April 8, 2021 - BLESSED BY THE LORD

Day 98 (Through the Bible in a year readings for today: Ruth 1-4; Luke 11:29-54)

BLESSED BY THE LORD

“May you be blessed by the Lord...” (Ruth 3:10 ESV)

Ruth and her mother-in-law, Naomi, were truly blessed by the Lord even though it did not at first seem so.  Their husbands were dead, and there was no insurance and no Social Security for them.  Yet God had a plan – a plan whereby all of us would be blessed by the Lord through Ruth and Naomi.  You see, one of their descendants would be King David, and his great Descendant would be King Jesus!

“The Book of Ruth relates a beautiful story in the history of King David’s family, illustrating how God guides history for the sake of His people.  He works through suffering and redemption to preserve His people and to welcome the nations.  These aspects of the book point to the birth of Jesus, the world’s Redeemer, who descends from Ruth and Boaz.

Though the Book of Ruth is not a love story, it beautifully illustrates the Lord’s enduring love for you.  As you read Ruth, consider how the Lord calls you to show love and faithfulness to your family and your neighbors, for whom Christ lived and gave His life.”  (The Lutheran Study Bible, Concordia Publishing House, 2009, page 423) 

Lord, if Your plan for me today includes hardships, remind me of how You faithfully led Naomi and Ruth, and that You were doing so for the purpose of blessing countless generations through them.  May I, too, be blessed by the Lord this day as You guide and empower me to be faithful and kind to family and friends and all.  In the name of my “kinsman Redeemer,” Jesus.  Amen.

Pastor David Paape

LINK to St. Paul’s 9 am live stream of the April 11 Sunday Worship Service:

https://youtu.be/-fp2kIX1fgs

IN CHURCH SUNDAY SERVICE and Parking Lot Worship Service 9 am

both with Holy Communion

You Tube link to all previously recorded services:

https://bit.ly/StPaulsBrownDeer

Daily Bible Reading Chart covering the entire Bible in one year. 

http://www.wholesomewords.org/family/bibleread/truth.pdf

THURSDAY EVENING ONLINE BIBLES CLASS at 7 pm

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88676558248

Password: 843774

April 7, 2021 - ASK, SEEK, KNOCK

Day 97 (Through the Bible in a year readings for today: Judges 20,21; Luke 11:1-28)

ASK, SEEK, KNOCK

And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.  (Luke 11:9-10 ESV)

One of the precious gifts God grants His children is the privilege of prayer. 

In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus teaches us how to pray this way:

 And he said to them, “When you pray, say:

“Father, hallowed be your name.

Your kingdom come.

 Give us each day our daily bread,

 and forgive us our sins,

    for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us.

And lead us not into temptation.” (Luke 11:2-4 ESV)

It is after teaching us the Lord’s Prayer that the Lord encourages us to simply ASK.

ASK

SEEK 

KNOCK

He then guarantees an answer. However, as we learn from the rest of Scripture, we are to ask for earthly things adding, “if it be Your will.”

Take comfort is God’s assurance that He is always willing to forgive those who repent.

Lord God, thank You for the opportunity to talk to You in prayer. Please keep me faithful in bringing all of my needs, joys and concerns to You in prayer. Amen.

Pastor David Paape

LINK to St. Paul’s 9 am live stream of the April 11 Sunday Worship Service:

https://youtu.be/-fp2kIX1fgs

IN CHURCH SUNDAY SERVICE and Parking Lot Worship Service 9 am

both with Holy Communion

You Tube link to previously recorded services:

https://bit.ly/StPaulsBrownDeer

Daily Bible Reading Chart covering the entire Bible in one year. 

http://www.wholesomewords.org/family/bibleread/truth.pdf

THURSDAY EVENING ONLINE BIBLES CLASS at 7 pm

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88676558248

Password: 843774

April 6, 2021 - SHOW MERCY

Day 96 (Through the Bible in a year readings for today: Judges 18,19; Luke 10:25-42)

SHOW MERCY

Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’ Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”  (Luke 10:28-37 ESV)

In this familiar account Jesus teaches us to be a good neighbor to any one in need, even an enemy. Earlier in Luke’s Gospel Jesus gave us more motivation:

“Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.”   (Luke 6:36 ESV)

We, forgiven sinners, who have received God’s undeserved mercy from the cross of Jesus, now get to share His mercy with others.

