September 10 Sermon and Announcements

 CERRO GORDO CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN

September 10, 2023

EVEN IF

Daniel 3:1-18

As we get started this morning, I would like to have a song

played by the Christian group, Rend Collective. The song title is,

“Hallelujah Anyway”. There is a lot being said in this song. I was

drawn to this song because of the honesty that is stated in it. At

times I feel some Christian leaders want to claim that

everything is going to work out the way we want it to if we only

have enough faith and God just doesn’t promise that.

God has promised to be with us. In Isaiah 41:10 we read, “So do

not fear for I am with you, do not be dismayed for I am your

God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will uphold you with

my righteous right hand.” I would like for us to look at the

honest situations the song we listened to throws out.

EVEN IF

By Rend Collective

“I will find a way to praise you from the bottom of my broken

heart.”

“I’ll find a way to than you through bitterness is read and hard

cause I’d rather take a chance on hope than fall apart.

I don’t think ‘m ready to surrender to the dark.

Even if my daylight never dawns.

Even if my breakthrough never comes.

Even if I’ll fight to be you praise.

Even my dreams fall to the ground.

Even if I’m lost, I know I’m found.

Even if my heart will somehow say Hallelujah anyway.

I’ll hear a hymn of triumph in the wilderness of my lament in

the lowlands or the mountaintops I won’t forget.

All the goodness that you have shown me, the promises you

have kept. There’s better days on the horizon up ahead.

Let’s look at what was going on with Shadrach, Meshach and

Abednego. They had a choice to make – Bow down to the

manmade gods of King Nebuchadnezzar or face certain death.

They could have said to themselves, “God would know that we

don’t mean it. God will forgive us.” But instead, they chose to

take a stand for their God. They without hesitation said, “We

know our God can save us but even if he doesn’t, we will not

bow down and worship your god.” These 3 young men were

faced with a choice – bow down and seemingly save their lives

or stay true to God. They knew even if God did not save their

lives from the furnace, better things were waiting for them. As

strong in the faith as these 3 young men were in this situation, I

was thinking, “Is there anyone in scripture that went through

anywhere near all the things mentioned in the song and yet

remained faithful to God?” I thought of one man who in many

ways stands alone. Do you know who I am referring to? Job. We

have talked about Job before. He loved the Lord with all his

heart. Job loved his family and did all he could to protect them.

God blessed Job with all kinds of success. Without Job having

any idea why, things suddenly began to change. His livestock

was stolen or killed, his land was taken from him, all of his sons

and daughters died. Job had sickness that caused him to be

unable to do virtually anything. Job’s wife and friends offered

no support. There seemed to be no end in sight for what he

was going through yet he remained faithful to God.

When I first really listed to this song, I was challenged to ask

myself, “How would I, how do I respond if and when I never see

the answers I am praying for if my breakthrough never comes?”

One could say this is a kind of depressing song, because it

doesn’t promise everything will work out okay as many

Christian songs do, but the more I listened to this song, it has

become a song of victory to me.

Will we only praise God when we at least see some victories?

Satan said to God about Job, the only reason he praises you is

because you have blessed him with so much. Take it away and

see what happens. So, God allowed Satan to do just that to Job

and yet he still remained true to God.

What about you and me? I know each one here has had trials in

your lives. I also am pretty sure you have seen God’s blessings

at times as well. What if you never have another full-blown

victory the rest of your life? Will you, will I say, even if I don’t

see another victory in this life, my heart will somehow say,

“Hallelujah anyway!” What a testimony of our faith that would

be to a world that is searching for something honest and true to

believe in.

Pastor Larry

Announcements:

Sunday School 9:00

Tuesdays 9:30 Bible Study

September 13 Board Meeting—Executive Committee 6:15;

Commissions 7:00; Board 7:30

September 30 Camp Emmanuel Fish Fry; 75 th anniversary

celebration

October 1 6:00 Love Feast here

October 8 12:00 Potluck HERE with conversation and sharing

time to follow—Walt Wiltschek, District Executive, will be

present; area churches are invited.

Needed: Children’s message volunteers. Sign up in back.

Donation Box: utilities

First Sundays: food donations for food banks

Pastor Larry Traxler- (217) 454-2362

Keep in Your Prayers

Sharon Lee Traughber (Bill’s wife); Pam and Tom; Iva

Traughber Brunner; Nora Hanaver; Jonah Martina; Jan Bower;

Larry Traxler; Randy West; Michelle West; Michelle’s mom;

Carolyn Hirsch; Eli Brunner; Nancy Fansler; 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; Maui fire victims

Military and Other Services and their families

Brethren Volunteer Service workers; Disaster project workers

District Prayer Calendar: Pray for the Girard congregation and

Girard Area Homes.

 CERRO GORDO CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN

August 27, 2023

Are We Good Enough?

Romans 3:21-23

What we are looking at this morning was inspired by something

I saw on TV while we were gone last week. I have a bad habit of

feeling the need to have the television on when I go to bed.

Cathy does not want the television on and I would probably

either feel more guilty or try harder to go to sleep with the TV

off if it was not for the fact that most nights within minutes,

almost seconds, of Cathy’s head hitting the pillow she is asleep.

When I ask her how she can do that, she simply says “That’s

what I go to bed for. To sleep.”

Anyway, one of the first nights we were gone I woke up during

the early morning hours and there was a guy on TV speaking to

an audience about Christians. I did not see the beginning of this

broadcast so I do not know if it explained who he was

specifically talking to or not, but I became interested in what he

was saying so I continued to watch. He seemed to be talking to

a group that apparently had a lot of people in it who were not

professing Christians. He basically seemed to be attacking

current Christians for what he claimed most all believed. He

was saying Christians believe if they do good over 50% of the

time that that is enough to satisfy God. If you do alright 60 or

70% of the time, that really is good and that is good enough for

God. That is what he was implying, virtually every professing

Christian today believes. I continued to listen. I was thinking, “Is

he right? Is that what most believers actually believe?” I was

convinced this must be some atheist or agnostic, someone who

is not a real Christian. He was basically virtually throwing every

modern-day Christian under the bus, saying every Christian

today is a hypocrite who has convinced themselves that being a

basically good person most of the time satisfies God.

