March 20 Sermon and Announcements

 

CERRO GORDO CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN

March 20, 2022

What price are we asked to pay?

Luke 14:25-35

 

Jesus is seeing large crowds following him. As was mentioned before, many are following because of the incredible miracles that are occurring, sometimes on a daily basis. Either many have things they are hoping Jesus will take care of, or maybe some just want to see what happens next. Some truly recognize Jesus as a special man of God and, for that reason, want to see where it all leads. Jesus, sensing many may be following for the wrong reasons, has this very direct conversation with the large crowd that is there at the time. Jesus says something that seems to go way over the top. In verse 26 we read, “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters –yes even his own life—he cannot be my disciple.” How many of those there in that place would agree that anything Jesus just said could be true? What would be our reaction if someone from behind this pulpit authoritatively said, “This is how you must think and behave.” If the person seemed to really mean it, some, maybe most, would get up and walk out. What kind of crazy man would say such things, let alone expect you to really live your life that way? Jesus completes the 27^th verse by saying, “Anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.” So, it seems to imply if you will not turn your back on our family and carry your own load, you will never be Jesus’ true follower.

 

In the next six verses Jesus goes on to explain further what he means. Jesus gives two totally different examples of what he means. The first talks of building a tower and how a person will understand what it will take and how much it will cost before they would ever start such a project. The next talks of a person actually about to wage war.  Jesus actually uses an example of when the one preparing to wage war has half the size of army as the one he is about to fight. In that case, you better know you can win before you start the war or you will be defeated and humiliated. Jesus even goes as far as to say if once you assess your chances, and if it looks like you probably will lose, you better make peace before anything ever happens. Jesus is explaining one must be willing to give up everything in order to be victorious.

 

So, what does it all mean? Jesus, once again, claims that you must be willing to hate everyone important to you in life, even yourself, if you want to be his disciple. Does that make any sense at all? As we now know, Jesus is getting closer and closer to his appointment with the cross. Jesus also knows lots of people that have been following him think everything is always going to be easy. After all, Jesus has made the lame walk, the blind to see, driven demons out of people, even raised people from the dead. As long as we stay close to Jesus, nothing can hurt us is what many were thinking. Jesus knows it is about to change. The cost of following Jesus is going to be going way up. The question is what are you prepared to do? What price are you willing to pay to be a full time, forever follower of Jesus?

 

Jesus closes out these verses by again comparing his followers to salt.  Jesus is saying that salt adds flavor or nutrients to life, but if it no longer is salty, it is good for nothing and is thrown out.” Jesus believes the time for honesty is here. The free and easy ride the people that have followed Jesus have been on is about to end. While they have seen some opposition, things have been good. It is time to begin thinking about just where you stand and what you are willing to do when it gets hard. Jesus gave as tough an example as he possibly could when he talked of the need to actually hate everyone near and dear to you if you are to be a disciple. Jesus wanted everyone to know that opposition is coming. It will come from all sides. Even your own family may not understand why you are staying loyal to God through Jesus. When you stand for God’s truth and his word, people will disagree with you. That is why it is so important to understand before the pressure comes. What are you willing to do for the cause of Christ? God wants us to have our priorities in the right order. Our faithfulness to God must be number 1 in our life. God does want us to love our families as well, but sometimes that may mean there will be disagreements, especially when it comes to our allegiance to Jesus Christ.

 

As we continue to get closer to Easter, we should continue to understand our relationship with God and with one another. Who truly has first place in our lives? That can be a tough question to answer. God wants us to be willing to honestly know the answer. We are sometimes challenged to know the answer to that question. What is the price God is asking us to be willing to pay? And are we willing to pay it? As disciples of the Living Savior, our life will be the best it can be and our families will reap the benefits as well if we are willing to surrender all to Jesus.

Pastor Larry

Announcements:

 

Bible Study 9:30 Tuesday

 

March 20—One Great Hour of Sharing offering—envelopes are in the back.  Make checks out to our church.

 

March 30 11:30 Women’s Fellowship luncheon and meeting;

Bring a covered dish; meat & drink provided; a time of visiting and reconnecting

 

April 10 – 17 Holy Week

 

April 13 Executive Committee

 

April 16 Food Bank Distribution at Kirby Medical Group, Cerro Gordo, 9:30 – 10:30 a.m.

