temple he found
those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers
sitting there” (John 2:14).</span></b><span class="text"> </span>No doubt, they were added because they
were practical. Who wanted to drag an ox
all the way from Galilee when you could buy one in Jerusalem? And if you were going to buy one in Jerusalem
anyway, why not get it at the temple?
That’s one-stop shopping! All the
Jewish men were required to pay an annual temple tax. That tax was to be paid with a shekel. But if you were a pilgrim from outside of
Palestine, you would have different coinage.
You would need to get it exchanged.
And once again, why not offer one-stop shopping and make your exchange
in the temple courts? The priests had
developed a pretty slick business model.
But the Church is not a business.
The temple was to be a house of worship and prayer, not a house of
trade.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"> Jesus is zealous for right worship, and so
he addressed the abuses in the temple. <b>“<span class="text">And making a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the temple,
with the sheep and oxen. And he poured
out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables.</span> And he told those who sold the pigeons, </b><b><span class="woj">‘Take these things away; do not make my Father's house a house
of trade’”</span> (John 2:15-16).</b><span class="woj"> </span>Jesus did not overthrow everything
that was going on in the temple, just the abuses that had crept in. The priests defended what was practical even
though it made a poor confession. They
did not treat God’s house as if it were holy ground. Zeal for God’s house consumed Jesus. He demanded that the holy things be treated
like holy things. Jesus is zealous for
right worship.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"> We struggle with worship for various
reasons, usually sinful reasons. We want
worship to be done to our liking. We all
have our favorite hymns, and we may become angry if they are not chosen often
enough. Sometimes we come looking for
things to bother us. If you come to
church with your own expectations and your expectations are not met, you may
walk away. You may even believe that you
are justified to do so. After all, the
church did not do things the way you wanted.
But if my worship is about my preference, my ego, my comfort, or my
entertainment, then worship is all about me.
This is idolatry. Repent.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"> The Lord is zealous for right worship. He is not pleased with us crafting our
worship to suit our pleasures no matter how pretty or practical we think it is. So, turn back to God’s word. There we are told what delights him as right
worship. Psalm 51 guides us, <b>“<span class="text"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">The sacrifices of God are a
broken spirit;</span> a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise</span>”
(Psalm 51:17).</b><span class="text"> We come to God as broken sinners. We do not bring anything to the service that
God needs. Really, God does not need us. If we are wiped out, God is still glorious,
holy, almighty, and content. We do not
come to God’s house to do him any favors.
Many Christians over the years have told their pastor, “You should just
be thankful I am here.” That sure sounds
like, “I would rather be somewhere else than God’s presence.” Beware.
Those who think that way may well be excused from God’s presence for
eternity.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span class="text"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
Jesus is zealous for right worship.
We come rightly as beggars. If we
are beggars, then it is God who must fill us with good things. And that is why we come to God’s house and
assemble in God’s presence. Our Lord
summons us so that he can give us the mercy and the hope we need. Jesus is the only one who supplies these
blessings. Jesus told his disciples, <b>“T</b></span></span><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">he Son of Man came not to be served but </span>to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45).</b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> Therefore, we come to
God’s house. Here, the Lord serves us.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"> The Father is zealous for your salvation,
so he sent his Son to suffer for your sins and die as a sin offering for
you. The Son was zealous to do his
Father’s will. Jesus did not serve to satisfy
his desires, his preferences, his emotions, or his ego. Jesus had one goal—to obey his Father’s will
even if it meant being cursed despite perfect obedience. Jesus was zealous for his Father’s will,
which meant that Jesus was zealous to save you.
Jesus, therefore, gave his life as the ransom price to buy you back from
sin, death, and the devil. He paid the full
price to set you free.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"> Jesus is zealous for right worship so that
he can deliver to you the gifts that save you.
But right worship also means that we come before Jesus where he tells us
to find him. Some have reasoned, “Since
God is everywhere I can worship him just as easily in my cabin up north as I
can in church.” Well, it is true that God
is everywhere. He is omnipresent. He fills all things. Since God is everywhere, he is in fire,
too. So, why don’t you play with fire? Why don’t you hold it in your lap and embrace
God there since he is in fire? Because
God is not in fire for you. Fire does
what God created it to do—to burn, scorch, and destroy. God has made no promise that he will forgive
your sins or deliver salvation through fire.
Just because God is present everywhere does not mean he is there for you
and for your salvation. Right worship happens
where the Lord tells us that we will find him for our good.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"> Jesus is zealous for right worship. We consider the Scriptures again to see what
is held up as right worship. The apostles
who preached and who organized the church set a pattern for worship. The early church <b>“<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">devoted themselves to the apostles' </span>teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers”
(Acts 2:42).</b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> The fellowship is God’s people who gather
together in Jesus’ name. The apostles’ teaching
is the words and works of Jesus which proclaim divine grace to us. The breaking of bread is holy communion in
which Jesus </span>gives you his body and blood which have paid for your sins
and which have overcome death. The
prayers are likely a liturgical form which keeps our worship focused on our Triune
God and what he does for us. This is
where our Lord delivers forgiveness of sins, new life, and salvation. You do not gain God’s favor by good works, by
quiet introspection, or by your own theories and judgments. God’s favor is found only where God tells us
to find it. Anything else is not right
worship.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"> When Jesus cleansed the temple of all the
abuses there, the religious leaders were outraged. They were accustomed to business as usual in
the temple and saw no reason for Jesus’ interruption. You can imagine them saying, “We’ve always
done it this way.” They confronted
Jesus. <span class="text"><b>“What sign do
you show us for doing these things” (John 2:18)?</b> They wanted evidence from heaven that Jesus
had the right to cleanse the temple. If
they had been paying attention, Jesus had stated his authority when he cried out,
<b>“</b></span><span class="woj"><b>Do not make my Father's house a house of
trade” (John 2:16).</b> If Jesus called
God his Father, then Jesus was claiming to be the Son of God. So, it is Jesus’ house they were desecrating,
and he was zealous to see right worship in it.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span class="woj"> But Jesus gave
them a sign. It is the only sign he ever
gave to them. <b>“Destroy this temple,
and in three days I will raise it up”</b><b> (John 2:19).</b> What is the temple? It is where God has chosen to dwell with his
people. Who is Jesus? He is God who has chosen to dwell with his people.
Jesus was telling the religious leaders that
they would destroy his body in death, but that he would rise from the dead
again on the third day. This would prove
Jesus is God the Son. It proves that he
has the authority to tell us what right worship looks like. The one who said he would be killed and rise
from dead on the third day and then did it deserves to be listened to.</span> <span id="en-ESV-26105"> It even
proves that Jesus has the authority to judge the living and the dead. The Bible reminds us, <b>“(God)<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> has fixed </span>a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead” (Acts 17:31).</b></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> In the end,
Jesus will judge people according to how they worshiped—whether we are devoted
to our own desires or we are devoted to what God desires.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"> Jesus is zealous for right worship, but he
is not zealous to destroy you. He is zealous
to save you. He tells you what is good
and pleasing to him. He proclaims what is
good so you can pursue it. He reveals
what is evil so you can turn from it. Most
importantly, he tells you what he has done to take away your sins and to grant
you a resurrection to life everlasting.
And he tells you how he delivers these things to you. We rightly approach our Lord as penitent
sinners who stand on holy ground. And we
rightly call upon Jesus to provide us with all that we need to stand before our
heavenly Father in innocence. If our worship
keeps us focused on that, it is good, right, and salutary. </p><p>
</p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: center;"><b>In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.</b></p>Pastor Thomas E Schroederhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08739826673292690207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014836070794517355.post-18375604127449675282024-02-29T07:31:00.000-05:002024-02-29T07:31:09.107-05:00Update from Good Shepherd (February 29, 2024)<p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white;">Greetings!</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span><span><b><u>REGULAR SCHEDULE </u></b></span></span><br /> <b>Sunday School</b> -- Sundays at 9:00 AM.<br /> <b>Adult Bible Class</b> -- Sundays at 9:00 AM.<br /> <b>Divine Service</b> -- Sundays at 10:00 AM.<br /> <b>Lenten Vespers</b> -- Wednesdays at 7:00 PM. Supper at 6:00 PM.<br /> <b><i>Bible Matters</i></b> resumes in April.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"> For a calendar of events and meetings, <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/5014836070794517355/8602326521940181571#">click here</a>.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span><b><u>INTRODUCTION VIDEO FOR GOOD SHEPHERD LUTHERAN CHURCH</u></b><br /></span> <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/5014836070794517355/2634162359866372267">Here is a video</a> to introduce people to <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/5014836070794517355/2634162359866372267">Good Shepherd Lutheran Church</a> of Novi. Share it as much as you can.</span></p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><u>FUNERAL FOR JACK BOYD<br /></u></b> It has pleased almighty God to call out of this world to himself the soul of our brother in Christ, John “Jack” Boyd. A Christian funeral will be conducted for Jack on Saturday, March 9 at 10:00 AM. It will be conducted at Heeney-Sundquist Funeral Home in downtown Farmington (23720 Farmington Road).<br /> The obituary for Jack Boyd can be found here: <a href="https://www.heeney-sundquist.com/obituary/john-boyd">https://www.heeney-sundquist.com/obituary/john-boyd</a> <br /><b><i> I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Blessed indeed,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!” (Revelation 14:13)</i></b><br /></span><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><u>ADULT BIBLE CLASS</u></b><br /> We have begun a series for Adult Bible Class entitled, <b><i>“Families of the Bible.” </i></b> The Lord lays out his plans for godly families. But sin leaves its mark on families, producing families that are strained, fractured, dysfunctional, and blended. We will consider various families who are mentioned in the Bible. First, we will see that there is nothing new under the sun. Then, we will see God’s blessings for families—strength, encouragement, and healing.<br /> Who will benefit from this series? Husbands and wives, parents and children, singles, divorced, and widowed … anyone who was born into a family, brought into a family, or has been ostracized from a family. I think that should cover all of us.<br /> The schedule for this class <a href="https://lutheransubject.blogspot.com/2024/01/adult-bible-class-families-of-bible.html" target="_blank">can be found here</a>.<br /> <b>Adult Bible Class beings promptly at 9:00 AM</b>. All are welcome.</span></p><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><u>LENTEN NOTES</u></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">For an <b>overview of the Lenten season</b>, <a href="https://lutheransubject.blogspot.com/2024/02/worship-notes-lenten-season-2024.html" target="_blank">click here</a>. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>Lenten Vespers</b><span> </span><span>-- Wednesdays in February and March at 7:00 PM. The schedule</span><span> </span><a href="https://lutheransubject.blogspot.com/2024/02/lenten-vespers-2024-god-on-trial.html" target="_blank">can be found here</a><span>.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>Lenten Dinners</b> -- Wednesdays before the Lenten services at 6:00 PM. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span style="background: white; color: #1d2228;">Martin Luther College Choir Concert<br /></span></u></b><span style="background: white; color: #444444;">Join us at Hope Christian Academy on Monday, March 4 at 10 am as the Martin Luther College Choir, under the direction of Prof. Adrian Smith, presents a choral concert titled “Piercing the Darkness.” The program will include settings of familiar hymns, as well as selections by choral music composers representing a variety of musical styles.</span></p></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><u>EASTER FOR KIDS</u></b></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"> <b>Good Shepherd’s 2024 Easter-for-Kids Event will be held on Saturday, March 23, 10am – Noon.</b><br /> At this event, kids will follow a path from Jesus’ crucifixion, to the guards who guarded his tomb, to the empty tomb on Easter morning. Along the way, there will be lessons, crafts, and special guests (centurion, angel) to tell them what they have seen. They will get a sticker for their “passport” at each station, with a reward at the end for filling their passport.<br /> There will be 5 stations – Sign-in, the crucifixion, the Centurian, the tomb, and the selfie-station. We will need some help making this event a success. Here are some of the ways that you can help.