I may have mentioned this before but once upon a time 40+

years ago that attitude was in a way my attitude. After all, I

went to church almost every Sunday and tried to be a good

person, so I felt I was doing more than most of the people in

America and around the world so God has to respect the effort,

doesn’t he? During that time in my life 40 years ago, the Lord

led me to really read His word. Then at the church in LaPlace at

that time we had a young adult Sunday School class led by Fern

Doolin who encouraged us to look truly at God’s word for truth

and direction. During that time my thoughts and my attitudes

began to change. The Lord led me to scriptures like what we

read this morning in Romans 3:23. That all have sinned and

have fallen short of the glory of God. I had to concede that yes,

that means you, Larry. So, as I continued to seek answers, I was

led to more and more scriptures that sometimes seemed to

give the answers I needed and sometimes seemed to make

things more confusing. I was led to what is said in Ephesians

2:8-9. I like the way it is said in the King James version where it

says: “For we are saved by grace through faith and that not of

yourselves, it is the gift of God and not of works lest any man

should boast.” So here I was being told it is only by God’s grace

that I am saved. It does not matter how good I am or how good

I think I am that saves me. Then I was led to the scripture in

James 2 verse 14-26 where we see a somewhat different story

being told than what is said in Ephesians. I am not going to read

all those verses but in verse 26, we see the point of what is

being said. Again, because I like the flow of the King James

version, I will share that version with you. Verse 26 simply says,

“As the body without the spirit is dead, faith without works is

dead also.”

These three sets of scripture are what the Lord has used in my

life to keep me focused, but as I listened to this man speaking

to a group of what seemed to be primarily people who weren’t

professing Christians, I kept wondering, “Where is he going with

this? Is he right?” He seemed to be saying to not worry about

Christians, they are no better off than anyone who is not a

Christian. I thought, “Is this guy similar to the people John and

Jude were warning about trying to slip something else in to

people who are willing to listen?” Finally in the final 5 or 10

minutes of the broadcast he got to it. He explained everyone is

on a level playing field. He did state that the only way anyone is

good enough is because of what Jesus did for us all on the

cross. It all comes down to us receiving and accepting that

mercy and grace shown to us and spoken of in Romans 5:8,

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this while we

were yet sinners Christ died for us.” So finally, this man got to

the heart of what Christianity is all about.

As I still was thinking of what he had said through most of the

broadcast I had to ask myself the question that seemed to be

his main focus. Do most Christians believe being a basically

good person is all we need to be saved? Did this man really

believe most Christians think being good 60 to 70% of the time

is what God is okay with? So, as I searched myself for what I felt

this man and perhaps God was challenging me to think about, I

am asking you to answer the same question. If we do good

most of the time is that good enough? Are most professing

Christians hypocrites as this guy seemed to imply? Do we

believe it is the things we do that saves us or is it what God did

for us that saves us? If it is what God did for us, what does that

mean?

We are going to stop it here this morning. We will pick it up at

this point next Sunday. As God has challenged me to look at

myself and what I believe, I ask you this week to answer these

questions for yourself as well. Can we be good enough on our

own? If so, what does that mean to you? If not, if we believe

we need God’s saving action, what does that mean? The other

big question is are we Christians too often viewed as hypocrites

by the unbelieving world? If you think that might be true, why

do you think that is and how can we change that belief?

Pastor Larry

Announcements:

Sunday School 9:00

Tuesdays 9:30 Bible Study

August 30 11:30 Women’s Fellowship luncheon—Judy’s Kitchen--RSVP to Nancy Born Martin

August 30 Newsletter submission deadline

September 6 School supplies deadline

September 13 Board Meeting

Needed: Children’s message volunteers. Sign up in back.

 

 

Donation Box: AC bills

First Sundays: food donations for food banks

Pastor Larry Traxler- (217) 454-2362

 

Keep in Your Prayers

 

Pam and Tom; Iva Traughber Brunner; Nora Hanaver; Jonah Martina; Jan Bower; Larry Traxler; Michelle West; Michelle’s mom; Carolyn Hirsch; Eli Brunner; Nancy Fansler; 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; Maui fire victims

Military and Other Services and their families

Brethren Volunteer Service workers; Disaster project workers

District Prayer Calendar: Pray for the Oak Grove congregation and for the Church of the Brethren Global Food Initiative.

Sermon and Announcements July 30

 Announcements:

Tuesdays 9:30 Bible Study

Sunday School 9:00

July 31-Aug 4 6:00 – 8:30 pm VBS at Methodist Church

Aug 5 2:00-4:00 pm, Born Park, CUIC ice cream social

Our Upper Room subscription was inadvertently canceled.

Please tell Nancy Born Martin if you would like to receive it

again. We will resume the subscription if enough want this

devotional. The Daily Bread devotional is in the back of the sanctuary.

Needed: Children’s message volunteers. Sign up in back.

Donation Box: AC bills

First Sundays: food donations for food banks

Pastor Larry Traxler- (217) 454-2362

Keep in Your Prayers

Pam and Tom; Carolyn Fansler; Iva Traughber Brunner; Nora

Hanaver; Todd Henricks; 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

Military and Other Services and their families

Brethren Volunteer Service workers; Disaster project workers

District Prayer Calendar: Pray for the Champaign congregation.

Sermon:

CERRO GORDO CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN

July 30, 2023

No Excuses!

Jude 17-25

We are going to take a look at what God expects of His

people this morning. This can take at least a couple of

different turns. I shared with you a few of the issues the

church and society are dealing with at this time a couple

weeks ago. We could expand that in more detail and in

many other directions but we are not going to do that

today.