 

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

 

Donation Box: Camp Emmanuel

First Sundays: food donations for food banks

 

Pastor Larry Traxler- (217) 454-2362

 

To keep up on Church of the Brethren news:

Denomination: www.brethren.org/news Sign up for Newsline by clicking link on left side of page.

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

Our pages: cerrogordocob.com (printed sermon, announcements, & calendar) and on facebook

Keep in Your Prayers

Leah Flory; Joe Waltz; Doug Larrick; Anna Rose Larrick; Ron Petersen; Anna Gentry Thompson; Louis & Carol Sulwer; Maralyn Heckman; Debbie Leibrock; Dorthea Wood; Sonna Hall; Tina Wilhelm; Baby Gemma; Baby Tate; Bryce Ashenfelter; Mindy Sawyer; Marlene Schultz; Sarah Rudelick; Sydney (Nancy Gorrell’s niece); Carl and Wilma Cable; Marge Starr; Mike and Carol Seidenstricker; Clyde and Nancy Fansler; Adiline Young; Kim Lehmann; Doug Fansler; Liza Yore; 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; school teachers, staff, and students; victims of disasters; victims of shootings; nursing home residents; 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 District’s Church Revitalization & Development Team & other District teams.

 

Church of the Brethren vision statement:

Together, as the Church of the Brethren, we will passionately live and share the radical transformation and holistic peace of Jesus Christ through relationship-based neighborhood engagement. To move us forward, we will develop a culture of calling and equipping disciples who are innovative, adaptable, and fearless.

                       

Our Mission Statement:

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

March 13 Sermon and Announcements

 

CERRO GORDO CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN

March 13, 2022

 

The Parable of the Great Banquet

Luke 14:15-24

Having finished our look at the Sermon on the Mount, we are now 5 weeks away from Easter. This morning we see Jesus is making his way toward Jerusalem. Jesus will soon have his appointment with destiny. On his way to Jerusalem, he stops off at many towns and villages and also finds himself eating with a variety of people. When we pick things up this morning, he is eating on the Sabbath at the home of a prominent Pharisee. Over the past several weeks Jesus has been sharing with the disciples as well as others in parables, telling short stories, one might say, to share the message that he feels needs to be told.

 

On this occasion he has already said some things that probably raised some eyebrows; now he shares the Parable of the Great Banquet. Someone in the group there sitting around the table said something that got Jesus’ attention, so Jesus began to tell of this Great Banquet. Jesus explains the banquet is ready so he sends a servant to invite all of this person’s friends to come and join in the meal and fellowship. (They had already been told the banquet would occur.) But something happened that caught those hosting the banquet by surprise. Friend after friend declined the offer to come! The first said he had bought some property and needed to go check it out. The next said he had bought some oxen and needed to go make sure they would work out. The next said, “I just got married so I am sorry but we are busy.” Friend after friend came up with excuse after excuse for why they could not come. The owner of the house was outraged and flat out angry. So, the servant was sent out again to bring people to the banquet. This time he was instructed to bring the poor, the crippled, the lame and the blind. Bring basically whomever you can find that is willing to come. After the servant did this, there still was room. He sent the servant out again to bring whomever he could because he wanted his house full. There was one condition, none of those first invited were allowed to change their minds and join in the banquet.

 

As Jesus drew closer with his appointment with the cross, he was getting more and more blunt about what was about to happen. Jesus was at a meal being given by, as we read to begin with, a prominent Pharisee. Jesus came to first and foremost speak to what has been called the Lost Sheep of Israel. Most of the Pharisees rejected the fact Jesus was the Messiah, the Savior of the world promised in the Old Testament. The Pharisees knew God’s word better than anyone, yet they refused to accept Jesus as the one sent by God to redeem first of all the Jews but also all of God’s creation. Jesus understood the hearts of most of those at the meal he was sharing in. So, Jesus was predicting the outcome for most all who were listening to Jesus on that day. The Jewish people were the first invited to embrace what God was doing in the world then ultimately through Jesus. Yet he just did not look or act or match up with what they wanted the Messiah to be. So, like those invited to the Great Banquet in Jesus’ story, most of the Jewish people and definitely the Jewish leadership rejected Jesus. Jesus was predicting their fate. Soon they would be on the outside looking in and maybe wishing things could have turned out differently.

