June 14, 2020 When the Holy Spirit brings us to faith, he sets us on the path to heaven. The early Christians described that path as the Way (Acts 9:2; 24:14). We know Jesus is the Way. We walk on that path through life to the destination of heaven, but it is also a way of acting and thinking.

As we follow the path, we encounter crossroads that can lead us in different directions. We know they lead us away from the Way, and our sinful flesh is often tempted. As saints and sinners at the same time, we often need correction to avoid paths that lead us astray. In Galatians 5:19-23, the apostle Paul warns us about the crossroads he calls “acts of the flesh,” and then he encourages us to retain the “fruits of the Spirit.”

Acts of the flesh These acts of the flesh are not hard to find. Again and again they cross our paths to lure us from our way. We see them as we browse the Internet, as we watch television and the movies, and as we read magazines or books. Their temptation invades much of what we hear and see in our entertainment choices. And because we still have the sinful flesh, we are not immune to their attraction.

We find ourselves leaning a bit toward immorality. We laugh at situations and jokes that are off-color. Our entertainment choices push the buttons on our desires of the flesh. We monitor what our children watch in order to shield them from the worst influences, but our own choices sometimes reveal a compromise with the acts of the flesh. We find it difficult to resist some of the influences, and sometimes we pause at the crossroad, looking longingly down the road of temptation and sin.

But we don’t like to hear that word “sin”. That word confronts us with its accusation. If as children of God we use it to describe these acts of the flesh, we are sometimes ridiculed as prudes, old-fashioned, and out of touch with the modern world. We live in that world and mingle with people who have a different attitude toward sexual immorality. We do not wish to be ridiculed for our morality so at times we go along and hide our Christian way of thinking.

The world doesn’t think carefully about how destructive these temptations become. A family is destroyed by sexual unfaithfulness. Pornography addiction quietly ruins relationships and marriages and families because it distorts love, as some look for love only in intimacy.

But we must not become Pharisees and point the finger at all this evil as if it remains on the other side of the street. The acts of the flesh affect all our hearts.

Fruit of the Spirit: Love The Holy Spirit through the gospel has created a new attitude within us. We are children of God by faith (Galatians 3:26). But we are not perfect yet. Within us we still carry the old sinful nature and the desire to yield to those temptations of the flesh. We want to live as children of God, but so often we discover a desire to be rebellious and disobedient renegades. We struggle. Paul says the Spirit and the flesh are “in conflict with each other” (Galatians 5:17). Paul mentioned sexual immorality first among the acts of the flesh. He also mentions love first among the fruits of the Spirit. The path to sexual immorality will frequently beckon us. When it does, the love of Jesus gives us strength and the willingness to take positive steps as children of God. Love is part of our thinking and acting on the Christian way. We love. Of course, love has many applications and properly applied it is defined by Jesus. While many have a distorted view of love, Christians understand love from Jesus. “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us” (1 John 3:16). How different the Christian concept of love is! Paul expands the definition: “Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil, cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves” (Romans 12:9,10; cf. 1 Corinthians 13). Jesus unselfishly did what we could not do for ourselves. He shed his blood for us, while we were still sinners (Romans 5:8). He gave himself for us. “We love because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19). We are his. We love and have the fruit of the Spirit. Love, properly applied as Jesus taught it, helps husbands and wives build strong marriages and strong families. Yet we struggle with our sinful nature and when we do the boundless love of Jesus calls us to repent, turn away from our failures, walk by the Spirit, and refuse to gratify the desires of the flesh (Galatians 5:16). The loving arms of Jesus are always ready to embrace us with forgiveness and strength. When we stumble, he can plant our feet firmly on the correct path and keep us headed toward our room in his Father’s mansion. This is the first article in a six-part series on acts of the flesh and fruits of the Spirit.

THIS WEEK AT GRACE CHURCH AND SCHOOL

Sunday June 14, 2020- 8:30 AM Bible Class Jonah Bible Study 9:30 AM Worship Service in person and livstream grace-wels.net/worship or facebook.com/GraceWELS

OFFERINGS CAN BE MAILED TO THE CHURCH- 7610 NE FREMONT PORTLAND, OREGON 97213 OR online at: bit.ly/GracePortland

Monday June 15 ,2020 Pastor out of town

Tuesday June 16, 2020 Pastor out of town

Wednesday June 17, 2020 Bible Class Postoned till next Wednesday Pastor out of town

Thursday June 18, 2020 Pastor out of town

Friday June 19, 2020

Pastor out of town

Saturday June 20, 2020 Pastor out of town

Sunday June 21, 2020 8:30 AM Bible Class-ONLINE 9:30 AM Worship Service in person and livstream grace-wels.net/worship or facebook.com/GraceWELS

June Ushers: Don Stoffer; Doug Elsasser; Len Stadler; Jerry Bern

Don & Iris Stoffer who will celebrate their 65th wedding anniversary on Monday of this week.

Levi Copper (new born son of Lauren & Trevor) was made of child of God through the water of Holy Baptism on Saturday, June 13th.

Paul & Charis Bourman (Gethsemane’s new pastor) were blessed with the gift of a healthy daughter this week. Adeline Hope was born on Friday morning. God Bless!

