Meditations in the Parables of Jesus
THE PARABLE OF THE SOWER
Read Matthew 13:1-23 (cf. Mark 4:1-20; Luke 8:4-15)
1 The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side. 2 And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore. 3 And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow; 4 And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up: 5 Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: 6 And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. 7 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them: 8 But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold. 9 Who hath ears to hear, let him hear. 10 And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? 11 He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. 12 For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. 13 Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. 14 And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: 15 For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. 16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. 17 For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them. 18 Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower. 19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side. 20 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; 21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended. 22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. 23 But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
What Kind of Hearer Are You?
What kind of hearer are you? As we read the parable of the sower and its explanation, we are quick to identify people we know with the poor kinds of soil and ourselves with the good ground. But when we do this, we miss the warning and comfort of this parable for ourselves.
We may think of ourselves as the good soil, but how often do we not also fit the descriptions of the poor ground? Many times we are like the hard ground. The Word of God is sown upon us, but it doesn’t sink in and produce fruit in our lives because we have been uninterested or inattentive and have not understood the Word. Then, as the birds eat up the seed which falls on the hard ground by the way side, so the Word is snatched away from us by the devil.
Often we are also like the rocky soil or the thorny ground. In times of affliction or persecution, we shrink back from a bold and faithful confession of the truths of God’s Word because we have not let that Word sink its roots deep into our lives. When times of persecution or suffering come, we turn away and doubt God’s love and mercy toward us in Christ Jesus.
And how often we let the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desire for other things in this life keep us from faithfully hearing and learning God’s Word! We are too busy to attend church services and Bible classes. We neglect to read and study our Bibles each day. And the focus of our lives is on earthly things and the concerns of this life.
When we are good soil, we can take no credit. We must say with Jesus that it is a blessing of the Lord God when the Word sinks in, grows and produces fruit in our lives (Matt. 13:16). It is the Lord who cultivates the soil of our hearts, breaking up the hard ground, removing the rocks and pulling the weeds and thorns from our lives, that the Gospel of forgiveness of sins and life eternal for the sake of Jesus Christ and His innocent sufferings and death might be heard and believed by us and produce fruit in our lives.
Why did Jesus speak of God’s kingdom with parables? He answered that very question: “Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.”
It is a gift of God to truly hear and understand the Scriptures. Without the gracious operation of the Holy Ghost, one may hear the words and relate to the earthly story, but the true message remains hidden. The Bible is a closed book unless God opens our ears and hearts to hear and understand and believe.
As Jesus said to Nicodemus, “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God … Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit” (John 3:3,5-6).
For most, the Word is sown but not received and understood and is quickly snatched away by the devil to keep one from coming to trust in Christ Jesus. And when it is received, so often people’s faith is shallow and they quickly turn away in time of adversity or trouble. And how often the Word is choked out and prevented from bearing fruit in one’s life by the cares and concerns of this world.
When the Word of God is received and one believes and lives by faith in the Son of God as his Savior, it is indeed a gracious blessing of God worked by the Holy Spirit of God. May He so bless you that you both hear and believe unto life everlasting.
Almighty God, Thy Word is cast like seed into the ground; now let the dew of heaven descend and righteous fruits abound. Amen. (The Lutheran Hymnal, Hymn #49, Verse 1)
Pastor Randy Moll
Why Do We Preach Repentance?
(A Synopsis of Biblical Preaching)
From the fall of mankind onward, God has been calling upon people to repent and turn unto Him for forgiveness and life. The Old Testament prophets continually called upon God’s people to repent of their sinful ways and return unto the LORD for mercy. In words like those of Joel, they said, “Therefore also now, saith the LORD, Turn ye even to Me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: and rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth Him of the evil” (Joel 2:12-13).
We read of John the Baptist: “In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 3:1-2). The Gospel of Mark tells us that he preached “the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins” (1:4).
What did Jesus preach? The Gospels tell us: “Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the Gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the Gospel” (Mark 1:14-15; cf. Matthew 4:17). And, before He ascended into heaven, what did He tell His disciples? He commanded them to preach repentance and forgiveness of sins through faith in His name. The Gospel of Luke tells us: “And He said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem” (24:46-47).
