WELS Daily Devotions

Clean – June 8, 2019

“Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may . . . go through the gates into the city.” Revelation 22:14 Clean Daily Devotion – June 8, 2019 Devotion based on Revelation 22:14 https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20190608dev.mp3 See series: Devotions If you ask people who have traveled around the world, “What is the cleanest city you have…

Payday – June 7, 2019

[Jesus said] “Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me.” Revelation 22:12 Payday Daily Devotion – June 7, 2019 Devotion based on Revelation 22:12 https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20190607dev.mp3 See series: Devotions Imagine for a minute that you have to do a terrible job for a year. Maybe the work is hard. Maybe it’s high-stress. Maybe the…

Jesus is Coming Soon – June 6, 2019

He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Revelation 22:20 Jesus is Coming Soon Daily Devotion – June 6, 2019 Devotion based on Revelation 22:20 https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20190606dev.mp3 See series: Devotions “Did he forget?” I had this thought a few times as a child as I waited for my dad to pick me…

Wish You Were Here – June 5, 2019

“Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.” John 17:24 Wish You Were Here Daily Devotion – June 5, 2019 Devotion based on John 17:24 https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20190605dev.mp3 See…

Coheirs – June 4, 2019

“I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one. . . Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known…

Jesus Prayer – June 3, 2019

“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent…

The Washing – June 2, 2019

Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life. Revelation 22:14 The Washing Daily Devotion – June 2, 2019 Devotion based on Revelation 22:14 https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20190602dev.mp3 See series: Devotions In his Civil War book, Glory Road, author Bruce Catton demonstrates how dirty a human being can get….

Source of Light – June 1, 2019

The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. Revelation 21:23 Source of Light Daily Devotion – June 1, 2019 Devotion based on Revelation 21:23 https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20190601dev.mp3 See series: Devotions The man was desperate to build a…

Turn from Empty Promises – May 31, 2019

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27 Turn from Empty Promises Daily Devotion – May 31, 2019 Devotion based on John 14:27 https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20190531dev.mp3 See series: Devotions There is…

Turn from Spiritual Apathy – May 30, 2019

“Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” Revelation 3:19,20 Turn from Spiritual Apathy Daily Devotion – May…

Turn from an Uncertain Future – May 29, 2019

And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God. It shone with the glory of God. Revelation 21:10,11 Turn from an Uncertain Future Daily Devotion – May 29, 2019 Devotion based on Revelation 21:10,11 https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20190529dev.mp3 See…

Turn from Baseless Fears – May 28, 2019

“Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, LORD, so that he may see.” Then the LORD opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha….

Turn from Worthless Things – May 27, 2019

We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God who made the heavens and the earth and the sea and everything in them. Acts 14:15b Turn from Worthless Things Daily Devotion – May 27, 2019 Devotion based on Acts 14:15b https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20190527dev.mp3 See series: Devotions Whenever a…

All The Light We Need – May 26, 2019

The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. Revelation 21:23 All The Light We Need Daily Devotion – May 26, 2019 Devotion based on Revelation 21:23 https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20190526dev.mp3 See series: Devotions If you ever want to…

Limitless Love – May 25, 2019

“As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” John 13:34 Limitless Love Daily Devotion – May 25, 2019 Devotion based on John 13:34 https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20190525dev.mp3 See series: Devotions The thing about love is that it almost always has limits. You might really love someone or something, but there is probably a limit to…

House Colors – May 24, 2019

“By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:35 House Colors Daily Devotion – May 24, 2019 Devotion based on John 13:35 https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20190524dev.mp3 See series: Devotions Olympic athletes wear the colors of their country. Ships fly the colors of their country. Traditionally, houses of nobility each had…

While He Is Away – May 23, 2019

“My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come. A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”…

