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Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd.
The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep”
(John 10:11).


Dear friends in Jesus, our Good Shepherd,

Today it is commonly thought that claiming to be Christian is all it takes to make you a Christian.  We also hear people boldly assert: “I don’t have to go to church to be a Christian.  I believe Jesus died for my sins.  That makes me a Christian.”  Knowing that these false notions influence other people, the words of Jesus that we will hear this Sunday are critical. Three times Jesus speaks about people who considered themselves his followers, but Jesus asserts they “cannot be my disciple.”  They are not mine.
 
Jesus calls his disciples – his students, followers, adherents – to give up everything they have to rightly call him their Rabbi, Master and Teacher.  Why?  Because that’s the only way Jesus can rescue them from sin’s slavery and blindness and set them free to taste life to the full (John 10:10).

How can we help people who think: “I don’t have to go to church to be a Christian.  I believe Jesus died for my sins.  That means I’m saved.”?  Consider this reply: “I am so happy you have heard the good news that Jesus paid for all your sins.  That’s awesome!  What I hear you saying is that you want Jesus to be your Savior, but not your Lord. Friend, if Jesus is not your Lord, he cannot be your Savior.”

Weighing the cost of following Jesus is not paying for eternal life.  It is merely understanding what eternal life is – what Jesus bought and gave you as a free gift.  Jesus made full payment for your sins to rescue you from captivity to sin.  Sin is bad.  Fellowship with God – walking in righteousness – is good.  We gladly follow Jesus so he can teach us and release us from the sin mindset.  Jesus’ disciples continue in his teachings, knowing that his truth alone offers real freedom (John 8:31) – freedom from sin’s control, guilt and influence.

This Sunday we will hear Jesus say, “Whoever does not carry his own cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.”  What does that mean?  The primary role of a cross is to identify what is worthless and harmful.  As Paul teaches us (Gal. 2:20; 5:24; 6:14) Jesus’ disciples crucify (consider as worthless and detest) all the thinking and desires of the sinful nature.  We reject them as false life to follow Jesus and find real life in him.  Then we discover something.  Everything we gave up to follow Jesus – loved ones, possessions, etc. – all those things become gifts of God that are loved and used to serve Jesus.  We get them back, but no longer as our masters.

Sunday's worship focusThis is the last Sunday of our four week series of warnings for Christians that the life of faith will be marked by difficulties. These warnings are given so that the believer will be prepared to meet these challenges with the confidence of the cross. For the past three Sundays we have seen that the narrow path to heaven is marked by division and humility. Yet another warning is heard this week: the life of faith may come at great personal expense. Counting the cost of discipleship leads to true wisdom.

See you Sunday!

This Week

Sunday

   9:00am-Education Hour: Sunday School for children, adult Bible Study, and BIC: Bible Foundation Class

   10:30am-Worship with Holy Communion

   12:00pm-Teen Bible Study

Tuesday

   4:00pm-Christian Memorial Service for Susan Stimac

Wednesday

   10:00am-Midweek Bible Study

   6:30pm-Bell Choir Practice

   6:45pm-Catechism Class

   7:30pm-Choir Practice

Next Sunday

   9:00am-Education Hour: Sunday School for children, adult Bible Study, and BIC: Bible Foundation Class

   10:30am-Worship

   12:00pm-Church Picnic

Join us! Invite others!

Other Updates:

Called to Eternal Glory
Our sister-in-Christ, Susan Stimac, was called to heaven by her Savior last weekend. Her Christian Memorial Service will be this Tuesday, October 1, at 4:00 pm.  “We believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him” (1 Thessalonians 4:14).

Abiding Word 50th Anniversary Celebration
Abiding Word Lutheran Church in Houston is hosting a 50th anniversary celebration this Sunday, September 29, 2019.  The service will be at 4:00 p.m. with a celebration dinner immediately following.  WELS President, Reverend Mark Schroeder, will be the guest speaker. You are cordially invited to attend.

Church Picnic
Our annual church picnic will be on October 6 after worship. This year the picnic will be on campus. Hamburgers, hot dogs, water and juice boxes will be provided. Please bring a side or dessert to share. We will be having a cornhole tournament as well as a kickball game. You are free to bring other games as well. We are in need of pop up tents to provide shade. The sign-up sheet on the board in the church entryway lists all the different opportunities to help.  

