Note: Check out the news after the devotion. We’re going to sing again in church!
I remember walking with a friend of mine through the hospital in Marshfield. He happened to be a Catholic priest. We were talking about our ministries when he looked at me and said, “You know, if you take away the Bible, you Lutherans have nothing!”
I think he meant it as a jibe. Instead, he was exactly right! The only thing that we teach is from the Bible (sola scriptura). That’s because the only thing worth teaching is what God says. We don’t teach the ideas or the opinions of mere human beings. Those teachings are unreliable, changeable, and short-sighted.
Jesus warns us to watch out for anyone who teaches anything that contradicts the Bible. He tells us that they will seem great (sheep’s clothing), but their teachings can kill you (ravenous wolves). He tells us that we can recognize them by their fruit. Their fruit does not mean their piety or their good works or even miracles (if they have some). Their fruit is what they teach. What they teach will bring either life or death; it will either bring us closer to God or take us away from him.
My friend was right. God’s Word is the only thing we teach because God’s word is the only source of life. Anything else will kill you.
Matthew 7:15–23 (EHV)
15“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16By their fruit you will recognize them. You do not gather grapes from thorn bushes or figs from thistles, do you? 17So then, every good tree produces good fruit, but a bad tree produces bad fruit. 18A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot produce good fruit. 19Every tree that does not produce good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20So then, by their fruit you will recognize them. 21Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. 22Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and drive out demons in your name and perform many miracles in your name?’ 23Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you evildoers.’
God bless you,
Worship at Trinity
This Sunday and Monday, we strengthen and encourage each other in faith! You can sign up for worship here: https://trinitymarinette.com/events/june-14-15-worship/ or you can respond to this email or call Pastor or call the church office to let us know which service you prefer.
It is wise to wait a bit if you are at risk or would just like to wait for the pandemic to fade. God willing, we will worship together when he ends this plague.
Here is this week’s bulletin: https://trinitymarinette.com/wp-content/uploads/sermons/2020/06/2020-06-07-Announcements-Trinity-Sunday.pdf
We’re Going to Sing! – The CDC has removed the recommendation not to sing in their Interim Guidance for Communities of Faith document. So we will sing God’s praises together this weekend! Hallelujah!!
Don’t Forget – Our next Voters’ Meeting is scheduled for Sunday at 11:00 a.m. in the sanctuary. We’ll observe social distancing and we’ll be very sensitive to the length of the meeting. You will be able to pick up the agenda and the reports in church or you can contact the office and we’ll send them to you!
Opt-In Email: You may have received an email to opt in for receiving texts from church. It’s from Jon Tesch. Please click “Sign me up.” You’ll be taken to a webpage where you can enter your cell phone number. Then you’ll receive a text at that number where you can respond “Yes.” That’s it! Thank you for your participation in God’s work.
Greeting Cards: On a table in the Church Basement are handmade greeting cards for almost every occasion. There is no charge for these beautiful cards; only that a donation to the church library be made.
If you would like to support the Lord’s work at Trinity, you may contribute at trinitymarinette.com/contribute or you can mail it to
Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church
1501 Thomas St.
Marinette, WI 54143