A Not So New Assignment – May 22, 2019

“A new command I give you: Love one another.” John 13:34 A Not So New Assignment Daily Devotion – May 22, 2019 Devotion based on John 13:34 https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20190522dev.mp3 See series: Devotions Back in the old days, there was a TV show called Mission Impossible. Each episode would introduce a new assignment given to the main…

House Rules – May 21, 2019

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” John 13:34 House Rules Daily Devotion – May 21, 2019 Devotion based on John 13:34 https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20190521dev.mp3 See series: Devotions Every house needs house rules: a set of agreed upon rules for how people living in…

The House That Love Built – May 20, 2019

“As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” John 13:34 The House That Love Built Daily Devotion – May 20, 2019 Devotion based on John 13:34 https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20190520dev.mp3 See series: Devotions When I was younger, I remember visiting McDonald’s and seeing a little plastic coin bin on the counter. It said, “The house…

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St. Stephen's Lutheran Church and School

4 hours ago

From ssbdwels.com: Self Denial – July 18, 2019 “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves . . . For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it.”
Luke 9:23,24

Self Denial

Daily Devotion – July 18, 2019
Devotion based on Luke 9:23,24

wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20190718dev.mp3
See series: Devotions

Are you someone who has tried self-denial?
Maybe it was for the sake of losing weight or athletic endeavors—you denied yourself certain foods or extra sleep, or leisure time to exercise or train.
Maybe it was for the sake of loved ones—you didn’t do or eat certain things because you knew it would leave out someone else who couldn’t do those things.
Maybe it was for spiritual or discipline reasons. Fasting has long been used as an act of repentance or to sharpen mental and spiritual focus.
But the kind of self-denial Jesus expects of his disciples is a little different. To deny myself is to do the exact opposite of what my sinful nature wants to do. My sinful nature wants me to put myself first and serve myself and do only what’s best for me. Denying myself means never putting myself first.
But, my sinful nature objects, if you don’t put yourself first, who will watch out for you? If you deny yourself, who will take care of you? You have to put yourself first, at least some of the time.
But Jesus invites us to trust him. He says, “I denied myself to come and be your Savior. I put my Father’s will first as I served you in my life and my death so that the greatest thing you need is already yours. You are a child of God and an heir of eternal life!”
“And if I’ve given you that, you can be sure I will care for you in every other need you have. Because I love you perfectly, you can trust me enough to put God first in your life and to love others more than yourself.”
Self-denial is never easy. It is a constant struggle. It is a daily battle. Praise God that his Son was willing to deny himself for us. And turn to him daily for forgiveness and strength to deny ourselves as we serve him every day.

Prayer:
Prayer:
Dear Jesus, my self-sacrificing Savior, forgive my selfishness and give me strength to deny myself for you every day. Amen.

Daily Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.
All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

www.ssbdwels.com/self-denial-july-18-2019/ ...

Self Denial – July 18, 2019 - St. Stephens Evangelical Lutheran Church and School | Beaver Dam, WI | 920.885.3309

[Jesus said] “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves . . . For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it.” Luke 9:23,24 Self Denial Daily Devotion – July 18, 2019 Devotion based on Luke 9:23,24 wels2.blob.core.windows....

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St. Stephen's Lutheran Church and School shared a link.

17 hours ago

Bible Gateway passage: Psalm 119:7 - New International Version ...

Bible Gateway passage: Psalm 119:7 - New International Version

I will praise you with an upright heart as I learn your righteous laws.

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St. Stephen's Lutheran Church and School

1 day ago

From ssbdwels.com: Sermon on Ruth 1:1-19 and Luke 10:25-37 for 5th Sunday after Pentecost, July 14, 2019Dear friends in Christ,

Our meditation this morning is based primarily on our Old Testament lesson from Ruth chapter 1, but also picks up on Jesus’ parable of the “Good Samaritan” and the discussion that led to his telling the parable. To get into it, let me ask perhaps an odd question – Who thinks that mothers-in-law get a bad rap? You chuckle. For a long time there have been “mother-in-law jokes”. You do occasionally hear someone say, “Ugh, gotta go over by ‘the mother-in-law”. About ten years ago a movie was produced starring Jane Fonda and Jennifer Lopez called “The Monster-In-Law”! The jokes and movies such as this are based on the stereotype of mothers-in-law that they often stick their noses where they shouldn’t be; meddling in the marriages and family life of her daughter and her husband or of her son and his wife. Stereotyped this way, mothers-in-law then get the bad rap of being hard to love.

