Sermon and Announcements May 21

 CERRO GORDO CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN

May 21, 2023

How Far Are You Willing to Go?

1 John 3:7-24

For a couple of different reasons, the Lord led me to this message. The

message title implies I am asking you this question. When in fact it is

the Lord asking this question to all of his followers who are willing to

honestly look at the relationship we have with the Lord and also the

relationship we have with one another. Before we get into it this

morning, ironically after I felt led to share on this question, some of

these same situations were part of the Sunday School lesson today and

I am using the almost same verses as was in the lesson. Cathy and I

went on a 4-day cruise Monday thru Thursday. It was somewhat of a

repeat of a cruise we took for our 25 th wedding anniversary. While on

the cruise we celebrated our 48 th anniversary. I mention the cruise

because as I observed the people on the cruise, I realized people of all

colors and from many different nations were on the cruise. I didn’t

notice any arguments or problems of any kind during our time on the

ship, which leads me to ask this question. Why is there so much

disagreement and even anger and hatred it seems highlighted on the

news virtually every day. I am not implying everyone on the ship was a

devoted Christian. One reason there seemed to be harmony from most

onboard is because most everyone was doing something they wanted

to do. Going on a cruise! As a result of me observing this led me to ask

the Lord why? Why is so much of America and in all honesty the rest of

the developed world fighting with one another? You can’t watch the

news without reports of threatened violence or actual violence being

highlighted every day, which leads us back to today’s sermon title. How

far are you willing to go?

The verses we read this morning talks of a concern John has about what

is creeping into the church. Gnosticism was being taught to many

believers and some were apparently buying into its beliefs. At the heart

of this belief was that Jesus did not actually die for the sins of creation

(men and women, past, present and future). That morality of any kind

is of no real value and is necessary to live by. Salvation is not achieved

by believing in God’s gift of salvation through Jesus Christ; instead,

salvation is achieved through being enlightened by one’s own efforts. A

greater understanding of the world and greater harmony with the

world and with yourself. To make one thing clear, Gnostics did not

believe Jesus truly lived and died like every other human who has

walked the earth so salvation couldn’t be achieved through his sacrifice

of living a perfect life, then being the perfect sacrifice. The fact is, they

did not believe that’s how you would achieve salvation, even if Jesus

did live and die as most Christians believe.

When we look at what had crept into the church way back in John’s

time can you see any similarities to what is happening today? In the

verses we read this morning John is giving everyone who will listen a

refresher course on what Christians should believe. John is one of the

original disciples and observed firsthand everything Jesus did. He also

observed Jesus’ death for the sins of the world.

Last week when we looked at Mary, Jesus’ mother’s life, it was this

same man Jesus put in charge of caring for his mom for the rest of her

life. John was there through all the ups and downs of Jesus’ ministry.

John understood and believed Jesus was God and could and did do

everything he (Jesus) promised. That is why John continued to preach

and teach salvation through Jesus alone until the day he died. John had

become aware that false teachers were coming into many of the

churches everywhere. It wasn’t an isolated case here and there. It is

quite possible John was the only original apostle alive at this time. John

is the only apostle who died of natural causes. Every other apostle was

killed for their faith. God allowed John to preach and teach even from

prison until the day he died.

We will go into detail about what was happening in the church when

John wrote this letter to the churches of his day ands see if any of this

looks similar to what is happening in our churches and in the world

today.

Next Sunday is Memorial weekend so we may not pick this up again

until the first Sunday of June. I ask for your patience as we seek the

Lord’s guidance and his wisdom to be directing our time together. The

overall message God wants the church to bring to all people is that

salvation is real and available through Jesus Christ. The message God

wants every Christian to know is that we are called to be different in a

good way and we are called to make a difference in the world. At times

that means we must go against the flow. When we pick up on John’s

message to the church that we read in the verses today, I pray we will

better understand what we are up against and what we are called to

do.

Pastor Larry

Announcements:

Tuesdays 9:30 Bible Study

Sunday School 9:00

June 4 Council Meeting immediately after worship

If you would like to contribute to Heifer International through the

church in order for the 10x match to happen, write a check to

the church with “Heifer” on the memo line (or give cash with a

note that it’s for Heifer Int) by next Sunday, May 28. Ron will

then be able to write a check from the church.

June 10 9:30 Stem strawberries, arrange tables

June 11 4:00 – 6:00 Strawberry Festival—Please look at the

donation needs in the back and sign up to donate something.

Offering plates are in the back of the sanctuary. Thank you for

your continued giving!

Donation Box: VBS

First Sundays: food donations for food banks

Pastor Larry Traxler- (217) 454-2362

Keep in Your Prayers

Chris Wright; Iva Traughber Brunner; Nora Hanaver; Todd

Henricks; Tate Sawyer; Jonah Martina; Jan Bower; Larry

Traxler; Michelle West; Michelle’s mom; Carolyn Hirsch; Eli

Brunner; Nancy Fansler; Joe Waltz; Doug Larrick; Ron &

Kathleen Petersen; Debbie Leibrock; Dorthea Wood; Tina

Wilhelm; Mindy Sawyer; Carl and Wilma Cable; Mike and Carol

Seidenstricker; Adiline Young; Kim Lehmann; Doug Fansler;

Shawn Cain; Robert Cripe; Mayo & Darlene Hanaver; Patty

Cripe; Stacie Warren; Nancy Gorrell; many unspoken requests;

healthcare workers and first responders; victims of disasters;

victims of shootings; shut-ins; the Nigerian church; Haitian

Brethren; Ukraine; Hope Welty Library

Military and Other Services and their families

Brethren Volunteer Service workers; Disaster project workers

District Prayer Calendar: Pray for the Rockford congregation

and for the Part-time Pastor/Full-time Church program.

