5-Day Sermon Devotion 12/15/2024

Pastor Paul Dancy • December 16, 2024

Sermon "Rejoice" by Pastor Paul Dancy

Day 1: Joy in Salvation Reading: Acts 16:25-34

Devotional: The story of the Philippian jailer reminds us that true joy comes from a relationship with Jesus Christ. Like the jailer, we may find ourselves in dark, seemingly hopeless situations. Yet, it's precisely in these moments that God's light can shine brightest. Reflect on your own journey of faith. How has knowing Christ brought joy into your life, even amidst difficulties? Today, take time to thank God for your salvation and the eternal joy it brings. Consider sharing your faith story with someone who might need hope.


Day 2: Finding Joy in Trials Reading: James 1:2-4, Habakkuk 3:17-19

Devotional: It's easy to be joyful when life is going well, but the Bible challenges us to find joy even in our trials. This isn't about forcing happiness, but rather discovering a deeper, more resilient joy rooted in our trust in God. The prophet Habakkuk shows us that even when everything seems to be falling apart, we can still rejoice in the Lord. Today, identify a challenge you're facing. How might God be using this to strengthen your faith? Pray for the ability to see beyond your circumstances and find joy in God's unchanging nature.


Day 3: The Joy of Repentance Reading: Psalm 32:1-5, Luke 15:3-7

Devotional: Sin can rob us of our joy, creating a barrier between us and God. Yet, as we see in David's psalm and Jesus' parable, there is great joy in repentance and restoration. God doesn't just tolerate our return; He celebrates it! Is there an area of your life where you need to seek God's forgiveness? Remember, no sin is too great for God's grace. Take time to confess, receive God's forgiveness, and experience the joy of a clean heart. Consider how you might extend this same grace to others who have wronged you.


Day 4: Joy in God's Presence Reading: Psalm 16:5-11, John 15:9-11

Devotional: True and lasting joy is found in God's presence. The psalmist discovered the secret of contentment not in circumstances, but in his relationship with God. Jesus echoes this, inviting us to abide in His love and experience complete joy. In a world that often equates joy with fleeting happiness or material possessions, how can you cultivate a deeper awareness of God's presence in your daily life? Consider starting a gratitude journal, noting specific ways you've experienced God's love and presence each day.


Day 5: Sharing Joy in Suffering Reading: 2 Corinthians 6:3-10, 1 Peter 4:12-13

Devotional: Perhaps one of the most powerful testimonies to the world is when Christians maintain joy even in suffering. Paul and Peter both speak of this paradoxical experience. This isn't about denying pain or difficulty, but rather finding a deeper purpose and hope through our trials. Reflect on a time when you experienced God's comfort in suffering. How did this impact your faith? Today, pray for those you know who are going through difficult times. Consider how you might practically share Christ's joy with them, whether through a word of encouragement, an act of service, or simply being present.


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Board of Directors Ben Clinkenbeard Your Board of Directors is proud to announce that the motion to change our bylaws was approved by the members of St. Peter's on Sunday. A hearty THANK YOU goes out to all of our members who attended the meeting. The meeting also provided an opportunity for spirited discussion and reports from the Endowment Committee, Treasurer, School and Preschool, and some of our Ministry Teams. We also received an update from the Vision to Victory team and the Senior Pastor Call committee. As Pastor Dancy steps away from St. Peter's at the end of May, please be on the lookout for updates from our Senior Pastor Call committee and updates from the Board of Directors as we transition into our newly approved bylaws. We want to extend another thank you to both Pastor Dancy and Pam Launer! Blessings on your next chapter. New elections to the Board of Directors were as follows (* indicates incumbent): Dennis Borchers Ben Clinkebeard* Gary DeCamp Bill Habegger* Mark Timm Vision to Victory Mark & Sandy Timm If you missed the Spring Voter’s Meeting, you missed a big announcement from the Vision to Victory Team. WE PAID OFF THE MORTGAGE! Praise the Lord! We took out a loan twelve years ago to make additions and major renovations to the church. Paying down, or paying off this loan has been a major focus of four consecutive capital campaigns. And we are now debt free. Thanks to everyone who contributed to any of these capital campaigns. It’s been a long time coming, but we praise the Lord that this has been accomplished. Huge cause for celebration! In the weeks to come, the pastors will incorporate a symbolic “mortgage burning” ceremony as a part of our weekly services. And maybe, if we ask nicely, we might even get some refreshments following the service! The Vision to Victory campaign has four major objectives. Retiring our debt was the first and foremost. Done. Refurbishing the sanctuary was the second objective. That has been accomplished and paid for through dedicated funds that were earmarked for this purpose. In fact, we did not require any funds from the capital campaign to accomplish this work. Refurbishing the organ was a third objective. This work is also complete and paid for. At a cost of $330k, we were fortunate to receive a grant from the Lutheran Foundation to cover half the expense. We also were able to use a fund that was previously set aside for this purpose. In reality, we only required a little over $70k from the Vision to Victory capital campaign to get this work accomplished. The final objective of this campaign was to accomplish some much-needed work at the school. Last summer, we were able to install air conditioning units for the school cafeteria and gym. That work is paid for. This summer, we will replace all the windows in the school and refurbish the gym ceiling. We expect this work to total approximately $150k. The Vision to Victory Capital Campaign was designed to run for three years, through June of 2026. We are almost finished with the second of those three years, and we are in great shape. But this is not a time to step away from our pledges. A dozen years ago, the congregation approved a Master Plan that featured three phases. Paying off the mortgage closes the books on the first phase. Whether we continue with the other two phases as described 12 years ago, or go in another direction remains to be seen. But I am certain there will be a next step. And by honoring ourcommitments in the Vision to Victory campaign, we give ourselves a running start on whatever those next steps may be. Like all the generations of church members before us – from the original families who came together to form St. Peters 170 years ago to today – we need to follow two objectives. Maintain the church to meet the needs of the day. And prepare the church to meet the needs of the next generation. We thank each and every one of you who contributed to our accomplishments so far. Let’s finish this final year of the capital campaign by tucking some funding away for wherever the Holy Spirit leads us in the next phase of the life of St. Peters. Finance If you would like a copy of the budget presented at the voter's meeting, give the church office a call and we're happy to get you a printed or electronic copy upon request.
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