5-Day Sermon Devotion

Pastor Adam McDowell • February 24, 2025

Sermon by Pastor Adam McDowell

Day 1: I Dare you to Love Your Enemies: Luke 6:27-28

Devotional: This is a dare, a “double dog dare,” to love your enemies. What might happen if you followed your Lord’s command to, "love your enemies?” Consider how you might ask God to change one thing in your relationship with your enemy? Will you do good to them, bless them, pray for them, or maybe love them? Dear Lord, help me to follow your command to love my enemy. Help me to change one thing. Amen.

Day 2: It’s too Tough: Psalm 109

Devotional: If yesterday’s devotion was too tough, then this one might be up your alley. After reading through the psalm, do you have similar thoughts or desires for your enemy as David did for his? We all have thoughts of destruction, or maybe put a softer way: desire of “obstacles” to be placed in front of our enemy. God knows our thoughts, even these ones. Take a look at Ps 139:1-2. In your prayers today, be honest with God about your pains, because He already knows them.

Day 3: The Golden or Tarnished Brass Rule: 1 Peter 3:9 & Luke 6:31-34

Devotional: Do you love and value the “Golden Rule” or has it become a thin varnish on top of your sinful desire? The truth is we all can be like a tarnished brass vessel where we look like gold but inwardly we are a sea of regret and rage seeking reprisal and retribution. Thanks be to God that Jesus, as an example for us, is purer than gold and He perfectly abides by every rule. Request before God that you love your neighbor as yourself, knowing that perfect love comes from Him.

Day 4: A Cheek Offered a Tunic Taken: John 19:1-24 & Romans 5:8

Devotional: Jesus took on punishment for humanity's sake: beaten, ridiculed, stripped, and executed. He had no fault, but was tried and crucified for the forgiveness of all. Since we sin, knowingly or unknowingly, we will create animosity and strife amongst those around us. Let us not add to the bruises of discord, but rather seek to be forgiven and to forgive. As you pray the Lord’s Prayer today, focus on the 5th petition of forgiveness of sins and forgiving our neighbor.

Day 5: It Will Come to an End: John 6:37-38 & Matthew 5:21-26

Devotional: When will I no longer have any enemies? A definite answer to that is when Christ comes again. There is hope even now that your enemy may be closer than an ally, a brother or sister in the faith. Strangely enough, we should desire that even our enemies will be with us in heaven. Keep in your prayers that you and your enemies may come to peace through forgiveness. Through giving, forgiving, and love are our enemies truly defeated.

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August Happenings

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August Opportunities for Fellowship & Learning (In alphabetical order) Altar Guild Annual Potluck Meeting Wednesday, August 19th @ 6:00 pm in the Cornerstone Room If you're one of the ladies in our Altar Guild thank you. Be sure to join us for our annual potluck supper with a meeting following. Bible Studies (click for details) New Sunday series continues, but summer plans for weekday studies will be ending soon. Stay tuned for dates of when those will start to meet regularly again. Christian Education Weekend (Backpack Blessing) During all worship services August 8-9th Rededicate our faculty and staff to their teaching ministry as well as rededicate ourselves as a congregation to praying for them, encouraging them, and supporting the work God has given us to do together. Students may also get their backpack blessing tag for this school year. School starts August 12th! At the 10:30 AM service, we will also install Janet Bahr as our assistant principal and Dianna Bultemeier as a called teacher of St. Peter's. Please join us for a reception honoring Janet and Dianna on the church's front porch following this service. Confirmation Kick-Off Sunday, August 9th during the Bible Study hour @ 9:15 am in the Sanctuary Parents and students (7th & 8th graders) of our day school and public school will meet to prep for the upcoming year with Pastor McDowell. Plan to attend and remember the Confirmation Site on The Hub will be updated soon with everything you need to know as far as expectations, handbook, assignments, deadlines, and event dates. Collections/Fundraiser (ongoing) The Compassionate Care Collection is prepping hygiene kits for the Lutheran World Relief: The LWR collection will be through July and August--details can be found on the LWR.org/kits site or HERE . Needed are: light weight bath sized towels (between 20" x 40" to 27" x52"), bath-size soap bars in original wrapper, adult toothbrush, sturdy comb, metal nail clippers--all items must be new and NOT have religious symbols or patriotic decoration. Special Monthly Offering: This month we collect for our Preschool which is so appreciated by the faculty and students. You'll also see their annual Giving Tree displayed in the Ministry Center soon. Take a letter of the alphabet off the tree and bring back the supply listed. Stay tuned for a video from our Preschool Director, Barb Christian, next week about these two opportunities to support our Preschool. Drums Alive Drums will take a break in August and come back in September with an updated schedule. Stay tuned! Monday Night Worship Summer Monday night worship ends August 31st. The following Monday is Labor Day and the church offices and schools will be closed. Senior Saints Monday, August 10th @ 11:30 am in the Cornerstone Room REGISTER HERE for this month's Lunch N' Learn featuring our own Tina Acosta who does amazing work through Turnstone. Turnstone is a place unlike any other and anyone who knows about it only has good things to say. If you'd like to know another reason Fort Wayne is such a great place to be, come listen as Tina will offer an overview of Turnstone and their services. Serving in the Church Offering your talents or acts of service is often something we all want to do, but not always sure where to start. Opportunities present themselves, but it's hard to remember them all or keep track of something that called to you at one point. The Serve tab in the Realm Connect app continues to add areas that are open and looking for someone just like you. Log in on your computer or through the app on your phone and scroll through the Roles to see if one is a good fit for you. Remember, signing up doesn't commit you to it, but does share that you'd like to be contacted about it. Sisters in Christ: Simple Quilting Craft Saturday, August 15th starting at 10 am in the Cornerstone Room REGISTER HERE FREE Regret never learning how to sew? Or haven’t picked up a needle and thread in a long time? Do not miss this opportunity to learn from ladies who’ve been sewing since 2nd grade! It’s nearly a lost art, but we’re bringing it back with Linda Thiele, Debbie Haenftling, Carol Nahrwold, and Jan Bultemeier who have curated a perfect practice project to teach you sewing and the basics of quilting in the form of a pot holder or trivet. Coordinate colors with your kitchen! It’s made for beginners, but any sewing ability is welcome. There’s so much knowledge combined in this room, if you have a question about anything related to needle and thread, they can answer it! We also gather the last Wednesday each month (July 29th this week and August 26th) at 5:00 pm Kekionga Craft Co, 7328 Maysville Rd. Come & go. Enjoy a little fellowship, prayer idea, and grab something to eat if you’d like. Young Adults Second Sundays, August 9th starting at 6 pm @ Pastor Nate's house Hosted by Ben & Gwyn Corley, we'll have dinner together, games, and devotion. Bring a friend and fellowship with us. REMEMBER August 9th is also the last day to sign up for Combat Ops Laser Tag. REGISTER HERE. You can pay later, but sign up today! Don't miss out! Get on the text thread to be sent reminders and invites. Text 'stpfw' to 94000 and follow the prompts.