Lutheran Subject (Schroeder's blog)

Thursday, January 9, 2020

Update from Good Shepherd (January 9, 2020)

Greetings!

REGULAR SCHEDULE

Divine Services are Sundays at 10:00 AM.

Sunday School is on Sundays at 8:45 AM.

Adult Bible Class meets on Sundays at 8:45 AM and on Wednesdays at 6:30 PM. The Adult Bible Class on Wednesday repeats the previous Sunday's lesson.

BIBLE INFORMATION CLASS TO BEGIN JANUARY 13
Good Shepherd will be having a Bible Information Class to benefit anyone who desires to know more about Bible basics. If you have ever had questions about God's word, wondering how some things are supposed to make sense, this is a good class to come with your questions. For more information, click the link to the pastor's blog here.

PRIVATE CONFESSION & ABSOLUTION
On Saturday, January 11, 9:00-11:00 AM, Pastor Schroeder will be in his office and available for Private Confession & Absolution. No appointment will be necessary. If you are grieved or haunted by particular sins and desire to hear your Savior's word of forgiveness, this is for you. Pastor Schroeder will walk through the rite since it is unfamiliar to most. As the name suggests, the confession remains private. It is made to Christ. Likewise, the forgiveness is Christ's through the mouth of his minister.
Private Confession & Absolution is always available by appointment. For more information on the rationale for Private Confession & Absolution, see this link.

OFFICE HOURS

The local chapter of WELS Lutherans for Life will have its annual meeting

at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Livonia (17810 Farmington Road) on Saturday,

January 11 at 3:00 PM. The featured speaker will be Rev. Robert Fleischmann

who is the head of Christian Life Resources. Rev. Fleischmann will be speaking

about current life-related topics to keep us informed about developments, trends,

and solutions in regard to beginning-of-life and end-of-life issues. All are welcome.

BAD WEATHER POLICY FOR SERVICES AT GOOD SHEPHERD
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.
Bible Classes and meetings may be canceled due to weather. Check your email regarding announcements to see if any of those scheduled events is 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.

EVANGELISM COMMITTEE MEETING
In order to make the most of opportunities to proclaim the Gospel in our community, we need to budget our expenses and our time. We will be meeting to determine our plans and to pray that God will bless them. Our next Evangelism Committee meeting will be Sunday, January 19 at 11:15 AM. All members are encouraged to participate in our Evangelism efforts, whether on the committee or not. But we do need people who are willing to be on the committee to plan.

STEWARDSHIP COMMITTEE MEETING
Our next Stewardship Committee meeting will be Sunday, January 19 at 11:15 AM. The main purpose of our Stewardship Committee right now is to coordinate events to foster the bonds of fellowship among our members and to serve our community as well. While we can come up with ideas, it is important that congregation is on board with these ideas to make them beneficial for us and for others. In other words, we need your participation to make these events go well. Got an idea? Willing to make some phone calls? Want to see our congregation more energetic and vibrant? Then you can help. Join us on Sunday, January 19 after church.

DO YOU LIKE US?

Look for Good Shepherd on Facebook. Then “LIKE” us for updates and other postings.

God bless you.

In Christ,

Pastor Schroeder

==============================

SUNDAY SCHOOL -- Sundays at 8:45 AM.

ADULT BIBLE CLASS -- Sundays at 8:45 AM

DIVINE SERVICES -- Sundays at 10:00 AM

GOOD SHEPHERD’S WEBSITE

www.GoodShepherdNovi.org

PASTOR SCHROEDER’S BLOG
www.LutheranSubject.blogspot.com

Good Shepherd Evangelical Lutheran Church
41415 W. Nine Mile Road
Novi, Michigan 48375-4306
+ + + + + + + + + + + +
Divine Services -- Sundays at 10:00 AM

Thursday, January 2, 2020

Update from Good Shepherd (January 2, 2020)

Greetings!

REGULAR SCHEDULE

Divine Services are Sundays at 10:00 AM.

Sunday School and Adult Bible Class are on Sundays at 8:45 AM. The Adult Bible Class repeats on Wednesday at 6:30 PM (resuming January 8).

BIBLE INFORMATION CLASS TO BEGIN JANUARY 13
Good Shepherd will be having a Bible Information Class to benefit anyone who desires to know more about Bible basics. If you have ever had questions about God's word, wondering how some things are supposed to make sense, this is a good class to come with your questions. For more information, click the link to the pastor's blog here.

