Words of Encouragement for March 17, 2010

Meditations in the Parables of Jesus

THE NET CAST INTO THE SEA

Read Matthew 13:47-50

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind: which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away. So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, and shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.”

In this parable, Jesus compares the kingdom of heaven to a fishing net which is cast into the sea and catches fish of every kind. When the net is drawn to shore, the fishermen must sort the fish, keeping the good but throwing away the bad.

The visible Church, or the kingdom of heaven in this world, is like this. In those churches where God’s Word is proclaimed, there are not only true believers in Jesus Christ, but also those who have associated themselves outwardly with the visible Church of God for some other reason. Only those who trust in Christ alone for the forgiveness of sins and everlasting life are truly members of the Holy Christian Church and Christ’s kingdom, even though many others hold membership in the visible Christian churches of this world.

As the fishermen must sort out and separate the good fish from the bad, saving the good and throwing the bad away, so also the angels of God will separate the true members of God’s kingdom from the false on the Last Day. Then those who are only outwardly connected with the Church but do not have saving faith in Jesus Christ will be separated from among God’s people and cast into hell! ”There shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.” But those who, for their salvation, rely alone upon Jesus Christ and His innocent sufferings and death on the cross will take part in God’s eternal kingdom of glory!

This parable should move all of us to examine ourselves to make sure we are and remain a part of the Holy Christian Church through true faith in the Redeemer. Those who are only outwardly connected to Christ’s Church in this world but continue in their sin and unbelief are warned to repent and place their faith in Christ Jesus before it is too late!

Grant, then, O God, where’er men roam, that, when the church bells are ringing, many in saving faith may come where Christ His message is bringing: “I know Mine own, Mine own know Me; Ye, not the world, My face shall see. My peace I leave with you.” Amen. (The Lutheran Hymnal, Hymn #467, Verse 7)

Pastor Randy Moll

Lenten Devotions from Isaiah 53

“He was oppressed, and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth: He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so He openeth not His mouth.” Isaiah 53:7

Why is it that Jesus permitted the Jewish soldiers to take Him? Why did he permit them to hit Him and make fun of Him? Why did He permit Pontius Pilate to judge and condemn Him? Why did He permit the Roman soldiers to beat and scourge Him and finally nail Him to the cross and crucify Him? Could He not have walked away through the middle of them all as He had earlier done at Nazareth? Could He not have caused them all to fall to the ground before Him as happened in the Garden of Gethsemane? Could He not have called upon His heavenly Father and been provided with more than twelve legions of angels? He was and is the very Son of God; could He not have come down from the cross?

The Scriptures make it quite clear that Jesus could have walked away from His accusers and the cross. He could have judged and condemned them on the spot. But He didn’t. He willingly permitted His enemies to arrest, abuse and crucify Him. He didn’t even speak out in His defense.

As Isaiah prophesied centuries before, “He was oppressed, and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth: He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so He openeth not His mouth” (Isaiah 53:7).

Why did Jesus willingly suffer and give up His life upon the cross? Why did He go silently, without ever opening His mouth in protest? He did it that He might redeem us from sin and the eternal punishment we deserve. This is why Jesus Christ, God’s own dear Son, came into this world: that He might suffer and die for our sins and rise again on the third day! He came to give His life a ransom for many – to make atonement for the sins of all people. Jesus willingly and quietly went to the cross for you and for me that He might pay the just penalty for our sins and win for us God’s pardon and forgiveness!

Considering what He has done, it is also time for us to turn to Him in silence – not proclaiming our own goodness or speaking of all that we have done for Him or our fellowman – but rather to silently lament o’er all our sins and failures to keep God’s law, o’er all those things for which He willingly suffered and died in our stead. It’s time to turn to Him in silence and trust not in ourselves, but in Him alone. He has done it all! He has paid in full! Let us come to Him in silent awe of His love and mercy toward us and boast of nothing but His blood and righteousness!

Dear Lord Jesus, I have sinned and done amiss. You are all my righteousness. I deserved God’s wrath and woe. You took my place, You loved me so. I stand in awe below Your cross, silently, for words at loss. Amen.

Pastor Randy Moll

The Brief Statement

of the

Doctrinal Position of the Missouri Synod as adopted in 1932

(Editor’s Note: This remains the official position of the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod yet today, though in practice, many have departed from it.)