Planning ahead… Mark Leitzke who has faithfully serve over 40 years in the ministry and now has completed his final year as a principal / teacher. We plan to set aside a Sunday to honor and thank Mark when we can gather in greater numbers again. Thank You Mark for your years of service! God Bless!

Our 8th Grade Students at Grace School who completed their grade school years at Grace School this past week. From Grace Church our 8th graders were Rebekah Bitter and Keith Garner. We are planning a graduation service on July 11 when we can hopeful gather in greater numbers. Congratulations!

Pastor Bitter & family will be gone this week. The Bitters will be in Arkansas visiting Mikayla & Hayden this week. If you have an emergency, you can call Pastor at 503-290-6316. Live services and Livestream will continue next Sunday. Pastor Bitter will preach virtually!

Summer Sermon Series! Your Everyday Calling

“Indeed, you were called to do this, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example so that you would follow in his steps.”

1 Peter 2:21 June 14th- “Understanding Your Everyday Calling” June 21st – “Empowered Every Day in Your Calling” June 28th – “Content Every Day in Your Calling” July 5th – “Love Every Day in Your Calling” July 12th – “Wrestle Every Day in Your Calling” July 19th – “Forgive Every Day in Your Calling” July 26th – “Worship Every Day in Your Calling” August 2nd – “Believe The Impossible Every Day in your Calling” August 9th – “Committed Every Day in Your Calling” August 16th – “Be Ready Every Day in Your Calling”

5/22/20 Gethsemane Lutheran Church 9640 SW Greenburg Rd Tigard, OR 97223 Dear Members of Gethsemane Lutheran Church, On May 21, 2020 I received the solemn call that you have extended to me through the Assignment Committee. With this letter I wish to announce my acceptance of this call. Looking to the Lord, who has called me, for strength and wisdom through his Word, I look forward with joy to serving Gethsemane Lutheran Church. My wife Charis, my son Theo, and our newborn daughter Adeline, and I are thrilled to come and be among you, to be encouraged by you, and to fig ht for God’s kingdom together with you. Installation plans will be made in consultation with Pastor Thad Bitter and with Lukas Dahlberg. I would like to suggest July 18 as a SATURDAY for the ordination and installation service. May our mutual prayer be that the Lord bring us safely into your midst and bless our labors together in his vineyard.

In His Service with You, Paul Bourman

Update from the Eternicks

Our new principal, Justin Eternick, is finishing up his school year in Jenera, OH. He and his wife, Sara, plan to begin their trek to the Pacific Northwest in the middle June and arrive at month’s end. Justin & Sara will be moving with a Uhaul, so please look for opportunities to help unload and greet them in late June. Initially, Eternicks will be staying with the Garcia’s while they continue to search for housing options. Please pray for Justin & Sara as they make these

monumental changes, pack up their home, move west, look for housing and prepare to serve the Lord with us as our new principal!

ONLINE GROUP STUDY 6:00 – 7:00 PM WEDNESDAYS

An invitation and link will be sent to your email. If you don’t get an email with an invite and link please call

Pastor Bitter at 503-290-6316.

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS FOR THE WEEK OF PENTECOST 2 2020 Sunday 1 Kings 22:10-17

Where did Ahab stand in relation to God? Why did so many Kings of Israel have a negative picture

of God? Why is this true even today?

Why did almost all of the prophets give a favorable prophesy to the Kings plans?

Who was the lone exception? Look at verses 13-17. Especially verse 17

Why did Micaiah first tell the king what he wanted to hear? Howe does this apply today? 2

Timothy 4:3

Monday 1 Kings 22:18-28

How did Ahab react to the prophet? How did the Lord respond?

Why were most of the prophets “king pleasers” and very few “God pleasers”?

Apply this to our world today. Matthew 7:14-16; 24:11-24; 1 John 4:1.

Tuesday 2 Peter 1:20-21

What is the source of much religious teaching of our day? What does God say through Peter about

that source? Why do people do such things?

What is the one true source of all Christian teaching? Why is this important?

What do we do with what false prophets say? 1 John 4:1-5

Wednesday 2 Peter 2:1-3

Discuss all the warnings Peter gives us about false prophets in verse 1.

Why will people follow false prophets so eagerly? What will happen to the way of truth? What is

blasphemy?

What will happen to false prophets and their followers? V. 3 John 3:16

Thursday Matthew 7:15-20

Will false prophets identify themselves as such? How do they operate? What is the fruit which a

false prophet will bear? How can we identify it as such? 1 Jn 4:1-5

How will we know false prophets? Discuss the picture God uses.

Discuss the significance of verses 18-19. Who alone can bear good spiritual fruit?

Friday Matthew 7:21-23

Do you feel that the majority of people in this world believe in some kind of divine being or other?

Explain. However what will the judge say to many on judgment day?

How will Jesus identify the truth believers? What is their identifying mark? Mt. 25

What stinging words will Jesus say to the frauds? What will he say to believers? Mt. 25:33-34.

What is there about those who will hear those words?

Saturday Matthew 7:24-29

What is the foundational of spiritual wisdom? What is the spiritual house which we are building

through God’s Word?

How indestructible is the Holy Christian Church, the Communion of Saints?

Who is the only authority of this Church? Matthew 28:18-20; John 1:1-14.

Who alone controls God’s Church?

Who controls the world in which we live? Rom. 13:1-7