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Knoxville, TN March 2018
W e all have habits. We have bad habits and we have good habits. A habit is a settled or regular tendency or practice. Bad habits might include cigarette smoking, drinking too much alcohol, overeating, being contin-ually late, slovenliness, being lazy and so many others. Good habits might include things like brushing
your teeth, good personal hygiene, good reliable work habits, making your bed, getting proper sleep, exercising, read-ing the Bible and going to church and so many others. Someone has said that habits are like cork or lead. They tend to keep you up or to hold you down. There are hab-its that are forced on us and habits that we adopt on our own. The fact is that we have numerous habits that often direct our life whether we realize it or not. This article is about one extremely good habit that makes life better. The habit I am talking about is going to church and worshipping God and our Savior Jesus Christ. A remarkable number of Christians have not made this a habit or have drifted from it. In Hebrews 10:25 it says: “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” This is a good habit for many reasons besides the fact that it is commanded by God. What vexes most people’s lives is anxiety, worry and generally a “lostness” about where their life is heading and its purpose. In a church service you will experience forgiveness, love, encouragement, inspiration, hope, guidance and redirection. Yes, your sins will be confronted but the healing balm of the Gospel will be immediately applied. Charles Duhigg in his book “The Power of Habit” writes about habits being automated behaviors. They begin with certain cues and rewards. To break a bad habit, he suggests you flee those cues and rewards. For instance, you may have a certain way you put on your shoes. But if you go on vacation to a beach you may not even wear shoes. Then he writes: “It’s also a great reason why changing a habit on a vacation is one of the proven most-successful ways to do it. If you want to quit smoking, you should stop smoking while you are on vacation – because all the old cues and all your old reward aren’t there anymore.” When you come to church you, in a sense, leave your regular life to be recharged and re-ignited to go toward better things. We repent, that is turn from our sins and missteps, to be forgiven and to be encouraged to adopt or re-adopt the good habits. The cues come from His Word and the reward is His love, peace and joy we can know in Christ. That is why God commands us to, “Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.” We come away (attending church as a habit) in order that the Spirit might lead us along better ways (good habits). Over time our habits can be such things as compassion toward others, generosity, speaking well of people, praying for others, serving others and other good deeds. They become auto-matic and we don’t even know we are doing good deeds; they are just the way we live. You have a God-given responsibility to encourage your fellow Christians. There is nothing more encouraging than showing up. And know this too, the world is full of discour-agers. Many a person is in desperate need of words of encouragement, appreciation and hope. Embrace the good habit – worship God weekly – and let Him bring many and great blessings into your life.
~ Pastor Rich
Page 2 March 2018
GraceNet is published monthly by
Grace Lutheran Church – LCMS
9076 Middlebrook Pike, Knoxville, TN 37923
Phone: (865) 691-2823 Fax: (865) 691-4895
E-mail: [email protected]
Reverend Richard M. Elseroad, Senior Pastor
Reverend Travis Ferguson, Associate Pastor
Website: http://www.visitgrace.org
Articles for GraceNet are due by the 1st of each month for the
following month’s edition.
GraceNet Staff Debbie Booher, Editor
Linda Jaekel
Nancy May
Joan Scraggs
Email to Editor: [email protected]
If you have a spe-
cial event you
would like to
have publicized
in GraceNet,
please submit the
information to
Debbie Booher by the 1st of each
month for publication in the follow-
ing month’s newsletter.
Holy Week Services
March 25 Palm Sunday
8:00a - Traditional Service
9:30a - Blended Service
11:00a - Contemporary Service
March 29 Maundy Thursday Worship with Holy Communion
7:00p
March 30 Good Friday Worship Service
7:00p
March 31 Easter Fest - Passion Play & Egg Hunt
10:00a - 1:00p
April 1 Easter Sunday
7:00a - Sunrise Service
8:00a - Traditional Service
9:00a - Easter Brunch
9:30a - Blended Service
11:00a - Contemporary Service
Page 3 March 2018
Special Church Events in
Parents Day Out—Wednesdays through May 16— 9:00 a.m.—1:00 p.m.
Adult Inquiry Class—Tuesdays through April 3—6:30—8:30 p.m. (NO CLASS 3/13)
Financial Peace University—Tuesdays through March 20—6:30—8:30 p.m.
