SERMON NOTES:

Prayer Requests Y Pray for Erika Dochniaks father Pedro that has problems with his elbows and is getting treatment. Y Pray for Jennifers friend Elaine Slotty who has been diagnosed with lung cancer. Y Pray for Bill Finks recovery from breaking his clavicle. Y Pray that many quality people will apply for the Music Leader position. Y For Sheri Varshos son who is struggling with headaches. Y Pray for radical healing of cancer for John Leggate whos been fighting for several years. Y For Kevin & Nancy Amundsens nephew, Wyatt LaBaw, to be safe in combat zones over the next 8 months in Afganistan. Y For Ward Sessing who was recently diagnosed with cancer. Y For Josh Dochniaks Uncle Tim who will be receiving surgery for prostate cancer. Y David Weems, who is struggling with job and personal issues. Y Tom Umscheid, the husband of Pastor Pauls cousin, who is going through cancer treatment in Rochester. Y Pray for John Thiessen as he undergoes chemo for his ureter/kidney/lymph-node cancer.

Y Pray for Angelicas friend Ann, a friend and colleague, who is receiving treatment for breast cancer. Y Pray for persons and process involved in property purchase for COL.

DEVOTION

This is the third week of our congregations reading through the Gospel according to Luke. Keep at it!! Were reading a chapter a day. Reading through Luke is a wonderful way to become familiar with this excellent gospel and learn more about the New Testament. Consider sharing a comment to each question on the Chain of Lakes Facebook page. This is an excellent way to participate in a Bible Study with others while sitting in your own home; its also a way to share with peole who are outside of our congregation. Comments about the devotion can be Emailed to pastor@colpres.org

Monday, May 14 Read Luke 13

DEVOTION Jesus continued his walk towards Jerusalem by teaching, healing, and sharing illustrations of the Kingdom of God. The story of his healing of the crippled woman in verses ten through seventeen is especially powerful. This woman had been crippled for eighteen years. Her healing by Jesus was not only a miracle, it freed her from a terrible burden. Unfortunately the leader of the synagogue was not able to see the amazing act of love that Jesus shared with the woman. He was blinded by the lawall he could see was a

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law was broken. His own blinders prevented him from seeing the obvious. We are all susceptible to blindersgetting stuck in ruts and rituals that prevent us from seeing the amazing love of God. QUESTION What is helpful to you in getting out of ruts and rituals that prevent you from seeing the amazing love of God?

3 Read Luke 15
DEVOTION Jesus continued to show the passion he had for bringing people far from God to God. At the beginning of this chapter the Pharisees and scribes were grumbling about Jesus eating and welcoming sinners. This chapter is a terrific summary of the gospel. It is easy to become like the Pharisee or scribe or the older brother described in the last parable in the chapter. We might do the right thing or think we are doing the right thing. We cant get beyond our own righteousness to see grace and love. Throughout Luke Jesus displayed the differences between grace, love and righteousness. Unfortunately church people and even pastors can get snagged by righteousness. We try our best at doing the right thing, but unknown to us we get caught up in our own righteousness. We are doers, but our hearts remain hardfull of judgment. QUESTION What helps you in keeping your heart soft? Do you often find yourself unknowingly getting trapped by judgment?

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richest people in the world, but often we feel so poor. Many poor people from other countries would look at supermarkets in our area with incredulity. All of the foods and choices we have!! But we become accustomed to what we have. QUESTION Have you had an experience of a person from another country being amazed at the wealth of the United States? Have you ever traveled to a poor section of another country and then experienced culture shock when you came back to your home?

Tuesday, May 15 Read Luke 14

DEVOTION Jesus constantly taught people about humility and hospitality. He could see through pretense and pride very easily. In the parable starting in verse eight he told his followers not to sit down at a place of honor during a wedding celebration. Jesus went on to teach that at a banquet his followers should invite the outcasts. In his teaching he encouraged his followers to share what they had with no expectations in return. Authentic humility is a quality of love with no strings attached. We give and love just for the sake of giving and loving. We Minnesotans can often live out false humility. We put ourselves down in hopes that others will lift us up. This is an example of being humble with strings attached. QUESTION Who is an example of a person who you admire who gives and loves with no strings attached?

Friday, May 18 Read Luke 17

DEVOTION Jesus continued on his walk to Jerusalem. The story of the cleansing of ten lepers on the surface seems clear. Ten lepers were healed and one came back to give thanks to Jesus. The leper shared his thanks with Jesus in a loud voice. This leper was thankful in his heart. We all know that were supposed to be thankful. Sometimes were thankful with our head, but our thanks dont move to our heart. We need to cultivate this type of thanks. Worship is one way that we can cultivate this type of thanks. When we worship God in an authentic way our hearts are touched; when we receive Communionor the Eucharist which is a transliteration for thankswe see the world in a different way. Even though it takes effort to participate in worship, we can become better people. Our hearts can be full of thanks QUESTION What are some worship practices that help your own heart be full of thanks?

Thursday, May 17 Read Luke 16

DEVOTION In this chapter Jesus shared the dangers of wealth. It can cause us not to see people and the world as God sees the world. In the last story the rich man was not moved to help Lazarus. He was so focused on dressing in purple, fine linen, and feasting sumptuously that he didnt help Lazarus. His wealth blinded him. Many of us in the United States can become blinded by our own wealth. We are the

Wednesday, May 16

2 Saturday, May 19 Read Luke 18

DEVOTION The parable of the widow and unjust judge is a terrific teaching on prayer. The widow would not give up in her appeal to the unjust judge. She kept coming to him. This is what Jesus wants us to do in prayer. Even when we dont experience anything in prayer, even when we become discouraged in prayer, even if we start to question the value of prayer, we are called to keep praying. Jesus was sharing that persistence in prayer is more important than the quality of our prayer. Just keep praying! QUESTION Do you have a story of the value of persistence in prayer?