But from God’s Word this morning we have a lesson before us about a mother-in-law who apparently was very “lovable” – Naomi; deeply loved by her daughters-in-law. Our Ruth reading is paired with our lessons that teach the “second table (section) of God’s commandments that are summed up in the general command to “love your neighbor as yourself” (Galatians 5:13-25 and Luke 10:25-37). (Commandments 1-3 make up the “first table – tablet, and deal strictly with an individual’s relationship with God, summarized by the command, “Love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength”. Commandments 4-10 – the “second table(t)” deal with an individual’s relationship with God and with the people around us ). A clear truth for us from all these lessons is the lesson about biblical or divine love; that this love is more than a warm and fuzzy emotion. It’s more than words and emotion; love is attitude and action. It’s right there in the best known verse of Scripture: “For God so LOVED the world that he GAVE his one and only Son…”. The same concept is there when God through his Apostle Paul tells husbands, “Husbands, LOVE your wives just as Christ LOVED the Church and GAVE HIMSELF for her” (Ephesians 5:25). It is relatively easy to speak the words, “I love you” or “I care about you”. Putting action to those words becomes more challenging to sinners like us.

Love Your Neighbor – It’s More than Words!

What love Ruth seemed to have for her mother-in-law Naomi! To help us apply this to ourselves today, let’s get a little background on these people. The Holy Spirit inspired writer of this account (maybe Samuel) introduces us to a husband and wife, Elimelech and Naomi, who were Ephrathites 1 living in Bethlehem of Judah, with their two sons “during the time when the judges ruled”. This puts them living sometime between 1350 and 1050 B.C. About 1400 B.C. God led his people of Israel from slavery in Egypt under the leadership of Moses (Exodus). After the 40 years of “wandering” in the wilderness and Moses’ death, Joshua led Israel across the Jordan River and into that promised land of Canaan, where after conquests won for them by the LORD the 12 tribes of Israel dispersed throughout the land. After Joshua’s death there was no central, unifying leader for Israel. In each tribe there were leaders and “judges” who advised and might serve as judges in disputes. When trouble came upon the entire nation, the LORD would raise up one of those “judges” to prominence to unify the nation and lead them in fending off enemies. Some of the “Judges” were Gideon, Samson, Samuel. Based on the little genealogy at the end of the book of Ruth, it’s possible they lived toward of the end of the time of the judges.

There was a famine in Judah, so Elimelech and Naomi moved their little family to the country of Moab, which was East and a little South of Judah, across the Dead Sea. Some major events occurred while they were there: Elimelech died, the boys married Moabite girls they met there; and then apparently rather soon thereafter, those sons also died. Naomi was left in a foreign land with no husband, no sons, and her two widowed daughters-in-law.

After being in Moab a little over ten years Naomi heard news that the famine in Judah was over. So, she decided it was time to go home to Bethlehem in Judah. Daughters-in-law Orpah and Ruth left with Naomi, though it may not have at all been Naomi’s intent to have the “girls” actually move to Bethlehem with her. It was custom at that time and place to have a rather long “good-bye”. You didn’t say “good-bye” at the front door, and then close the door on your departing visitor. You accompanied them “out of town” as your “send off”. So, they apparently went far enough that Naomi thought it time to stop and send the girls back to Moab where they might stand a chance of “starting a new life”.