To whom can you show mercy today?

Lord God, thank You for mercifully calling me to be one of Your children and for forgiving all of my many sins. Please give me the desire and the opportunity to share Your mercy with people in need. Yes, open my eyes today for those who need Your mercy just as much as I do.  Amen.

Pastor David Paape

Daily Bible Reading Chart covering the entire Bible in one year. 

http://www.wholesomewords.org/family/bibleread/truth.pdf

THURSDAY EVENING ONLINE BIBLES CLASS at 7 pm

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88676558248

Password: 843774

April 5, 2021 - LORD, STRENGTHEN ME

Day 95 (Through the Bible in a year readings for today: Judges 15-17; Luke 10:1-24 )

LORD, STRENGTHEN ME

They made him stand between the pillars. And Samson said to the young man who held him by the hand, “Let me feel the pillars on which the house rests, that I may lean against them.” Now the house was full of men and women. All the lords of the Philistines were there, and on the roof there were about 3,000 men and women, who looked on while Samson entertained... Then Samson called to the Lord and said, “O Lord God, please remember me and please strengthen me only this once.”... And Samson grasped the two middle pillars on which the house rested, and he leaned his weight against them, his right hand on the one and his left hand on the other... Then he bowed with all his strength, and the house fell upon the lords and upon all the people who were in it.  (Judges 16:25-30 ESV)

Samson was known for his great strength. At one time, he killed 1,000 Philistines with the jawbone of a donkey. Of course, we all remember how he lost his strength. Delilah tricked him into revealing the secret to his vulnerability. She cut his hair, and his strength was gone. The result was that his enemies easily took him prisoner. The Philistines decided to mock Samson and his God. However, they didn’t know how dangerous it is to mock God...

“Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.” (Galatians 6:7 ESV)

Samson prayed: “O Lord God, please remember me and please strengthen me only this once.”

Samson had blown it, yet God answered his prayer and allowed Samson to glorify Him.

Almighty God, I too am a sinner. Yet because of the faith You have given me in Jesus my Savior, I do want to glorify You. Please strengthen me for the daily opportunities You give me to honor You and point others to You. Amen.

Pastor David Paape

April 4, 2021 - EASTER FOOLISHNESS

Day 94 (Through the Bible in a year readings for today: Judges 10,11; Luke 9:1-36)

EASTER FOOLISHNESS 

25 And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” (Luke 24:25-26 ESV)

There is a lot of foolishness associated with today. While rabbits, colored eggs, candy, and brunches are nice, but for too many people, this is all that Easter means.

Jesus had to contend with Easter foolishness later in the day on that first Easter. The Emmaus disciples foolishly thought that Jesus had been defeated on the cross. Instead, the resurrection reality is that Christ won the greatest victory of all time on that Friday we call Good Friday!

The Catechism explains His victory in this fact fashion:

Why is Christ's resurrection so important and comforting?

Christ's resurrection proves that

A. Christ is the Son of God;

B. His doctrine is the truth;

C. God the Father accepted Christ's sacrifice for the reconciliation of the world;

D. All believers in Christ will rise to eternal life.

In foolishness, the world rejects the deity of Jesus. Unbelievers do not accept His teachings to be true. Neither do they see a need for reconciliation and the guarantee of heaven to all who repent and believe. 

Paul put it this way:  If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied. But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead... For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead.  (1 Corinthians 15:19-21 ESV)

I praise You, my risen Savior, for dying for me on the cross and for rising in proof that You accomplished Your saving mission. Please use me to help others who are lost in the foolishness of this world hear of Your amazing victory for all of humanity. Amen. 

“See” you at the Communion table this Easter morning!

Pastor David Paape

Easter Sunday, April 4, 2021

Festival Worship - 9 am and 11 am in church

CDC Covid guidelines are followed assuring a safe worship environment for all worshipers.