Church of the Brethren vision statement:

Together, as the Church of the Brethren, we will passionately live

and share the radical transformation and holistic peace of Jesus

Christ through relationship-based neighborhood engagement. To

move us forward, we will develop a culture of calling and

equipping disciples who are innovative, adaptable, and fearless.

Our Mission Statement:

Love God, grow with others, serve faithfully, reach the lost,

find peace.

Sermon and Announcements April 23, 2023

 CERRO GORDO CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN

April 23, 2023

Are We Like Sarah?

Genesis 12:2-3, 10-20

Genesis 17:15-22

Genesis 18:1-2, 9-15

This morning we are going to spend a little time looking at what

the Bible says about Sarah. She is the firs woman really talked

about in the Bible. Eve, of course, is actually the first woman

discussed in scripture but Sarah is a woman who for several

reasons has a very important part to play in God’s plans for His

people. We read several portions of scripture, some set the

stage for what will happen in the future for God’s people, some

show how Sarah dealt with things happening to her and around

her.

The first scripture we read doesn’t mention Sarah, however, we

will see she is in the middle of what is said in these verses. The

promise made to Abram has meaning long after his life is over.

The promise made to Abram one can easily say also applies to

Sarah, his wife, as well.

Verse 3 is such a powerful and important verse. “I will bless

those who bless you and whoever curses you, I will curse and

all people on earth will be blessed through you.” Abram and

Sarai seemed to always be on the move. Soon after they were

married, they left where they had lived. Sarah went with her

husband and his family to a new place.

In verse 10 of chapter 12, we see that a famine has occurred in

the land they were living so Abram pulled up stakes and took

his wife and their possessions to Egypt. Sarah faithfully went

with her husband to yet another new land. But there was a

concern that her husband had. Because his wife was so

beautiful, he was concerned the Pharoah would kill him if he

knew she was his wife so he told Sarah to tell them she was his

sister. Sarah faithfully did as her husband asked. God honored

Sarah’s faithfulness by bring a disease to the Pharoah’s people,

which led Paroah to realize Abram and Sarah’s God was

warning him not to take her as his wife. For the time they were

in Egypt God blessed Abram with livestock and servants. Once

Pharoah realized what was happening, he told Abram and

Sarah to leave but they could take everything they had gained

while in Egypt with them. So, in a way you could say God

blessed Sarah for her faithfulness and Abram got the benefit of

having such a faithful wife.

The verses we read in chapter 17 show how everything God

had promised to Abraham would happen. We did not read

what was said in the 11 th chapter, verse 30 but early on we are

told Sarah was unable to have children. As we look at the

promises made to Abraham and also Sarah it seems to be

impossible. Going back to what is said in chapter 17 God is

making it clear to Abraham his wife Sarah will be the mother of

nations and that kings will come from her.

Because of time we are skipping several things but Sarah and

Abraham did not believe God could do what he was promising

so they took matter into their own hands and Abraham had a

son through one of Sarah’s servants.

In chapter 17 God is making it clear Sarah will have a son. She

will be the mother of nations. In chapter 18 we see the Lord

appears to Abraham and clearly states that one year from

today I will visit you again and Sarah will have given birth to a

son. We read that Sarah heard what was said and one might

say sarcastically laughed that with Abrahm 100 and Sarah 90

finally she would have a son? The Lord questioned the laughter

of Sarah’s and said to them, “Is anything too hard for the

Lord?” Sarah claimed she had not laughed but, of course, she

had.

Let us move on to the last verses we read this morning in

Chapter 21. The first verse says, “Now the Lord was gracious to

Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did for Sarah what he had

promised.” Exactly when the Lord said it would happen, Sarah

gave birth to Isaac. In verse 6 Sarah says, “God has brought me

laughter and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me.

She goes on to say, “Who would have aid to Abraham that

Sarah would nurse children yet I have borne him a son in his old

age.”

As we look at Sarah’s life, we see a woman who had reason to

be angry and frustrated with her husband and one might say

God as well. Her husband put her in difficult position after

difficult position but she stayed faithful to her husband when it

would have been easy to say, “Enough is enough!”

Even though she was wrong to do so, she even came up with a

plan to help Abraham see God’s promise would come true

about having a son when it seemed she would never have a

son. She did this out of love and devotion for her husband.

Actually, through much of this Abraham let his wife down as

well as showing a lack of faith in God. One could say Sarah was

a very conflicted but faithful woman. Someone who sought to

help her husband by doing things she should have never been

asked to do. But also was a “take charge” woman who sought

to make things happen when things did not seem possible on

their own.

As we looked at this special woman God used in a powerful way

how many of you women would have gone along with a

husband who asked so much of his wife? To the point of

compromising her values to do what she thought needed to be

done. To flip it to the men her today, Abraham clearly showed a

lack of faith in God despite the fact early on God promised

great things would happen through him. Are we men lacking in

faith too much of the time when we are faced with difficult

decisions. Despite the many ups and downs Abraham and Sarah

had they fulfilled what God had promised would happen

through them? Even though Sarah clearly doubted God could to

through her what had been promised, in her own way she

stayed faithful to God by staying true to her husband. Sarah has

become the mother of many nations. Sarah came to realize

what God had said to her was true. Is anything too hard for

God? Sarah had two sides that she wrestled with, the faithful

trusting side and the one full of doubt and a lack of self-esteem.

