Monday, February 22, 2021

February 21 Sermon and Announcements

 

 

WHAT GUIDES OUR LIVES?

Romans 2:12-16

 

A couple weeks ago we read in Romans 2:10 and 11 that while the Jewish people hold a special place with God, we who are Gentiles also have access to everything the Jewish people have available to them at this time. God gave the law to Moses around 4,000 years ago and that law has been the guiding force to the Jewish people ever since. The Jews wanted God to tell them what they could and could not do. They wanted to know what things would save them from punishment. The verses we read today explain how God views the law and what its value is. We see that all who sin, whether they understand the law or not or whether they even know what the law is will be judged by God. We see also in these verses that being a Jewish person or being a Gentile does not really matter to God. What does matter is how you obey the law. For the Gentiles, who at this time were not allowed to have access to the law of Moses, we see God writes his law on the hearts of those who are not of the Jewish faith. It is the attitude of the heart that God is looking at.

 

I have begun to read the book, Mere Christianity, by C.S. Lewis. This book was written in 1952. Many of you know who C.S. Lewis is. He wrote not only truly Christian-based books but also a variety of other books, including a series that not too long ago was made into a movie or series of movies called The Chronicles of Narnia. As I was reading the verses we are looking at today, I was struck by what C.S. Lewis said early on in the book, Mere Christianity. From his own observations, he is saying exactly what Paul is telling both Jews and Gentiles in Rome. God’s laws are obvious to virtually everyone, whether you have been exposed to the Jewish faith or Christianity or not. I would like to share just a little from his book. He says, “This law was called the Law of Nature because people thought that everyone knew it by nature and it did not need to be taught. They did not mean, of course, that you might not find an odd individual here and there who did not know it, just as you find a few people who are color blind or have no ear for a tune. But taking the race as a whole, they thought that the human idea of decent behavior was obvious to everyone. And I believe they are right.” C.S. Lewis continues to make the case for a God-inspired natural law everyone understands.

 

Before I share these final thoughts from C.S. Lewis, I am not sure everyone realizes he started his adult life as an atheist, but he could not ignore God’s hand on not only his life, but in the world he lived in. Continuing on he says, “I know that some people say the ideas of a Law of Nature or decent behavior known to all men is unsound, because different civilizations and different ages have had quite different moralities. But this is not true. There have been differences between moralities but these have never amounted to anything like a total difference. If anyone will take the trouble to compare the moral teaching of say, the ancient Egyptians, Babylonians, Hindus, Chinese, Greeks and Romans, what will really strike him will be how very like they are to each other and to our own.” C.S. Lewis was a man who wanted to understand why things happen as they do and why people do what they do. Nearly 2,000 years after God inspired Paul to write this to the church in Rome, C.S. Lewis observed the exact same thing. God sees what we do whether we have some formal law or not. God has written his law on every person’s heart. By what we read this morning, some might say, “See I do not need to go to church. I do not even need the Bible. God will let me know what I need to know when I need to know it.”

 

When we continue on in Romans, we will see that is not what Paul was saying and that is not what God wants us to do. The reality is the less we know about God’s word, the more likely Satan is to come in and trick us and deceive us. Paul was talking about people who, at that time, had not opportunity to know much of anything about God. What Paul was saying first of all, to the Jewish Christians, is do not look down on the Gentiles. We were given the law and did not do a very good job of following it. God wrote his law on the Gentiles hearts and if they observed that natural law, they would be in a better place with God than us. This again is Paul talking to the Jewish Christians.

 

The question for you and me today is what do we believe and what is it that guides our lives? These verses we read today shows us God loves all of his creation, and he has made a way for each of us, no matter what our life has been like. As we continue in Romans, we will see more and more God’s love, his patience, and his grace for us. Paul closed out these verses that we read by saying this. “God will judge men’s secrets through Jesus Christ as my gospel declares.” Jesus Christ is the one who paves the way for us. God wants us to be ready to face every challenge that comes our way. God has given us his holy word so we can stand against Satan’s lies. What guides our lives? I pray it is a relationship with Jesus Christ and the law that is not only written on our hearts, but also in the Bible that give us all the encouragement and direction we will ever need as revealed by the Holy Spirit.