Regular office hours at Good Shepherd will be Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays from 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM. While there may be some flexibility to this schedule, we will try to keep it as regular as possible.

REDFORD PREGNANCY CARE CENTER
The Redford Pregnancy Care Center is eager to enjoy a greater participation with the WELS congregations who so graciously support this charitable work. In the past, the role of the center was mostly to offer free pregnancy tests to concerned women, to give encouragement to cherish the child they were carrying so that they would carry their child to term and give birth, and to witness with the Gospel as much as possible. With pregnancy tests so readily available from many sources, that kind of interaction doesn't happen much anymore. The role of the center has become much more a source of support for the women who have given birth and now whose concern is caring for their children. The Redford Pregnancy Care Center, therefore, is mainly a center for charitable aid to struggling mothers/families. Of course, the encouragement to cherish life and witnessing with the Gospel remain a strong emphasis.
In order to continue our service to mothers and families, we think it is important to have our congregations aware and engaged in this ministry. We hope to increase and improve the communications on our end so that you know the connections we are making with people. And we hope that these connections will lead to people connecting with our congregations.
For now, we are hoping to increase awareness by asking you to like our Facebook page. Search for “The Pregnancy Care Center” and follow us for updates.

BAD WEATHER POLICY FOR SERVICES AT GOOD SHEPHERD
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.
Bible Classes and meetings may be canceled due to weather. Check your email regarding announcements to see if any of those scheduled events is 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.

EVANGELISM COMMITTEE MEETING
In order to make the most of opportunities to proclaim the Gospel in our community, we need to budget our expenses and our time. We will be meeting to determine our plans and to pray that God will bless them. Our next Evangelism Committee meeting will be Sunday, January 19 at 11:15 AM. All members are encouraged to participate in our Evangelism efforts, whether on the committee or not. But we do need people who are willing to be on the committee to plan.

STEWARDSHIP COMMITTEE MEETING

Our next Stewardship Committee meeting will be Sunday, January 19 at 11:15 AM. The main purpose of our Stewardship Committee right now is to coordinate events to foster the bonds of fellowship among our members and to serve our community as well. While we can come up with ideas, it is important that congregation is on board with these ideas to make them beneficial for us and for others. In other words, we need your participation to make these events go well. Got an idea? Willing to make some phone calls? Want to see our congregation more energetic and vibrant? Then you can help. Join us on Sunday, January 19 after church.

LOOKING AHEAD TO 2020
>>> A new Bible Information Class will be starting up on Monday, January 13 (7:00–8:30 PM). Now is the time to be thinking of whom you might invite and bring to this class. For details, check out this link.
>>> Want to read through the Bible in a year? You can find a schedule for daily Bible readings at Good Shepherd’s web site here. This schedule is rather aggressive, covering the entire Bible and the Gospels twice. A less aggressive schedule (Through the Bible in 3 Years) is available in the tract rack at Good Shepherd.

DO YOU LIKE US?

Look for Good Shepherd on Facebook. Then “LIKE” us for updates and other postings.

God bless you.

In Christ,

Pastor Schroeder

==============================

SUNDAY SCHOOL -- Sundays at 8:45 AM.

ADULT BIBLE CLASS -- Sundays at 8:45 AM

DIVINE SERVICES -- Sundays at 10:00 AM

GOOD SHEPHERD’S WEBSITE

www.GoodShepherdNovi.org

PASTOR SCHROEDER’S BLOG
www.LutheranSubject.blogspot.com

Good Shepherd Evangelical Lutheran Church
41415 W. Nine Mile Road
Novi, Michigan 48375-4306
+ + + + + + + + + + + +
Divine Services -- Sundays at 10:00 AM

Tuesday, December 31, 2019

Sermon -- New Year's Eve (December 31, 2019)

PSALM 136

HIS LOVE FOR YOU IS STEADFAST.

In the name + of Jesus.