<br /> >>> Planning for the stations – we have a basic idea of what each station requires, but need some people to help put it together. This will include planning crafts, decorating, etc. Ideally would like to get someone to be in charge of each station.<br /> >>> Decorating -- We want to turn our room divider into a tomb, need a stone to roll, costumes, etc. We have some ideas to start but just need help making it happen.<br /> >>> Crafts – if you have good craft ideas for kids, we would love to hear them.<br /> >>> Giveaway – put together goodie bags for the kids at the end. Also need some kind of raffle game and prize. (Last year we did a guess the number of jelly beans in the jar.)<br /> >>> Volunteers day of the event – will need people to sign kids in, help with crafts, lead kids into the stations, and some “actors” to play roles. Would ideally like to get about 10 people.<br /> Another way to help will be to “like” and share our posts on social media when they come out. Please help us to make this event a success.<br /></span></div><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><u>EASTER FOR KIDS—Prep Meeting</u></b><br /> We will have another prep meeting for Easter for Kids on Sunday, March 3 after the service. We want to check on how we are progressing as our event gets closer. There are many ways to get involved. If interested, join us for this meeting.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><u>WELS INTERNATIONAL YOUTH RALLY</u></b><br /> This summer, about 2,000 WELS teens (from 8th grade graduation through 12th grade graduation) from all over the country will be gathering in Fort Collins, Colorado for a Youth Rally. The Rally will be held June 25-28. All who have attended have raved about what a good time this is. More information can be found at <a href="http://www.welsyouthrally.net/">www.welsyouthrally.net</a>. The cost is $410 for early bird registration, March 6 – April 30. Transportation costs are not included in the registration fee. Good Shepherd teens will likely connect with St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Livonia to ensure that we have our teens connected to a chaperon. If you are interested, please speak to Pastor Schroeder.</span></p><div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b style="text-decoration-line: underline;">GOOD SHEPHERD ON YOUTUBE</b></span></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span> Services are uploaded to YouTube each week. Feel free to share the videos. Here is the service from Christmas Eve (February 18, 2024): </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-IkLyR7_NEQ">Good Shepherd Novi, Divine Service, February 18, 2024 (youtube.com)</a></span></div></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /><b><u>BAD WEATHER POLICY FOR SERVICES AT GOOD SHEPHERD</u></b><br /> We will always have services as scheduled at Good Shepherd. Since I live across the parking lot, I can get to the church no matter how bad the weather gets. Even if the service is just me and my family, we will be here. For everyone else, please use your God-given common sense to determine whether or not you will get on the road to attend any service when the weather is bad. We don't want anyone to risk his or her life to be here. But if you do venture out, the scheduled service will take place. It may be only a handful with a cappella singing and/or spoken liturgy, but we will be here.<br /> Bible Classes and meetings may be canceled due to weather. Check your email regarding announcements to see if any of those scheduled events are canceled. If there is no email about it, it is not canceled. But again, use common sense to determine if you can make it, and call the pastor to let him know if you will not be coming.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><u>REGULAR OFFICE HOURS</u></b><br /> The pastor will try to maintain regular office hours are Monday – Thursday, 9:00 AM - Noon. To ensure the pastor’s availability, it is best to make an appointment. He is available by phone or text (248-719-5218). You may also email (<a href="mailto:welsnovi@aol.com">welsnovi@aol.com</a>), but the response may be slower. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div></div><div><b><u><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">DO YOU LIKE US?</span></u></b></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"> Look for Good Shepherd on Facebook. Then “LIKE” us for updates and other postings. Be sure to share posts with friends.</span><p style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><u><span>SHARE THIS POST!</span></u></b><span><span><br /> We desire as many as possible to rejoice in the Gospel which we proclaim and confess. Share the information from our weekly email blast, links to our web page, and even to the pastor's blog to let others know that we have a space in our congregation for them!<br /><br />In Christ,<br />Pastor Schroeder</span><span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #4d4d4d;">===============</span><span style="color: #4d4d4d;">===============</span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"></span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">REGULAR SCHEDULE</span></u></b><br /><b>DIVINE SERVICES</b> are on Sundays at 10:00 AM<br /><b>Sunday School </b>-- Sundays at 9:00 AM <br /><b>Adult Bible Class</b> -- Sundays at 9:00 AM<br /><b>Lenten Vespers</b>-- Wednesdays through March 20<br /> Supper -- 6:00 PM<br /> Worship -- 7:00 PM<br /> Choir -- 8:00 PM<br /><b><i>Bible Matters</i></b> resumes in April.</p><p style="background: white;"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">GOOD SHEPHERD’S WEBSITE<br /></span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/5014836070794517355/1718913825327624702"><b>www.GoodShepherdNovi.org</b></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">PASTOR SCHROEDER’S BLOG</span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/5014836070794517355/1718913825327624702"><b>www.LutheranSubject.blogspot.com</b></a></span><span style="background-color: transparent;"> </span></p></div></div></div>Pastor Thomas E Schroederhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08739826673292690207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014836070794517355.post-29539308487467166342024-02-25T11:57:00.002-05:002024-02-25T11:57:54.804-05:00Sermon -- 2nd Sunday in Lent (February 25, 2024)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEZ3CHTqi5T6HgC9AO_Iff8u1FR7uzDbHIVPWvUpyX5ZGq7um0zTblS200RnyEw12wxD7JoePCIcDK87PxV4ShddwLfCP9YYUohhRdPlQTl6KKhMD-LJyn4veU78jcxd67YcCZMF0wJufCXSfslEXHtjVTBu1UHLfQFJnTmdr9jkjb21z-irctncBlbjQn/s1536/B-32%20Lent%202%20(Mk%208.31-38).tif" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1524" data-original-width="1536" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEZ3CHTqi5T6HgC9AO_Iff8u1FR7uzDbHIVPWvUpyX5ZGq7um0zTblS200RnyEw12wxD7JoePCIcDK87PxV4ShddwLfCP9YYUohhRdPlQTl6KKhMD-LJyn4veU78jcxd67YcCZMF0wJufCXSfslEXHtjVTBu1UHLfQFJnTmdr9jkjb21z-irctncBlbjQn/s320/B-32%20Lent%202%20(Mk%208.31-38).tif" width="320" /></a></div><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: center;"><a name="_Hlk93485480"><b>MARK 8:31-38<o:p></o:p></b></a></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: center;"><b>CHRIST COMES WITH
A CROSS.</b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: .5in; text-align: center;"><b><i>In
the name + of Jesus.<o:p></o:p></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b> </b><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">We all have expectations because of our Christian
faith.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">Many of those expectations are
valid.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">At the conclusion of the Nicene
Creed, we confess, </span><b><i>“We look for the resurrection of the dead and the life
of the world to come.”</i></b><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">We expect
this for one reason: Our Lord told us.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">We
also know what to expect in the life of the world to come.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">Jesus promises to everyone who believes in
him, </span><b>“(God) <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">will wipe away every tear from
their eyes, and </span>death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain
anymore, for the former things have passed away” (Revelation 21:4).</b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> We also have expectations
for what life here and now should be like for Christians. Unfortunately, our expectations are often
based on our assumptions rather than anything that God has promised. We know that God is good, and he loves us. Therefore, we assume that he will make our
lives good, comfortable, easy, and prosperous.
That is appealing. Who wouldn’t
want that? Everyone wants life to be whether
they are Christians or not. But God has
not promised that. To expect it, then,
is setting yourself up for disappointment.
You may even conclude that God has failed you.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> Such assumptions
are not unique to you. The apostles had some
expectations of what life as a Christian is supposed to be like. They based their assumptions on what they
were seeing with Jesus. He was wildly popular
with the crowds. They came streaming to
him. He healed their sick and brought
relief to those who were suffering. He
spoke compassionately to those who despised, forgotten, and
broken-hearted. Everything seemed to be
wonderful for Jesus and his disciples.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> But then Jesus
informed his disciples what was coming.
Christ comes with a cross. <b>“H</b></span><span class="text"><b>e began to teach them that the Son
of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the
chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise
again. And he said this plainly” (Mark 8:31-32).</b> Jesus was not throwing
out suggestions, as if the next course of action were up for grabs. He spoke plainly. It was necessary for these things to happen. This was the plan. I suspect that the disciples did not grasp
that last part, rising from the dead on the third day. They heard suffering, rejection, and
murder. That is the polar opposite of
the popularity they were enjoying. Why
would they forfeit this glory for suffering and shame?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span class="text"> That is why
Peter rebuked Jesus. This is not what he
had in mind for Jesus, for himself, or for any of Jesus’ disciples. He had higher expectations. But Christ comes with a cross. Perhaps Peter suggested, “If this is what
happens when we go to Jerusalem, let’s just not go to Jerusalem. If you don’t go to Jerusalem, you won’t suffer,
be rejected, or be killed!” The Law required
them to go to Jerusalem for religious festivals. Avoiding Jerusalem was not an option. None of it was. It was necessary. Christ comes with a cross.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"> If Jesus had listened to Peter and avoided
the cross, he would not have paid for our sins.
Our guilt would remain upon us.
The devil, who had overcome the world by leading it into sin, would
still rule over all things in this world.
We would die under God’s curse.
We would receive the punishment we deserve, and we would suffer eternal
torment in hell. Jesus was sent into the
world to save us from all that. To turn
away from this mission was a Satanic plan, which is why Jesus rebuked Peter so
harshly. Peter wanted and expected ease,
comfort, and popularity. Jesus, however,
was focused on what God the Father had given him to do. Christ comes with a cross.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"> Then Jesus gathered many disciples around
him to teach them that belonging to Christ also comes with a cross. He said, <span class="woj"><b>“If anyone would
come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me”
(Mark 8:34).</b> Once again, Jesus was
not making a suggestion or tossing out some options. All three verbs are imperatives: You <i>must</i>
deny yourself. You <i>must</i> take up
your cross. You <i>must</i> follow him. These are necessary, too. Christ comes with a cross.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span class="woj"> What is a cross
for? It is for killing things. So, what needs to be put to death? Our sinful inclinations and desires. Our self-glorifying goals and lust for
personal glory. Our assumptions that
being a child of God means that God will always grant us ease, comfort, popularity,
and success. God never promised any of
these things to us. He may grant them to
some extent, but they are not a right.
In fact, ease, comfort, popularity, and success can tempt you to abandon
Christ, especially if this is all you want.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span class="woj"> Jesus calls on
you to bear a cross. It is not a
punishment, although it may feel like one.
Some crosses come because this is a broken, sinful world and bad things
happen in it. We are well acquainted
with a world of broken bones, broken hearts, and broken homes. For some, it is more crushing than
others. Can you imagine the pain that
Job and his wife felt when the Lord took from them all their flocks and herds,
all their servants and workers, all their wealth and prestige, and all ten of
their children? Even if a few servants
escaped to deliver the horrific news, Job had no work for them anymore. It was all taken away. This was the cross that the Lord had Job
bear. And, by the way, in chapter 2 it
got even worse as the Lord let Satan inflict a crippling blow to Job’s body and
health. No matter what Job felt, no
matter how bad his situation got, no matter how heavy was the cross that Job
had to bear, Job believed that his Father in heaven was still good. God took from Job almost every earthly
blessing he had, but God never removed the promise of salvation from him. And in the end, that is all Job or any of us
really need. Was life easier with all
that wealth? I would think so. But Job lived on the opposite end of Jesus’
question: <b>“What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his
soul” (Mark 8:36)?</b> Job lost his
whole world, but not his faith. Christ
comes with a cross, but you do not have to carry that cross without Christ.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"> We
may become envious of people who look like they have gained the whole
world. But you don’t see what their hearts
and minds are like. You don’t see their
fears, doubts, or suspicions. Most
people don’t share or admit them. They
show you see the image they want you to see.
It may look like they have no cross, but if they have no Savior, why would
you envy them? <span class="woj"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span class="woj"> Christ comes
with a cross. Every day, we need to deny
ourselves all our natural, sinful cravings.
While we could go on and on listing thoughts, words, and actions that
stand in rebellion of God’s word—and they all need to be put away—we will limit
ourselves this morning to our false expectations. We know that life is full of struggles and
problems—not just for God’s people, but for everyone. We know people who are suffering. We know the stress and pressure of trying to meet
all our responsibilities. There are victims
of war, oppression, poverty, and injustice.