 

As we consider the parable does it have any meaning for us today? Jesus is the host of the Greatest Banquet ever given, and we are all invited to attend. The question for you and me is whether we too are too busy to make it. Are we saying to God, “If I can squeeze you in, I will be there, but I am just so busy!”

 

As we draw closer to Easter, God is asking us to his Banquet Table. He wants us to attend and enjoy all the benefits, but we must be willing to say, “Yes God you can count on me.” I pray we are like the ones who joyfully took advantage of the offer to come. The door is open, the invitation is there, come and enjoy!

Pastor Larry

Announcements:

 

Bible Study 9:30 Tuesday

 

March 20—One Great Hour of Sharing offering—envelopes will be provided. See this week’s insert.

 

March 30 11:30 Women’s Fellowship luncheon and meeting;

Bring a covered dish; meat & drink provided

 

April 10 – 17 Holy Week

 

April 13 Executive Committee

 

April 16 Food Bank Distribution at Kirby Medical Group, Cerro Gordo, 9:30 – 10:30 a.m.

 

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

 

Donation Box: Camp Emmanuel

First Sundays: food donations for food banks

 

Pastor Larry Traxler- (217) 454-2362

 

To keep up on Church of the Brethren news:

Denomination: www.brethren.org/news Sign up for Newsline by clicking link on left side of page.

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

Our pages: cerrogordocob.com (printed sermon, announcements, & calendar) and on facebook

Keep in Your Prayers

Maralyn Heckman; Debbie Leibrock; Dorthea Wood; Sonna Hall; Tina Wilhelm; Baby Gemma; Baby Tate; Bryce Ashenfelter; Mindy Sawyer; Marlene Schultz; Sarah Rudelick; Sydney (Nancy Gorrell’s niece); Carl and Wilma Cable; Marge Starr; Mike and Carol Seidenstricker; Clyde and Nancy Fansler; Adiline Young; Kim Lehmann; Doug Fansler; Liza Yore; Candy Dobson; Anna Rose Larrick; 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; school teachers, staff, and students; victims of disasters; victims of shootings; nursing home residents; the Nigerian church; Haitian Brethren; Bridgewater community; Ukraine

Military and Other Services and their families

Brethren Volunteer Service workers; Disaster project workers

District Prayer Calendar: Pray for Chicago First Church and their work in the city.

 

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.

February 13 Sermon and Announcements

 CERRO GORDO CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN

February 13, 2022

Ask, Seek and Knock

Matthew 7:7-12

Jesus is winding down the message given on that mountain side so many years ago. He is giving practical things God’s people need to do. Next week we will see the final warning given as he ends the sermon, but for today Jesus is giving us a basic understanding of how to access God. Jesus begins by simply stating, “Ask and it will be given to you.” Next, “Seek and you will find.” And finally, “Knock and the door will be opened to you.” 

One of my favorite Christian singers is Michael W. Smith. It’s probably been 20 or maybe even 30 years ago that he wrote and performed a song that had in it a very simple statement. It said something like each journey begins with a first step. A simple statement that is obvious to everyone who hears it, yet before you or I can go or do anything, we have to start. That is what Jesus was reminding those gathered on that day, as well as the church today. Before we have any reason to believe we will receive from God, we must ask. I believe scripture emphasizes the need to be specific when we are asking God in our prayers for help or wisdom or whatever it might be. 

We read earlier in the Sermon on the Mount that God knows what we need before we ask, but God wants us to understand what it is we think we want or need. Jesus is simply stating the facts that before you can be assured God will answer our requests, we need to be willing to put in the effort to ask. Jesus then in conjunction with that says, “Seek and you will find.” Jesus is saying there will be some effort on our part that is necessary, and that God will often provide the things necessary, but we need to be willing to seek them out. We are expected to do more than sit back and say, “God I have asked for help or for an answer to the problem I am facing, now do a miracle for me.” No, God will provide us at times with the tools and the resources to be involved in solving what we are facing. 

Then Jesus says, “Knock and the door will be opened to you.” Once again God expects us to do our part. When we come before the Lord with a heart open to his will, he will provide the answers and/or the solutions to what we are facing. Jesus then gives a couple of examples of how we respond to our children when they specifically ask for things. When we are asked by friends or family of things they obviously need, do we say, “Well you may want this, but I will give you that?” No, in most cases, out of love and compassion, we try to help as best we can. 