Orpah “agreed”, kissed Naomi good-bye and headed back home. However, Ruth vehemently said that she would go with Naomi to Bethlehem, and would stay there with her. Her statement of love and commitment is beautiful. It has on occasion served as a Scripture reading for weddings. “Where you go, I will go. Where you stay, I will stay. Your people will be my people, and your God my God. Where you die, I will die and there I will be buried.” But these were the words of a daughter-in-law to her mother-in-law! What was involved in her statement was much more than some beautiful and pious words. Ruth put those words into action; action that required incredible sacrifice. Ruth would be living in a foreign land as a widow. Naomi by her own admission was an older woman who would soon need help. By our “standards” she may not have been that old – 50’s – but in that time and culture she was probably in the last decade or so of her life. A widowed foreigner in a foreign land caring for an aging mother-in-law appeared to be how Ruth would spend much of the rest of her life! But Ruth’s words were also the words of a daughter-in-law who had come to know and love, probably through her in-laws, the LORD, the God of Israel, the God of all the earth! Ruth’s love for this “neighbor”, her mother-in-law, was much more than just words!

Similarly, Jesus’ answer to the Jewish law teacher’s question about who is my neighbor shows the same truth, that “neighborliness” commanded by God – “love your neighbor as yourself” – is more than mere words. And, such love of neighbor is to be poured out on more than just people we “like”. The two men you would expect to have been “neighborly” to the beaten Jewish man on the side of the road perhaps “loved” in words only. One was a Jewish priest, a representative of the LORD to his people, and the other was a Levite, a worker in the temple of the LORD. Perhaps through their minds ran some words like, “I hope he’s OK” or “I wish there were something I could do for him”. But there actions had no love for that “neighbor”. The Samaritan man, however, even though Samaritans and Jews were somewhat enemies, saw a fellow human being created by God who needed help. And he knew he had the abilities and resources to meet his need. So he acted. He was a “neighbor”.

This brings us again to the biblical and divine concept of love. It’s more than words. Love is more than a fuzzy, warm emotion. Divine love is ATTITUDE and ACTION! Look at the attitudes Paul lists in our second reading (Galatians 5:22): “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control”. Ruth had the attitude and the actions. She was a “neighbor”; she loved her neighbor as herself. If you read on in the book of Ruth, when they got back to Bethlehem it was barley harvest time. Relatively soon after arriving Ruth was in the barley fields “gleaning”, picking up stalks of grain that the harvesters had accidentally allowed to fall to the ground and, by God’s command to Israel, were to be left for the poor to pick up (Leviticus 19:9, 10 - God’s “welfare program” for Israel!). The Samaritan in Jesus’ parable – the same. He used his time, abilities and resources to meet the need of a man in need.

“Love your neighbor as yourself”. How are you doing in keeping this command of our God? Let’s really narrow down for just a moment to whom we should be a neighbor. While we are to be a neighbor to EVERYONE with whom we have contact and beyond, let’s just focus on the Ruth – Naomi relationship: family; elderly family. How well do you do at “being a neighbor” for your family members who are elderly? I’ll make a confession in this matter that still nags at me after 43 years, about this time of year as a matter of fact. My grandmother had been living with us for several months, and became ill and weak and was hospitalized. It was summer and I was home from college, 20 years old. Grandma was in the hospital for 5-6 days. In those 5-6 days, how many times did her self-absorbed, 20 year old grandson go to visit her, even though the hospital was only 2-3 miles away? Once. She died in that hospital. We Pastors find the same thing when we make our private communion visits to members of our congregation who are homebound, usually elderly. Our hope is to be with a person for maybe a half hour; 5-10 minutes of chit-chat, a devotion, and Lord’s Supper. But with so many of them we Pastors are one of the few people who visit them, especially in the nursing homes. And they just want to talk with someone. Family visits them rarely – maybe Mother’s Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. How greatly some of their needs are met when someone just gives them some time and a conversation! So, to whom are you a neighbor when it comes to your family, especially your older family members? To whom are you a neighbor when it comes to your Christian Church family, especially some of the older ones who used to sit near you at worship?