Announcements

Every Tuesday 9:30 Bible Study. All are invited to attend.

 

February 27 7:00 p.m. Denomination-wide worship via Zoom

February 28 10:00 Tom West will be our guest speaker.

 2:30 Moderator’s Q&A via Zoom. Talk to Carol for the links.

 

Lenten Devotionals are available in the back of the sanctuary.

 

New directories are in your mailbox.

Copies of the February newsletter are in the back. Submissions for March newsletter are due March 3.

 

March10 Full board meeting

 

March 16-20 District Potluck via Zoom. See details on bulletin board. Carol will send you the links if you are interested in attending any or all of the sessions.

 

Please place your offering in the plates at the back of the sanctuary. Thank you for your continued giving!

 

Thank you for wearing masks and helping contain the spread of the virus. Extra masks are at the back of the sanctuary.

 

Donation Box: Utilities

 

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

Holly Flenner; Carl and Wilma Cable; Larry Albro; Mike McCleery; Sherry Wright; Tim and Betty Sue Laird; Mike and Carol Seidenstricker; Sonna Hall; Brittany Wright; Evelyn Eads; Mike Gentry; Anna Gentry Thompson; Marlene & Arnold Schultz; Clyde and Nancy Fansler; Adiline Young; Kim Lehmann; Dylan Junior; Doug Fansler; Liza Yore; Candy Dobson; Anna Rose Larrick; Gary Jesse; Norm & Marge Starr; Shawn Cain; Robert Cripe; Mayo & Darlene Hanaver; Zola Copeland; Patty Cripe; Lauren Gross; Stacie Warren; Nancy Gorrell; many unspoken requests; Coronavirus crisis; healthcare workers and first responders; the families of the 496,000+ people who have died from COVID-19; those who are ill from the virus; the unemployed; school teachers, staff, and students; victims of natural disasters; District of IL/WI search committee; nursing home residents; the Nigerian church; our nation’s government

Military and Other Services and their families

Brethren Volunteer Service workers; Disaster project workers


Our Mission Statement:

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


Monday, February 15, 2021

February 14 Sermon and Announcements

 

February 14, 2021

 

THE GREATEST LOVE STORY!

John 3:16-17

 

Today is Valentine’s Day! Husbands and boyfriends out there, I hope you did not forget. We are going to take a Sunday off from Romans and we will pick it up again next Sunday.

We are going to take a little time this morning to talk about the greatest love story of all time. The verses we read this morning help us to understand what true love is. We have all read these verses many times and have heard them discussed just as often. Especially verse 16. Four thousand years after God had created man, God recognized there was a big problem with his creation and the meaningful relationship he wanted to have. In spite of everything God had done for his people, there seemed to be something missing. God gave into the demands his people made, which included a desire to have rules spelled out that if the people obeyed would make them right with God. This was never what God wanted from his people, but he gave in during the time of Moses by giving a whole lot of rules, including the Ten Commandments.

God has always wanted to have a relationship with his people like he had in the very beginning with Adam and Eve. God has always wanted his people to share all their hopes and dreams, as well as questions and sorrows but that got shattered when Adam and Eve chose to listen to Satan rather than the God who had created them.

All throughout the Old Testament there were glimpses of what God wanted to do with the men and women he had created, but there was never the consistent relationship with a large number of people on an ongoing basis. The relationship became so broken between God and man he knew he had to do something different. So, the love story God always wanted to have with anyone who recognized just who he was and what he wanted took a new turn and went a direction that had never occurred before.

In John 3:16 we read, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” This new chapter in God’s love story with the people he created has now taken an unusual and unexpected turn. God became a man and came to Earth for two basic reasons.