Jesus then reminds us of our sinful roots and says something we may not really like to hear when Jesus says, “If you, being evil, give good gifts to your children, how much more will our Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him?” 

Then Jesus closes out this lesson with what we now call The Golden Rule. “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” So as Jesus wrapped this part up, he was really reminding us that, yes, we can go to God with our concerns, our prayers, and we can be confident God will hear and answer. However, Jesus is showing us God also wants us to help each other through the ups and downs of life. We not only are to ask our God for help, but we should feel comfortable reaching out to one another as well. God did not create us to be hermits living somewhere all alone. God created us to need to be involved with one another. As we all gain different experiences in life, we should use those different life lessons to help one another through the ups and downs of life. God is there with open arms, but we are to be used by God to be his hands, his feet, his arms, his mouth, his ears, and his eyes to one another. These are the life lessons Jesus wants us to understand as we face the challenges of life. We are not to take God’s place in any way, but we are to be open to God to sometimes be used to help one another through this journey we all share on this earth. Yet at the same time, we need to humble ourselves before God and with friends and family to the point that we are willing to ask, seek and knock. We all face similar challenges and with God’s help we can all reach the finish line victoriously. Sometimes God sends you and me to help and sometimes God expects us to ask and seek help from one another as well as from our Heavenly Father. 

Tomorrow is Valentine’s Day in America. A day set apart to show love to one another. In many ways Valentine’s Day is about acknowledging the fact that we need one another. We continue to read from God’s love letter to us, and the more we read God’s word we continue to see how God loves us and how we are to show love to one another. When we ask, seek, and knock, whether we are doing that with God or with one another, we are acknowledging how much we need God and how much we need each other. That is not weakness, that is a way of saying, “I love you and need you.”

Have a Happy Valentine’s Day and remember that God loves you!

Pastor Larry

Announcements:

 

Bible Study 9:30 Tuesday

 

Messenger subscription forms are in the back. Please give them to Carol today if you wish to subscribe.

 

February 26—Calling the Called event, sponsored by the IL/WI District Ministry Team—flyer in the back—please participate if you are interested.

 

March 9—Board meeting

 

District prayer calendars are in the back. Also an update page for our directory.

 

Offering envelopes for 2022 are available by the copier.

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

 

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

Family of Galen Heckman; Debbie Leibrock; Dorthea Wood; Sonna Hall; Larry & Luana Cripe; Tina Wilhelm;  Shirley Krall; Baby Gemma; Baby Tate; Bryce Ashenfelter; Mindy Sawyer; Marlene Schultz; Randy West; Sarah Rudelick; Sydney (Nancy Gorrell’s niece); Carl and Wilma Cable; Marge Starr; Mike Gentry; Larry Albro; Mike McCleery; Mike and Carol Seidenstricker; Brittany Wright; Anna Gentry Thompson; Clyde and Nancy Fansler; Adiline Young; Kim Lehmann; Doug Fansler; Liza Yore; Candy Dobson; Anna Rose Larrick; 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; school teachers, staff, and students; victims of disasters; victims of shootings; nursing home residents; the Nigerian church; Haitian Brethren; Bridgewater community

Military and Other Services and their families

Brethren Volunteer Service workers; Disaster project workers

District Prayer Calendar: Pray for the Decatur congregation and their decision to close and for the ministry they’ve had there.

 

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. 

                                       

January 23 Sermon and Announcements

 

CERRO GORDO CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN

January 23, 2022

 

What do we trust in?

Matthew 6:19-34

Today’s message could have two titles; maybe the first should be, “Where is our treasure?” In the first 5 verses we read this morning, Jesus is reminding us of what should truly be our goals in life. As we get older, we begin thinking more about how we will live once we no longer have a job bringing in a regular salary for our needs. In America everyone has some degree of retirement income. Some depend totally on Social Security, while others have been able to have something in addition to live on. Jesus is telling us that it may be okay to have acquired some “security,” but what is really the best retirement plan for us? Are we keeping our eyes on God for what we need, or are we obsessed with the need to provide our own “safety net”?