But, why? Why go to the “extra” and sometimes sacrificial effort to be a neighbor and help someone in need? For Ruth was it simply the fact her mother-in-law had been good to her? Perhaps partially. But totally it was because of the God to whom she’d been introduced by her in-laws! She had been brought to know His love and the great help He provides through the Savior to come from Naomi’s people.

The reason for “loving your neighbor as yourself” is wrapped up in the discussion between Jesus and a Jewish teacher of scriptural law which led to the Good Samaritan parable from Jesus. The man asked, “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus could have given a short, definitive answer: “You are by nature sinful and unrighteous before God; there is NOTHING you can do to inherit eternal life! You need a Savior! You need me! But that was not how Jesus so often taught. He wanted the man to learn. So, Jesus tried to lead him to that answer by asking him what God’s law says about being right with God and having eternal life: “What does the law say? How do you read it?” As the man quoted the simple two-part summary of God’s law / commandments, “Love the LORD your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength; and love your neighbor as yourself”. In telling the man, “You’re right! DO THIS and, you will live” Jesus must have hoped the man would see his own failure to have this attitude and to do what the law said. But no, the man just felt foolish for asking a question that had a simple answer which he already knew. Desiring to lift himself up (“justify himself”) in front of Jesus and whoever else was listening, he then asked, “And who is my neighbor?” In all of this, including the parable that followed, Jesus’ ultimate goal was not to teach the Jewish law teacher to be a nice guy to everyone. His goal was to lead this man to see his failure to perfectly obey God’s law, his inability to earn God’s favor and eternal life with him, and to see and trust Jesus as the Son of God who had come to be the perfect “Neighbor” to him and to give him a home in God’s eternal “neighborhood”.

Our God loves us the unlovable! And his love is more than words, it’s attitude and action. He has done what was necessary to meet our greatest need, to be right in his sight. He (Jesus) has been the perfect neighbor for us. He “moved into our “neighborhood”, our world of sin and death. He met physical needs of people around him. Jesus allowed himself to be beaten, robbed of his life, punished in hell for us. In him our wounded and dying soul is healed and made whole for eternity with him.

Being such a perfect “Neighbor” to each of us, he and the Holy Spirit give us the will and abilities and resources to meet the needs of those around us for their good. It starts in our own families – call Grandpa/Grandma, Mom/Dad - visit! Do you know a church member in nursing home or homebound, maybe someone who not that long ago sat not far from you here in God’s house. Give ‘em a call; pay ‘em a visit! Be a neighbor! Love your neighbor as yourself – it’s more than words!

One final thought on “Christian neighborliness”. When we become a neighbor to someone whose need we can meet with our time, abilities, or resources, Jesus may use you for even more, namely to meet their greatest need, the need the law teacher who came to Jesus had: to show that Jesus meets their need to be perfect and righteous before God and to give them an eternal home with God. It happened with Ruth! In Bethlehem Ruth married again, a relative of Naomi’s by the name of Boaz. Boaz and Ruth had a son. He had a son who was named Jesse. Jesse had a son whom he named David! Ruth’s great-grandson was King David, from whose family came our great “Neighbor”: Jesus our Savior. God put Ruth, a non-Jew, into his plan of eternal rescue for all sinners! When we offer that Savior to others, even remind believers of that Savior’s love and sacrifice for them, God has you in his salvation plan, too! Amen.

1) "Ephrathites" - "Elimelech belonged to the clan of Ephrath, which was the name of Bethlehem when Rachel died giving birth to Benjamin (Genesi 35:19). Old Testament genealogies tie Ephrath to Caleb, the good spy, and to Bethlehem. A well-known reference to both Bethlehem and Ephrath is Micah's prophecy of the Savior's birthplace (Micah 5:2 - 'But you, Bethelehem Ephratha, though you are small among the clans of Judah, yet out of you...')." From "The People's Bible: Judges & Ruth", John C. Lawrenz. (c)Northwestern Publishing House, 1997.http://www.ssbdwels.com/th_sermon/sermon-on-ruth-11-19-and-luke-1025-37-for-5th-sunday-after-pentecost-july-14-2019/ ...