As we begin today, I would like to share with you one of

the dominant themes God has established for His people

beginning in Genesis and going consistently all the way

through to the last verses of Revelation. It may not be

what you would immediately think. For one thing as we

have looked at the Ten Commandments as well as a

couple of the other rules or laws given to Moses found in

either Genesis or Leviticus, we see God establishing a

stand to live by for His people. Jesus made it clear what

should motivate us to do our best to obey those laws.

Love. In fact, as we look at the laws given to mankind

through Moses by God when Jesus was asked what is the

greatest commandment this was his answer. We see this

answer:

Matthew 22:36-40 NIV

“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart

and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first

and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love

your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang

on these two commandments.”

So, one can truly and accurately say love is the most

dominant theme in scripture. However, this is not the only

dominant theme God gave us throughout His word. There

is one more. Personal responsibility, no excuses. In the

beginning after God created man and woman, what

happened? There were lots of trees in the Garden of

Eden. They could eat from every tree or of any plant they

wanted except one. God commanded that they do not eat

from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. And what

happened? Eve allowed herself to be deceived by Satan

and at of that tree. She hadn’t anymore than finished

eating when Adam came along and she convinced him to

eat as well. When it became apparent to God what they

had done, what did they do? Eve made excuses, “Well the

serpent tricked me!” and what did Adam do, “Well the

woman you gave me talked me into eating of the tree!” In

both cases, “It is not my fault” was their excuse.

The next major event in scripture happened with Cain and

Abel. One offered the best he had to God; the other did

not. When God questioned Cain about his mediocre

sacrifice, how did Cain react? He refused to recognize his

error and drew Abel out to a field and killed him. When

God asked Cain where his brother was, he said he did not

know. Again, refusing to take responsibility for his own

actions.

From that point on God’s relationship with His people

would go back and forth as people would sometimes

admit to their sins and at other times try to pretend, they

were doing nothing wrong and make excuses.

In the New Testament Paul went as far as to say this.

2 Thessalonians 3:10 NIV

For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “The

one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.”

In verses 6-9 Paul goes into detail about what lead him to

share that warning. Once again, no excuses. It is up to

you to do the right thing in the eyes of God and as an

example to others around you. With all this being said,

what does the Lord expect of the church today? Are we to

honor and value the commandments God gave to Moses

all these thousands of years ago still today? Did Moses

make them up because those are what he thought were

the right way to honor God? Did they apply to God’s

people thousands of years ago, but it is a different world

today? We know so much more than they did back then,

after all.

In biblical times it was often thought that every bad thing

that happened to a believer happened because they or

their parent or family or village committed sin. Jesus

dismissed this belief to a degree when he was asked

about a man who was born blind. In John Chapter 9 we

see this situation. Jesus’ answer was this.

John 9:3 (NIV)

“Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this

happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.

I cite this example because in reality the majority of

things that happen to us in life is a direct result of the

choices we make but not every one of them. When we see

bad things happening in our lives more times than not,

we can look at a choice we made that brought it on. One

pastor once said this very simple statement, “Choose to

sin, choose to suffer.” Yes, it is true. Some things happen

we just do not understand and may never understand in

this life. However, let’s get back to the title of today’s

message, No Excuses.

If we believe God gave Moses those very detailed rules or

laws, why did He do it? There are a couple of reasons but

the main one was because God created us and know

what is best for us. If we were capable of obeying all of

them, we would live an incredibly happy, healthy life. But

because sin entered the world with Adam and Eve, it is

simply impossible to obey them all. Satan is alive and

well and still tricking and deceiving even the godliest men

and women. That is why our salvation, our victory is in

what Jesus Christ did for us on the cross.

I had hoped to wrap up our look at the church and society

and what we as God’s people are to do in this modern

world today, but I apologize, it is going to take one more

Sunday. We are going to stop here this morning and look

next Sunday at what it all means to you me and God’s

church in today’s world. Can we live a “no excuses life”?

When we look at God’s word and how we are to apply it to

our lives, what does that really mean? I pray the Holy

Spirit will give us those answers as we seek to serve God

and be His arms, feet, hands, ears, voice and heart to a

world he wants to have fellowship with.

Pastor Larry

Sermon and Announcements for July 9

 CERRO GORDO CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN

July 9, 2023

What About Us?

Colossians 3:1-10

We began a couple of week ago looking at Jude’s

concern for the churches. Jude saw there were those

trying to distort, dilute and in some way, do away with the

message Jesus and the apostles had given them.

Last week we took a look at the 10 Commandments that

had been given to Moses. We saw that Jesus had seemed

to state the 10 Commandments should still be viewed as

an important guide for all of God’s people. Jude seemed

to say the same thing. As we wrapped things up last

week, I felt the Lord asking you and me whether we

believe these commandments as well as the other laws

still apply in the churches and in our lives today.

Today we read what was said to the Colossians by Paul

about sin and the victory we have in Jesus. In verse 5

Paul says we should, “Put to death whatever belongs to

your earthly nature.” As we read that list most of most, if

not all of us probably thought this one isn’t a problem

and this one is no problem and so on. Were there any that

made you say, “Well I don’t see what the big deal about

that is?”

As we look at the list Paul was inspired to warn the

Colossians about, I noticed that virtually everyone of

them could be tied to the last 6 of the 10 commandments,

which also means that they also have to do with all of the

10 Commandments when you get down to it. In verse 10

we are reminded that if we have truly received Jesus

Christ as our Savior we should be growing in the love and

knowledge of God. Jude in his concern was talking to all

the churches here, on this occasion Paul is just talking to

the Colossians. In both cases the concern is not about

unbelievers, it is for those who are believers.

As we look at all we have read the past couple of weeks,

what does it mean to the church today? We could go

back to Exodus and Leviticus and read more detailed

laws or rules for living God gave to Moses to pass on to

the people. These laws, though they were given

thousands of years ago, address many of the issues the

church and the world face today. So, should we be

concerned about any of these “laws”, these rules for

living today?

