Monday, August 29, 2022

August 28 Sermon and Announcements

 

CERRO GORDO CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN

August 28, 2022

 

What does it take?

1 Thessalonians 1:4-10

 

When we were gone last Sunday, we went by several churches that were either finishing services, I would guess, or had recently concluded services. Yes, I must admit, in all honesty, we did not go and worship at any church last Sunday. With that confession being made, as we went by some churches on the highway we were traveling, I noticed some did not have many cars in their lots. A few others were seemingly clear full. My first thought was “Good for them”. (The full ones.) But my second thought was what makes one church have a few cars in their parking lot while another is bursting at the seams? One church even had their lots full and people parking along the road in the grass! So, I wondered, what does it take for people to want to come that badly to a place to worship that they will park a ways a way to be able to join in that worship. I do not know how many of you have attended a place of worship that had not just a hundred people there but a thousand or more on a normal Sunday morning or in some cases Saturday evening service.

 

There was a radio ministry Cathy and I really enjoyed listening to that was based in a western suburb of Chicago, and we attended a few times when we visited our son when he lived not terribly far away from this church. What was the first shock to the senses was that the local police were helping get cars into their parking lot to reduce congestion. The same reason we enjoyed listening to this pastor on the radio, I am sure, is why the church was virtually full at every service. The pastor made the Bible come alive with real down to earth, easy to understand messages. Yet the messages were Bible based and faithful to scripture. Word of mouth I am sure is why that church went from a home church to a church with thousands of members. Have any of you attended equally well attended churches? If so, what do you think made them so successful?

 

We need to be careful to understand that having a lot of members does not automatically mean the church is successful in God’s eyes. When we think of the scripture, we looked at this morning from 1 Thessalonians, we see Paul, Silas and Timothy bragging a little bit about the church in Thessalonica. How the believers in this church have become well known throughout the entire region. But why did they brag about this group of believers? Because once they heard the message, they grabbed ahold of the message of salvation and, in spite of everything, did not let go. And this was not a group of people raised in church, so to speak. In the 9th verse we read how these Gentiles turned from worshiping idols to believing in the true and living God. How they also realized what Jesus had done to bring about their salvation on this earth and looked forward to God’s coming eternal kingdom. So, in the verses we have looked at today we can see a glimpse of what makes a congregation successful in the eyes of God. But what does it take to make one congregation burst at its seams and another just get by? Is it a charismatic pastor? Is it an engaged congregation? Is it the message that is at the heart of worship? Is it the music ministry? Is it the programs that are available? Is it a combination of all of these?

 

What is our vision here in Cerro Gordo at this church? Over the next few Sundays, we are going to bounce back and forth between the Old Testament and the New Testament to see what God expects of His church and His people. I believe if we are honoring God with our worship, He will bless His church. The challenge for the church today is to understand that we are in the world but are not to be changed by the world. I am also convinced we must all acknowledge that Satan is real and is trying to deceive as many people as he can.

 

I am pretty sure virtually everyone would love to see this sanctuary clear full every Sunday. What does it take to make that happen? What would we have to do differently to make it happen? Is there anything we can do to make that happen? Are there things we can do while we understand it is all about simply being faithful to God? These are some of the things we are going to look at in the next few weeks as we seek to grow in the Lord personally. While at the same time ask God: “What can we, as your people, do to keep doing the work you have called us to do right here in Cerro Gordo?” In other words, “Lord, if you want us to grow as a congregation ‘What does it take?’ ”

Pastor Larry

Announcements:

 

 

Tuesday 9:30 Bible Study

 

August 31—deadline for Sept newsletter submissions

 

September 10 8:00 a.m. Work Day—meal provided by Women’s Fellowship

 

September 14 Board Meeting

 

September 30 – October 1—The Lord’s Storehouse rummage sale at the Brethren Church. Drop off times for clean, boxed items: 4-7 p.m. Sept. 1, 6, 8, 13, 15 (north door)

 

The sound system is fixed; electrical breakers are repaired; the clavinova is awaiting repair, as is the screen. Thanks, Ron!

Shirley and Oren Wright trimmed many of the bushes. Thank you! And to all who help in any way!

Offering plates are in the back of the sanctuary. Thank you for your continued giving!

 

Donation Box: AC bills

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

Oren Wright; Cecil; Devon Wright; Mike Nuding; Michelle West; Tom West; Carolyn Hirsch; Eli Brunner; Nancy Fansler; Joe Waltz; Doug Larrick; Anna Rose Larrick; Ron & Kathleen Petersen; Anna Gentry Thompson; Louis & Carol Sulwer; Maralyn Heckman; Debbie Leibrock; Dorthea Wood; Sonna Hall; Tina Wilhelm; Baby Tate; Bryce Ashenfelter; Mindy Sawyer; Marlene Schultz; Sarah Rudelick; Carl and Wilma Cable; Mike and Carol Seidenstricker;  Adiline Young; Kim Lehmann; Doug Fansler; Candy Dobson; Shawn Cain; Robert Cripe; Mayo & Darlene Hanaver; Patty Cripe; Lauren Gross; Stacie Warren; Nancy Gorrell; many unspoken requests; Coronavirus crisis; healthcare workers and first responders; the families of those who have died from COVID-19; those who are ill from the virus; victims of disasters; victims of shootings; nursing home residents; 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 Charismatic Christian Center, a Filipino ministry in the Chicago area.