The Romans had a god in their pantheon who had two faces. One face looked forward to the future, the other looked backward to the past. The god's name was Janus, from which we get the name of our first month, January. On the threshold of January, we do what the Roman god Janus mythically did—we look back on the past year and we look forward to the next.
If you recall abundant or unexpected blessings this past year, you might be sad to see 2019 pass away. If 2019 was marked by bitterness or sadness, you are eager to say, “Good riddance!” God blessed each person, each family, differently this past year. Our prayers for 2020, however, are the same—for blessings and happiness, but we don't know how God will bless us in the year to come. Perhaps the cross you bear will become lighter. Perhaps it will be heavier. You can't know what 2020 will bring—no matter what kind of vision Janus claims to have. But what God has revealed to you should be enough. In fact, it is everything. This is what the Lord says: His love for you is steadfast. It was true in 2019, and it will be true in 2020.
The Psalm we are considering this evening mainly looks back. Its look back goes much further than a year. In fact, it considers God's faithfulness all the way back to creation. “Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever... to him who alone does great wonders, … who by understanding made the heavens, … who spread out the earth above the waters, … who made the great lights, … the sun to rule over the day, … the moon and stars to rule over the night...” (Psalm 136:1,4-9) He who created the heavens and the earth has faithfully maintained them. He has provided for you again this year with abundance and variety. Even those who despise the Lord were clothed and well fed. The Lord has not been fickle or petty in his concern for the world. You can mark each and every year with the same tag line: His love for you is steadfast.
But Psalm 136 gets much more specific about God's love and concern. It reviews God's acts of salvation for Israel. Israel was God's chosen people. And when you hear the phrase “God's chosen people,” your follow up question should always be the same: “Chosen for what?” They were chosen to be the people through whom the Savior would come. God would fulfill his promise of salvation through Israel. And not oppression, not slavery, not the armies of Pharaoh, not the depths of the Red Sea could prevent God from being faithful to his promises. Not the wandering in the desert, not the lack of food and water, and not warfare with Sihon and Og would keep God from bringing his people to the Promised Land. Nothing can subvert the promises of God. Each and every act of God is punctuated the same way: “His steadfast love endures forever.”
What is striking about Psalm 136 is not only that it details the faithful acts of God for the benefit of his people, but also that it omits the faithlessness of the people of Israel. The Lord was steadfast in his love, but the people of Israel surely were not. They grumbled that the Lord led them through the wilderness, even wishing they could be back feasting in Egypt. “Oh, that we had meat to eat! We remember the fish we ate in Egypt that cost nothing, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic.” (Numbers 11:4-5) They complained about the Lord's anointed leaders. They were convinced they were smarter, could accomplish greater things, and would enjoy more success—if only the Lord got out of the way. They were convinced that human designs would serve them better than divine direction. Sound familiar?
This was the reasoning back in the Garden of Eden. This was the life-style before Noah entered the ark. This was the refrain for Israel's 40 years in the wilderness. This was the complaint of the Pharisees and Sadducees. Was it also repeated in your home in 2019? Did you have better plans than the Lord? Would God have served you better if he had gotten out of the way? Did you dismiss God's word to find your own way to increase your wealth, gratify your desires, and chase after your happiness? If you look back at 2019, do you feel that God failed you? The devil may convince you he had, which is also how the devil convinces you to exalt your own way, your own will, and your own wisdom. When Adam and Eve did this, they lost Paradise. When the people in Noah's day did it, they perished in the Flood. When the Israelites did it, they died in the desert. When the Pharisees and Sadducees did it, it resulted in the destruction of the Temple and the slaughter of Jerusalem. Do we deserve better? By no means. Repent.
Remarkably, the refrain in Psalm 136 never fades out, because neither God's love nor his promises are conditioned by the people to whom he gives them. The sins of people, generation after generation, have never caused God to revoke his love or to repeal his promises. Our Lord desires the salvation of all mankind. Therefore, God acted to uphold his promise, to demonstrate his love, and to accomplish our salvation. His love for you is steadfast.
“It is he who remembered us in our low estate, for his steadfast love endures forever.” (Psalm 136:23) The Lord Jesus Christ came as God had promised. Jesus did not despise us. He took up our cause despite our sinful condition and our offenses against him. Though we have questioned God's wisdom, challenged his word, and abandoned his will for our own, Jesus answered for our sins with his faithfulness to the word. He did not question God's love for those who gratified their baser desires, challenge God's compassion for those who betrayed or abused him, or refuse to suffer for sins which were committed against him. Jesus followed God's will even when it meant suffering injustice, submitting to blows from those who hated him, and dying to the sounds of his enemies who mocked him and of silence from his Father who had forsaken him. His love for you is steadfast.
“It is he who remembered us in our low estate, … and rescued us from our foes, for his steadfast love endures forever...” (Psalm 136:23-24) Jesus remembered your lowly estate and delivered you out of your sins by his death. More than that, he exalted your humanity so that you, too, will rise from the dead as he did. Just as he dwells in the presence of God the Father, so shall you. Just as Jesus is the Son of God, so now in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. (Galatians 3:26) He has sealed his promise to you in your baptism, and he remains faithful to his promise. And he strengthens and keeps you in his promise by his holy Supper. The body and blood which were given into death for your sins are here for you for the forgiveness of sins. The body and blood which live and reign forever are here for you for everlasting life. His love for you is steadfast.
“Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.” (Psalm 136:1) The effects of sin may have filled your eyes with tears and pain and angst in 2019. But the Lord's face did not stop smiling upon you; not even once. His love for you is steadfast. “Give thanks to the God of gods, for his steadfast love endures forever. Give thanks to the Lord of lords, for his steadfast love endures forever...” (Psalm 136:2-3) If 2019 meant blessings and joys, then give thanks to the Lord who was pleased to entrust you with temporal gifts. But let not your joy rest on what is temporal; let your joy rest on what is eternal and you will never be disappointed. “His steadfast love endures forever...”
Like Janus, we look back. No matter what you saw or felt or experienced last year, you can still confess the refrain, “His steadfast love endures forever...” As for 2020, Janus is blind. January and each successive month is still blank. Your history will be written as each day goes forth. And who knows whether you will inscribe fortunes or frustrations? But whatever happens, his love for you is steadfast. Every year, every day, and every hour are punctuated the same. For the Lord is faithful in all he does. Fear not. Rejoice! “Give thanks to the God of heaven, for his steadfast love endures forever.” (Psalm 136:26)