 

In the Old Testament as well as in the New Testament, it is clear there is nothing wrong with acquiring things and having some money in reserve. However, if we are having our whole lives revolve around getting money and things, that is the problem. In fact, in 1 Timothy 6:10 we read, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” Jesus is warning in these verses to keep everything in their proper place. And we are being told that proper place is always to understand God has to be the place we put our faith, our trust and our hope. There is no other sure security but with him.

 

Beginning with the 25^th verse, Jesus then goes on to acknowledge the fact he knows we will and do have concerns about how we will provide for ourselves and our families while we are on this earth. When Jesus lived there was not as much emphasis on money to provide for their every need as there is today. That being said, it still was necessary for most people to have money for some of life’s necessities. Today very few people here in America can provide for all of their needs. So, when Jesus started off talking about treasure or one might say money, he knew he needed to help everyone understand what God will do for his people. Jesus points out to not worry about life, about food and drink or about what to wear. Then he gives examples of how God provides for those needs throughout all of creation. Jesus even goes as far as to point out the obvious. Can worrying add a single hour to your life or an inch to your height? The reality is, if anything, worry may shorten our lives, not add to it. Jesus then goes on to show how one of the most revered and blessed men from Israel’s past could not match what God can and will do for his creation every day. To go back to the 26^th verse, Jesus points out that as much as God loves the birds, as well as other things he created, he values us so much more. After all we have been made in God’s own image. So, to spare us unnecessary worry, keep our eyes on what is really the goal. In verse 33 Jesus tells us to seek first the kingdom of God and then we will be alright. Jesus does add one more very important part to that encouragement. And that is not only seek first the kingdom of God but also to seek his righteousness. What does that all mean? We need to have our priorities in place. God needs to have first place in our lives. If that is true, our primary goal will be to serve God with our lives in every way. That can be a real challenge because there are lots of thing in this world pulling us a lot of different directions. That is why we should regularly pray, as Jesus showed us last week, to deliver us from the evil one who wants to separate us from our Heavenly Father.

 

Going back to the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said in Chapter 5, verse 6, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” Jesus is going full circle by helping us understand that if we have our priorities in the right order God will provide us with everything we need while we are here on this earth. What a promise that has been made to us!

 

Jesus closes out this section by then confidently saying to us all, “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its’ own.” Medical experts will tell you the most dangerous health problem facing everyone is stress. Jesus knows how we are made, what our limitations are. He was telling everyone first of all, do not stress over things you have no control over. Secondly, do not drive yourself crazy worrying about things of this world. God is in control and he knows what we need.

 

Jesus is asking us, what do we trust in? It is a simple question. Do we trust in the God who created the world we live in, who knows everything we need before we know we need it? Or do we feel we can handle it ourselves? Thinking that we are in control of our life and do not need anyone or anything to help us? If the second is a person’s plan, what a foolish way to live life. Jesus is trying to continue to teach us how much easier life will be if we simply will put our faith and trust in God. What is your answer? What has been your plan for life? I pray our answer is the same as given by Joshua long before Jesus was on this earth when he said in Joshua 24:15, “But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the river, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living, but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Our God will provide every time. May we answer the question the message title asks by saying, “My faith, my trust is in you Heavenly Father, help me not to lose that focus.”   

Pastor Larry

Announcements:

 

Bible Study 9:30 Tuesday

 

2021 offering envelope summaries are in the mailboxes.

 

February 6—Steve Needham, former Decatur pastor, will be preaching.

 

March 9—Board meeting

 

Offering envelopes for 2022 are available by the copier.

 

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

 

 

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 & Luana Cripe; Tina Wilhelm; Devon Wright; Dan & Val Rokosch; Shirley Krall; Baby Gemma; Baby Tate; Maralyn & Galen Heckman; Bryce Ashenfelter; Andy Flenner and family; Mindy Sawyer; Marlene Schultz; Randy West; Jen Durst; Sarah Rudelick; Sydney (Nancy Gorrell’s niece); Carl and Wilma Cable; Marge Starr; Mike Gentry; Larry Albro; Mike McCleery; Mike and Carol Seidenstricker; Sonna Hall; Brittany Wright; Anna Gentry Thompson; Clyde and Nancy Fansler; Adiline Young; Kim Lehmann; Doug Fansler; Liza Yore; Candy Dobson; Anna Rose Larrick; 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 860,000+ people who have died from COVID-19; those who are ill from the virus; the unemployed; school teachers, staff, and students; victims of disasters; victims of shootings; nursing home residents; the Nigerian church; Haitian Brethren

 

Military and Other Services and their families

Brethren Volunteer Service workers; Disaster project workers

 

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.                                                  

Jan 9 Sermon and Announcements

 

CERRO GORDO CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN

January 9, 2022

 

What Motivates You?