Sermon on Ruth 1:1-19 and Luke 10:25-37 for 5th Sunday after Pentecost, July 14, 2019 - St. Stephens Evangelical Lutheran Church and School | Beaver Dam, WI | 920.885.3309

Dear friends in Christ, Our meditation this morning is based primarily on our Old Testament lesson from Ruth chapter 1, but also picks up on Jesus’ parable of the “Good Samaritan” and the discussion that led to his telling the parable. To get into it, let me ask perhaps an odd question – Who...

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St. Stephen's Lutheran Church and School

1 day ago

From ssbdwels.com: Disgraced for Christ – July 17, 2019By faith Moses . . . regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt.
Hebrews 11:24,26

Disgraced for Christ

Daily Devotion – July 17, 2019
Devotion based on Hebrews 11:24,26

wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20190717dev.mp3
See series: Devotions

We live in a world that is increasingly anti-Christian. The truths that God speaks in his Word seem to face greater hostility every day.
Christian college students are ridiculed by peers and professors. They are mocked for believing that the world was created by God in six 24-hour days. They are marginalized for believing that the Bible is a reliable source for any truth at all.
Christians are labeled as out-of-touch and unloving for believing and promoting God’s design for marriage, family, and home.
Christian children and their parents face pressure to fill their lives with activities that leave no time for God’s Word.
For the sake of Christ, Christians are ridiculed, disgraced, and marginalized. In some places, they are forced to give up their jobs, their freedom, and even their lives for the sake of confessing the Christ of the Bible.
When Moses faced disgrace for the sake of Christ, he regarded that disgrace “as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt.” It sounds strange, doesn’t it? Who considers disgrace to be something valuable?
But think about this. Christ himself left behind heaven to be mistreated on earth. He gave up the pleasures of life in paradise to endure disgrace and death in our sinful world.
Christ endured that disgrace for our sake and in our place. Christ died for our tendency to turn our backs on him and his truth in order to avoid the disgrace of the world. Then Christ was raised to life to give us the hope and certainty that life waits for us after death too—a life of peace and pleasure, harmony and happiness, treasure and triumph.
Christ did all of that because he knew what life was like without sin and sorrow, disease and death. And he wanted us to have that. He wanted to deliver us from our slavery to disobedience to enjoy the freedom of life with him forever.
Because Christ suffered disgrace for us, we gladly and willingly endure disgrace for his sake, knowing the perfect love we see in his suffering and the freedom we have through him for this life and for eternity.

Prayer:
Thank you for enduring disgrace for me. Lead me to willingly endure disgrace for your sake. Amen.

Daily Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.
All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

www.ssbdwels.com/disgraced-for-christ-july-17-2019/ ...

Disgraced for Christ – July 17, 2019 - St. Stephens Evangelical Lutheran Church and School | Beaver Dam, WI | 920.885.3309

By faith Moses . . . regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt. Hebrews 11:24,26 Disgraced for Christ Daily Devotion – July 17, 2019 Devotion based on Hebrews 11:24,26 wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20190717dev.mp3 See series: Dev...

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St. Stephen's Lutheran Church and School

1 day ago

From ssbdwels.com: A Unified Budget (Ministry Spending Plan) for St. Stephen’s NOTE: The switch to a unified budget was an item on the agenda for the last voters’ meeting. After discussion, it was decided to recess the meeting so there would be opportunity to share more information about the unified budget to get more input and give more opportunity for questions before the decision is final. We plan to resume the meeting on Sunday, August 4, after the 9:30 a.m. service to act on this one agenda item. If you have questions or ideas, please speak to a member of our church council, or to council president Bill C. Hemling.