And we know that these things are not right. Even the efforts to correct the problems are flawed:
Why that group and not this group? Why
address that problem and not this problem?
We know it is broken, and we want it fixed.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span class="woj"> All these things
happen because this is a sinful world.
But then we add to our sins: We blame God—as if he introduced these
problems. God did not bring sin into the
world; man did. God does not sin against
you; other people do, and you sin against them.
Nevertheless, we believe we are owed better from God. But now ask yourself, and be honest: What does God owe you? Why does God owe you? Do you deserve better from God? Well, we answered that question in our
confession of sins: <b><i>“I deserve your punishment both now and forever.”</i></b> Those may be hard words to say, but they are
honest. This is why we take up our cross—to
put those sinful, selfish assumptions to death.
Whatever good gifts we receive from God are given because he is good,
not because we are. Even when we bear our
cross, God it still good. He never
withholds all blessings. But when our
cross gets heavy, we are forced to turn to God for strength, comfort, and
hope. Where else can we turn? What other hope do we have. If the cross we bear teaches us to despise
this world and long for the heavenly kingdom, then the cross is good, right,
and salutary. The goal of the Christian
faith is not to enjoy ease, comfort, and prosperity in a dying world. <b><i> “We look for the resurrection of the dead and
the life of the world to come.”</i></b> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span class="woj"> Christ comes with
a cross. The cross you bear is necessary. It is even good for you. Every day is a battle against the devil, the
world, and our own sinful nature. Every
day is a struggle to align our mind and our will with God’s. To cast off the cross is to cast off
Christ. To forfeit the battle against your
sin is to surrender to it and to forfeit your soul. Therefore, the cross is necessary. It may prove to be heavy. You may fall under it. But it is not your cross which saves
you. Jesus’ cross does. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span class="woj"> The Christ had
to go to Jerusalem and suffer. He
suffered the punishment you and I deserve for our sins. Jesus had to by rejected, not just by the religious
leaders but especially by his heavenly Father.
He was rejected and disowned as one cursed; for he was cursed for
us. Jesus had to go to Jerusalem to die. For that is the wages of sin. It was necessary for Jesus to do this to save
us. By giving himself as the perfect
sacrifice for the sins of all, Jesus gained the whole world. For what can God give in exchange for the world? He gave his one and only Son, so that whoever
believes in him will not perish, but have eternal life.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"> Christ comes with a cross. But do not forget the last part: <b>“after
three days [he will] rise again” (Mark 8:31).</b> It was not enough that Jesus tended to the
sick and diseased and healed them of their ailments. That brought relief, but not forgiveness of
sins. That brought comfort, but not
eternal life. Jesus secured that by his death
and resurrection. He lives, risen with a
body that cannot perish or suffer, and whose glory does not fade. Jesus took on a human body to secure these things
for our human bodies. This is why we look
for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"> Jesus has given us great expectations for
the life of the world to come. All
things will be made right. All suffering
will be relieved. All sickness put
away. All death will be undone. There will be no war, poverty, oppression, or
injustice. Through Jesus, we get everything
we long for. We get it better than we
imagine, and we get it forever. You have
every reason to expect this; for Jesus has told you so.</p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: center;"><b>In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.</b></p>Pastor Thomas E Schroederhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08739826673292690207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014836070794517355.post-72072575230068910342024-02-22T09:07:00.002-05:002024-02-22T09:07:24.981-05:00Update from Good Shepherd (February 22, 2024)<p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white;">Greetings!</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span><span><b><u>REGULAR SCHEDULE </u></b></span></span><br /> <b>Sunday School</b> -- Sundays at 9:00 AM.<br /> <b>Adult Bible Class</b> -- Sundays at 9:00 AM.<br /> <b>Divine Service</b> -- Sundays at 10:00 AM.<br /> <b>Lenten Vespers</b> -- Wednesdays at 7:00 PM. Supper at 6:00 PM.<br /> <b><i>Bible Matters</i></b> resumes in April.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"> For a calendar of events and meetings, <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/5014836070794517355/8602326521940181571#">click here</a>.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span><b><u>INTRODUCTION VIDEO FOR GOOD SHEPHERD LUTHERAN CHURCH</u></b><br /></span> <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/5014836070794517355/2634162359866372267">Here is a video</a> to introduce people to <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/5014836070794517355/2634162359866372267">Good Shepherd Lutheran Church</a> of Novi. Share it as much as you can.<br /><br /><b><u>ADULT BIBLE CLASS</u></b><br /> We have begun a series for Adult Bible Class entitled, <b><i>“Families of the Bible.” </i></b> The Lord lays out his plans for godly families. But sin leaves its mark on families, producing families that are strained, fractured, dysfunctional, and blended. We will consider various families who are mentioned in the Bible. First, we will see that there is nothing new under the sun. Then, we will see God’s blessings for families—strength, encouragement, and healing.<br /> Who will benefit from this series? Husbands and wives, parents and children, singles, divorced, and widowed … anyone who was born into a family, brought into a family, or has been ostracized from a family. I think that should cover all of us.<br /> The schedule for this class <a href="https://lutheransubject.blogspot.com/2024/01/adult-bible-class-families-of-bible.html" target="_blank">can be found here</a>.<br /> <b>Adult Bible Class beings promptly at 9:00 AM</b>. All are welcome.</span></p><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><u>LENTEN NOTES</u></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">For an <b>overview of the Lenten season</b>, <a href="https://lutheransubject.blogspot.com/2024/02/worship-notes-lenten-season-2024.html" target="_blank">click here</a>. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>Lenten Vespers</b><span> </span><span>-- Wednesdays in February and March at 7:00 PM. The schedule</span><span> </span><a href="https://lutheransubject.blogspot.com/2024/02/lenten-vespers-2024-god-on-trial.html" target="_blank">can be found here</a><span>.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>Lenten Dinners</b> -- Wednesdays before the Lenten services at 6:00 PM. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span style="background: white; color: #1d2228;">Martin Luther College Choir Concert<br />
</span></u></b><span style="background: white; color: #444444;">Join us at Hope Christian Academy on Monday, March 4 at 10 am
as the Martin Luther College Choir, under the direction of Prof. Adrian Smith,
presents a choral concert titled “Piercing the Darkness.” The program will
include settings of familiar hymns, as well as selections by choral music
composers representing a variety of musical styles.</span></p></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><u>SACRED MUSIC FOR THE SEASON OF LENT</u></b><br /> “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross,” “In the Cross of Christ I Glory,” “My Song Is Love Unknown,” “A Lamb Goes Uncomplaining Forth.” Beginning Ash Wednesday, you can listen to sacred music for the season of Lent 24/7 at <a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001SJVuJVUj7akxGiFoRpbfwiEvA2bPdJsv-VGztXHDSRsmzgsygv1WAO2Yxx_cMkUREttYOQTJZvQqPqF07i-ZQfea302S88yCeTwMCLLYMWeC3HnoH_eMq-eJDWObr2BXHFcVbZQMBoIKAfDVloDg3Ied5mwU_wfU&c=yPJwJxUuzZwGwzDpO0l4uV9dg6tbicIqtrD-NTgOBB0njiHj2B_FbA==&ch=cRhGIeR3GR4LJeYg1PCLJ_Co_e0y1MJqlip37hkYCGPkxqjKW7Y3rA==">lutheranpublicradio.org</a>, TuneIn, Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Apple HomePod and the Lutheran Public Radio mobile app.</span><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /><b><u>EASTER FOR KIDS</u></b></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"> <b>Good Shepherd’s 2024 Easter-for-Kids Event will be held on Saturday, March 23, 10am – Noon.</b><br /> At this event, kids will follow a path from Jesus’ crucifixion, to the guards who guarded his tomb, to the empty tomb on Easter morning. Along the way, there will be lessons, crafts, and special guests (centurion, angel) to tell them what they have seen. They will get a sticker for their “passport” at each station, with a reward at the end for filling their passport.<br /> There will be 5 stations – Sign-in, the crucifixion, the Centurian, the tomb, and the selfie-station. We will need some help making this event a success. Here are some of the ways that you can help.<br /> >>> Planning for the stations – we have a basic idea of what each station requires, but need some people to help put it together. This will include planning crafts, decorating, etc. Ideally would like to get someone to be in charge of each station.<br /> >>> Decorating -- We want to turn our room divider into a tomb, need a stone to roll, costumes, etc. We have some ideas to start but just need help making it happen.<br /> >>> Crafts – if you have good craft ideas for kids, we would love to hear them.<br /> >>> Giveaway – put together goodie bags for the kids at the end. Also need some kind of raffle game and prize. (Last year we did a guess the number of jelly beans in the jar.)<br /> >>> Volunteers day of the event – will need people to sign kids in, help with crafts, lead kids into the stations, and some “actors” to play roles. Would ideally like to get about 10 people.<br /> Another way to help will be to “like” and share our posts on social media when they come out. Please help us to make this event a success.<br /></span></div><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /><b><u>EASTER FOR KIDS—Prep Meeting</u></b><br /> We will have another prep meeting for Easter for Kids on Sunday, March 3 after the service. We want to check on how we are progressing as our event gets closer. There are many ways to get involved. If interested, join us for this meeting.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><u>WELS INTERNATIONAL YOUTH RALLY</u></b><br /> This summer, about 2,000 WELS teens (from 8th grade graduation through 12th grade graduation) from all over the country will be gathering in Fort Collins, Colorado for a Youth Rally. The Rally will be held June 25-28. All who have attended have raved about what a good time this is. More information can be found at <a href="http://www.welsyouthrally.net/">www.welsyouthrally.net</a>. The cost is $410 for early bird registration, March 6 – April 30. Transportation costs are not included in the registration fee. Good Shepherd teens will likely connect with St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Livonia to ensure that we have our teens connected to a chaperon. If you are interested, please speak to Pastor Schroeder.</span></p><div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b style="text-decoration-line: underline;">GOOD SHEPHERD ON YOUTUBE</b></span></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span> Services are uploaded to YouTube each week. Feel free to share the videos. Here is the service from Christmas Eve (February 18, 2024): </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-IkLyR7_NEQ">Good Shepherd Novi, Divine Service, February 18, 2024 (youtube.com)</a></span></div></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /><b><u>BAD WEATHER POLICY FOR SERVICES AT GOOD SHEPHERD</u></b><br /> We will always have services as scheduled at Good Shepherd. Since I live across the parking lot, I can get to the church no matter how bad the weather gets. Even if the service is just me and my family, we will be here. For everyone else, please use your God-given common sense to determine whether or not you will get on the road to attend any service when the weather is bad. We don't want anyone to risk his or her life to be here. But if you do venture out, the scheduled service will take place. It may be only a handful with a cappella singing and/or spoken liturgy, but we will be here.<br /> Bible Classes and meetings may be canceled due to weather. Check your email regarding announcements to see if any of those scheduled events are canceled. If there is no email about it, it is not canceled. But again, use common sense to determine if you can make it, and call the pastor to let him know if you will not be coming.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><u>REGULAR OFFICE HOURS</u></b><br /> The pastor will try to maintain regular office hours are Monday – Thursday, 9:00 AM - Noon. To ensure the pastor’s availability, it is best to make an appointment. He is available by phone or text (248-719-5218). You may also email (<a href="mailto:welsnovi@aol.com">welsnovi@aol.com</a>), but the response may be slower. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div></div><div><b><u><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">DO YOU LIKE US?</span></u></b></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"> Look for Good Shepherd on Facebook. Then “LIKE” us for updates and other postings. Be sure to share posts with friends.