In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Private Confession & Absolution -- Saturday, January 11 (9:00-11:00 AM)

Private Confession & Absolution -- Saturday, January 11, 9:00-11:00 AM

Private confession and absolution will be available at church from 9:00 - 11:00 AM on Saturday, January 11. No appointment is necessary. Just stop in. If this rite is new to you (and it is for many who attend here), the pastor will walk you through the rite so that you understand and appreciate it more. Private confession and absolution is always available by appointment throughout the year.

Why Private Confession & Absolution? The answer follows:

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.

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) -- Augsburg Confession, Article XI

What is Confession?
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.
What sins should we confess?
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. -- Luther's Small Catechism, Part V

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.

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. And so it will be.

Private Confession and Absolution has always been available to all members by appointment. (I am guessing that has been a pretty good secret.) 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 will still be available by appointment in addition to these scheduled times.

It is anticipated that Private Confession and Absolution will roughly follow this regular schedule.
A Saturday around Epiphany (Epiphany is always January 6)
The Saturday before Palm Sunday
The Saturday after Labor Day weekend
A Saturday after Thanksgiving weekend (should coincide with the 1st Saturday in Advent)

The next scheduled date and time for Private Confession and Absolution will be Saturday, January 11, 9:00-11:00 AM. Appointments are not necessary. You need only drop in. All participation is voluntary, as Absolution cannot be forced upon anyone.

Of course, this will be new to pretty much any member who decides to make use of it. If you happen to 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 any confession or even the names of those who come for confession. Finally, the point of this is not for a pastor to learn everyone's dirty, little secrets. (His life is easier if he remains ignorant. But God's people do not call a pastor to be ignorant; they call him to absolve in the name of Jesus.) The point is for the guilty and the grieved to find relief and receive forgiveness, or absolution.

Sunday, December 29, 2019

Sermon -- 1st Sunday after Christmas (December 29, 2019)

MATTHEW 2:13-15,19-23

THE SAVIOR WAS DESPISED BY THOSE HE CAME TO SAVE.

In the name + of Jesus.