Which are you and I most like? Are we like Sarah feeling one

way one day and the other way the next.

God honored Sarah because when it was all said and done, she

showed she truly believe and trusted God. God wants us all to

take to heart those words we have read and said a couple of

times already today. Just as Sarah saw they were true, God

wants us to know it as well, “Is anything too hard for the Lord?”

Sarah will always be one of the most important people in God’s

story. Sarah never backed away from a challenge. In spite of her

shortcomings God used Sarah in ways that still are impacting

God’s people and this world today.

Pastor Larry

Announcements:

Tuesdays 9:30 Bible Study

April 29 9:30 – 10:30 Food Distribution at Kirby Medical Clinic,

CG

May 1—deadline for submissions for the May newsletter

May 7 will be a hymn sing. Please offer suggestions on the list

on the east bulletin board.

Camp Emmanuel schedule is posted on the bulletin board. Most

camps are in June.

Offering plates are in the back of the sanctuary. Thank you for

your continued giving!

Donation Box: Camp Emmanuel

First Sundays: food donations for food banks

Pastor Larry Traxler- (217) 454-2362

To keep up on Church of the Brethren news:

Denomination: www.brethren.org/news Sign up for Newsline by

clicking link on left side of page.

District: iwdcob.org (click on newsletter link) and on facebook

Our pages: cerrogordocob.com (printed sermon,

announcements, & calendar) and on facebook

Keep in Your Prayers

Tina Martina; Iva Traughber Brunner; Sue and Terry Grabb; Nora

Hanaver; Todd Henricks; Tate Sawyer; Jonah Martina; Jan

Bower; Larry Traxler; Michelle West; Michelle’s mom; Carolyn

Hirsch; Eli Brunner; Nancy Fansler; Joe Waltz; Doug Larrick;

Ron & Kathleen Petersen; Debbie Leibrock; Dorthea Wood;

Tina Wilhelm; Mindy Sawyer; Marlene Schultz; Carl and Wilma

Cable; Mike and Carol Seidenstricker; Adiline Young; Kim

Lehmann; Doug Fansler; Shawn Cain; Robert Cripe; Mayo &

Darlene Hanaver; Patty Cripe; Lauren Gross; Stacie Warren;

Nancy Gorrell; many unspoken requests; healthcare workers

and first responders; victims of disasters; victims of shootings;

shut-ins; the Nigerian church; Haitian Brethren; Ukraine; Hope

Welty Library; Florida; Puerto Rico; Turkey/Syria earthquake

Military and Other Services and their families

Brethren Volunteer Service workers; Disaster project workers

District Prayer Calendar: Pray for the Milledgeville congregation

and for the youth Christian Citizenship Seminar.

Church of the Brethren vision statement:

Together, as the Church of the Brethren, we will passionately live

and share the radical transformation and holistic peace of Jesus

Christ through relationship-based neighborhood engagement. To

move us forward, we will develop a culture of calling and

equipping disciples who are innovative, adaptable, and fearless.

Our Mission Statement:

Love God, grow with others, serve faithfully, reach the lost,

find peace.

Sermon and Announcements April 16, 2023

 CERRO GORDO CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN

April 16, 2023

It’s Really You!

John 21:1-14

Easter was last Sunday. All of the Christian world celebrated the

fact that death and the grave could not hold Jesus. This

morning we have read of this encounter several of Jesus’

disciples have had with the risen Savior. We do not know

exactly how much time has gone by since Sunday when Jesus

first appeared from the tomb. Maybe it has been a week,

maybe just a few days. We cannot be sure.

We read this is not the first time that Jesus has spoken to these

disciples since he came out from the tomb. Instead of the

disciples staying with Jesus and seeing what is next. we see

these disciples fishing. Many of Jesus’ disciples were fishermen

before they had been called to be a part of Jesus’ team. In spite

of the fact these disciples had seen Jesus at least two other

times, they were not with him looking forward to what was

next. We do not know what was going through their minds. Did

they really believe the unbelievable had happened? Did they

believe Jesus was really alive again? They had been there when

Jesus had been arrested. Even though most of them scattered

they knew Jesus had been killed on the cross. In spite of all the

miracles they had seen Jesus perform, did they believe he had

been raised from the dead? Jesus had raised Lazarus from the

dead but who would bring Jesus back to life? Could a dead man

bring himself back to life?

Yes, they had seen Jesus alive on two different occasions but

did they really believe what they had seen? Were they saying to

themselves, “We do not want to believe Jesus died and that’s

the end but are we dreaming this up or is it real?” Probably all

of us have had things happen in our lives or in the lives of

friends and family that we prayed would come out different

than they appeared to be headed. It might be a health crisis or

financial problem, maybe relationships have been broken or

maybe we have been hoping and praying for someone to

receive Jesus as their Lord and Savior, change their life in some

way. If you have been praying for a miracle like that, I hope that

at least occasionally a miracle has happened. If your prayers

have been answered, what was your reaction?

There was a very gifted speaker named Anthony Campolo who I

heard many years ago on a radio program called Focus on the

Family. Tony is a Christian man who had been praying for years

for his father to accept the Lord as his Savior. His dad’s health

was getting worse and Anthony got a phone call from a brother

or sister telling him that their dad had accepted the Lord as his

Savior. Anthony Campolo, being a man of faith who had been

praying for years for this day to come reacted by saying, “I

knew it would happen!” Right? No Anthony admitted that his

first reaction was, “You are kidding!”

