70th Wedding Anniversary

235 Dowd Rd. Elyria

Dee Toth

She will be transferring to St. Paul’s, Westlake

in the next month.

28520 Westlake Village Dr.Westlake, OH 44145

440-250-2279

My Grand-babies

Announcements1. Lutheran World Relief - Special Offering

during Lent…There is a plastic tub onthe back table.2.Loretta Milleris in Life Care;Opal Sparr isin EMH.

3. TUESDAY – Funeral Service for Margaret Mika – Dicken’s Funeral Home – Visitation from 12:00 to 1:30; Funeral Service at 1:30 pm.

4. TUESDAY – Walk Through the Bible Class 1:30 to 3:00 pm and again at 7:00 to 8:30 pm.

5. NEXT SUNDAY - Preaching & Teaching Study is on the back table. Please sign your name if you take one so we know how many to prepare each week.

6. NEXT SUNDAY - March 4th – Service time will be 10 am and Worship Style will be “Blended.”

7. NEXT SUNDAY - Voter’s Meeting following worship at 11:30 am. Decisions will be made on Staffing at St. John and also election of a new member to our Board of Directors.

What is Mission U?

MISSION U is Lutheran Hour Ministries’ new witnessing-training program designed to provide ordinary people with the tools and training needed to confidently share Jesus Christ in a variety of situations.

Saturday, March 10th

9 am – 2 pm

MU-101 – Equipping to Share: Everyday Evangelism

Learn to overcome fear and to effectively share your faith with people you know and love.

Cost? $10 covers materials, snacks and lunch. Register on the Sign Up Sheet in Church

Lobby.

Christ – the Center of My Life

Week of February 26, 2012

Outline of the Passage

A. Cultivate a Christ-Centered Character (Colossians 3:5-10,14-15,17)

B. Have a Christ-Centered Home (Colossians 3:18-21)

C. Be a Christ-Centered Witness (Colossians 4:5-6)

Who Christ is and what He has done for us needs to shape our character, guide our homes, and direct our interactions

with those who do not believe.

Today’s Preaching and Teaching will help you live a Christ-centered life.

Let’s Pray for theSpirit’s Guidance

Cultivate a Christ-Centered CharacterColossians 3:5-10, 14-15, 17

5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. 7 You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. 8 But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.

Cultivate a Christ-Centered Character9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator… 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. 15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful… 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Cultivate a Christ-Centered CharacterA. In Baptism, you have died to the old way

of life and were raised to new life with Christ.

B. Therefore we are to divest ourselves of (literally put to death) whatever belonged to our earthly nature.

B. Paul identified four standards of behavior for Christians:i. Sexual purity –ii. Godly attitude toward wealth and

possessions – iii. Loving control of our emotions – iv. Loving control of our tongues –

C. All sinful attitudes and actions are part of the OLD SELF, which have been “Put Off,” like old and dirty clothes.

By virtue of our physical birth, we are all “in Adam.” We share in his

guilt, judgment and death.

But by virtue of our second birth through Baptism, we are all “in

Christ.” We share in His forgiveness, life and salvation.

Therefore, Paul says, “we are to

put off” the sinful and dirty

clothes of Adam.

D. The Christian life is part of the NEW SELF, in which we have “Put On” Christ Jesus, like brand new or washed clothes.

And “put on” the sinless and clean clothes of

our Savior Jesus.

Baptism is a continual

“undressing and dressing” routine.

E. Over everything that is happening in your life in Christ “Put On Love,” and this is what unites us as Christ’s people. This is the over-coat of our lives – Love.

What’s my job?

What’s your job?To love you!

To love each other!

F. Let Christ’s peace … rule (the Greek word picture) their hearts. We are to live in the solid confidence of Christ’s presence and allow Him to umpire conflicts in His body, the Church.

G. Believers were to do everything “in the name of the Lord Jesus.” What does that mean? (i.e. Milk Shake for my Wife)

Does Jesus Attend Voter’s Meetings?

If Jesus is living in each one of us, I think Jesus will be attending next Sunday’s meeting.

Paul encourages us to be mindful that how we act, talk and treat one another reflects the quality of our relationship with Jesus Christ. We must do everything in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Anything short of that is not just W R O N G , it is Ungodly.

Have a Christ-Centered Home Colossians 3:18-21

18 Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. 19 Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them. 20

Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. 21 Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.

Have a Christ-Centered Home A. Paul urged wives to willingly submit to

their husbands. Wives are to be submissive to their husbands just as the Church is submissive to Christ.

B. Paul urged husbands to love their wives. Husbands are to love their wives as Christ loved the Church and gave Himself for her.

C. Children were to obey their parents in everything. As people obey God, so children are to obey their parents.

D. Fathers, (better translated “Parents”) were not to be so heavy-handed with their children. Parents were to avoid demanding so much of their children that the children give up all hope of ever being able to please their parents.

What is the Atmosphere Like in Your Home?

Complete the following sentence:My home would be more Christ-centered if I………..Go to the Lord in prayer, asking Him to empower you to be more Christ-centered in your home life.

Be a Christ-Centered Witness Colossians 4:5-6

5 Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. 6 Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

Be a Christ-Centered Witness A. To live wisely meant to offer a positive

witness concerning Christ’s transforming power.

B. Believers were to make the most of every opportunity to impact unbelievers for Christ. How can I do that? Our first Mission U Seminar will provide answers to that question.

March 10 th 9am to 2 pm

C. “Making the most of the time” literally is “buying up (redeeming) the time.” The word “time” is used two different ways:i. Time as in the passing of time on a clock,

minutes, hours, days months and years.ii. Time as referred to an opportune season or

moment. Believers were to seize every teachable moment to influence people with the gospel.

D. A vital Christ like behavior includes appropriate speech, helpful in attracting unbelievers to the gospel.

E. “Seasoned with salt” indicates the Christians’ witness for Christ was to be interesting, inspiring, and even witty—not bland.

You can lead a horseto water but…

What if you salt his oats!

My “Speech” to UnbelieversAs we encounter unbelievers in our “marketplaces,” we are to be courteous and gracious in how we speak to them. Which of the following best describes your witness “toward outsiders” who do not know Jesus.___ Counterproductive ___ Nonexistent ___ Weak ___ Mixed Signals ___ Pretty Good ___ It’s Why I am Alive ___ Growing and Improving ___ Something else?