Legacy Journey—Thursdays through March 22— 6:30—8:30 p.m.
English as a Second Language Class—Thursdays—6:30— 8:30 p.m.
Friday Women’s Bible Study: “The Time Between the Testaments”—9:00—10:30 a.m.
Beth Moore Study, “The Beloved Disciple, the Life and Ministry of John”—Wednesdays, 9:30—11:30 a.m.
March 3— Parade of Tables—11:30 a.m.—2:00 p.m. March 6— Seasoned Adults—11:30 a.m., Guest speaker: Norman Day See schedule of Holy Week Services on page 2.
For more information and registration on any of these activities, please check your church bulle-tin or the church website at:
www.visitgrace.org
Jacob Riley Wilson
Born: February 21, 2018
Proud Parents: Derek and Anna Wilson
Page 5 March 2018
DATE THEME VERSE
March 4th
Follow Jesus
“I am not ashamed of the Gospel.”
(Simplified from Romans 1:16)
March 11th
Follow Jesus
“I am not ashamed of the Gospel.”
(Simplified from Romans 1:16)
March 18th
Jesus came to show God’s love
“Jesus Christ is Lord.”
(Simplified from Philippians 2:11)
March 25th
Give to God
“Jesus Christ is Lord.”
(Simplified from Philippians 2:11)
I n an attempt to connect the adults and children of Grace just a bit more, I will be letting people know the theme and verse of the week in our children’s Sunday school classes. I would love it if the adults would join in memorizing or at least talking about it to the children as they see each other in the halls. Listed
below are the themes and scripture for March.
~ Frieda Guthrie
March Children’s Curriculum Themes
Daylight Savings Time Starts
Sunday, March 11
Page 5 March 2018
A mong the new Amish novels are two books by Amy Clipston. Amish Sweethearts (Fic Cli) is her collection of four novellas or short novels. With
love in the air, these romances follow four couples who fall in love, then face adversity which tests the strength and depth of that love, and leads to some varied and sur-prising endings. Also from Clipston is A Place at Our Table (Fic Cli) is the first title in her new series, Amish Homestead. This series is set in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Kayla has spent the past year discouraging her younger brother Nathan from becoming a firefighter since the death of their older brother in a fire. She never wants to experi-ence that same heartache again. And then she meets Ja-mie Riehl, a farmer and volunteer firefighter. A flame develops between them which she strives to extinguish. Part two in the series, Room on the Porch Swing (Fic Cli) will be available in April.
Beneath the Summer Sun by Kelly Irvin (Fic Irv) Jennie lost her husband in a farming accident four years ago. She knows it is time to remarry for her sake, as well as the sake of her seven children. Two suitors are eager to court her, but she's not ready to suffer another loss.
New Mystery Titles
Memphis Cold Case by Patricia Bradley (Fic Bra): Bradley mixes mystery, suspense, and romance as investi-gators in Memphis uncover clues to cases that have gone cold. Uncovering police corruption, looking over their shoulders as they run for their lives are all part of the job for these detectives. But their biggest threat just might be surrendering to love. Book one is entitled, Justice De-layed and book two is Justice Buried.
Oath of Honor by Lynette Eason (Fic Eas): Isabelle comes from a law enforcement family. With three broth-ers and two sisters, someone always has her back, espe-cially on the night when her rookie partner was shot. As she is determined to uncover everything that happened that night, she must protect her family and still secure justice for her partner. Two series presently in the library have additions:
Out of the Ashes by Tracie Peterson and Kimberley Woodhouse (Fic Pet) is book two in The Heart of Alaska series. Set at the Curry Hotel in Alaska, a young couple, torn apart by war, meet once again hoping their broken lives can be restored.
Troubled Waters by Susan May Warren (Fic War) is book four in The Montana Rescue series. Sierra Rose has returned to her job as part of the PEAK rescue team.
She and her team find themselves in serious danger as Sierra enlists their help in finding the missing niece of the man she loves. New Non-Fiction Titles
Instruments in the Redeemer's Hands: People in Need of Change Helping People in Need of Change by Pastor Paul David Tripp (253.5 Tri): Tripp reminds his reader that church is not a club. All members of the church are to be used by God. Each member is in need of refinement and to be used to transform another. Learn how to be an instrument in God's hands to be used by Him.