How many of us when the Lord gave us the answer we had

been praying for responded much the same way Anthony

Campolo did? Were you in a state of shock the answer you

wanted actually happened?

When we look at these disciples the first thing that struck me

was they are out fishing. It is as if the past three years had not

even happened. They reverted back to what they were

comfortable doing. This in spite of the fact we read in the 14 th

verse that this encounter with Jesus was the third one they had

had.

We see in verse 12 that is said none of the disciples dared ask

him, “Who are you?” It said they knew it was the Lord. Really?

They sure were not acting like they knew Jesus was alive. It is as

if they just could not believe it was possible for Jesus to be

there in the flesh again. Obviously, we know what ultimately

happened. All eleven of the remaining disciples came to see it

was really true. They came to realize it was not a vision. It was

not a dream. It is really you Jesus!

Before long they would be ready for what was next for them. In

fact, they would be more energized than ever before as the

Holy Spirit empowered them for the work before them. But on

this day, they had trouble believing everything they had prayed

for, everything they had hoped for was really coming true. God

is asking all of us to accept his will. Sometimes amazing answers

to prayer happen. Sometimes what we are praying for does not

happen quite like we hope. God wants us to know he sees our

situation and simply asks us to stay strong, keep believing and

know God is with us no matter what.

Pastor Larry

Announcements:

Tuesdays 9:30 Bible Study

April 22 8:30 District Potluck at the Dixon church

Spring Work Day at Camp Emmanuel, work week follows

April 29 Food Distribution at Kirby Medical Clinic, CG

Camp Emmanuel schedule is posted on the bulletin board.

Offering plates are in the back of the sanctuary. Thank you for

your continued giving!

Donation Box: Camp Emmanuel

First Sundays: food donations for food banks

Pastor Larry Traxler- (217) 454-2362

To keep up on Church of the Brethren news:

Denomination: www.brethren.org/news Sign up for Newsline by

clicking link on left side of page.

District: iwdcob.org (click on newsletter link) and on facebook

Our pages: cerrogordocob.com (printed sermon,

announcements, & calendar) and on facebook

Keep in Your Prayers

Mike Fleenor family; Iva Traughber Brunner; Tina Martina; Sue & Terry Grabb; Nora Hanaver; Todd Henricks; Tate Sawyer; Jonah Martina; Jan

Bower; Larry Traxler; Michelle West; Michelle’s mom; Carolyn

Hirsch; Eli Brunner; Nancy Fansler; Joe Waltz; Doug Larrick;

Ron & Kathleen Petersen; Debbie Leibrock; Dorthea Wood;

Tina Wilhelm; Mindy Sawyer; Marlene Schultz; Carl and Wilma

Cable; Mike and Carol Seidenstricker; Adiline Young; Kim

Lehmann; Doug Fansler; Shawn Cain; Robert Cripe; Mayo &

Darlene Hanaver; Patty Cripe; Lauren Gross; Stacie Warren;

Nancy Gorrell; many unspoken requests; healthcare workers

and first responders; victims of disasters; victims of shootings;

shut-ins; the Nigerian church; Haitian Brethren; Ukraine; Hope

Welty Library; Florida; Puerto Rico; Turkey/Syria earthquake

Military and Other Services and their families

Brethren Volunteer Service workers; Disaster project workers

District Prayer Calendar: Pray for the District Ministry team and

the Potluck Experience on April 22.

Church of the Brethren vision statement:

Together, as the Church of the Brethren, we will passionately live

and share the radical transformation and holistic peace of Jesus

Christ through relationship-based neighborhood engagement. To

move us forward, we will develop a culture of calling and

equipping disciples who are innovative, adaptable, and fearless.

Our Mission Statement:

Love God, grow with others, serve faithfully, reach the lost,

find peace.

Sermon and Announcements March 26

 CERRO GORDO CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN

March 26, 2023

It’s About Time to Go

John 16:16-33

We are two weeks from Easter. For the past four Sundays we

have seen how God told Isaiah what was going to happen when

the Savior comes to the world. That a Savior would come to

redeem His people. The Assyrians were the dominant nation at

the time of the message Isaiah delivered to God’s people.

However, soon the Babylonians would over run Israel and rule

over God’s people. During this time the Jewish people would

ask God to deliver them from the Babylonians. Isaiah gave

God’s message that in His time a deliverer would come.

As we move forward to see what is happening in chapter 16 of

John, we see Jesus’ ministry is about to come to an end. Jesus

had been sharing almost exclusively with God’s people, the

Jewish people, for three years now. Going from city to city

teaching from the mountain tops to the synagogues to

everyone who would listen. Jesus had assembled to help with

His mission 12 disciples. Jesus knows his time is drawing to a

close. Recently Jesus more and more was trying to prepare His

disciples for what was about to happen. The first verse we read

this morning has Jesus sending some strange mixed signals. He

tells his disciples, “In a little while you will see me no more, and

the after a while you will see me.” They immediately ask one

another what in the world is he saying and what does it mean.

Jesus then goes on to say they won’t see him, “Because I am

going to the Father.” The disciples clearly have no idea what is

about to happen to Jesus. Jesus then gives them another

glimpse of what is about to happen.

