St. John's First Evangelical Lutheran Church Bridgeton

St. John's First Evangelical Lutheran Church Bridgeton St John's is a member of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. We seek and desire to shine His light to the world.

We believe that through the power of our Baptism and the Holy Spirit we are able to show Christ's love to those that surround us. Our Sunday Morning Schedule:
10:15 Divine Service

For more information head over to our website: www.stjohnsbridgeton.com.

The Holy Gospel for this Sunday is Luke 3:15–22.15 As the people were in expectation, and all were questioning in their ...
01/08/2025

The Holy Gospel for this Sunday is Luke 3:15–22.

15 As the people were in expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Christ, 16 John answered them all, saying, “I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 17 His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”
18 So with many other exhortations he preached good news to the people. 19 But Herod the tetrarch, who had been reproved by him for Herodias, his brother’s wife, and for all the evil things that Herod had done, 20 added this to them all, that he locked up John in prison.
21 Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heavens were opened, 22 and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”

The Gospel lesson of this week emphasizes the significance of Jesus' baptism as a public declaration of His identity as God's Son, signifying His mission to redeem humanity by taking on our sins, and reminding us that through our own baptism, we are united with Christ and called to live a life of repentance and service, receiving the Holy Spirit to empower us to do so. Jesus despite being sinless, humbles Himself, and submits to John’s baptism, demonstrating His willingness to serve mankind. As baptized Christians, we are empowered by the Holy Spirit to live lives that reflect Christ’s love, compassion, and service to others. Take these moments to reflect on the significance of your own baptism and the call to live a life that reflects your identity as a child of God.

Blessings

11/23/2022

Who is Alexander Selkirk and what could he have to do with Advent?

Luke 19: 28-40And when he had said these things, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. When he drew near to Bethphage...
11/23/2022

Luke 19: 28-40

And when he had said these things, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. When he drew near to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount that is called Olivet, he sent two of the disciples, saying, “Go into the village in front of you, where on entering you will find a c**t tied, on which no one has ever yet sat. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ you shall say this: ‘The Lord has need of it.’ ” So those who were sent went away and found it just as he had told them. And as they were untying the c**t, its owners said to them, “Why are you untying the c**t?” And they said, “The Lord has need of it.” And they brought it to Jesus, and throwing their cloaks on the c**t, they set Jesus on it. And as he rode along, they spread their cloaks on the road. As he was drawing near—already on the way down the Mount of Olives—the whole multitude of his disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen, saying, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” And some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.” He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.”

Come join us this Sunday at 10:15 am!

08/12/2022

Luke 12: 49-53

Not Peace, but Division

49 “I came to cast fire on the earth, and would that it were already kindled! 50 I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how great is my distress until it is accomplished! 51 Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. 52 For from now on in one house there will be five divided, three against two and two against three. 53 They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”

Come and celebrate the peace of the Lord this Sunday at 10:15 am.

God Bless

07/27/2022

The Parable of the Rich Fool

13 Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” 14 But he said to him, “Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?” 15 And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” 16 And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully, 17 and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ 18 And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.” ’ 20 But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ 21 So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”

Commentary on this Week's Gospel LessonLuke 10:1-20Whether you are from a farm background or not, you might easily imagi...
06/27/2022

Commentary on this Week's Gospel Lesson

Luke 10:1-20

Whether you are from a farm background or not, you might easily imagine that there is nothing (or at least there are “few” things) more important to the farmer than the harvest. Everything he does – plowing, planting and praying – all focus on preparing for, anticipating and safely bringing in the largest harvest possible!
Jesus’ whole earthly ministry was about “bringing in a harvest of souls!” His preaching and teaching focused on bringing the message of the Father’s love, forgiveness and salvation which He, Himself, would accomplish for us through His sacrificial death on the Cross as our divine substitute. To assist in the proclamation of this life-giving message, He had called and sent the twelve Apostles, and now He was calling and sending seventy-two others into the work of bringing this Good News to people in towns and villages everywhere.

He “sent them two-by-two ahead of Him to every town and place where He was about to go. He told them, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest field. Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road.’” (Luke 10: 1-4)
He didn’t want them to waste time with “excessive preparations” or to be “side tracked” by unnecessary distractions. He wanted them to go quickly and to rely completely on His protection and provision for them! As they came to each town, they were to find homes in which to stay and were to announce God’s peace and blessing on those who welcomed them. He gave them His authority to preach repentance, to drive out demons and to heal the sick. And they did so!