</span><p style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><u><span>SHARE THIS POST!</span></u></b><span><span><br /> We desire as many as possible to rejoice in the Gospel which we proclaim and confess. Share the information from our weekly email blast, links to our web page, and even to the pastor's blog to let others know that we have a space in our congregation for them!<br /><br />In Christ,<br />Pastor Schroeder</span><span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #4d4d4d;">===============</span><span style="color: #4d4d4d;">===============</span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"></span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">REGULAR SCHEDULE</span></u></b><br /><b>DIVINE SERVICES</b> are on Sundays at 10:00 AM<br /><b>Sunday School </b>-- Sundays at 9:00 AM <br /><b>Adult Bible Class</b> -- Sundays at 9:00 AM<br /><b>Lenten Vespers</b>-- Wednesdays through March 20<br /> Supper -- 6:00 PM<br /> Worship -- 7:00 PM<br /> Choir -- 8:00 PM<br /><b><i>Bible Matters</i></b> resumes in April.</p><p style="background: white;"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">GOOD SHEPHERD’S WEBSITE<br /></span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/5014836070794517355/1718913825327624702"><b>www.GoodShepherdNovi.org</b></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">PASTOR SCHROEDER’S BLOG</span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/5014836070794517355/1718913825327624702"><b>www.LutheranSubject.blogspot.com</b></a></span><span style="background-color: transparent;"> </span></p></div></div></div>Pastor Thomas E Schroederhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08739826673292690207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014836070794517355.post-91172688945591037832024-02-21T11:35:00.004-05:002024-02-21T11:35:29.308-05:00YouTube -- 1st Sunday in Lent (February 18, 2024)<p>Here is the Divine Service from Sunday, February 18, 2024.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-IkLyR7_NEQ" width="320" youtube-src-id="-IkLyR7_NEQ"></iframe></div><br /><p><br /></p>Pastor Thomas E Schroederhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08739826673292690207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014836070794517355.post-11372467737184095712024-02-21T11:33:00.003-05:002024-02-21T11:33:45.573-05:00Pastor / Teacher Conference (February 19, 2024)<p>On Mondays, the pastors and teachers of the southeastern conference of the Michigan District of the WELS met at Divine Grace Lutheran Church in Lake Orion, Michigan for our annual joint conference. </p><p>Here are photos from Divine Grace.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUEkJsWX_c0MCpuNf2iCNnxuK_Z9X3Em8xXC7tX262fHEouDvgt3-Y6I1uhIa4mBvJoZTr6lnFTPoAK_0ermC9vSR-wutifkDghc67WLE_Mw3GHu98rvreLWZ-2o_vdrCytCqGBaR8bcMc3k_T7qvIhJ6VzA8xb5KWJHmhuhX8DfU0pvJG9ICs7C8PbU6T/s4032/20240219_102121.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUEkJsWX_c0MCpuNf2iCNnxuK_Z9X3Em8xXC7tX262fHEouDvgt3-Y6I1uhIa4mBvJoZTr6lnFTPoAK_0ermC9vSR-wutifkDghc67WLE_Mw3GHu98rvreLWZ-2o_vdrCytCqGBaR8bcMc3k_T7qvIhJ6VzA8xb5KWJHmhuhX8DfU0pvJG9ICs7C8PbU6T/s320/20240219_102121.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhm-5hBNolRBKSlaBaURytElVIwF_LhF9ISGdDstFengHMLL2s1oD08YfigWa0EqU9GL2bqGAC0iB_xritbmeQkdh-jUPXW_VvLpfw3JWrQqSZ4OUYPE5ZleTr-nusTmrRZfYLsrIUBWN1v3HoHfnQ5anRhQzG0PIq7FpWqjkahuE4YE_cwwR-oeQL_DZ5/s4032/20240219_103453.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhm-5hBNolRBKSlaBaURytElVIwF_LhF9ISGdDstFengHMLL2s1oD08YfigWa0EqU9GL2bqGAC0iB_xritbmeQkdh-jUPXW_VvLpfw3JWrQqSZ4OUYPE5ZleTr-nusTmrRZfYLsrIUBWN1v3HoHfnQ5anRhQzG0PIq7FpWqjkahuE4YE_cwwR-oeQL_DZ5/s320/20240219_103453.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Pastor Thomas E Schroederhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08739826673292690207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014836070794517355.post-61091193448910843922024-02-18T12:11:00.004-05:002024-02-18T12:12:01.108-05:00Sermon -- 1st Sunday in Lent (February 18, 2024)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYkURWpHOvfNwNAt4Rr8a_Z5z2siE4romunFp1KHVfH4_U3_QOLiqxTpWXJt2QrsFZ8sMrtjVJJUQb1vITkugoDG4xKR82nzqg9Dx6JsUK-sCMS-D9hYyQ7L-MUKbB8zoNZOCq2IozdLtTJPJrWHUBiJnUb_fCaJP3pimgM5WX8Np8WzXmRpDizjUHou-N/s640/AbrahamOffersIsaac.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="401" data-original-width="640" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYkURWpHOvfNwNAt4Rr8a_Z5z2siE4romunFp1KHVfH4_U3_QOLiqxTpWXJt2QrsFZ8sMrtjVJJUQb1vITkugoDG4xKR82nzqg9Dx6JsUK-sCMS-D9hYyQ7L-MUKbB8zoNZOCq2IozdLtTJPJrWHUBiJnUb_fCaJP3pimgM5WX8Np8WzXmRpDizjUHou-N/s320/AbrahamOffersIsaac.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: center;"><a name="_Hlk93485480"><b>GENESIS 22:1-18<o:p></o:p></b></a></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: center;"><a name="_Hlk158799798"><b>THE LORD PROVIDES THE SUBSTITUTE WE NEED</b></a><b>.</b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: .5in; text-align: center;"><b><i>In
the name + of Jesus.</i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"> In his epistle, St. James wrote, <b>“<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am being tempted
by God,’ for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one”
(James 1:13).</span></b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> God does not promote evil. God does not entice us into evil. Although God may use the evil actions of people
for his own purposes, God does not sponsor them; for evil is abhorrent to
God. And yet, our Old Testament reading
seems to illustrate the exact opposite.
The Lord God commanded Abraham, <b>“</b></span><span class="text"><b>Take
your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of
Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of
which I shall tell you” (Genesis 22:2).</b>
The Lord detests human sacrifice, and he has no desire to be worshiped
in that way. Still, that is exactly what
he commanded Abraham to do. It seems God
is leading Abraham into temptation. What
gives?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span class="text"> It is important
for us to understand this distinction: God does not tempt us to sin, but he
does put our faith to the test. He
presents you with opportunities to demonstrate loving obedience to him. Sometimes it is easy, like holding the
elevator for a stranger; sometimes it is hard, like forgiving your brother-in-law
for cheating on your sister. The Lord does
not want us to choose what is evil. He
wants us to pursue what is good, even if it is painful, costly, or
difficult. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span class="text"> God puts us to
the test to see if we will trust that is word is true and good. Every day offers us opportunities to do
that. Every day, you can be kind to
people who try your patience, or you can respond with yelling and cursing. Every day, you can help someone in need, or
you can ignore them and choose to believe that they deserve their
problems. Every day, you can believe
that people are there for you to love or to use. The Lord presents countless ways to put your
faith into practice. The devil presents them
as ways to satisfy your lusts your ambition, or your pride. The devil makes the evil thing look attractive. That’s the temptation. Or will you turn from evil and do what is
good, even if it is hard? That’s the
test.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span class="text"> The Lord appeared
to Abraham with the command, </span><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">“</span><span class="text">Take your
son, your only son Isaac, whom you love…, and offer him … as a burnt offering” (Genesis
22:2).</span></b><span class="text"> Isaac held a special place in the heart of
Abraham. He was the only begotten son of
his wife, Sarah. He was born in Abraham’s
old age according to God’s promise. He
had waited a long time for this boy to be born.
Most important of all, Isaac was the son through whom the promise of a
Savior would be fulfilled.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"> Why would God test him like this? It’s not like God told Abraham, “Your son will
die from some illness or accident;” God told Abraham, “You kill him!” Would Abraham trust God’s word to be true and
good? Or would Abraham love his son
more? The devil would tempt Abraham to
believe that the Lord was not good after all, not when he commanded something
this hard. The tests that God puts us
through are nothing compared to this.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"> Abraham’s response is almost as unbelievable
as the test. <b>“<span class="text">Abraham
rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men
with him, and his son Isaac. And he cut
the wood for the burnt offering and arose and went to the place of which God
had told him” (Genesis 22:3).</span></b><span class="text"> Abraham wasted no time. He did not wring his hands, wondering what he
should do. I suspect that he did not
tell Sarah about this lest she prevent Abraham from following God’s
instructions. God had told Abraham what
to do, and Abraham immediately set out to do it.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span class="text"> The writer to
the Hebrews gives us a glimpse of Abraham’s faith: <b>“<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had
received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, of whom it
was said, “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” He considered that God was able even to raise
him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back” (Hebrews
11:17-19).</span></b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> While God’s instructions probably made no
sense to Abraham, God’s promise did.</span>
Abraham believed that God was still good and merciful. Abraham believed that God would be faithful
to his promise. Abraham confessed as much
to his servants: <b>“</b></span><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Stay here with the donkey. The
boy and I will go on over there. <i>We</i>
will worship, and then <i>we</i> will come back to you</span><span class="text">” (Genesis 22:5, <i>emphasis added</i>).</span></b> <span class="text"> Abraham
was convinced that the Savior would still come through his son, Isaac, even if
it meant God would raise Isaac back from the dead to do it.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span class="text"> Of course, God
did not have to raise Isaac back from the dead.
Although Abraham was ready to slay him in obedience to God’s command,
the Lord stopped him. Instead, the Lord
provided the substitute which was needed.
The angel of the Lord <b>“said, ‘Do not lay your hand on the boy or
do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not
withheld your son, your only son, from me.’
And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a
ram, caught in a thicket by his horns. And
Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of
his son” (Genesis 22:12-13).</b> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span class="text"> God had put Abraham’s
faith to the test. Abraham proved
willing to do what was painful and costly in obedience to the Lord. But since the sacrifice of Isaac could not pay
for a single sin—not Abraham’s, not Isaac’s, no one’s—the Lord provided the substitute
so that Abraham’s son would not be slain.
The promise remained intact. God
was faithful, and he upheld his righteousness when it seemed impossible for him
to do it.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"> The Lord tested
Abraham to demonstrate his love and faith in God’s word. This foreshadows a far greater love. Consider the parallels. The one to be sacrificed was the called by the
Lord, <b>“your son, your only son …, whom you love” (Genesis 22:2).</b> They went off to Mount Moriah which later is
the site of the Lord’s temple. Isaac
carried the wood upon which he would be offered. The father, Abraham, willingly offered up his
son. And it should not be lost on us that
Isaac was a willing sacrifice. At this
time, Isaac was about 13 years old, making Abraham 113. Do you think Isaac could have wriggled out of
his father’s grasp and avoided being slain?
Absolutely! The only way Isaac could
have been bound was if he willingly allowed himself to be bound.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span class="text"> But the Lord
provides a better substitute, a perfect substitute. The Lord provides the substitute we need—one whose
death would pay for the sins of the world.
God the Father sent into the world his son, his only Son, whom he
loves. While Jesus could have wriggled
his way out of the sufferings and death, which is what Satan tempted him to do
because suffering and dying for someone else’s sins—<i>everyone else’s</i> sins—would
be hard. Nevertheless, Jesus presented
himself as a willing sacrifice. He carried
the wood up the hill upon which he would be offered. He was consumed in God’s fiery wrath as a
whole burnt offering for our sins. He
suffered and died right next to Mount Moriah.
But at Jesus’ death, the Father did not step in to put an end to
anything. God the Father willingly
offered up his Son to die for our sins so that we would not have to bear God’s righteous
judgment and endless torment for our sins.
What Abraham and Isaac could not do God the Father and God the Son did. The Lord provides the substitute we need.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span class="text"> What’s more,
Jesus brings the fulfillment of God’s promise to Abraham: <b>“Your offspring shall possess the gate of his enemies, and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice” (Genesis 22:17-18).</b> The enemies of God’s people are sin, death,
and the devil. The gates provided the
entrance into and exit from the city.
Whoever possesses the gates has total control. The Son of Abraham now possesses the gates of
our enemies—sin, death, and the devil.