Parenting: 14 Gospel Principles That Can Radically Change Your Family by Pastor Paul David Tripp (306.874 Tri) Tripp states of his book, "I am deeply per-suaded that what is missing in most Christian parent's par-enting are the big grand perspectives and principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ. These perspectives and principles are radical and counterintuitive." (p. 12). These are what Tripp presents in this guide to Christian parenting.
Man Up! The Quest for Masculinity by Jeffrey Hem-mer (248.842 Hem) Hemmer cuts through all the noise the world makes about what makes a man and goes straight to the heart of our Creator where he emphasizes what God says about being a man and living in the exam-ple and grace of Jesus. Find these and all materials recently added to the library on display on the cart throughout the month. ~ Mary Schultz
Amish and Mystery Titles Top List of New Fiction
Page 7 March 2018
T he Lord's Supper is the place where God puts His arms around us and says, “I want you back!” That is much more personal and helpful than 16th Century discussions about the meaning of the word “is.” We know circumcision is the Old Testament antecedent of baptism. Although Jesus was celebrating the
Passover meal when He gave us the Lord's Supper, that is not the Old Testament antecedent of the Lord's Supper. Rather, the peace offering or fellowship sacrifice of Leviticus 3, 7, and 17 is. (The Passover is a sub category of the peace offering.) In the peace offering a sacrificial animal was roasted on the altar. The vapors rose to appease the nostrils of God. (Leviticus 3:5 and 17:6) That was God's portion of the meal. The same language describes Jesus' death for us in Ephesians 5:2--“Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” The people then ate the roasted meat of the animal. God and people shared a meal. In the Ancient Near East sharing a meal means a bond of unity, a covenant is formed between the two parties. This is why people were so upset when Jesus ate with sinners and tax collectors. “The Thankoffering (or peace offering) is the most frequent offering type of prominence next to the burnt offer-ing. With it the whole people, or an individual and his family and friends gave their thanks to God for His deliverance from severe need. The fatty parts were considered the most valued portion of the animal. They were burned on the altar (Leviticus 3), while the assigned portion was kept by the priest (Leviticus 7:28-34). The remaining portion of the animal was eaten by the assembled congregation in the temple area (Leviticus 7:15-21). In antiquity table fel-lowship bound people to one another in a special way. So the meal offering made on the place of God's presence be-stowed fellowship between God and people, who are guests at God's table, in a manner of speaking.”* In the Lord's Supper we feast on Jesus, the Lamb of God sacrificed for us, whose blood takes away the sin of the world. (John 1:29) The opening chapters of Hosea describe a special task God gave to His prophet. Hosea was to marry Gomer, a prostitute in a fertility cult. When she was unfaithful to Hosea, God told Hosea to take her back and pledge his love to her. After this happened again and again, Hosea asked God why him and why this repetition. God answered that is what it is like to be a faithful God to an unfaithful people. In this scenario, we are the unfaithful Gomer. God wants us to repent and be returned to Him. In the Lord's Supper, He puts His arms around us in a very intimate way and says, “I want you back!”
~ Rev. Phil Bohlken *"Dankopfer," Stuttgarter Erklärungsbibel, ed. Hellmut Haug and Joachim Lange (Stuttgart: Deutsche Bibelgesell-schaft, 1992) Sacherklärungen, pp. 15-16. Section translated by P. Bohlken
Dining With God
W e are partnering with Re:Member Church Directories to update our church directory and we want as many members as possible
to be a part of it. Pictures will be taken during the first two weeks of April. Every participant/family will re-ceive a free 8x10” picture with the option to purchase more but under no obligation.
Sign up today on the board at the Information Desk. Please help us make our directory as complete as possi-ble.
Church Directory
“Connect ~ Grow ~ Serve”
TO:
Grace Lutheran Church-LCMS 9076 Middlebrook Pike Knoxville, TN 37923-1557 (865) 691-2823 Fax: (865) 691-4895 E-mail address: [email protected] Sunday Worship: 8:00 a.m. (Traditional) and 9:30 a.m. (Blended)/11:00 a.m. (Contemporary) Wednesday Worship: 6:30 p.m. (Blended) Sunday School & Bible Classes @ 9:30 a.m./11:00 a.m.
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
March 30, 2018