Matthew 6:-1-4

 

We are going to begin again with our look at the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus had been explaining in more detail what was truly in God’s heart on a variety of issues that were covered by the laws given to Moses nearly 2000 years earlier. One of Jesus’ missions was to help everyone understand better what God hoped for his people to do as well as understand why God the Father felt these things are so important.

 

Today we pick it up with why we do good things for one another. Jesus is explaining how God looks at the heart of each person to understand why we do the things we do. It is a good thing to do good as we have the opportunity. Sometimes that involves giving money, sometimes it involves giving of our time and talents.  All these things are very helpful for those around us at different times during our lives. Doing a variety of things for others, even if it has some selfish reasons, can still benefit people who can use a helping hand. What Jesus is pointing out is if you are doing some of those things for a pat on the back, do not expect God to also give you that same treatment. As far as God is concerned that person has already got their pat on the back, their “Ataboy” or “Atagirl.”  God wants his people to be motivated by what Jesus said later in Matthew. In Chapter 7, verse 12 Jesus said, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” We should be motivated by a desire to help as we can because some day, we may also need some help. It is all about God’s people being there for one another, again with no strings attached. God desires to bless his people, but he simply cannot bless as freely when we are motivated by our own sometimes selfish reasons.

 

When you look at our world today, you can see a lot of things done and built as tributes to men and women both past and present. It is one thing if others, after someone’s passing, want to honor them by naming foundations or other things in their memory. In those cases, it was not that person who did it to toot their own horn. It was others who saw how selfless someone might have been and felt it a fitting tribute to keep their memory and selfless attitude alive. Others, however, do things that make sure everyone knows who is behind what they are doing. In those cases, Jesus is simply pointing out they already are getting their reward. I cannot help but think of one of the most visible examples in our world today: Bill Gates has donated literally billions of dollars to a variety of causes around the world through the Bill Gates Foundation. There is no question it has helped those causes do more than they could have without those donations. But to be perfectly honest, this is almost exactly like what Jesus told those who were there in the synagogue seeing a similar thing happen in the story found in Luke 21, verses 1-4. There we read, “As he looked up, Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasure. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. I tell you the truth. He said, “This poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.” Jesus was not saying on that occasion the wealthy did anything wrong because they did not draw attention to what they were doing. What Jesus on this occasion was pointing out is that God sees everything that is going on and will reward accordingly. This example is not exactly like Bill Gates because the fact is the word does get out to everyone paying attention to what Bill Gates is doing. What this does point out is sometimes we do not think our gifts are big enough or important enough if they are not really major. Jesus is pointing out in the passage found in Luke that God sees what we are doing, no matter how big or small, and God recognizes the sacrifices we are willing to make for one another.

 

Going back to what we started with in Matthew, Chapter 6, Jesus just wants us to know God takes special notice when we do things without expecting headlines or special praise from men and women around us. If you want that pat on the back here on earth, that is okay, but that is not necessarily getting you any special reward from God when your time on earth is over. Doing good things can be helpful to people here on earth no matter what your motivation is, but God is looking for men and women who feel it is more important to do the right thing without expecting anything in return. God is not going to take a reward from you. However, if others may refuse to stay quiet about what you did, it really comes down to you and me.

 

So, to go back to the question asked in the sermon title, “What Motivates You?” I believe there should be one over all motivation for God’s people and that is found in one more verse I would like to close with this morning. In John 13:35 we read, “By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” That love for God and his people is what Jesus is talking about that should drive us to do good, not the praise of man!

Pastor Larry

Announcements:

 

Bible Study 9:30 Tuesday

 

Newsletters are available on the back table.

 

2021 offering envelope summaries are in the mailboxes.

 

February 6—Steve Needham, former Decatur pastor, will be preaching.

 

 

Offering envelopes for 2022 are available by the copier.