Of Redemption

8. We teach that in the fullness of time the eternal Son of God was made man by assuming, from the Virgin Mary through the operation of the Holy Ghost, a human nature like unto ours, yet without sin, and receiving it unto His divine person. Jesus Christ is therefore “true God, begotten of the Father from eternity, and also true man, born of the Virgin Mary,” true God and true man in one undivided and indivisible person The purpose of this miraculous incarnation of the Son of God was that He might become the Mediator between God and men, both fulfilling the divine Law and suffering and dying in the place of mankind. In this manner God has reconciled the whole sinful world unto Himself, Gal. 4:4,5; 3:13; 2 Cor. 5:18,19.

Bible Study in Preparation for Sunday

The Adult Bible Class continues its study of the Gospel of John. To prepare, read John 5:1-16. Why did Jesus go to Jerusalem? Why did people suffering from various infirmities wait by the Pool of Bethesda? What does this pool’s name mean? Who did Jesus find there? How long had this man been suffering from an infirmity? What did Jesus ask him? How did this man answer Jesus? What did Jesus say to him? What was the result? On what day of the week did this miracle occur? With what accusation did the Jews confront this man who was made whole? How did this man answer them? Did this man know who had healed him? Why? What did Jesus tell this man when He found him? What does this mean? Cf. John 8:11. What did the Jews seek to do when the man told them who had made him well? How does this type of thing happen yet today? How do the words of Hosea 6:6 have application? Do people today ever let their religious traditions and practices keep them from trusting in Jesus? (Would this section of Scripture make sense if verse 4 is omitted as is done in a few old manuscripts and some modern translations rather than being included as it is in the great majority of texts and manuscripts and most older translations?)

The Catechism Class continues studying the Lord’s Prayer and the Sacraments and learning of Jesus and what He has done to redeem all mankind.

The Sunday Readings are Psalm 126; Isaiah 43:16-21; Philippians 3:4-14; and Luke 20:9-20. Please take the time to read them in their context in preparation for Sunday. Why did the people of Israel rejoice, according to Psalm 126? What did God do for them? What was their prayer? What application does this psalm have to us? What did God promise to do in the Isaiah 43 prophecy? Who did God form for Himself? What would these people do? Cf. Luke 1:74-75; 1 Peter 2:5-10. How does this apply to you and to me? Did the Apostle Paul (according to Philippians 3) trust in his own works and righteousness? What does he lay aside? What does he take hold of and possess? In what righteousness does Paul seek to be found? Why? To what does the apostle then seek to attain? What does this mean? For what was Paul apprehended of Christ? What does Paul seek to apprehend? What does this mean and how does it relate to us today? Did Paul attain perfection? What did he do about his shortcomings and how did he live? What is the meaning of Jesus’ parable in Luke 20? What was He illustrating to His hearers? How did they react? Could this parable have application yet today? Do the builders today ever reject the chief cornerstone? What will happen to those who fall upon this stone? Upon whom it shall fall? What does this mean and how does it apply to us?

Remember to Pray

Remember to pray for our church and for all our members, that none be lost to Christ’s kingdom but that all continue in repentance and be strengthened and built up in the true and saving faith in Christ Jesus through the hearing and study of His Word. We continue to pray for all who have been sick or who are suffering among us – especially for Sam Rusch, who has suffered from chronic illness; the brother of Bonnie Hawes, who has been ill; and for Lillian Pingel, who is recovering from heart issues – for those who have been absent from us, for our extended families, for Christians who are alone and have no congregation, and for our adopted soldiers. Pray for God’s help with our church’s financial needs. Continue to pray for the Lutheran Churches in the Philippines, for Christians in Nigeria, Haiti and Chile, and for believers around the world who are persecuted or suffering.

Events and Announcements

The Choir is practicing for upcoming services. More voices are always welcome.

Wednesday Evening Lenten Worship continues tonight. Worship will be at 7 p.m. A light supper will precede the service at 6:20 p.m.

Holy Week Services will be held on Maundy Thursday (April 1) and Good Friday (April 2), with services beginning at 7 p.m. Holy Communion will be held on Maundy Thursday.

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

“The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand. The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: He shall preserve thy soul. The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.” Psalm 121:5-8

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