After all, in Romans, Chapter 5, verse 21 and 22 we read,

“The Law was added so that the trespass might increase.

But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, so

that just as sin reigned in death so also grace might reign

thru righteousness to bring eternal life thru Jesus Christ

our Lord.”

As we see the concern by Paul, by Jude and the fact that

during Jesus’ ministry he believed the Law still had

meaning, what does any of this mean for us today? Do we

believe the 10 Commandments are exactly what they have

been called? Or do we view them as the

10 suggestions? Or the 10 thoughts to consider. Does

God still want the church today to use these 10 as an

essential guide to the heart of God? It is not easy or fun

to talk about sin for any of us. If we believe the Bible is

still the book that leads the church and all to believe to

salvation. We are forced to face the fact stated in

Romans 3:23, “All have sinned and fallen short of the

glory of God.”

For very personal reasons some sins highlighted in

scripture are more difficult for us to deal with and

acknowledge than others. We are going to spend one

more Sunday on the subject. I pray the Holy Spirit will

direct our look at this most difficult subject. What does

God expect of you and me, His church today? Do these

laws matter still today or in an ever-changing world have

they become outdated?

Next week we will look at some of the specific social

issues facing this nation and the church today. I pray the

Lord, with the Holy Spirit’s guidance, will help us

understand just what it means to be a follower of Christ

and a child of God today. It does not matter what I say or I

think. It doesn’t matter what you think about these things.

What matters is what God expects of us and what he

thinks should be guiding us. I am looking forward to what

the Lord is going to do through you and me right here in

Cerro Gord. May we each come next week with open

hearts and open minds to see what the Lord has in store

for us.

Pastor Larry

Announcements:

Tuesdays 9:30 Bible Study

Sunday School 9:00

July 26 Full Board—6:15 executive committee; 7:00

commissions; 7:30 board

July 28, 29 Town rummage sales

July 31-Aug 4 VBS at Methodist Church

Aug 5 CUIC ice cream social

Needed: Children’s message volunteers. Sign up in back.

Madalyn Metzger, who grew up in the Springfield church, was

consecrated as the 2024 Moderator of Annual Conference.

BVS is celebrating 75 years. A new book is out to

commemorate this outstanding organization.

Donation Box: AC bills

First Sundays: food donations for food banks

Pastor Larry Traxler- (217) 454-2362

Keep in Your Prayers

Kenny Blair family; family of Valeria Martin; Pam and Tom; Carolyn Fansler; Iva Traughber Brunner; Nora Hanaver; 

Todd Henricks; 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

Military and Other Services and their families

Brethren Volunteer Service workers; Disaster project workers

District Prayer Calendar: Pray for Camp Emmaus as it also

celebrates its 75 th year and all the campers and workers.

July 2 Sermon and Announcements

 CERRO GORDO CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN

July 2, 2023

Back to the Basics

Do these still apply?

Exodus 20:1-17

This morning I am going to refer back to some of what we

read last week in Jude. In the 3 rd verse of Jude we read

how he had planned on sending a letter to the church

about their shared salvation. Kind of a letter to pump

them up and help them to keep moving forward. However,

just like John, Jude became away that there were people

distorting the word of God and Jesus’ message about

righteousness and how to achieve true salvation. So Jude

changed his letter to bring the churches back to the

basics.

I would like to read again from the commentary to show

what is meant in verse 3 of de as he explains the

importance of this letter. Jude explains the important

relationship between correct doctrine and true faith.

Loving God means obeying Jesus. The truth of the Bible

must not be compromised because it gives us the real

facts about Jesus and salvation. The Bible is inspired by

God and should never be twisted or manipulated. When it

is we can become confused over right and wrong and

lose sight of the only path that leads to eternal life. Before

writing about salvation then, Jude felt he had to set his

readers on the right track, calling them back to the basics

of their faith. Then the way to salvation would be clearer.

The 4 th verse of Jude explains exactly what is happening

in the churches. It says, continuing from verse 3, “I say

this because some ungodly people have wormed their

way into your churches, saying God’s marvelous grace

allows us to live immoral lives. The condemnation of

such people have denied our only master and Lord,

Jesus Christ." What brought such concern to Jude was

false teachers were teaching that Christians could do

whatever they liked without fear of God’s punishment.

In chapter 6 of Romans Paul voiced the same concerns.

He went as far as to say in the final verse of chapter 6,

“The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal

life in Christ Jesus, our Lord." Before we go over and look

again at the 10 commandments I would like to share with

you about what Jesus said about the laws and how

important he felt they were.

In Matthew 5, verse 17 and 18 Jesus says this, “Do not

think that I have come to abolish the law and the

prophets. I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill

them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth

disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of

the pen, will by any means disappear from the law until

everything is accomplished.”

So, we see not only what Jude was saying about what

Jesus taught and about God’s word, we see Jesus went

as far as to say that until heaven and earth disappear not

the least of what is written will disappear. The law has

always been considered to be contained in the first five

books of the Bible (the Old Testament). So when Jesus

was talking about the law he meant all the things

discussed in the history of those five books, which are

Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Deuteronomy and Numbers.

So, with that setting the stage, let us take another look at

what we call The Ten Commandments. Basically, the first

4 commandments have to do with what God sees as our

relationship, honor and respect for him. The last 6 have to

do with our relationship with one another. All ten taken

together will show how much we love and respect the

Lord, not just by how we treat the first 4 commandments,

but also how we treated the people God has put in our

lives.

The first 2 commandments are closely tied together. The

1 st simply states, “You shall have no gods before me.”

There is a very simple message to this commandment.

God knows he is the only true God and there is no point

in believing there is any other God to honor. The 2 nd

commandment warns that in spite of what I just told you

in the first commandment some of you may still be

tempted to make other gods to worship.

At the time Moses was given these laws by God they had

just come out of Egypt. Egypt had many gods including

the Pharoah who himself thought of himself as a god.