 

 

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

 

Donation Box: Utilities

First Sundays: food donations for food banks

 

Pastor Larry Traxler- (217) 454-2362

 

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Keep in Your Prayers

Larry & Luana Cripe; Tina Wilhelm; Devon Wright; Dan & Val Rokosch; Shirley Krall; Baby Gemma; Baby Tate; Maralyn & Galen Heckman; Bryce Ashenfelter; Andy Flenner and family; Mindy Sawyer; Marlene Schultz; Randy West; Jen Durst; Sarah Rudelick; Sydney (Nancy Gorrell’s niece); Carl and Wilma Cable; Marge Starr; Mike Gentry; Larry Albro; Mike McCleery; Mike and Carol Seidenstricker; Sonna Hall; Brittany Wright; Anna Gentry Thompson; Clyde and Nancy Fansler; Adiline Young; Kim Lehmann; Doug Fansler; Liza Yore; Candy Dobson; Anna Rose Larrick; 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 800,000+ people who have died from COVID-19; those who are ill from the virus; the unemployed; school teachers, staff, and students; victims of disasters; victims of shootings; nursing home residents; the Nigerian church; Haitian Brethren

 

Military and Other Services and their families

Brethren Volunteer Service workers; Disaster project workers

 

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.

 

                                                                                                                      

January 2, 2022--Happy New Year

 

CERRO GORDO CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN

January 2, 2022

 

2021 Year in Review

I Peter 5:6-7

 

We are not going to look at any specific things that happened this past year. What I will ask you to consider is your own personal thoughts on the year that has just ended. We can all acknowledge that January 1 is not really any different than December 31^st. As many of us view birthdays now, it is easy to say it is just another day on the calendar. We can easily say the same thing about December 31, 2021, as opposed to January 1, 2022. What makes the 1^st any more magical than December 31? That being said, there is something symbolic about beginning with a new calendar that has everything blank on it. Many of you may mark your calendars with appointments or important events as the year goes on and here we are again with a clean slate waiting for us to begin filling in the blanks.

 

Each year has things happen that are different from the year before. Things we did not see coming happen out of nowhere. Then other things happen that we knew were headed our way but surprised us with how they worked out. This past year saw many affected by the fact loved ones passed away and went to be with the Lord. For some it was not a total surprise, for others it was something no one saw coming. Health concerns stayed front and center for most everyone for a variety of reasons. Many have had a financially challenging year, yet for others there have been difficulties because of relationship problems. As is always the case, we have learned to adapt to what has come our way. For some that has been easier to do than for others.

 

As we saw in our scripture from 1 Peter, God is there for us in every one of life’s situations.  A similar message is stated in Psalms 55:22 where God reminds us to “Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you, he will never let the righteous fall.” What incredible promises our God makes to his people. We, of course, lean on these scriptures most often when life becomes difficult when unexpected and unwelcome things happen to us and our loved ones. We can easily handle those events that are happy and joyous. It is the other things that causes us to at times wonder why. In spite of everything, we have the assurance God is there in the middle of both the ups and downs of life.

 

As I have shared a number of possible ways, this year of 2021 may have affected you. What do you think? Have you taken a little time yet to reflect on the year we have just said goodbye to? What about 2022? Have you already looked ahead to what it may bring to you, your family, and others you care about? I hope and pray most everyone can think back on 2021 with some fond memories. Even for those of us who may have had really tough times, I pray the Lord has shown you how he was there in the middle of it all. How God was cheering you and maybe your loved ones on, providing you with the strength and courage to keep moving forward. For those who can see special blessing that came your way, I hope you recognized the fact the Lord was there enjoying every minute right along side of you as well.

 

What the verses we have looked at today remind us of is God cares for each and every one of us. We are not guaranteed that there will not be some tough times. What we are promised is that God will see us through every situation we face in life. What a comfort to know that we have a Savior that experiences many of the things we each face in life. The joy of friends and family and the special blessings that come our way as well as the disappointment, pain and sorrow this life brings at times.     

As we begin our journey with a New Year, may we allow the Holy Spirit room in our lives to help us grow in our faith and trust in our Lord and Savior.  There will be challenges this new year that many of us will experience we have no idea about right now. I pray there will also be victories that lie ahead for us as well. One thing you can be sure of is our God will be there no matter what, as we are reminded in Psalms 55:22 where it says “God will never let the righteous fall.” So let us all say with confidence, “2022, bring it on! My God is ready for everything and he is on my side.” 

Pastor Larry