In verse 20 Jesus says, “I tell you the truth you will weep ad

mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief

will turn to joy.” This has to be the most confusing message

Jesus has ever given them. Things for the most part have been

going along pretty well and now all of a sudden is this message

that does not seem to make sense. Jesus tries to explain that

what is going to happen will turn out to be the best thing that

could possibly happen. Continuing with verse 22 Jesus says, “So

with you; no is your time of grief but I will see you again and

you will rejoice and no one will take away your joy.” What a

promise of hope.

While the disciples are confused by everything Jesus is saying to

them he is trying to help them understand what is about

tohappen, what must happen and it will all be good. He also

knows right now they do not understand but soon they will.

Jesus then goes on to explain just exactly who he is. In the 27 th

and 28 th verses Jesus explains, “No, the Father himself loves you

because you have loved me, and believed I have come from

God. I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am

leaving the world and going back to the Father.”

It seems like the disciples understand what Jesus is telling them

when we see what their response is in verse 30. They say, “Now

we can see that you know all things and you do not even need

to have anyone ask questions. This makes us believe that you

came from God.” Jesus is clearly feeling good about where the

disciples are as he knows it is about time to go. Jesus fully

understands that in spite of what they are saying they cannot

be truly prepared for what is about to happen.

In the account given by Luke we can see that Jesus even had

told his disciples in detail, what would happen to him. In Luke

18:31-33 he tells them what will happen including being

arrested, beaten, killed and the fact he would come back to life

again. Before these all come to pass Jesus warned them of one

more thing that they would do. In John 16:32 we read, “But a

time is coming and has come, when you will be scattered each

to his own home. You will leave me all along, yet I am not

alone, for my father, is with me.”

Jesus understands that his disciples will be scared and

disillusioned, doubt will set in in spite of what they had just said

to Jesus. Jesus is telling them it is okay. I understand and I am

going to be just fine. Jesus is also telling them all these things so

when these things happen, they will believe even stronger

about who Jesus is and that it is all part of God’s plan. Jesus

then closes out what he has been sharing with them these

incredible words of encouragement. In verse 33 Jesus says, “I

have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.

In this world you will have trouble. But take heart, I have

overcome the world.”

I cannot imagine what it was really like to be there and

experience everything the disciples had experienced. But when

Jesus first off warned them they would all scatter in different

directions when Jesus was arrested and put through what he

was about to go through, Jesus is assuring them it is going to be

alright. When Jesus then let them know, I love you so don’t get

down on yourself when this all happens because I knows things

in life get hard. Jesus is actually saying to them you should be

encouraged by the fact I understand, God understands. When

he states the obvious when he says, “In this world you will have

trouble, but take heart! I have overcome the world,” that is a

message for all of us. God does not expect us to be perfect. God

knows we won’t always be able to do the “right thing”. His love

for us will always be there.

Jesus knew for a while it would seem like the end of the world

for his disciples. But just hang in there, help is on the way. That

is what God is saying to us as well. There maybe some dark

days we all will face, but hang in there I am there with you

always. Take heart I have and will always be there to help you

through every difficult moment you will face in life. Don’t give

up, don’t quit. I am there with you always. Take heart together,

we will overcome whatever you will face. Jesus is saying I have

won the victory for everyone who remains faithful and believes.

The disciples will soon ride a roller coaster of emotions. His

message is and always will be don’t give up, don’t lose heart.

We together will overcome every challenge Satan ad this world

throws at you.

Pastor Larry

Announcements:

Tuesdays 9:30 Bible Study

March 28 12:00 Women’s Fellowship luncheon at East End Grill

(airport). Meet at church at 11:30 to carpool, if you want. Let

Carol or Kathy know if you are coming (carpool or going

yourself).

April newsletter deadline: March 28

Mowing sign up list is in the back. Thank you in advance to

those who sign up. So is a sign up sheet if you are interested in

starting Sunday School again.

Offering plates are in the back of the sanctuary. Thank you for

your continued giving!

Donation Box: Camp Emmanuel

First Sundays: food donations for food banks

Pastor Larry Traxler- (217) 454-2362

To keep up on Church of the Brethren news:

Denomination: www.brethren.org/news Sign up for Newsline by

clicking link on left side of page.

District: iwdcob.org (click on newsletter link) and on facebook

Our pages: cerrogordocob.com (printed sermon,

announcements, & calendar) and on facebook

Keep in Your Prayers

Todd Henricks; Tate Sawyer; Jonah Martina; Jan Bower; Larry

Traxler; Michelle West; Michelle’s mom; Carolyn Hirsch; Eli

Brunner; Nancy Fansler; Joe Waltz; Doug Larrick; Ron &

Kathleen Petersen; Debbie Leibrock; Dorthea Wood; Tina

Wilhelm; Mindy Sawyer; Marlene Schultz; Carl and Wilma

Cable; Mike and Carol Seidenstricker; Adiline Young; Kim

Lehmann; Doug Fansler; Shawn Cain; Robert Cripe; Mayo &

Darlene Hanaver; Patty Cripe; Lauren Gross; Stacie Warren;

Nancy Gorrell; many unspoken requests; Coronavirus;

healthcare workers and first responders; victims of disasters;

victims of shootings; shut-ins; the Nigerian church; Haitian

Brethren; Ukraine; Hope Welty Library; Florida; Puerto Rico;

Turkey/Syria earthquake

Military and Other Services and their families

Brethren Volunteer Service workers; Disaster project workers

District Prayer Calendar: Dixon congregation and the

Discipleship Ministries office of the denomination

Church of the Brethren vision statement:

Together, as the Church of the Brethren, we will passionately live

and share the radical transformation and holistic peace of Jesus

Christ through relationship-based neighborhood engagement. To

move us forward, we will develop a culture of calling and

equipping disciples who are innovative, adaptable, and fearless.