God didn’t want his people confused by what they had

lived in and seen for their whole lives in Egypt. Once

again God felt it necessary to bring his people back to the

basics, especially since they would soon be ruling

themselves in the new land God was leading them to.

In the 2 nd commandment God warns about making idols

from things the true creator of all things had created. God

also then warns that he is a jealous God punishing those

who ignore this commandment to the 3 rd and 4 th

generation but blessing those who keep this

commandment to a thousand generations. The 3 rd

commandment being about misusing the name of God.

The King James version warns of taking the Lord’s name

in vain. We should only use God’s name in ways to glorify

him, never carelessly or in ways that do not show respect

to God.

The 4 th commandment talks of respect for the Sabbath. At

this time, it meant Saturday, the last day of the week. The

way to remember the Sabbath as God wants us to is to

have a day of rest and reflection on God’s goodness and

mercy. This was to apply to everyone in one’s household,

including servants.

Once again, these first 4 commandments have to do with

how we relate directly with God. The next 6 have to do

with our relationship with our fellow man or with one

another. The 5 th commandment has to do with our

relationship with our parents; it is also a commandment

with a promise. “Honor your father and mother and I,

God, will grant you a long life in the land I am about to

give you.” The 6th commandment, “Do not commit

murder." Pretty simple and straightforward. What is meant

by murder is an intentional, unjustified taking of another

person’s life. The 7 th commandment has to do with

marriage between a man and a woman. God expects men

and women to be faithful to one another. The 8 th

commandment, “Do not steal.” Once again pretty simple.

God never believes stealing cannot be justified for any

reason. The 9 th commandment, “Do not give false

testimony.” This may have meant in a court type setting,

but basically God is saying it is never good to lie. The 10 th

and final commandment is, “Thou shall not covet.” God

then explains several examples of what he means. God

knows if people are more worried and obsessed with

what others have than being content with what you do

have you will never be happy. And it could lead you to do

things that will cause you to sin against your fellow man

and that is sinning against God.

So, do these apply to us today? Were these given only to

God’s people so they would get on the right track after

leaving Egypt. Over 1,000 years after God gave these to

Moses Jesus stated they were still in effect. After Jesus

ascending back to the Father, John and Jude were

warning the people what Jesus said about God’s word

was still important to apply to your life.

Here we are 2000 years after John and Jude wrote to the

churches, does their warnings still apply to the church

today? These 10 commandments are an overview of what

God gave Moves later in Exodus and in the book of

Leviticus in much more detail. The warnings John and

Jude gave were to the churches, not to unbelievers. They

knew before the church can make a difference n

unbelievers’ lives the church need to honor and respect

God and His word.

Does the church believe the 10 commandments and all

the laws given to Moses by God have purpose and

meaning today? What do you and I believe?

Annual Conference begins Tuesday. What does our

denomination believe about these laws and Jesus’ words

about these laws? Is Satan and this world shaping what

we believe as a church or is the word of God?

Next week we will get into the details a bit more before we

try to come up with that answer.

Pastor Larry

Announcements:

NO Bible Study this week

Sunday School 9:00

July 4-8 Annual Conference in Cincinnati

July 26 Full Board (note date change)

July 31-Aug 4 VBS at Methodist Church

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

Keep in Your Prayers

Carolyn Fansler; Iva Traughber Brunner; Nora Hanaver; Todd

Henricks; 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

Military and Other Services and their families

Brethren Volunteer Service workers; Disaster project workers

District Prayer Calendar: Pray for Annual Conference and the

work of delegates, officers, and Standing Committee. Also pray

for safe traveling for all who attend.

Father's Day Sermon and Announcements

 CERRO GORDO CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN

June 18, 2023

A Loving Compassionate Father

Genesis 27:30-14

To all of you fathers Happy Father’s Day! It would have been

easy to talk of the greatest father of all time. No, I must admit I

am not talking about any of you here today but maybe I

should be. I am talking about our Heavenly Father. He, of

course, has done everything he can for us, his children. Even

to the point of Jesus Christ, God the Son, paid the price for

our sins. Yes, that would have been a natural choice, but this

morning we are going to spend a few minutes to look at

another father found in scripture. Isaac – Isaac is famous for

being the son who looked like he was going to be sacrificed

for the sins of the people of that day. Isaac was the one God

had promised would have so many descendants you couldn’t

count them all. Yet it looked like that was never going to

happen for a little while. Ultimately Isaac came to understand,

as best he could, the role God had given him to carry out. It

looked like Isaac and his wife, Rebekah, were going to have

the same problem his father, Abraham and Sarah, his mother,

had.

The promise of God was to continue through Isaac and yet

when he and his wife sought to have children nothing was

happening, much like Isaacs’ parents. In chapter 25 of

Genesis, verse 21 we see Isaac praying to God his wife could

have children. God answered Isaac’s prayer and Rebekah

became pregnant, but something strange happened

throughout her pregnancy. She could feel strange movements

going on inside her during this time. She became so

concerned she sought answers from the Lord. In chapter 25,

verse 23 we see what God told her. “The Lord said to her.

Two nations are in your womb, and two people from within

you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the

other, and the older will serve the younger.” So even before

these twins were born there was some jockeying for position

going on.

Let us look at what happens at the birth of these two boys and

then what happens once the boys are growing into manhood.

Genesis 25:24-34

New International Version

24  When the time came for her to give birth, there were twin boys in her womb.  25  The first to

come out was red, and his whole body was like a hairy garment; so they named him

Esau. [a]   26  After this, his brother came out, with his hand grasping Esau’s heel; so he was

named Jacob. [b]  Isaac was sixty years old when Rebekah gave birth to them. 27  The boys grew

up, and Esau became a skillful hunter, a man of the open country, while Jacob was content to

stay at home among the tents.  28  Isaac, who had a taste for wild game, loved Esau, but

Rebekah loved Jacob. 29  Once when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau came in from the

open country, famished.  30  He said to Jacob, “Quick, let me have some of that red stew! I’m

famished!” (That is why he was also called Edom. [c] ) 31  Jacob replied, “First sell me your

birthright.” 32  “Look, I am about to die,” Esau said. “What good is the birthright to me?”