Welcome Home Sunday, October 20——GOD SPEAKS AND REALITY RESULTS
“God said, ‘Let there be light’” (Genesis 1:3). God wasn’t simply expressing a wish, like walking into a dark home and saying, “Let’s turn some lights on.” God was calling a new reality into existence. “And there was light.” When God speaks, reality results.
When God tells you that you are a saint, you might want to say, “But, I sin every day!” True enough, but God has spoken. He sent his Son to live, die, and rise for you, creating a new reality. In your baptism, God himself spoke to you, telling you that you are pure and blameless. And when God speaks, reality results.
Throughout Scripture, God refers to believers as a family. That is more than metaphor. That is God calling a new reality into existence. Our privilege and responsibly is to seize the power given us through our baptism and live out that reality. We are called by Christ to show the same level of love and self-sacrifice that would show to biological kin.
On October 20, we will be holding Welcome Home Sunday. Welcome Home Sunday is a celebration of this reality. On that day, we praise God for giving a spiritual family… a spiritual home. Our goal for that Sunday is to make it into something of a spiritual family reunion. We want to have 100% of our members in attendance. Why? Because God has told us we are family. And when God speaks, reality results. Please, set aside that date and join your brothers and sisters in Christ!

Area Reformation Presentation and Worship: November 2-3
Each year the people of our Houston-area churches gather together for a Reformation Festival. There is a presentation on Saturday. There is worship and dinner on Sunday. Here are the details: The Reformation Worship will be on Sunday, November 3rd at 3:30 pm at Divine Savior in Sienna Plantation (770 Water Lakes Blvd, Missouri City, TX 77459). The Guest Preacher is Prof. Brad Wordell from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary. There will be a dinner provided following the service. If you would be interested in singing in the Mass Choir for this event, there is a practice that Sunday at 2:30 pm. Please ask a pastor for the music ahead of time. The Reformation Presentation will be on Saturday, Nov. 2nd from 10:00-11:30am, at Divine Savior in Sienna Plantation. The presenter is Prof. Brad Wordell (WLS). The TopicThe Reformation Continues throughout the Word (The presentation will discuss how the tenets of the Lutheran Reformation continue to be emphasized in new contexts and relations as we develop sister church bodies throughout the world.) There will be light refreshments for the presentation, but no lunch will be served. All are welcome!

Online Sermons and Podcasts
If you would like to watch or share the sermons at Good Shepherd, you may find these online at https://www.gslcthewoodlands.org/sermons. You may also subscribe to our sermon podcasts on your mobile device by clicking HERE.

Save the date for WELCOME HOME SUNDAY: October 20

Worshiping our God—listening to him speak to us in his Word and responding with our praise—is always special. However, it can be especially joyful when the house is packed. Think of the singing on Christmas Eve… or the joyful voices on Easter Sunday. Yet, even on those days, we have members who are out of town.

The goal of Welcome Home Sunday is to have a day when everyone that is part of our Christian family comes together. After all, church is supposed to be a home, and believers are kin. Our focus of worship on this day is the blessing of Christian community. Thus, we want 100% of our members there.

Please do everything possible to set that date aside. We will have drinks and snacks following the service.

From our church body:

WELS: Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod - www.wels.net

CHRISTIAN PARENTING ADVICE

“Be kind.” It’s a popular phrase, proclaimed on T-shirts and bumper stickers. It’s a concept that Christian parents can get behind. What happens, though, when we parents fall short of modeling kindness ourselves? Nicole Smith shares her story in the September column of Heart to heart: Parent conversations from Forward in Christ magazine.

Visit forwardinchrist.net to read this article and others that offer support for today’s Christian parents. You can also find the Forward In Christ magazine in our church entryway.


Our CHURCH is a family of believers who gather to worship and serve the Lord, led by our Good Shepherd, Jesus. We focus on faith; We feel like family; We foster fellowship. It is our prayer that you will gather together with us!

Our LEARNING CENTER offers a Christ-centered, quality education in a safe and loving environment, serving children 18 months through transition.


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