What did the apostles preach? Peter, in his Pentecost sermon, said, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2:38). On another occasion he preached: “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord…” (Acts 3:19). Jesus, through the Apostle John, called upon the erring churches in Asia Minor to repent and return unto Him (cf. Revelation 2-3). The Apostle Paul summarizes his own ministry and teaching, saying that he testified “both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 20:21).
Therefore, the preaching of repentance should also be central to us; and a right understanding of repentance is key to understanding the Holy Scriptures and rightly applying God’s truth to ourselves and others.
What is repentance?
Repentance, in the narrow sense of its use in the Word of God, is worked by God’s Law, which reveals to man the holy and perfect will of God and also man’s failures, shortcomings and rebellion against his Maker. It reveals man’s sin and the consequences of that disobedience and sin; namely, spiritual death and God’s wrath and punishment. Thus Jesus preached “Repent ye, and believe the Gospel” and commanded that “repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name” (Mark 1:15; Luke 24:47).
In the broader sense, repentance, as used in Scripture, refers not only to the awareness of sins and failures and the fear of God’s judgment worked by the Law (contrition), but also to faith in the Gospel – the confidence that God accepts the sinner and mercifully forgives him for the sake of the holy life and innocent sufferings and death of His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, in man’s stead. In the broader sense, repentance can also include the fruits (result) of true contrition and faith, an amended life empowered by God’s gracious working through the Gospel but guided by the revelation of God’s perfect will in His Law. John the Baptist preached a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins, but also warned against those who feigned repentance but did not bring forth the fruits of true repentance (Luke 3:3-18).
Essentially, preaching “repentance and remission of sins in Jesus’ name” is done by rightly preaching Law and Gospel, the two chief doctrines of the Holy Scripture.
Our catechism defines the difference between the Law and the Gospel in this way: “The Law is that doctrine of the Bible in which God tells us how we are to be and what we are to do and not to do. The Gospel is that doctrine of the Bible in which God tells us the good news of our salvation in Jesus Christ … The Law teaches what we are to do and not to do; the Gospel teaches what God has done, and still does, for our salvation. The Law shows our sin and the wrath of God; the Gospel shows our Savior and the grace of God. The Law must be preached to all men, but especially to impenitent sinners; the Gospel must be preached to sinners who are troubled in their minds because of their sins.” (A Short Explanation of Dr. Martin Luther’s Small Catechism: A Handbook of Christian Doctrine, Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis, Mo. 1943.)
Does this mean the Law and the Gospel are contradictory? Not at all. The Law teaches us what is good and right – God’s perfect and good will for us, His creatures. It also reveals the consequences of disobedience, sin and rebellion against our Maker – death, both spiritual and eternal.
The Gospel teaches what God has done and still does to save us lost and condemned sinners from sin and sin’s consequences. Thus the Gospel offers and gives forgiveness of sins, spiritual life and eternal salvation for Jesus’ sake.
There is nothing bad or faulty with God’s Law. It is good and right and holy. It condemns mankind because all of us, since Adam’s fall, are sinful and disobedient to God’s perfect will. In this way, God’s good Law is an instrument of death to us because we do not obey it.
St. Paul wrote to the Romans: “And the commandment which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death. For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me. Wherefore the Law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful” (Romans 7:10-13).
While we may not always like it, a safe speed limit on the highway is good. When drivers follow it, it helps to make their trip safe. If, on the other hand, a driver exceeds the speed limit, there very well could be consequences. He may receive a speeding ticket or, worse yet, have an accident because he drove faster than the safe posted speed. The fact that the driver is cited for speed or has an accident does not make the speed law bad. He suffered the ill consequences because he disobeyed the law and drove in an unsafe manner.
The same is true of God’s commandments. They are good and right, commanding what is best for us and warning of the consequences of disobedience. Whether it be the command to have no other gods, to honor our parents or not to covet, steal, commit adultery or kill, the commandments require what is good for us and forbid those things which bring spiritual death, ruined lives and eternal damnation.
