[Sunday] Saul - Ordinary Sinners

Action Item:
This week look for places where some have made mistakes that affected you and forgive them.

Questions for the Week

•  Share about a time when you or your neighbor thought you were right in a decision but actually were in the wrong. What effect did this have on those around you?

• Read 1 Samuel 15:1-9.  How did King Saul, not do what God had commanded?

• Read 1 Samuel 15: 10-15.  How does King Saul react, when God’s prophet Samuel, calls out what King Saul did wrong?   

• Read 1 Samuel 15:20-23. What does God require?  What are some ways you can better obey the voice of God?  

• How has Jesus obeyed the voice of His Father for you? What hope does this give you?

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What Had happened at Grace this week. 

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A Penny and God's Goodness by Martin Luther

For the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. And going out about the third hour he saw others standing idle in the marketplace, and to them he said, ‘You go into the vineyard too, and whatever is right I will give you.’ So they went. Going out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour, he did the same. And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing. And he said to them, ‘Why do you stand here idle all day?’ They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You go into the vineyard too.’ And when evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last, up to the first.’ And when those hired about the eleventh hour came, each of them received a denarius. Now when those hired first came, they thought they would receive more, but each of them also received a denarius. And on receiving it they grumbled at the master of the house, saying, ‘These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’ But he replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? Take what belongs to you and go. I choose to give to this last worker as I give to you. Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or do you begrudge my generosity?’ So the last will be first, and the first last” (Matt 20:1-16).

The substance of the parable consists not in the penny, what it is, nor in the different hours; but in earning and acquiring, or how one can earn the penny; that as here the first presumed to obtain the penny and even more by their own merit, and yet the last received the same amount because of the goodness of the householder. Thus God will show it is nothing but mercy that he gives and no one is to arrogate to himself more than another. Therefore, he says I do you no wrong, is not the money mine and not yours; if I had given away your property, then you would have reason to murmur; is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own?

Now in this way Christ strikes a blow first against the presumption of those who would storm their way into heaven by their good works. These all labor for definite wages, that is, they take the law of God in no other sense than that they should fulfill it by certain defined works for a specified reward, and they never understand it correctly, and know not that before God all is pure grace. This signifies that they hire themselves, out for wages, and agree with the householder for a penny a day; consequently, their lives are bitter and they lead a life that is indeed hard.

Christ strikes a blow first against the presumption of those who would storm their way into heaven by their good works.

Now when the gospel comes and makes all alike, as Paul teaches in Romans 3:23, so that they who have done great works are no more than public sinners, and must also become sinners and tolerate the saying: All have sinned, and that no one is justified before God by his works; then they look around and despise those who have done nothing at all. Then they murmur against the householder, they imagine it is not right; they blaspheme the gospel, and become hardened in their ways; then they lose the favor and grace of God, and are obliged to take their temporal reward and trot from him with their penny and be condemned; for they served not for the sake of mercy but for the sake of reward, and they will receive that and nothing more, the others, however, must confess that they have merited neither the penny nor the grace, but more is given to them than they had ever thought was promised to them.

Therefore, if one were to interpret it critically, the penny would have to signify temporal good, and the favor of the householder, eternal life. But the day and the heat we transfer from temporal things to the conscience, so that work-righteous persons do labor long and hard, that is, they do all with a heavy conscience and an unwilling heart, forced and coerced by the law; but the short time or last hours are the light consciences that live blessed lives, led by grace, and that willingly and without being driven by the law.

Therefore, we clearly see, if we look into their hearts, that the last had no regard for their own merit, but enjoyed the goodness of the householder. The first however did not esteem the goodness of the householder, but looked to their own merits, and thought it was theirs by right and murmured about it.

The substance of this gospel is that no mortal is so high, nor will ever ascend so high, who will not have occasion to fear what may become the very lowest. On the other hand, no mortal lies so low or can fall so low, to whom the hope is not extended that he may become the highest; because here all human merit is abolished and God's goodness alone is praised.

[Bible Study] The Great Divorce Book Study Ch 3-5

Read through 8 for next week

[Sunday] Samson - Ordinary Sinners

Action Item:
Find a way to serve someone in humility this week.

Questions for the Week

• Retell what you know about the story of Samson.

• Read Judges 16:1-22.  Describe Samson’s selfishness. Where was he doing right in his own eyes?  

• Read Judges 16:23-31.   Where do you see Samson still showing selfishness?  How do you see the power of God despite Samon’s selfishness?

• Compare and contrast Samson to what you know about Jesus.

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What Had happened at Grace this week. 

[Bible Study] The Great Divorce Book Study Ch 1-2

Alzheimer's Info Luncheon

Special Luncheon & Tour

 Grace Lutheran Church Women’s League

Please Join Us At

YourLife of Stuart

500 SE Indian Street

Stuart, Florida 34997

Wednesday

July 7, 2021 @ 11:00 am

RSVP Required  

With Your choice of:

Lemon Chicken Piccata or

Honey Garlic Glazed Salmon

to 772-403-0573

 For any questions, please contact:

  Lesley J. Vestrich – Director of Community Relations

772-402-0573

   Assisted Living Facility License #13225

[Sunday] Rahab- Ordinary Sinners

Action Item:
This week, think about a time when there should have been curses but you saw blessings instead.