(1) To help everyone understand what is available and how to live a life that not only is pleasing to God but also brings each person the most abundant life possible.

(2) And even more important, God in the flesh, Jesus Christ, came to once and for all to get us, God’s people, back in a right relationship with God.

Who was it that God was pouring out his love on? Was it a special group of people? No, we read “for God so loved the world.” God was making the same opportunity available to everyone. We see in the 17th verse what God’s goal was. “God did not send Jesus to earth to condemn it, but to save all who would believe.”

I would like us to look at what Paul is saying to the church in Ephesus in Ephesians 5, verses 1 and 2. In these verses, we are encouraged to “Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”  The example of sacrificial love God showed through Jesus should cause us to share that love not only with God but also those we come into contact with.

Paul is inspired by God to give another example of love and how it should work with us. Staying in Ephesians Chapter 5, verses 25-27, we read “Husbands, love your wives just as Christ loved the Church and gave himself up for her to make her holy. Cleansing her by washing with water through the word and to present her to himself as a radiant church without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.” What an incredible example of what God’s love can do for us. Because of God’s sacrifice out of love for us, his goal is for us to be holy and blameless. In these verses we also see God does not want us to believe this is only a love story between God and us, as individual believers. No, God expects us to share that love with our husbands and wives, our children, as well as other people God brings our way.

God has given us everything he can, even to the point of dying for our sins. In return, God wants us to make his love story for us a love story for all of his creation. God did not have to do what he has done for all of us. Sometimes showing love is hard. There are those who are not so lovable in the world, but that did not stop God. If we want others to understand what a great love story God has shared with us, we must share that same kind of selfless love God first showed us.

This Valentine’s Day God wants us to not only share his love with our families, but God also wants us to share his love story wherever and whenever we have the chance to. Happy Valentine’s Day and always remember—God loves you and no matter what, he will never stop loving you. Remember for God so loved the world. In other words, for God so loved you that he gave his only begotten son. The love story continues and always will. Have a blessed week!

Larry


Announcements

Every Tuesday 9:30 Bible Study. All are invited to attend. Cancellations happen sometimes because of the weather. Check with Nancy Born-Martin for more information.

Lenten Devotionals are available in the back of the sanctuary.

Remember to pick up Upper Room and Daily Bread issues, if you don’t have yours.

February 17 Ash Wednesday

New directories are in your mailbox.

Copies of the February newsletter are in the back of the sanctuary.

February 28 is a Q&A Session with Annual Conference Moderator Paul Mundey. The Illinois & Wisconsin District is excited to announce an upcoming Zoom Q&A Session with Paul Mundey on Sunday, February 28, from 2:30pm-4pm. This Zoom session will focus on the ‘state of the church.’ Both laity and clergy are urged to participate. The Zoom session will use a Q+A format; ‘any and all’ questions are invited. Joining Paul Mundey will be the other Annual Conference Officers: Dave Sollenberger, Moderator Elect, and Jim Beckwith, Annual Conference Secretary. A zoom link will be provided later. If you are interested, let Carol know and she will forward the zoom link to you. The last one we had was interesting and informative.

 

March 16 – 20 is the District Potluck via Zoom. There is worship and there are workshops. A description of workshops is on the bulletin board. More information will come soon.

 

Remember to check your mailboxes if you are at church.

 

Donation Box: Utilities

 

First Sundays: food donations for food banks

 

Prayer List

Holly Flenner; Carl and Wilma Cable; Larry Albro; Mike McCleery (Michelle Wright’s brother); Sherry Wright; Tim and Betty Sue Laird; Mike and Carol Seidenstricker; Sonna Hall; Brittany Wright; Evelyn Eads; Mike Gentry; Anna Gentry Thompson; Marlene & Arnold Schultz; Clyde and Nancy Fansler; Adiline Young; Kim Lehmann; Dylan Junior; Doug Fansler; Liza Yore; Candy Dobson; Anna Rose Larrick; Gary Jesse; Norm & Marge Starr; Shawn Cain; Robert Cripe; Mayo & Darlene Hanaver; Zola Copeland; Patty Cripe; Lauren Gross; Stacie Warren; Nancy Gorrell; many unspoken requests; Coronavirus crisis; healthcare workers and first responders; the families of the 450,000+ people who have died from COVID-19; those who are ill from the virus; the unemployed; school teachers, staff, and students; wildfire and hurricane victims; District of IL/WI search committee; nursing home residents; the Nigerian church; our nation’s government