The problem is with mankind – with you and me – instead of loving God, believing that His Word is good and right and seeking to honor Him with our lives, we love ourselves, think we know better than God what is good for us and seek our own honor and glory and praise. Thus, the good Law of God condemns us because we have rebelled against it and gone our own way.
That is why each and every one of us needs to repent – to agree with God that His Law is right and we are wrong, and to trust in the Gospel which tells us of His mercy and forgiveness for the sake of the innocent sufferings and death of His only-begotten Son in our stead. And, as a result of true and genuine repentance, there will also be fruit – a sincere desire to amend our sinful ways and conform to God’s holy commandments.
The Scriptures tell us that God’s Law is indeed good and right. In Psalm 137, we read: “Righteous art thou, O LORD, and upright are thy judgments. Thy testimonies that thou hast commanded are righteous and very faithful … Thy word is true from the very beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever” (v. 137-138, 160). That is why the psalmist could also say: “I know, O LORD, that thy judgments are right, and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me” (v. 73). Indeed, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path” (v. 105). “The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple” (v. 130).
Jesus Himself did not abrogate God’s Law or throw it out, but amplified and explained its full implication in His sermon on the mount (Matthew 5-7). He said, “Think not that I am come to destroy the Law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the Law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:17-19).
The writings of the apostles do not throw out the Law of God. Those ceremonies and practices which served only to point to the coming of the Messiah and Savior are not demanded in the New Testament writings, but the moral Law of God – His commandments – are repeated and explained throughout.
Why is this so? Why does God’s Law need to be taught even yet today? Simply, because it is God’s good and holy will for His creatures and our knowledge of it has become clouded by our own sinfulness. As the God’s Word says, man’s “foolish heart was darkened” (Romans 1:21). An honest look at the decline in moral values in our own society – people thinking nothing of sins which were clearly recognized as such less than 50 years ago – will reveal the effect of sin on our understanding of God’s Law which was written upon our hearts and proclaimed in our ears.
Thus preachers who set aside the Law of God and wink at disobedience to His commandments do great harm to the souls of men, for they do not hold forth God’s good and perfect will for our lives or the sad and devastating consequences of disobedience on our part. Their hearers do not see their utter sinfulness before God and are not troubled in their consciences over their disobedience and the impending judgment of the Almighty. And, not being troubled over sin and the judgment of God, the Gospel of forgiveness and life in Christ Jesus means nothing to them. They are left to go on in their sinful ways to a Christless eternity – to an eternity where they are judged and condemned for their sins because they have rejected Jesus, their only hope!
Indeed, without a right knowledge of God’s Law – His holy commandments – there can be no true repentance!
Of course, true repentance cannot be worked by the preaching of God’s Law alone; for if one is rightly shown what it is that God requires of him and sees his own sins and failures, he is left with nothing but despair and hopelessness. It is through the right preaching of the Gospel that the despairing sinner is comforted and assured of forgiveness of sins and life everlasting in Jesus Christ. The Law holds forth God’s good and perfect will but tells us that “the soul that sinneth, it shall die” (Ezekiel 18:20) and that “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). The Gospel, on the other hand, tells lost and condemned sinners that “Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures … that He was buried … and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3, 4). It tells us that “we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: and He is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world” (1 John 2:1, 2). It tells us that in Jesus “we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace” (Ephesians 1:7). It tells us that “God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).
Thus, the right preaching of the Gospel assures sinners, troubled in their consciences over their sins, that in Jesus Christ and for the sake of His holy life and innocent sufferings and death in their stead they have full and complete forgiveness for all sins and the certainty of everlasting life in heaven!
Where the Law is preached in all truth and severity and where the Gospel is preached in all its truth and sweetness, there the Holy Spirit will be at work convicting consciences of their sins and failures and comforting lost and condemned sinners with the good news of forgiveness of sins and life everlasting in Jesus Christ!
