Urgent Prayer Requests
* Bill Sugar, friends of the Diamonds, Lymphoma
* Cynthia Wordlaw, need for a kidney
* Dennis fighting kidney failure
* Sandy & Rachelle, working many hours (plus Rachelle is under the weather)
* Pete & Brenda, grieving over loss of her father; their health
* Dan, health concerns
* Mueller family, Alicia’s pregnancy & Jeff’s need for work
* Marilynn Norvell
* Aaron Wordlaw and his arthritis
* Gene & Lois Schulze at home
* Mark & Julie Johnson and the situation with their Illinois home
* Julie away at school at Mizzou; pray she remains in good health
* Our church and need for revival
Upcoming Activities
1. Trustee Meeting, Tuesday, 7 p.m.
2. BUSINESS MEETING, Wednesday, 7 p.m.
3. Apple Picking, Grafton, Saturday, 10 a.m.
4. Sunday school, Sunday, 9:15 a.m.
5. Worship Service, Sunday, 10:30 a.m.
6. September Soup, Salad, Sandwich Fellowship, Sunday, 12:15 p.m.
7. Discipleship Training, Sunday, 5 p.m.
“… those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works.”
Titus 3:8
“A Christian man is a perfectly free lord of all, subject to none. A Christian man is a perfectly dutiful servant of all, subject to all.” Martin Luther on our freedom in Christ
Sermon Extras
1. In verse 2 of chapter 4 Paul writes, “For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus”. The Thessalonians “knew” the teaching Paul had shared. They knew God’s Word. How about you and me?
2. Many of our English translations render verse 3 as “For this is the will of God, your sanctification”. Such a translation gives the reader the impression that God’s entire will (“THE will”) has to do with your sanctification. Actually, the original writing does not contain the article (“the”) before the word “will”. So, what Paul is talking about is not the entire will of God but a portion of His will.
3. The Contemporary English Version translates verse 3 in an interesting way: “God wants you to be holy”. Holiness, indeed, is the very heart of sanctification. Only holy people can dwell in the present of our thrice holy God. God declared us holy in our justification; He is making us more and more holy in our sanctification, and will complete our holiness in our glorification!
September Soup, Salad, Sandwich Fellowship
Bring soup, salad, sandwich, or dessert and drink to share this coming Sunday morning (September 15). We’ll fellowship following our morning worship service. Come out and enjoy good food as well as good conversation and sharing!
“A regenerated, reconciled soul living contentedly on in sin, ‘that grace may abound’—the very conception is in Paul’s estimation a horror and an impossibility.”
John Lillie
APPLE PICKING!
If you wish to pick apples this Saturday (14th) with church members, please contact Karla. Everyone is meeting in Grafton, IL at 10 a.m.
CHURCH WORK DAY!
The Trustees have scheduled a church work day for Saturday, September 21. Members will gather at 8 a.m. and work around the facility, preparing it for the upcoming winter.
“A Christian can never be fully satisfied with his spiritual growth (i.e., sanctification). He must always push onward and upward until he is with the Lord in glory!”
Pastor’s Postscripts
This Wednesday is our monthly business meeting and I am aware of at least two of the items we will cover at the meeting.
1. The Diamonds have requested to join our fellowship. Per our church bylaws, we will vote on their request during the business meeting.
2. The Trustees have been considering options for replacing our church sign. I’m certain we will have an update on their progress.
I encourage our members to plan to attend and participate in the meeting at 7 p.m. this Wednesday.
On another note, Pam and Dennis are back from Texas! We praise the Lord for their safe travel and look forward to seeing them this Wednesday. I am especially delighted they have returned so Dennis can, once again, lead our hymn singing next Sunday morning!
Lastly, we will continue our exposition of 1 Thessalonians this Sunday as Paul further shares thoughts on the matter of sanctification. This will naturally lead us to his discussion of the coming of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I say naturally for: (1) the Lord’s coming marks the end of our sanctification and (2) our sanctification is designed to prepare us for His coming.
So bring your Bible on Sunday and join me in 1 Thessalonians chapter 4!