 


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.


Monday, August 15, 2022

August 14 Sermon and Announcements

 

CERRO GORDO CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN

August 14, 2022

 

Walk Humbly with the Lord

Romans 12:3-18, 21

 

I am going to start this morning by sharing very briefly what I shared in more detail at executive committee meeting Wednesday night. We have not had an in-depth discussion about what truly is the main driving force for the faith and beliefs I have. The only church, the only denomination I have ever been a part of is The Church of the Brethren, so one might believe I am in agreement with most all that The Church of the Brethren from top to bottom believes. The fact of the matter is I have never been guided by what this or any denomination believes or advocates.

 

What has been the motivation for what I believe is plainly and simply the understanding I have been led to by the Holy Sirit from the Bible itself. I have been challenged by the teaching of this denomination and the events happening in this nation and world to find answers and understanding from the Bible and only the Bible. You and I can read books about the Bible and faith but the final reason for any of us to believe what we believe should be confirmed in God’s holy guide book, the Bible. You should not go by what I say or what any other Bible scholar of theology says if it cannot be backed up in scripture.

 

I wanted to start this morning by pointing out that there are some things that the leadership in The Church of the Brethren currently advocate that I do not agree with, and my reason for that is not because I just do not like it. It is because I do not see a basis in scripture for what is being said or advocated. This morning’s scripture tells us what we as God’s people should have as the driving force and motivation for everything we believe and do and these verses are what I try to live up to. Verse 3 encourages us to be always looking at what we believe and how we live our lives. We must be careful not to be full of ourselves, to be honest with ourselves first of all and our motivations. Then to understand how we need each other within the church. God has called us all to do something, but not everyone is necessarily called to do the same things. We must understand there is no one role in the church that is more important than another. We are simply called to embrace what God is calling us to do and support one another so God’s word goes forward. We are then encouraged to have love that is sincere. None of us would want to admit insincerity but in verse 9 we are warned about that possibility simply because it is stated to that love be sincere. Then we are told to hate evil, but to cling to what is good. There is evil in the world and we sometimes hate to be so blunt as to say it, but we are told it is ok to hate, if it is evil we hate. We are encouraged to grab hold of what is good as tightly as we can. In others words, stand up with Godly confidence on what is right and true that the Bible clearly states.

 

Throughout these verses we have read this morning, on at least three occasions we are told to live humbly before God and our fellow believers. In verse 3, verse 10, and verse 16 we are being told to watch out for what motivates us. As we walk humbly before the Lord, we are at the same time encouraged to never be lacking in zeal, but to keep our, as it says, spiritual fervor. All of this under the banner of serving the Lord.

 

Then we are given a checklist of things that should be flowing through us as God’s children:

1.                 Be joyful in hope.

2.                 Be patient in affliction.

3.                 Be faithful in Prayer.

4.                 Share with God’s people, practice hospitality.

5.                 Bless those who persecute.

6.                 Rejoice with those who rejoice.

7.                 Mourn with those who mourn.

8.                 Live in harmony with one another.

9.                 Associate with everyone.

10.      Do not be conceited.

11.      Do not repay anyone evil for evil.

12.      As much as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

13.      Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome with good.

 

Wow! What a list! How are you doing with that?

 

I encourage you to mark these verses in your Bible and

refer to them from time to time to do the self-evaluation we are encouraged to do. I skipped the warning of verse 19 to not take revenge ourselves but to leave it to God.

 

So, what is the point to this morning’s message? The title is “Walk humbly with the Lord.” I may say things from the pulpit that not everyone agrees with. I will do my best to explain what I feel led me to share and back it up from the Bible itself.

 

These verses remind us how much God needs all of us doing what God has and is calling us to do. We are all equally important in God’s eyes. Walking humbly before God should always be a characteristic of a Christian. At the same time, if we are being led by the Holy Spirit and using the Bible in an honest and accurate way to share God’s truth, we cannot allow the world to lead us to compromise.

 

Thank you for your faithfulness and your commitment to the Lord. We may not always agree on everything but may God’s spirit always guide and direct us as we seek to share God’s love, mercy, grace and righteousness as we are encouraged to do. To keep us on the right track, we have been given no less than 13 different guiding principles here in Romans 12 to refer to as we live out our lives for Christ.

 

God loves you and I also love and appreciate what this congregation has meant to this community in the past and look forward to what God will do through you and me in the future. God bless you all.

Pastor Larry

CERRO GORDO CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN

August 14, 2022

 

Walk Humbly with the Lord

Romans 12:3-18, 21

 

I am going to start this morning by sharing very briefly what I shared in more detail at executive committee meeting Wednesday night. We have not had an in-depth discussion about what truly is the main driving force for the faith and beliefs I have. The only church, the only denomination I have ever been a part of is The Church of the Brethren, so one might believe I am in agreement with most all that The Church of the Brethren from top to bottom believes. The fact of the matter is I have never been guided by what this or any denomination believes or advocates.