Where the Spirit of God works true repentance – convicting hearts of sin and disobedience to God’s perfect will and comforting troubled hearts with the good news of pardon and peace in Christ Jesus – fruits of repentance will also follow. In fact, this is so certain that one can say, “Where there is no fruit, there is no repentance.” Yet, we must here remember that it is God who looks upon the heart and sees the fruits of true repentance. We, while we may in many instances see the results of one’s repentance, may misjudge. We may not see the sincere desire in a person’s heart to amend a sinful way of life, and we may not recognize in another feigned fruit of repentance which is for outward show only but not from a sincere heart.
God, of course, looks upon the heart. He sees and knows the heart that acknowledges and confesses utter sinfulness, and He knows and sees the heart which trusts in His grace and mercy for Jesus’ sake. God sees and knows when one is truly repentant, and He sees – and in fact, creates in the believer’s heart – the sincere desire and will to amend one’s life and live for Him. Jesus “searcheth the reins and hearts” (Revelation 2:23). “The LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts” (1 Chronicles 28:9).
Where one agrees with the LORD God about his own sinfulness and trusts in Christ Jesus for forgiveness and life eternal, there God will also work the fruit of repentance – a new will and desire to live for God in accord with His will. This new and regenerated life is worked in man through the Gospel, but is guided by God’s Law.
The Holy Ghost graciously calls us to faith in Christ Jesus through the Gospel. Paul writes to the believers at Thessalonica: “But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: whereunto He called you by our Gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Thessalonians 2:13-14).
Indeed, we are saved entirely by God’s grace. “By grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:8-10). God the Spirit created faith in our hearts, and He has also recreated us – giving us new life – to do those works which God “before ordained that we should walk in them.”
That is why David, in the Psalms acknowledged and confessed his sins, trusting in God’s mercy, and implored God to create in him “a clean heart … and renew a right spirit” within him (Psalm 51).
It is also why John the Baptist could say to those coming to him for baptism, “Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children of Abraham. And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire” (Luke 3:8-9).
What We Preach
Thus, with the prophets and apostles, and with the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, we preach repentance and remission of sins in Jesus’ name. We preach the Law of God as revealed to us by God Himself in the pages of Scripture. We don’t mince words. We call sin sin, and we teach that the wages of sin is death and eternal damnation.
But we also preach the Gospel to penitent sinners. We tell them what God Himself says to us in His Word; namely, that Jesus Christ suffered and died upon the cross in our stead and paid in full the just penalty for the sins of the world. We preach that God, for the sake of the crucified and risen Christ has pardoned mankind and reaches out to us in mercy and grace, forgiving all our sins for Jesus’ sake and giving us everlasting life in fellowship with Him. We add no conditions, for Christ has done it all. It is finished. Our salvation is sure!
We preach that where this is true repentance, there will also follow fruits of repentance. Those who have turned from their sins to Christ for forgiveness will also, as a fruit of their faith in the Gospel, seek to live for Christ in accord with God’s perfect will revealed to us in His Word – there is no true repentance where one has no desire and makes no attempt to live in accord with God’s will. But such works, wrought in us by the Holy Spirit, do not merit God’s grace or earn for us salvation; they are in response to God’s gracious gift of salvation to us in His Son. In accord with God’s Word, we also know and teach that such works in this life which result from faith in Christ are yet imperfect – we still fall short – but are accepted of God for the sake of the sacrifice of His Son. We are not justified and saved by our works, but a man justified and saved by the grace of God works.
Pastor Randy Moll
What Do We Believe?
What do we believe about the Final Judgment? Please consider the statement below and look up the Bible passages.