The prophet Isaiah had spoken of our Lord Jesus when he said, “He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.” (Isaiah 53:3) This verse and the whole chapter it comes from speak specifically about the Suffering Servant who was despised by those he came to save, but who nonetheless was given by God to bear our guilt and to die as a sin offering for us. There is no denying that Jesus was despised by the religious leaders of his day who plotted his death and rallied before Pontius Pilate to give the order for his crucifixion. However, Jesus was despised long before this.
As soon as Jesus entered the world as an infant, he was despised. King Herod the Great was told that the King of the Jews was born. Herod was a man who was zealous for his power and his throne. He had no problem killing his own children when he felt threatened by them. To hear that another had come as King was met with rage. To ensure that no newborn boy in Bethlehem would live to rival him, Herod gave the order to have every boy in Bethlehem, two and under, slaughtered. Herod had no room for Jesus in his heart or on the earth.
Herod's despising of Jesus seems senseless to us. Jesus was fully dependent upon Mary and Joseph for everything. What could he do as an infant? But Herod was on to something about Jesus. If Jesus is King, then others are answerable to him. Even in his infancy, Jesus was still God Almighty. As God, he has expectations of Herod and you and all people. Since Jesus is God, all are accountable to him. Jesus had come to uphold all of God's Commandments. He is the embodiment of the word of God. He is love personified, and the main focus of his love is the Lord and his word. Anyone who does not render due obedience to those Commandments must answer to him. Anything outside of that he will not praise or bless or tolerate.
The Commandments of God start with this: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” (Matthew 22:37) In the same way, the longest Psalm in the Old Testament, Psalm 119, confesses in each and every verse how we are to love God's word. If we love the Lord and his word, our love for our fellow man will follow without fail. Putting God's word first also means that we will despise whatever is opposed to it. This does not mean you have license to despise other people. It means you begin with yourself. Disobedience is not excused because you meant well or because doing right was too costly. Sins are not different because your children are doing them. The word of the Lord is always true—in all places, in all circumstances, for all people, for all time. If we refuse to call sin what God calls sin, then we call God a liar. God cannot be despised more than when we call him a liar. If Jesus tells us what is good and we reject it or tells us what is wicked and we do it anyway, we cannot truly call him “Lord.” We may not become as violent as Herod, but we have the same sinful, stubborn heart, as do all men.
This rebellious heart is nothing new. When the Lord acted to save the people of Israel by bringing them out of Egypt, their gratitude did not last long at all. They grumbled against God's plan and rebelled against God's will. They even groaned that serving Egyptian gods would be better because at least their bellies were well fed. At the foot of Mt. Sinai, they gave way to their perverted desires around the golden calf, and called it worship. These were God's children, but they did not live as the children of God. And for them, for Herod, for you: God sent a Savior. The Savior was despised by those he came to save, but he came to save nonetheless.
Jesus came to give the obedience that we have not. He proved himself to be God's true Son as he kept the Law and fulfilled God's word. Like the Israelites, Jesus also went to Egypt. But unlike the Israelites, when God called his Son out of Egypt, Jesus did not grumble or complain about God's will. He remained a dutiful Son throughout his whole life. For all of Herod's rage against Jesus, it did not benefit him at all. Herod died in hateful rebellion. Jesus remained King. And if we persist in our sins, despising to order our lives according to God's word, we will not benefit either. We will perish. Jesus will remain King.
Jesus' glorious reign, however, did not take place until he rose from the dead. Throughout his life, he was a servant who was obligated to obey all of God's Commandments. And so, he submitted to the slanderous words of others, to the mockery of friends, and to the attitudes of people who think it laughable that they owe God anything. But Jesus did not respond with violence, vengeance, or bloodshed. He came to be the Savior even for people who despised him.
Jesus also had to face the heinous plotting of violent men. By means of Joseph's protection and by other means, Jesus was delivered from a violent end until his hour had come. When it was his hour, Jesus willingly endured the violence of those who sought to kill him. He willingly subjected himself to the accusations and assaults of those who despised him. He willingly submitted to bloodshed, making himself the sinless sacrifice on behalf of all sinners. The Savior was despised by those he came to save. But he did not base his love for mankind on how much mankind loved him. He loved us perfectly and sought only our good. Therefore, he gave himself up to take away our sins. He covers us in his innocence. He converts our hearts so that we do not despise his word, but rejoice in it.
From the very beginning of his life, Jesus was committed to humble, obedient service to God's word. “Out of Egypt I called my Son,” (Matthew 2:15) declares the Lord. And this Son was fully obedient to the Father. After he came back from Egypt, the Lord directed Joseph in a dream to go to Galilee. St. Matthew noted, “And he went and lived in a city called Nazareth, so that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled, that he would be called a Nazarene.” (Matthew 2:23)
Although Matthew stated that Jesus' dwelling in Nazareth fulfills the words of the prophets, there does not seem to be any clear reference to which prophet said this. Perhaps it is a prophecy that was never recorded in the Old Testament, but it seems strange that Matthew would refer to a message we can't confirm. What we do know about Jesus' residence in Nazareth is that it resulted in people further despising him. The apostle Nathanael summed up the reputation of Nazareth with the question: “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” (John 1:46)
The Savior was despised by those he came to save. He has saved you, and he has made you the people of God. Now, what God's people are in danger of despising most is likely his grace. Consider this: We are convinced we know why Herod was damned—because he was evil. By contrast, why are we saved? Because we are better. Herod did what was bad; but God chose us, it is supposed, because he knew we would not reject him. If this is true, then we don't view salvation as a gift. It is what we are owed, at least in part. We believe some are worthy of salvation; others are not. This is what it means that we despise grace.
The Savior is despised by those he came to save, and that includes us. We have been neither perfect servants nor perfect students of God's word. There is only one Son who is perfectly obedient to God—the Nazarene who is despised and rejected by men. And while he would have good reason to despise us, he does not. He does not tolerate our sins; he atones for them. He does not overlook our faults; he covers them with his own holiness. He does not care if we are better or worse; he judges us blameless based on his own perfect life and innocent death on our behalf.
God be praised that his love does not depend upon us! He is a faithful Savior whose love endures forever. He does not despise what he has created, but he has reconciled us to himself so that he will forever be our loving God, and we will forever be his beloved children.