33  But Jacob said, “Swear to me first.” So he swore an oath to him, selling his birthright to

Jacob. 34  Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and some lentil stew. He ate and drank, and

then got up and left. So Esau despised his birthright.

So, we see even at the time of their birth the younger son is

trying to claim a spot with his brother. As the boys grew, we

read that Isaac had a deeper love for Esau and Rebekah had

a deeper love for Jacob. To understand how things worked at

this time in Israel’s history even though the two were twins

born at most a minute apart the first to be delivered was

entitled to all the blessings from his father, Isaac when that

time came. In the verses we read to close out chapter 25 we

see on of the things the firstborn was entitled to was the

birthright. Esau clearly did not understand the value of the

family birthright or just did not care because he basically gave

it away for something to eat and drink.

As we now move ahead to what we read for our scripture this

morning we read for our scripture we see Isaac’s health is

failing and he decides it is time to give his firstborn the

blessing that will be honored by God all that son’s days. In

the verses we did not read in the chapter 27 Isaac tells Esau,

“Prepare some food for me just the way I like it and at that

time I will give you the blessing God has for you.” What Isaac

did not know is that Rebekah, his wife, was listening to what

he told Esau to do and came up with a plan to have her

favorite, Jacob, get Esau’s blessing. Isaac was blind at this

time and after Rebekah prepared the food, she had Jacob

pretend to be Esau and take the meal into his father. After

Isaac had eaten the food, he then proceeded to give Jacob

the blessing that was supposed to be Esau’s. Jacob left Isaac

as soon as he got the blessing just before Esau got there with

the food he had prepared. Isaac was confused by what was

happening. Instantly Esau realized what had happened.

Saying Jacob stole by birthright, now he has stolen my

blessing. Esau began to beg his father, “Don’t you have a

blessing for me too?” Isaac conceded Jacob will have power

over you, what id one is done. But Esau continued, “Don’t you

have anything for me?” Finally, Isaac said to Esau, “Your

dwelling will be away from the earth’s richness, away from the

dew of heaven above. You will live by the sword and you will

serve your brother, but when you grow restless you will throw

his yoke from off your neck.”

I believe Isaac loved both of his sons but Esau held a special

place n his heart because Esaw the more like him. So, while

Isaac did not condemn Jacob for doing what he did, he tried to

do all he could for Esau.

To go back to what the Lord told Rebekah during her

pregnancy God made it clear what would happen between

these two boys. Unlike Jewish tradition the older son would be

subject to the younger son. Isaac was probably told this way

back at the time by Rebekah but had forgot about it until now.

Isaac knew he could not change God’s plan s. He had

experienced how God works when he was a young man with

his dad, Abraham.

As you look at this extraordinary story, I ask you fathers here

this morning, “Have you even been in a position with your

children when it looked like you favored one over another?” If

so, did it create conflict between your children, maybe even

your wife?

While Isaac did not do what he did on purpose, you can see

the regret and sorrow he felt about what had happened. Even

though I believe Isaac ultimately realized this was part of

God’s plan for His people he still felt terrible for his oldest son.

The blessings a father gave before God was binding. God

honored these blessings. So while Isaac conceded Esau

would be subject to Jacob his blessing for Esau stated there

will come a time in which he will break free from his brother.

May the love and compassion Isaac had for his son who felt

left out and one might say abandoned be part of every father,

grandfather, great grandfather here today. Sometimes those

sons and daughters, those grandchildren need our support

and encouragement that only a dad or grandpa can give. I will

say it again, “I believe Isaac truly loved both of these boys.”

But there came a time when one of those boys needed a

special word that only his dad could give. That is what God is

calling us men to do.

God is seeking men who will love and support first of all those

within our families. God wants each man to understand the

important role we have been given, to honor God and show

what that means to our families and then also to friends as

well as anyone God send our way.

Fathers, men, Happy Father’s Day. May God bless you and

your families and continue to use you in a mighty way. You do

make a difference, maybe in ways you may never know or

fully understand.

Pastor Larry

Announcements:

Tuesdays 9:30 Bible Study

Sunday School 9:00

June 25 4:00 Movie Night—Jesus Revolution—here

Everyone is invited. There will be popcorn!

--Thank you to everyone who helped make the Strawberry

Festival a success! It takes all of us.

--Sign up sheet for children’s message in July, August, Sept.

Please consider taking a turn for this important ministry.

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

Shonkwiler family in Bement; Carolyn Fansler; Iva Traughber

Brunner; Nora Hanaver; Todd Henricks; 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 &am; Darlene Hanaver;

Patty Cripe; Stacie Warren; Nancy Gorrell; manpy unspoken

requests; healthcare workers and first responders; victims of

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

Haitian Brethren; Ukraine

Military and Other Services and their families

Brethren Volunteer Service workers; Disaster project workers

District Prayer Calendar: Pray for the Martin Creek congregation

and the Global Missions office as it works with Brethren

communities around the world.

June 11 Sermon and Announcements

 CERRO GORDO CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN

June 11, 2023

What an example!

Job 1:1-22

As we approach Father’s Day, we are going to look at a man

that is not credited necessarily for being a father as much as

something else. We all have probably heard the saying that has

made Job a household name. “You have the patience of Job.”

Job endured more things than possibly anyone else in the

history of the world. If it could happen to a person, it did to Job.

In the 5 th verse we see the love and concern he had for his

children. As we read his sons loved to have feasts from time to

time where they would invite all their brothers and sisters to

join in. Job apparently did not attend these parties but was

concerned about what might be going on at them. So, when he

knew the feasts were over, he would get up early in the

morning and offer sacrifices on behalf of his children to God.

These sacrifices were the type that would cover sins against

God that might have been committed during these feasts.