If they came to places where they were unwelcomed by people who were unwilling to hear the message of salvation, these disciples were to pronounce judgment (Law) and were to “wipe the dust of that town off their feet” before they went elsewhere with their proclamation of eternal life through the Messiah, Jesus, who was soon to come among them. You see, it was all about “The Most Precious Harvest” – the harvest of souls!
Jesus is sending us – you and me – out too! He doesn’t want us to delay; to get “bogged down” in preparation! He sends us out as individuals, as couples, as families and as a church into the fields which are ready for harvest. Where is He sending you? Where does He want you to carry the gospel? Who around you (at work, school, in your family or neighborhood) needs to know the love of God in Christ and the message of salvation? When was the last time you shared your faith in Christ with someone else; when did you last invite someone to come with you to church?

Through faith in life-giving sacrifice of Jesus on the cross for you, God has filled you with peace and now He calls you to be His spokesperson of peace. As you follow His calling wherever it leads you, you can joyfully expect His power, protection and Peace and Blessing as you go. Listen to His Spirit leading you through His Word and empowering you through the sacraments.

Luke 10:1-20After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and pla...
06/27/2022

Luke 10:1-20

After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road. “When you enter a house, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’ If someone who promotes peace is there, your peace will rest on them; if not, it will return to you. Stay there, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house. “When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is offered to you. Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say, ‘Even the dust of your town we wipe from our feet as a warning to you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God has come near.’ I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for S***m than for that town. “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. But it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you. And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted to the heavens? No, you will go down to Hades. “Whoever listens to you listens to me; whoever rejects you rejects me; but whoever rejects me rejects him who sent me.” The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.” He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

Psalms 16:8I keep my eyes always on the LORD. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
06/27/2022

Psalms 16:8

I keep my eyes always on the LORD. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.

“… For what is your life? It is even a v***r that appears for a little time and then vanishes away” (James 4:14).It’s a ...
06/24/2022

“… For what is your life? It is even a v***r that appears for a little time and then vanishes away” (James 4:14).

It’s a very simple truth – our lives are short. Human existence is but a breath, a moment. The wisest man in history pointed out that our days are numbered and that we should never forget this uncomfortable truth (Ecclesiastes 7:2).
Perhaps we should pray along with King David,
“Show me, Lord, my life’s end
and the number of my days;
let me know how fleeting my life is.
You have made my days a mere handbreadth;
the span of my years is as nothing before you.
Everyone is but a breath,
even those who seem secure.”
(Psalm 39:4-5).

It appears there is something in the human spirit that draws us to seek meaning, destiny, and purpose with the time we have being given on this earth. Don’t we all want to be remembered for the right things? Don’t we want our lives to matter and leave a God-honoring legacy?

Luke 9:51–62 A Samaritan Village Rejects Jesus51 When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go t...
06/22/2022

Luke 9:51–62

A Samaritan Village Rejects Jesus

51 When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. 52 And he sent messengers ahead of him, who went and entered a village of the Samaritans, to make preparations for him. 53 But the people did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. 54 And when his disciples James and John saw it, they said, “Lord, do you want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” 55 But he turned and rebuked them. 56 And they went on to another village.

The Cost of Following Jesus

57 As they were going along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” 58 And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” 59 To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” 60 And Jesus said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” 61 Yet another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” 62 Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God”

“What do I have to do with you, Jesus, you Son of the Most High God? I beg you, don’t torment me” (v. 28b). The disciple...
06/16/2022

“What do I have to do with you, Jesus, you Son of the Most High God? I beg you, don’t torment me” (v. 28b). The disciples asked, “Who then is this, that he commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him?” (8:25), but ironically the demons know him as “Jesus, you Son of the Most High God.” The demons are powerful—dangerously powerful—but their plea to Jesus (“do not torment me”) shows that they know that he is even more powerful.
The demoniac (or the demons speaking through his voice) begs Jesus not to torment him, because Jesus has commanded the unclean spirits to come out of him (v. 29).

As terrible as our demons might be, we find their familiarity comfortable and are loath to let them go. Counselors know the frustration of working with people who cling to their demons—people who, in spite of their misery, refuse to change their self-destructive behavior. We even see this principle at work among Christian congregations who are unhappy with their inability to attract new people but who cling for dear life to the old ways that keep them marginal.

Address

59 Oak Street
Bridgeton, NJ
08302

Telephone

+18564510141

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