“A Living Stone” – 1 Peter 2:4-5
Peter, the friend, follower, defender, disciple, and apostle of Christ, assures us that we are chosen. We are a chosen people, but by whom and for what purpose? The answer is that we are chosen by a living stone to be a living stone, with other living stones we form a spiritual house.
Sounds like a riddle, doesn’t it? Does it make sense and did it make sense to those followers of Christ who read these words during the first century? Yes, to both questions if we look to the next passages where Peter quotes from Isaiah 28:16. What did Peter quote from Isaiah that answers the riddle?
Question of the week: Why is Isaiah often referred to as the Fifth Gospel?
Answer: The Book of Isaiah, written 700 years before Christ, refers to and prophesizes often about Jesus. Saint Jerome (A.D.. 342-420), wrote that Isaiah “should be called an evangelist rather than a prophet because he describes all the mysteries of Christ and the Church so clearly that you would think he is composing a history of what has already happened rather than prophesying about what is to come.” Saint Ambrose and his star pupil, Saint Augustine (a.d. 354-430), agreed and emphasized additionally Isaiah’s role in “the calling of the Gentiles.”
Update on our LifeCenter
We are counting down and getting close to being able to set a date for starting of construction of the LifeCenter. A quick summary of where we are at is Word of Life has purchased the land and paid early startup costs, which together total about $140,000. We have received wonderful gifts in September and October and have reached our goal for making loan arrangements for the new LifeCenter. We have been blessed and we thank the Lord.
During the next two weeks, each giving unit will be asked for a confidential pledge for the building fund, an estimate on their giving for the general fund and/or sign up for a time and talent project. We boldly ask for your prayers and God’s blessing knowing it is all in God’s hands to His glory.
We pray and trust that God will lead us as we go, serving Him. Our LifeCenter for Christ and Community Campaign Co-Leaders are R.O. Ouellette and Jason and Lynette Windhorst, Mike McHargue and Tom Hoegemeyer. Contact me, Pastor Larry at 402-641-3692 or larkitoetting@yahoo.org for information on our prayer team and the vision we have in serving Him.
Baptism Sunday
With great joy Aneyah Faith Smith will be baptized Sunday. Aneyah is an attendee at Sunday School, the daughter of Andrea and Scott Smith, and the grandniece of Shelley and William Wallace. We praise God.
Welcome to Our Guests
Word of Life welcomes you on the part of Pastor Larry Oetting and all the partners in the Gospel here at Word of Life as you view our website and Facebook page or attend our service. Please know that we desire to offer to all an oasis of hope, trust, safety and love through His power and in His name. As God leads you, we hope to get to know you and serve you through His power and love.
LifeGroup Information
LifeGroup is the name for our small groups at Word of Life. In LifeGroups, we share, we study and we support. The leader facilitates the discussion, centering on the life that Jesus gives us. LifeGroup members are partners in the Word, by God’s grace and direction, living life together, no matter what.
One LifeGroup meets on Wednesdays at 7 p.m. twice a month. A Men’s LifeGroup meets every Wednesday at 6:30 a.m. at Word of Life. Three Sunday Morning LifeGroups meet at 9:15 a.m. at Word of Life. Call Pastor Larry at 402-641-3692 for information.
Prayer Team Ministry
We thank Marsha Dick for coordinating our Prayer Team Ministry at Word of Life since it began. Shirley Guy, (sguy52@yahoo.com) is the new coordinator for the ministry. Contact Shirley to become a member of the ministry team or to submit a prayer request. All prayer request are kept confidential to the team members.
Scrip and Recycling For Cash
Consider using SCRIP cards for groceries and many other purchases. Obtain your SCRIP cards from Lynette Windhorst. Mike Hagerbaumer will have his pickup at the “Church” parking lot collecting aluminum cans before and after the first church service of each month. The proceeds will go to the New Church Building Fund.