He has overcome them by his death and resurrection. Now he holds authority over them. Jesus paid for sin. The Bible promises, <b>“</b></span><b>There is … no condemnation for those who
are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1).</b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> Jesus has conquered
death. He promises, <b>“This is the will
of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should
have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day” (John 6:40).</b> Jesus has snatched you from the devil’s grasp
and has overturned the curse he has brought onto the earth. The Bible reminds us, <b>“The reason the Son
of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil” (1 John 3:8).</b> Jesus possesses the gate of the enemies. Jesus has opened the gates to set you free
from them, and he has opened the gates of heaven to you.</span><span class="text"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span class="text"> You are now the
redeemed children of God. But temptations
will still come to you. The devil cannot
snatch you out of the kingdom, but he will entice you to leave it. What the devil intends for evil, God intends
for good. He puts your faith to the test—not
to watch you trip and fall, but to refine you and purify your faith even
more. The Lord teaches you to say, “No,”
to all wickedness. The Father does not
lead you into temptation; rather we call upon him in the hour of trial to give
us the strength to stand up under it. Even
if you suffer for his sake, he remains your good and merciful Father. Since he is faithful to his promises, he will
remain faithful to you. He will continue
to provide you with all you need.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span class="text"> And if you do
trip and fall, then flee back to Jesus.
His obedience stands as the substitution for your sins. His death is the substitution for your life. The Lord has provided the substitute you
need. Jesus has overcome the devil for
you. Jesus has conquered death for
you. Jesus has taken away all sin from
you. He lived for you. He suffered and died for you. He rose from the dead for you. Now he lives and reigns for you. There is no substitution for Jesus, for there
is no salvation found outside of him.</span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: center;">
</p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: center;"><b>In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.</b></p>Pastor Thomas E Schroederhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08739826673292690207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014836070794517355.post-10861826405673143632024-02-17T18:16:00.002-05:002024-02-17T18:16:14.850-05:00Better than "He Gets Us"<p>Someone put this together. This should have run on Super Bowl Sunday. This should run now. Well, it will run here.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rV3AnTUPiDY" width="320" youtube-src-id="rV3AnTUPiDY"></iframe></div><br /><p><br /></p>Pastor Thomas E Schroederhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08739826673292690207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014836070794517355.post-75675976377665965552024-02-15T05:00:00.001-05:002024-02-15T05:00:00.131-05:00Update from Good Shepherd (February 15, 2024)<p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white;">Greetings!</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span><span><b><u>REGULAR SCHEDULE </u></b></span></span><br /> <b>Sunday School</b> -- Sundays at 9:00 AM.<br /> <b>Adult Bible Class</b> -- Sundays at 9:00 AM.<br /> <b>Divine Service</b> -- Sundays at 10:00 AM.<br /> <b>Lenten Vespers</b> -- Wednesdays at 7:00 PM. Supper at 6:00 PM.<br /> <b><i>Bible Matters</i></b> resumes in April.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"> For a calendar of events and meetings, <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/5014836070794517355/8602326521940181571#">click here</a>.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span><b><u>INTRODUCTION VIDEO FOR GOOD SHEPHERD LUTHERAN CHURCH</u></b><br /></span> <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/5014836070794517355/2634162359866372267">Here is a video</a> to introduce people to <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/5014836070794517355/2634162359866372267">Good Shepherd Lutheran Church</a> of Novi. Share it as much as you can.<br /><br /><b><u>ADULT BIBLE CLASS – New Series</u></b><br /> We have begun a series for Adult Bible Class entitled, <b><i>“Families of the Bible.” </i></b> The Lord lays out his plans for godly families. But sin leaves its mark on families, producing families that are strained, fractured, dysfunctional, and blended. We will consider various families who are mentioned in the Bible. First, we will see that there is nothing new under the sun. Then, we will see God’s blessings for families—strength, encouragement, and healing.<br /> Who will benefit from this series? Husbands and wives, parents and children, singles, divorced, and widowed … anyone who was born into a family, brought into a family, or has been ostracized from a family. I think that should cover all of us.<br /> The schedule for this class <a href="https://lutheransubject.blogspot.com/2024/01/adult-bible-class-families-of-bible.html" target="_blank">can be found here</a>.<br /> <b>Adult Bible Class beings promptly at 9:00 AM</b>. All are welcome.</span></p><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><u>LENTEN NOTES</u></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">For an <b>overview of the Lenten season</b>, <a href="https://lutheransubject.blogspot.com/2024/02/worship-notes-lenten-season-2024.html" target="_blank">click here</a>. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>Lenten Vespers</b><span> </span><span>-- Wednesdays in February and March at 7:00 PM. The schedule</span><span> </span><a href="https://lutheransubject.blogspot.com/2024/02/lenten-vespers-2024-god-on-trial.html" target="_blank">can be found here</a><span>.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>Lenten Dinners</b> -- Wednesdays before the Lenten services at 6:00 PM. A Sign Up Genius form to provide food for the meals will be sent out soon.</span></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /><b><u>SACRED MUSIC FOR THE SEASON OF LENT</u></b><br /> “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross,” “In the Cross of Christ I Glory,” “My Song Is Love Unknown,” “A Lamb Goes Uncomplaining Forth.” Beginning Ash Wednesday, you can listen to sacred music for the season of Lent 24/7 at <a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001SJVuJVUj7akxGiFoRpbfwiEvA2bPdJsv-VGztXHDSRsmzgsygv1WAO2Yxx_cMkUREttYOQTJZvQqPqF07i-ZQfea302S88yCeTwMCLLYMWeC3HnoH_eMq-eJDWObr2BXHFcVbZQMBoIKAfDVloDg3Ied5mwU_wfU&c=yPJwJxUuzZwGwzDpO0l4uV9dg6tbicIqtrD-NTgOBB0njiHj2B_FbA==&ch=cRhGIeR3GR4LJeYg1PCLJ_Co_e0y1MJqlip37hkYCGPkxqjKW7Y3rA==">lutheranpublicradio.org</a>, TuneIn, Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Apple HomePod and the Lutheran Public Radio mobile app.</span><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /><b><u>EASTER FOR KIDS</u></b></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"> <b>Good Shepherd’s 2024 Easter-for-Kids Event will be held on Saturday, March 23, 10am – Noon.</b><br /> At this event, kids will follow a path from Jesus’ crucifixion, to the guards who guarded his tomb, to the empty tomb on Easter morning. Along the way, there will be lessons, crafts, and special guests (centurion, angel) to tell them what they have seen. They will get a sticker for their “passport” at each station, with a reward at the end for filling their passport.<br /> There will be 5 stations – Sign-in, the crucifixion, the Centurian, the tomb, and the selfie-station. We will need some help making this event a success. Here are some of the ways that you can help.<br /> >>> Planning for the stations – we have a basic idea of what each station requires, but need some people to help put it together. This will include planning crafts, decorating, etc. Ideally would like to get someone to be in charge of each station.<br /> >>> Decorating -- We want to turn our room divider into a tomb, need a stone to roll, costumes, etc. We have some ideas to start but just need help making it happen.<br /> >>> Crafts – if you have good craft ideas for kids, we would love to hear them.<br /> >>> Giveaway – put together goodie bags for the kids at the end. Also need some kind of raffle game and prize. (Last year we did a guess the number of jelly beans in the jar.)<br /> >>> Volunteers day of the event – will need people to sign kids in, help with crafts, lead kids into the stations, and some “actors” to play roles. Would ideally like to get about 10 people.<br /> Another way to help will be to “like” and share our posts on social media when they come out. Please help us to make this event a success.<br /></span></div><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /><b><u>EASTER FOR KIDS—Prep Meeting</u></b><br /> We will have another prep meeting for Easter for Kids on Sunday, February 18 after the service. We want to check on how we are progressing as our event gets closer. There are many ways to get involved. If interested, join us for this meeting.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><u>WELS INTERNATIONAL YOUTH RALLY</u></b><br /> This summer, about 2,000 WELS teens (from 8th grade graduation through 12th grade graduation) from all over the country will be gathering in Fort Collins, Colorado for a Youth Rally. The Rally will be held June 25-28. All who have attended have raved about what a good time this is. More information can be found at <a href="http://www.welsyouthrally.net/">www.welsyouthrally.net</a>. The cost is $410 for early bird registration, March 6 – April 30. Transportation costs are not included in the registration fee. Good Shepherd teens will likely connect with St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Livonia to ensure that we have our teens connected to a chaperon. If you are interested, please speak to Pastor Schroeder.</span></p><div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b style="text-decoration-line: underline;">GOOD SHEPHERD ON YOUTUBE</b></span></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span> Services are uploaded to YouTube each week. Feel free to share the videos. Here is the service from Christmas Eve (February 11, 2024): </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ynVPBHUIqw">Good Shepherd Novi, Divine Service, February 11, 2024 (youtube.com)</a></span></div></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /><b><u>BAD WEATHER POLICY FOR SERVICES AT GOOD SHEPHERD</u></b><br /> We will always have services as scheduled at Good Shepherd. Since I live across the parking lot, I can get to the church no matter how bad the weather gets. Even if the service is just me and my family, we will be here. For everyone else, please use your God-given common sense to determine whether or not you will get on the road to attend any service when the weather is bad. We don't want anyone to risk his or her life to be here. But if you do venture out, the scheduled service will take place. It may be only a handful with a cappella singing and/or spoken liturgy, but we will be here.<br /> Bible Classes and meetings may be canceled due to weather. Check your email regarding announcements to see if any of those scheduled events are canceled. If there is no email about it, it is not canceled. But again, use common sense to determine if you can make it, and call the pastor to let him know if you will not be coming.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><u>REGULAR OFFICE HOURS</u></b><br /> The pastor will try to maintain regular office hours are Monday – Thursday, 9:00 AM - Noon. To ensure the pastor’s availability, it is best to make an appointment. He is available by phone or text (248-719-5218). You may also email (<a href="mailto:welsnovi@aol.com">welsnovi@aol.com</a>), but the response may be slower. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div></div><div><b><u><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">DO YOU LIKE US?</span></u></b></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"> Look for Good Shepherd on Facebook. Then “LIKE” us for updates and other postings. Be sure to share posts with friends.</span><p style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><u><span>SHARE THIS POST!</span></u></b><span><span><br /> We desire as many as possible to rejoice in the Gospel which we proclaim and confess. Share the information from our weekly email blast, links to our web page, and even to the pastor's blog to let others know that we have a space in our congregation for them!<br /><br />In Christ,<br />Pastor Schroeder</span><span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #4d4d4d;">===============</span><span style="color: #4d4d4d;">===============</span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"></span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">REGULAR SCHEDULE</span></u></b><br /><b>DIVINE SERVICES</b> are on Sundays at 10:00 AM<br /><b>Sunday School </b>-- Sundays at 9:00 AM <br /><b>Adult Bible Class</b> -- Sundays at 9:00 AM<br /><b>Lenten Vespers</b>-- Wednesdays through March 20<br /> Supper -- 6:00 PM<br /> Worship -- 7:00 PM<br /> Choir -- 8:00 PM<br /><b><i>Bible Matters</i></b> resumes in April.</p><p style="background: white;"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">GOOD SHEPHERD’S WEBSITE<br /></span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/5014836070794517355/1718913825327624702"><b>www.GoodShepherdNovi.org</b></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">PASTOR SCHROEDER’S BLOG</span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/5014836070794517355/1718913825327624702"><b>www.LutheranSubject.blogspot.com</b></a></span><span style="background-color: transparent;"> </span></p></div></div></div>Pastor Thomas E Schroederhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08739826673292690207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014836070794517355.post-17363907539465232502024-02-14T21:00:00.001-05:002024-02-14T21:00:00.254-05:00Sermon -- Ash Wednesday (February 14, 2024)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSw1RV3b1Md3HYL_n7ZVUXTgD5Lx0LbnmBFb9O3dg5MNyzds_AcvJRcgxZDaOXn54CBtPrSAXkM5N8SPT-JtOi7XjSQezLO-kYm3D_PIM7Nij2yY_HqOWkVKsrOc3XJza2lsRlsir11gdSqLYdeB4SA3sCY8c3lA_cYfHgTqXdrHhbyf4x2-1BlpCaKH4p/s1544/B-29%20Ash%20Wednesday.tif" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1528" data-original-width="1544" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSw1RV3b1Md3HYL_n7ZVUXTgD5Lx0LbnmBFb9O3dg5MNyzds_AcvJRcgxZDaOXn54CBtPrSAXkM5N8SPT-JtOi7XjSQezLO-kYm3D_PIM7Nij2yY_HqOWkVKsrOc3XJza2lsRlsir11gdSqLYdeB4SA3sCY8c3lA_cYfHgTqXdrHhbyf4x2-1BlpCaKH4p/s320/B-29%20Ash%20Wednesday.tif" width="320" /></a></div><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: center;"><a name="_Hlk93485480"><b>JOEL 2:12-19<o:p></o:p></b></a></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: center;"><b>REPENT WITH YOUR
WHOLE BEING.</b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: .5in; text-align: center;"><b><i>In
the name + of Jesus.</i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"> The prophet Joel wrote scathing words of
judgment against the people of Israel.