Military and Other Services and their families

Brethren Volunteer Service workers; Disaster project workers

Praise: A number of the girls abducted from the school in Chibok, Nigeria, escaped from their captors. Most of these girls belong to EYN, the CoB of Nigeria. However, at least 100 girls remain in captivity.


Monday, February 8, 2021

February 7 Sermon and Announcements

 

DO WE NEED A SPANKING?

Romans 2:1-11

 

Before we begin, I apologize for the title. I wasn’t thinking. After all, we need to realize spanking is a form of abuse and I would never condone that and of course neither would God, or would he? Today’s message again gets us wondering what in the world is Paul talking about.

 

Paul starts off in the first chapter of Romans saying what model Christians they are in the church at Rome, but then his message takes a drastic turn and just keeps on going. Paul is apparently hearing of some trends in the church that is causing him concern and he wants everyone on the same page before things get out of hand. Paul wants the church to be as honest and consistent as it can be. Just like there are those watching us Christians today, they were watching the church at Rome as well.

 

Paul had apparently not only heard the good reports about the church in Rome, but also some things that concerned Paul a great deal. Paul knew if the church was going to make a difference in Rome, the Christians had to be honest and believable. There was, it would seem, hypocrisy that had moved into some places in the church. We may have heard it said, “Do as I say, not as I do.” Some of this attitude had apparently crept into the church at Rome. Paul did not pull any punches. He made it clear what God’s attitude is about people who say one thing and do another. In the first four verses of the 2nd chapter of Romans, Paul is warning about two different things. Paul is cautioning about passing judgement on others. As mere humans we better be careful how we view others. We may be getting a little ahead ourselves by looking at Romans 3:23 but it says, “all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” As we said last week, we are to speak the truth in love as written in Ephesians 4:15. There may be a fine line between being judgmental and speaking the truth in love.

 

That being said, the second thing Paul was saying in those first four verses was do not be a hypocrite. Some in the church were not only telling people what is not acceptable to God, but the very things they were criticizing others about they themselves were doing. God does not expect us to be perfect, but God does want us to be honest about ourselves to others. Paul was reminding them just because you go to church and do some good things does not mean you can do things that are wrong in God’s eyes and pretend God does not see or care. The remaining verses we looked at this morning simply remind all who will pay attention that God is watching. God cannot accept unrepentant hypocrites. The truth is we all slip and stumble. The question for you and me as well as for the church in Rome is when we realize what we have done is wrong, do we confess to what happened? We do not necessarily have to confess to the church unless God calls us to do that, but we must be honest with God. If we have done something that may cause others to stumble, maybe God would want us to tell those affected we were wrong.

 

 

Paul was reminding the church that you and you alone will determine what happens when you breathe your last breath. Eternal judgement or eternal life. When you get right down to it, Paul was telling the church in Rome as well as us today to leave the judging to God. Your life can and will go much more smoothly if you leave it in God’s hands. God’s number one desire for his people is to love. In John 13:35 Jesus says they will know you are my disciples if you love one another. In the Romans 2:7 we are reminded—“to those who by persistence in doing good, seek glory, honor and immortality he will give eternal life.” What a promise!