Questions for the Week

• Read Joshua chapter 2. What stands out to you about the story of Rahab?

• Read Joshua chapter 6. notice how the battle of Jericho is not really about fighting but trusting in God. How is this similar to Rahab?

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What Had happened at Grace this week. 

Summer Book Club | The Great Divorce by CS Lewis

On Thursdays at 11am we will be going through CS Lewis The Great Divorce.

Here is the Amazon Link for the Book.

Most likely the first week will be July 1st

The Great Divorce

By Lewis, C. S.

God is on the Bathroom Floor

Read the whole Article at https://www.nightbirde.co/blog/blog-post-title-three-2rjnk

I don’t remember most of Autumn, because I lost my mind late in the summer and for a long time after that, I wasn’t in my body. I was a lightbulb buzzing somewhere far.

After the doctor told me I was dying, and after the man I married said he didn’t love me anymore, I chased a miracle in California and sixteen weeks later, I got it. The cancer was gone. But when my brain caught up with it all, something broke. I later found out that all the tragedy at once had caused a physical head trauma, and my brain was sending false signals of excruciating pain and panic.

[Bible Study] 1 Peter 5 - Zoom to Scripture

Gospel of the Old Testament - Video Chad Bird

https://www.1517.org/videos/chad-bird-the-old-testament-gospel

[Sunday] Moses - Ordinary Sinners

Action Item:
This week, think about a time when there should have been curses but you saw blessings instead.

Questions for the Week

• Retell the story about Moes in your own words.

• Read Numbers 20:1-13.  What instructions does God give to Moses?  What does Moses do that is wrong?

• Moses is an ordinary sinner, just like us. As you think about the Biblical narrative, where do you find hope?

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What Had happened at Grace this week. 

Love Beyond Efficiency

Read the whole article at https://mbird.com/family/love-beyond-efficiency/

The drop-off for the elementary school is precisely at 8:30am, and there remains just five minutes to walk the three blocks. Still enough time, though only just. “It’s time! Let’s goooo.” But then a second breakfast item is requested, all the masks have gone missing, and no one has any shoes on. With a “No, too late,” a “Shoes, please!” and a “Hurry up!” walking commences down the street as the sound of crying signals yet another scraped knee. “Come on! Almost there …” Arriving at 8:34, school has successfully happened yet again, but it’s not a victory worth celebrating.

[Sunday] Noah - Ordinary Sinners

Questions for the Week

• What do you remember about the narrative about Noah in the Bible?

• Read Genesis 9:9:8-17. What promise does God make to Noah?  

• Read Genesis 9:18-29 This is a strange section. What does Noah’s response in vv. 18-24 show us about Noah? Is Noah without sin?   

• Read 1 Peter 3:18-22.  What aspects of the narrative about Noah does Peter highlight?  In your baptism, how has the story of Noah played out in your life?

  Service [above] Sermon releases at 10pm [under]

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What Had happened at Grace this week. 

[Sunday] Adam & Eve - Ordinary Sinners

Questions for the Week

•  Retell the story of Adam and Eve from how you remember it.

• Read Genesis 2:4 - 3:21.  After re-reading about Adam and Eve, what is different from what you remember?

• Remembering that “man” means Adam in Hebrew, What other similarities do you have to Adam and Eve?

• Where do you see the promise and graciousness of God in how He works with Adam and Eve?   How does this point to Jesus?

  Action Item: Rather than blaming someone else, go outside in God’s creation and say a prayer of confession to God. Trust that, through Jesus, He has crushed that evil, forgiven you, and given you new life.

  Service [above] Sermon releases at 10pm [under]

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What Had happened at Grace this week. 

Grace Voters Meeting June 6 21

Ordinary Sinners

Adam & Eve, Noah, David, and so many more -- These people are constantly talked about in the Scriptures, not because they are perfect or holy but because God works “thru” ordinary sinners.

Sermon Playlist

Watch Full Servies & See Bulletins

[Sunday] Itching Ears - Entrusted

Questions for the Week

•  Who are your itching ears listening to that could lead you away from following Jesus?

• Read 2 Timothy 4:1-8.   What attributes does Paul encourage Timothy to have as he “preaches the word?”  What does it look like for you to share your faith with “patience and teaching?”

• How does knowing that “the crown of righteousness” in Jesus is laid up for you help you have perseverance in the faith?

  Action Item: When you are tempted to get frustrated with someone who believes differently than you, stop and listen. Be patient with them. Remember that Jesus has already won.

  Service [above] Sermon releases at 10pm [under]

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What Had happened at Grace this week. 

Remembering Chuck Kamrath

Service

• Memorial Service

  • Saturday May 29th 11am

  • Grace Lutheran PSL

    • 555 SW Cashmere Blvd. Port St Lucie, FL 32986

  • Live Stream: https://youtu.be/d-dvNGHPrhE