He was not alone. If you read
through most of the Minor Prophets, you will see similar pronouncements of God’s
wrath, warnings of coming judgment, and earnest calls to repentance. Why was such harsh preaching aimed at God’s
people? Was Israel actually worse than
the nations around them which practiced child sacrifice? Were the people of the covenant more
debauched than others whose worship involved sexually perverted acts? Was Jerusalem even more faithless than Egypt
or Assyria or Babylon? To hear the Minor
Prophets, you would think so.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"> Even if Israel was not worse, they did not
seem to be any better. The difference is
that Israel was given so much more than the nations around them. The Lord had claimed Israel as his people. The Lord had given them his word so that they
could distinguish between good and evil, clean and unclean. They were set apart for God; therefore, their
lives were to be set apart as godly. Much
had been given to them; much was expected of them. Despite their privileged position, they
proved to be lazy, negligent, indifferent, and rebellious. They found the perverted ways of the people
around them to be attractive. They forsook
self-control. They gave way to sinful
impulses. Perhaps they felt they had
license to abuse God’s grace. Perhaps they
thought it did not matter. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"> Despite all this, the Lord sent the prophets
to them so that they would not forfeit the privileges they had as God’s people. The prophet Joel made the plea: <span class="text"><b>“‘Yet even now,’ declares the </b></span><span class="small-caps"><b><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;">Lord</span></b></span><span class="text"><b>, ‘return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping,
and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments’” (Joel
2:12-13).</b> Repent with your whole being.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span class="text"> You and I share the privileged position of
being the people of God. You have been
rescued from your bondage to sin and death.
Jesus has removed your guilt from you so that you will not face the wrath
of a righteous God. Rather than stand in
terror before the Lord, you are received as the beloved children of your good
and merciful Father in heaven. Rather
than be haunted by the fact that you are going to die, Jesus enables you to
taunt death and the grave. Since Jesus
has overcome the grave by his resurrection, he holds authority over death. And since you belong to Jesus, he will raise
you up from the grave to live forever with him free from pain, sorrow, and
fear. You have been set apart as God’s
people. You live as beneficiaries of God’s
grace. Therefore, you are also set apart
to be godly people, living like Jesus for the glory of Jesus. You have been given much; therefore, much is
expected of you.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span class="text"> How easy it is to become lazy! We grow tired of self-control. We forfeit many battles against our sinful
inclinations. We use our weakness as an
excuse because it is easier to make excuses than it is to fight off temptations
and kill off sinful habits. We are also
envious of people who have cast off self-control and give themselves over to
whatever impulse they have. They are swept
away by their sins, but it looks like they are having a blast. They are like the singer of the Grateful Dead
who said, “I may be going to hell in a bucket, baby, but at least I’m enjoying
the ride.” At least Jerry Garcia acknowledged
the possibility of hell; most don’t. And
we envy them! We would like to enjoy the
ride with them. What should God do when
his grace is abused, when his people despise their privileges, and when we
would rather blend in than be set apart?
The prophet Joel urges us to consider: <b>“The Day of the L</b></span><span class="text"><b><span style="font-size: 9pt;">ORD</span> is great. It is
terrifying. Who can endure it” (Joel 1:11,
EHV)? </b>The judgment is deserved.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span class="text"> Joel cries out: <b>“‘Yet even now,’
declares the </b></span><span class="small-caps"><b><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;">Lord</span></b></span><span class="text"><b>, ‘return to me with all your heart, with
fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts and
not your garments. Return to
the </b></span><span class="small-caps"><b><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;">Lord</span></b></span><span class="text"><b> your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to
anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster’” (Joel
2:12-13).</b>
Repent with your whole being.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"> The prophet Joel does not reduce
repentance to an outward ritual. Sure,
they could rend their garments. That was
an expression of grief over their sins.
But if it were only an outward act, it was useless. That is why Joel declared, <b>“Rend your
hearts and not your garments” (Joel 2:12).</b>
The same could be said for putting the ashes on your forehead. If you reduce repentance to getting a smudge
of ash, it is pure showmanship. People
may commend you for it, but then you have received your reward in full.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"> On the other hand, Joel does not limit
repentance to a mental exercise. He
calls on us to engage our whole being in repentance. He calls for fasting, weeping, and
mourning. We do not do these in our
minds, we engage our bodies. This is the
purpose of ceremonies. We do with our
bodies what we confess with our mouths and feel in our hearts. After all, our sins are not limited to our
hearts. Sin may have corrupted our
hearts and minds, but sins pour out of our mouths and hands and bodies. We commit sins with our eyes and ears. Our sins are observed in our actions. They are heard in our words. They are considered in our minds and schemed
in our hearts. There is no part of us
which is immune to the corruption or free from the guilt. Therefore, Joel urges: Repent with your whole
being. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"> Repentance comes from godly sorrow, but it
also means turning away from sin. This
is the discipline of self-control. We
engage our mouths to reject bitter, sarcastic, or obscene words. We engage our hands to refrain from spiteful or
fraudulent actions. We close our ears to
gossip. We turn our eyes from illicit
entertainment. We discipline our bodies to
show that we are not ruled by our stomachs, our wallets, or longings, or our egos. This is the purpose of fasting. When you fast, you are denying yourself the things
that want to own you. It is not done to
win God’s approval or to earn points.
Rather, it is discipline so that sin will not draw you away from a good and
godly life, so that you are ruled by faith and not the flesh.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"> When God’s people become lazy, negligent, or
begin to adopt worldly attitudes, we become the objects of scorn—and not just
from the Lord. Even the godless will
charge us: “You do not take your God or your faith very seriously, do you?” Therefore, we <span class="text">repent with our
whole being</span>. Especially during
this penitential season, we intensify our discipline. It is not forced upon you. We take up this discipline willingly; for it
is part of the answer to Joel’s prayer: <span class="text"><b>“Spare your people,
O </b></span><span class="small-caps"><b><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;">Lord</span></b></span><span class="text"><b>, and make not your heritage a reproach, a byword among the
nations. Why should they say among the peoples, ‘Where is their God’” (Joel 2:17)?</b> If we are mocked for our lack of self-control,
it is deserved.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"> <span class="text">Repent with your whole
being—turning from sin and turning to the Lord.
Joel summons us, <b>“Return to the </b></span><span class="small-caps"><b><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;">Lord</span></b></span><span class="text"><b> your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger,
and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster” (Joel 2:13).</b> The Lord has relented from the disaster that
comes as a result of sin. He does not
treat us as our sins deserve.
Nevertheless, he cannot overlook our sins, either. Therefore, Jesus has come to suffer the
disaster we had brought upon ourselves.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span class="text"> Just as our
repentance is not merely a mental exercise, neither were Jesus’ sufferings and death. Certainly, there was mental and spiritual
anguish for Jesus. In Gethsemane, Jesus <b>“<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">said to (Peter, James, and John), </span></b></span><span class="woj"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">“My soul is very
sorrowful, even to death” (Mark 14:34).</span></b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> On the cross, Jesus expressed
the anguish of his soul when he cried out, <b>“</b></span></span><b>My God, my God, why have you forsaken me”
(Mark 15:34)?</b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> God’s wrath and judgment were absorbed by Jesus’
entire being. His back was rent by flogging. His face received the punches and the spitting. His head was pierced with thorns. His wrists and feet were torn by nails. His body was given into death. All of it is the payment for our sin—sin
which has corrupted us completely in body and soul, heart and hands, mind and
mouth.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span class="text"> Repent with your
whole being. Your body and soul Savior
has been gracious to you. He has redeemed
your entire being. He has cleansed your
heart. He renews your mind. He moves you to offer your body as a living
sacrifice, casting off wickedness and dedicating yourself to good works. Jesus does not merely save your soul. He took on a body to rescue your body from
death and the grave. You get to look
forward to a resurrection where you will dwell with the Lord, body and soul, as
he created you to be. This is why we
return to the Lord. He alone delivers us
from fear and shame in our hearts and from death and destruction for our
bodies.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span class="text"> Repent with your
whole being, and engage your whole being in worship and praise. For, when the Lord applies his grace to you,
he engages your whole being. Forgiveness
of sins does not come to you just by thinking about it. It is applied to you through words delivered
from a mouth and received in your ears. Salvation
comes to you through water which is poured on a body. We do not baptize souls, but bodies. The body is washed, and the grace of God is
given to a whole person. In the same way,
you do not commune with God through some vague spirituality. He who came as your body and blood Savior
gives you his body and blood in the sacrament of the altar. The living body and blood is taken, and
tasted, and consumed. By this eating and
drinking, Jesus sustains you, body and soul, in the true faith unto life
everlasting. </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"> <span class="text">If you have chosen to receive
ashes on your head, it is because you are demonstrating that you are marked for
death. If you have chosen to not receive
ashes, you are still marked for death. Either
way, you repent with your whole being.
And your whole being has been redeemed by Jesus. <b>“The </b></span><span class="small-caps"><b><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;">Lord</span></b></span><span class="text"><b> answer[s] and sa[ys] to his people, ‘Behold, I am sending
to you grain, wine, and oil, and you will be satisfied; and I will no more make
you a reproach among the nations’” (Joel 2:19).</b> He has anointed you with the oil of gladness. He has bestowed the grain and wine by which
he gives you his body and blood. Jesus delivers
you from the sins that corrupt you and from the grave that claims you. Repent with your whole being. Rejoice with your whole being. Praise him, serve him, and worship him with
your whole being. For, Jesus has
invested his whole being to redeem you, and he has set you apart wholly for
himself.</span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: center;"><b>In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.</b></p>Pastor Thomas E Schroederhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08739826673292690207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014836070794517355.post-68239491340260937332024-02-14T16:24:00.002-05:002024-02-14T16:24:15.093-05:00YouTube -- Transfiguration (February 11, 2024)<p>Here is the Divine Service from Sunday, February 11, 2024.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8ynVPBHUIqw" width="320" youtube-src-id="8ynVPBHUIqw"></iframe></div><br /><p><br /></p>Pastor Thomas E Schroederhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08739826673292690207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014836070794517355.post-65203538311066790022024-02-11T13:10:00.004-05:002024-02-14T16:24:37.018-05:00Sermon -- Transfiguration (February 11, 2024)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQMIydhwuE7PGEwLu7WePGkxVfFQ5qkY1rSMK8lxlgf-sc1jzkbQV5SvbniA-hyFDvi4yLJTZtOodqXXB0xNKdiapd8V-kdMawCHyAWjQlITtNG0j8dZiYNkbo10SUF39IcCUL5qQYLJH_U2iWdupWyoT7PkRrl4whADG-txFbOVm_xkxfaanPOFL7zSOr/s1524/B-28%20Transfiguration%20(Mk%209.2-9).tif" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1520" data-original-width="1524" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQMIydhwuE7PGEwLu7WePGkxVfFQ5qkY1rSMK8lxlgf-sc1jzkbQV5SvbniA-hyFDvi4yLJTZtOodqXXB0xNKdiapd8V-kdMawCHyAWjQlITtNG0j8dZiYNkbo10SUF39IcCUL5qQYLJH_U2iWdupWyoT7PkRrl4whADG-txFbOVm_xkxfaanPOFL7zSOr/s320/B-28%20Transfiguration%20(Mk%209.2-9).tif" width="320" /></a></div><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: center;"><a name="_Hlk93485480"><b>MARK 9:2-9<o:p></o:p></b></a></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: center;"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">TO
KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT, LISTEN TO HIM</span>.</b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: .5in; text-align: center;"><b><i>In
the name + of Jesus.</i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"> St. Mark’s Gospel reading begins with the words,
<b>“After six days” (Mark 9:2).</b> This
begs the question, “What happened a week earlier that St. Mark would note the
timing?” Looking back in the previous verses,
we see that one week prior Peter had given the confession, <b>“<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">You are the Christ” (Mark 8:29).</span></b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> That confession carried
some great expectations about who the Christ would be and what he would
do. Up to this point in time, no one had
claimed to be the Messiah. So, when Peter
made this confession and when Jesus acknowledged it was true, this was a monumental
moment for the people of Israel and, in fact, for the world.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> Immediately after
Peter confessed that Jesus is the Christ, Jesus foretold his sufferings, death,
and resurrection. Yes, Jesus is the Messiah,
and that means he will suffer, die, and rise.