 

God wants us to share love with all we come into contact with whether at the grocery store, Casey’s, or Dollar General. God wants us to show love and compassion with our families, friends and those we encounter in life. We are God’s hands, feet, mouth, and ears. We not only need to continue to encourage our brothers and sisters in Christ but allow God to show us how to be the best men and women of God we can be. While it looks like Paul is really hammering the church in Rome, he is just wanting to help them be the best they can be. We must share Jesus, the risen Savior, as often as we can. There is a community and a world that needs to see and hear from honest as well as humble Christians. The message is entitled, “Do we need a spanking?” I hope we do not but if we need to be reminded sometimes to take a look at where we are, that is okay. There is a contemporary artist, Steve Camp, from many years ago who had a song called “Shake Me to Wake Me.” I need that from time to time. If God did not love us, he would not care what we do. I believe God is ready to move right here in Cerro Gordo and he wants us to be right in the middle of it all.

Larry


Every Tuesday 9:30 Bible Study. All are invited to attend.

 

February 10 Executive Committee 7:00

 

Lenten Devotionals are available in the back of the sanctuary.

Remember to pick up Upper Room and Daily Bread issues, if you don’t have yours.

 

February 17 Ash Wednesday

 

New directories are in your mailbox.

 

Copies of the February newsletter are in the back of the sanctuary.

 

March 16 – 20 is the District Potluck via Zoom. There is worship and there are workshops. A description of workshops is on the bulletin board. More information will come soon.

 

Please place your offering in the plates at the back of the sanctuary. Thank you for your continued giving!

 

Remember to check your mailboxes.

 

Thank you for wearing masks and helping contain the spread of the virus. Extra masks are at the back of the sanctuary.

 

Donation Box: Utilities

 

First Sundays: food donations for food banks

 

Prayer List

Carl and Wilma Cable; Larry Albro; Mike McCleery (Michelle Wright’s brother); Sherry Wright; Tim and Betty Sue Laird; Mike and Carol Seidenstricker; Sonna Hall; Brittany Wright; Evelyn Eads; Mike Gentry; Anna Gentry Thompson; Marlene & Arnold Schultz; Clyde and Nancy Fansler; Adiline Young; Kim Lehmann; Dylan Junior; Doug Fansler; Liza Yore; Candy Dobson; Anna Rose Larrick; Gary Jesse; Norm & Marge Starr; Shawn Cain; Robert Cripe; Mayo & Darlene Hanaver; Zola Copeland; Patty Cripe; Lauren Gross; Stacie Warren; Nancy Gorrell; many unspoken requests; Coronavirus crisis; healthcare workers and first responders; the families of the 450,000+ people who have died from COVID-19; those who are ill from the virus; the unemployed; school teachers, staff, and students; wildfire and hurricane victims; District of IL/WI search committee; nursing home residents; the Nigerian church; our nation’s government

Military and Other Services and their families

Brethren Volunteer Service workers; Disaster project workers

 

Praise: A number of the girls abducted from the school in Chibok, Nigeria, escaped from their captors. Most of these girls belong to EYN, the CoB of Nigeria. However, at least 100 girls remain in captivity.


Monday, February 1, 2021

January 31 Sermon and Announcements


 

ARE WE READY?

Romans 1:18-32

 

If you remember a couple weeks ago, we read in the first chapter of Romans that Paul wanted to visit the church in Rome but had been unable to get there so far. There is a distinct contrast between what was read two weeks ago and what we read today. Why would that be? What we read in verses 8-17 was all positive and empowering, but as Paul continued to speak to the church in Rome his message took a complete turn from what he had just been telling the church. In the 8th verse Paul told the church how their faith had been reported all over the world. So why would he be suddenly telling the church in Rome God’s wrath is about to be revealed? While the church in Rome was apparently an active and vibrant place to worship, there are things going on in Rome that can potentially test their faith. Satan was alive and well in Rome 2000 years ago and he is alive and well in Illinois today as well. Paul was reminding them that a higher power is obvious to everyone and yet there are those who are intentionally ignoring the truth. Paul was reminding the church also about the fact that some people believe they are smarter than God or they believe God simply does not exist so you can forget about those religious nuts. Paul felt compelled to go down a list of things that are contrary to God’s will and desire for God’s people. Paul warns there are those who have chosen to worship what has been created by God rather than the God who created everything.

