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St. John’s Lutheran Church
1128 PoplarBuhl, Idaho 83316(208) 543-4282
 July 2009Are You Studying Your Bible?
My Fellow Redeemed in Christ,Well, are you? Ouch! That might be the response of those of you who are not reading yourBible, at least not very often, but you’d really like to start…it’s just you have not yet made thatcommitment yet. But I am pretty sure that some of you might be able to say a resounding “Yes!”without an air of superiority and self-righteousness. I suppose as your pastor the worst response Icould think of would be “Well, no I don’t, and I don’t really care.” Ouch! I hope that no one who isa member of St. John’s would say that.I suppose there are many reasons why Christians don’t read their Bibles. Everyone is so busyit’s hard to find time for everything. But then, of course, we usually find time for those things thatwe really want to do including reading other things, perhaps watching a lot of TV and…well, justfill in the blank.Another reason Christians might not read their Bibles is that they think it’s too hard tounderstand. Of course, there is some truth to this, but, then, anything that we don’t do very oftenwon’t be easy. The more we do it the better it gets….and so it is with the Bible. I did not get all myBible knowledge in one session! No, I’ve been reading/studying the Bible for about 40 years (Yikes!Can I be that old?). I suppose that there are many reasons for not reading the Bible….including justplain laziness and indifference.But wait a minute. The Bible is God’s Word. Of course human beings wrote it…but Godmoved them, led them by His Spirit to write what they wrote. This means that the Being whocreated the vast, complex universe is talking to us in the Bible! But even more important the Bibleis a love letter from God.When you understand the Bible properly it tells us what God has done in history to saveundeserving mankind from sin, Satan, death and damnation as John 3:16 reminds us: “For God soloved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish buthave eternal life.”When you understand the Bible properly you learn that it is ALL about Jesus Christ. (Yes,even the Old Testament). Jesus once told the Pharisees: “You search the Scriptures because youthink that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me” (5: 39, ESV). Jesus was telling the Pharisees that the Old Testament was about Him. And at the end of Luke’sGospel Jesus told His disciples: “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you,that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must befulfilled” (24: 44, ESV).Of course, this is not surprising when we learn that God planned to send Jesus into the worldeven before He created the world as Peter says in his first letter: “He [Jesus] was foreknown before
 
the foundation of the world but manifest in the last times for yoursake” (1:20, ESV).And it gets even better: God not only knew you before youwere born, but even before He created the world He planned to bring you to saving faith in Jesus Christ just as Paul says in hisletter to the Ephesians: “…even as he chose us in him before thefoundation of the world…he predestined us for adoption through Jesus Christ according to the purpose of his will…” 1:4, 5,ESV).Interesting, very interesting. And there is so much more.There are several opportunities here at St. John’s to study theBible. But our main study is on Sunday mornings at 9:30. For allthose not attending this class, if you are physically able, I appeal toyou as your pastor, your shepherd, in Christ, to join us. We arecurrently studying the Sunday morning Scripture lessons used inthe Divine Service. Just come. Don’t wait until we start a new study. Just come. Try it. I think if you made the commitment to come you will stay. Why?Because you will see and experience what you have been missing for your faith, your walkwith God. For Bible study is not just about facts and information. It is for our faith, hope, and love,and for our living. For God Himself works through His Word to strengthen our faith and toempower us to live for Him as Paul says in his first letter to the Thessalonians: “And we also thankGod constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, youaccepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God which is at work in you believers” (2: 13, ESV).So, what do you think? Would you give my invitation prayerful consideration? What a joy itwould be for me (and your God and Savior) to see even more of you in our Sunday morning Biblestudy. And I don’t think you will be disappointed. But, of course, there is only one way to find out.In Christ,
Sunday Plans Keeping You From Worship?
 Take advantage of our weeklySaturday evening service at 6:00 p.m.
I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the L
ORD
!” 
Psalm 122:1
 
“Freed to Live” 
On July Fourth we pause as a nation to reflect on themeaning of “Independence Day.” The Declaration ofIndependence was written to begin the process of gainingfreedom from being a colony of England and chart our owncourse as a nation. But freedom is not something that yousimply declare and it happens. Our freedom is somethingthat was purchased at a high price. From the time of theRevolutionary War after July 4, 1776 to our war today in theMiddle East many brave men and women have laid their liveson the line to fight for and defend our freedom as citizens ofthe United States of America. Thousands upon thousands ofthose brave soldiers shed their blood and gave up theirtomorrows so that we can be freed to live our todays andtomorrows in the greatest country in the world and enjoyfreedoms that millions of people in the world can only dreamabout.As that old saying goes,
‘freedom is not free.” 
It is fittingand proper for us to remember and honor those who havegiven their all not just on July Fourth but throughout the year.They made the ultimate sacrifice so that we can be free! Wealso do well to remember and honor our brave men andwomen who continue to put their lives on the line so that we may be free to live.It is also fitting and proper for us to remember and appreciate our spiritual freedom from sin,death and eternal condemnation. That freedom is not something that the strongest army in theworld could obtain. That freedom is not something that we can earn or even deserve. It is the freegift of God who loved the world so much that He gave up His one and only Son who shed Hisholy precious blood so that we might have a peace that passes all human understanding andfreedom that will last for eternity.Our fitting and proper response for all that God has done for us in Christ is to live our lives inways that honor Him and bless others. We call that proper response to God’s love
Christianstewardship
. As redeemed stewards we, in cooperation with and encouragement from fellowredeemed stewards, freely and joyfully manage all of life and life’s resources for God’s purposes.God delights in loving and giving and sends us His Holy Spirit to empower us to also grow in ourloving of God and others and our giving of time, talent, treasure and any of the other blessingsGod has entrusted to us.
“Lord of glory, You have bought us with Your life blood as the price,Never grudging for the lost ones that tremendous sacrifice.Give us faith to trust You boldly, hope to stay our souls on You;But, oh best of all Your graces, with Your love our love renew.” (LSB 851)
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