The Scriptures had foretold this many times. Unfortunately, the disciples did not get
it. They had preconceived notions about what
the Christ would do.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"> One of the promises made regarding the Christ—and
it was repeated to the Virgin Mary when Jesus was conceived in her—is that<b> “<span class="text"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">the Lord God will give to him
the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of
Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end” (Luke 1:32-33). </span></span></b><span class="text">Many Jews expected that their Messiah would establish
a kingdom, elevate the people of Israel, destroy the enemies of God’s people, and
reign forever over heaven and earth.
Well, that is sort of true. The Messiah
does come to do all those things, but not in an earthly sense. He does not come to set up a throne in
Jerusalem. He does not come to establish
the nation of Israel as the supreme nation on earth. He does not come to destroy the Romans or to
drive them out of Palestine. But he does
live and reign over heaven and earth for the good of his Church.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span class="text">
The worldly expectations of the Messiah were assumed by the people of
Israel, including the apostles themselves.
Even as Jesus was about to ascend to heaven, Jesus’ disciples asked him,
</span><b>“Lord, will
you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel” (Acts 1:6)?</b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> <span class="text">It was a long-held belief, and it took a long time to purge from
their mentality. To this day, people think
Jesus will provide worldly glory or peace.
But to know what to expect, listen to him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span class="text"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
This is likely why Jesus’ transfiguration was presented to such a
limited audience. <b>“</b></span><b>Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led
them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before
them, and his clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one on
earth could bleach them. And there
appeared to them Elijah with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus” (Mark 1:2-4).</b> Peter’s response
was to tell Jesus that it was good that they were there. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span class="text"> This word “good”
conveys a sense of being useful. There
were ready hands to put up shelters for Jesus and the prophets. Sure, it wasn’t Jerusalem, but it was a place
for the glorious kingdom to start. Sure,
it was not an army of soldiers or angels, but the prophets were present to help
fulfill their promises. And, of course,
Jesus radiated with divine glory. Who
would not fall to his knees in submission before him? If they didn’t, Jesus would slay them in his
might and glory, wouldn’t he? To Peter,
James, and John, the Messianic kingdom was breaking out right in front of them. This is what they expected their Messiah to
be. They were sort of right, but mostly
wrong. To know what to expect, they
needed to listen to him. This was not
the plan Jesus had revealed to them only six days earlier.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span class="text"> Our expectations
of Jesus are often misconceptions, too.
We are sort of right in what we expect because we have heard God’s
word. But like the apostles, we have
made assumptions about how the promises of God should be applied to us. We take it upon ourselves to determine what
kind of comfort we should have and what kind of blessings God should provide. To know what to expect, listen to him; but
listen carefully.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span class="text"> St. Paul wrote
to the Romans, </span><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">“We
know that for those who love God all things work together for good” (</span><span class="text">Romans 8:28).</span></b><span class="text"> This
promise gives amazing comfort until we decide what this “good” should look like. “My bills should be paid. My health should be strong. Any enemies I have should be put to shame.” That might be what you think is good, but
that is not necessarily what God thinks is good for you. You and I think about what will be good for us
immediately, in other words, what will make life easy, fun, or glorious. What I think is good is what will make me
happy by the end of the day. But God
thinks of the eternal picture—what will get you into the heavenly kingdom? God may decide that it is good for you to
bear a cross—not fun, but good. If that
is what drives you to pray more often, if that is what gets you to long for the
heavenly kingdom instead of worldly pleasures, then it is good—not easy, but good. Whatever God chooses to lay on you, he will always
use it for your eternal good. To know
what to expect, listen to him.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span class="text"> Here is another
Bible verse that gets badly misused: </span><b>“I can do all things through him who strengthens me” (Philippians
4:13).</b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> How many people use this verse to insist they
will win every battle, overcome every obstacle, and succeed in every endeavor? After all, if God’s strength is unlimited, isn’t
my potential unlimited? But not everyone
can be the CEO of the company. Not
everyone gets a gold medal at the Olympics.
Not everyone gets to the Super Bowl.
Not everyone escapes poverty or recovers from illness. So, is this verse only true for the successful? Does it not apply to those who suffer, or to
those who humbly live and serve without recognition or rewards?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> To know what to expect,
listen to God’s word. In this case, context
will help you. St. Paul did not claim that
he would win every contest or enjoy endless success because God would give him
the power. St. Paul had written, <b>“<span class="text">I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how
to abound. In any and every
circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger,
abundance and need” (Philippians 4:11-12).</span></b><span class="text"> The Bible does not promise that God’s people
will dominate. The promise is that, no
matter what circumstance you endure in this life, the Lord will not abandon
you. </span>He will strengthen you so
that you will endure. To know what to
expect, listen to him.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> Many in American
Christianity have embraced these misconceptions. To enjoy a life of personal gain and pleasure
is very appealing. Who wouldn’t want a
life that is fun, easy, pleasing, and comfortable? </span><span class="text">We have adopted long-held beliefs which need to be purged from
us. </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">R</span><span class="text">epent of trusting in promises that God has not made. To know what to expect, listen to him. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span class="text"> St. Mark wrote
that Elijah and Moses <b>“were talking with Jesus” (Mark 9:4).</b> If Peter, James, and John had listened
instead of making plans to build shelters, they would have benefited. Instead, the heavenly Father had to refocus
their attention. <b>“A cloud
overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, ‘This is my
beloved Son; listen to him’”</b></span><b> (Mark
9:7).</b>
The glory of Jesus would not be established on that mountain with such a
limited audience. The glory of Jesus
would be established on a different hill in full view of the Passover pilgrims
at Jerusalem. But rather than radiate with
divine splendor, Jesus would bleed and die in shame.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"> If you listen to him, you know that this
is what is to be expected. Isaiah had
foretold that the ransom price paid to redeem you would not be pretty. <span class="text"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">“His appearance was so marred, beyond human semblance, and his form
beyond that of the children of mankind” (Isaiah 52:14).</span></b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> At the
transfiguration, his appearance was amazing; at the crucifixion, his appearance
was grotesque. At the transfiguration, his
form was dazzling; at the crucifixion, his form was distorted. In our minds, Jesus’ death was romantic; in
reality, Jesus’ death was abhorrent. But
that is because our sins are abhorrent.
Sin deserves God’s wrath. Sin
earns a cursed death. Sin produces a
damning sentence of judgment. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span class="text">
To know what to expect, listen to him.
He tells us what sins deserve, but he also tells us that he has taken
the blows for us. For all the times we
preferred our glory over God’s, for all the times we craved to live in our fantasies
rather than trust God’s direction, for all the times we were angry at God for
failing to live up to promises he never made but we thought he should have, for
all these sins and more, Jesus willingly put himself in the crosshairs of God’s
wrath and punishment. Was it fun? No, but it was good. Was it easy?
No, but it was good. It was good
for you, which is why Jesus endured it. All
he suffered, he did for you, for your salvation, and for your peace. Why should we expect anything different? Listen to him: <b>“He was pierced for our
transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the
chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed” (Isaiah
53:5).</b> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span class="text"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
Before Jesus suffered the rejection, the betrayal, the beatings, the
shame, and the death at the cross, Jesus revealed his divine glory to Peter,
James, and John. <b>“</b></span><b>As they were coming down the mountain, he charged them
to tell no one what they had seen, until the Son of Man had risen from the
dead” (Mark 9:9).</b> Would it have benefited the other apostles if
they had seen Jesus’ glory before they witnessed his terrible shame, or at
least had known about it? I don’t
know. Jesus seemed to think it would not
have. Rather than gawk at Jesus’ appearance,
it was better to listen to Jesus’ teaching.
His momentary glory was not something to be preserved or
proclaimed. Rather, Jesus went to the cross
to secure everlasting glory—both for himself and for us.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span class="text"> Jesus revealed
his divine glory at the transfiguration.
He never lost his divine glory because he never stopped being God. But that that glory remained veiled until
Jesus’ death. After his resurrection,
Jesus no longer veiled his glory. The
man, Jesus, was exalted and given all authority, honor, and glory which are his
forevermore. Just as Jesus’ humanity was
exalted, so will yours be. At the
resurrection of the dead, you will receive the glory Jesus has won for you, and
you will shine like stars. It will not
be a momentary flash as it was at the transfiguration, but an everlasting glory
that will never spoil, fade, or perish.