Paul further talks of how men and women are no longer being faithful to God by marrying a man and woman but have engaged in inappropriate behavior, men with men and women with women. Paul continues his warning since there are those who have totally rejected God and he has allowed them to do whatever they feel is right.

 

When we look at the examples Paul gave in verses 29-31, we see just how far from God some are willing to go. Throughout it all Paul reminds the church that deep down in their hearts they know what God expects but purposely and willing chose to do what they want to do instead. In fact, in verse 32 we read “Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death. They not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them. After Paul has said all of this to the church in Rome, I will ask the question one more time. Why was Paul throwing all of this out there to the church? After all, earlier in the 1st chapter he was praising the church for its faith, so why would Paul do this? The reason is very simple. Paul knew what the Christians in Rome was exposed to every day of their lives. Rome was a booming center of everything at this time in history. You could see and do virtually everything under the sun. Paul knew even the strongest of Christians may have trouble resisting all the things Satan is throwing at them in Rome on a daily basis. Paul wanted to make sure the Christians in Rome truly knew what was in agreement with God and what was not. Paul felt compelled to write this letter because he had not been able to share with the church in person yet.

 

I am afraid sometimes we are mistaken and believe the early church just grew and grew and there were no distractions for them at all, which leads us to the church right here and now. Is there anything for us to learn from what Paul was telling the church in Rome? If Paul were here right now, would Paul be warning this church about anything to be on the lookout for? As we think about the variety of things Paul warned the church about how many are still valid problems facing the world today? There is one saying that goes, “The more things change, the more they stay the same.” Is that true when we look at what Rome was facing and look at what Christians in America are facing today? When I look at those of you here this morning and think of those who are watching elsewhere, I am not sure if many of you would struggle with any of the things mentioned by Paul. However, these are still examples of what the church is still dealing with in society. There are so many things that are competing for the heart and soul of everyone. It is your responsibility and mine to lift up God’s standards for all to see. Not because we believe we are better than anyone else, but because we want to see everyone have an honest opportunity at eternal life. We have a new generation that is being pulled in ways that is making a relationship with Jesus Christ very difficult to achieve. We as the church must find ways to break through the lies and share God’s truth and God’s love. Virtually everything mentioned by Paul are problems in today’s world as well as several others.

 

In Ephesians 4:15 we are encouraged to speak the truth in love. That is our goal; that is our mission. I am so thankful for each one of you faithful brothers and sisters in Christ. May we seek the Lord for wisdom and guidance. Through Christ we will prevail! To God be all glory, honor and praise!

 Larry


ANNOUNCEMENTS


Every Tuesday 9:30 Bible Study. All are invited to attend.

 

February 10 Executive Committee 7:00

Donation Box: Utilities

 

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

 

Larry Albro; Carl and Wilma Cable; Sherry Wright; Tim and Betty Sue Laird; Mike and Carol Seidenstricker; Sonna Hall; Brittany Wright; Evelyn Eads; Mike Gentry; Anna Gentry Thompson; Marlene & Arnold Schultz; Clyde and Nancy Fansler; Adiline Young; Kim Lehmann; Dylan Junior; Doug Fansler; Liza Yore; Candy Dobson; Anna Rose Larrick; Gary Jesse; Norm & Marge Starr; Shawn Cain; Robert Cripe; Mayo & Darlene Hanaver; Zola Copeland; Patty Cripe; Lauren Gross; Stacie Warren; Nancy Gorrell; many unspoken requests; Coronavirus crisis; healthcare workers and first responders; the families of the 435,000+ people who have died from COVID-19; those who are ill from the virus; the unemployed; school teachers, staff, and students; wildfire and hurricane victims; District of IL/WI search committee; nursing home residents; the Nigerian church; our nation’s government

Military and Other Services and their families

Brethren Volunteer Service workers; Disaster project workers

 

                       

Our Mission Statement:

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