Know God, Grow in Christ, Go with the Holy Spirit

Worship Schedule
 Saturday Worship, 5:00 PM
Sunday Worship 9:00 AM
Sunday School 10:15 - 11:00 AM

“Know-Grow-Go”

Featured WORD:
Forgiveness:
compassionate feelings that support a willingness to forgive 

FEATURED BIBLE VERSE:
Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26 (NRSV)

As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth; and he said to him, "Follow me." And he got up and followed him. And as he sat at dinner in the house, many tax collectors and sinners came and were sitting with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?" But when he heard this, he said, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. "Go and learn what this means, 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have come to call not the righteous but sinners." While he was saying these things to them, suddenly a leader of the synagogue came in and knelt before him, saying, "My daughter has just died; but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live." And Jesus got up and followed him, with his disciples. Then suddenly a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his cloak, for she said to herself, "If I only touch his cloak, I will be made well." Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, "Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well." And instantly the woman was made well. When Jesus came to the leader's house and saw the flute players and the crowd making a commotion, he said, "Go away; for the girl is not dead but sleeping." And they laughed at him. But when the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took her by the hand, and the girl got up. And the report of this spread throughout that district.

Featured Prayer: 
I'll bet you've said it: "I can't forgive him for that." But forgiveness was the whole point of Jesus' life. He came to seek the lost. He offered forgiveness to a woman accused of adultery and to dishonest tax collectors. His astonishing words from the cross – "Forgive them for they don't know what they are doing" – sum up his entire ministry.

His greatest parable was the story of a wayward son who came back home filled with regret for sin and was received with forgiveness by his waiting father. Jesus wants us to know that God is like that father. He is a forgiver.

But the grand plan is to let the forgiving spirit of Jesus loose in this world today. Planted in the heart of every believer, it is totally unstoppable. It's in the middle of the Lord's Prayer. "I will forgive as I have been forgiven."

O Lord, forgiveness is so surprising and so illogical, but it sure is nice. How wonderful it is that it's the main thing that happens in church. We are surprised by forgiveness and we are surprised by joy. Thank you, Lord, for your rich mercy, for the consolation of your love, for forgiveness and for joy. Amen.

Featured LUTHERAN ADVICE:
The Lutheran Handbook page 217
Confession:
What is Confession?    Confession consists of two parts. One is that we confess our sins. The other is that we receive the absolution, that is, forgiveness, from the pastor as from God himself and by no means doubt but firmly believe that our sins are thereby forgiven before God in Heaven. 
Which sins is a person to confess?    Before God one is to acknowledge the guilt for all sins, even those of which we are not aware, as we do in the Lord's Prayer. However, before the pastor we are to confess only those sins of which we are aware and which trouble us. 
Which sins are these?    Here reflect on your place in life in light of the Ten Commandments: whether you are father, mother, son, daughter, employer, employee; whether you have been disobedient, unfaithful, lazy; whether you have harmed anyone by word or deed; whether you have stolen, neglected, wasted, or injured anything. 

FEATURED SONG:
Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)  - Chris Tomlin
Amazing grace
How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost, but now I'm found
Was blind, but now I see
'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear
And grace my fears relieved
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed

My chains are gone
I've been set free
My God, my Savior has ransomed me
And like a flood His mercy rains
Unending love, Amazing grace

The Lord has promised good to me
His word my hope secures
He will my shield and portion be
As long as life endures

The earth shall soon dissolve like snow
The sun forbid to shine
But God, Who called me here below
Will be forever mine
Will be forever mine
You are forever mine

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