You can expect it, because Jesus has told you so. Listen to him.</span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: center;"><b>In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.</b></p>Pastor Thomas E Schroederhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08739826673292690207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014836070794517355.post-45407542247519313492024-02-08T05:30:00.005-05:002024-02-08T05:30:00.147-05:00Update from Good Shepherd (February 8, 2024)<p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white;">Greetings!</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span><span><b><u>REGULAR SCHEDULE </u></b></span></span><br /> <b>Sunday School</b> -- Sundays at 9:00 AM.<br /> <b>Adult Bible Class</b> -- Sundays at 9:00 AM.<br /> <b>Divine Service</b> -- Sundays at 10:00 AM.<br /> <b>Ash Wednesday</b> -- Wednesday, February 14 at 7:00 PM. Supper at 6:00 PM.<br /> <b><i>Bible Matters</i></b> resumes in April.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"> For a calendar of events and meetings, <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/5014836070794517355/8602326521940181571#">click here</a>.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span><b><u>INTRODUCTION VIDEO FOR GOOD SHEPHERD LUTHERAN CHURCH</u></b><br /></span> <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/5014836070794517355/2634162359866372267">Here is a video</a> to introduce people to <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/5014836070794517355/2634162359866372267">Good Shepherd Lutheran Church</a> of Novi. Share it as much as you can.<br /><br /><b><u>ADULT BIBLE CLASS – New Series</u></b><br /> We have begun a series for Adult Bible Class entitled, <b><i>“Families of the Bible.” </i></b> The Lord lays out his plans for godly families. But sin leaves its mark on families, producing families that are strained, fractured, dysfunctional, and blended. We will consider various families who are mentioned in the Bible. First, we will see that there is nothing new under the sun. Then, we will see God’s blessings for families—strength, encouragement, and healing.<br /> Who will benefit from this series? Husbands and wives, parents and children, singles, divorced, and widowed … anyone who was born into a family, brought into a family, or has been ostracized from a family. I think that should cover all of us.<br /> The schedule for this class <a href="https://lutheransubject.blogspot.com/2024/01/adult-bible-class-families-of-bible.html" target="_blank">can be found here</a>.<br /> <b>Adult Bible Class beings promptly at 9:00 AM</b>. All are welcome.</span></p><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><u>LENTEN NOTES</u></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">For an <b>overview of the Lenten season</b>, <a href="https://lutheransubject.blogspot.com/2024/02/worship-notes-lenten-season-2024.html" target="_blank">click here</a>. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span><b>Ash Wednesday </b>-- Divine service with the Imposition of Ashes -- February 14 at 7 pm. </span>For a description on the <b>Imposition of Ashes</b> (rationale and practice), <a href="https://lutheransubject.blogspot.com/2024/02/worship-notes-imposition-of-ashes.html" target="_blank">click here</a>.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>Lenten Vespers</b> -- Wednesdays in February and March at 7:00 PM. The schedule <a href="https://lutheransubject.blogspot.com/2024/02/lenten-vespers-2024-god-on-trial.html" target="_blank">can be found here</a>.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>Lenten Dinners</b> -- Wednesdays before the Lenten services at 6:00 PM. A Sign Up Genius form to provide food for the meals will be sent out soon.</span></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /><b><u>SACRED MUSIC FOR THE SEASON OF LENT</u></b><br /> “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross,” “In the Cross of Christ I Glory,” “My Song Is Love Unknown,” “A Lamb Goes Uncomplaining Forth.” Beginning Ash Wednesday, you can listen to sacred music for the season of Lent 24/7 at <a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001SJVuJVUj7akxGiFoRpbfwiEvA2bPdJsv-VGztXHDSRsmzgsygv1WAO2Yxx_cMkUREttYOQTJZvQqPqF07i-ZQfea302S88yCeTwMCLLYMWeC3HnoH_eMq-eJDWObr2BXHFcVbZQMBoIKAfDVloDg3Ied5mwU_wfU&c=yPJwJxUuzZwGwzDpO0l4uV9dg6tbicIqtrD-NTgOBB0njiHj2B_FbA==&ch=cRhGIeR3GR4LJeYg1PCLJ_Co_e0y1MJqlip37hkYCGPkxqjKW7Y3rA==">lutheranpublicradio.org</a>, TuneIn, Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Apple HomePod and the Lutheran Public Radio mobile app.</span><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /><b><u>EASTER FOR KIDS</u></b></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"> <b>Good Shepherd’s 2024 Easter-for-Kids Event will be held on Saturday, March 23, 10am – Noon.</b><br /> At this event, kids will follow a path from Jesus’ crucifixion, to the guards who guarded his tomb, to the empty tomb on Easter morning. Along the way, there will be lessons, crafts, and special guests (centurion, angel) to tell them what they have seen. They will get a sticker for their “passport” at each station, with a reward at the end for filling their passport.<br /> There will be 5 stations – Sign-in, the crucifixion, the Centurian, the tomb, and the selfie-station. We will need some help making this event a success. Here are some of the ways that you can help.<br /> >>> Planning for the stations – we have a basic idea of what each station requires, but need some people to help put it together. This will include planning crafts, decorating, etc. Ideally would like to get someone to be in charge of each station.<br /> >>> Decorating -- We want to turn our room divider into a tomb, need a stone to roll, costumes, etc. We have some ideas to start but just need help making it happen.<br /> >>> Crafts – if you have good craft ideas for kids, we would love to hear them.<br /> >>> Giveaway – put together goodie bags for the kids at the end. Also need some kind of raffle game and prize. (Last year we did a guess the number of jelly beans in the jar.)<br /> >>> Volunteers day of the event – will need people to sign kids in, help with crafts, lead kids into the stations, and some “actors” to play roles. Would ideally like to get about 10 people.<br /> Another way to help will be to “like” and share our posts on social media when they come out. Please help us to make this event a success.<br /></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /><b><u>EASTER FOR KIDS—Prep Meeting </u></b><br /> We will have another prep meeting for Easter for Kids on Sunday, February 18 after the service. We want to check on how we are progressing as our event gets closer. There are many ways to get involved. If interested, join us for this meeting.</span><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><u>WELS INTERNATIONAL YOUTH RALLY</u></b><br /> This summer, about 2,000 WELS teens (from 8th grade graduation through 12th grade graduation) from all over the country will be gathering in Fort Collins, Colorado for a Youth Rally. The Rally will be held June 25-28. All who have attended have raved about what a good time this is. More information can be found at <a href="http://www.welsyouthrally.net/">www.welsyouthrally.net</a>. The cost is $410 for early bird registration, March 6 – April 30. Transportation costs are not included in the registration fee. Good Shepherd teens will likely connect with St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Livonia to ensure that we have our teens connected to a chaperon. If you are interested, please speak to Pastor Schroeder.</span></p><div><div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><p class="Standard" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-indent: 0.5in;"><o:p></o:p></p></span></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><a name="_Hlk156379703"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><u>CHURCH COUNCIL HIGHLIGHTS (January)</u></b><o:p></o:p></span></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5.0pt; margin: 5pt 0in; mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; mso-vertical-align-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">> We have drafted a tentative <b>schedule of events for 2024</b>. Some events will involve more planning than others in order to make them more appealing and beneficial to our guests—for example, our Easter for Kids event on March 23 which will be here sooner than it seems. Look for opportunities to plan, prepare, and participate in upcoming events. The 2024 schedule of events will be posted on the church bulletin board.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5.0pt; margin: 5pt 0in; mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; mso-vertical-align-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">> We will have our <b><u>Annual Open Forum</u></b>, followed by our Voters’ Meeting, <b><u>on Sunday, February 11 after church</u></b>. A continental breakfast will be provided to keep people alert and energized. We will be reviewing briefly the highlights of last year and propose plans for the remainder of 2024 and beyond. We enco8urage all our members, as well as those who are coming to us from Lola Park, to engage in conversation about what we can do as a congregation. We welcome questions, suggestions, and critiques so that we can make the most of the gifts God has given to us—especially the service of his people.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b style="text-decoration-line: underline;"><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b style="text-decoration-line: underline;">GOOD SHEPHERD ON YOUTUBE</b></span></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span> Services are uploaded to YouTube each week. Feel free to share the videos. Here is the service from Christmas Eve (February 4, 2024): </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjfCz9tnTTQ">Good Shepherd Novi, Divine Service, February 4, 2024 (youtube.com)</a></span></div></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /><b><u>BAD WEATHER POLICY FOR SERVICES AT GOOD SHEPHERD</u></b><br /> We will always have services as scheduled at Good Shepherd. Since I live across the parking lot, I can get to the church no matter how bad the weather gets. Even if the service is just me and my family, we will be here. For everyone else, please use your God-given common sense to determine whether or not you will get on the road to attend any service when the weather is bad. We don't want anyone to risk his or her life to be here. But if you do venture out, the scheduled service will take place. It may be only a handful with a cappella singing and/or spoken liturgy, but we will be here.<br /> Bible Classes and meetings may be canceled due to weather. Check your email regarding announcements to see if any of those scheduled events are canceled. If there is no email about it, it is not canceled. But again, use common sense to determine if you can make it, and call the pastor to let him know if you will not be coming.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><u>REGULAR OFFICE HOURS</u></b><br /> The pastor will try to maintain regular office hours are Monday – Thursday, 9:00 AM - Noon. To ensure the pastor’s availability, it is best to make an appointment. He is available by phone or text (248-719-5218). You may also email (<a href="mailto:welsnovi@aol.com">welsnovi@aol.com</a>), but the response may be slower. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div></div><div><b><u><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">DO YOU LIKE US?</span></u></b></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"> Look for Good Shepherd on Facebook. Then “LIKE” us for updates and other postings. Be sure to share posts with friends.</span><p style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><u><span>SHARE THIS POST!</span></u></b><span><span><br /> We desire as many as possible to rejoice in the Gospel which we proclaim and confess. Share the information from our weekly email blast, links to our web page, and even to the pastor's blog to let others know that we have a space in our congregation for them!<br /><br />In Christ,<br />Pastor Schroeder</span><span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #4d4d4d;">===============</span><span style="color: #4d4d4d;">===============</span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"></span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">REGULAR SCHEDULE</span></u></b><br /><b>DIVINE SERVICES</b> are on Sundays at 10:00 AM<br /><b>Sunday School </b>-- Sundays at 9:00 AM <br /><b>Adult Bible Class</b> -- Sundays at 9:00 AM <br /><b>Lenten Schedule</b> -- Wednesdays from February 14 through March 20<br /> Supper -- 6:00 PM<br /> Worship -- 7:00 PM<br /> Choir -- 8:00 PM<br /><b><i>Bible Matters</i></b> resumes in April.</p><p style="background: white;"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">GOOD SHEPHERD’S WEBSITE<br /></span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/5014836070794517355/1718913825327624702"><b>www.GoodShepherdNovi.org</b></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">PASTOR SCHROEDER’S BLOG</span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/5014836070794517355/1718913825327624702"><b>www.LutheranSubject.blogspot.com</b></a></span><span style="background-color: transparent;"> </span></p></div></div></div>Pastor Thomas E Schroederhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08739826673292690207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014836070794517355.post-82502502296456742682024-02-07T12:08:00.002-05:002024-02-07T12:08:28.464-05:00YouTube -- 5th Sunday after Epiphany (February 4, 2024)<p>Here is the Divine Service from Sunday, February 4, 2024.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mjfCz9tnTTQ" width="320" youtube-src-id="mjfCz9tnTTQ"></iframe></div><br /><p><br /></p>Pastor Thomas E Schroederhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08739826673292690207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014836070794517355.post-79546915764065865592024-02-07T02:30:00.000-05:002024-02-07T02:30:00.142-05:00Worship Notes: Imposition of Ashes<p style="text-align: center;"> <b style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Remember that you are dust, </span></b></p><div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">and to dust you will return.</span></b></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><o:p> </o:p> These words paraphrase Genesis 3:19 where the Lord proclaimed a curse upon man when he had first sinned. St. Paul repeated that thought in his letter to the Romans: “Sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned” (Romans 5:12).</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilm_xuWa1QqWpbhGDLtFVym9IBcNSSd3GlOy-CK1TWo2h7Gg0a7tX0KutR4B1xsGFYECWJeJwRtNCP72wPDmI_bZUUl9TFpMSo7dgV9pDL9cZ5s1OmGSBazzOuJhL92hL1pfY-O2pYYhqIhsG6B5bkf18TOG-maNXspYO43I4TcwMc2mXIIKhwZgr7VQ/s1544/B-29%20Ash%20Wednesday.tif" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1528" data-original-width="1544" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilm_xuWa1QqWpbhGDLtFVym9IBcNSSd3GlOy-CK1TWo2h7Gg0a7tX0KutR4B1xsGFYECWJeJwRtNCP72wPDmI_bZUUl9TFpMSo7dgV9pDL9cZ5s1OmGSBazzOuJhL92hL1pfY-O2pYYhqIhsG6B5bkf18TOG-maNXspYO43I4TcwMc2mXIIKhwZgr7VQ/w320-h317/B-29%20Ash%20Wednesday.tif" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"> Ashes to ashes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dust to dust.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is the harsh reality of sin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The use of ashes long pre-dates the New Testament Church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the era of the Patriarchs, Job confessed his sin and declared, “I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes” (Job 42:6).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Imposition of Ashes teaches a dual lesson.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> 1) <b><i>It is a mark of penitence.</i></b> We demonstrate outwardly the sorrow for sin that we have inwardly. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> 2) <b><i>It is a mark of death.</i></b> It is a reminder that we are all dust, and to dust we will return. <i> </i>The ashes remind us that we are helpless in our sinful condition. Our only hope is a Savior. We repent of our works. We cling to Jesus for his.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> No one should feel obligated to receive the ashes on the forehead. If you do not want to do it, the ushers will simply pass you by and go to the next row. Children may participate at the discretion of their parents.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>We will begin the service with the rite.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Where the bulletin indicates, the ushers will begin to invite people by row to come to the communion railing to receive the ashes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The penitent will kneel at the railing (like Lord’s Supper), and wait as the pastor applies the ashes to the forehead in the shape of a cross.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Please resist all temptations to scratch or smear the ashes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(The ashes will easily be washed off with soapy water.)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>This ceremony truly sets the tone for Lenten season.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are marked as sinners.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are marked for death.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are marked as the penitent whose only hope is Jesus Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> Our comfort comes from Jesus who takes our sin. He dies our death. He marks us as his own who have been baptized into his name. That is where the penitent find comfort. That is where the dying find life.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> Ash Wednesday is February 14. Good Shepherd's Divine Service is at 7:00 PM.</span></p></div></div>Pastor Thomas E Schroederhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08739826673292690207noreply@blogger.com0