In true Lutheran tradition we ask, “What does this mean?”

A “Unified Budget” means that our offerings given to the Lord are placed into one, unified general account … and…
All regularly paid expenses (monthly, semi-monthly) are paid from that one, unified account.

Again, “What does this mean?” How does this change the way offerings and finances have been handled in the past?

For our offerings, this means there would not be 3 choices on our envelopes for the division of our offering (i.e. Current, Building and Debt, Missions), nor would there be a monthly Lakeside Lutheran High School envelope. All envelope offerings go to a unified account.
All regular (monthly, semi-monthly) expenditures are made from that one fund, Including WELS Mission/Ministry and Lakeside Lutheran High School. The annual amount to be contributed to WELS and to LLHS is determined by the Voters’ Assembly (representing the entire membership) at its annual Budget Meeting (late November / early December).
Ministry such as WELS and LLHS, in a unified procedure, should receive consistent monthly amounts from our congregation, as opposed to the up and down support we currently give (much in December and April, but little in July and August).

What would happen to the “Building and Debt Fund”?

The original purpose (1970s?) of the Building and Debt Fund is long past. This was a fund kept in our checking account that collected gifts for building projects such as the ramp and front entryway (1975), and the church office / elevator section of the building (1991). When loans for these projects had to be taken (incurring “debt”), debt payments on the loans were paid from gifts given to this fund.
Over the last 30 years, the Building and Debt Fund has been nothing more than a debt fund that at end of year by Voters’ Assembly resolution has covered much of the deficits in our General Operating (Current Expense) Fund. In reality, Building and Debt monies have gone to cover regular operating expenses. For special projects now, such as our Window-Exterior Restoration, we established a separate and specific special fund.

What are the disadvantages of a Unified Plan?

Without a space on our envelopes to designate Mission gifts and a special envelope for Lakeside Lutheran High School, these important (beyond Beaver Dam) ministries are not right in front of us when we contemplate our regular offerings.
I don’t get to designate what my offering supports. (Not necessarily a disadvantage. Such a “Me” attitude could be problematic to the overall ministry of Christ’s Church.)

What could be the advantages of a Unified Plan?

Hopefully, the emphasis is that the gift I offer is given to my Savior God in thanks for the gift of life eternal he gives me in Jesus. It is not given to an institution; to build, fix, or maintain a building; nor for a “pet” ministry I hold dear.
Hopefully, it focuses each of us, as we contemplate our regular thank offering to our Savior God, on how much he has blessed me, and not on how this gift will be used (remember, some of what the Israelites of old took to the temple for sacrifice just went “up in smoke”!)
Hopefully, through good communication and good Voters’ Assembly participation in the budgeting/planning process, we won’t have attitudes that express themselves in internal statements such as, “I’m not happy with what they decided to do with my money.” (Whose money is it, anyway? Psalm 24:1).
If each of us continued to bring offerings at current levels (or increased a little next year), though the bottom-line wouldn’t change much, the constant internal borrowing and paying back that currently goes on wouldn’t happen, and our General Fund balances might not look so dismal throughout the year until the Voters’ Assembly resolves at end of year to transfer the Building and Debt Fund balance to the General Fund to reduce the deficit.
Accounting of gifts by our Offering Count Committee and our Financial Secretary would be much simpler.
Reporting of gifts and expenses would be much simpler.

What would this mean for me as I plan and give my offering to my Savior?

As I weekly / bi-weekly plan my gift to my Savior, I would not have to decide how much goes to “Current”, how much to “Building and Debt”, and how much to “Missions”. I just plan and give a total amount, in keeping with how I’m blessed.
On my offering envelope, I would write only the total amount of my thank-offering, without “dividing” it.
I can be confident that the gift I’m able to give my Savior will support all the ministry to which we (St. Stephen’s) have committed ourselves.