 

What has been the motivation for what I believe is plainly and simply the understanding I have been led to by the Holy Sirit from the Bible itself. I have been challenged by the teaching of this denomination and the events happening in this nation and world to find answers and understanding from the Bible and only the Bible. You and I can read books about the Bible and faith but the final reason for any of us to believe what we believe should be confirmed in God’s holy guide book, the Bible. You should not go by what I say or what any other Bible scholar of theology says if it cannot be backed up in scripture.

 

I wanted to start this morning by pointing out there is much in what the leadership in The Church of the Brethren currently advocates that I do not agree with and my reason for that is not because I just do not like it. It is because I do not see a basis in scripture for what is being said or advocated. This morning’s scripture tells us what we as God’s people should have as the driving force and motivation for everything we believe and do and these verses are what I try to live up to. Verse 3 encourages us to be always looking at what we believe and how we live our lives. We must be careful not to be full of ourselves, to be honest with ourselves first of all and our motivations. Then to understand how we need each other within the church. God has called us all to do something, but not everyone is necessarily called to do the same things. We must understand there is no one role in the church that is more important than another. We are simply called to embrace what God is calling us to do and support one another so God’s word goes forward. We are then encouraged to have love that is sincere. None of us would want to admit insincerity but in verse 9 we are warned about that possibility simply because it is stated to that love be sincere. Then we are told to hate evil, but to cling to what is good. There is evil in the world and we sometimes hate to be so blunt as to say it, but we are told it is ok to hate, if it is evil we hate. We are encouraged to grab hold of what is good as tightly as we can. In others words, stand up with Godly confidence on what is right and true that the Bible clearly states.

 

Throughout these verses we have read this morning, on at least three occasions we are told to live humbly before God and our fellow believers. In verse 3, verse 10, and verse 16 we are being told to watch out for what motivates us. As we walk humbly before the Lord, we are at the same time encouraged to never be lacking in zeal, but to keep our, as it says, spiritual fervor. All of this under the banner of serving the Lord.

 

Then we are given a checklist of things that should be flowing through us as God’s children:

1.                 Be joyful in hope.

2.                 Be patient in affliction.

3.                 Be faithful in Prayer.

4.                 Share with God’s people, practice hospitality.

5.                 Bless those who persecute.

6.                 Rejoice with those who rejoice.

7.                 Mourn with those who mourn.

8.                 Live in harmony with one another.

9.                 Associate with everyone.

10.      Do not be conceited.

11.      Do not repay anyone evil for evil.

12.      As much as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

13.      Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome with good.

 

Wow! What a list! How are you doing with that?

 

I encourage you to mark these verses in your Bible and

refer to them from time to time to do the self-evaluation we are encouraged to do. I skipped the warning of verse 19 to not take revenge ourselves but to leave it to God.

 

So, what is the point to this morning’s message? The title is “Walk humbly with the Lord.” I may say things from the pulpit that not everyone agrees with. I will do my best to explain what I feel led me to share and back it up from the Bible itself.

 

These verses remind us how much God needs all of us doing what God has and is calling us to do. We are all equally important in God’s eyes. Walking humbly before God should always be a characteristic of a Christian. At the same time, if we are being led by the Holy Spirit and using the Bible in an honest and accurate way to share God’s truth, we cannot allow the world to lead us to compromise.

 

Thank you for your faithfulness and your commitment to the Lord. We may not always agree on everything but may God’s spirit always guide and direct us as we seek to share God’s love, mercy, grace and righteousness as we are encouraged to do. To keep us on the right track, we have been given no less than 13 different guiding principles here in Romans 12 to refer to as we live out our lives for Christ.

 

God loves you and I also love and appreciate what this congregation has meant to this community in the past and look forward to what God will do through you and me in the future. God bless you all.

Pastor Larry


Announcements:

 

 

 

Tuesday 9:30 Bible Study

 

September 10 Work Day—meal provided by Women’s Fellowship

 

Offering plates are in the back of the sanctuary. Thank you for your continued giving!

 

Donation Box: AC bills

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

Duane Born family; Judy Tuvall and family; Devon Wright; Mike Nuding; Michelle West; Carolyn Hirsch; Eli Brunner; Nancy Fansler; Joe Waltz; Doug Larrick; Anna Rose Larrick; Ron & Kathleen Petersen; Anna Gentry Thompson; Louis & Carol Sulwer; Maralyn Heckman; Debbie Leibrock; Dorthea Wood; Sonna Hall; Tina Wilhelm; Baby Tate; Bryce Ashenfelter; Mindy Sawyer; Marlene Schultz; Sarah Rudelick; Carl and Wilma Cable; Mike and Carol Seidenstricker;  Adiline Young; Kim Lehmann; Doug Fansler; Candy Dobson; 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 those who have died from COVID-19; those who are ill from the virus; victims of disasters; victims of shootings; nursing home residents; 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 Peoria congregation

 

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.