In the very first verse, we read he sees Job was undeniably a

righteous and upright man before God. God had blessed Job

and his family in part because of this faithfulness and Satan was

telling God, “If you allow me to take away these blessings Job

will not be such a faithful person.” The only reason, Satan said,

that he is staying true to you is because of your blessing and

protection of Job and his family. So, God said to Satan, “Do

what you want to Job but you cannot take his life.” So, on it

began. We read how Satan had all of Job’s livestock carried off

or killed. Then Satan saw to it that at one of the sons feasts the

building collapsed, killing all of his children. After he was told

the news from the one surviving person from the feast Job’s

reaction was, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb and

naked I will depart. The Lord gave the Lord has taken away.

May the Lord be praised.” In all this Job did not sin by charging

God with wrong doing. Obviously, Job did not know it was

Satan doing all these things to him. It is true God was allowing

Satan to do these things to him and his family. Satan was

stunned that Job did not instantly turn from God and expressed

anger, even hatred and rejection of God but he didn’t. Satan

then said to God, “If you allow me to harm Job physically then

he will curse you God.” God said, “Very well you can take his

health but you cannot take his life.” So, Satan brought serious,

painful health problems to Job. In the midst of this trial Job’s

wife even said to her husband, “Why don’t you curse God and

die? That does not sound very nice or reassuring from Job’s

wife, but I am sure she was confused and disillusioned from

losing her children, their possessions and now watching her

husband go through these health problems. She knew there

was nothing she could do to help and felt maybe it would be

better for her husband if he could die.

If we were to reread all of the book of Job, you would see his

frustration and disappointment about all the things he was

going through but never would he ever truly blame God for all

his troubles. Even Job’s friends piled on wondering how he

could remain faithful to God through all the problems that

seemed to never go away. Every time someone questioned

Job’s faithfulness to God, Job would give an inspirational

answer saying, “What right do we have to expect anything from

God?” Once again Job made it clear he wasn’t happy things

were happening to him as they were but recognized God’s

sovereignty in all things. After all the things Job endured, when

his close friends tried to come up with explanations that were

not in agreement with God we see what Job said to the Lord

how God dealt with Job’s friends and what ultimately happened

to Job in verse 42 and the final chapter.

Let us read this amazing conclusion to all of the things Job

endured for such a long time.

Job 42 Then Job replied to the LORD:

2  “I know that you can do all things;

    no purpose of yours can be thwarted.

3  You asked, ‘Who is this that obscures my plans without knowledge?’

    Surely I spoke of things I did not understand,

    things too wonderful for me to know.

4  “You said, ‘Listen now, and I will speak;

    I will question you,

    and you shall answer me.’

5  My ears had heard of you

    but now my eyes have seen you.

6  Therefore I despise myself

    and repent in dust and ashes.”

Epilogue

7  After the LORD had said these things to Job, he said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “I am

angry with you and your two friends, because you have not spoken the truth about me,

as my servant Job has.  8  So now take seven bulls and seven rams and go to my servant

Job and sacrifice a burnt offering for yourselves. My servant Job will pray for you, and I

will accept his prayer and not deal with you according to your folly. You have not spoken

the truth about me, as my servant Job has.”  9  So Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the

Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite did what the LORD told them; and the LORD accepted

Job’s prayer. 10  After Job had prayed for his friends, the LORD restored his fortunes and

gave him twice as much as he had before.  11  All his brothers and sisters and everyone

who had known him before came and ate with him in his house. They comforted and

consoled him over all the trouble the LORD had brought on him, and each one gave him

a piece of silver [a]  and a gold ring. 12  The LORD blessed the latter part of Job’s life more

than the former part. He had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, a

thousand yoke of oxen and a thousand donkeys.  13  And he also had seven sons and

three daughters.  14  The first daughter he named Jemimah, the second Keziah and the

third Keren-Happuch.  15  Nowhere in all the land were there found women as beautiful as

Job’s daughters, and their father granted them an inheritance along with their brothers.

16  After this, Job lived a hundred and forty years; he saw his children and their children to

the fourth generation.  17  And so Job died, an old man and full of years.

We see God was merciful first of all to Job’s three friends that

also did not understand what and why all these things were

happening to Job. God made it clear to Job’s friends how wrong

they were about everything and then had Job himself do the

things that brought his friends back to a right relationship with

Him. Then we see God restored everything and more back to

Job when God said to Satan, “You can now see what a

tremendous man Job is and what an amazing example he is to

everyone around him.” Job was once again blessed with 7 more

sons and 3 more daughters. We see God blessed Job’s

daughters with beauty unlike anyone else. Job even did what

was not common in that day by giving his daughters an

inheritance along with their brothers.

In the final two verses of the Chapter 42, we are told Job lived

140 years. He saw his children and their children to the 4 th

generation and so he died old and full of years. Job was a

tremendous example to everyone who knew him. After

everything he endured God make sure his children, his

grandchildren even to his great, great grandchildren learning

from this man of God. Everyone can learn from this

tremendous man of faith, this tremendous man of God.

I pray that somehow all of us men can apply some of the

wisdom and faith Job has showed us in our lives. The fact also is

shown to us in this example that God does and will reward our

faithfulness. I pray also that none of us ever have to go through

anywhere close to the things Job went through, but I would

love to be a man God was so confident in that he would

consider me to be worthy to go through some of the trials Job

did.

The book of Job is such an inspirational book. I would

encourage you to read it again when you have a chance. What

an example Job is for everyone that reads and considers his

incredible life. Men, what a challenge it is to have the patience

and faith of Job. The fact is though that Job was a man just like

us. May we strive to be fathers, husbands, friends like Job was

to all of those around him. God will be with us helping us every

step of the way.

Pastor Larry

Announcements:

Tuesdays 9:30 Bible Study

Sunday School 9:00

June 14 7:00 Executive Committee

June 25 4:00 Movie Night—Jesus Revolution--here

Sign up sheet for children’s message in July, August, Sept.