FINAL JUDGMENT
We believe that, at death, the souls of believers are taken to be with their Lord and Savior in heaven, and the souls of unbelievers begin suffering the eternal torments of hell (Luke 16:19-31; 23:43; Philippians 1:23; Revelation 14:13; 1 Peter 3:19; 2 Peter 2:4-9). On the Last Day, Jesus Christ will return to judge the living and the dead; and on that Day, all the dead will be raised up (John 5:28-29; Job 19:25-27; Revelation 20:11-15; Acts 10:42; 17:31; 2 Corinthians 5:10). The wicked and unbelieving will be cast, both body and soul, into the everlasting torments of hell; but those who have trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation will, according to both body and soul, dwell with Christ forever, enjoying the blessings of heaven (John 5:29; Matthew 10:28; Luke 16:23-24; Isaiah 66:24; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10; Hebrews 9:27-28; Philippians 3:21; 1 Corinthians 15:51-52; 1 John 3:2; John 3:36; 17:24; 14:1-3; Psalm 16:11). We believe that the Day of Christ’s return is known only to God and not to man (Matthew 24:29-42; Mark 13:32; 2 Peter 3:10). Therefore, we also reject as false all contrary doctrines, such as purgatory or limbo, an earthly millennial kingdom and attempts to predict the time of Christ’s return.
Bible Study in Preparation for Sunday
The Adult Bible Class continues its study of the Gospel of John. To prepare, read John 3:7-21. Did Nicodemus understand what Jesus meant by being born again of water and the Spirit? Did He understand the working of God’s Spirit? Can we see the wind or know from where it came and to where it will go? How is that like being born of God’s Spirit? Can we see the Spirit of God? Can we see His working in us and in others? Did Nicodemus understand? What did Jesus say to him when he asked how these things could be? What did Jesus mean? Who came down from heaven and then ascended back into heaven? How could Jesus be in heaven while He was here on earth talking with Nicodemus? What did Jesus, in His conversation with Nicodemus, say must happen to Him? To what historical event did Jesus compare His coming crucifixion? Cf. Numbers 21. What are the similarities between these two events? How does the Old testament event point to Jesus and His crucifixion? From what does Jesus save us when we look to Him and His cross in faith? What will happen if we do not look to Him in faith? How does Jesus further explain the reason and purpose of His coming into the world? Did Jesus, at His first coming, come to judge and condemn the world? Why did He come? Will those who trust in Jesus for forgiveness and life be condemned on the Day of Judgment? What about those who do not look to Jesus in faith? When are they already condemned? Why are believers saved? Why are unbelievers condemned? Why do many people not come to Jesus and trust in Him? What is meant by verse 21? What is it to do the truth? Who works all that is good in believers? Cf. Ephesians 2:8-10.
The Catechism Class continues studying the Second Article of the Apostles’ Creed and learning of Jesus and what He has done to redeem all mankind.
The Sunday Sermon will be based on Isaiah 62. In preparation, read this chapter of Scripture and consider the following questions: What does God say of Zion and Jerusalem? Why will God not hold His peace or rest? What will He accomplish? What names will be given to Jerusalem and the land of Israel? What do these names mean? Who will be a delight in Zion? To whom will Zion be married? How will God rejoice over Zion? What were Jerusalem’s watchmen to do? What has the LORD proclaimed, and what is to be said to the daughter of Zion? What will Zion and her people be called? What does this mean for us as believers today?
Remember to Pray
Remember to pray for our church and for all our members that none be lost to Christ’s kingdom, but that all continue in repentance and be strengthened and built up in the true and saving faith in Christ Jesus through the hearing and study of His Word. We continue to pray for all who have been sick or who are suffering among us – especially for Ron Wellander who underwent surgery and is recovering at home – for those who have been absent from us, for our students who are away at school, for our extended families and friends, and for our adopted soldiers. Pray for God’s help with our church’s financial needs. Continue to pray for the Lutheran Churches in the Philippines and for believers around the world who are persecuted or suffering.
Upcoming Events
The Choir is practicing for upcoming services. More voices are always welcome.
Wednesday night Bible studies will begin tonight at 7 p.m. and be held on the second Wednesday of each month. A soup and sandwich supper is planned for tonight at 6:20. All are invited. The monthly studies will be topical but 100 percent Biblical, so bring your Bibles.
Information for bulletins or newsletters may be sent to Pastor Moll by calling him at 479-233-0081 or by e-mail at mollfoto@yahoo.com.
“My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; neither be weary of his correction: For whom the Lord loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.” Proverbs 3:11-12
[Scripture in this Newsletter is taken from the King James Version of the Bible]
