The chief priests and the elders of the people came up to Him (Jesus) as He was teaching, and said, “By what authority are You doing these things, and who gave You this authority?” Jesus answered them, “I also will ask you one question … The Baptism of John, from where did it come? From heaven or from man?” And they discussed it among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say to us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ But if we say, ‘From man,’ we are afraid of the crowd, for they all hold that John was a prophet.” So they answered Jesus, “We do not know.” And He said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”

The next day, Jesus returned to the temple;—to face angry questions. “Who gave you the authority to clear the temple?” He was asked. Being no fool, He answered a question with a question: “Who gave John the authority to baptize?”

The leaders go away and discuss it. They consider one answer, and reject it because it would let Jesus point out their inconsistency. They consider another answer, and reject it for fear of riots. Finally, they give up;—and Jesus also refuses to answer them.

So far, so typical. Jesus wins that exchange. But did you notice the really sad;—and funny;—thing about the way the leaders were reasoning? They never bothered to ask what was true. The only thing they were interested in was political expediency;—what answer was going to help them manipulate people the best.

We see this in our world today, too, don’t we? Sometimes it’s reports of local or government corruption. Sometimes it’s much closer to us, as people we work with or live with make decisions based on something other than truth. And if you protest, you get this answer: “Honesty is all fine and good when it comes to religion, but we’re dealing with real life here.”

So is Jesus. There is nothing more real;—more true;—more desperately important;—than the life Jesus died to win for us. Jesus came to free us from the power of this sinful world and to make us children of God. This so-called wisdom is not for us. Let us follow Jesus, who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and leave the dishonest schemes of this world behind.

This Devotion is from the Lutheran Hour Ministries.

Fellowship for Sunday, September 27 – Breads and Spreads

Pair your favorite spreads with your favorite breads. Discover some delightful bread and spread combinations as well as a deliciously impressive way to serve your favorite pairings at our fellowship table.

Spread the joy!

The world may tell us that winning means being first, having the most, or getting the biggest reward. But God sees things differently. What matters most to Him is a heart that is thankful, generous, humble, and willing to serve others. When we live God’s way, we’re winning in the ways that matter most!

Winning in God’s eyes means living with a heart that honors Him!

 

 

💜 Little Mites, Mighty Mission

Every little coin can make a big difference!

On LWML Sunday, October 4th, we’ll be collecting Mite Boxes during worship.

The Mite Box tradition is inspired by Jesus’ account of the widow’s mite in Luke 21:1–4—a reminder that even a small offering, given faithfully, can be used by God in mighty ways.

Mite Box offerings are gifts given above and beyond our regular support of the congregation and LCMS. Together, these small gifts add up to millions of dollars that help fund LWML mission grants and support mission work locally, nationally, and around the world.

💜 Don’t forget to bring your Mite Box and be part of something mighty through mites!

Want to learn more about LWML Mite Boxes and where your mites go?
Visit lwml.org/mites to learn more.

Confirmation Classes Starting Soon!

It’s that time of year to start thinking about Confirmation!

If you or someone you know is in Junior High or Senior High School and is interested in beginning Confirmation classes, Pastor Jake is making plans for a new year of Confirmation to begin soon.

Confirmation is an opportunity for young people to grow in their understanding of God’s Word, the Christian faith, and what it means to live as a disciple of Christ.

For more information, or to learn more about getting started, please contact Pastor Jake.

Men of St. Mark! 

If your week runs on coffee, bacon, and brotherly encouragement, we’ve got good news.

Join us for men’s breakfast featuring:

Food that tastes better than it is good for you.

Coffee strong enough to forgive your sins. (Not even Close!)

Conversation ranging from Scripture to sports to “remember when…”

Fellowship without singing solos or being volunteered for anything. (Probably)

Come hungry, leave encouraged. No RSVP required - but pants are!

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Generosity Grows

If you would like to be generous
and give, join here.

 

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