What’s this “Ministry Spending Plan” business? What does this mean?

The term “budget” is used everywhere – in government, in business, in our homes, and in the church. Pretty much the word “budget” carries only the concept of $$: $$ in, and $$ out; and… I (we) don’t have enough $$ coming in to balance the $$ going out !!!!.
The term “Ministry Spending Plan” also carries the concept of $$; that’s in the word “Spending”! But the word “Ministry” is also part of the phrase. “Ministry” means “service.” Jesus has called us to SERVE him and others with our time, our talents, and our treasures ($$). We plan what spiritual service we will carry out in the coming year, and what $$ will be needed to carry out such SERVICE. (Yes, that’s a budget.)
With the phrase “Ministry Spending Plan” we hope to convey that our $$$ are given in love and service to our Savior, and that those $$$ support the SERVICE to which he calls us.

How should I give my offering if we adopt a Unified Plan?

Our offering envelopes would be different: ONE space for a $ amount, not three.
What is your current TOTAL weekly / bi-weekly / monthly offering? Give that! (or more!)
EXAMPLE - If, in the past, you have given a weekly gift of $40, divided between “Current” ($30), “Building and Debt” ($5), and “Missions” ($5), and a monthly envelope gift to Lakeside Lutheran HS ($20) … give a weekly “unified” gift of $45 (or bi-weekly gift of $90). It will “come out the same” in the end and support all those ministries (St. Stephen’s, WELS, LLHS).
“Special Service” envelopes (i.e. Christmas, Good Friday, Ascension, etc.) would not be specially designated. They would also go to the “unified” fund and would support ALL ministry.

May I make a special gift to a ministry special to me?

Yes! Memorials, gifts of honor (birthday, anniversary, etc.) may certainly be made to a “ministry” of your choice (general, WELS missions, radio ministry, school ministry, etc.).
Generic “Special Gift” envelopes are available in the entryways of the church in which special gifts may be given and on which a notation can be made. Your “wish” for such a gift to your Savior God will be honored.

What opportunity will I have to offer my gift to Jesus through “automatic withdrawals”, “digitally”, or “online”?

We are currently making some accounting software changes that will facilitate this.
It is our hope that the option to offer regular gifts “online”, “digitally”, or by “automatic withdrawal” will be available by Fall of 2019. Watch the Sunday “announcement” page, the newsletter, the church website (ssbdwels.com) or some kind of “e” message for this giving option.
www.ssbdwels.com/a-unified-budget-ministry-spending-plan-for-st-stephens/ ...

A Unified Budget (Ministry Spending Plan) for St. Stephen’s - St. Stephens Evangelical Lutheran Church and School | Beaver Dam, WI | 920.885.3309

Note: The switch to a unified budget was an item on the agenda for the last voters’ meeting. After discussion, it was decided to recess the meeting so there would be opportunity to share more information about the unified budget to get more input and give more opportunity for questions before the ...

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Worship Service Schedule

Sunday: 7:30 a.m. • 9:30 a.m.
Thursday: 6:30 p.m.

Clean – June 8, 2019

Payday – June 7, 2019

Jesus is Coming Soon – June 6, 2019

Wish You Were Here – June 5, 2019

Coheirs – June 4, 2019

Jesus Prayer – June 3, 2019

The Washing – June 2, 2019

Source of Light – June 1, 2019

Turn from Empty Promises – May 31, 2019

Turn from Spiritual Apathy – May 30, 2019

Turn from an Uncertain Future – May 29, 2019

Turn from Baseless Fears – May 28, 2019

Turn from Worthless Things – May 27, 2019

All The Light We Need – May 26, 2019

Limitless Love – May 25, 2019

House Colors – May 24, 2019

While He Is Away – May 23, 2019

A Not So New Assignment – May 22, 2019

House Rules – May 21, 2019

The House That Love Built – May 20, 2019

WELS Daily Devotions

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