Our Mission Statement:

Love God, grow with others, serve faithfully, reach the lost,

find peace.

March 19 Sermon and Announcements

 CERRO GORDO CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN

March 19, 2023

Who Is Jesus? – Part 4

Isaiah 53:10-12

We are going to finish our look at what Isaiah was led to tell the

Jewish people in Chapter 53. We are looking at verse 10 again

this Sunday. This time looking at the last part of verse 10. We

read, “He will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the

will of the Lord will prosper his hand.” How can this verse be

talking about Jesus? Jesus was never married so how can it be

about him when it says he will see his offspring? In Acts 17:27-

28 we read, “God did this so that men would seek him and

perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far

from each one of us. For in him we live and move and have our

being. As some of your own poets have said, we are his

offspring.” So we see after Jesus went back to be with God the

Father Paul is making the case that we are his offspring by what

God did for us through Jesus. Verse 11 lets everyone know after

the suffering of his soul he will see the light of life and that

through the Savior’s righteousness many will be justified and he

will have bore their iniquities. Why has this happened? Verse

12 says he will have poured out his life unto death. He will take

the transgressions of the people upon himself. Taking their sins

and is interceding on the people’s behalf.

Now let us see what the New Testament says about these

things that we have read in verse 11 and 12. In 1 Corinthians

15:3-4 we read, “I passed onto you of first importance that

Christ died for our sins according to scriptures, that he was

buried, that he was raised on the third day.” Then we read in

Romans 5:9, “For just as through the disobedience of the one

man the many were made sinners, so also through the

obedience of the one the many will be made righteous.” In

Philippians 2:8 we read, “And being found in appearance as a

man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death even

death on a cross.” Why was Jesus willing to do this? Jesus knew

his mission.

In Luke 22:37 he quotes verse 12 of Isaiah 53when he tells his

disciples, “It is written: And he was numbered with the

transgressors and I tell you that this must be fulfilled in me. Yes

what is written about me is reaching it’s fulfillment.” Jesus

being God fully understood what had been told to Isaiah 700

years earlier. That his mission was to die for the transgressions

of God’s creation. Jesus also knew that that was not the end of

his job. The last part of Isaiah 53:12 says, “For he bore the sin of

many and made intersession for the transgressors.” Going back

to the New Testament we read what is said in Hebrews 7:25 we

read, “Therefore he is able to save completely those who come

to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for

them. Did you notice what was said in verse 25? It says Jesus

lives to intercede for them. In other words Jesus is alive

interceding, pleading the case for you and me with God the

Father. Death did not stop him. He is alive.

Beginning next week, we will look in detail at what Jesus

willingly went through for us. We will see some of the highs and

lows of Jesus’ final weeks before his appointment with the

cross and the grave. Chapter 53 of Isaiah foretold to the

Israelites that help was on the way. We now know that the

Savior was not to be someone who would rule over earthly

kingdoms as the Israelites wanted. As Jesus told Pilate in John

18:36, “My kingdom is not of this world.” Victory is on the way.

Not a victory that is one nation over another. Instead, victory

that is for eternity in God’s eternal kingdom.

As we have seen over the last four weeks everything God

inspired Isaiah to tell His people would and did come true. The

Savior will come to bring victory to all of God’s people. What

has always been essential is that every person must come to

the place of accepting God’s grace, mercy and forgiveness.

What is also essential is to realize we have all sinned and have

need of a Savior. As we have seen matching Isaiah with the

New Testament accounts, Jesus is that Savior. May we embrace

God’s grace this Easter season with a new sense of love and

thankfulness for God is good.

Pastor Larry

Tuesdays 9:30 Bible Study

March 28 12:00 Women’s Fellowship luncheon at East End Grill (airport). Let Carol know if you are coming and if you want to carpool (meet at 11:30 at church).

Mowing sign up list is in the back. Thank you in advance to

those who sign up. Also a sign up sheet if you are interested in attending a Sunday School class.

Offering plates are in the back of the sanctuary. Thank you for

your continued giving!

Donation Box: Camp Emmanuel

First Sundays: food donations for food banks

Pastor Larry Traxler- (217) 454-2362

To keep up on Church of the Brethren news:

Denomination: www.brethren.org/news Sign up for Newsline by

clicking link on left side of page.

District: iwdcob.org (click on newsletter link) and on facebook

Our pages: cerrogordocob.com (printed sermon,

announcements, & calendar) and on facebook

Keep in Your Prayers

Todd Henricks; Tate Sawyer; Jonah Martina; Jan Bower; Larry

Traxler; Michelle West; Michelle’s mom; Carolyn Hirsch; Eli

Brunner; Nancy Fansler; Joe Waltz; Doug Larrick; Ron &

Kathleen Petersen; Debbie Leibrock; Dorthea Wood; Tina

Wilhelm; Mindy Sawyer; Marlene Schultz; Carl and Wilma

Cable; Mike and Carol Seidenstricker; Adiline Young; Kim

Lehmann; Doug Fansler; Shawn Cain; Robert Cripe; Mayo &

Darlene Hanaver; Patty Cripe; Lauren Gross; Stacie Warren;

Nancy Gorrell; many unspoken requests; Coronavirus;

healthcare workers and first responders; victims of disasters;

victims of shootings; shut-ins; the Nigerian church; Haitian

Brethren; Ukraine; Hope Welty Library; Florida; Puerto Rico;

Turkey/Syria earthquake

Military and Other Services and their families

Brethren Volunteer Service workers; Disaster project workers

District Prayer Calendar: Chicago First Church and the

Intercultural Ministries Office

Church of the Brethren vision statement:

Together, as the Church of the Brethren, we will passionately live

and share the radical transformation and holistic peace of Jesus

Christ through relationship-based neighborhood engagement. To

move us forward, we will develop a culture of calling and

equipping disciples who are innovative, adaptable, and fearless.