Worship will also be offered in the parking lot via your car's FM radio. Holy Communion will be offered to those who opt for parking lot worship.

The 9 am service will also be live streamed and can be accessed by clicking on this link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKcHZY0H1O0

April 3, 2021 - WHAT REALLY HAPPENED YESTERDAY

Day 93 (Through the Bible in a year readings for today: Judges 8,9;Luke 8:22-56)

WHAT REALLY HAPPENED YESTERDAY

         

4 Surely he has borne our griefs

    and carried our sorrows;

yet we esteemed him stricken,

    smitten by God, and afflicted.

5 But 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.

6 All we like sheep have gone astray;

    we have turned—every one—to his own way;

and the Lord has laid on him

    the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53:4-6 ESV)

On this Holy Saturday, the day Jesus lay in the tomb, it is good to ask ourselves what really happened yesterday, on Good Friday? The answer is simple: Jesus did it all FOR YOU.

● Jesus carried your griefs and sorrows to the cross.

● Jesus was pierced and crushed for your sins.

● His chastisement purchased your peace with His heavenly Father.

● His wounds (bitter suffering and death) have healed your souls and made you fit for heaven.

● All of the sins of all people of all time (including yours) were laid on Jesus.

 O sacred Head, now wounded,

 With grief and shame bowed down,

 Now scornfully surrounded

 With thorns, Thine only crown.

 O sacred Head, what glory,

 What bliss till now was Thine!

 Yet, though despised and gory,

 I joy to call Thee mine.

 (“O Sacred Head, Now Wounded,” Lutheran Service Book #450)

Lord Jesus, on this Holy Saturday, I thank You for what You accomplished on my behalf yesterday. Amen.

Pastor David Paape

Easter Sunday, April 4, 2021

Festival Worship - 9 am and 11 am in church

CDC Covid guidelines are followed assuring a safe worship environment for all worshipers.

Worship will also be offered in the parking lot via your car's FM radio. Holy Communion will be offered to those who opt for parking lot worship.

The 9 am service will also be live streamed and can be accessed by clicking on this link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKcHZY0H1O0

April 2, 2021 - ONE FINAL SACRIFICE

 

92 (Through the Bible in a year readings for today: Judges 8,9;Luke 8:22-56)

ONE FINAL SACRIFICE

And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit. And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. (Matthew 27:50-51 ESV)

This is Good Friday, the day that Jesus died on the cross in payment for our sins. Matthew records what happened at that moment. There was an earthquake. But even more earthshaking was what happened in the temple.

The curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. 

This was a graphic message for Israel. No longer was the curtain necessary. Its purpose was to separate the people from the Holy of Holies where the High Priest would sacrifice for the sins of the people by sprinkling the blood of animals on the Ark of the Covenant. The death of Jesus was the sacrifice to which all of the centuries of animal sacrifices pointed. The hymn writer put it this way:

Not all the blood of beasts

On Jewish altars slain

Could give the guilty conscience peace

Or wash away the stain.

But Christ, the heav'nly Lamb,

Takes all our sins away;

A sacrifice of nobler name

And richer blood than they.

(“Not All the Blood of Beasts,”  Lutheran Service Book, CPH 2006, # 431, vv 1-2)

Thank You, Lord Jesus, for shedding Your blood in payment for my sins. Amen. 

Pastor David Paape

GOOD FRIDAY April 2, 2021

1 pm and 7 pm in church with our parking lot worship also at 7 pm.

Holy Communion will be offered in both services and in the parking lot.

The 7 pm service will be live streamed and can be accessed by clicking on this link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnqHwPF-oHk

Easter Sunday, April 4, 2021

9 am and 11 am in church.

CDC Covid guidelines are followed assuring a safe worship environment for all worshipers.

Worship will also be offered in the parking lot via your car's FM radio. Holy Communion will be offered to those who opt for parking lot worship.

The 9 am service will also be live streamed and can be accessed by clicking on this link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKcHZY0H1O0