Please consider taking a turn for this important ministry.

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

Carolyn Fansler; 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

Military and Other Services and their families

Brethren Volunteer Service workers; Disaster project workers

District Prayer Calendar: Pray for the Woodland congregation;

for National Junior High Conference this month; for the youth of

this district.

June 4 Sermon and Announcements

 CERRO GORDO CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN

June 4, 2023

How Far Are You Willing to Go? Part 2

1 John 3:7-24

We began this look into 1 John two weeks ago. As a quick

reminder of some of what we looked at then we know John has

been made aware of problems creeping into the churches

throughout all of the Christian world. Gnostics have come into

the churches and are sharing things that are totally different

than what had been told to the churches by the apostles. Some

of those things being told to believers were that:

(1) Jesus really did not die for your sins.

(2) Morality was not really necessary for salvation.

(3) You achieve salvation by your own efforts by becoming

more enlightened and achieving greater harmony with the

world and with yourself.

(4) Jesus was really a spirit incapable of paying the price for sins

because he really did not live like other people.

So as John writes this letter to all the churches, he is wanting to

assure them that the message they received in the beginning is

still true and changes lives. He is giving everyone a refresher

course on what the true message of salvation is. In the first

verse we read John makes it clear, do not let anyone deceive

you and lead you astray. In verse 8 he goes on to say the reason

the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work. In

verse 9 and 10 John is pointing out once we receive God’s gift

of salvation through Jesus Christ our attitudes and desires will

change. We should no longer want to continue in sin. This goes

directly to the belief Gnosticism tells you that morality has no

real value. John then goes on to point out that love should

guide everything we do. In verse 13 John wants everyone to be

aware that if you stand up for God’s laws and righteousness the

world may hate you so be ready for what that will mean. This is

the same man that wrote the gospel of John. So as we look at

1 John 3:16 it is interesting how it is similar to John 3:16. Of

course John 3:16 says, “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. In 1 John 3:16 we read, “this is

how we know what love is. Jesus Christ laid down his life for us

and we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.”

As we, the church, continue the work Jesus began, it is our turn

to potentially make the sacrifices. John then goes on to point

out sometimes those sacrifices will be of money or goods you

have that other may be lacking but have need of. John points

out if we see a brother or sister in need but are not willing to

help, is the love of God really living in us. Then he is telling the

believer about two different attitudes of our hearts. Sometimes

we may not find peace in our heart but God really knows our

hearts better than us. There will be other times we may be truly

at peace in our hearts about our relationship with God.

What is the difference John is trying to point out? In the first

case John is reminding everyone Satan is going to try to steal

the believer’s joy and confidence in Christ. Maybe you have

been a long way from the Lord but you have asked for

forgiveness and God’s word tells us God is faithful and just to

forgive us of our sins. Satan will continue to lie to you and tell

you God can never forgive you. Of course, Gnostics are trying to

tell the believers that Jesus cannot forgive your sins because he

was not able to pay the price for your sins anyway.

In the second case, your heart is in tune with God to the point

you know you have been forgiven. John is reminding the first

group God’s promises are real and you can trust God’s salvation

through Jesus Christ. John closed out these verses with this

final reminder, “Believe in the name of the Son of God, Jesus

Christ and love one another as he commanded us.” He goes on

to say those who obey his commands live in him and he in

them. And this is how we know that He lives in us. We know it

by the spirit he gave us. The Holy Spirit has been given to all

who believe to give us power to overcome Satan’s lies.

As we see the concerns John has for the church in his day, can

we see the parallels in today’s churches? Are there factions

trying to dilute the righteous laws of God today? Is the church

willing to point out that sin separates us from God? That if we

really love another as God through Christ loved us, we will lift

up God’s holy standard because that is the only way God’s

word tells us we can receive forgiveness and salvation. John

points out the contrast between love and hate by pointing out

the difference between Cain and Abel. Cain’s attitude was evil

but Abel’s desires were God’s righteousness. Again, John points

out if we stand for God’s righteous laws the world will probably

hate us. If we are willing to take a stand with God, it could cost

us everything. Are we being told that may be the cost or are we

being told there is a painless way you can get everything you

want. If we are not walking with God, Satan will try to tell us

everything is fine. God loves you. Then at other times when we

are walking with God Satan will try to tell you God can never

forgive you, you are worthless and unworthy. John wants

everyone to know, go back to the basics I told you to begin

with. The basics the other apostles may have taught you as

well. You can trust in the risen Savior Jesus Christ. God loves

you and has forgiven you of your sins, but we must continue to

lift up God’s holy standard. We must expose sin, not to be

mean or to try to say we are better than others but out of love.

Just like God we want everyone to enjoy and receive God’s

forgiveness and salvation. That is why we continue to believe

and share God’s word.

Again, the question is as we look at the world today, as we look

at what is happening in our nation as well as the church’s in

America, are God’s standards being lifted up? Or is the church

caving to the pressure of the new social standards? That is what

John was concerned about when he wrote this letter to the

church of his day. What would John say to the churches today if

he was here seeing what is happening not only in America but

also in the churches in America? Would he have a similar

concern today?

May we seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit to reveal God’s

truth to us today. May we stand for God’s truth and be used by

God to lift up His righteousness just as John sought to

encourage the church to stay strong.

Pastor Larry

Announcements:

Tuesdays 9:30 Bible Study

Sunday School 9:00

June 10 9:30 Stem strawberries, arrange tables

June 11 4:00 – 6:00 Strawberry Festival

Sign up sheets are in the back for Strawberry Festival needs.

These include supplies, pie shells, workers.

Sign up sheet for children’s message in July, August, Sept.

Please consider taking a turn for this important ministry.

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:

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

Military and Other Services and their families

Brethren Volunteer Service workers; Disaster project workers

District Prayer Calendar: Pray for Camp Emmanuel and the

campers this summer as it celebrates its 75 th year.