In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Friday, December 27, 2019

Lutheran Satire -- Horus Ruins Christmas, Part 2

Here is another production from Lutheran Satire. Horus tries to ruin Christmas and the Christian faith. Sadly, some Christians have already done worse.

Horus is satire. The rest, unfortunately, is accurately representative of some churches.

Thursday, December 26, 2019

Update from Good Shepherd (December 26, 2019)

Greetings!

REGULAR SCHEDULE

Divine Services are Sundays at 10:00 AM.

Sunday School and Adult Bible Class will be on Christmas break for December 29. Classes will resume on Sunday, January 5 ,2020 at 8:45 AM.

BIBLE INFORMATION CLASS TO BEGIN JANUARY 13
Good Shepherd will be having a Bible Information Class to benefit anyone who desires to know more about Bible basics. If you have ever had questions about God's word, wondering how some things are supposed to make sense, this is a good class to come with your questions. For more information, click the link to the pastor's blog here.

NEW YEAR'S EVE SERVICES
Although Good Shepherd does not have a New Year's Eve service, we can refer you to several WELS churches which do. The following churches have New Year's Eve services at the listed times.
– St. Paul's, Livonia (17810 Farmington Road) – 3:30 PM
– Peace, Livonia (9415 Merriman Road) – 7:00 PM
– Lola Park, Redford (14750 Kinloch) – 7:00 PM

– Our Saviour, Westland (33333 Warren Road) – 7:00 PM

OFFICE HOURS

LOOKING AHEAD TO 2020
>>> A new Bible Information Class will be starting up on Monday, January 13 (7:00–8:30 PM). Now is the time to be thinking of whom you might invite and bring to this class.
>>> Want to read through the Bible in a year? You can find a schedule for daily Bible readings at Good Shepherd’s web site here. This schedule is rather aggressive, covering the entire Bible and the Gospels twice. A less aggressive schedule (Through the Bible in 3 Years) is available in the tract rack at Good Shepherd.

DO YOU LIKE US?

Look for Good Shepherd on Facebook. Then “LIKE” us for updates and other postings.

God bless you.

In Christ,

Pastor Schroeder

==============================

SUNDAY SCHOOL -- Sundays at 8:45 AM.

ADULT BIBLE CLASS -- Sundays at 8:45 AM

DIVINE SERVICES -- Sundays at 10:00 AM

GOOD SHEPHERD’S WEBSITE

www.GoodShepherdNovi.org

PASTOR SCHROEDER’S BLOG
www.LutheranSubject.blogspot.com

Good Shepherd Evangelical Lutheran Church
41415 W. Nine Mile Road
Novi, Michigan 48375-4306
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Divine Services -- Sundays at 10:00 AM