Our Mission Statement:

Love God, grow with others, serve faithfully, reach the lost,

find peace.

March 12 Sermon and Announcements

 CERRO GORDO CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN

March 12, 2023

Who Is Jesus? – Part 3

Isaiah 53:7-10

As we continue our look at Who Is Jesus a little review. Two

weeks ago we read how the Messiah would come from what

would seem to be an average home. He would have nothing

special going for him that might attract people to him. Last

week we read how Jesus was rejected by most of the people he

came to minister to. How he would be verbally and mentally

abused by those same people. Yet Jesus would not abandon the

mission before him.

This week we see just how far the son of man will go to fulfill

his calling. In verse 7 we read that he was oppressed and

afflicted yet did not open his mouth, he was led like a lamb to

the slaughter and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he

did not open his mouth. In Matthew 27:12, we read, “When he

was accused by the chief priests and elders, he gave no

answer.” Continuing with verse 13, “Pilate asked him, don’t you

hear the testimony they are bringing again you?” Verse 14,

“Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge to the great

amazement of the governor.”

In Isaiah 53:8 we read he was cut off from the land of the living

for the transgressions of my people he was stricken.” Going

back to Matthew 37 we see in verse 27-31 how the soldiers

mocked him and abused him. Jesus was led off to be killed on

the cross. Death that was reserved for only the most evil

criminals of the day. Isaiah 53:9 says he was assigned a grave

with the wicked and with the rich in his death though he had

done no violence nor was any deceit in his mouth. As Jesus

stood before Pilate a short time before the soldiers would mock

and abuse him. Also right before he would be hung on the

cross, Pilate made this pronouncement as we read in Matthew

27:24, “When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but

instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his

hands in front of the crowd. I am innocent of this man’s blood

he said, it is your responsibility.” Even as Jesus hung dying on

the cross the abuse and taunting continued. In the final verse,

we read in Isaiah 53 we are told it was the Lord’s will to crush

him and cause him to suffer and though the Lord makes his life

a guilt offering he will see his offspring and prolong his days and

the will of the Lord will prosper his hand.

This morning we are going to focus on the first half of verse 10.

Last week we saw how Jesus cried out to God the Father when

all the sins of the world were placed upon him right before he

died. When Jesus cried out, “My God, my God why hast thou

forsaken me?” Just as it said in verse 10 of Isaiah 53, “It was the

Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer.” All the things

mentioned in those first 10 verses of Isaiah 57 were coming

true. In verse 3 we read he would be despised and rejected. In

verse 4 it says he would take our infirmities and carry our

sorrows. Verse 5 says we would be pierced for our

transgressions and crushed for our iniquities and by his wounds

we would be healed. Then what we read once again this

morning he would be oppressed and afflicted, led away like a

lamb to the slaughter, verse 7. Verse 8, cut off from the land of

the living for our transgressions. Verse 9, assigned a grave with

the wicked and in verse 10, “The Father God would make His

life a guilt offering.” And yet in the last half of the 10 th verse, we

see hope is on the way.

We will look at the last two verses of Isaiah 53 next Sunday, but

we see that everything promised to God’s people during

Isaiah’s time came true. It came true exactly as it had been

promised. To mention it yet again, this was given to God’s

people 700 years before it happened. The children of Israel

were looking for the Savior. There had been earlier promises

made so they were hoping he would come during their lifetime.

Yet we see that when the Savior did come to His people they

rejected Him. Jesus did not save them the way they wanted to

be saved. Throughout most of our nation’s history we have

enjoyed greater freedom than virtually any nation in the past

3000 years. Even those who have felt oppressed have enjoyed

greater opportunity than many throughout history.

So I wonder how would I have acted if I had been waiting for

the Messiah and things did not match what some of the leader I

thought I could trust had told me would happen? Would I have

been one who would have taken a step of faith and tried to

follow Jesus? Or would I have been like the Pharisees and

rejected this Messiah who did not measure up to what I was

hoping for? I cannot say it enough how God’s word proves, if

we feel we need proof, that there is a God who is in control. A

God who knows what we need before we know what we need.

A God who loved us enough to come to earth and experience

what we go through and was willing to do what we could never

do for ourselves.

Next Sunday we will finish this most significant chapter of

prophesy in the Bible. We will see just what God’s people

during Isaiah’s time was told would be the result of all that was

predicted. And we will maybe get a better understanding of

what it was to mean to those who actually saw it come true as

well as all who would come after.

May God continue to bless His word and use it to open the eyes

of those living in darkness, those who are outcast, those who

are afflicted, those who need healing, or in other words “all of us”. Amen.

Pastor Larry

Announcements:

Tuesdays 9:30 Bible Study

March 28 12:00 Women’s Fellowship luncheon

Mowing sign up list is in the back. Thank you in advance to

those who sign up.

Offering plates are in the back of the sanctuary. Thank you for

your continued giving!

