The Lord Be with You,
1) Jaclyn was listening to Ruth this morning as we were waking up and this section stood out to me and I am making the effort to commit it to memory and put into practice: Ruth 2:4 “And behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem. And he said to the reapers, “The Lord be with you!” And they answered, “The Lord bless you.”
I think these are great ways for people of God to acknowledge and respond to one another. In greeting, The Lord be with you. In response, The Lord bless you.
What do you think?
2) This Saturday morning, the 3rd of January, is the first Men’s bible study of 2026. Keith Sprecher is leading us through studying the book of Revelation. I am looking forward to watching Keith use his gift of teaching and study to benefit our congregation. If you have such gifts and would like to teach or lead something in our church please let me know. I would be excited to be a part of encouraging and help you in using your gifts for the Lord and His church.
3) Thursday morning, January 1st, is our New Year’s Day 9am church service. Last year we went through the book of 1 John. This year we will be going through the book of Ruth. Start your year off by completing a book of the bible on the first day of the year.
I want to continue to encourage all to be reading the Word of God throughout the year as well as participating in daily worship/devotional time within your families.
For those who are looking for a bible reading plan for the year or want to repeat one of the ones we have highlighted in the past here are where you can find them:
New Testament reading plan
https://www.navigators.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/navigators-5x5x5-new-testament-bible-reading-plan.pdf
Chronological Bible reading plan:
https://bibleplan.org/plans/chronological-bible-in-a-year/
Bible Reading Plan Generator
https://www.biblereadingplangenerator.com/
Bible Reading Plans & Daily Devotionals
https://www.bible.com/reading-plans
I am curious to hear about your bible reading plan for this coming year. Also would love to hear about what you have been reading and enjoying that has helped you draw closer to God this year.
4) The David Movie, New Year’s Eve at 7:30pm. My family is going to join the Youth group and some others from church to see the movie Wednesday night. We enjoyed it so much the other day we are looking forward to seeing it again. We have also been enjoying the music from the film, the messages of which are very biblical and very encouraging. You can find some of the music in this YouTube playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_HYdZ-Jq3Q&list=PLN4UzcYI0bdnw55A5EHx8k5Uwu3OM9WPE&index=1
Follow the Light, Why God – My God, and Tapestry are especially powerful. I would love to hear one of these in church as special music someday in the future.
The movie takes a lot of poetic license in conveying the story of David, but yet is still very accurate to the underlying truth of David and the bible history. Here are two sources I found that pull together the timeline details of David’s life as well as provide the biblical references to look into things further in God’s Word:
Chronology of David’s Life
https://www.systematicbiblestudy.com/uploads/1/3/2/6/13267775/chronology_of_davids_life.pdf
Timeline of King David
https://www.biblestudy.org/maps/life-of-david-timeline.html
And lastly,
5) Steps to becoming a more intentional Christian:
Christmas is culturally a self-centered and consumption related holiday.
In order to get back to the Truer meaning and foundation of the season, rather than ask the question of what did you ‘GET’ for Christmas,
What was the best thing you GAVE this Christmas?
What was that the best thing?
And I encourage you to ask others what they GAVE rather than what they GOT. And include the why question for a great conversation and insight into who the person truly is at heart.
Once Sentence Sermon: “Worry is the darkroom in which negatives can develop.”
—
Pastor Kevin Czymbor
St. Peter Lutheran Church
39695 SD Hwy 44, Armour, SD 57313
605-724-2532
James 5:19-21 “Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.”