Donation Box: Camp Emmanuel

First Sundays: food donations for food banks

Pastor Larry Traxler- (217) 454-2362

To keep up on Church of the Brethren news:

Denomination: www.brethren.org/news Sign up for Newsline by

clicking link on left side of page.

District: iwdcob.org (click on newsletter link) and on facebook

Our pages: cerrogordocob.com (printed sermon,

announcements, & calendar) and on facebook

Keep in Your Prayers

Family of Charlotte Shively; Todd Henricks; Tate Sawyer; Jonah Martina; Jan Bower; Larry

Traxler; Michelle West; Michelle’s mom; Carolyn Hirsch; Eli

Brunner; Nancy Fansler; Joe Waltz; Doug Larrick; Ron &

Kathleen Petersen; Debbie Leibrock; Dorthea Wood; Tina

Wilhelm; Mindy Sawyer; Marlene Schultz; Carl and Wilma

Cable; Mike and Carol Seidenstricker; Adiline Young; Kim

Lehmann; Doug Fansler; Shawn Cain; Robert Cripe; Mayo &

Darlene Hanaver; Patty Cripe; Lauren Gross; Stacie Warren;

Nancy Gorrell; many unspoken requests; Coronavirus;

healthcare workers and first responders; victims of disasters;

victims of shootings; shut-ins; the Nigerian church; Haitian

Brethren; Ukraine; Hope Welty Library; Florida; Puerto Rico;

Turkey/Syria earthquake

Military and Other Services and their families

Brethren Volunteer Service workers; Disaster project workers

District Prayer Calendar: Chicago First Church and the

Intercultural Ministries Office

Church of the Brethren vision statement:

Together, as the Church of the Brethren, we will passionately live

and share the radical transformation and holistic peace of Jesus

Christ through relationship-based neighborhood engagement. To

move us forward, we will develop a culture of calling and

equipping disciples who are innovative, adaptable, and fearless.

Our Mission Statement:

Love God, grow with others, serve faithfully, reach the lost, find peace.

March 5 Sermon

 

CERRO GORDO CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN

March 5, 2023

 

Who Is Jesus? – Part 2

Isaiah 53:3-6

As we continue to look at Who is Jesus we saw from what we read in Isaiah and in Luke last Sunday that Jesus was not born into a prestigious family. Jesus apparently was just an average man in most every way, at least in the eyes of most people. God wanted to make sure the message that Jesus was sharing with those who would listen and observe is what drew people to himself and to God the Father.

 

This week we see the mission given Jesus was and how it was predicted most people would react to it. Jesus primary mission was to take God’s message of repentance and the opportunity of forgiveness to the Jewish people. Jesus told his disciples In Matthew 10 verse5 not to go to the Gentiles or Samaritans but only to the lost sheep of Israel. Jesus himself told a Canaanite woman that he was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel in Matthew 15:24. So we see Jesus’ primary mission during his ministry was to the Jewish people. Yet we see the prediction in Isaiah 53:3 that Jesus would be despised and rejected by the people Jesus sought to help find salvation and forgiveness. In spite of the rejection that came his way, Jesus willingly took those sins, the suffering of the self-righteous. As well as all the wounds we feel in life. Isaiah 53:4.

 

In spite of all that, he would ultimately bring peace and healing to a world that is and was in desperate need. I will not site all the examples but time and time again the Jewish leaders challenged the message Jesus was sharing. One such example is in Matthew 22 the Pharisees tried to trap Jesus about who to give money to. Was it right to give money to the ungodly Romans by paying taxes? This was one of countless ways the Pharisees tried to trap Jesus and make sure the average Jewish person would not pay attention to him. The different examples that are throughout the gospels clearly shows that most of the Jewish leadership did just what is written of in Isaiah 53.

 

Jesus was rejected, smitten, afflicted, crushed and ultimately pierced for our transgressions, our sins. In spite of all the rejection Jesus never waivered from is mission. In Isaiah 53: 6 we see it is predicted in spite of Jesus’ message hope and salvation we would be like sheep that have gone astray/ Peter (in 1 Peter 2:23-25) quotes these verses when talking about what Jesus went through for us. In spite of the willingness to take our place and all Jesus went through for us, the insults, the rejection, our sinfulness, our willingness to be like sheep that are lead astray Jesus took all of that because of his love for each of us. The amazing thing that is also said in these verses we read this morning is that all these things that happened to the Messiah would be placed on him by God the Father. That seems to be shown to be true by what Jesus cried out as he hung on the cross. In Matthew 27 verse 46 we see Jesus saying, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” God the Father and God the Son willing did all these things and had all these things happen just as predicted in Isaiah to bring forgiveness and salvation to a world that often times would and does reject God’s offer of grace. Let me repeat it again. All these things that ultimately happened were predicted in Isaiah 700 years before they happened exactly as predicted.

 

As we continue to look at what was foretold in Isaiah about how God would bring salvation to all who will receive, we will continue to see how what was spoke of by Isaiah happened. Next week we will see exactly to what lengths God was willing to go to bring salvation to the world.

 

As we get closer to Easter and the most life changing events that happened in the world, may each one of us take time to search within ourselves to better understand our own relationship with the Lord. It has been said before that each one of us individually is responsible and accountable for what we believe and why we believe it. Isaiah made it clear in spite of God’s attempt to bring salvation to the world not everyone will accept it. Some will violently reject God’s hand of mercy and forgiveness. God wants a deep personal relationship with each one of us. I pray our look at who Jesus is will help us deepen that relationship. As we see how trustworthy the world of God is and we are reminded that God went through all we will ever go through and more because he loves us that much.